Seasonal Survery

Even though I officially usher in fall promptly on September 1st, I've waited to review my summer until the general consensus is that autumn is here.
This summer was one of adventure--one that inspired me to pick up my dreams and not be afraid to carve out my own path. I've always been a "system" type of person who needed to fit into a cultural norm to feel secure. After a year of detoxing from my workaholic, Type A tendencies I've found so much freedom in simply being.

Here's a look back on my favorite moments from summer 2014:

5/29/2014: Amsterdam
Even though only three hours here were spent out of the airport, what an adventure to walk the streets of such an iconic city. I wish there was more time to take in the sights and sounds, but just a quick tour, cappuccino, and snapshot were enough to make this a stop worth remembering.

6/2/2014: Camel riding in the Dubai desert
You may get to ride a camel and you may visit a desert but the two together...that's a pretty good day.

6/6/2014

As an outdoor enthusiast this picture captures one of the most unique experiences of my life: hiking up a wadi in the desert mountains of Oman. It's one of those once in a lifetime experiences and all I can say is it's a bucket list item I never knew I had. 

9/9/2014

Why go to another country and experience the "culture" if you don't even talk to the people? Getting to know so many individuals with such unique backstories was the highlight of my Dubai experience. One of these people was Adebole, a woman originally from Nigeria now working in Dubai. Her story made such an impact on my life. My time in the Middle East was worth so much more because of the relationships.  

9/14/2014
From the desert heat to the heart of Texas what a joy it was to celebrate the wedding of one of my favorite people. My former roommate Whitney Parker was a beauty and I loved connecting back with so many people after traveling overseas.

6/24/2014
This is Tom. Tom is a serious man. He is serious about eating his chicken and waffle sandwich from Waffle Champion in OKC. How blessed am I to have a father who frequently gets to stop by the sooner state for a meal with his daughter? Also, this man trained me to explore the many hidden foodie spots a city can offer. I did that a lot this summer...

6/26/2014

Shiloh, bringer of peace. A road trip to Dallas for a baby shower turned into a puppy-fest. Everyone needs a little literal puppy love now and then. If only they stayed that size forever. 

6/30/2014
Nine months later and don't worry, no baby, just two official Equip graduates. I took the past year to attend my church's discipleship training school and emerged amazed by the faithfulness God shows those who seek him. I learned what intimacy with Jesus looks like, how to walk out a missional lifestyle, and dealt with heart issues I never knew I had. My life was rocked and it was just a simple yes--putting my ambitions on hold and letting God shift my perspective.

7/6/2014
Then there was Colorado. Five blissful days of learning just how dedicated I am to my love of the outdoors...and how long it takes to climb a mountain in higher altitude. Just a hint, you'll be taking a lot of breaks on day #1. Taylor Park Reservoir, you certainly added an unforgettable memory to summer 2014.

 7/19/2014
There are those places where just the smell can usher in a tidal wave of memories. When I catch a whiff of fallen apricots drying in the summer heat and the dry mountain breeze I know I've arrived in Chelan, WA. After a stretch of six years I finally got back to the valley last year and made a well needed return trip again this summer. It was a bittersweet visit. Saying goodbye to a Grammy so full of life was not easy but celebrating and remembering her was such a tribute. Other celebrations included my impromptu 10k. Who knew you could jump up after a month of running retirement and kill yourself for six miles. Now I do. Maybe next year I'll train better. Or maybe I'll just stick to the lake and wine tastings.

8/3/2014
Heading east to Broken Arrow, OK, home to the childhood and family of one Jordan Egli was a great way to cap off summer road tripping. May I also just say, we coordinated for a wedding without even trying #winning.

8/9/2014
I only wish I could have gone to more movie nights in the park at the Myriad Gardens in OKC. It's a testament to this crazy, beautiful summer that we could sit outside from 6 to 11pm and have perfect weather the whole night. Plus, I had to show off our picture in the Jurassic Park jeep. Pretty swanky road candy.

