Category Archives: Oklahoma

Tulsa’s Williams Route 66 Half Marathon

Sunday I ran the Half Marathon part of the Williams Route 66 Marathon. It has been since the late 1990’s since I’ve run the distance but I thought I’d give it a try.

The race had about 6700 people overall. They formed us into groups called corrals. I felt like saying moo several times. They started us in groups also. First time I’d ever encountered that but I’m told that that how the bigger races do it.

Lots and lots of people had to use the portapotty’s. My office is a block away from the start so no portapottys for me! At the start anyway.

Oops, I digressed, at each start they shot confetti in the air. It was everywhere.

By the time I made the turn onto Cherry Street, I was way behind. Actually that was by design. I decided to run four minutes and walk a minute through the race. I hadn’t trained for the distance so I just took it easy. Makes it easier to take photographs also.

There were lots of good bands on the route playing some solid rock and roll. Flutes and violins are nice but not during a run.

I loved these ladies and their signs. I hope nobody is offended.

We ran past a local synagogue with reminders of the Ten Commandments.

Midtown Tulsa was in full Autumn color mode. It was beautiful.

Because it was chilly at the start some runners take clothes they can discard and throw them down on the ground as they warm up. The organizers pick the stuff and it is distributed to those who need them. I hope that the clothes are washed first!

I was worn out as I came to the end of the Half Marathon. I was plum tuckered out. The full marathoners were just halfway.

I didn’t know spiders drank beer!!!

Anyway, lots of fun to be had. I’m doing it again next year.

Our World – Woolaroc Museum Entrance Facade

Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Refuge was started by the Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum Company to showcase his art collection and exotic wildlife. It is located out in the middle of nowhere in northeast Oklahoma in Osage County.

I’ve long admired the mural around the main entry door to the Musuem.

(Buffalo Dancer with tomahawk)

The mural was installed in 1946 by Winold Reiss, a German-American artist who installed murals all over the United States. The mural uses very strong imagery and bold colors.

(Kiowa Fancy Dancer)

(Eastern Woodsman with Calumet)

Our World

Catching Some Rays

Things are crazy at work now days. The energy industry has just gone plum crazy. I had a working lunch meeting with some customers who flew up from Houston today. We meet and eat sandwiches during the meeting. I do that a lot a now. Packing more business into the day. Well, we had a good meeting and after they left I looked out the window and its a beautiful day. Time for a quick round to see what is going on.

I headed over to out beautiful BOK Center. Tulsa has their Christmas Tree up already. It seems a little early to me.What do you think. So many facebook friends are bragging about their Christmas trees. Hey what about Thanksgiving?

As an engineer I had to check out the refrigeration for the temporary ice rink going in. I think it will work. What do yo think?

I went by the adjacent Convention Center and caught a couple of reflections.

I love reflections.

I went looking for a geocache that has eluded me. I found it! Do you see it? Want a clue? I’ll give it to you anyway, it is right in the center about a quarter of the down the middle of the pic.

On the way back to the office I took another shot of the BOK Center.

Back to work, helping solve America’s energy problems.

Signs, Signs- Deep Downtown Tulsa

I get off work at 6 pm so it is pretty much dark when I get off work these days. So I’ve been seeking out some neon signs on the way home.

I really like the Atlas Life Building’s Sign. I just wish they could light up the globe that Atlas is straining to hold up.

If you back up a little bit on Boston Avenue it makes Tulsa look like a regular city. Tulsa already has their snowflake Christmas lights up.

Even the building next to my parking space looks metropolitan.

Speaking of globes the Tulsa World’s sign lights up the globe and the globe even rotates.

For those who are overwhelmed by the prospect of holding up the world they can go drown their troubles at Orphas. Tulsa highest class dive bar.

Signs, Signs

Tulsa’s Veteran’s Day Parade

Tulsa had their annual Veterans Day Parade on Monday. It is a big deal in Tulsa.

The Police motorcycles opened things up along with a color guard. I wear a hat almost always when I’m outside but not at this parade. I’m old school, when the flag comes by you take your lid off, unless you are in uniform of course. Khaki slacks and golf shirt is a uniform of sorts but not the right kind.

There were lots of marching bands.

There were some old military vehicles.

And some brand spanking new ones.

There were some very mature soldiers. This gentleman has been in every Veterans Parade I’ve seen.

And the Navy showed up. Navy, Tulsa, just go with it okay?

And some of our future leaders showed up. Big smiles, walking proud. Kudos to whoever got them in the parade.

And some guys with kilts. Liz Cravens, my blog friend from Scotland said “ooooh they’re a bit gaudy!!!” and “Jeez louise I’ve seen more subdued pub carpets!!”

And lots and lots of flags.

Kudos to all the participants and to whoever organizes the parade. They do a great job ever year.

Tulsa Route 66 Neon Signs

Who doesn’t love neon signs? What used to seem cheap and tacky is now cool.

I’ve loved the Meadow Gold sign here in Tulsa since it was put back up a few years ago. I didn’t realize until last night that I had never seen it lit up at night. I can’t believe it. I’ve been thinking of a good reason to not be on daylight savings time during the Winter all my life and now I finally found one. Do you happen to have another?

