After some number crunching, time allowance, and much deliberation, we have decided to limit our road trip to Oklahoma by not going south to Austin, which would add about 700 miles to the trip. SO it looks like it will be a 2000 mile trip (each way) instead.  I asked the girls if they wanted to spend 2 weeks with us on the road.  They said, “uh, no”.

Our goal at this point is to leave on the 24^th arrive in OKC on the 26^th, for the punk rock reunion.  The punk rock reunion is actually for a few people that are younger than me.  They knew me more when I was getting in trouble and less from when I was a punk.  I am looking forward to it.  You can imagine what it was like to be a punk kid in Oklahoma during the 80’s.

Following that reunion I will be hanging with friends in OKC, then to Norman to see Simon(MOI, Shows I Missed, StareHard, and Buffering)  sans Ainsley.   Ainsley (MOI, Jerk Ethic, and Like It) is off with her Mother being the best daughter a mother could ask for.  Simon is tending the farm.  It is Oklahoma.  He must live on a farm, right?

That will be followed by a slow drive to Tulsa and eventually over to the family reunion.  We will visit family in Stillwater and I need to go see a few things on the way.  I believe there is a fishing tackle museum on the way.  There is also a large whale you can walk through.  I should make a list.  At this point, it is up in the air. 

I hope to document as much of this trip as possible via photos and maybe video.  Time will tell.  I am sure twitter updates will follow.  A top ten things I like to bring on my road trips is posted at Burgerfaire as well.

Kelly & Krista

Well here we are on the verge of Summer.  The weather can't seem to figure out what it wants to do.  Cold one day, hot the next.  While we anticipate the coming summer, we think about the family reunion.  This year things will be different.  We are having it in a new location and it will be an interesting change.  While I fought to do something about the old place, it looks like my effort was less than needed.  We will be in Chouteau, Ok this time.  I don't really know much about the area, I have always gone to Lake Texhoma.  I guess we will just have to wait and see.

July 1st~ July 5th.  Camp Chouteau, Chouteau, OK

http://www.campchristianchouteau.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chouteau,_Oklahoma

I have been slacking in my website updates.  I have added a few pictures here, and on flickr, but other than that, I have done nothing.

So I will try to catch up a  little.

When I was young, I would sit quietly(sometimes) and watch my father interact with his friends. He would joke and laugh with everyone. Years after we left Oklahoma City, we would go back, and the same friends would be there at the dinner table or the brunch table. I remember once talking with my father about friendships and friends and explaining that I hoped I had friends that would last, laugh, and smile as much as his friends did. I guess he set the bar for me.

While I sat at Simon's birthday I watched the crowd and I watched the people talk and laugh together. I was reminded of the experiences with my Father. I know Simon because of one of my father's friendships. Peter and Mary Goetz. I have known them for as long as I can remember. I have been around to hear about Simon growing up, and now he lives here in Portland. We are friends because of my father.

On the other hand, I know that Simon and I are friends because we like each other. So while we know each other because of our parents, we spend time together as friends because we enjoy laughing, joking, and having a good time. When you least expect it, friendships happen. I am glad to be one of Simon's friends and I hope he knows he is one of mine.

Happy Birthday Simon.

Photos from the party can be found in the gallery. While I tried to take photos, Good photos, I was caught up in conversation and the experience of the moment. Forgive me, if you are not presented in the most wonderful light, or with the best expression. I am still learning this whole photo thing.... At least it doesn't look as hot as it actually was, right?