 8/12/2014
A peaceful evening out on the lake just slinging a line into the water. I may have only gotten a few nibbles, but just casting correctly made it worth it.

8/24/2014
An NFL draft party. It could just be a house full of guys wearing jerseys solemnly selecting their players while clutching a PBR and eyeballing the next guy's draft picks...or it can be a classy cocktail party complete with martinis and hors d'oeuvres. I suggest you follow our lead next season.

Don't forget to adventure today!

-Ray

A Commuter Survival Guide

So I find myself frequently packing up everything I could possibly need for the day and shoving it all in the back of my now well-traveled Toyota Camry. I'm convinced there has to be an award for being able grab a bag, pack your essentials, and be on the road in five minutes without prior notice. As I've traversed up and down I-35 and into the tiny little cracks of small town Oklahoma I've learned there are some essentials you truly should never be without.

1.) Water
This seems like a duh! scenario but I can't tell you how many times I thought, "Oh I'll just buy water there...they take cards right?" Now that I'm somewhat comfortable with the reporter lifestyle I'll share one important rule of thumb: never, ever assume there will be water. Assume this and suffer four hours of dehydration.

2.) Car Charger
I am a little ashamed about this one. Again, you would think that after spending so much time in a motor vehicle I would understand that not having a car charger on a road trip is like not bringing extra oxygen to climb Mt. Everest. The battery will run out right before your interview and all your interview questions will die with it. Not to mention your navigation out of said small town.

3.) Snacks...without chocolate
After my last grocery store trip I was so proud of myself for the stash of nuts and granola bars I remembered to stick in my car console. It helps calm the late night hysteria when the last time you ate was at noon and you must travel back home facing an army of fast food options (or for me...anything with ice cream).
Beware of the chocolate!
Unless it's snowpocalypse season you will grab that granola bar and open it up to a sleeve-filled mess if you are swayed by the chocolate covered chewy bar rather than the less appealing fruit leather.

4.) Multiple Pairs of Sunglasses
Because if you travel west at any point past 5 p.m. in the heartland, your eyes will burn.

5.) Mints
A habit I've recently picked up--I used to be a gum fanatic but recently realized the value of a mint. It erases evidence of your lunch on-the-go but without the need for disposal, and honestly, who actually enjoys those Listerine strips anyway?  Blegh!

6.) Chapstick
I've recently stumbled upon a breed of humans who claim they never need chapstick because they never used it and are thus, not addicted. Well for us normal humans, to avoid hours of your mouth feeling like it's about to burn off, buy a pack, stick it in your car, and never take it out.

7.) Jackets/Blankets/Socks/Gloves
We're moving into the "potential for cold" season as we call it here in Oklahoma and to a former Texas girl there is nothing worse than being cold. I recently discovered as I filmed a high school football game last week that the gusty OK winds can transform into winter gales within hours, leaving you with nothing but a sweatshirt and raincoat to combat the chill. In the future, I plan to be prepared, and I would urge you to learn from my mistake.

8.) Bobby pins
You laugh, but a girl needs her bobby pins. They are what keep her culturally acceptable when everything about her hair screams, "Take me away!." Thankfully I have purposefully and accidentally scattered hundreds of these little guys throughout my car. If I closed my eyes and put my hands on the floor, chances are I'd snag a bobby pin. And that's a really good thing.

Don't forget to adventure today!
-Ray

A Morse Code Coffee Tour Guide

When you sign up to late for the actual tour, what do you do? 

Make your own, duh!

For those of us who use coffee mugs as inhalers and schedule our days around caffeine breaks, there is no better way to feel out a new city than to tour the local coffee haunts. There is actually an amazing Caffeine Crawl movement right now, promoting local coffee roasters to their communities. As much as I love my grande cinnamon dulce latte from the 'bucks, I am a small business advocate and an even bigger mom and pop coffee shop frequenter.

