starbucks

312:365

*photos by Elaine A. Russell


...cold, tired..... and well; actually exhausted beyond words. But I am leaving you today with some photos I took at Starbuck's today. I had to run a couple of errands... and I stopped in to get a small coffee to tide me over until dinner. The sunlight was streaming in the windows, and leaving these gorgeous shadows on the funky wallpaper there... and I just couldn't resist...

More photos and interesting (hopefully) repartee tomorrow...


And who knew?!
In the bathroom there... was this series of little photos printed on the paper towel dispenser
... explaining exactly how you should be washing your hands...
Good to know! I guess not everyone's momma made them learn this?!
(so I compiled them all together into a sort of collage... just for grins)

110:365

(photos by Elaine A. Russell -- this one was taken at the 2nd Time Around antique shop)


Today we started out near St. Louis, Missouri....and tonight we are in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Today has been sort of a rough day. Lots of construction on the roads... and some bad experiences with other drivers have made it a little difficult. Also... the roads seem to be in worse condition than I remember... or maybe it is just because my back is more sensitive to every pothole and bump in the road *(and there have been alot).

That said... we have seen some gorgeous scenery. Kristin did alot of the driving today... so I was able to look out my window at the stunning countryside. We saw lots of rivers and streams... and lots of really pretty birds.... tons of cows... horses and such. We even saw an alpaca farm off in the distance.

And there were the pleasures of being in more "city" areas as well...

We stopped in Springfield, MO for a Starbucks (my first in about 6 weeks)... and we discovered this awesomely loaded antique shop called "A Second Time Around." See this link: here

I think every square inch of this place had cool treasures to see... and we saw a ton.


For dinner, we stopped in Miami, OK at the Waylan's Ku Ku Burger (link: here). This is the cool place that I took a photo of last summer when I was in Miami... but I didn't get the chance to eat there at the time. This time... we took our time and sat down for a bite. It was really, really awesome. This place had been a nationwide "hot spot" since the Route66 days... and it is still going strong.

I had a fantastic steak sandwich, home-made fries and fresh coffee... FABULOUS.

Almost to our stopping point for the night, we saw a red glow and alot of smoke. Turns out.... some local farmers were burning their fields... and boy did it look cool.


These purple trees were everywhere... and boy are they gorgeous!


Cows... grazing in the fields....


Waylan's Ku Ku Burger joint....



...and fields ablaze....

I'm an addict

-----------------------------------self portrait.

I had always thought that if I was left on a desert island I would be fine. Happy. Secure.

Today I discovered how very wrong I was. I woke up to not having an internet connection. I spent all day trying to figure out what was wrong .... and after hours and hours of frustration.... discovered that it was most likely due to the fact that I had forgotten to pay my phone bill.

I am an addict. I blame my husband. He is like some sort of crack dealer... having taught me the ins and outs of the internet (hereby to be known as the crack in question). He provided me with the fasted speed connection... he provided the coolest software and computer equipment, and unlimited access. He is evil.

In my hazy stupor of withdrawal... I wandered aimlessly around my house. I was sweaty.. shakey. Wait... I'll have a cup of coffee, I say to myself. But --I didn't have any coffee in the house to calm my frazzled nerves.
Wait.. I say. I will go to Starbucks. But evil children have taken my car. I am stranded at home.
Wait -- I say, I will go to call my husband-- he will know what to do. But the phone is dead.( hence.. how I figured out that I had not paid my bill ).

No internet, no money, no car, no phone. Do they have 12 step programs for this ?!

I am in panic mode. The dogs are trying to figure out what is wrong with me. I am in a cold sweat. I have a headache. My knees are weak.
Finally, the hubby arrived home, and took me to Starbucks for a partial FIX.

Tomorrow, he will call and make payment on the phone.... but who knows how long I will be without internet and phone access ....will I survive ?

I am writing this from the studio.. on my daughter's laptop. Temporary fixes...tune in tomorrow. See if the sharks have arrived to feed on my carcass.

hump


-----------------------------photos by Elaine A. Russell

When I was back in high school (albeit.. the dark ages)... wednesday was known as "hump" day. As in mid-week hump. As in ... half a week to go.. hump. Course, there were "kids" who had another meaning for hump.. but we won't go there today.

Today was a great day to just sit around at Starbucks and enjoy a coffee... and the birds singing.. and the panhandlers panning.. or whatever.