Rhys and Indi's Travelogue

Day Two @ Blizzcon

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 03:33:00 +0000

So, as you know by reading my previous entry, Blizzcon melted my face off. Thanks to the medical personnel on hand (as this happens all the time) I was able to save face (..........HA) and experience the second day of the Con, which was still awesome, but in a different way.

Day One is chock full of cosplayers. Many people wandering the floor dressed in amazing costumes that took God knows how long to design and create. The second day has much fewer in the way of costumed peoples, but there are still a few about. One of which was a friend of mine, so I spent a little time shadowing the experience of a Cosplayer at Blizzcon.

It's hard to get anywhere, first of all. People are constantly stopping and asking to take pictures. If they aren't asking, they are taking pictures anyway. I dread to think how far ahead you have to plan to use the bathroom. It's all good, though, as all of the costumed folks I ran into were gracious and grateful to be asked for photos. My friend had dressed up the first day, too, but in a different costume...one with huge wings and had not allowed her to experience most of the indoor area. Today was different, and so the interactions were different with fans.

In fact, other than the fact that getting anywhere in the building took longer, it was a similar experience to just wandering in street clothes. It amused me to see someone in full costume sitting at a terminal playing Diablo III, or standing in line for one of the vendor booths. The additional visibility paid off in other ways, too, as she was stopped by several bloggers and even MTV News for interviews about the Con. It made me want to design a costume and show up next year in my own gear. But one thing is for sure...it would have to be perfect. None of this half-assed thrown together costume stuff. Do it right or not at all.

I watched a panel discussion about the new cinematic trailer for the World of Warcraft expansion being released in December. It was interesting watching the director and game designers talk on stage, having had their ear personally just a few nights prior. I got to see footage on the big screens I'd only seen on computer monitors. It was a discussion that was married in my love of film and love of video games. I rather enjoyed it, as did my friends, and along with some bouts of Diablo III and Warcraft that was our big ticket item of the day...until the closing ceremonies.

Every year, Blizzard has had some kind of musical act at the end of Blizzcon. Last year, it was Ozzy Osbourne. How would they top that? Well, with Tenacious D, of course. Not only that, but they had Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) on drums! I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Epic. It was a great show, full of little in-jokes and an act that obviously had a great time. After they wrapped, it was time for the huge Hilton Afterparty...but the Hilton had security posted and attendance was restricted to hotel patrons early. That's okay; I'm not huge on claustrophobic crowds anyway.

And then it was all over. I said goodbye to new friends. I said goodbye to my old friend, Doug. I flew home in the wee hours of Sunday...tired, almost hung over, but very happy. The friendships I'd made were forged in the flames of nerdery and geekdom, and those bonds are strong. I'll be back again.

Blizzcon Day One -or- FACE MELTINGLY AWESOME

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 03:34:00 +0000

So, Blizzcon is over and I am back home. It was an epic weekend full of amazing times and I'll do my best to tell you about it without getting too long-winded. I'm quite passionate about this stuff, if you didn't know.

I left Doug's place in Signal Hill and arrived to the Convention Center on Friday morning at roughly 7 AM; doors open at 10. To say there was already a line is a massive understatement. Thousands of people were already waiting to be among the first to get in the doors. I lucked out, as the group of people I'd gone in with yesterday had arrived at 3:30 AM and had some sweet placement near the very front, like within the first 150 people. It was great to hang out again, building excitement for the moment those doors opened. I also saw my friend Heather and her group...and her costume was one of the first I saw that day. She came dressed as a Spirit Healer from World of Warcraft and was attracting attention immediately. The closer we got to 10, the more costumed folks showed up and helped pump up the crowd.

The moment finally came. The outer doors were opened, followed by everyone crowding around the inner doors, and then BAM! Doors Open and we were off. People were sprinting across the center to get to their favorite booths and be the first to see some of the areas that were set up. The convention center was set up into four sections: Main Hall (full of chairs for the large panels), Diablo III Hall, Starcraft II Hall, and World of Warcraft Hall. Each place also had booths with vendors, fun activities, contests, quests, and many other points of interest. One area even boasted a Retro Arcade, where Blizzard showed off some of their earliest works like 'The Lost Vikings' and 'Rock 'n Roll Racing' from the SNES and the original Warcraft. It was great to see these in action again and I gave them each another run.

As the afternoon got into full swing, a gathering of costumed folks was scheduled at one of the fountains outside the arena. It's evidently been an annual tradition from the folks on the forums, and it's no surprise that not only was there a great turnout of cosplayers, but a healthy turnout of photographers and onlookers. It's surreal to see so many people in costume from a series of games I'm familiar with, most of which are extraordinarily detailed and very well done. People know each other from past Blizzcons and there is a real sense of family. Also a real sense of craftsmanship, there were some IMPRESSIVE works on display.

After more people-watching and getting some playtime in with Diablo III (it's awesome, in case you were wondering) the time was approaching for the costume contest. I ventured over to the Main Hall where a live WoW Raid was going on. What happens is Blizzard takes the highest rated guild in the game and hits 'em with some severely modified bad guys and see how well they do. It was a surreal experience to watch on the big screens as this group of players tried to defeat these extra-difficult bosses...and when they eventually succeeded, the thousands of people cheered loudly. It still sends chills up my spine to think about it. It was also nice to see the developers having fun with the players and deliberately trying to outwit them.

Once that was finished, the costume contest started. It was honestly a little more underwhelming than I expected, and the finalists weren't the ones I would've picked. It was nice to see everyone get up and show off all the hard work they'd done in creating these costumes and getting their moment of fame. There was a dance contest afterwards, but by that time all the activity had triggered a migraine and I was better off retiring to the Hilton next door with some of my new friends. We went out to dinner, relaxed pool-side with some drinks and some playing cards, and talked. Those are my favorite evenings.

Saturday, the last day of the Con, was also epic, but that'll be next time.

[Entering Blizzcon]

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:41:00 +0000

You know that feeling when you can't stop grinning? That's me.

Today was registration day at Blizzcon. Before I really get into it, I want to tell you what Blizzard Entertainment is to me. It's a video game company. I started playing their games in 1993 with the release of Rock 'n Roll Racing and The Lost Vikings on the Super Nintendo. In 1994, my love of their company solidified with the release of the first Warcraft RTS game. This was followed up with Warcraft II, Starcraft, Warcraft III, and finally World of Warcraft in 2004. I've been playing WoW since Valentine's Day 2005 and it has been a decent part of my life, both as a social medium and a bonding experience. Needless to say, I've been involved with Blizzard products for a long time.

The day started when I arrived at Denny's near the convention center at about 9:20 this morning. In the last few days, I had reached out on the Forums and in one of the chat rooms dedicated to Blizzard fans. I learned about the Denny's gathering and showed up a total newb; my confusion was evident, as a booth of gamers invited me and introduced themselves. By the time breakfast broke up about two hours later, I'd met six or seven people including a woman whose picture I'd taken at Dragon*Con back in September. It's a small world, is it not?

After breakfast, we all headed over to the Anaheim Convention Center to wait in line to register and get your badge + goodie bag. I didn't need to register, as I was a guest at a charity dinner later in the evening, but I hung out with the Denny's folks and a group of fellow solo travelers that had created their own group on Facebook and I'd joined in on. In the four hours I stood, sat, and walked in and around the line, I grew more and more incredulous at the size. Two hours before the doors opened for registration, the line took three and a half minutes to traverse. By the time 4:00 rolled around, it was thrice that size. When the moment finally came, and the doors opened, we were greeted with a basement full of doubled-back lines. I joined in the experience, talking amongst fellow gamers and having a blast. Once everyone registered, we went outside, chat a bit more, and then all went our separate ways.

While the other groups had parties and gathering to attend, I straightened my vest and headed to a ballroom at the Hilton to take part in the charity dinner that I had the opportunity to attend. I went in at 6:00, got my name badge, and walked into a grand room with scattered tables. There was an open bar and tons of food. I wandered briefly before noticing some of the folks didn't have name badges like mine, but sticky name tags. These folks worked for Blizzard. I spent the next four hours chatting with Blizzard employees, from game designers to artists to producers to composers to developers to founders. I didn't know anyone's face or name, and I stood back for a bit. One of the Blizzfolk came over and introduced himself as Brom. In addition to looking a heck of a lot like Jeff Bridges, I learned that Brom was a graphic artist and he introduced me a group of his artist and designer friends.

The rest of the evening was similar. I'd walk up to someone, introduce myself, learn about them, and they'd learn about me. What games do I like? Why? What else do I do with my time? What brings me to BlizzCon? These all led to wonderful discussions about my passion for Blizzard, my love of gaming in general, and genuine interest in my Customer Service career and world travels. I felt like I was part of a family, and everyone was really happy to be a part of the experience. EVERYONE got really excited when I said it was my first BlizzCon. I am also really excited, and though I don't know what to fully expect tomorrow, I have no doubts it will be unforgettable.

So tonight I go to bed with some blisters on my toes (stupid boots) some new friends in my phone and online, and a host of great stories from some amazing individuals. Now...I sleep.

