The Hotel Phillips is a beautiful hotel located on Johnstone Ave in Downtown Bartlesville. The hotel was renovated not too long ago but when the new Hilton Garden Inn opened, it was understood that the Hotel Phillips would close. Later, I read an article that said that the hotel would be converted into senior apartments.

I didn’t realize just when the hotel would be closing until the week of the OK Mozart Festival when I walked by and the parking lot was empty. Completely empty. I took this photo on June 15, 2010. The hotel was always packed during OK Mozart due to it’s proximity to theBartlesville Community Center and it was just the nicest hotel that Bartlesville had. In my opinion.

Fast forward two months to August 11 when Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were seen in the Bass Pro Shop in Broken Arrow and the Walmart in Bartlesville. My neighbor messaged me saying that Jennifer Garner was in Wal-Mart.

I’m glad she told me who was in the photo because I’m not a movie person and I never would have thought anything if I saw her there.

Then came the denial. No, there is not a movie being filmed in Bartlesville. But! I had received an email from the CVB asking for houses that could possibly be used in a movie being filmed in Bartlesville.

Having just gotten back from two weeks in Chicago, with stuff stacked all around the Garage Mahal waiting to be put away, I knew my unusual house did not fit their specifications and deleted the email. Also, it would take a WHOLE lot to dislodge me from my house.  I love being home so much that I cannot imagine an offer I would take. Have I mentioned I’m not a movie person?

Then came the announcement of a casting call for a movie being filmed in Bartlesville. No! Really??? This one was going to take place in Tulsa. At about that time, I started seeing five or six cars in the parking lot of the Hotel Phillips.

When the next casting call occurred in Bartlesville, add a 40 ft Budget rental truck to the mix at the parking lot. I’m sure they needed “stuff” to conduct a casting call and now that it’s over, the truck is gone.

However….

There are lots of cars in the parking lot now.

And lots of people (and dogs) coming out of the hotel. The lights are on at night in the beautiful Frank Phillips Suite on the top floor of the hotel.

So, this is my question. If you were going to film a movie in Bartlesville, would you take rooms at a local hotel, the nicest of which is the Hampton Inn where you can run into local people every minute you are out of your room, or would you rent out the beautifully appointed, recently closed Hotel Phillips that you could have all to yourself?

I’m sure we’ll hear denial like we did when it was rumored that Britney Spears was staying in the Mayo before it opened but it’s my reasoned opinion that the film crew for the Ben Affleck movie is headquartering in the Hotel Phillips.

Dear film crew folks,

Please make sure your Huskie is on a leash when you have it outside. Boo Boo the Wonderdog is 96 lbs of lean power and he is very hard to hold back.

Thank you,

Lauri

We went down to Louie’s in Jenks for dinner last night. It’s becoming somewhat of a Sunday habit with us. The weekends when Geoff is up visiting Nikki, we usually get together there.

Last night was no different. We got there around five and took a table outside. It was super windy but so very nice.

While we sat there, we started talking about Ryan a.k.a. The Dudelette. It seemed that since it was a family dinner, we should include him. So I texted him. Then I sat the phone on the arm of Vanessa’s chair so it would be like Ryan and Scarlette were sitting at the table with us.

Ryan wanted me to take a photo of everyone. Scarlette has only met me and I’m not sure if she’s seen photos of everyone else.

So first I took Brandon and Vanessa’s photo. Oh so cute! 🙂

Then I took Geoff and Nikki’s photo. I guess I should have gotten closer since the photo is tiny and I can’t make Nikki’s eyes stop glowing. I’m sorry, Nikki!

Then Nikki took our photo.

Way to go, Scarlette! David NEVER sits still for his photo to be taken. I have more photos of the side of his head than his face. I guess you have clout! 🙂

Then I told the Dudelette that they needed to send a photo to us.

He said,  “We’re working on it. It’s hard driving.”

Me: You’re driving?

Dudelette: Literally almost driving into guard rails for the picture.

Dudelette: And trucks!

Me: You’re driving?

Dudelette: Yup. LOL

Me: No! That’s not safe!

Dudelette: Multi talented, yup, knee steering and all.

Oy.

Scarlette sent a couple of those crazy photos then they pulled over to get a good one. Which made my knees less weak.

They were obviously in a different time zone than we were. And I was SO happy they were not driving but thrilled to see the seatbelt. 😉 And to see them, of course. 🙂

So that’s it. Life on the dude ranch at 65 mph.