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National Weather Center- Norman, OK –

Where the wind comes sweeping down the plains 

During this visit, there is large hail,  50 mile per hour winds, and rotating thunderstorms. For many local news stations, this would warrant wall-to-wall coverage of radar shots and dire prognostications. Here it’s a mention during commercial breaks with “no interruption to our scheduled programming” It’s a place where afternoon drives are met with increasingly ominous skies. A place where commercials for storm shelters are as common as car commercials. A place where even a budget campground has an underground bunker.  Is this the twilight zone. No, it’s in the middle of Tornado Alley. […]

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Oklahoma Native Americans-

Chickasaw and Chocktaw

Oklahoma (from Okla Humma by the Chocktaw)  becomes home to 5 “Civilized” Native American Nations in the 1830-40s as part of the Indian Removal Act. US Forces uproot the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole nations from the deep south.  Forcing them to move to “Indian Territory” – land west of the Mississippi River. I, being in Southern Oklahoma – Chickasaw Country, seek to learn more about these indigenous people.

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Fort Worth, Texas: Cultural and Zoo District –

Zoos and Gardens –

After visiting the Fort Worth Stockyards,  I search out two other city districts; the zoo and botanical gardens.

I see numerous advertisements touting the Fort Worth Zoo as a top 5 national facility  This seems like a pretty big claim, but then again I am in Texas. The billboards highlighting the African Savanna are just enough enticement to garner a visit. […]

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Fort Worth Stockyards

No longer just a cow town –

Fort Worth has several destination districts: Cultural, Southside, Sundance, and Zoo.  I’m most intrigued by the perceived grittier Stockyard district. The Stockyards National Historic District features Fort Worth’s western heritage, including daily cattle drives, museums, shops, year-round rodeo, and Billy Bobs Texas – the world’s largest honky-tonk. […]

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San Antonio, TX – Mission Possible

Man On a Mission

San Antonio’s Mission Trail highlights the city’s 5 Spanish Missions. These missions were established in the 1700s by the Spanish crown with coordination of the Catholic church. The mission was to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Through mission life, the indigenous people were taught the ideas of Spanish citizenship which included conversion to Catholicism. […]

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The Galveston Pyramids –

Moody Gardens 

I arrive in Galveston for the annual FeatherFest from I-45.  My eye is immediately drawn to the pyramids across Offatts Bayou.  It wasn’t until later that learn these are part of Moody Gardens, named after William Lewis Moody Jr. Moody was an American financier and entrepreneur from Galveston, who founded a private bank, an insurance company, and one of the largest charitable foundations in the United States. […]