My first experience with the legendary "caffeine crawl" happened in the heart of java itself: Seattle, Washington. The Morse Code crawl is actually fashioned after the Seattle By Foot tour (which seems amazing and I would highly recommend), and is for the slower paced caffeine consumer, who doesn't like to commit to things until the last minute or likes to be their own tour guide.
Note: all experiences on the Code Crawl may vary due to different baristas, coffee shop picks, and or attitude/fortitude throughout your coffee-filled day. So if you're passing through the Emerald City, here are a few suggestions for a day filled with that steaming mug of happiness.

1. Buy a local roast and brew at home

Whether you rise with the sun or emerge around the brunching hour, save some cash for the rest of your day and grab a bag from a local roasterie to start off your day. I am a sucker for Stumptown's Hairbender Blend, which is also featured at one of my favorite Norman brunch spots. A little research and you can probably find other local faves, like Lighthouse Roasters' Lighthouse Blend or Seattle Coffee Works Seattle Space Blend. You may notice both these blends have hints of chocolate in them...that was intentional.

2. Start with the sweet stuff

Okay so I'm a firm believer in waiting until around 10 a.m. before breaking out the chocolate. That's late enough right? So first start on the Morse Code Crawl: Dilenttante Espresso and Mocha Cafe. There are several different locations across the city. We visited the Kent Station shop and snagged a sip of the famous Dilettante mocha. I would advise trying a truffle while you're at it.

***Tip: Buy a medium or large mocha and split between fellow "crawlers"

3. Try a chai

A close relative and fellow frothy companion, the chai tea latte is a lovely chaser to your morning joe.  Trabant Coffee and Chai was a stop listed on the Seattle By Foot coffee crawl, and we definitely tagged along on the tour. Since the shop is daily frequented by the tours they were very hospitable to our own caffeine excursion and provided us with taster glasses and some savory, cheddar scones. 

***Tip: Ask the barista for a baked good recommendation to pair with your chai--you could get a taste test 

4. On the rocks

If your going the tourist pace you've now had lunch, checked out some local shops, and are ready for the next stop on code crawl. The afternoon sun calls for something chilled. Seattle Coffee Works has an amazing cold brew. I'm typically a coffee purist, but the cold brew's potency gives me an out for a little addition of cream and a pump of hazelnut. With your cold brew in hand I'd say it's probably time to head to Pike's Place and...

5. The Mecca of Coffee

How you can come to Seattle and not just pause by the original Starbucks is beyond me. I lingered. Allowed myself to think back on how my own love affair began with this sweet elixir of life. Sigh, those bottled frappuchino's--the gateway drink. Though the line is long and the end result may seem anti-climatic, on this particular caffeine crawl there is no better end to a great day of tourism and coffee. 

    Don't forget to adventure today!

   -Ray

Camping 101: Taylor Park Reservoir, CO

Sometimes you need to throw your priorities to the wind and climb a mountain

Successful camping is an art form of combining organization with spontaneity.

Really all I want to do in this post is show you the beauty of Taylor Park Reservoir and send you on your merry way, but I did learn something from my last excursion and have a few basic pieces of advice.

1. Buy a map
Thankfully on my last trip we had a veteran camper in this area, so while we bought a map most of our campsites, hikes, and other activities were guided by Ranger Jordan. If you don't have this type of insight handy go beyond buying a map at the local park information office--call ahead to ask which campsites are open and which are closed. Where are the more isolated sites vs. areas with hookups? Is there any fee for camping? Map out potential sites you want to set up so your glorious arrival isn't spent driving late into the night searching for a site. The same is true with hiking trails. While you want to have the freedom to change your plans it's always beneficial to have a back up.

2. Camp near water
For so many reasons. If you are going rustic that's one less water bottle you have to use. Your dishwasher, bath, and most importantly coffee water are all within walking distance. And there is nothing more calming than being lulled to sleep by the nearby gurgling river.

