What my iPod means to me:)

Okay- Corny title, but without it I would be lost. It has saved my life more than once. I have the old, old, old school iPod that is an iPod, contrary to what some sophomores and juniors in high school challenge. They haven't seen on like it before, which should tip you off that it is one of the first "generation" ones. It looks like this....



Yesterday was an amazing day in Oklahoma (minus the 35 mph gusts of wind) and visions of backroading danced in my head. I got home and plugged my love in and a rush of memories took over. I must let you in on a little history before I take a longer trip, with tips on hosting the perfect backroading bash, down memory lane. My ever loving pal Brat bought me an iPod, uploaded music to it and sent it to me while I did a stint at Vintage in Modesto, Calif. We had no radio and without music, I can't function. It can control my mood, change my mood and trigger long repressed thoughts for me. I am sure you are like that, too. And this device hasn't had new music added to it in oh.... say five years! And it holds some amazing gems of musical composition!! I am not pulling your leg!

Yesterday was a day that sent me back in time. I grabbed a BL and listened to Red Dirt music til my heart was content. I am smiling right now just thinking about some of our backroading (mis) adventures! Oh the times. First off, backroading= driving around dirt roads with some friends and drinks. Called dirtroading in some spots, road farming in others. Once I got to Stillwater, Okla., I had my very first backroading experience and I toured some great roads in Payne County. Here is Payne County.... And boy did we get to know those dirt roads. * Any names will be changed to protect the guilty!*

My first experience was on my second day of residence in Oklahoma. How fitting that I get to see the country and learn how to figure out N,S,E,W via the navigation seat of a Durango. With only a handful of friends in Stilly, I was eager to make more, so I agree to backroad with *Doug and a friend of his *Rufus. I hoped in shotgun and tossed my seat belt on wondering what in the hell we were about to do. The car didn't move forward, backward, nothing. The group, consisting of two complete and total strangers, was staring at me like I had just given birth to a puppy. This takes me to lesson number 1) You don't wear a seat belt in backroading. They stared until I almost blushed and then let me in on that little gem of knowledge. How was I to know? Heck- I didn't yet have any clue what we were doing. The whole concept is to be laid back, gossip, listen to music with the windows down. Applying a seat belt makes it a more formal occasion and also hampers your ability to jump out of the slow moving vehicle to do things like potty or switch drivers:)

Next lesson- Backroading is best with three people for multiple reasons. It makes figuring out which way to go so much easier. You simply play paper, rock, scissors. I don't remember if B or K came up with this, but it can lead to some amazing mis adventures. Do the simple game, declare the winner and go the direction of that person: driver= left turn, passenger= right hand turn, backseat= straight. One afternoon, B, K and I ended up circling a city block 10 times b/c of this game! And when it was just B and I, we drank 3 18-packs and could only turn left or right. We didn't have that anchor in the back to help us go straight. We did circles around Payne county, the outskirts of Guthrie and up into Kansas. I can wait while you get the map to see how many miles we might have put on that day. Always take three people!!

Never go on an assignment for a professional purpose and backroad at the same time. That is lesson three. My poor mother! I can only image her surprise when she developed the film for the assignment she had sent me on. When at her post at the beef association in Indiana, they decided to gather a pictorial database and where better to find cattle than in Oklahoma. Well, some of the pictures were cattle, some of camels, the moon, my reflection in the rearview mirror with a crown on, the passengers in my car, an armadillo, people peeing and so forth. I still wonder where the crown came from. Did I really carry on in my car? Details are still fuzzy!

Example of one of the only ones that somewhat came out.... You must have an iPod and it must be on shuffle. Anyone can touch the radio and you can't get upset. There is not spatting in backroading, only singing at the top of your lungs! And, backroading can cure all problems. We once solved world hunger on the gravel of Payne county! And, after a break up, those dirt roads consoled me and got me back in that relationship (which ended not long after we got back on paved road:) I even got a call from Circle K while B and I were driving around. Little did I know his cute flirty voice would end up being the one I hear every day. Odd the therapy of a dirt road.

So, if you are up for an adventure here is Keffer's backroading site checklist.
1) Find the camels- yes there are
2) There is a road that has a bridge consisting of two, 2x4's. Cross it.
3) A man covered his fence posts in coyote pelts. Old wives tale says it keeps live ones from coming on his property. Check it out- I bet he has a gun.
4) Some lesbians inhabit an old west looking apartment complex, complete with horse hitching post. As you are headed north, it is on the east side of the road.
5) Look at the houses on Yellowbrick road. Suggest this be at the start of your adventure as it is in town.
6) RRRRR road. Drive down it and try not to act like a pirate. It can't be done!
7) Drive around Red Rock and dispel the myths that Indians still live in teepee's.
8) Cross the smartest bridge coming and going. You will know it when you see it. It is set in a road where you think you have a choice of which way to go, but your car will be on autopilot and will do it for you. Smartest bridge in the world.
9) Go down Mecham road just to see the cool old bridges setting along the side of it.
10) Attend the Marshall, Oklahoma firefighters ribfest. All you can eat ribs for $5. Proceeds to go the fire department. Delicious ribs, once a year. Not sure when.

And, as always, pack you music, some drinks, chips and toilet paper! Okay. Now I am hungering for a backroad trip. Anyone up for it????
Until I become entertaining again, I will simply thank you for humoring me and move on.
Cheers,
Keffer