Set Sail

Heart of a Lion Pros for Africa

World Traveler

The Adventures of James Buie

FEB 2011 • Vol. 7 No. 2

UCO Student Club

13431 N Broadway EXT, STE 104 Oklahoma City, OK 73114

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33 departments

features

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Ghostlight Theatre Club

23 HEART OF A LION Pros for Africa

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LETTERS FROM LOUISE What’s my Job?

26 SHOPPING GUIDE Valentine’s Day

10 SPORTS Main Sail: UCO Student Club

28 TREE THEORY Hand-Crafted Furniture

12 BEST OF EDMOND OK TMJ & Sleep Therapy & Balanced Wellness

online exclusive

15 DINING GUIDE Super Suppers 16 I’M WITH CUPID Valentine’s Day Specials space 18 HOME & GARDEN Brushstrokes: Painted Emotions 20 FINE LIVING The Adventures of James Buie 32 AROUND TOWN 33 MY EDMOND OUTLOOK Rob Hunt

Publisher

Dave Miller

Managing Editor

Art Director

Advertising Director

Krystal Harlow

Advertising Sales

Laura Beam Lauren Wheat

Photography

Writers

Distribution

Edmond Outlook

Stacy Brasher Joshua Hatfield

Randall Green Marshall Hawkins Stacy Brasher Radina Gigova Louise Tucker Jones Rebecca Vidacovich Lindsay Whelchel Nathan Winfrey The Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by direct mail to 50,000 Edmond homes and businesses.

Additional copies available at the Edmond Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau, & Back40 Design office. 13431 N. Broadway Ext., Suite 104 Oklahoma City, OK 73114 405-341-5599 Fax: 405-341-2020 Website: www.edmondoutlook.com E-mail: info@edmondoutlook.com

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(Volume 7, Number 2) Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc. © 2010 Back40 Design, Inc. Articles and advertisements in Edmond Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Back40 Design. Back40 Design does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by Edmond Outlook does not constitute endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Edmond Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

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A rts & Entertainment

by Lindsay Whelchel

Left to right,

Christopher Robinson, Cristela Carrizales, Emily Etherton, and Scott Hynes

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hat do Oklahoma and ancient Greece have in common? Perhaps more than you might think. Since the art of theatre began to flourish in Athens in the 5th century BC, the stage has been a platform for sparking a wide range of emotions and thought. As local theatre group, Ghostlight Theatre Club embraces the opportunity to create thought-provoking moments each time they bring an unconventional, attention-grabbing script to life.

“We wanted to do provocative and engaging plays, rather than the same old stuff.” Co-founder Lance Garrett said Ghostlight began with the chance meeting of an initial group of eight people, all involved in theatre, who were bored with the status quo play opportunities available at the time. To set out on a new artistic journey, they founded Ghostlight in 2007 in order to produce plays unique to the Metro area. “I wanted to focus on scripts that really meant something to us as artists,” said Garrett.

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“We wanted to do provocative and engaging plays, rather than the same old stuff.” One of the initial eight members inspired by this vision was Edmond graduate Christi Newbury, who was drawn to the stage from childhood on. “I’ve always been a performer,” she proudly proclaims, even as far back as age five when she participated in dance, as well as rehearsed extensively to be a part of a theater supper club. Newbury continued to take acting classes in high school and graduated from Edmond Memorial in 1995. She was prompted to take some theatre classes at UCO when she saw a performance of Rent on the Tony awards in 1996. “Everything they did in that performance reminded me of all the performing that I had wanted to do,” Newbury said. It is this ability to connect to the viewer that Newbury loves so much about acting. “The characters are expressing your thoughts and feelings, maybe not at that particular moment, maybe not in that specific situation, but expressing things that you have at one time, or might at one time in the future, feel,” Newbury said. She encourages the community to seek out local stage productions, rather than always heading straight to the movies for entertainment. “There’s something about being in the room while these things are happening, the energy that’s created

