Wednesday Night

“Hey, are you free Wednesday to…”

“No, I have plans.”

My Wednesday nights have been booked for over a year now. That night of the week a handful of friends gather at Jeremy and Kathleen’s for dinner, drinks and great company. It began with me walking into a house full of strangers and will end with me saying goodbye to some of the best people I have known.

Initially, when I decided to commemorate Wednesday night, I had thoughts of a post with beautiful images of food with local and national beverages sitting next to them. Mouthwatering food descriptions of vegetarian and vegan meals prepared with local ingredients. And proper and improper conversations covering any and all topics. After this past Wednesday, I realized a couple things. 1) I should leave those things to the professionals. 2) As happens now and then, something seemingly small and inconsequential occurs that changes the plans that you thought you had.

            In setting up and trying to take a frame worthy picture, that would accompany me to the East, I hit record on my camera. What resulted was a 7 second clip of everyone…well, just being themselves. When I watched the short clip I got a little nostalgic. The meals have been amazing. The beverages as diverse as they were plentiful. The music, games, cats and a countless number of other things have been enjoyable. I realized though, that moments like the one caught in that 7 seconds is how I will remember Wednesday night.

Thunder Up!

It is no secret that Oklahoma City loves their Thunder. The excitement and passion that has taken over this city is nothing short of inspirational. The boys at Tree and Leaf Clothing have done an exceptional job of showing their support for the Thunder by creating great Thunder themed shirts as well as rallying the local community. When I heard that they had Thundered Up and done a public art piece, I had to go see it for myself. The mural covers a space over 10 feet high and 20 feet wide, and is located near the Broadway and W Park Place intersection, just North of Downtown.

Mutts Amazing Hot Dogs

            Generally, I would be hard pressed to get excited about hot dogs. Although, when I heard that the folks at Big Truck Tacos were coming out with a new concept that focused on hot dogs I knew I had to try it. Mutts Amazing Hot Dogs opened this week just down the road from BTT on 23^rd street. The flavors of the food, the vibe inside the building and the creativity of the menu definitely lived up to the reputation that BTT has set for itself. After eating at Mutts I can see why they decided to include “Amazing” in the restaurant title.

S’noran Dog

Bacon-wrapped dog, cheddar jack cheese, pico de gallo, mayo, chipotle ketchup, pinto beans, sliced avocado, mustard

Primanti

Provolone cheese, cole slaw, french fries

Duck fat fries topped with truffle oil

Big Easy

Andouille sausage, fried okra, crawfish, corn relish, creole mustard

Lady Hefner

Those who are familiar with Oklahoma City are most likely familiar with Lake Hefner. A handful of restaurants line the East Wharf providing a nice place to have dinner and watch the sunset. Sailboats and kite surfers dot the surface of the lake. Fishermen line the North dam. Though out of all of the characteristics that Lake Hefner has to offer it is the cyclists, rollerbladers and runners that circle the over 9 miles of paved trails that are the most appealing to me. As a runner, I have spent a large amount of time at the lake and as a result have grown quite fond of it.

I first met Lady Hefner after my running distance outgrew the neighborhood. Soon thereafter, I realized that I was spending more time running at Lake Hefner than I was with any given individual at the time. It was then that she went from being Lake Hefner to Lady Hefner. A Tom Hanks/Wilson relationship began to form and has only grown stronger since. She has always been quiet when I wanted to think and encouraging on the long, hard runs. She has kindly offered me her portable toilets and drinking fountains when I have needed them most. It has been a relationship that I hoped would never end. Unfortunately, we both knew it wouldn’t last forever. Now that we are spending some of our last days together, I try to remind her that it is not her, it is me. Everything will be all right.

             Lady Hefner, I leave you my retired running shoes as something to remember me by. A reminder of all the miles we have shared together.

What’s In A Name?

Born and raised an Okie, I am quickly approaching a big change of scenery. A change of approximately 1200 miles. In thinking about the move, I looked for a way to share my experience with friends and family no matter where I am or where they are in the country. This blog is a result of that.

The title at the top of this page is a nod to two men that I have great admiration for, Simon Herbert and Charles Curtis. People know them as Herb and Charles. Their nearly 40 combined grandchildren, myself included, know them better as Grandpa and Papa. With their lesser-known names, this adventure begins.

Charles Curtis was born and raised in the Ozarks before moving with his family and wife to the Tulsa area following the second oil boom. It was there, after traveling the country as well as serving his country, that he ultimately decided to call the area he grew up in home. Here.

Simon Herbert was born and raised in Northwestern Pennsylvania before moving towards Pittsburgh, a city known for its steel mills. It was there, after traveling the country as well as serving his country, that he ultimately decided to call the area he grew up in home. There.

In the very near future I will be spanning the gap between the two and making a one way, 1200 mile drive East, from Oklahoma City to Durham, NC. In a sense, bridging the gap from here to there.