Wednesday Night Photo Post: Bank Of America Building

Bank Of America Building, originally uploaded by retaliashun.

Wayne White Review on 29-95: Looking Good All Around

My latest contribution to 29-95 (The passed-out passions of George Jones) was posted today. 371 words talking up the great Wayne White show at Rice U. Art Gallery. I had hit the gallery on Friday to take some pix and threw together the post over the weekend. The exhibition is a great one, and even if the galley wasn't paying for some of my bills, I would still be mighty impressed with what goes on there.

Wayne White - "BIG LECTRIC FAN TO KEEP ME COOL WHILE I SLEEP" (Panorama 3) @ Rice University Art Gallery - Houston, TX - 2009, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Wayne White - "BIG LECTRIC FAN TO KEEP ME COOL WHILE I SLEEP" @ Rice University Art Gallery - Houston, TX - 2009, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Wayne White - "BIG LECTRIC FAN TO KEEP ME COOL WHILE I SLEEP" @ Rice University Art Gallery - Houston, TX - 2009, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Wayne White - "BIG LECTRIC FAN TO KEEP ME COOL WHILE I SLEEP" @ Rice University Art Gallery - Houston, TX - 2009, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Blogging Pays: Beer Money's On Route

The Houston Chronicle's blog 29-95.com was kind enough to ask yours truly to contribute the occasional post. I say occasional because I'm a procrastinating perfectionist. Keeps me from being too prolific. Hopefully, I can make up in quality what I lack in quantity.

So with that being said, my first post is online now. A review of the pretty-damn-good exhibition at the University of Houston Downtown's O'Kane Gallery.

Words = Money. Hooray!

An Open Letter to AT & T U-Verse: How Not To Make A First Impression

Hi AT & T,

So, the 2nd phone call was amusing. After scheduling the appointment and choosing our time, got a call from Mary. Apparently the address we gave the first person was confusing the service system, not being able to figure out where we lived based on what the account person entered. Once Mary added "St."  All seemed well and we rescheduled for Tuesday between 11am-1pm.

Or so I thought. An automated phone call confirmed that a service call was being made Wednesday between 1pm and 3pm.  Sure, fine.  2:30pm, got a call from Jay.  Nice guy.  Checks the existing outlets, runs a cable, gets the Residential Gateway up and running.  Go to the U-verse online portal to activate the service.  Jay is confused by the page he sees.  It's not what an active account should see.  His side of the  phone call sounded like this:

"The account was canceled?
"...Really?!"
"...How many places does an order have to go through?
"...Can you put me through to tier 2?"

... and other signs that all was not well.

5pm.  Jay was in his truck, chilling, not wanting to linger in the apartment.  He's got the account order repossessed/started from scratch.  Once he got the call, he would come back inside and finish his install. I looked forward to seeing him.

6ish.  Jay's back.  All is well.  Showing me tricks on the DVR.  Where's the HBO we ordered.  Jay gets back on his cell.

Minutes later, HBO.  There was much rejoicing. 

So, far, AT & T.  You've made an impression on us here at the house.  Not a good one.  Try harder to look better than Comcast.

(Hopefully won't) talk to you late,
Rob

Wayne White: In Progress, At Rice University Art Gallery

As his Houston exhibition gets closer to opening, the Houston Chronicle has posted a good article/interview with the artist (Wayne White brings his wild imagination to Houston). Chronicle-affiliated blog, 29-95.com added loads of pictures of the work in progress (Wayne White creates giant George Jones head at Rice Gallery), and Rice Art Gallery contributed photos of their own (Facebook | Rice Gallery's Photos - In Progress).

Lastly, he will be having a book signing at the Brazo Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet, at 7pm.

Friday Photo Play Day: 2nd and 3rd Wards

In the Nature magazine article (BBC News link), British researchers used cellphones to track individuals' routes and found that people mostly visit the same few places time and time again. Knowing this, I try to see parts of the city that I wouldn't on my typical routines. Last week, I took advantage of a napping toddler in the back seat to venture around town. The following pictures were taken in the Second Ward neighborhood around the Houston Shipping Channel and the Third Ward. These are areas that I look to explore more in the future. All pix have location maps on their Flickr pages.

Sky Blue House - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Sparkle's Hamburger Spot - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Dixie Plating Co. - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Old Brick Chimney - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Bookert's Prowrestling Academy (detail) - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Concrete Silos - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Heights Ionic Pride 280 F & AM Masonic Lodge - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Pretty. High.