Rain, rain, go away...

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:22:00 +0000

Looks like sunshine today, and let me tell you: it's about time!

My three days in Baja were fantastic, don't get me wrong. Doug is a kind and generous host and introduced me to a lot of his friends; it just rained nearly the whole time. But that's okay; there's always something cool to do in Baja.

Doug's place, if you recall, is a beachside house on the private beach of La Mision, Mexico, about an hour's drive south of Tijuana. His community is filled with a variety of neighbors, many of them retirees or folks who decided to have a 'get-away' home in their middle years. Not a lot of young folks like myself. Everybody has a story, and everybody is tremendously nice. Since Doug is renovating the kitchen at the house, we ate out a lot. It was really nice to sit down at breakfast and really taste the freshness of the food and enjoy the flavors I had missed.

The company was always good, and as usual I ended up doing more listening than talking. A lot of the folks down in Baja deal in real estate, in some form or fashion, and a lot of talk hovered around properties, or re-design, or market fluctuations. I felt a little out of my element, but it was great to see people so passionate about something they really care about and have a lot of experience with. I got several home tours, and these places really blow me away with their beauty. If only we could all be so lucky.

The rain let up briefly on Wednesday, just as we were packing to leave, and I walked out onto the beach one last time. I walked right up to the water line, closed my eyes, and listened. The thundering sound of the Pacific Ocean coming to rest on the shore soothed me, assured me it would still be here. The softness of the sand beneath my feet comforted me. I know that although the Pacific has no memory, I do...and would see it again soon.

On the way back, Doug mentioned that his car club meets on Wednesday nights and we may be back in time to go out. I nodded enthusiastically at his suggestion and, indeed, we made it back in time. We took his 1971 Chevelle Malibu out, drove to a 50's style restaurant (complete with roller-skating waitresses) and met with about two dozen or so of his fellow club members for conversation, eats...and for ME, ogling some beautiful cars! One of the gentlemen had a 1961 Chrysler Imperial that really awed me, as I'd never seen an Imperial in person before. The headlights were really interestingly designed and they looked like they had just been stuck on the car, fully separate from the body. The tail fins were tall and mighty. There was also a 1967 Ford Country Squire station wagon, with wood trim, that was quite impressive. It was a great cap to that leg of my journey.

And my new leg starts today. Heading to Anaheim in a few minutes to meet up with some BlizzCon folks and see that part of the metro area before my charity dinner tonight at 6:00. I'm so excited I can hardly keep a thought in my head.

South of the Border

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 04:46:00 +0000

Have I ever told you how much I love breakfast?

No? Yes? No matter. I'll tell you again. I absolutely love breakfast. I could have it for all meals all the time and be a happy individual. After awaking at 7:30 this morning to one of those 'ZOMG I OVERSLEPT AND AM LATE TO WORK' instant moments, realizing I didn't have to work today AND happened to be many miles from my office, Doug, Doug's roomie David, and I ventured back down 4th to 'The Coffee Cup' for the first meal of the day. Another splendid breakfast = another happy Rhys. Not that there's more than one of me. Nevermind.

After accompanying Doug on some errands and some light packing, Doug and I set out for his place in Baja Mexico. Oliver, Doug's son, has just started college in San Diego and we dropped him off en route. I don't recall much of that part of the road trip thanks to more Dramamine-induced haze, but I do remember a chinook helicopter buzzing the freeway. Once we dropped Oliver off, I regained my senses and we crossed the border into Mexico.

Seeing Tijuana after my travels wasn't as jarring as it was the first time. The disparity and poverty that exists reminds me much of the island of Java in Indonesia. It's crazy to look over that new, tall fence and see the pristine organization of the United States. As we reached the city limits, I closed my eyes and the smells that filled my nose transported me a world away. I was walking in an alley in Surabaya, unsure of my destination. I was sitting in a cafe in Siem Reap, waiting for the power to come back on. I was walking to the local market in Jerantut. It's amazing to be so many places at once.

We arrived after an hour or so of scenic Pacific Coast driving. I missed the ocean quite a bit. It is oddly calming to look out over the expanse of water, especially on a calm day like today. Once we arrived at La Mision, I walked out to the tide line and listened. I am so happy to be here. I relaxed on the porch for a bit to watch the sunset (well, it was mostly cloudy...more like imagining one) and noticed several schools of dolphins jumping in the ocean and playing. Do dolphins travel in schools? I'm too lazy to look it up. Anyway, Doug joined me soon after and we ended up taking a walk down the beach with a neighbor and her energetic dog.

Then we went to dinner, I tried lobster bisque (not bad!), and now I'm sitting in a cozy living room, listening to the waves of the Pacific crash against the shore. We're supposed to get thunderstorms here tomorrow; that might be interesting.

The Gamble House and Hollywood

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:44:00 +0000

Many people have a hard time getting to sleep in a bed that is not their own. I don't rightly recall if I ever had that problem, but after traveling for ten solid months I sure don't have that problem anymore. I slept like a rock last night. As a matter of fact, I slept so well that I got up at like 6:30, fully rested and eager to greet the dawn. Where did THAT come from?

Doug and I went to breakfast at a small cafe called The Coffee Cup in Long Beach. It was a hopping little joint with amazing pancakes, homemade potatoes, and some really fantastic coffee. Actually, there was a bit of a wait, and once you sign in you can get a cup of coffee and wait inside (or outside on the sidewalk, which we did) to get seated. They are next door to some small local shops, and on more than one occasion I saw one of the Coffee Cup employees go inside those businesses to find patrons whose names were up but hadn't answered their call. I love local establishments that really care about their customers. Great stuff.

After we ate, we drove out to Pasadena and visited a place I wanted to see last time: The Gamble House. Built in 1908 for David Gamble (of Proctor & Gamble) it is one of the finest examples of American architecture. It is constructed from many various kinds of wood and with an attention to detail and craftsmanship I cannot begin to explain in this blog post. Every room was magnificently detailed and my jaw dropped at how beautifully designed everything was. There were many oriental influences in the design overall, and I was overjoyed to find small nuances from Japanese architecture I had already experienced. One of the upstairs fireplaces was even designed after a Tori Gate. It is easily the highlight of my trip so far. In case the house looks familiar, the real reason it was so high on my list is because it is Doc Brown's mansion in Back to the Future.

Once we wrapped up there, Doug took me on a tour of Pasadena and surrounding towns showing me some of the houses he lived in and some of the big shot mansions. I also cannot adequately describe how enormous some of these houses were. One of the empty lots I saw with a 'For Sale' sign was going for 3.5 million dollars. I cannot wrap my mind around that much money. It just doesn't compute for me. I saw the house that Doug grew up in and got a bit of a feeling for what life was like for him growing up. It is certainly a much different existence than mine or anyone else I know. We wandered about until we found ourselves in Hollywood.

I've heard all of my life that Hollywood is beaten up and downtrodden. Let me tell you this is entirely true. There are homeless folks everywhere, and right next to closed-off streets for filming there'll be barred businesses and shady dealings. Even the main drag with Mann Grauman's Chinese Theatre lacks in glamour...but that didn't stop me from geeking out anyway. I hopped out of the car at one point to get some shots of the theatre. There were people milling about dressed up has stars and characters, taking pictures with tourists. There were homeless folks asking for money. There were locals, standing against buildings; pointing, laughing. People with huge maps trying to find their way. It was a sea of humanity. Once I caught back up with the car, Doug took me around a few more places to show me the curiously morbid 'Hollywood Forever' cemetery, the Paramount Lot, and a few supply stores he used in his career as an art director.

We stopped unexpectedly in downtown Los Angeles for lunch. I had been gawking at the skyscrapers and snapping pictures for such a while that I didn't realize I was hungry...but as soon as we stopped, my stomach reminded me. We lunched at this fantastic little hot dog place in the Art District called Wurstküche. I had a Bockwurst and tried some curry ketchup, along with a new (to me) amber beer called Kwak, which was quite delicious. Once I ate too much (again) we saddled up, headed back home, and I enjoyed the fact that my Dramamine was mixing with the strong beer in an interesting way. It's nearly 8 now, and I am going to start thinking about dinner. After I sit here awhile longer.

Back in Signal Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 06:10:00 +0000

There is a lot of past in my present, and it's good to be back.

The morning started early, what with an 8:30 flight and all. I'd spent most of the previous night tearing the apartment apart trying to find my passport, finally giving up around midnight. Indi and I looked everywhere, and it just wasn't around. Sure, you don't need a passport to get to California, where I was flying out for a week before Blizzcon 2010, but I'd hope to jaunt down to Mexico. Honestly, I was more depressed about the fact that all those passport stamps were gone, too. But this morning, I had given up. I sat in my chair, eating a bowl of cereal, when it hit me. I walked straight into the closet and picked up the small pack that held my passport and went straight to it. Strangest thing. Good timing, too, cause Indi dropped me off at the airport about twenty minutes later.