watching these people go through these emotions,” she said. Ghostlight, which is located at the corner of N.W. 30th and Walker in the Paseo Arts District, seats a cozy 47 people. The collective environment is not only beneficial to the audience’s experience, it also affects the actor. “Even in large venues, but especially in our venue because it’s so intimate; as an actor it’s an amazing thing because there’s always something different. The audience is basically another character in the show,” says Newbury. The club has produced 10 plays and two fundraiser shows since their inception, growing from the original eight cast with each play. Their upcoming February production will have over 20 cast and crew, making it their largest yet. Seeking to engage the audience in typical Ghostlight fashion, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot opens February 25. This play takes place in purgatory and, as the title suggests, involves a take on the biblical story of Judas Iscariot. “One thing that we’ve heard time and again from our audiences, is that our shows will make you think,” says Newbury. This production will be no different. Tickets cost $15 for adults or $10 for students and seniors. They can be purchased at the box office by calling 286-9412 or by visiting the “Tickets” section on their website, www.ghostlighttheatreclub.com. “Whether you come away from it saying ‘hey good show’ or whether you come away from it thinking ‘wow, that totally changes what I thought I knew or believed’, it’s going to give you something to discuss,” she said. Sophocles would be proud.

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L etters from Louise

JOB

WHAT’S my by Louise Tucker Jones

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f you are an Oprah fan, you may have seen her program some months ago concerning “first jobs.” A few celebrities returned to their initial occupations so we might see their humble beginnings. Kirste Alley began her career by cleaning houses. She demonstrated her skill on national TV by cleaning a bathroom with Comet while wearing rubber gloves. She also claimed that cheap Vodka was the best bathroom cleanser. “Don’t drink it, just clean with it,” she stated. I decided to skip that tip. Oprah started as a TV news anchor.

“Through those jobs I learned responsibility, integrity and leadership skills that could never be taught in a classroom." It caused me to wonder about my first job. Problem is, I can’t figure out what it was. Is there truly only one beginning job? As a 15-year-old, I

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took over my mother’s Avon route while she worked another job. No one cared if you had a license while driving our dusty, old county roads. At 16 years old, I accepted a summer job in town as a waitress and at 17, I worked those hot summer months as a nanny before heading off to college. But if a first job is the one you spend all those years at the university studying and training for, then mine would be teaching English, Spanish and French to junior high and high school students. But then came motherhood! Nothing like a newborn baby to put your priorities in order and cut a career short. A couple of years after my first child was born, I quit teaching and worked at a variety of part-time jobs in order to stay home with my children. Through the years, I worked as a tutor, substitute teacher and real estate agent. I also sold Tupperware, Mary Kay Cosmetics and toys on a party plan. I even worked at a hardware store. So now I am wondering which was my first real job according to Oprah. Was it selling Avon to the women in the little farming community where I grew up? Might it have been my first teaching assignment? Or maybe it was waiting

L o u is e

d Ja y ns A ar on an w ith he r so

tables in that steamy little café. After all, I did continue that profession during the summers of my college years. So what is my true calling? What do I consider my real job? Well, I would have to say it is motherhood. Life changed forever when I held my seven-pound, eight-ounce baby boy in my arms for the first time. I had never felt such overwhelming love. It was like my heart was beating outside my body in this tiny soul. Those feelings repeated themselves with the birth of each child. Motherhood has plenty of love to spread around, and you never outgrow it nor do you ever retire from it. So what was the purpose of all those other jobs? What did they do for me? Every one of them added a new depth to my character and gave me an outlet for helping others. Through those jobs I learned responsibility, integrity and leadership skills that could never be taught in a classroom. And as a bonus, those varied jobs provided great fodder for writing fiction and non-fiction stories that I never dreamed would one day become a reality for me. So yes, I’m a teacher, writer, speaker, advocate and a slew of other things. But best of all, I’m a mom, and it will always be my real job!

SOCIAL MEDIA

W about the author Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author and inspirational speaker. Author and co-author of four books, her work has been featured in numerous publications. Mother of four and grandmother of four, Louise resides in Edmond with her husband, Carl and son, Jay. Contact her at: LouiseTJ@cox.net or www.LouiseTuckerJones.com.

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Web Account Executive jr@back40design.com

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by Nathan Winfrey

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lmost everyone in the UCO sailing club is new to the sport, but competition pits them against seasoned sailors from other colleges all across the United States. “I find the team’s motivation to succeed, with little or no experience, inspiring. They take sailing to heart and, as a man, they have put tears in my eyes,” said Nick Ward, club president. The sailing club was started by a student in 2006, but the team soon went inactive. As the new faculty adviser and coach, Dr. David Bass resurrected the student organization last fall. The 11-member team holds itself to a high standard to not only learn the basics, but also take on teams of sailors who already have years of experience.

