Posts made in February, 2010
My Norman Business Trip and Collected Thread
On Tuesday I took my first real business trip. I went down to Norman to take pictures of some past places we had covered for Uncovering Oklahoma and researched new ones.
I first visited the Candy Basket (featured in Episode 4). There I took pictures of the store for the site as I plan to update the older episodes to match the style of our sixth episode. I also got two items to feature for an upcoming Something Sundays’ feature.
After the Candy Basket, and after when I get my GPS to turn on, I drove to Cookies and Cards (featured in Episode 4). On the way, I saw a Scrapbooking store, so I dropped inside real quick to see if they had anything cool I could use for the Uncovering Oklahoma scrapbooks I’m working on. I got a few ideas, but I didn’t buy anything. Anyway, at Cookies and Cards, I took pictures. Nancy personally wasn’t there, but I left a message for her. The person there told me that they will be remodeling the place in the summer to add a coffee bar. I didn’t find anything neat there to share for Something Sundays.
After Cookies and Cards, it was off to somewhere new! The episode we’re working on now is dedicated to the mystic and metaphysical. I visited Raven’s Feathers in the downtown area. It was a nice, small shop. I browsed around, glancing through their books, status, oils, and other items, gathered some information, spoke with the owner for a bit (who was nice), and left.
Next on the list: Main Site Gallery as we’re also working on an art gallery episode. They were closed, so I went to the Firehouse Art Center. It featured one room, yes just one room, of art. Although there were pieces for sell in the gift shop and artwork outside, the place wasn’t very large. However, apparently their main feature is the frequent art class they host. I dropped off small donation while I spoke to the lady at the guest desk as she told me about the place. She informed me of another place, Circle of Fire, which features glass blown items. She gave me a Norman guide with their address.
Now, I want to take a moment to bitch about this Norman city guide. The address listed for Circle of Fire didn’t list if it was on EAST Main or WEST Main because there were two places with the same number on Main Street. I also noticed several other places didn’t list directional information either. Okay, enough of that subject. After I finally got to the correct address, it turned out they were closed that day. I later paid a visit to their web site and found out more about them. They do teach classes. I plan to visit with them in the future.
At this point, most businesses in Norman were closing, so I met up with Ali and Whitney for dinner. We went to some place, I can’t remember what it was called, but I had the salmon and it was great. Ali told me he was taking Whitney to this belly dancing class after dinner. I came up with this idea for an episode: Learning something new in Norman without going to OU. I could cover the belly dancing class, the Firehouse Art Center, and the class blowing place.
Finally, after dinner, I went back to my place and edited the segment on Collected Thread, which is now online. I’ve attached it below.
Well, there you go for now. Some new places and new things I’ve tried. Now, it’s time for me to eat dinner. I baked pizza tonight. I used honey this time in the dough. It does make it a bit sweeter.
Read MoreThe LLC Formation
“Today is the day,” I updated my Facebook status with this morning. It was this post in which I collected the following comment from Colin Powers, “Pancakes? It’s always a good day for pancakes.”
No, it wasn’t my day for pancakes. Today was the day I set up Uncovering Oklahoma as a Limited Liability Company. I now legally, officially own my own business. It grants me the power to write off expenses for taxes, get paid to do the show, and have a new pick-up line.
Never having set up an LLC before, I asked Doug (my lab manger) for help. This morning I went to his house at a little after eight in the morning. (It would’ve been there sooner, but I wanted to make a Metric mix CD for my car.) I picked him up and we went to the Oklahoma State capital, which was my first visit there. We went inside to the Secretary of State’s office. Filling out the paper work was pretty simple and the office wasn’t busy. I opted for the same day service, an extra $25, so I got my LLC certificate in like half an hour, instead of three to five business days. I was a bit disappointed that the document didn’t have a fancy appearance. It had more of a photocopied look, but hey, it’s what the certificate does that’s important.
After I received my paperwork, I dropped Doug off at his house and then I ventured to Target where I bought a fancy frame for my LLC and two scrapbooks as I’m going to start scrap booking Uncovering Oklahoma. I had a new friend, Eric Webb, visit me later in the evening and I had him take pictures of me with my new LCC certificate.
Of course, that wasn’t all I did today. After Target, I went to Hobby Lobby so see if I could some some stuff for my scrapbooks; didn’t find anything I liked. I went to Cort where I bought myself a nice, black dinning room table set for about $400 thus finally completing my furniture needs. I have been working a ton of overtime and hours in general at my job, so I had the extra cash. I did a bit of scarpbooking, watched a bit of Human Target, put together my table, and hung out with Eric. Now, I’m posting this update. Then I’m going to bed where I will sleep. I will wake up and do stuff…
Anyway, Uncovering Oklahoma is now an LLC and I officially own my own business. Next phase: profit!
