Since it’s been almost a year since I last posted a gallery, I figured I am more than overdue. Therefore, here’s some snapshots from my trip to Chicago last month for my friends Rob’s and Gina’s send off from the land of singleness. A good time was had by all. Of course, these are a bit late considering that the wedding was last weekend, but better late than never.
Well, I’ve vanished again. I wish I had some exciting excuse for my absence, but it’s the same old, same old. Working like a dog and being similarly productive. But things are good. We are doing incredible things at work right now and it’s exciting to see it develop.
I have very little to report on the social front. I made my way to Chicago a few weeks back for the bachelor party for my friend Rob. The party was fun and it was good see good friends; nothing too wild or crazy, but certainly a good send off from bachelorhood. However, there was quite an adventure on my way up to Chicago that I thought I would pass along . . .
My hatred of airports and more specifically airport security, I decided to take the long drive up there for a weekend trip. I left on Friday about noon in an attempt to outrun a long line of thunderstorms. However, I left a little too late and spent most of the drive in a fairly steady rainstorm.
I finally got tired around Cuba, Mo. and decided to stop for the evening. They had a standard list of chain hotels right near the highway. I was feeling a little anachronistic and decided instead to check into the Wagon Wheel motel, a cool looking old Route 66 motor court hotel.
There were a few clues that this wasn’t the best choice that I didn’t pick up on. The first was the rate of $18.00 a night. However, the old man running the place was an interesting character so I decided to try the place out. After checking in, the manager gets in a golf cart and leads me around to my bungalow. On the way, I started noticing a lot of old cars some of which were probably not in running order. Clue #2.
The manager lets me into my room. It’s certainly seen its better days, but I’ve certainly stayed in worse. However, I’m bushed at this point and certainly not interested in looking for other lodging. I unload my luggage and crash almost immediately after falling asleep.
About 2:00 AM, I’m awakened by the sound of someone jiggling my lock. I jump up out of bed. There is a small desk lamp on the bedside table with a descent brass base on it. I yank the lampshade off and wrap the cord around the stand and poise myself in my boxer shorts with my arm pressed up against the door with the lamp cocked high above my head awaiting the onslaught; a sight to behold to be sure.
By this time, he has moved on from just jiggling the lock to attempting to pry the lock with a screw driver. My adrenaline levels are at maximum and I feel lit up like a Christmas tree. Thankfully, before the fight actually started, a couple of vehicles drove by and my attempted intruder left in search of easier pickings.
Needless to say, sleep took a long time to return. I finally got back to sleep about 5:00 and awoke again at 7:00 eager to be on my way. However, on my way out, I took a look at the door. The entire edge of the door had been chipped away by dozens of break-ins to that room. You can see for yourself on the left. Certainly, something worth checking the next time you decide to check into a quaint hotel such as this one. Anyway, moral of the story, if you are going to be anachronistic, be a rich man from the past and avoid the transient hotels. Unless you love a good adventure.
That is my sole exciting story from the last few months, so I will fondly say adieu for now. My major project will not be completed until September, so I probably won’t be able to write much till then, but I’m still here, faithful readers, and will do the best I can.
Le Corbeau
I’m unforgivably late on this post. However, my step-father, Mark Price, has a play about Edgar Allen Poe entitled Le Corbeau that is currently being produced here in Oklahoma City by the Oklahoma City Community College.
It is a bizarre and poignant tale of Poe’s last days when he is visited by those he has loved and lost along with, for good measure, the devil. It is an ambitious project that I’ll be extremely happy to see performed.
It will be performed Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 PM. Tickets cost $5.00. If you have the time, I highly recommend coming.
Here are a couple of pre-show articles:
The Daily Oklahoman (Registration Required)
The OCCC Pioneer
Well, it’s been a long time coming, but here’s the big life update for the Radical Wacko. The rigors of work and my little side project (Tom Waits for No Man) have kinda left this site high and dry. Well, work is still whooping up on me, but I’ve killed the Tom Waits site so I at least have a few minutes to dedicate to this site. So, what have I been up to???
Dominique
I know it’s been a really long time. I’ve been in another one of my Nathan reinvention phases. It really comes down to pretending to be an adult. It’s strange, I’ve never felt like an adult but I seem to be attempting to be one. My first step is finished, my first new car has arrived. It’s an unbelievable machine and a blast to drive. It almost makes me feel like a kid. 
She’s already got 500 miles on her. Looks like the break-in period will be over before you know it.
However, my real big step is my decision to become a homeowner. My parents have decided to build their dream house out in the country. That leaves a cool old 1916 farm house up on the market which I’ve decided to purchase. It’s taken me a long time but I think I’m kind of ready to put down roots. But with a car like Dominique, getting away should be fun too.
Outside of the big announcements, the rest of life is going pretty well. Nothing else exciting to announce, but occasionally the routine can be just as enjoyable as the adventure.
I know I owe some people some reply posts. They should be up soon.
Well, I’ve finally done it. My old Toyota, Ruby, is really pushing well past her ability to keep up. She has been an excellent car and has earned her rest. So, this weekend I went up to the local Mini Cooper dealership and ordered myself a brand new Yellow and White Mini Cooper S with exactly what I wanted. Downside to this approach is that I now have to wait 8-9 weeks to get my new toy and I’m not good with prolonged gratification. However, Mini provides a cool tool on their website that let’s me see exactly where my new baby is in the production process. Since I know you are all as excited as I am, I’m including this status at the bottom of each post so you can keep track along with me. Keep your fingers crossed that Ruby can make it just a bit longer.