3. Bring kindling
So easy to forget, but just by bringing newspaper or small pieces of wood you save yourself the initial scavenging of burning materials for your campfire. On that same note, check empty campsites for left over firewood from your friendly, neighborhood campers.

4. Pack tarps...and extra tarps
Tarps and clothes lines will become your best friends on a camping trip. You need it for the waterproof base under the tent, that makeshift lean-to when it rains, and to cover the top of the tent if a tear or unexpected downpour happens. There really is no such thing as too many tarps.

5. Pack extra blankets and warm clothes
This was a new one to me as an Oklahoma camper. I slept outside on top of my sleeping bag on one excursion to the Wichita's in western Oklahoma, but Colorado is a different story. Every single night I was cold. I even went to bed fully clothed wrapped in a blanket and zipped up tight into my heat retaining REI sleeping bag and still had the shivers. My advice is pack two pairs of wool socks, two thick blankets, a sturdy, heat retaining bag, and long sleep pants.
***Tip: A quick warming solution is to hold your blanket around you in front of the fire for about five minutes before going to bed. Then quickly zip up in your bag to keep the blanket warm.

6. Get more water than you think you need
Also a newb mistake (made by yours truly). You think you will be able to judge what your drinking habits will be, but you will always drink more. Always. And since water is somewhat of a life source it really doesn't hurt to stock up.

7. Plan out your meals
Other campers may like to just grab the essentials and throw it all in the trunk, but once I learned this concept it highly improved my camping experience. Reason one, you don't overpack your food. If you know what meals you have available to you, you don't have to ration or moan post-camping because you could have done without that jumbo case of Pork n' Beans. Keep your utensils in an easily accessible Tupperware, organize your cans and your condiments, and make an easy to grab snack bag for those side backpacking trips.

8. Sharp objects required
I'm talking an ax, saw, and/or pocketknife. Chances are you will run into a situation where you wish you had something sharp--a log that needs to be chopped smaller, a sudden diy camping project, or you simply forgot your can opener. Also, it never hurts to have some form of barrier between yourself and a furry being, also armed with sharp objects.
***Tip: Bear spray and/or whistles might work a bit better than an ax

9. Think outside the box
Even though we didn't go to Colorado to play croquet, it was crazy fun to set up a course over the rocky ground of our campsite and spend the last night engaged in some friendly competition. Don't forget that deck or two of cards, guitar, or dirt bike. It's like an upgrade to your trip.

10. Bring a camera
iPhone or Canon 5D, it really doesn't matter. It's Colorado, and it will be beautiful. You'll wish you had captured that double rainbow going all the way across the sky.

And speaking of...here are my Colorado moments.

Don't forget to adventure today!

-Ray

Are you in the Wilderness or the Workshop?

 

   I'm pretty harsh on the ancient Hebrews, post Red Sea experience.
   They have a first person encounter with a miracle that defies natural laws and effectively wipes out their opposition (See Exodus 14), yet as soon as the desert comes so does disbelief. 
    Oh ye of little faith.

    I've had my own desert experience this year--literally. I travelled to the United Arab Emirates and had my eyes opened to a beautiful menegerie of cultures. That desert land was rich with promise, community, purpose and vision. I felt more alive in 115 degrees than I have anywhere else.

   Then came a different type of desert experience.

   The kind where you wake up in the morning devoid of purpose. Where reformed workaholics like myself cling to the schedule, filling up their lives so they know who they are by what they do. 
    The funny thing is, this was in the wake of a year of Red Sea miracles.

    From August 2013 to May 2014 I attended a discipleship school called Equip at Antioch Community Church in Norman, Oklahoma. It was a leap of faith into the sea of unknown...something I don't do well with as a person who struggles with needing control.
   But oh does God act for those who wait for Him (See Isaiah 64:4)
   I prayed, Lord, I need a home.
   A friend approached me and asked if I needed a place to stay.
   I prayed,  Lord, I need a job.
   Another friend asked me if I was job searching and offered me a position 10 minutes from where I lived.
   I prayed, Lord, I need community.
   This past year I've found a deep well of community and family, hungry for God's purposes.