I said goodbye to my wife, who was staying home due to work commitments and financial constraints. It was a sad moment I try not to think about; I miss her terribly. I didn't have a lot of time to miss her today, though, as I checked in ($25 for one checked bag? Really? Oh, and crazy 3D body scanning security!) and flew to Dallas. Once there, I had another quick bite and was accosted by some traveler gathering McDonald's Monopoly pieces. After a short layover and a conversation with some mTV dance group about their iPhones, I boarded my flight to Los Angeles. As long as I'd been out of the travel game, it was really easy to pick back up. Add in the fact that walking briskly down a moving sidewalk with my Tenth Doctor coat felt amazing and it was a relatively painless experience.

Landing in LAX came quickly, thanks to my 3 hr flight of Dramamine/Imitrex induced zombie state, and quickly again came my car rental. Thanks to my Garmin GPS device, I arrived at my host's place at about 1:20 PM Pacific time. Doug's house is exactly as I remember it, a gorgeous 1914 wood shingle home atop Signal Hill, across the street from working oil pumpjacks and overlooking the city of Long Beach. Doug was helping his ex move today so the first few hours were mine. I found my key, got settled, and realized I was hungry again. What does Rhys do when he's hungry in L.A.? Go to In-n-Out burger, of course! I was once again wowed by their superior customer service and amazingly fresh food. I didn't go overboard, just a single cheeseburger, but it was difficult.

I got back to the house, took an impromptu nap, and at about 4:30 Doug came home. It was really great to see him. Doug's laid back personality and excessively friendly demeanor is as contagious as Captain Trips. He also makes it a personal mission to make sure you have a good time. I noted his new RV, which prompted his stories from Burning Man this year. His Buick convertible is gone, and one of his awesome dogs has passed on, but Doug's mood was as jovial as ever. We took a short drive into town and had dinner at a BBQ place called Johnny Rebs; ironically, I sat right next to an old Oklahoma license plate on the wall. Dinner was good, company was good; afterwards, we took a walk down Belmont Lane and enjoyed the cool autumn breeze coming off the ocean.

So it's late now, I'm turning in, and tomorrow we're doing some driving around town. Monday should be Mexico (since I have my passport, yay!) and Thursday starts my Blizzard Entertainment fest with the charity dinner. I'm so excited to be out here; though it was cloudy today. Hoping for some sunny weather tomorrow!

Attending the Tulsa State Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 14:26:00 +0000

There were various times when I was traveling that I'd come across some small festival, carnival, or other gathering and think back fondly to the State Fair here at home. It normally wasn't a long thought, just a short "hey that was fun" kind of memory and I'd move on. As October creeped up on the calendar, I started thinking about it more. After everything I've seen and the parts of me that have changed, would I still enjoy it? Would I see it as a fun gathering or as a commentary on my fellow Oklahomans and, perhaps, the country at large? Would I be able to walk out of the fairgrounds under my own power? I was intrigued.

I didn't have a plan; I simply woke up early enough yesterday to check out what time the fair opened (10:00 AM) and had enough free time to go spend a few hours. So I drove my pick-up to the Expo center and waited in traffic. There were so many people, and this wasn't even a peak time to visit. Most of the drivers weren't paying attention, or WERE and did everything they could to cut people off and be generally rude to get that one car-length advantage. The young traffic workers guided me around the parking lot to the area inside the next-door horse track. I parked and started walking.

The first guy I saw had on an anti-Obama shirt. The first woman I saw was in a motorized chair due to her weight. The first family I saw was full of children screaming. I closed my eyes for a second, found my inner peace, and walked to the ticketing booth. The ticket lady lethargically sold me a ticket and, instead of walking into the side entrance, I walked around to the front so I could see the Tulsa Driller. On the way, I passed a mother pleading with a worker in a golf cart to take her kids up front to see the driller. She was actually getting angry that he wouldn't take them all up there, though the walk only took me three minutes.

I got to the front and stared up at the massive structure, adorned with a 97.5 KMOD radio station 'T-Shirt' made of what looked to be parachute material. Once I was satisfied with my gawking, I went inside the main exhibition hall. The inside of the Quiktrip Center can be summed up as such: RVs, Hot Tubs, ATVs, New Cars, Salesmen, Vendors (there is a difference), political propaganda, and Food. Walking the aisles filled me with nostalgia, because although everything is new, everything is also old. Tulsa Police Dept. is always there showing off riot gear and firearms. The back wall is lined with furniture. The lower part of the building is teeming with people eager to show off their products. This year there was even a cake contest! I wandered through, looking and listening, but quickly tired of it. I set my sights on what I really wanted to come see: the rides and the midway.

I've never been a big Fair Ride person. My mother instilled a fear in me from a young age of these hastily assembled metal monstrosities and the questionable folk that run them. I rode a few some years ago with Indi, but it was with great coercion. This year, I was content to once again observe. Since I had arrived at opening, not all the rides were up yet and many of them were doing their morning tests. There's something creepy about looking at a Tilt-a-Whirl spinning with nobody in it or watching a giant thrill ride go through it's mechanical motions without the aid of screaming riders. The Skyride started transporting little gondolas above me; my immediate glee was quickly replaced with a pang of sadness. Once upon a time, the Skyride took people from one end of the Fairground to the other, depositing you in Bell's Amusement Park. Bell's is no longer there, replaced with a parking lot. My desire to ride the skyway faded into obscurity.

As I walked through the Midway, looking at the games (Everyone's a winner!) and attractions, I noticed something else. Many of the 'exotic' attractions like the "World's Smallest Woman" and people made out of snakes and what-have-you are no longer manned by a barker. Sure, there's a ticket taker, but the "YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!" voice was coming from a recording that looped over and over again. How clinical and disconnected. Most of the workers were texting, anyway, and not paying attention to anyone. Guess being a carnie ain't what it used to be.

I rounded the corner near one of the food sections and my eyes lit up. Near the 'Chicken Fried Bacon' was a small booth that had a sign reading, 'Slovak Rolls'. It belonged to a sweet Czech couple selling the same treats I had purchased in Old Town Square in Prague last Christmas. I nearly tripped over myself jogging over there and chat with the owners for a few minutes. The breading here is a bit thicker and, evidently, they don't sell as well unless they fill the middle with one of various jams. I talked about my time in Prague and bought a PLAIN one, thanking the people for bringing a piece of my past into my present. It was highly unexpected. And tasty.

That brings me to the food. The State Fair is widely known for the many greasy, overwhelming food choices...and this year was no exception. Deep Fried Butter, Cheese Curds, Corn Dogs (of course I had one of those), giant spiral potatoes, Turkey Legs, Funnel Cakes...the list is nearly endless. I even saw the deep fried candy bars this year. One "treat" among the others stands out to me as the most awful and unnecessary, and that is the Donut Burger.

Yes, those are cheeseburgers that use Krispy Kreme glazed donuts as the bun. No, I did not try one. Although perhaps I should have, for posterity's sake. No, who am I kidding. I would've gone into cardiac arrest right on the spot.

That was the end of my fair experience this year. It was a nice few hours of people watching and marveling at my fellow Oklahomans. There was a pretty big college football game going on at the time so the crowds weren't nearly as crushing as I had expected. Next time I need to bring a crowd of my own with me, if for no other reason than to assist me with the food I wanted to get, but didn't because then...I'd have to eat it.

More pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysandindi/sets/72157624955876359/

Wrapping up the Con

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:48:00 +0000

So, after a busy and thoroughly enjoyable four days of Dragon*Con, I am writing from the comfort of my apartment in Tulsa, rested and reset. How'd the rest of the con go? I had planned to write more but the excitement of D*C interfered...I'll try to keep this from being rambly.

The parade on Saturday morning was good, but a little underwhelming for me. Everyone else enjoyed it thoroughly, and there was a lot to enjoy. It was broken down into sections; there was a Ghostbusters section, a Superhero section, a Stormtrooper section, etc. There were a few floats, several vehicles (the Mad Max vehicle/section was really impressive) and the Steampunk folks even boasted a modified Segway. I guess I just expected more elaborate costumes. Makes sense in hindsight; who wants to walk a parade route in some huge, extravagant costume and risk damage? There were a lot of non-cons there, and from what I understand the Con registration building was overwhelmed afterwards with folks that were unaware and happened to catch the parade.

Afterwards, Indi went to take a nap (last night + early parade) and I did what ended up being my favorite thing to do: wander, take pictures, and people watch. I found a lady with a tell-tale "!" above her head, denoting that she had a quest ala 'World of Warcraft'. I got a chocolate gold coin out of the deal, and would've had more if I'd found the quest turn-in lady, but I never did. Once Indi got up and about, we were walking around and ran into Jason Carter, who played Marcus on Babylon 5. Indi got her picture with him (and a drag off his cigarette) which caused her to jump around with extreme happiness. Saturday night we went to a 'Quiz Show' panel (similar to the British show 'Would I Lie to You?' and etc) that consisted of games played by MST3K folks and Doc Hammer. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

Sunday was magic day for me. I spent a lot of time on my own (everyone else went to a Brent Spiner panel while I attended to my own matters) and saw some celebs. I met Claudia Christian (Susan Ivanova from Babylon 5), was greeted by Brent Spiner (on his way to the panel that everyone else was waiting in line for) and Star Trek's Q (John de Lancie) put his hand on my shoulder and announced he was going to go give Jonathan Frakes some trouble as he walked through a line I was standing in. I noticed a lot of 'famous' Con folks just walking around amongst everyone. Even Kevin Sorbo, who is quite highly regarded. I didn't see anyone get mobbed or overwhelmed, mostly just waves and hellos. Anyway, Sunday consisted of much people-watching, some drinking, and good times.

