Category: Travel

When Was the Last Time You Drove Without the Radio On?

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Since I’m using my motorcycle as my main source of transportation I don’t listen to the radio anymore while commuting. I didn’t even notice is absence until one day I was listening to the radio at home and realized that I didn’t recognize a number of the songs. Since I only listen to one radio station, I’m normally pretty up-to-date with the music that they play. It was sort of a shock to realize that I hadn’t really had the radio on for nearly two months.

Now that I’m aware of it, however, I don’t care much to have the radio on while driving. When I’m in the car with my wife, I often just turn it off. I find it so much nicer to have fewer distractions in the car, which allows me to focus on other things. Without background noise, I’m better able to be involved in the conversation that I have with my wife. I have an opportunity to listen to myself think, whether I’m working through a problem, replaying a conversation I had earlier in the day, or just having an internal dialogue about my day.

It’s not something that I think about when I’m on the motorcycle. I don’t miss having background noise (I like hearing the rumble of the engine). If I were to take a long trip, especially on an interstate, I might consider bringing along the Mp3 player, only because of the boredom that interstates provide.

*Disclaimer*Even though I like music, I am by no means an audiophile. To me, music is background noise. I don’t keep up with trends and I don’t know bands or song names. I’m not saying that you should stop listening to music, but to be aware that sometimes it’s on just out of habit. *End Disclaimer*

This is not a new thing for me. I’ve always preferred to have the radio off. When I’m riding with someone, I prefer to have less distractions so that I can focus on the conversation we’re having. When I’m by myself, I enjoy the opportunity to focus on my thoughts. There are already enough things to distract you when driving, we shouldn’t need to add to them.

Do you ever turn off the radio when driving? Give it a try, spend some time with your thoughts, see what you have to say.

Progressive Dinner – Restaurant Version

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Who says you must eat your entire meal in one restaurant? Only the restaurant, who wants more of your money. Well, it’s time to break that “rule”. Sure, you might get some funny (or annoyed) looks when you order only a dessert. However, if that’s what the restaurant is best at, why not go just for that?

So, what’s a progressive dinner?

A progressive dinner is one where you eat each individual course in a different location. Head to one restaurant for appetizers, off to a second for entrees, and a third for dessert. It’s a traveling meal!

This type of adventure provides the opportunity to go to favorite restaurants and have what they are best at making. While my favorite steak house makes fabulous entrees, I have to go to a local Italian restaurant to get the best desserts in town. It also combats the tendency that we often have to rush through the meal; the travel time in between courses affords extra opportunities to chat with friends.

Some hints

  • If you have a large group, it may be most convenient to divide into a smaller parties and head to different places, rejoining for dessert.
  • You don’t have to head to the next course immediately. My wife and I recently went on a progressive dinner date, and were too full for dessert. So we headed to the movies, and stopped for dessert afterward.
  • Plan your meal so that the restaurants aren’t too far away from each other. You don’t want to deal with traffic any more than you have to, so back and forth across the city in between courses might not be the best idea.
  • I don’t make reservations, so that I don’t have to be concerned about a time-frame.

Progressive dinners don’t have to be planned out before hand. As long as you are somewhere that has a few restaurants close to each other, you can pick one to start at and work your way through the courses as you go. So what are you waiting for? Grab some friends, or your date, and go explore the local cuisine!

Travel The World From Your Kitchen

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One of my favorite parts of traveling is getting to try out new foods. It doesn’t matter if I take an afternoon spin on the motorcycle to the next town over, or spend a semester studying in another country, I’m going to seek out somewhere new to eat. When I was in Ireland for a semester, I checked out some cookbooks of traditional Irish food. Using these as a starting point, my wife and I were able to sample some “real” Irish food and discover what we liked, and what we didn’t.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go anywhere to get recipes to try out. No flying to another country necessary. The internet provides recipes for just about anything that you can think of, and most ingredients can be found in local grocery stores, though you might have to search a bit harder to find some.

If you’ve been in the mood for something different, or perhaps you just want to try your hand at cooking your own “foreign” meals, look something up and see what you can find. My wife and I just had Jambalaya, from a recipe I found online. It tasted great, and was really easy to make. Next on the list: Chicken Curry. Big jump from Louisiana to India, I know. But it’s entirely possible when you’re a kitchen explorer!

Where will you travel to? To get you started, head on down to Cajun country for some Jambalaya.

