Relaxing, napping, and cooking two meals "at home".
In the evening we go out for dinner. Corinne gets liver and onions, which she has not had since about 1983. It's perfect!
Cloudy, 87 degrees. We spend hours watching our campfire at night. There are some leftover fireworks in the distance. No mosquitoes in OK!
Chaiku
OKLAHOMA CAMPFIRE
Flames phosphorescent
We, mesmerized by the coals,
Say nary a word
Bob asks: "Does anything happen in Oklahoma?" He catches a bass, though, so that's something.
I -40 sucks.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Day 17 - Monday, 7/6/09 - ON THE ROAD
Back to OK to hook up with our RV.
We buy some fresh produce at a roadside stand in Cheney, OK. Not cheap, but beautiful.
The weather broke in OK two days ago after a shower. Temperature dropped from 105 to 85 degrees. Now it is breezy and lovely.
On the highway, we spot our first oil rig in Ashland, OK.
The bottom of the clouds are different than we have ever seen before. They are dark and flat, as though God had sliced them in half and turned half upside down, like an omelet pan.
Driving back along Lake Eufala again, we notice many islands of various sizes full of trees.
Unfortunately, we also experience armadillo roadkill for the first time.
Too many billboards.
We buy some fresh produce at a roadside stand in Cheney, OK. Not cheap, but beautiful.
The weather broke in OK two days ago after a shower. Temperature dropped from 105 to 85 degrees. Now it is breezy and lovely.
On the highway, we spot our first oil rig in Ashland, OK.
The bottom of the clouds are different than we have ever seen before. They are dark and flat, as though God had sliced them in half and turned half upside down, like an omelet pan.
Driving back along Lake Eufala again, we notice many islands of various sizes full of trees.
Unfortunately, we also experience armadillo roadkill for the first time.
Too many billboards.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Day 16 - Sunday, 7/5/09 - ON THE ROAD
Heading back to Dallas. We stop at the Historic Farnthorpe Inn, a stagecoach inn from the 1880's, in Anderson, TX. The stagecoach is not running today, but the Ranger gives us a guided tour of the Inn, which includes all the furnishings and acoutrements that a traveler would have needed in those days.
We climb up in the stagecoach. Before we leave, the Ranger gives us a simulated demonstration of how it would have felt to be inside the stagecoach on a bumpy road. Cool! A step back in time.
There is a short-lived dramatic thunderstorm as we are driving, with booming thunder and huge lightening. The temperature drops in a matter of moments from 103 to 76 degrees. What a relief. There are huge thunderheads and frightening winds, though.
We pass lots of cattle ranches which have very interesting and unique entry gates. Each one tries to be more ornate or artistic than the next.
We climb up in the stagecoach. Before we leave, the Ranger gives us a simulated demonstration of how it would have felt to be inside the stagecoach on a bumpy road. Cool! A step back in time.
There is a short-lived dramatic thunderstorm as we are driving, with booming thunder and huge lightening. The temperature drops in a matter of moments from 103 to 76 degrees. What a relief. There are huge thunderheads and frightening winds, though.
We pass lots of cattle ranches which have very interesting and unique entry gates. Each one tries to be more ornate or artistic than the next.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Day 15 - Saturday, 7/4/09 - SETTLED
More smoothies! This time Corinne gets one. Delish!
We've been on the road more than two weeks now! We miss all our friends and family.
In the evening we meet Bob's friend from the Air Force, Johnnie Warner. He has not seen him since 1965. Johnnie brings his wife Elizabeth, who is very personable. Johnnie is just the same, with his characteristic expression: "Gollee!"
They treat us to a Tex-Mex dinner and then to the Texas Opry in Magnolia, TX. They are regulars once a month and this is the Fourth of July Special Celebration. All is decked out in flags and most of the patrons as well as the singers are wearing red, white and blue.
The Opry is very cool. A DVD is filmed and Johnnie will be mailing it to us. All patriotic songs, or songs about the states. Very moving, actually. Bob jokes: "I'll make a conservative out of you yet!" Yeah, right!
We are treated to home-made apple pie at the Opry. We get one of the last remaining pieces.
There were very limited fireworks here last night because the area is in a drought and overhead fireworks were forbidden, although a few snuck through.
Good show, good times, and good friends that Bob hasn't seen in 44 years.
Tomorrow we head back to Dallas for an overnight to help my mother-in-law Ruth Stern with some more paperwork and have dinner with Uncle Arthur and Aunt Helen Stern.
We've been on the road more than two weeks now! We miss all our friends and family.
In the evening we meet Bob's friend from the Air Force, Johnnie Warner. He has not seen him since 1965. Johnnie brings his wife Elizabeth, who is very personable. Johnnie is just the same, with his characteristic expression: "Gollee!"
They treat us to a Tex-Mex dinner and then to the Texas Opry in Magnolia, TX. They are regulars once a month and this is the Fourth of July Special Celebration. All is decked out in flags and most of the patrons as well as the singers are wearing red, white and blue.