This is what it looks like during the day, nice but not the same.

Right down the road is El Rancho Grande. I’ve never eaten there but if the food is a good as the sign them I’m missing out.

What a sign! I love that long looping lasso that also forms the “El” part of the name. And the Arrow, just in case you are wondering where the restaurant is the arrow is telling you that it is right next to the sign. I wonder how the margaritas are?

And a bonus, right where I parked my car while taking pictures of the restaurant sign, an out of luck edgy business using corrugated metal in their storefront. Not as cool as neon, but I love the neon reflections.

Have you seen any good signs lately?

Signs, Signs

Mandarin Orange Monday – Pumpkin Patch

I had my day off Friday so among other things we loaded up and headed off to Carmichael’s Pumpkin Patch in Bixby, a suburb of Tulsa.

SuperPizzaBoy and Sweetie, hanging with a scarecrow.

The place was crawling with pumpkins and with munchkins.

I love Fall the sun is lower, the shadows are cooler, the colors are wonderful.

SPB’s favorite is the Hay House. The kids go in one end and out the other, over and over and over. He’s a freshman in high school but he made several trips. Talk about hay fever afterward.

There is so much to see and so much to do at a good pumpkin patch. I can’t believe it is mostly free. I mean the pumpkins are not but what a picture taker’s paradise. (Note, I’m not a photographer, you say “yeah, no kidding Yogi”, I’m a picture take. I take pictures, photographers capture images.)

And critters, Carmichael’s has critters.

Don’t you just love goats.

I love taking pictures of others capturing images. Pumpkin patches are happy places. It always seems like everybody is in a good mood and the kids don’t get overexcited. Even the staff seems to have lots of patience.

SPB found his. Sweetie insists on stems for at least one. Why? Because she knows best that is why. Any other questions?

Something about pumpkins, and pictures of pumpkins, is cool!!

Here they are on the front porch. Ready for some smart aleck to smash!

Have you been to a pumpkin patch this year?

Mandarin Orange Monday

October Osage County – Camera Critters

Lets check out what is happening at the Animal Barn at Woolaroc. Frank Phillips‘ (founder of Phillips Petroleum Company) old ranch in Osage County about an hour north of Tulsa.

Woolaroc has quite a few critters. They can be as fun as the art in the museum and grounds.

Something about zebras? They are so graphic. That is actually a better quality in zebras than it is in people.Don’t you think?

I love the animal barn at Woolaroc (Are there barns that are not animal barns). I don’t trust this pair of jokers.

This little guy just wants back in with his mama. She is fine where he is. I know lots of human moms like that also. Love their kids

Something about goats is comical.

My favorite was this calf. It was major cute.

It was kind of shy and flirting with me.

Have you ever seen a cuter redhead?

Camera Critters

October, Osage County – Weekend Reflections

A sculpture on the grounds of Woolaroc the former ranch of Phillips Petroleum founder Frank Phillips. I couldn’t find any signage or other information on the artist.

Weekend Reflections

October, Osage County – Signs

This past Saturday I traveled up to Osage County, Oklahoma to run a race on Frank Phillips old ranch, Woolaroc (“Wood Lakes Rocks”). Afterward I drove over to the old oilfield town of Barnsdall. Turned out that Barnsdall had some nice old signs.

Barnsdall is the birthplace of Anita Bryant. Everybody calm down, I know that she became controversial but she has been gone some time now. It always fascinates me where people come from. I’m always asking where people are from. Except for people from Texas. If people are from Texas that is pretty much front loaded in the conversation. They will not ask you where you are from though, they figure that if you are from Texas you’d of already told them, and they don’t want to embarrass you in case you are not from there.

Anyway, Barnsdall claims fame to the world’s only Main Street Oil Well. Here is the sign.

And here is the well.

I don’t want to burst anybody’s bubble. But I don’t think the well is operating any more. In fact it hasn’t produced in decades. I have access to databases that tell me that it is no longer an oil well. Also they say it is the only “Main Street” oil well. I worked in the San Andres field in the Permian Basin of Texas. They had wells drilled in several streets. That’s right, they just took over the whole street. None of the wells were on “Main Street” though.

Hey you know who else is from Barnsdall?

Yep, Clark Gable lived there for a few years when his father worked in the oil fields. I’m telling you Barnsdall is a good place to be from.

Barnsdall turned out to be a good place for sign photos.

The original name for Barnsdall was “Bigheart” it got changed about a hundred years ago.

The downtown area had some old buildings and interesting signs.

Barnsdall is a nice little town with a lot of history. For one thing it is where my employer, ONEOK, got started way back on October 12, 1906 with a pipeline that moved gas from the Barnsdall area to Oklahoma City. The company history is wild and wooly reflective of the booms and busts of the energy industry. I love it. Check out a slightly outdated version here.

Oh, by the way, Where are you from? I’m from Espanola, New Mexico originally. My parents lived closer to Santa Fe but Dad called around while Mom was expecting and Espanola was birthing babies cheaper. Kind of set the tone for my whole life. I’ve been looking for deals ever since.

Signs, Signs