Quick and Easy Jambalaya

(originally from here)

20 Mins prep time
30 Mins cook time
Makes about 6 servings

    Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 8 ounces kielbasa, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 cups uncooked white rice
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

    Directions

  • Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Saute chicken and kielbasa until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic. Season with cayenne, onion powder, salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes, or until onion is tender and translucent.
  • Add rice, then stir in chicken stock and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20 minutes, or until rice is tender.
  • Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce.

    Suggestions
    I made the recipe as stated. These suggestions come from comments on the original page, some that I will most likely try next go-around.

  • add tomato sauce/diced tomatoes/Ro-tel
  • add more garlic
  • use half green onion / half white onion
  • use cajun/creole seasoning in place of salt & pepper
  • add a can of drained red beans and a can of diced tomatoes w/green chiles

Adventurer Interview

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I follow quite a few blogs, covering a number of different topics. Today I thought I’d share one of them with you:

Abby Sunderland is 16, and as of right now, is somewhere in the South Atlantic Ocean (you can see where here.) She’s currently just over three months into her solo circumnavigation of the world via sailboat. Due to electrical complications, she’ll have to land soon to get her navigation system fixed, but she will continue on to finish circling the world. She may not manage to complete it non-stop, or be the youngest to do so (initial goals) but she will continue on to complete her ultimate goal.

How amazing! I don’t have the confidence in my boating skills to cross an ocean, much less any knowledge of sailing at all! I’m thoroughly impressed, not only with her abilities and confidence at 16, but also with the maturity of her decisions (such as deciding to come in to get her navigator fixed and forfeiting an initial goal).

Read more about Abby’s adventure:
Her blog.
Her official website.
See where she is.
Watch some interviews with Abby.

Working In San Antonio

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[singlepic id=123 w=320 h=240 float=none]One of the items on my 2010 Action Plan was to head to San Antonio during Spring Break with the Cats for Christ ministry. My wife and I did exactly that, and spent a wonderful week working with Urban Connection.

Our trip started off on a less-than-ideal footing, when our ride to the airport didn’t show up. Fortunately, we were able to drive ourselves and make it on time with little inconvenience. We arrived safely in San Antonio and settled into our hotel rooms.

Sunday after church, we headed to Sea World for a fun-filled afternoon. This was my first visit to Sea World, and I had a fabulous time! The shows were great, and it’s always interesting to see exotic animals. We even got to ride some rides, and managed to stay dry the whole time!

[singlepic id=122 w=320 h=240 float=none]Monday through Friday, we got up early and headed over to Urban Connection. We were waiting when the kids arrived, and helped serve them breakfast. After breakfast was craft time, with a new project every day. Then they wore us out in the gym, so that we thoroughly enjoyed our break when it was time for lunch*. After lunch, we were in charge of the activities, and planned different games or crafts each day**. The childrens’ parents came and picked them up about 3. After they left, we headed back to the Urban Connection offices and rolled up our sleeves for some painting and construction projects.

[singlepic id=124 w=320 h=240 float=none]In the evenings, we generally stayed in the hotel, worn out from a day of playing and work. One night we headed downtown to the riverwalk and to see the Alamo. (Everyone was right, don’t make the Alamo the highlight of a trip.) We had some great mexican food that evening, and after dinner I flat out hurt from laughing so hard. We all had a great time, sharing stories over wonderful food.

Friday afternoon saw a few tears being shed, as we parted ways with our new-found friends. Though lots of pictures were taken, they don’t do those little guys justice! I know I’m missing my little buddy, Josh. He’s a great guy, and I can’t wait to seem him next year!

* Food

Robbie came with us and provided some meals. And boy did he do a good job! I’ve still got a couple of extra pounds that I need to get rid of! We ate breakfast at the hotel, then far too much delicious food for lunch, and then even more for supper. Whew!

The kids were on spring break, so Urban Connection provided lunch for them. We parted ways during lunch, which provided us with a much-needed break in the middle of the day. Robbie was fixing supper for us as we worked on the projects around the offices, so our work ended just as the food began.

** Crafts

Our group organized into smaller groups, with each small group in charge of the afternoon activities for a day. On our day, my group decided to go with a dodge-ball game and making sock puppets! We had a bit of trouble getting the glue to work (something about “let sit for at least 30 minutes” and excited 7 year olds just don’t go well together). In the end, though, everything worked out wonderfully, and the kids loved their puppets.