Monday was the drive home. Saying goodbye to Dragon*Con wasn't as hard for me as it was for some of the others, as my wits were frayed and I was ready to come home and rest. It was a long, fabulous weekend full of fans and friends. I met some new ones and felt at home amongst strangers. Everyone was friendly, polite, and the one fight we saw break out came from a few non-cons trying too desperately to pick up nerd chicks. Everyone was eager to show off their costumes, or fan knowledge, or gaming skills (the Hilton's basement was filled with table-top gaming tables). It was a celebration of all things geek or nerd. I was very happy to be a part of it.

I can't wait to go again next year.

Enter the Dragon*Con

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:47:00 +0000

It's just after midnight here on the east coast. I've returned to our hotel room and am relaxing as my pictures upload to Flickr and am trying to process my day.

Really...really trying to process it.

Oh my goodness.

My day started later than usual (thank you, 5:45 shift!) so I was able to get up and around without a lot of difficulty. Once we had some light breakfast, the five of us went downstairs and promptly split up. The day was full of this dynamic, as we were interested in different things and had some priorities in conflict. That was okay, though; the age of wireless communication ensured we didn't stay apart long. I was only interested in a single panel today, so I spent most of my time wandering and people watching.

Yesterday was nothing compared to today. The amount of people at the con multiplied tremendously. There was also a higher saturation of costumed folks, and many VERY impressive. Some not so much, but that's how cons work. I didn't see anything in the way of violence, anger, or even loud complaining. Everyone has been friendly. Many pleases, thank you's, excuse me's...you name it. Brad says he loves sci-fi because they take care of their own. This isn't an entirely sci-fi convention, but that rule seems to apply. If you're here, you're family.

There are four main hotels and I only saw two today. Since I only went to one panel (Quantum Leap!) I camped out between the Marriott and the Hyatt. It was a great place to observe, as people were coming and going constantly. Anyone I asked to stop so I could take their picture obliged happily. Most of my day is a blur of this. At one point I told myself, "I'm just going to have to stop taking pictures of cool costumes. I have so many!" but alas, I didn't. I skipped the Kevin Murphy panel and the Weasley Twins panel so I could attend the Quantum Leap panel with Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell.

QL was my favorite TV show for many, many years and it was great to hear the stars talk about the good times, the fan following, and the final episode. It was obvious that they got along fabulously and really enjoyed the con experience. It was held in the main ballroom of the Marriott, and it was completely packed. I'd heard horror stories of Q&A sessions but it was smooth and well-spoken. Afterwards, I had the option to going to a few more panels but I just couldn't tear myself away from the people watching.

We got back together, ate, and attended a concert by the Super 8-bit Brothers. Although the rest of the gang eagerly awaited Weep (a band fronted by Venture Bros. creator and friend to the Nik(k)i's, Doc Hammer) I absolutely had to rest, get some water (gotta counter-balance my near-empty flask), and prepare for tomorrow.

Saturday starts with a parade.

Arriving at Dragon*Con

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:12:00 +0000

We all piled into Brad's van and left town by 10:00 PM on Wednesday. It was a record, us all getting organized and mobile so quickly. We made a short stop at Quiktrip for last-minute rations and headed out. The road to Atlanta was probably filled with good times...due to my Dramamine, I passed out about an hour-and-a-half in and woke up seven hours later. Conveniently, this was just in time to drive my leg of the journey into Georgia.

I navigated the traffic of downtown Birmingham, AL during morning rush hour and crossed into Georgia without incident. It was then that I really started getting excited. An hour later when Atlanta's skyline appeared on our horizon and the van erupted into cheers and tears of joy it compounded my excitement. It was a pretty easy drive in (thanks, Garmin GPS!) and we got checked into the most amazing hotel in the history of ever.

We stayed in hostels and extreme-low-budget places when we were abroad, but we did splurge a time or two and stay at some decent places...but nothing like this. Walking into the Marriott Marquis was like walking into Starfleet Headquarters or something. (Ah, nerd jokes. There will be many over the weekend.) It's gigantic, regal, and full of people. Many of these people are in costume. Since we arrived around noon, it wasn't too busy yet. By the time the sun set it was jam-packed. My Flickr feed is going to have so many costume pics by the time we're done.

We did a brief tour of the hotel, got settled into our room, then went to the Sheraton to register for the con. Like our hotel, it was set up to handle a crush of people but they hadn't quite arrived yet. We ran through the empty lines with glee and picked up our name badges. You have to pick a nickname for them, and this weekend I am also known as Yar's Revenge. This is a good time to mention how amazingly NICE everyone is. Other con-goers, staff, everyone. Smiles, jokes, inviting conversations, and total strangers that respond to your in-jokes and obscure references with knowledge and appreciation. It's heaven.

Indi met up with one of her old bosses for a drink while the rest of us got our drink on. I'm not much of a drinker, so my flask of single malt scotch held me in a state of warmth and comfort most of the evening without going overboard. We took a dip in the swimming pool (which was totally deserted) and tried not to overload with excitement for today. We did a lot of people watching and some amazing costumes were already out. The embedded picture is of a stunning Alien costume. The person inside what in character, too, not talking to anyone verbally. Oh, and Brad and I randomly found a Five Guys burger place near where he replaced his broken Blackberry. IT WAS FANTASTIC!

Today, we experience the Con proper. Our first panels, going to the vendor booths, seeing the Walk of Fame (autograph central), and being among some of the geekiest folks on the planet. It's going to be AWESOME.

Eastbound and Down

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:01:00 +0000

I have missed this feeling. The excitement of the near future and the open road. The unknown of a new city and some mysterious event. I even enjoyed packing.

When I went into my closet to start getting prepared, I had to fight not to reach for the backpack that was my home for so long. I opted for a more reasonable duffel bag, but that slight pang of homesickness stuck around for awhile. The contents of my bag were vastly different than they were in the past. Gone were the water tablets, headlamp, first aid kit ... in their place were auxiliary belt buckles, dress clothes, and heavy denim. I have a bag of wants, not a bag of needs. A bag of needs would be 1/4 the size. There's a correlation here with the food I've been eating, but that's an old conversation you've heard already.

Tonight at approximately 10 PM, Indi and I head out of Tulsa with three friends bound for Atlanta, GA and the 23rd annual Dragon*Con convention. Spread throughout four+ hotels, the con boasts over 30k people in attendance and is staffed by 1500+ volunteers. There are celebrities, artists, authors, scientists, mega-fans, and many other represetentatives from all kinds of media fields, notably the movie/tv world and the comic world. It's a mass gathering littered with fans, friends, and people in costume. I am really looking forward to some of my photographic opportunities.

There are also panels, workshops, autograph sessions, and various fan gatherings...a few of which are trying to go for World Records this year. There are also dances, contests, and a parade on Saturday. The only thing we're going to be lacking is sleep. Obviously, this is an experience unlike anything I've been through before. It is certainly much different than any of my international traveling destinations, and the last convention I went to was a Food Show in Springfield, Missouri. I'd explain what a food show is, but it's mostly boring to those outside of the grocery industry. It is what it is.

I'm packing a smaller bag for my electronics (as usual) including my trusty netbook. I had to charge it and clean it up a little, as it has sat in a pack in the closet for the past few months. It is very odd to see these remnants of the most amazing time of my life, gathering dust and waiting to be useful again. Well, the time is near. It's all happening.

Road Trip to Fayetteville

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:48:00 +0000

I miss the open road more than I expected to. Granted, my move to a more happening part of town has helped me feel more like a part of something bigger, but that sense of newness and arrival has been woefully lacking as of late. When I found out my friend's band was playing in a town two hours away this past weekend, my first reaction was, "Meh, I don't want to drive to Fayetteville." It's harder than you might think to shake off those old rooted thoughts. Of course, once I really thought about it, I was tremendously excited to get out of town.

My father sold me his pickup truck in May but borrowed it last week to move some boxes, so I have his car at the moment: a 2005 Ford Mustang. We would be riding in style. Saturday afternoon, Indi and I got ready and caravaned out of town with some of our other friends. The drive from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Fayetteville, Arkansas isn't a lot to write home about (ha). It's all highway with a lot of flat ranch/farm land. Part of the highway is a toll road, which I had forgotten about, and I didn't have proper change. I started to freak out.