I love the challenge of understanding where we are in the water, and where the wind is going. “The thing I find most challenging about racing is going up against more experienced sailors. Knowing how to read the wind and drive the boat in the most efficient manner takes a lot of time on the water, but we are getting there,” said team member Tyler Young. Mostly comprised of sophomores, with six male and five female members, Coach Bass’ daughter Courtney is the only one on the team with prior sailing experience. “They’ve come so far,” she says.

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“People are winning races and four months ago, they didn’t even know how to sail.” When the team competed in its first regatta, everyone else had only been sailing for three weeks, yet they placed third out of five. At a later race, they placed fifth out of eight. “To me, that’s a tremendous victory,” said Coach Bass. “I’m proud of every one of them. They’re learning fast and they’re enthusiastic. They’re in the fleet, fighting - not dragging the rear end. They’re right in the middle of things.” An upcoming regatta in Austin will be a good clue as to what the future holds for the team. “It will give us a good opportunity to see where we stand among the competition and let us know what we need to work on as we move toward the top,” said Bass. In a regatta, each boat carries two people, and the UCO club uses two boats. “Everybody we take gets rotated,” he explains. The first-place boat gets one point; the second place boat gets two points, and so on. The winning boat is the one with the fewest points at the end of the regatta. “No matter how we finish, it’s all about being able to do the best you can. Because it’s a team effort, you really have to be in sync with your team,” said team member Becca Latimer. “It’s extremely rewarding because you learn a lot of skills on the water in a sailboat that you can use in everyday life. You learn leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.” Young agrees. “Teamwork is a very important part of sailing,” he said. “In a race that might be 5 mph, every little tactic counts. Being able to rely on others and work with others is key, and that’s important anywhere, not just in sailing.”

“I’ve been racing sail boats for almost 40 years, and we learn something new every time we go out. You never learn it all,” Coach Bass says. “It’s a sport they can enjoy essentially all their lives. You can sail for as long as you’re able to get on a boat.” His wife, Donna Bass, is the assistant coach. Since it’s a student organization, the staff works on a volunteer basis. The UCO sailing team is an intercollegiate club sport, under the Southeast Intercollegiate Sailing Association. “It’s the largest district in the United States,” says Bass. The team is hosted by the Oklahoma City Boat Club on Lake Hefner, where they practice. The Lighthouse Foundation has contributed to the team’s needs. Bass has been involved with the boat club for 25 years and works closely with the Oklahoma City University team too. They share boats, coaching responsibility, and co-hosted a regatta. The team practices year-round, although most collegiate competition is in spring and fall semesters. They have the opportunity to sail with other, noncollegiate sailors, all 12 months out of the year. “I love the challenge of understanding where we are in the water, where my opponents are, and where the wind is going,” Ward says. “The intensity of racing sailboats is a high. You are really feeling it on the water. However, when you come to shore, the friendships just grow stronger.” The team will currently accept UCO students who are experienced sailors, but it’s too cold to train new sailors in the winter months. Beginners who want to join in the summer are encouraged to contact Coach Bass at 974-5772.

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Best of Edmond

Sleep Diagnosis by Rebecca Vidacovich

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r. David Minyard opened Oklahoma TMJ and Sleep Therapy two years ago to use his knowledge and dental training to help people with TMJ (temporomandibular joint), orofacial pain and sleep apnea problems. “My first patient in Edmond was a good friend and an accidental patient,” he recalls. “She was just helping us by pretending to be a patient so we could get our office staff trained and hone our inoffice routine procedures. During her ‘pretend to be a patient’ visit, we discovered she really did have a problem with her TM joint.” After Minyard treated his friend, the migraines she had endured for over 15 years disappeared. “Her TMD (Temporomandibular disorder) was a trigger for her migraine headaches, which she had three to four times monthly. People don’t associate headache with TMJ problems, but it’s the number one symptom associated with TMJ disorders. Headaches are closely associated with sleep disordered breathing as well.”