Houstonian NarrowLarry posted some Flickr pix of the latest Orange Show Center for Visionary Art tour Getting High in Houston. Once again making me wish I could go on one of these trips. Too pricey. *sigh*

DSC01738, originally uploaded by narrowlarry.

High In Houston Tour, originally uploaded by narrowlarry.

Wayne White Rice U. Art Gallery

So, it is with much pleasure that I regain employment. Being an independent contractor means never having to ask for vacation (which was much enjoyed this summer). Punching the clock and having fun doing it has been a nice return to the working world.

The latest artist to be showing at Rice U. Art Gallery is Emmy Award-winning Wayne White. Set/puppet designer for Pee-Wee's Playhouse, he made a name for himself with a collection of text-based paintings.
At the gallery he is mixing the two together.

Looks great. Pictures to follow.

Mad Men Premiere: Manhattan #3

Mad Men Premiere: Manhattan #3, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

My wife suggested that I have a drink to celebrate the return of Don Draper and friends.
I took that suggestion and made it three times better.

Driving the 59: Sights Seen on the Last of the Summer Road Trips

See Rock City Barn - Outside Louisville, KY, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Rocket on Abandoned Business - Atlanta, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Motel Tower Sign 1 - Atlanta, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Pitt Grill Sign - Atlanta, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Pitt Grill Food Art - Atlanta, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Chicken Fried Steak, French Fries, Fried Okra, and Texas Toast @ Pitt Grill - Atlanta, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Friday Night Photo Post: Two Buildings, Near and Far

Houston at night, originally uploaded by ThisIsIt2.

Jamail Skatepark - IMG_7078A-3B, originally uploaded by skatehouston.info.

The sky was a crazy yellow the night that the skate park picture was taken.

Here and There: Vacation Recap

Despite the large amount of time spent on the internet, I've yet to write a post-vacation follow-up since returning. So, here is a brief, bulletpoint list of the highlights, with websites and Flickr pictures.

• If you're driving the 10 west of San Antonio, make a point of hitting the Bear Moon Bakery & Cafe in Boerne. The drive off the highway and into the cute little town was rewarded with some great Piggies, their superior version of a Texas kolatche. Random find.
  
  
  
• El Paso - The House of Sugar. Gorgeous, meticulously maintained.

• Las Vegas - Visibly affected by the economic depression. It's been taking a toll on both people and neighborhoods. Never did get a chance to take pictures inside Vegas Masonic Lodge #32, as I could have during a visit to their morning coffee club, open to the public. Also sad that time didn't allow for visits to either the Neon Graveyard or the Erotic Heritage Museum (nsfw). Happy to visit Johnstons Stables. Wished that someone answered the phone while I was taking shots outside, had hoped to get inside the expansive and intriguing grounds. Very happy to go to Frankie's Tiki Room. Leaving Vegas, had great subs (A "Bobbie" & "Slaw Be Jo") at the Boulder City Capriotti's.

• Tinkertown, NM! A great off-the-beaten-track attraction. 3$ bucks well spent!

• Visited Santa Fe, MN. Had inexpensive, good food at Harry's Road House and a great night at the El Ray Inn. The historic motor lodge was the hotel highlight of the trip. Would stay there again and recommend it to road-weary travelers. All found in the AAA guidebook.
  

• Stayed in Holbrook, NM, a Route 66 town. Gave me a desire to do a trip along the Mother Road.

That was a lot of driving and I'm happy we are happily back in Houston (except for an upcoming short side-trip to Kentucky, 2,000 mile round trip). I'll have to get myself reaquanited with all the things I wanted to do in town. See if the Odd Fellows Museum in the Heights and the Gulf Coast Electronics Museum are open yet.

Nice to be back in town.

Pictures of Places: Las Vegas, NV - Las Vegas, NM - Tinkertown, NM - Tucumcari, NM - Holbrook, AZ

There will be some recap of the 5,300 plus miles traveled this summer, but not tonight. Instead, there are photos.

Luv-It Custard - Las Vegas, NV 1, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Tinkertown - Sandia Park, NM, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Tinkertown - Sandia Park, NM, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Tinkertown - Sandia Park, NM, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Tinkertown - Sandia Park, NM, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Tinkertown - Sandia Park, NM, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Holbrook, AZ 10, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Wigwam Motel - Holbrook, AZ, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Masonic Temple - Las Vegas, NM 1, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Del's Restaurant - Tucumcari, NM, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Men in Aprons... Powerful, Evil Aprons!

Sam Houston, originally uploaded by Flagman00.

Anson Jones, originally uploaded by Flagman00.