243/365

The lady atop the box for an amplifier. She possessed this box for the two or three days I left it in the living room.

242/365

The "milk bottle" - originally constructed to promote Townley's Milk, which was produced locally. Happily, Braum's is also an Oklahoma-based company, and was willing to support the preservation of this landmark.

241/365

As promised, a close-up of the top of the mural we saw yesterday. This coffee shop was last known as Deli on the Labyrinth; there was a very unique labyrinth in the rear of the building. It's also been called "Jeep on a Stick"; I hope to show you why in the next few days.

240/365

This mural is on the south side of another coffee shop - sadly now out of business. Tomorrow, we will see a detail of the art on the roof.

239/365

This metal sculpture, standing between 4-5 ft tall, is along the path leading to the Red Cup coffee shop.

238/365

This fellow was walking north as I was walking south, back to my car. Through gestures, he insisted on posing for me. He stopped in the side walk, rolled up his trousers (originally sock-length), and struck a runner's pose. Unfortunately, I didn't catch that shot. This is the best of the two I did catch.

I thanked him as I walked past.

237/365

The Red Cup is one of the few stand-alone coffee shops left in OKC. It's on NW 31st street, one house east of Classen. They serve really good food, and offer a venue for local musicians. Such as your correspondent.

236/365

This mural is on the north side of a frame shop near 31st and Classen. This used to be right next door to an orthodontist's office, so maybe that's a medieval tooth on the right.

235/365

Pipkin's new location, around 31st and Classen.

234/365

Pipkin's is one of the oldest camera shops in OKC. What we see here is the underside of the concrete awning over the shop's front door. As we shall see, Pipkin's has been in OKC since 1947. This structure is on the corner of NW 26th and Classen.

233/365

This is the graveyard north of the Presbyterian church pictured yesterday, and catty-corner to the Asian Market posted below (231/365). This shot was taken at the south end of the graveyard.

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As promised, First Presbyterian Church, which is about a block north of the Paseo sign pictured below (230/365) on the east side of Western Ave, around NW 25th.

231/365

Across from the Paseo post is this Asian market, one of the largest in the metro. The orange palm tress are something of a curiosity; the legend is that they are intended as a deterrent to spirits. The spirits might originate from the graveyard across the street.

The market is on the west side of Western. First Presbyterian Church (image soon to follow) is on the east side. The church has a graveyard on the north end of its property.

230/365

I went on a walking tour Saturday. It began with this sign-post delineating the western edge of the Paseo district. The Paseo is an arts district, dating at least to the 40s, which exists in a 3-4 block square area. It was especially popular in the 60s, and remains a vibrant area of artists and creative folk.

229/365

Friday's cat can wait in place.

228/365

Blossoms on the mint. This mint has volunteered itself along the south-eastern edge of the fence in my backyard. That corner smells lovely.

227/365 - My Smile

You ask about my smile.
My smile cannot be photographed.
Only I can see it in a mirror.
You will not see my smile from afar.
You might see my smile in a twinkling eye.
You might see my smile
in the creases hidden behind my mustache and beard.
It's a quiet smile.
It knows each shadow in this house.
It recognizes the joy of each spiderweb.
It resonates with the cat's furry purrs.
It is astonished by hummingbirds
and small morning buds.
Sit next to me as music plays
and you might see my smile.

226/365

As promised, a close-up of one of the lantana blossoms on the plant which has volunteered itself on the east side of the house.

The irony is, I bought some lantana early last year, at a local farmer's market, and planted it in a plot on the south side of the house. That lantana never made it.

I've thought about taking a start from this plant to that same plot. Maybe I'd get a more favorable result this time.

225/365

This lantana plant volunteered itself on the east side of my house. It seems to thoroughly enjoy the 100° weather.

Detail tomorrow.

224/365

223/365

Explosion of crepe myrtle in a quiet suburban neighborhood.

222/365 - Cat Friday

Her royal catness, on one of her many thrones.

221/365

Another bud captured Monday evening.

220/365

Had some excitement near the house yesterday morning, sometime before 4. I heard sirens, then a thump near my bedroom window. When I left for work, a few hours later, I checked that side of the house and found this glove.

Theory: someone jumped my fence and left a glove behind.

What I presume were police vehicles were in front of my house for 15-30 minutes. Following that, helicopters with search lights swung through the neighborhood. I began to hear a constant rumble around 5, which I assumed was from the helicopters. When I got up to check, however, it turned out to be a tow truck, which seemed to be outside the neighbor's house (to the west of me).

Again, I checked yesterday morning, and found a twin set of tracks similar to the one featured below.

As I was studying the track, I noticed the damage to my neighbor's garage.

I don't recall hearing a crash, but the vehicle must have hit the garage pretty hard.

I did call the police regarding the glove. The responding officer didn't elaborate on what happened, but very kindly explained the glove wasn't likely to lead to hard evidence such as DNA. He collected it anyway.

I actually watched the local news for the first time in ten years, hoping there'd be a story on the incident. Sadly, no. I'll keep checking, and if I find anything, I'll up-date this entry.

219/365

Last evening's bud

218/365

I suppose there's something about 3:30 in the morning. I believe it was F. Scott Fitzgerald who said that 4 o'clock in the morning was the loneliest time. Almost every morning for the past two weeks, Miss Julian, feline supreme, has jumped in the bed within a few minutes of 3:30.

And I do mean jump. Four little paws landing around one's tummy tends to make an impression. Especially when your bladder is moderately full. And those four little paws walk back and forth for several minutes, concentrating on the area between my chest and my pelvis.

Almost out of habit, I start petting her. I have learned that she will stop pacing if I pet her gently. She will, within a few minutes, settle down – normally with her head about the middle of my chest, and her fanny in the vacinity of my belly button.

I'd rather not have those four paws pad around my bladder. But it is pleasant to have a purring cat keeping you company. It's actually quite relaxing; although I don't normally fall back into anything like a deep sleep.

Yesterday (Sunday) morning, for example, I simply could not get back to sleep. My tradition, on Sunday mornings, is to set my iSound alarm clock to play "Speaking of Faith" on my iPod at 5:30 a.m. But I was full-on awake, still, around 4:30; so, I went ahead and played the latest episode.

Here's my theory: I'm probably at a light point of my sleep cycle at that hour, and Julia probably perceives me as being available. Plus, petting her probably reinforces the behavior.

I did learn a bit of charming trivia. Some time, about a week ago, Julian settled on my shoulders; her torso from haunch to haunch is exactly as long as my shoulders are wide.

217/365

Another stab at imitation "Warhol". The first attempt is here.

216/365

The Golden Dome. The tower behind it is a distinct structure. A former office building, it is being converted into studio apartments.

215/365

The "Golden Dome" in Oklahoma City, on NW 23rd and Classen. This is a geodesic dome, as proposed by Buckminster Fuller. This is the view from the north east. Tomorrow, we'll have a view from the north west.

214/365

If you look very closely, you can see the dusting of pollen on the lower petals.

213/365