Indi calmed me down and assured me there would be some kind of attendant or a bill changer or something. See, I like to be totally prepared. I don't require crazy "just-in-case" preparations like blankets, road flares, food rations, etc. but I do like to think ahead a little bit. Proper change for tolls is a big one. When we got to the toll plaza near the end of the turnpike, sure enough, there was a nice lady there that took my cash and made the proper change. No harm done; I had gotten myself worked up over nothing.

Just as I calmed down and settled in for the last leg of our journey across the state line, I got a phone call from the other car in our caravan to pull off at the next gas station. We stopped, conversed, and discovered the band's van had broken down some miles back. Arrangements were made with friends in Fayetteville to drive out to the highway, help cart the band gear into town, and deal with the van itself tomorrow. While that happened, the four of us (Me, Indi, Paul, and Malinda) had dinner at Cracker Barrel and drove on into Fayetteville.

I'd never visited Fayetteville before. It is the stereotypical college town, complete with fancy fraternity houses, well manicured parks and lawns, and a thriving bar scene. Brad's band, Baron von Swagger, was playing at a place called Rogue. We parked and I explored the town while everyone else got situated for the concert. It felt a lot like the party strips I'd seen and experience elsewhere, but was completely populated by young and mostly attractive people. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was started to get out of touch. I felt like it was obvious that I was an older person. I shook it off and continued looking around.

As night fell, the band got ready and played their show. It was a good concert, especially considering the stresses of the road breakdown and them being a member down. It was well received by the crowd and everyone had a really good time. It's amazing to see my friend, normally very amiable like myself, get on stage and transform into a bona fide showman. He has a level of energy on that platform that I cannot truly relate to. And when the show is over, he goes right back into his normal self. It was hot, and humid, but a good performance. We stuck around until about 12:30 and headed back to Tulsa.

Now, one thing my Dad's car has that my truck doesn't is a Garmin GPS device. I love technology so I plugged in our destination and set to driving. What I didn't realize is that it took me on some alternate route that, while not extending our trip, took us down a creepy stretch of old Highway 16 that took us through the Ozark National Forest. When you are expecting four-lane flat highway and get a two-lane snaky road through deep forest under the cover of night with NO other traffic in either direction, things get real. Indi was trying to doze in the passenger seat and had to sit up for a little bit to make sure I wasn't going to get us killed via axe-wielding maniac. When we finally emerged at the OK/AR state border, she went back to sleep and I settled into auto-pilot mode.

Until we got back to the toll plaza. I didn't have proper change (again) but I wasn't worried. It worked out last time, so why bother? No booth attendant. The bill changer was out of order. I only had $1.00 in change, lacking the additional $1.50 required to pass. I tossed what I had into the collection bin and drove on, stressing like I tend to do. See? This is why I like to be adequately prepared for these kind of things!

Having to Work at It

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:25:00 +0000

Yesterday was a big day for me. It was the day I decided to work at undoing the damage I've done to myself in the last five months.

In the dozen countries I traveled to, every day was an adventure. I walked to new places every day and experienced the world on my own two feet. Regardless whether I wanted to see a landmark, sit at a cafe, shop at a grocers, or just listen to the hum of daily life I had to go find it. I had no home to anchor myself to. And it was easy. I could eat food that I really enjoyed and still be healthy.

When we landed in Chicago in cold, snowy February (a time I really miss in this awful 100F degree weather) my weight hovered around 145. Now it hovers around 160. I got out and walked regularly. Now I'm lucky if I walk to anyplace other than my car. I smiled, carried myself well, and was at peace. Now my fuse is unusually short and I have fits of unhappiness. What the heck happened?

I rediscovered my ruts. I sit at an office job all day. I've stopped excercising. I've picked up my old and terrible eating habits. I just read a book loaned to me by a friend (Your Erroneous Zones by Dr. Wayne Dyer) and got a lot out of it; mostly, I realized that all of these problems cropping up are entirely my fault. It's not 'society' or my 'upbringing' it's my daily decisions. I started changing those decisions last night.

I started by having a healthy dinner. Indi picked up some Basa filets at the grocer's. I'd never heard of it before, but evidently it's an Asian catfish. Very light, and very good. I looked at my plate of fish and rice and smirked a small smile at how different this plate was to my historical dietary palatte. Afterwards, we took a walk down to a local coffee house and relaxed for about an hour, talking to regulars and enjoying the atmosphere of an urban gathering spot. On the walk home, I marveled at the effort it took to enjoy the same kind of lifestyle I enjoyed abroad in my hometown. It feels like walking after a long period of bedrest.

For the first time in my life, I'm going to have to conciously excercise. I don't have to walk daily to accomplish anything anymore, so I have to make up for that. I am all to eager to sit at home and smother my metabolism in snack food and air conditioning. There is a track next to my office that I am going to start walking/jogging around every other day. I'm also going to snack throughout the day and not go out for lunch unless it's a special occasion.

I'm tired of being tired. After my walk last night, I have more energy this morning and am fired up to make real and lasting change in my life. I'm approaching 30 and it's just going to get harder. I am going to need the support of my friends and family so this doesn't become another one of those, 'Boy, that was a good idea' kind of memories that doesn't take hold. If I can sell my possessions and travel the world, I can get off my butt and take responsibility for my health.

'Out of Town' to Midtown

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:17:00 +0000

Among many things I have missed from being on the open road and in unfamiliar territory, the thing I have missed the most is being able to walk outside the door to my flat or room and be greeted with instant civilization. Since I came home, I have been living in my old house out on the very edge of a suburb to a mid-size Midwestern city. Suffice to say, there isn't much going on. I have to drive miles to be greeted with any sort of collection of businesses and walking anywhere is really not something that would happen on a regular basis.

That has all changed.

Tired of feeling cut off and secluded (not to mention being unable to afford the house payment on my own) I put the house on the market and found a new place to live. I started out looking at various apartment complexes around town (of which there are so very many) and had started to lose hope. Many of the places in my price range were in shady parts of town and a few places I visited personally were in sad shape. Most places were further in town, but still not in a place where I felt I could walk around and get a lot accomplished. I noticed a small ad for a midtown apartment, and made a point to head out and give it a look.

Midtown Tulsa is a section of town that cozies up next to the main downtown districts. The focal point for midtown happenings is 15th St, also known as Cherry Street. The street is lined with bars, pubs, coffee shops, boutiques, and the surrounding neighborhoods are full of old houses and older trees. It's as close as Tulsa gets to the feeling I had when walking the snowy streets of Prague or the blistering pavement in Kuala Lumpur. Heck, they even have a Farmer's Market. The little apartment I came to look at is a one-bedroom efficiency apartment built on the back of a house less than a mile from the vibrant Cherry St. establishments. It fit all of my needs, and I filled out the application on the spot. A few days later and I had a signed lease. I moved in a week ago.

My friend Brad called me on Saturday. "Hey, we're going to breakfast at this little Route 66 diner on 11th. Wanna come?" I drove my pickup down to the diner, a little over a mile away, and sat down in a corner restaurant that carried a history of early morning gatherings and late night refuges. It still had a smoking section (smoking in restaurants is illegal in Oklahoma unless you have a section entirely cut off from the rest of the place) and, though I abhor smoking, that added to the charm of the place. Taking a leisurely walk in my neighborhood a few days ago greeted me with smiling folks, chatty neighbors, and several friendly dogs. I noticed several bus stops (gasp!) and realized for the first time that I may be able to successfully utilize public transportation in my home town. I love it.

I feel that I am in a better place to judge my hometown in comparison to some of the cities I was able to experience in my ten months abroad. One unexpected benefit to living where I do now is that the smaller space makes me more comfortable. After living for nearly a year out of a backpack, my old 1800 sq ft house was overwhelming. I didn't need that space. This apartment barely breaks 500 sq ft and I feel right at home. It reminds me of what is important and what I can safely prune from my daily life. I don't own a television, a garbage disposal, dishwasher, or anything to maintain a lawn. That feels pretty nice.

I was at the grocers earlier today, picking up a few things when a coworker spotted me in line. "Hey, I didn't know you were a Midtowner!" he said. I smiled.

I am now.

An American Food Travesty

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:16:00 +0000

Food is important in my life. I have met people that eat tiny portions and only when they absolutely have to; I cannot relate to these people. I love to eat. Not only that, but I love to eat food that is BAD for me. I also tend to eat faster than I should, which means I eat more than I should. It's a terrible way to live, but it's been the hardest habit I've ever had to break. Traveling the globe helped a lot, but it's difficult (as I've mentioned before) to stop it altogether. With that in mind, please understand that when someone challenges me to eating a particularly egregious piece of American fast food, I cannot decline. When my friend Billy challenged me to a meal of Kentucky Fried Chicken's new 'Double Down' sandwich, it was no different.

Let me also say that I've known about this sandwich for some time. I believe I was in Cambodia last October, browsing the web when I happened across an incredulous CNN article talking about this new sandwich that had debuts in a few test markets. The article was quite sure the sandwich would fail and laughed at the Colonel's poultry empire for even trying. Even then, I remember looking at the specs for the food substance and seeing exactly what the rest of the world thinks of when they think of American eating habits.

