"It feels good to not set an alarm," I told Samantha Friday night. She smiled a knowing smile and said, "Doesn't matter. You have road trip brain; you're gonna get up early anyway." She was right. Since I was planning a day trip through Kansas on Saturday, I woke without aid before 7:00 AM. By … Continue reading Sunshine and Storm Clouds: Part I
After Lucy the Elephant last Wednesday, the family met up at the boardwalk in Ocean City. I figured it would be more of the same since I'd seen the boardwalk in Wildwood...and it was, really, but the shops and attractions in Ocean City gave off a different vibe. Ocean City was better designed for children, … Continue reading Coasting to a Close
Wednesday was another beautiful day at the Jersey Shore. After breakfast, our group went back to the beach. We spent all morning enjoying the sun & sand. Samantha and the kids made a 'drip castle' while others took long strolls along the water's edge. Sam pointed something out to me I found fascinating. I noticed … Continue reading Lucy the Elephant
The weekend weather was as beautiful as a picture postcard. High near 80, low in the upper sixties...puffy white clouds, if any at all. A light breeze came from the ocean and gave everything a slightly salty tang. Monday morning, though, a storm system came to the coast & lasted all day. The top floor … Continue reading Rainy Days and Wild Nights
I don't really like to fly. I'd much rather travel by car, but, that's not always practical. For example, the drive from Oklahoma to New Jersey takes 21 hours straight through. Flying gets you across the country in half-a-day. Since we were heading to the east coast to spend time with family, it was only … Continue reading Shore Bound
I was talking to a friend the other day and realized a great many folks that I know today don't know about the international trip that kick-started my love of writing and passion for photography. After another friend shared a recent Tulsa World article about a couple that did something similar, I thought it might … Continue reading Around the World in 311 Days
As I've traveled around the country (and the world) I've noticed a few recurring themes. Some of them are easy to spot, such as cafe wall decor with the same "down home" phrases or t-shirts with the same broken English phrase throughout Southeast Asia. Others take some time to recognize and appreciate, like The Three … Continue reading Three Sisters
When I have a road trip planned, it's easier to wake up early. Granted, I don't usually leave at 5:00 AM, but on Sunday that is what I did. I was attending a quarterly Oklahoma Route 66 Association meeting in Weatherford that afternoon and wanted to spend the morning exploring southwestern Oklahoma. Since that was … Continue reading Comanche Territory & Frontier Towns
I celebrated Independence Day near the banks of the Arkansas River in Tulsa. My perch was an exterior stairwell on the sixth floor of the Sophian Plaza, about a mile away from the city's largest nighttime fireworks display. Lately I've felt that I haven't had enough time in my days; it was nice to slow … Continue reading A Model Ford
In 2007, I was a technical support manager for Cingular Wireless, soon-to-be AT&T. I'd been with the company six years at that point and had been there for the transition from pagers to one-way-text capable phones to monophonic ringtones to basic internet access. I watched as Blackberry held on to the smartphone market against all … Continue reading iPhone – 10 Years Later
Rhys' Pieces 