The Opry is very cool. A DVD is filmed and Johnnie will be mailing it to us. All patriotic songs, or songs about the states. Very moving, actually. Bob jokes: "I'll make a conservative out of you yet!" Yeah, right!
We are treated to home-made apple pie at the Opry. We get one of the last remaining pieces.
There were very limited fireworks here last night because the area is in a drought and overhead fireworks were forbidden, although a few snuck through.
Good show, good times, and good friends that Bob hasn't seen in 44 years.
Tomorrow we head back to Dallas for an overnight to help my mother-in-law Ruth Stern with some more paperwork and have dinner with Uncle Arthur and Aunt Helen Stern.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Day 14 - Friday, 7/3/09 - SETTLED
We sleep very well at Ron and Carmen's.
Corinne sleeps in. Meanwhile, Ron makes a papaya, mango, banana smoothie for breakfast. Bob has never seen such a huge papaya. Great!
Ron's son "Young Ron" and his kids come over for BBQ. Young Ron cooks up a major feast, with chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, ribs and salads.
We have been looking forward to Carmen's tamales with eggs in the morning, but she has a wrist injury acquired while using a cane after knee surgery. Unfortunately, she is not up to cooking yet. She is on month four and her recovery is slow, at age 75.
The kids wear us out. Carmen, especially, still suffering from pain in her knee, is unable to do much with them. We try to help by playing cards most of the day. How many times can an adult say "Go Fish!" before wanting to scream! Then there's War, which can go on endlessly. Ron and the kids have come up with their own rules, which are a strategy for ending the games early.
Corinne sleeps in. Meanwhile, Ron makes a papaya, mango, banana smoothie for breakfast. Bob has never seen such a huge papaya. Great!
Ron's son "Young Ron" and his kids come over for BBQ. Young Ron cooks up a major feast, with chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, ribs and salads.
We have been looking forward to Carmen's tamales with eggs in the morning, but she has a wrist injury acquired while using a cane after knee surgery. Unfortunately, she is not up to cooking yet. She is on month four and her recovery is slow, at age 75.
The kids wear us out. Carmen, especially, still suffering from pain in her knee, is unable to do much with them. We try to help by playing cards most of the day. How many times can an adult say "Go Fish!" before wanting to scream! Then there's War, which can go on endlessly. Ron and the kids have come up with their own rules, which are a strategy for ending the games early.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Day 13 - Thursday, 7/2/09- ON THE ROAD
Before leaving, we suggest to Ruth that she hire her friend Cindy to help her get her papers in order. There is no way she is going to be able to handle it herself. I find the perfect expandable organizer for her at Staples.
I stop at Temple Emanuel to show my Gippot (Yarmulkes for women) to the gift shop buyer. She says her congregation does not wear them. However, she is intrigued by the designs.
My brother-in-law Allen comes over to eat pancakes that Bob is making and visit with us. He is very interested in the family geneology, but not at all interested in helping Ruth with her filing.
We head out on the road towards Houston, where Bob's brother Ronnie and his wife Carmen live. At a picnic stop in Mustang Valley, we eat our home-made sandwiches in 106 degree heat. A preview of things to come. Whew!
I stop at Temple Emanuel to show my Gippot (Yarmulkes for women) to the gift shop buyer. She says her congregation does not wear them. However, she is intrigued by the designs.
My brother-in-law Allen comes over to eat pancakes that Bob is making and visit with us. He is very interested in the family geneology, but not at all interested in helping Ruth with her filing.
We head out on the road towards Houston, where Bob's brother Ronnie and his wife Carmen live. At a picnic stop in Mustang Valley, we eat our home-made sandwiches in 106 degree heat. A preview of things to come. Whew!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Day 12 - Wednesday, 7/1/09 - SETTLED
Nice to sleep in a real bed, albeit twin beds separated by a nightstand. Things that are also different than our camper: quiet AC which you could not hear going on and off and no insects.
This afternoon we are treated to a nice lunch by cousins Toni Gernsbacher and her children Leigh and Jordan. Very interesting conversations with a college aged student and a ten-year old who is interested in the same things Bob's granddaughter Anya is interested in.
In the evening we take Ruth to her neighborhood Greek restaurant, Zizikis, where they have wonderful moussaka and gelato for dessert.
When we return from dinner, we begin the overwhelming task of trying to help Ruth organize and thin out her massive amounts of paperwork, accumulated over half a decade, at least.
This afternoon we are treated to a nice lunch by cousins Toni Gernsbacher and her children Leigh and Jordan. Very interesting conversations with a college aged student and a ten-year old who is interested in the same things Bob's granddaughter Anya is interested in.
In the evening we take Ruth to her neighborhood Greek restaurant, Zizikis, where they have wonderful moussaka and gelato for dessert.
When we return from dinner, we begin the overwhelming task of trying to help Ruth organize and thin out her massive amounts of paperwork, accumulated over half a decade, at least.
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