Coming home

Saturday morning we got to sleep in a bit later than normal before having a leisurely breakfast and heading to the airport. A couple of short flights later, and we were safely home again!

Though it was annoying at the time, having the car waiting for us at the airport worked out well; we were able to give a couple of friends a ride home, saving all of us the trouble of having to arrange rides home.

It was a wonderful week: full of friends, great food, and lots of fun. The children left an imprint on us, and we look forward to returning whenever possible.

Minimalist Packing

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Cleaning out my closet really helped me as I packed for my spring break trip. It’s harder to over-pack when you don’t have much to carry in the first place!

I’ve already talked about how important it is to pack light when traveling, but in light of the Minimalist Experiment, I thought I would revisit this topic.

My wife and I are just finishing up our week-long spring break trip to San Antonio. Because of the added cost for any checked baggage, we made sure to bring everything we wanted in our carry-on luggage. Since I only kept about a week’s worth of clothing, this was a simple enough task. I just took everything I had. (Not really, but I did clear out a few drawers.)

So, the rule (1!) of minimalist packing: Don’t take anything that you won’t need. It’s that simple.

It’s very easy to pack extra things, “just in case”. One extra item in each category, and you quickly wind up with far more than you need or want to carry. Do you really need a separate outfit for every day, or can you get some laundry done at your destination? Can you just use the toiletries at the hotel instead of carrying your own (and having the hassle of airport security)? Will you really get so dirty that you need an extra outfit?

Our trip involved a good bit of work, would include working out three days a week, and, of course, a couple of plane rides. I didn’t need to dress up for anything, which always makes it easier. I managed to fit everything into my carry-on.

Packing List

  • 2 jeans – for working/ painting, etc
  • basketball shorts – for running, sleeping, lounging
  • 9 shirts – 1 for each day, and one for exercising
  • 9 socks – 1 for each day, and one for exercising
  • 9 underwear – 1 for each day, and one for exercising
  • hoodie – for the chilly night temperatures
  • 2 handkerchiefs – they take up no space, and are handy for many things
  • toiletries – since I will be sharing my room, I decided not to rely on hotel toiletries – deodorant, soap bar from last trip, toothbrush, and toothpaste
  • sketchpad, watercolors, waterbrush – I’m working on sketching more often throughout the day, I’ll get lots of practice in the airport/on the plane
  • notebook – studying to do, and also lets me write out my ever-present lists
  • book – distractions for the airport and before bed
  • assorted – camera, charger, phone, phone charger, water bottle

This might seem like a lot. However, it was planned so that upon returning home, everything I have has been used, and the only clean clothes are the ones I’m wearing. While I could have packed lighter and done a bit of laundry half-way through the week, I didn’t want to. I minimized the work necessary while still providing me with everything that I needed.

The trip was wonderful, and easier because I had less to deal with. One backpack is quite manageable. Flying with carry-on only is the way to go when possible!

Some of 2010’s Goals Completed Already!

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What an exciting start to the year! January isn’t over and I have already completed some of the goals in my 2010 Action Plan, and am working on others.

Visited Grandparents, Friends & Mexico

We headed out to Texas on January 2nd and stopped just north of Houston at a friends’ house for a couple of nights. It was wonderful to visit with them again, and to see their house/community for the first time. It was a lovely place and is on our “potential future places to live list”. We met some of their friends, attended church with them (which we loved) and explored a new-to-us restaurant (Sweet Tomato) that was delicious! All too soon we had to leave and head further south. Then we headed on to the grandparents’.

As an aside: My grandparents have been adventuring for years. They have travelled extensively in an RV, lived in the RV for half of the year for a number of years, and love to get out and explore new places and things.

We arrived at their house after an unenventful trip and they proceeded to show us around the town they call home half of the year. While there, we visited Mexico (the first time to visit for both of us) and had a wonderful time perusing the shops and seeing what they had to offer. My wife and I headed east to check out South Padre Island; I’m sure it is much better now without all of the college students taking it over like they do during spring break.

We explored an old mission, despite the spitting rain and ferocious winds. This same rain and wind caused us to be stranded in Mexico, as the ferry operators took their lunch break to escape the rising rain. Fortunately, it was a fairly quick lunch and we were safely returned to the United States.

More States Visited

Not only did my wife and I visit another country during this trip, but we traveled through a couple of new states. We’ve been through Tennessee many times, and through Missouri a couple of times as well. We drove through Arkansas, stopping a couple of times, and of course Texas was the destination of the trip. We don’t have a formal list made yet, but will in the near future so that we can track our progress.

