Day Two - Evening

At last we arrived in Oklahoma City, though we'd become convinced we never actually would. Our friends greeted us warmly, and we entered the cool haven of their air conditioned house (outside temperatures reached 98 degrees). Over dinner of stir fry, we talked of traveling, our families, and reminisced. After dinner, they showed us the happenin' part of town, and we drank tea and coffee at a local coffee house. We laughed and told stories new and old. At night, still balmy and warm, eighty one degrees, the wind sighed in the trees and clouds drifted by the moon. A bat swooped and flitted, and a train horn sounded in the distance. It was just like a warm summer night from my childhood, and I felt a sweet nostalgia as the crickets sang and the warm, pleasant wind lifted my hair.

Day Three - Deep In The Heart Of Texas

We drove to Norman, OK today to eat at a little Mexican food place near the University of Oklahoma campus, which was full of grand architecture. My friend showed us where she teaches, and I took action photos of her working at her desk to send to our friends.

And we weren't the only ones in Norman that day...Sue, one of the most complete t-rex skeletons yet found was also there, at the Bizzell Memorial Library (well, at least an articulated replica of Sue was in attendance).

We met up with more friends and discussed future filmmaking endeavors.

After farewells, we left the city, again heading west. Luckily, we were assured that no more toll roads awaited us. The sun set fiery and red, a huge orb in a bed of crimson clouds.

We crossed the Texas border by moonlight, seeing billboard after billboard advertising a free 72 oz steak if you could eat it in one hour. Also featured at the same location as the 72 oz steaks was the Horse Hotel (where you can stay free if you can eat the horse in one hour).

We stayed in a place in Amarillo that modeled its design after the famous Dorm School of Decoration -- busted couches sulking in the hallway, stained chairs missing several legs or cushions and leaning precariously against walls, waiting to ambush the unwary traveler. Some kind of funk wafted in the room itself, smelling reminiscent of sweaty gym socks marinated in a light cheese sauce long past its expiration date.

Tomorrow -- on to see Roswell, New Mexico...