This sandwich can hardly be called a sandwich at all. If you are unaware, the Double Down removes the bread from the equation and replaces said bread with two pieces of fried chicken. Between those chicken bits are two kinds of cheese, bacon, and some kind of sauce. There is no way this was NOT thought of in a mad scientist laboratory. Yet it was successful, and was launched nationwide earlier this year. I've been thinking about ordering one and documenting the experience, but never quite got around to it...probably on purpose. This brings me to last night and the food challenge. Billy brought over two sandwiches, one for each of us, and a bonus foodstuff known as a 'Cheeseburger Roller' from a local convenience store. Think of a hamburger shaped like a hotdog. They look awful, but I understand the commercial appeal: the famous Quiktrip hotdog buns will work for both items and they can be used on the same warmer rollers that the Hot Dogs and Taquitos are placed on daily. I get it. It just looks terrible.

We went for the rollers first. It honestly wasn't much to write about; it tasted like any other convenience store burger, only in a different shape. I was unimpressed, but not revolted. I count that as a win. Shortly thereafter, though, it was Main Event Time. I took my 'sandwich' out of the box and looked at it. It was wrapped in paper, since the grease absorption factor of bread was no longer available. The cheese looked, as my friend Nikki put it, like 'cooling paraffin wax' and had a texture not unlike a melted candle. The bacon was non-existent, swallowed whole by the two pieces of chicken that were staring me down, laughing at my fear. I sighed, said a small prayer (seriously) and went in.

Sodium. The first sensation I had was a jalapeno-strong sense of burning from the sodium. The breading was salty, the meat was dry, the cheese was processed; hell, the bacon was a RELIEF from the rest of the salt. I was aghast at this new sensation. I like salt quite a bit, and it was like getting hit over the head with the Salt Hammer of Thor. I looked over at Billy and he was having a similar reaction. Our friend Nikki tried a bite and was immediately sad. Still, a challenge is a challenge. Billy and I continued. Billy seemed to have more of an issue finishing his sandwich, as I finished mine at a fairly good clip. All in all, not as bad as I expected. Super salty and an unnecessary amount of meat (I really missed the bread, too...). I considered the challenge over.

I was wrong.

About 45 minutes later, I realized the 'meat-glorb' (moniker courtesy 'The Chicago Tribune') had not moved. Billy described it as an 'angry brick' and I'm having a hard time describing it otherwise. I had this heavy weight situated just behind my ribcage that was going nowhere. On top of that, I could feel my energy draining as all of my resources were being diverted to break down this terrible anvil in my belly. I actually started sweating. This is not the kind of exercise that I need. It wasn't until several hours later (and many glasses of water) that I started to feel more stable and by then I was drained of energy. Bedtime.

After my recovery period this morning, I took a gander around the web and see that, according to KFC's figures, the sandwich isn't as bad as many other 'normal' options at other fast-food joints around. Check out http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/04/double-down-by-numbers-unhealthiest.html for a good breakdown, the guy is really good with numbers. And the fact that this amazingly bad sandwich is BETTER for you than some of those other options says more about the fast food culture than I ever could.

Tulsa Pride Parade

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 05:31:00 +0000

I was sitting at work a little over a week ago when an email was sent out advising that U.S. Cellular had a spot in the upcoming Tulsa Pride Parade and that we, as employees, were free to show our support and walk in the parade. I sent an e-mail back immediately asking to be a part of it. As long-time readers know, I had the opportunity to walk in a Pride Parade in Osaka, Japan back in October of 2009 and not only was this an opportunity to support the friends and relatives I have that are gay but would provide me with a unique comparison opportunity.

I headed downtown at around 5:00 PM on Saturday after picking up my friend Isaiah. I was thankful that the parade was taking place at dusk, as it has been brutally hot. We arrived downtown, parked, and walked to the area we knew the parade folks would be assembling. However, before we got there, we ran into an already-in-progress Tulsa Tough Bicycle Race! We walked up just as they were at two laps to go on the current event and we watched as the racers completed the circuit and finished their race. I have tremendous respect for anyone who bicycles, for leisure OR sport, as most bikes defeat me in a matter of minutes. We followed the track down and found our gathering point, which for us specifically was in front of a tattoo parlor on Archer Ave.

We met up with a few folks en route and the rest joined us closer to 7:00. I watched as other groups gathered and floats arrived. I walked about a little and already sensed quite a difference. Japan's culture is very conservative, and though the flamboyant folks in Japan went all out (i.e. Pokemon costumes) there was a larger density of flamboyancy at this event. At about 7:15 the organizer got on a loudspeaker and reminded everyone that we live in Oklahoma, and there was a good chance we would run into protesters and folks being generally unpleasant. He advised to turn the other cheek, smile, and wave. A loud cheer went up and not long after, the procession got underway.

There were many organizations represented in traditional parade format, quite a few of them faith based. In Osaka, it was generally just a gathering of people bookended by an organization. We had marched down the central financial district in one of the most advanced cities in the world. In Tulsa, we marched through downtown, across railroad tracks, and next to run down warehouses. The turnout was underwhelming, honestly, until we got to Centennial Park. But I'm getting ahead of myself. We had groups from churches, other businesses, support groups, and even a contingent of Tulsa furries. The atmosphere was fun and friendly throughout.

We crossed the tracks on Elgin Ave and past McNellie's Pub before we started seeing decent numbers of people. We had all been armed with U.S. Cellular goodie bags and we bestowed trinkets on children throughout the parade. It's amazing what a keychain or frisbee will do for a kid. As we crested the small hill past the Blue Dome District, we saw what we'd been hearing on loudspeakers for the past few blocks: protesters.

We had absolutely NO protestors in Japan. Just old men frowning disapprovingly, confusion, and people deliberately ignoring the procession. Here, we had a guy on a megaphone shouting about Matthew Shepard burning in hell and lines of supporters holding signs of scripture and sadness. There was active booing and other derogatory remarks, but no actual projectiles. Once we powered through that corner, they were gone. A short walk through a quiet warehouse street and we crossed over near Centennial Park and were greeted with THRONGS of people.

When I got a good look, I slowed my pace a little. There were hundreds of people cheering and waving, and as soon as we got in the middle of it we ran out of USCC swag quickly. We passed right by the VFW Post, which is where Indi and I had our farewell party last April. It feels like forever ago. Just outside the VFW, a familiar shout caught my attention and I saw an old AT&T friend of mine. I got a quick hug, but we kept moving on. Shortly after that, the parade was over and we started walking back. Isaiah and I ate at Fat Guy's Burger Bar (it was amazing) and I dropped him back off at his place before heading home.

Overall, the vibe here was much more open and active ... on BOTH sides. The participants were hugging people, handing out things, cheering, hollering, and having a great time. The folks on the sidelines were likewise, and the protesters were loud and clear. In Japan, the participants were more organized and put a LOT of focus into costumes and appearance while the only folks watching seemed to be concerned that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. In that culture, it's still a very closeted issue. I was proud to walk in both parades and proud of my employer for giving me the opportunity.

It's a Five O'Clock World (+ Horses)

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Thu, 27 May 2010 01:35:00 +0000

It's been just over a month since we've posted anything to the travelogue. It's not that we don't think about it...there just hasn't been any travel!

Indi and I both started our new jobs on May 3rd and have been working 8-5 Monday-Friday ever since. Weekends have been time for catch-up and reflection. I tell you, as the days go by I miss the open road more and more. I see Facebook updates from friends abroad and wonder what it would be like to experience new places...or even old places in new seasons. The heat is finally starting to set in here and I'm looking down the barrel of another Oklahoma summer. Speaking of Oklahoma...

I was in the kitchen a few minutes ago, minding my own business and putting away dishes when the dog started going bananas. I looked over and noticed the front door was closed. "What're you going crazy about, dog? You can't see anything!" I figured it was a weird sound or something. Mike (Indi's brother and our roommate) looked up, at the small window in the entryway, and said, "No, she can see SOMETHING." I walked over and looked out the window to see this:

Yes, friends, there were three horses on my property. One of Mike's friends (+2) had been out riding nearby and thought they'd say hi. The exact sight I saw when I looked out the window was the horse's backside up next to my glass storm door. Evidently, they were trying to ring the bell with it. Mike and I walked outside to greet our guests and talked for a few minutes. I couldn't help but gawk at this strange sight of Man on Horse (and Woman, of course) next to it's replacement, the automobile. They were so tall and regal. There was also a sense of uncertainty. After all, it was a living creature. If it wanted to take off in a gallop, well, it just might. It was exciting.

After a few minutes of "OMG" and neighbors starting to come out to see the show, our guests took off on down the street. It was nice of them to drop by. The sight of the three of them clomping down the asphalt road amidst suburban cookie-cutter homes was surreal. The rhythmic sounds of their hooves echoed off the brick and siding. I watched until they were out of sight.

I want to travel again. I know I've said this. Monetarily we should be able to afford a little R&R soon, even if it's just a road trip to a small local town. Anything to get my camera back out in the wild and the experience of walking ground that I am unfamiliar with. Home is nice and comfortable, but that is not what life is all about to me anymore.