   I could go on and on with testimony after testimony, but basically I experienced a year of response to an act of faith--God's tangible provision, again and again.

 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him -Hebrews 11:6

   Then I walked out into the desert or as I like to call it, the waiting period.
   This season is something equivalent to standing in line at the DMV. You know someone has your number and you know you have to practice patience, but it never does meet your expected time line. Before you know it your positive attitude is tested and you're tempted to turn into one of those fist-pounding, agitated individuals who is just wondering why everyone seems to have forgotten about you.

   Praise God for grace. Praise God for Holy Spirit encounters.

   I was am that person.

   I came down from the mountaintop experience, ready for my next immediate answer to prayer. Instead I went through four months of unemployment, no secure living situation, slowly watching my savings deplete after months of padding my account.

   I grumbled. I stressed. I squeezed my spiritual stress ball of several note cards of verses over and over again. Recite, remember, repeat...recite, remember, repeat.
   God where are you in my wilderness?

   Then I had one of those gut wrenching moments of Holy Spirit conviction. Oh, you know what I'm talking about. One moment I'm planning my escape from job uncertainty and instability, engaging in a full-frontal attack on a house infested with fleas, and staring at split ends I've been dying to cut but can't afford to and WHAM!
 
   Remember my people in the desert Rachel? They took control to. They made their own god when I seemed absent and forgot who I was, am, and will be. They let go of the promise over their lives...
  What response are you going to have?

   Oh, Lord! What a tender place of conviction. How can I, in the wake of so many instances of God's grace, deny myself the season of growth--of trusting. That's when I realized the desert, as we often call it, is not a season of wilderness but of workmanship. You can't exercise faith without having a period of believing without seeing. (See Hebrews 11:1)

    So I took a step back, shifted my perspective to holy.

   I was blessed with a home for a season of insecurity.
   Thank you Lord for the fleas, that I can grow and learn in a place of love and peace.
   A job came to me before I looked for it.
   Thank you Lord for growth in my field, that I can do what I love and get paid for it, and that I can grow in faith by depending on you financially to provide...because you always do.
   
   When you shift your perspective of your environment, you allow hope to clear your vision.
   So I have healthy respect of the Hebrews now. Insecurity is the food of fear. So let's learn from history and hold fast to the promises, because we serve a God who has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, and who will fulfill His great promises for our lives (See 2 Peter 1:3-4)

.

   We can allow the bitter aftertaste of suffering to overwhelm us, or we can have faith that God can use suffering to transform us --Sarah Young

Don't forget to adventure today.
-Ray

   

Destination Dubai: Trip Highlights from the Middle East

   So familiar, yet so incredibly different. That's how I describe my journey to the Middle East. Highways that replicate our American road systems with traffic signs I cannot even begin to interpret. Malls with stores like Sephora and Zara, Tiffany's and Gucci. A metropolitan paradise with luxury cars, a seven star hotel, and a desert oasis ushering in thousands of people from around the world.
My time in the UAE barely scraped the surface of the oil rich country, but I do have some highlights from my journey to the east.

5. Good Eatin'

    I'm a total foodie. Just follow my Instagram and it will become very apparent. When the perfect expression of love on Valentines Day is a food processor and a paleo cookbook there's really no room to question that fact.

    Food is a cultural expression. It tells so much about a place or person. What type of texture do they like, what takes the majority of the plate--meat, veggies, starches? Is quantity important or is the focus on three bites of a sensory explosion.

    Dubai, like any major city, offers a wide variety of experiences. The cuisine was a mix of Asian fusion, mediterranean, and western influence.

