The Flaming Lips At Hopscotch

           There is an alley in Downtown Oklahoma City named after them. The Oklahoma state rock song is by them. Their frontman and his wife would take walks in the park that I lived in before I moved to NC.  My nephew knew the lyrics to “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1” at the age of 3. The Flaming Lips have the most enjoyable live show that I have seen and I make it a point to go see them whenever I can.

            My first Flaming Lips show was in Downtown Tulsa. Not at a venue, but in a blocked off parking lot surrounded by the Tulsa skyline. As soon as the spaceship dropped to the stage, and Wayne started crawling over the crowd in an inflatable bubble, I was a fan.

            Every year since 2007 turned into 2008, I have had tickets to the New Years Eve Freakout. The NYE Freakout occurs when the Flaming Lips play a show, in their hometown of OKC, and ring in the new year. A jaw dropping experience. “Do you have plans for new years eve?”… “Yes. Yes I do.”

            Then I moved. I’m going to be honest. When I got in my car to drive to NC, my 2^nd thought was “What am I going to do if I can’t see The Lips on New Years?”

            Full circle: In Raleigh, NC there is a festival called Hopscotch. The Flaming Lips headlined this year. The primary bands play in the streets of Raleigh. In front of the crowd was the stage and directly behind the crowd was the state capitol. Like my first Lips show in Tulsa, I saw them surrounded by the skyline… Only this time there was a 1,200 mile difference.

Catbird: Brooklyn, New York

           Every Sunday night Liz and I would go over to Lauren’s to watch that week’s episode of True Blood. Before the episode would start, Lauren would light a candle from a shop in NYC. As the show would start, smells of incense, Turkish rose and pencil shavings would fill the room. Liz described the smell as a “sexy library”. Because we enjoyed the candle so much, I decided to order Liz the same candle for her birthday.

            I received the package from Catbird at my office. The package was nicely branded with a handwritten note thanking me for my order and to enjoy the candle. Everything was perfect except the candle seemed much smaller than the candle from Sunday nights. I set the package aside and continued with the days work. I ended up reviewing my order later that week and as a result placed a phone call. What followed sold me on Catbird.

            I called Catbird’s store in NYC and told the genuinely kind woman that I had received the wrong candle. She asked for my order number and compared it against their records. She apologized and said that the correct candle would be sent out that day. THAT DAY. She acknowledged that they already had my shipping info and that there was no need to return the previous candle that I had received.

            The call could have gone very differently. The kind woman could have been not nice at all. She could have sighed and acted inconvenienced or given me the third degree on my order. She could have told me that I had to return the candle I had received before the replacement was shipped. That was not the case at all.

            Being in advertising, that kind of customer service strikes me as awesome, yet unfortunately infrequent. Not only did they personalize their package with Catbird stickers, branded tape and a handwritten note, they also turned an honest mistake into a great customer experience. They impressed a random guy placing an order. They helped make a wonderful girl’s birthday. Also, they made our house smell awesome.

            Well done Catbird.

Oklahoma Football In North Carolina

           Generally there are four seasons. Winter, spring, summer and fall. To a certain population, the epicenter being in Oklahoma, there are three seasons. Winter, summer and football. It took me moving to North Carolina to realize that Sooner football was not so easily accessible to the rest of world.

            During a wine tasting at West End Wine Bar, in downtown Durham, Liz and I spoke to our bartender about more than just wine. Javon is a Florida State fan and extremely accommodating. I asked him where we could watch an OU game when Saturday rolled around. He noted that he worked on Saturdays and could accommodate us during the game.

            Game day rolled around and we ventured out into Downtown Durham. To be honest, we knew what we were getting into. The city was full of people celebrating. There was a large battle of the bands fundraiser taking place at the American Tobacco Campus. The Pride parade had taken place earlier that day and there were continued celebrations all over the downtown area. Also, Duke students were out in full force as they celebrated homecoming. There were a lot of different kinds of people, anywhere and everywhere, out and about in the city of Durham.

            Long story short, Liz and I walked into the West End Wine Bar and had a great game day experience. Though the bar was full of people having drinks, people wearing tiaras, people having nice food and people celebrating Pride, we watched the University of Oklahoma football game. Javon allowed us to go into a separate room. The two of us sat at a full-length bar in an empty room. The two of us and no one else. The room held a few TVs, arcade games, a few high set tables with chairs and the OU game playing on one of the TV screens. Two Sooners sat, watched, cheered and hi-fived each other.

