The Tree That Escaped From the Crowded Forest…

The Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma is the only Frank Lloyd Wright skyscraper actually built. Frank Lloyd Wright called it “The Tree that Escaped from the Forest.” It was occupied in 1956.

The building is 221 feet tall with nineteen stories. It was conceived as a mult-use building with offices, apartments, and shops. These days it has an Art Center on the ground floor, a hotel, and a restaurant and bar.

The tree metaphor is reflected in its design. It has a very strong central core and the floors are cantilevered from that core. The exterior is not load bearing and consists of copper and glass panels. These are the “leaves” of the tree.

The building has lots of details like window shades and terraces.

The design of the building was recycled from an abandoned 1929 housing project in New York City that was abandoned because of the depression. When the Price Tower opened in the mid 50’s many considered its design to be outmoded. What was in fashion at the time was the International Style buildings such as the United Nations building in New York City.

For some reason as a fifth grader in Price, Utah, long before I even knew where Bartlesville, Oklahoma was I read about the Price Tower and was really interested by it. I think I was interested because the name of the building was the name of the town that I lived in.

Fast Forward a dozen or so years and I’m on a job interview trip with Phillips Petroleum Company. The lady from HR is driving me from the hotel to the office. I see the building and said “Is that the Price Tower.” She told me she didn’t know except that it was supposed to be famous. I about choked and said, “Yeah it’s famous, it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and it was his only skyscraper.” I couldn’t hide my dismay that she didn’t know about the building. People skills have never been my strong suit. She said, “How does somebody from New Mexico know that?” What I wanted to say was “How does somebody who works in the building’s shadow not know it?” I stuffed those words down though. I got a job offer though. I still don’t understand people who are not curious about the world around them.

I don’t know how useful the building is, but it is beautiful. The copper patina makes it look like a turquoise tower in some light.

Our World Tuesday

SuperPizzaBoy Goes on a Ride

SuperPizzaBoy has been participating in Therapeutic Horseback Riding for some time now. But it was time for a change.

His old therapy place had volunteers lead the horses while the clients rode. It works wonders but SPB was ready for a step up. Something the old place couldn’t do for various reasons.

So Sweetie went to work researching the issue, hard, as is her style. She was looking for a place that was safe and dedicated to the kids. After calling and checking and researching and then visiting she found All Star Therapy out of Ramona, a ways north of Tulsa on the way to Bartlesville.

So Sweetie and SPB went up and checked it out and we got SPB all signed up. Today was his first ride.

He has a little ways to go before he joins the pro rodeo circuit but guiding the horse is a whole new ballgame compared to sitting on the horse while somebody leads it.

I don’t know a thing about horses and even less about riding horses but I think a horse is looking for a little leadership from the rider. So the rider just can’t check out.

They had son guide the horse around the arena for a while while doing various exercises and then he went out for a ride on a short trail.

It was about ten minutes but SPB had to guide the horse along the trail.

Sweetie couldn’t be there. A family baby shower in western Oklahoma had to be attended. But hey I was there to document the affair. So I guess she did all the work and I get the glory, right? She’d say “So, sounds about normal to me.” And she’d be right.

Way to go my gentle giant of a son, take a bow Sweetie!! You both are wonderful.

Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart at the BOK Center in Tulsa

Wednesday night Sweetie and headed downtown. The first stop was the penthouse bar at the Mayo Hotel for drinks.

And then on over to the BOK Center, my employer was nice enough to give us tickets to see Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart together. I had had never thought of them belonging together but you know they both had their peak in the that brief time between rock and roll and disco (ughhhhhh).

Stevie Nicks opened up and sang eleven songs including several Fleetwood Mac Songs like “Dreams” and “Gold Dust Woman.”

Everybody was commenting on the drummers hair. Maybe he has been on the road too long. What do you think?

Ms. Nicks also sang a haunting “Soldier’s Angel” based on her visit to Walter Reed hospital several years ago.

I saw Fleetwood Mac in the early 1980’s when I lived in Houston. One thing I remembered was the onstage dressing room she had. Well she has a fancier version now.

I used to think that she had only one song, “Rhiannon” and not much range to her voice. Well I decided a long time ago that she is what she is.

She brought a shawl out and twirled about with it. She said it was from an early 80’s MTV music video.

I am not going to be rude and say how old she is. She still looks and sounds great.

Stevie Nicks Set List

Next up was Rod Stewart. Stevie Nicks was sultry and seducing. Rod was sassy and fully of energy.

He brought a large band with him and they did great, especially his violin player.

And his saxophonist. I guess that the guy who sings “Hot Legs” would want short dresses on his musicians.

Not that I noticed.

He opened up with “Love Train” and went right through his hits, “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna be Allright)”, and eneded with “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy”.

A surprising number of his songs are covers, don’t matter.

His backup singers were pretty good, and also had short dresses.

He brought the Tulsa Strings out to accompany on a few songs. A nice local touch.

This being Oklahoma and all somebody threw their hat on stage. Mr. Stewart wore it, cooties and all.

He is getting kind of old also but he kicked a bunch of soccer balls into the stands. He is good at it.

A great time was had by all!!

Rod Stewart Set List

Skywatch Friday – Swan Valley

Last week while driving from Jackson, Wyoming to Idaho Falls, ID we stopped for ice cream in Swan Valley, Idaho. An instant rainstorm nearly drenched us. By the time we had finished our treat, the storm had already moved on to the east.