You can't get it out of your system.

An Iron Giant

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:39:00 +0000

Living in northeast Oklahoma doesn't give me a lot of opportunity for short jaunts to fantastic places. If I want to go to Dallas, Texas, it's a five hour drive south. About the same distance north is Kansas City. That same distance again east or west will greet me with plenty of small towns, but nothing of great historical significance or remarkable fame. However, sometimes, the history comes to us. Such was the case yesterday morning as an honest-to-goodness steam locomotive made a brief stop in the small town of Wagoner, Oklahoma.

The Union Pacific 844 steam locomotive was completed in 1944 and, as far as I know, is the ONLY steam train still running today. It makes occasional, but rare, trips around the country for various functions for the railroad. I read about it on a local news website a few weeks ago and marked it on my iPhone calendar. Friday night I was chatting with one of my friends when I arbitrarily checked my calendar and saw my note. I asked if he wanted to go at about 1 AM. Seven hours later, I picked him and his nine year old daughter up and started the road trip. We stopped in Catoosa, OK for a quick breakfast at Waffle House (where I redeemed my free-waffle-on-your-birthday-month coupon!) and set out on the highway. It took us about forty-five minutes to reach the small downtown of Wagoner, population of about 8,000.

I used to drive through Wagoner quite regularly in the summer with my friend Jared as we were en route to his cabin at the lake. I hadn't been through in quite some time, and not much has changed. It didn't take long for us to find the old Union Pacific rail station, boarded up and dilapidated next to the railroad track. For one thing, there were dozens of cars and hundreds of people waiting on the arrival of the historic train. Curious residents, model train enthusiasts, historians, people from all around were eager to greet the iron horse when she arrived. We timed it pretty well; we'd only been there for about twenty minutes before we could hear it in the distance.

As the train came into view and began to slow to a stop, my face broke out into a grin that could hardly be contained. Here was this WWII-era train, once a symbol of America's prosperity and growth, coming to a stop in front of ME. The engineer blew the whistle and it nearly knocked me down. When the train came to a full and complete stop, nobody moved. Was it safe to approach this unfamiliar behemoth? I walked up and started taking some pictures, and I was thankful for the few moments of uncertainty. Before long the train was swarmed with onlookers. The three of us walked around the engine and marveled at the beauty of this beast. Four-hundred and eighty-six thousand tons of locomotion lie dormant at our fingertips. It was unreal.

The train stayed that way for about a half hour. They made some adjustments to the locomotive and talked with some of the more enthusiastic gawkers. I walked up and marveled at the gigantic wheels of the train. They were as tall as I was. I convinced one of the engineers to take a few pictures of the cab with my camera. It's amazing how many dials, gadgets, handles, knobs, levers, and other apparatus are required to run a train. After all, it just goes down a track, right? How about just a 'forward' button and a 'stop' button? I guess I'm just used to the computer age.

After a too-short pause, the whistle pierced the morning air once more to let us know it was time to move on. Everybody cheered as the train slowly moved forward. Now, if you've seen many locomotives in movies, you know there's a moment when it gets going where the wheels spin fast 'till it catches the track and everything matches. Well, when that happened, the entire ground shook. I was immediately humbled by the power of the train and was hit with a pang of sadness that this marvel was the last of it's kind. We waved until the train steamed out of sight. I hope that is not the last time I see it.

Video of the Train Leaving

Thanks for the Convenience

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0000

I miss a lot about traveling. The feeling of not knowing where I'll be next week. The sense of new and unknown right outside my door. The wonder of tasting a new food or seeing something I've only seen on the page of a book. The warmth of making a new friend. I even (sometimes) miss the bus/plane/van journeys, as I knew it would result in the arrival at an entirely new experience. However, there are a few things that I reflect on, almost daily, that I am so thankful to have back.

Garbage Disposal

I hate throwing food refuse away in a plastic bag. The thought of the dripping horrible food waste accumulating in the bottom of the bag, as well as the rank odor that soon follows, is not something I miss. It's settling to this ol' OCD mind to throw it down the drain, chop it into tiny pieces, and forget it.

Hot Water

I hate cold showers. Even in tropical climates, I just can't do it. A cool shower when I'm overheated, yeah, but cold? No. It's all I can do to keep my composure and not curl into a little ball and cry. Oh, and although the 'splash room' style of shower was nice at first, it's nice to have my own little space again.

Clothes Dryer

This is a toss up. On one hand, it's nice to air dry clothes. It just takes FOREVER. The sense of freedom that comes with washing clothes and knowing I can put them away the same day is great for me. Also, my clothes are less wrinkled. Speaking of clothes...

Clothes

I am a clothes horse. Yes, I admit it. I can survive on three shirts and two pairs of pants, and did without issue...but I am SO glad to have other choices. Throughout my marriage I have had more clothes than Indi in my closet, and it's no different now than it was. I am, however, much more picky on what I will wear. I have a lot fewer t-shirts, which fills Indi with immeasurable joy and relief.

Burgers

Yeah, those that know me best knew this was coming. I am eating better now. I actually eat salads on a semi-regular basis and have a lot more variety in my diet...but nobody does a hamburger like the United States of America. If given a choice, I still always opt for a tasty meal at Brewburger or Goldie's, perhaps a drive-thru at Whataburger or Wendy's. Indi's homemade burgers are to DIE FOR. I do recognize that I need to space 'em out a lot more, and rest assured that I don't eat them as often as I used to.

24 Hours

At any time of day or night, there are businesses open offering products that I might need, like toilet paper, tylenol, taco seasoning, or anything else that starts with the letter T. While traveling, most places (even the capital cities) closed down at a certain time and you would just have to wait until morning. There's a sense of comfort knowing that if I have an emergency need, I can take care of it.

Those are the things that came to mind in the quiet of my morning coffee. I'm sure there are others, but it seems like it's the little things that I missed the most. Also the OCD things. That's just the way I am.

One Year Later

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:00:00 +0000

It was one year ago today that I hugged my mother and we set out in Brad's Chevrolet van into the great unknown. To quote Doc Brown, "My God, has it been that long?" It also feels like last week. Some things have changed, others haven't. The world seems to have a way of trying to force things back into their old familiar ruts. It's my job to make sure that doesn't happen.

I remember my last day at AT&T, and Indi remembers hers. She starts back at the call center on May 3rd and I've applied for a few positions. Our dwindling bank account snuck up on us and bills gotta be paid. It's strange how, when we were abroad, we never worried about money; we had a set amount that we knew would mean it was time to go home. Once we got home, we didn't worry about it as much; yet I worry about money more here than I did anywhere beyond our borders. That bothers me. I need to re-discover the peace I knew when I was in unfamiliar surroundings. I also feel useless when I'm unemployed. I felt so accomplished last weekend when I got some yard-work done (I HATE YARD-WORK)...it just felt nice to get something done.

We got a dog a few weeks ago from the Broken Arrow Animal Shelter. She's a six month old Shepard mix, and adorable. We named her Penny (a simultaneous reference to LOST, Big Bang Theory, and The Beatles) and she cheers me up on a daily basis. I'm not even in a bad mood and she makes me feel better. Playing with her in the back yard brings me a sense of unmitigated joy, on both our parts. I really missed having a dog.

I felt like I was in the midst of winter the entire time we traveled. Southeast Asia is always warm; but New Zealand, Japan, and all of Europe were quite chilly during our stay. I love hopping on the scooter and going for a ride, or going out at night and not having to wear a jacket. I'm sure this thankfulness will turn to bitter complaining once the infamous Oklahoma humidity sets in. I also need to take greater advantage of my mornings. I am slowly returning to my late morning wake-up schedule that ruled my life for so long, and I love my mornings. I've also gained five pounds. I can kill several birds with one stone if I start getting up earlier and going for walks. It's just SO EASY to return to the old ways, even after a change as jarring as the one I experienced.

I have made a point to get out and get some local photography done. For every picture I take, there's another picture I can no longer take due to time and the changing geography of Tulsa. How many memories are completely gone now that I have nothing to remember them by? I have had the chance to share the world with people back home, and now I need to share home with the people I've met around the world. I plan on taking a longer trip to Barnsdall and Pawhuska (Mom and Dad's hometowns) and happily take suggestions if you know of any other interesting places around Northeast Oklahoma. I have plenty of time at the moment!

Published

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:01:00 +0000

When Indi and I were in Thailand, we met (and stayed with) a charming lady named Emma. She is from Oxford, England (where we stayed with her folks, actually) and works as an editor for a travel magazine in Bangkok. When our trip was beginning to end, Emma e-mailed me and asked if I would be interested in writing an article for the April/May issue of her magazine.

Well, sure, of course I would!