    I tried many eateries in several of the elaborate malls across the city and found, what I consider, the best eating experience in Dubai. The TWG tearoom. A friend recommended it to me and it surely did not disappoint. Every food item is infused with a different tea, and my smoked salmon eggs benedict is the type of breakfast you dream of. Combine insane food with a picturesque waterfall and gracious servers with a wealth of stories to share--worth ever durum.

   Every once in a while you also need to just pick a random metro stop, walk into a local Philippine restaurant, and tell the server you'll have what the man next to you is eating. I still have no idea what I ate, but it sure tasted good. 

  However, my favorite was no doubt the Lebanese food. Truly, I'm converted. The pita, the tabouli, the hummus...the goat. I'll never be able to eat chicken and rice happily again. It combined all my favorite mediterranean flavors and couldn't have been more authentic unless I had journeyed to Lebanon myself. 

                               

4. The Malls

    The word "mall" is not an accurate term for these arenas of cultural expression. With over 60 currently standing and several others in construction you could spend days walking through just one climate controlled complex. The Dubai mall with it's extravagance, 1 mile circumference, and fountains; the Mall of the Emirates with the famous ski center; Ibn Battuta being my favorite mall ever. Dubai knows how to turn shopping into an experience.

   And truly, anything with an aquarium wins points in my book.

3. Desert Safari

    There is nothing more freeing than running through a sand dune.   

   There is also no better tourist experience than a desert safari. I saw my life flash before my eyes on the jeep ride across the desert dunes. I also realized that a two minute camel ride was all I really needed to get the iconic desert picture. Any longer and I'm pretty sure the camel would have turned on me. Between henna, tanoura and belly dancers, and a buffet of amazing middle eastern barbeque, this tourist trap is one worth falling into.

 2. The Burj Khalifa

   I'm sure within my lifetime another colossus skyscraper will be erected, it's peak scraping the ozone layer, but I'm still staggered at having stepped out onto the viewing area of the Burj Khalifa and seen what a city looks like from the 124th floor. They say the best time to go is at sunset. I say any time is worth it. You don't want to regret checking off this bucket list item.

   

1. Sunsets

   I can't help it--I'm a sucker for that explosion of color across the horizon. You may always notice a sunset wherever you go, but there are some sunsets you just don't forget. 

   Truly, my favorite experience in Dubai was standing in the dunes, on the beach, in the mountains, or just in the city and watching the orange, desert sun melt into the ground.

 

That caps off my top five Dubai moments.

Don't forget to adventure today!

-Ray

    

Water You Waiting For?

   It's mid August here in Oklahoma, usually the time when the pretty farm land and waving wheat transform into Satan's sauna.
   However, something beautiful and mysterious happened in central America this summer.
   The weather has been...nice.
   Blissful even.
   I think this summer may be a fluke, but when I walk outside at noon in arguably the hottest time of the year and feel a cool breeze race up to hug me as I walk to my car, I don't question, just accept.

   This summer I've enjoyed not just being in the water but on the water. Chances are there's probably some nearby, and all you have to do these days is google water near where I live...or maybe something a little more specific like your state's travel website.

   Even those of us here in the land locked states can pretend to be coasters by whipping out the kayak, canoe, or even stand up paddle board. 

   If I can brave SUP'ing on the raging river of rank that is the Potomac (at the beloved Jack's Boathouse...is that place still going strong??) you can enjoy your chosen water sport in whatever agua suits your style. 

Back when I was a young'n interning in D.C.

   Ah, I'm still basking in the glow of a sunset kayak ride around Summit Lake, courtesy of housesitting--but more recently, this week I spent my Tuesday night learning the art of patience.
   You may call it fishing.
   Oh, the perfectionist in me wants so badly to be so amazing at this sport of catch and release, but while I've mastered the cast I'm still waiting to be considered worthy of a bass bite.
   Look for an upcoming post on novice need-to-knows for fishing.

  Sometimes you need to spend some time and money out at your local state park...sometimes you just need a friend with a kayak.

   Don't forget to adventure today,

   -Ray