The penultimate day of the tour of the near southwest has arrived; we arrived in Oklahoma City last night to find it closed for business just like most everywhere in the US. So after picking a place for dinner and paying for parking we discovered a sign to go only via some app we’d never heard of, so we saw a burger place, New State Burgers, across the street and we went in since its sign just said to go only. Fortunately, only the very friendly head chef was there so he broke the rules but not the law and let us sit and enjoy our meal there – apparently the proclamation was no dining starting today but most everywhere started yesterday. I have to say, the burger was really very good as was his unique take on Brussel sprouts and i think we all were happy to have someone to talk to.

Today was awkward as anything and everything remotely touristy is closed so instead we had take out pizza that we ate at a park and then we went park hopping. We had time to download an app and set it up to order our pizza because the highly recommended pizza joint advertised take out via the Postmates app only. Based on this data point, I’m not sure take out only helps stop transmission of the Wuhan virus or any other contagion. There was a cluster of patrons up front waiting for their food, while money and credit cards were still transferred between ungloved hands. I hope we all get better at it quickly, or what’s the point? I get closing bars etc where it can get quite crowded, but we might be better off in keeping restaurants open but ensuring adequate physical distances between tables and proper sanitation.

Tomorrow once again we get a long drive in the rain, but at least our home is at the end of that rainbow.

Tags: TNSW

We are fixing to leave Lubbock for OK City this morning. Another day of driving in the rain. We’ve had every kind of weather on this trip, but seem to have settled into cold and dreary for the last half. Another city crossed off the list – the possible places to retire list! At least in Oklahoma they know how to manage expectations.

We are huge fans of AirBnb but I have to admit this one wasn’t up to usual standards. It could have been the mouse the first night, it could have been the light switch in the shower, or the iffy neighborhood it was in. Still, it’s always an adventure and that’s the way we like it.

We decided we should hit the grocery store to buy some staples because who knows what the future holds at this point. Apparently everyone else in Lubbock had the same idea so we and few thousand of our closest friends all crammed into Market Street in the hopes of stocking up just in case. Other than that, the college town has felt empty with the students gone.

A prairie dog in prairie dog town. As my cousin (once removed) would say, thems good shooting!

Only in Texas. Still unanswered, is someone on a bike a pedestrian?

Just what do the other 6940 ordinances cover? And is diving OK? How about if you’re sitting on a horse that’s swimming?

Adventures in poor design. Yes Virginia, the bathroom light switch really is in the shower.

As seen in Dallas AirBnB. The better half and I agree if it were our sign there would be an asterisk with a small list of exceptions.

Tags: TNSW

Yesterday we drove from Fort Smith to Dallas in the rain, which made it hard to see the pretty part of Oklahoma. We saw enough to want to see more, but the route back doesn’t take us that way so well have to wait until the next trip this way. We have achieved the main purpose of the trip, which was to deliver the last 900 of my comics to Lone Star comics. Now on to secondary objectives like having fun and crossing places to retire off the list. The actual satisfaction of lining cities out will have to await our return since the list is on the home computer and I didn’t print a copy. Its good to always have something to look forward to.

My better half demonstrates how to rock the selfie, I demonstrate how look like a drowned rat.

There was a really nice looking restaurant on the back side of this house. Since we had a large breakfast with friends earlier we were able to resist the temptation.

A beautiful day in Scotland, only we’re in Dallas, so not classically beautiful, but warm in a moist sort of way.

Tags: TNSW

We have commenced the tour of the near Southwest this week with stops in Uranus, Springfield, Bentonville, Fayetteville, and currently Fort Smith. Nothing too amazing so far, although the fact of how good the food and drink is all across this country does amaze me.

And we found toilet paper on sale (not just for sale, but discounted!) at a Walgreens in Springfield. I sincerely hope that when this post pops up three years from now as a memory I have no idea why I included this.

Tags: TNSW