            Javon has won us over, not only with his wine knowledge, but also with his hospitality. As long as he will allow, West End Wine Bar will be our go to game day hang out.

            Boomer Sooner! 

Cast Iron Skillet

           Yes, I have a cast iron skillet named Jolene. Yes, I am OK with that.

            Durham is known for its food among other things. That particular topic is often a welcome part of conversations. I was talking to Lauren one evening about southern cooking…

Lauren is a Durham transplant herself; she has a passion for music and a passion for the south. She was the first person to ask me when I was moving to Durham. She asked that over one year before I actually moved. Before I was even thinking about it.

OK SO GOOD. I was talking to Lauren one evening about southern cooking before she disappeared into her kitchen and returned with a cast iron skillet. A “welcome home” gift she said. I have fond memories of cast iron skillets. Nana frying chicken on a splattering stove top. Mom cooking corn bread in the oven. I knew how much I enjoyed the food, but what I didn’t know is what you did with the skillet after you ate all of the food. Lauren gave me a crash course.

I understand that a cast iron skillet will last longer than I do if taken care of. In order for it to last it has to be given a bit more TLC than normal pots and pans receive. It has to be seasoned. In my mind seasoned is just a more caring version of bachelor washing.

Bachelor washing involves a few simple steps. Use the dish. Rinse the dish. Wipe the dish down. Place the dish back in the cabinet. I have had a fair amount of practice bachelor washing dishes. It is safe to say that before I moved to Durham, I hadn’t used a dishwasher in years. Yes, I said it. Seasoning the skillet is similar, though not necessarily the same. There are two ingredients in seasoning a cast iron skillet that aren’t in bachelor washing. Oil and love.

Cleaning a cast iron skillet involves a few simple steps as well. Clean the skillet after use, while it is still hot or warm. Do not soak the pan or leave it in the sink. Wash the skillet by hand using hot water and a sponge or a stiff brush. Soap is not recommended, and harsh detergents should never be used. Now you are speaking my language. Towel dry the skillet. Apply a light coat of cooking oil to the inside of the skillet. I like to coat the outside also. NEVER wash in dishwasher. Enjoy a lifetime of bachelor washing and delicious food.

            With all of the enjoyment,  care and attention, I felt that my heavy hunk of iron deserved a name. A southern lady name. A name like Jolene. Like the Dolly Parton song, but in my head it is the Jack White version. The version that goes through my head every time I break out the oil to carefully season her.

            You can have your choice of pans, but I could never cook again. You're the only skillet for me, Jolene.

Welcome to R+M

            Two months to the day after leaving OKC, I received a phone call offering me a position as part of the R+M team. Nearly four years to the day after beginning my advertising career in OKC, I got the pleasure to continue it in the Raleigh-Durham area.

            I was drawn to the focus of health, well-being, social responsibility and making emotional connections. I am excited about the clients, passionate people and a killer culture. I continue to smile about the no rules parking, friendly canines and an office adjacent to the arcade. And for crying out loud, who else enjoys serene sounds of chirping birds in forest like facilities? Ok, woodsmen do too, but you get the idea. This looks to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Running NC

It was a Sunday. October 26, 2008. I laced up a pair of old basketball shoes (that weren’t even mine) that I had in the back of the closet. I took off running down the road. 200 yards later I was doubled over trying my best not to vomit in the road. Lightheaded and gasping for more oxygen than was available, I turned around.

Since that Sunday I have grown to love running. LOVE it. I have run everything from a 5k to a half marathon and everything in between. I dream of the day I finish my first marathon, the process of preparing for that marathon and the resulting pain that is so invigorating. Over the past year I have learned that picking up your life, moving across the country, searching for a new job and beginning that job can have an effect on the routine of running. Unfortunately, as a result, running has taken a back burner to life recently. I aim to change that.

The unique North Carolina races that are available are one of the many reasons that I am ready to wear out another pair of running shoes. Do you want to run down the Atlantic Coast? Through the City of Oaks? Tour downtown Durham on foot? How about start a weekly training run at your favorite brewery? YES! Luckily they are all options.

Let the training commence.