No Sodas (or Cravings) this year!

I seem to have a gift for quitting sodas. December 31st I had about 3 times my normal amount. I haven’t had one since and have had only occasional cravings for the taste, and no headaches. I will say, though, that just before three days of driving is not the time to quite drinking sodas. Blech!

So Far So Good!

These completed goals are all exciting and are serving as wonderful motivation to keep going. I’m psyched about 2010 and can’t wait to see how the rest of it turns out!

Taking Stock

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Life can get over-whelming fast, can’t it? Sometimes you just have to take a moment, sit back, and take stock of what’s happened and plan for what’s coming up.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happened in my life recently:

————————

  • Dad passed away the week before finals
  • Moved out of Ireland (in two days!) and drove from Kentucky to Colorado
  • Dealt with Dad’s affairs (or at least we got started doing so
  • Realized why we don’t ever talk to any of the family
  • Drove back home Hint: Always make sure the moving truck has cruise control!
  • Unloaded everything, found storage places for it
  • Drove to Lexington and found an apartment
  • Moved into apartment & got mostly settled (this and the previous step took about 4 days)
  • Drove back home & helped prepare for the annual family BBQ (my wife’s family, love em!)
  • Returned to Lexington and prepared to be here for awhile
  • My wife’s mom and one of the nieces came to visit for a weekend
  • Family friend passed away
  • Drove back home for funeral
  • Returned to Lexington again (Coming to lexington to this point is about a 2.5 week timeframe)
  • Finally able to settle down, put the finishing touches on the apartment, and return to the dreaded jobs…

Whew! Lots of unexpected traveling, messy situations and general confusion. That’s life, though, right?

Upcoming

————————

  • Our finals are coming up over the next couple of weeks, and we’re dreading those. However, it will be wonderful to get them completed and behind us. As long as we pass… -crosses fingers- I’ve never felt so un-prepared for an exam, ever. E.V.E.R.
  • About a week later, school will resume and we’ll be hitting the books (not that we’ve stopped much this year).

    • Then the fun begins…

  • Early September will see us, along with our church group and some of our closest friends, heading to South-eastern Tennessee for some white-water rafting goodness. A fun-filled weekend of water, rappelling, spelunking and hiking. We can’t wait!
  • Still in the planning stages is a road trip to Texas, to visit friends and family. This will be later in the year, during some as yet unknown school break.

Looking back (and ahead), it’s been a full year. Studying abroad, driving half-way across the U.S. (I think half of it was Kansas), moving, spending time with friends and family and so much more. We try to make sure that our enjoyable activities outweigh the bad ones so that we can remain charged and retain our positive attitudes. So far so good!

Life in Ireland with One Suitcase

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Have you ever come home from a trip and unpacked stuff that you never used? That won’t happen to me on this trip. I will return from nearly 5 months in Ireland having used everything that I brought. With some careful planning, I was able to fit everything for the trip in a single suitcase and carry-on backpack.

What worked:

  • I planned on dressing in layers to stay warm, and this system worked out quite well. Even with the worst winter in 40 years, I stayed warm and comfortable. I might not have looked properly outfitted, but with thermals, “regular” clothes and the rain jacket on for wind protection was more than enough.
  • My packtowel has been used for the entire trip and has worked splendidly. I have received a number of compliments and jealous looks on weekend excursions; my large bath towel fits into my toiletries bag, while other travelers’ towels took up half of their backpack.
  • The bar shampoo experiment. My bar of J.R. Liggett’s shampoo has lasted the entire trip and will still be in use after I return home. I am looking forward to returning to the Co-op where I purchased it and trying one of the other scents.

What could use some work:

  • Next time I will pack less in the way of clothing. The one dress outfit has only been worn when I pushed the laundry day too far back. Likewise, I could easily get by with fewer socks and underwear.
  • Both my wife and I could have brought less in the way of hobbies. She finished knitting a beautiful scarf for me, but has not used her knitting needles much otherwise.
  • I could pretty safely get by with less in the way of school supplies. It seemed like a waste to buy more when I already had so much at home, so I brought it with me. During orientation the library gave out pads of paper, and I have typed the notes for all but one of my classes. As a compulsive list-maker, the binder full of paper still came in quite handy.

It is quite a feeling to realize that you can comfortably live out of a suitcase. It is nice to know that we can safely pack up and head out to different lands without looking like this guy.