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Some of the common symptoms of TMJ include headache, pain in the joint or ear, painful chewing, inability to close or open the mouth, joint noises, ringing in the ears, and facial or neck pain. The broad classification of symptoms and diagnoses are called TMD, which encompasses a multitude of possible problems with the muscles, tendons, nerves, blood vessels and the joint itself. This wide variety of symptoms can create a unique challenge for doctors to accurately diagnose. “TMJ and orofacial pain is very complex so reaching an appropriate diagnosis is paramount,” said Minyard. There are very few dentists trained in TMJ. “It is not taught in most dental schools, and those few schools that do teach TMJ courses only provide a few hours of training.” Minyard has spent a great deal of time taking post graduate courses in TMJ and sleep dentistry to be able to diagnose and treat these disorders. After graduating from USC School of Dentistry in 1978, he worked as an Army dentist for 3 years. Minyard

Dr. David Minyard,

Oklahoma TMJ & Sleep Therapy

then went into private practice for 21 years in Yuma, Arizona In 2003, he began to study TMJ, orofacial pain and sleep related breathing disorders, developing a passion for it. “I began treating TMJ problems and found it to be rewarding,” Minyard said. “I really enjoy seeing patients improve and get their quality of life restored.” To schedule an appointment at Oklahoma TMJ and Sleep Therapy (950 Medical Park Blvd), call his office at 330-9444.

Patient to Practice by Rebecca Vidacovich

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ustin and Angela Schmidt discovered the benefits of chiropractic and acupuncture first hand, as patients. They met when she was a police dispatcher and he was a police officer. Dustin was regularly seeing a chiropractor and acupuncturist for the back and hip pain associated with wearing his police belt. He was surprised when he also noticed an improvement in his allergies and sinuses due to the chiropractic care. Angela then began receiving treatment for her tight shoulders, neck pain and headaches, which resulted from sitting at a police dispatch computer for hours on end. Their combined experiences inspired Dustin and Angela to attend the prestigious Parker College of Chiropractic. Both completed their internship by treating elite and high-performance athletes in Colombia, South America before opening Balanced Wellness Chiropractic Physicians at 307 E. Danforth Rd., Suite 154 in Edmond last February.

“We appreciate the ability to watch our patients feel better, function better and enjoy life more every day,” he said. “We also love to educate everyone we can about the importance of lifelong spinal hygiene.” Dustin says regular check-ups at your chiropractor are just as important for your spine as regular visits to the dentist are for your teeth. “Your chiropractor can make recommendations throughout your life to help prevent injury to the spine, as well as prevent pain and discomfort,” Dustin said. In addition to chiropractic services, Balanced Wellness offers non-surgical spinal decompression therapy, Gua Sha muscle work for chronic muscle issues and Kinesio Taping for enhanced sports performance and pain relief. "Kinesio Taping gives stability to your joints and muscles and supports them without affecting range of motion and circulation. It is used by athletes to increase performance and comfort during competition. It is also used for muscle spasm, swelling and inflamation, and to treat paint,” said Angela.

Drs. Dustin and Angela Schmidt,

Balanced Wellness

“We also offer traditional needle acupuncture, as well as electronic laser acupuncture for those who prefer a quicker treatment option without needles,” he said. Dustin and Angela’s love of helping people in need expands beyond their current chiropractic patients. They have both completed most of the training required to work as volunteer firefighters and Dustin still works as a deputy sheriff. To schedule an appointment with Doctors Dustin and Angela Schmidt at Balanced Wellness, call 246-0180.

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Dining Guide

Millie Shores,

Super Suppers

Super Suppers by Rebecca Vidacovich

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dmond resident Mille Shores knows preparing a healthy and filling meal for your family every night of the week can be time consuming. That’s why she provides a fast and affordable solution. Shores owns Super Suppers in Edmond, because she loves nothing more than sharing her joy for delicious cuisine. She first heard about Super Suppers when she lived in Wichita, Kansas. “Friends of mine from church were going to open a Super Suppers, so I helped them open and worked part time for them for a year and half,” Shores said. When Shores decided to move back to Oklahoma, she purchased the Super Suppers location in Edmond, off Santa Fe and Danforth. “Being a single mother of two daughters, the idea of being able to serve healthy, chef designed, home cooked meals without all the shopping and chopping was a big stress relief.” You’re sure to find dishes to satisfy your family’s hunger between the extensive “Take N Bake” menu, and an additional 20 entrees in Super Suppers’ ever-growing “Healthy Menu” selection.

