Welcome
To My Blog
Postscript: In December, 2010 I hung up my Driver's cap for good. The road had taken its' toll. I was no longer willing to drive 180 days a year, regardless of the money and the ability to work when I wanted. I had seen America. I was tired of being gone from home for 9 months a year. I needed a rest. In 2011 I sold my truck and trailer and was unemployed for the year. However, I wasn't inactive. I traveled overseas to Asia and South America for several months. In the fall I enrolled in an online course to to become certified in Oracle, the world's preeminent database. I want to go back to work sometime in the near future as a software developer or administrator. Even though I programmed for 20+ years, my skills are dated. Fortunately, I have a little flexibility as to my future.
RollingOkie OKC, Jan 1, 2012
"114 Countries"
I've Visited
Albania
Andorra
Antigua
Argentina
Aruba
Austria
Bahamas
Bali
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bonaire
Borneo
Bosnia
Botswana
Bulgaria
Canada
Cambodia
Cayman Islands
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Crete
Croatia
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
England
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guernsey
Herzegovina
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Ireland (Eire)
Ireland (Ulster)
Isle of Man
Italy
Java
Japan
Jordan
Jersey
Kenya
Kosovo
Laos
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Malawi
Malaysia
Martinique
Mexico
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Norway
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Rhodes
Saba
San Marino
Sarawak
Scotland
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Srpska
Sumatra
Sweden
Switzerland
Tanzania
Thailand
Tortola
Turkey (Asia)
Turkey (Eur)
Turks & Caicos Islands
United States
Vatican City
Vietnam
UAE (Emirates)
U.S.A.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Wales
Zimbabwe
Grandkids- Medieval Fair Posted: May 7, 2010
This is a picture of Patrick and Christian, a couple of grandkids. We went to the Medieval Fair that's held locally every year. Notice the big turkey leg. They took turns with it. I said "No thanks." I think it was nice they offered me a bite, but grandkids are little germ factories. There's nothing like grandkids. They are God's revenge on your children for all the bad things they put you through. I love to spoil grandchildren (anyone's) and send them home or get them all hopped-up on sugar and take them home in the early evening.
Me at Snowy Park Posted: May 7, 2010
Here I am at the park near my house. Notice the snow. This picture is for all the people I met in SE Asia the two months before the picture was taken who have never seen snow. The picture was taken in April. That's a late snowfall for Oklahoma. Significance of the photo? Oklahoma has seasons. Big ones. The National Severe Storms Laboratory is located in the town where I live. I don't have to ask why. I like the changes of the season. As far as weather goes, I think I live in one of the most dramatic climates in the world.
Europe 2005 Bus Station - Waiting Posted: June 1, 2008
I'm waiting for a bus somewhere in Britain. I caught a lot of buses during this trip. They were the least costly way of moving from location to location. I also think I see more from buses than I do from any other form of transportation. Significance? I like buses. I ride them every chance I get. In my humble opinion, you're not much of a world traveler until you realize that you were the only person on the overnight bus that you just got off of that could speak English and couldn't speak Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, Hindustani, Russian, Punjabi or one of the other thousands of dialects in the world.
Europe 2005 Dubrovnik Tourist Posted: June 1, 2008
Guess who? Guess where? It's not so much Croatia that I like, it's the Balkans in general and the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea in particular. I've taken a bus from Albania to Triest, Italy. I spent weeks on that trip. I love this area of the world. The scenery is great, the history is fabulous, the food is tasty, the people are wonderful and the costs are low. What more could you ask for? That view behind me is of a city that's a few hundred years past being over 1,000 years old. Significance? History. I have a BA in History. At one time I wanted to tech history to young people. Then I realized that meant teenagers. I never did get to teach history, but I have gotten to chase it all over the world. I’m still fascinated by it.
High-Tech Shower Head Posted: June 1, 2008
This is a picture of the High-Tech Shower Head at the plush place where I stayed in Dahab, Egypt. Notice the rust and the scotch tape. Okay, the significance of this picture is that, on occasion, I stay in some dumpy places. However, I wasn't alone. There were a couple of hundred other people who were staying at his hostel/hotel. It may have only cost me $5 a night, but it was much better than the places up the road that I could have gotten for $1 a night. There are times, when I travel without my wife, that I stay in some places she would never let me consider as a refuge for the night. They're cheap. I often meet fellow fellows travelers at these places and have a great time.
Koshary Posted: June 1, 2008
Egyptians take some pasta, rice, lentils, chick peas, onions, garlic and mix it into a bowl and call it Koshary. The give you another smaller bowl of chili sauce to add to taste. There were also a couple of jugs of condiment (garlic - hot or mild) on the table to spice up the stuff a little more. Throw in a coke and the cost for the whole meal was about 5 Egyptian pounds - approximately an American Dollar. Not only was it cheap, I developed something of an addiction to the stuff. I would go to El Tahrir once every day when I was in Cairo for a bowl of the stuff. Significance? There are a lot of foods that you may never get to try if you never leave the United States of Processed Foods.
Me and French Friend on Ferry to Elephantine Island Posted: June 1, 2008
It's Pareeeeeee, not Paris, you stupid Okie. The significance of this picture? It's representative of the fact that I meet a lot of really nice people during my travels. We spend a few moments together as the Frenchman and I did while we were crossing the Nile River in Egypt. These little instances help to restore my faith in humanity. They help me to believe that humans may one day be able to live in peace with each other.
Me and Sashu on Train Posted: June 1, 2008
I just happened to get assigned a seat next to the Korean gentleman you see in the picture. We traveled from Cairo to Aswan and then spent the next few days together. Great guy. Liked good beer. Significance? I meet people on the road. Sometimes, we wind up traveling together for a few days. It's a bonding experience. I get to learn about them and their cultures and they get to learn about me and mine. It's called cultural exchange. It happens every day, all over the world and I'm glad to get to take part in it whenever I ge the chance.
Me at Petra Posted: June 1, 2008
Guess who? Guess where? Do I look like Indiana Jones? Okay, maybe not. Significance? There's a reason why Petra is on my list of Top 10 places to go to see as far as the great sights of the world are concerned. It's a city that was carved out of solid rock. When? Oh, sometime between 2,500 and 4,000 years ago people were building what was to become the incredible site that lies in Jordan. There are some places in the world that you have to see in person. This is one of them.
Me at Pyramids #0 Posted: June 1, 2008
I've seen some really, really good shots that people were taking at the Pyramids. Mine were OK. They made the point. There are places to visit and there are places to visit. Egypt is on my Top 10 list. Not Cairo, not the Pyramids, not the desert. Egypt. Give yourself a month, at least. It's cheap. It's historical. It's Arabic. But, most of all, it's unique.