Read MoreViolet Avenue Boutique on Uncovering Oklahoma
Okay, so I lied about having this video up on Monday. :-P
Next up in Uncovering Oklahoma’s fashion episode installment is the Violet Avenue Boutique in Norman’s Campus Corner. In the video above Sasha interviews Becca Chansolme, the owner of Violet Avenue, as she talks about her affordable boutique and gives us a highlighted tour of some of her store’s items. Be sure to visit the Shades of Fashion episode page to see pictures and learn more about the shop. There are also more pictures in the Facebook page.
I have an interview planned for this Friday at Collected Thread. I just need to confirm matters and everything should be set.
Read MoreMister Rabbit on Uncovering Oklahoma
I’ve released Uncovering Oklahoma’s documentary video on Mister Rabbit this evening. The video is part of Episode 6: Shades of Fashion. Instead of showcasing several places all in one video, I’m releasing each segment as its own video. It was Sasha’s idea. I was kind of sort of thinking about maybe doing it, but she pushed for it. The title credits are actually the same from episode five. Sasha wanted to keep them consistent while I wanted to make something unique for the video. We both had been edited it since 10 am and wanted it to be done with anyway. I will work on a new title credit sequence tomorrow for Violet Avenue Boutique. :-) I’ve been meaning to make a new sequence anyway because I was never truly happy with one.
Anyway, the Mister Rabbit video is out. I updated the Uncovering Oklahoma Facebook page with a bunch of pictures that I took while we were there yesterday. Tomorrow, Sasha and I are going to finish the Violet Avenue Boutique segment and release that too. I know, I filmed them back in December and we’re just getting around to editing it. The segment will get done tomorrow though! We also may work on the Holiday Family Jam video too. We’ll just have to see what happens.
Later in the week I’m going to film another place with Ali. I’m not sure where yet. I’ve been trying to get an interview with Papa’s Leather Barn, but they have yet to reply. I am going to contact the people at Collective Thread and see if they can do something Friday or Saturday morning. I really would like to get Blue 7, however, the only times they can do interviews, none of us can.
Okay, I’ve been working on the show all day today, so go check it out and tell your friends.
Read MoreSaturday’s Adventures
In conjunction with sharing all of my new experiences, I’m going to list my dealings on the fantastic day that I had Saturday.
Morning: With Sasha, we got breakfast at Perana Bread, which I’ve had before, but at a location I hadn’t visited. I had the Ciabatta Breakfast Sandwich with bacon, egg, and cheese. It was yummy. I think I may have tried it before though. Afterwards, I took Sasha to get coffee at Starbucks. The only thing I got there was some advice that one my tires looked a bit low on air.
Film: After breakfast and we headed to Mister Rabbit, which I’ve been there before and I like the store. We interviewed the owner, Keri Marie Monier, for Uncovering Oklahoma’s fashion episode.
Lunch: We went to the Chinese restaurant, Grand House, along Classen. I tried some steamed pork and shrimp things… Yeah… They were out of the items I asked to try. The pork was okay. The shrimp was too mushy. The whole experience was just awkward as I didn’t know what was what and what to expect. If I went with someone who could explain things better for me, I bet I would’ve enjoyed it more.
Air: I filled my low tire with air! New experience! I had Sasha run inside the 7-11 that I was getting the free air from and get me one of their Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins since I was kind of hungry after lunch. The muffin was good. I don’t believe I had one of their muffins before.
Edit: After filling my tire with air, we came back to my place and edited the footage from Mister Rabbit. We didn’t finish, but it did get captured and Sasha started writing the script.
Dinner: At about six, we went to dinner at the Prohibition Room with Ali and Whitney. This place was new as well. I had a grilled cheese, which was delicious and was done differently from every other grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve ate. We left in a hurry at 7:50 for our next adventure…
Night: Ali, Sasha, Whitney, and I drove to the Ghostlight Theatre Club (new place) and watched an OKC Improv show (new experience). I had made reservations for the four of us to see Everybody and Their Dog and Cueless perform at the 8 p.m. show. The show lasted until about 10 p.m. (running about an hour an half). Tickets were $10 a person, which I covered. The performances were hilarious. Sasha ended up leaving after Everybody and Their Dog to meet up with her friends. At the end of the show, they made an offer to catch the night’s second 10 p.m. show with Comedian Brad Chad Porter and The Closers for half price. I discussed the offer over with Ali and Whitney and we decided to stay for it. Ali bought me a Corona, again never had one before, which I felt tasted worse the more I drank it as it got warmer and warmer. My leg started to jitter during the show and that was annoying… Not sure why that happened. I drank a sprite (totally not new) and that calmed it down a bit. When we got up after the show, I was fine.
We left the theatre at 11:30. We thought about going to Bricktown for a bit, but Whitney was tried, so Ali and Whitney went home as did I. Anyway, the whole day was just awesome although a bit expensive. I’m not sure what else to say about my day, but I really could enjoy doing this sort of thing more often. If I can get a sponsor for Uncovering Oklahoma, I’m totally going to have more days like this, trying and visiting all sorts of new things and places.
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