And now it's out. Inbound Asia April/May 2010 has a short article (with pictures!) about the Cameron Highlands written by yours truly on pg. 68-71. I am tremendously excited to share this with you and cannot thank my friend enough for this opportunity. A digital copy of the magazine can be access at the below link.

http://inboundmag.com/

And, yes, Mom, I plan on getting a few hard copies so you can have one. :-)

Sudden Six Flags

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 01:36:00 +0000

Friday night, Indi and I were sitting at home with our friends Nikki and Brad and playing World of Warcraft. Brad gets a call from his friend Paul asking if they want to go to Six Flags. In, like, an hour. About two hours later, that phone call turned from Paul and Malinda (two other friends of ours) going to Six Flags Over Texas in Dallas to Paul, Malinda, Brad, Nikki, Rhys, Indi, Niki Smith, and No D (real name Nick, but never goes by it) making the four+ hour drive to Dallas at 1:30 AM to go to Six Flags on Saturday.

Before our world trip, this kind of spontaneous travel would never have been possible for me. Being a bit OCD and having a need for control, I don't think I'd be able to relinquish that control OR just up and go somewhere like that without planning first. I am quite happy just in the fact that I was able to take this trip without any of those issues. The road to Dallas felt like freedom. It was traveling again, this time with a caravan of friends to share it with. I say share, which is totally true at Six Flags itself, but due to the dramamine I don't remember the drive well at all. We did eventually arrive at a small Super 8 Hotel at about 4:30 and slept immediately.

We left the hotel later that morning at about 11:30, a bit groggy and some not terribly happy to be up after such a short sleep, but we were all tremendously excited. We arrived at the park just after noon and were greeted with a sign proclaiming it was Christian Youth Weekend. Also being Easter Weekend, this meant a packed park...but the weather couldn't have been nicer! Once sorted, our first stop as a group was the Mr. Freeze Roller Coaster. I am not a roller coaster person, so I spent most of the day waiting, taking pictures, or holding loose items like purses and drink cups...but that's not a complaint. I love to people watch, and you can't beat amusement park people watching. Plus, otherwise we'd have had to rent lockers and they are EXPENSIVE.

So, yes, Mr. Freeze. It's this CRAZY coaster that gets started with the help of giant MAGNETS. It goes around in a loop and then into a straight-up climb...where it slows, stops, then goes backwards. It is evidently terrifying. All the riders that opted to get on came off a little shaky but all tremendously excited to have gone. This is pretty much how it went for the day. We even split up for a bit so more of the park could be covered. When some of the party went to stand in line for the Superman tower (a long drop type ride) I sat on a bench underneath an extremely tall swing. They strapped riders in, pulled 'em up, and let 'em fly. It was amusing to watch them screaming overhead.

Other rides included an indoor runaway-minecart coaster, the Batman coaster, a few smaller rides like the Scrambler, and capped off with the enormous Titan coaster. The Texas Giant was, sadly, closed until next year. They are evidently converting the old wooden structure to steel. Doesn't make a bit of difference to me, seeing as how I'm not into roller coasters much, but it felt like something was dying. Aren't wooden roller coasters the 'old guard'? I wish they'd have kept it that way.

The day was full of food, fun, and friendship. I even got on some (less roller-coasty) rides and enjoyed myself thoroughly. Everyone had fun and it felt so good to get out of town; especially the jump-and-go nature of it. I hadn't visited a large theme park of this nature in a real long time, and it was the first time I'd gone with a group of friends instead of family. It got us thinking about where else we can travel on a whim and how we need to do it, rather than just think about it and never go. Things are possible if we really want them to be.

World of Food

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:53:00 +0000

I've been waiting awhile to write about this in detail, and after yesterday's poor judgement call on my part...I feel it is time to finally face the beast. It's the number one thing I've noticed since returning home to the United States, and the one thing I'm having a hard time NOT falling back into a rut with. I'm talking about food, and the uniquely American obscene portion sizes.

A little background, first, for those who didn't know me before my international journey. In high school, I seemed forever 138 lbs. My poor eating habits (I was [and still am to some extent] an extremely picky eater, no fruit, no veg) didn't seem to matter. I graduated in 1999 and by the time I met Indi in 2003 I was up around 155, which had been my second plateau for some time. I still ate terribly but felt fine. By the time we hit the road last April I was 200 lbs. My diet was abhorrent, as it always had been, but I didn't really notice. I saw the number on the scale, sure, but I didn't FEEL any different. It had been such a slow creep that I didn't even see the weight on me, which in hindsight I cannot believe. But it's true.

New Zealand was the first time I really felt it. We were getting outside every day, walking everywhere we needed to go in town. We went hiking in beautiful parks and on scenic trails. I was not the young man I still was in my mind's eye. I was still getting around, sure, but it was harder than I expected. I just figured it was normal out-of-shapeness. After all, didn't Richard tell me the earth would try to kill me? Indonesia was next, and the heat didn't help matters. I continued to lose weight, though the rampant lack of scales didn't give me a number. I knew. My clothes started to get baggy. Then I had to replace them. When we got to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, I was climbing up ancient ruins, walking miles through fields and temples, and had to punch new holes in my belt to prevent my pants from causing an international incident.

By the time I landed in Chicago last month, I was down to 145 lbs. I felt great! I had more confidence in myself, was happier with the man in the mirror, could get around much easier, and got tired less often. I was starting to eat healthier on a regular basis, too. When I got home to Tulsa, my friends and family echoed my happiness in my weight loss. As I started looking through old pictures, I realize just how much weight I was carrying around. This all brings me to last night.

Indi and I have been good kids, eating at home much more than we used to (we used to eat out daily) so we decided to treat ourselves to a place we hadn't gone to since returning: Texas Roadhouse, home of my favorite barbecue ribs in town. We ordered a rack of ribs to split and I passed the time by chowing down on the free rolls. Once the ribs arrived, I was struck by how much food it was. Indi gave me the ol' "I told you so" look and left most of it to me, which I promptly devoured.

I still feel horrible, fifteen hours later.

I used to eat those kind of portions regularly. Looking around, most other people are doing the same thing. In all restaurants I've been into, the portions are incredible...and not in a good way. Even splitting meals, Indi and I end up with way too much food. I don't want to be the guy I used to be. I like this new person that eats salads and normal portions of food. The social food culture here was slowly killing me. Not only that, but the food overseas is mostly preservative-free. We will be frequenting Broken Arrow's Farmers Market when it opens.

I cannot post about food and weight loss without mentioning Indi's journey. To do it justice, I heartily recommend you head over to her personal weight loss and exercise blog at http://caloriecount.about.com/profile/indiwarrior ... she has lost 80 lbs and is still going strong!!

Walking in Redbud Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Rhys Martin) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:08:00 +0000

If I look just to my right, I can see out my bedroom window and the growing blanket of snow on the ground, fence, and surrounding rooftops. If I walked to the front door and looked at my car, it wouldn't show any signs of the drive to my Mom's I took this morning. It's been coming down pretty good ever since I woke up. But yesterday...yesterday, I was outside in short sleeves. Indi and I rode our scooters. It was glorious. Oklahoma has been known for it's rapidly-changing weather patterns for some time. Will Rogers, a famous comedian/actor from the 1920s/1930s, once said, "If you don't like the weather in Oklahoma, wait a minute."

One of the first non-family meetings we had when we returned home was with Richard Higgs, a good friend and personal hero of ours. This guy climbs mountains. It was he who wrote us a letter before we started warning us that the earth was unforgiving and relentless. When we talked about our journey, Richard mentioned a nature trail not far from the AT&T call center we once worked at, which is also not far from our home. We took a mental note at the time. Yesterday, we decided to ride out and have a look for ourselves.

It was a short ride. Twenty minutes perhaps. It was the first time that Indi and I were out and riding together, not counting the ride back from the place where we bought the scooters. The air was warm, the sun was bright, and our smiles were wide. There is nothing quite like the feeling of riding two wheels down the road. The road turned into a poorly-paved country lane and we eventually arrived at the Redbud Valley Nature Preserve. We parked and set out for the short hike.

This was the first time we'd been out 'n about in an outdoor setting like this since Ireland; and, honestly, the first time on a TRAIL since New Zealand. I felt strangely detached as I walked along and admired the naked trees. Sometimes I would turn around and have a brief mental hiccup where I didn't know where I was. When another set of people passed us by, I half expected them to greet me in a foreign language. Though, at the end, I was more surprised at how many people didn't even acknowledge our presence. In all my travels, I didn't find any other place were two people standing next to each other were so far apart.

We got to a bench and sat for a little bit. Below us was a river. Above us was sky. Around us were trees just starting to think about blooming. My ears were filled with silence; the birds have not returned to Green Country yet. The landscape was a monotone selection of browns and tans; the occasional lone evergreen stood out like a sore thumb. When we started walking again, we found ourselves navigating around some modest rock formations. When we finally snaked around back to the parking lot, only 45 minutes had passed.

It felt longer. It felt shorter. It was a bizarre unfamiliarity nestled in the most familiar place I know. The trees felt like old friends, reminding me of the drive to my grandmother's and of throwing the frisbee in the backyard where I grew up. I am really looking forward to getting out and walking more around here, especially when the trees start to green up and warm weather greets me when I open my front door. I'm so tired of wintertime.