Skywatch Friday

An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin

“An Object of Beauty” is a hard book to classify. For one thing it has two objects. The first object is Lacey Yeager, an eager lady who starts her art career in the basements of Sotheby’s where she spends her time learning about art and how to value it. She also learns about the effect she has on men and on how to manipulate them to her ends.

(Greek Tragedy by Mark Rothko)

The book is also about art. It includes reproductions of some of the paintings mentioned in the book. The book chronicles the ups and downs of the art market the last few decades as we follow Lacey’s career up from the bowels of Sotheby’s to the auction rooms and then out on her own. First as a paid employee of an art gallery then the owner of her own gallery.

(Our Town by Kerry James Marshall)

The story of Lacey Yeager reminded me a little bit of Truman Capote’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. Lacey uses and manipulates men to advance her career and maybe even stay out of jail. Fair warning, a few of the sex scenes in the book are candidates for “worst sex scenes in a novel.” The book is also about integrity and money and that sometimes they don’t really mix, at least in the short term, but sometimes when you go for the gold now, nobody trusts you later.

(The Reader by Mary Casatt)

I really enjoyed the book despite not having quite figured it out. Sometimes you can’t worry about classifying things, you just have to go where the book takes you. This is a fun and quirky read. I give it three stars out of five.

ABC Wednesday – “E” is for Elephant!

“E” is for Elephant this week. The Yogi’s love elephants. We saw them earlier this year at the Ringling Brother’s Circus.

They are all dressed up and are a big part of the show.

I didn’t notice it at the time but the gut above just seems totally despondent.

The animals are very agile.

We saw more elephants late last year at the Oklahoma City Zoo’s fabulous elephant enclosure.

Mother’s rounding up their kids.

(at San Diego Zoo)

What gets me is the eyes. Like the bison they seem so small but are so expressive.

ABC Wednesday

Our World – Idaho Falls Temple

The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple is located right on the east bank of the Snake River in Idaho Falls, Idaho. It is a beautiful gleaming white structure constructed of reinforced concrete. The exterior is covered with a cast stone of quartz aggregate and white cement which gives it the bright white appearance.

It is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the “Mormons”).

Construction was started in 1939. Completion was delayed by World War II and the building was dedicated in 1945. It was the first Temple in Idaho, and only the tenth ever constructed. The church now has 138 worldwide. It was the first Temple built with a single spire design.

I’m going to venture off and display my architectural ignorance and say that the church has a vaguely art deco design. Given that, the building was inspired by a vision of an ancient Nephite temple by architect John Fetzer, Sr., who had prayed for guidance.

The Temple spire is topped by a statue of the Angel Moroni.

Temples are not used as churches for regular worship. They are considered to be a house of the Lord, and a place to make covenants, receive instructions, and perform special ordinances. After dedication, they are open only to members of the faith in good standing. Before dedication they are open for a few days to the public. This is called “Open House.” I toured the Oklahoma City Temple in 2000 during its Open House. I was very impressed with the building and the care that went into its construction.

Although the Temple itself is not open to the public there is an adjacent visitor center. We were on a family walk up and down the river so we didn’t go through the visitor center or view the adjacent gardens and water features. (We missed out!)

Our World

The Autism Revolution – Whole Life Strategies for Making Life All It Can Be.

The Autism Revolution is an extraordinary book. It is a book written by a Martha Herbert, MD, PhD a Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Karen Weintraub, a journalist. The book is extraordinary because the authors step beyond the research to talk about what they see and what they think about autism and how to treat it. They discusses the research into the causes of autism and how inconclusive they are. Yes there is a genetic component but it is much more complicated than one would think.

They gives strategies about what parents can do now, mainly the environmental and nutrition factors that can be influenced to maybe ameliorate the effects of autism. They concentrates on basic things that can do no harm such as eating a varied organic diet rich in fruits and vegetables and selected supplements. They admit freely that she is running ahead of the science in these matters.

I’m a hard edged guy when it comes to research and really prefer peer reviewed double blind crossover studies to anecdotal parent observations but you know something our kids are not science experiments and complicated genetic data doesn’t matter to most parents what they want to know is how they can help their kids now. This book gives some ideas for parents on how to help their kids and the advice given certainly won’t hurt anybody. The approach taken is that autism is something that needs to be “worked.” Something that most parents, especially the moms, understand

I give five stars out of five to this book. We got ours at the library but we are going get our own copy.

There is a companion web site to the book called AutismWhyAndHow. Lots of good information there.

The Bison of Jackson Hole

We saw lots of bison during our recent trip to the Grand Teton National Park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

These animals are big. They didn’t seem much bothered by all the people around but I gave them a wide berth. I have a feeling that if they decided to chase you it could get serious very quickly.

There is something about watching bison that is pretty cool. It is great to see them in the wild.

This trip we didn’t get close to the Tetons except for a brief restroom stop at the park visitor center in Moose. Away from the crowds there is more room and quieter. The park headquarters is right under the flight path for the Jackson airport. A steady stream of corporate jets was quite irritating. It’s like the 1% were piling into the valley for a last stand or something.

Out on Antelope Flats where the bison were things were much more primitive. If you want to call digital cameras with zoom lenses primitive.

I just couldn’t get enough of these guys.

They have such small eyes for such large animals. I guess they see what they need to.

Camera Critters

Skywatch Friday – Teton Mountains

The Mountains of the Grand Teton National Park from Mormon Row. An area where Mormon settlers from Idaho started farms beginning in the late 1800’s. Personally I don’t know how they got any farming done with a view like this all day long.

I bet they didn’t realize that in a hundred years photographers, bison, and National Park Rangers would be stumbling over each other on their farms.