Finally, following along with a long tradition of naming your Mini before she’s born, my new Cooper will be named “Dominique”.
[Listening to: Muriel - Tom Waits - Foreign Affairs (03:33)]
Mini Cooper Status: On Order
Well, I guess it’s obvious that I survived New Orleans despite my lack of posting during my stay. Coherent thought is not one of the common experiences of the Big Easy and I thought my delirious ramblings might not be the best reflection of my intellect to my faithful readers. However, it is safe to say that a good time was had. We saw some great acts, drank more than necessary and ate fabulous meals.
However, I should suggest staying away from the Radisson on Canal Street. Their employees learned about customer service from the former KGB agents now employed by your local DMV. My favorite being the hour long wait for light bulbs in a darkened room already smelling strongly of mildew from the flooded carpet in the hall that hadn’t been dried after two days. But hey, these are the things that make your vacation memorable.
Anyway, I’m back at work and it feels good. I always love vacations for the sole reason that I’m anxious to get back to the daily grind. I haven’t talked about the details at work lately, but I’ve been really short handed lately. The result being that I was left doing minor updates and lots of mind-numbing maintenance. I know it’s part of the job, but doing it for a few months is enough to cause even a workaholic like me to develop serious burnout. However, we are soon to be fully staffed again and can start doing some real projects again. I get to do some new design work which I really love. All in all, it’s good to be back.
Ah, vacation at last. It’s shocking how much work it takes to go on vacation. I’ve been frantically trying to tie up loose ends during this last week just for preparation for this short junket. Then when I get back, I’ll have a stack of other stuff to go through. Almost makes you wonder if taking these rounds of relaxation is more or less stressful than not taking them. Not really of course, but I do love to complain.
I didn’t get out of the city as early as I was trying to, but early enough. I took I-40 East towards Arkansas. While, interstate driving really isn’t much on the scenery there was enough to keep the eye distracted. What really made the drive worth while was the weather. Storm clouds were overhead almost all afternoon but never started to rain. The air was pungent with the smell of a storm which is one of life’s great pleasures.
I had dinner in a nice little roadside grease stand called the Hungry Traveler. After well filling myself with a chicken fried steak, I headed on down the road. Now for those of you not familiar with the chicken fried steak, I should point out that it’s narcotic effects are very strong and this one particularly so. So, about 30 minutes down the road I started to feel a very strong desire for a nap. It was then that the conspiracy became abundantly obvious. At the next exit, I noticed a large sign advertising the well located Sleepy Traveler Inn! Some sort of marketing genius has been drugging his diners and leading them to his hotels. What a fiendish plot!
I fought through the effects however and made it to Fort Smith for the night. Unfortunately, there is a PGA golf tournament going on tomorrow so hotels are scarce. However, Horst at the Wellesley Inn has put me up quite comfortably for the night. Tomorrow I get off of the Interstate for most of the day and get some good back roads driving. I’ll report more when I can . . .
Ok, Ok, I’m sorry, what else can I say? It seems that my readership is on the verge of revolt. Well, I might be exaggerating a bit, but my lack of posting seems to have raised the ire of some of you out there.
Unfortunately, I don’t have all that much to say. I spent all last week doing interviews for the two positions I have open right now. This meant a lot of late nights in order to get my regular work done. I spent this weekend also being a dull boy and working. However, all is not lost. One more week and I’ll be on a must needed vacation. Hopefully, by then I should feel more inspired to write longer pieces.
However, until then I’ll post as much as I can just to let you know that I’m alive. Thanks for the concern.
What a week! It hasn’t been my best but I’m fighting through. We are way past “thin” in my department so I am now on a frantic hiring frenzy to fill our vacant posts. The economy must be improving because finding qualified local candidates is becoming extremely difficult. That or they are moving out of state faster than I can find them. We’ll find the right people, but I may have pulled out my hair before then. If you are looking for some good computer work with a fun company, check out these job descriptions.
My other horrible trial this week was my poor old car, Ruby. She’s been acting up a bit lately so I finally took her into the shop. It’s a horrible thing when you mechanic calls you up on the phone and the first words out of his mouth are, “You don’t want to spend a lot on this car, do you?” Essentially, as it stands right now, she probably could do with enough work that it would cost as much as her original asking price. I went with the bare minimum including the replacement of some very tired and loose tie rods. Let’s hope she can hold on till the end of the year when I can finally get my Mini Cooper. She’s been a great car, but I think it’s time I let her go to that great car graveyard that is the South Side of OKC.
I did do something fun and youthful this week. I went to the first big rock concert I’ve been to in several years: The Strokes with an opening act called The Sounds. Both acts were good and extremely entertaining but it was The Sounds that really got my attention. In essence they are a Swedish retro 80′s New Wave/Punk band. They have the act down perfect all the way from the crimped hair and thin ties to the funky dance moves and Moog synth sounds. They even came prepared with an entire audience of screaming fans who weren’t even born when that style held sway. Well, I guess that’s ok, I collect records from the 1930′s anyway. However, I am scared that in five years we are going to have retro 90′s grunge bands. Like I said though, both acts give a great show. Give them a look if they come through your town.
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