The most requested “Take N Bake” entree is the Parmesan Chicken with Creamy Sage Sauce, but coming in a close second place is the Potato-Crusted Tilapia. Side dishes include corn and potato casserole, super deluxe macaroni and cheese, candied sweet potatoes and creamy corn with green chiles. But don’t overlook the many other savory menu items, including twice-baked stuffed potatoes, pot roast with potatoes, pork chops with orange chipotle sauce, Cornish game hens and even Asian salmon. Super Suppers expanded to include buffet-style catering almost two years ago. The Edmond facility, located at 1333 N. Santa Fe Ave, is available for parties, or their event catering staff can set up the buffet at your location. Customers can also book sessions to come in and assemble entrees themselves. During February, Super Suppers is featuring a Valentine’s Dinner with your choice of Chicken Cordon Bleu or Orange-Glazed Salmon, with a vegetable and potato side, plus rolls and a special dessert. To place an order, or for catering information, please call 330-9156.

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D ining Guide

i’m with

CUPID by Krystal Harlow

“The most important thing about love is we choose to give it. And we choose to receive it, making it the least random act in the entire universe.” — Ryan Reynolds, Chaos Theory

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Sweet Peace

Let’s Do Greek

Flowers are nice, balloons are okay, but for a lasting impression, send a candy bouquet! Sweet Peace has everything you’ll need to make your Valentine’s Day special including custom candy bouquets filled with delicious candy and gourmet chocolates. Pick out fun accessories to go along with your bouquet like stuffed animals, balloons or any of their amazing assortment of Peace Frog accessories and apparel. Sweet Peace is open the 13th and 14th for last minute shoppers, but beat the rush and order yours today. Delivery and shipping available. Free delivery in Edmond. Stop by 1333 N. Santa Fe or call 341-9400 for more information.

Brand new to Edmond, Let’s Do Greek offers all the traditional favorites like gyros, falafel, tabouleh and baklava, as well as incredible original dishes to warm up your sweetheart like the crispy Oregano Chicken tossed with grilled onions served with lettuce, tomatoes and their famous spicy sauce. The Shawarma Pita is smothered with hummus and wrapped with fries, falafel, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, feta and tzatziki. For dessert, order the Greekalicious - warm baklava served with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with honey. Dine in, carry out, delivery & catering, or private meeting room available. Located at 180 W. 15th Street, Ste 150. Call 285-8898 or visit www.letsdogreek.com.

The Melting Pot

Chefs di Domani

Romance is in the air every day at the Melting Pot. Begin with a cool, crisp spinach and mushroom, Caesar or house salad while you enjoy the delicious cheese fondues. For an entrée, indulge in the Land & Sea featuring New York Strip, chicken breast and white shrimp with four cooking styles to choose from. And for the big finale, share strawberries, cheesecake, marshmallows and bananas dipped in 10 different styles of chocolate fondue such as the S’mores, Bananas Foster, or the Flaming Turtle with milk chocolate, caramel and chopped pecans flambéed tableside. For reservations, call 235-1000. Located at 4 E. Sheridan in OKC. www.themeltingpot.com

Watch as the students of the Culinary Institute of Platt College slice and sauté in the restaurant kitchen and bakery to create an amazing fine dining experience at a fraction of the cost. You’ll have the opportunity to rate the students on skills, plate presentations and even make menu suggestions. Enjoy soups, salads, sandwiches and many seafood and steak entrees which will delight even the pickiest of valentines. Mention this ad for a free dessert, with purchase of entrée. Exp. 2/28/11. Open Wed. – Fri. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Located at 2727 W. Memorial Rd. Call 749-6798 or visit www.plattcolleges.edu.

Beef Jerky Emporium & Gourmet Foods Don’t let the name fool you. Beef Jerky Emporium has the absolute BEST in gourmet food including amazing dry-aged steaks 2” thick, perfect for a romantic night in. For an appetizer start with shrimp and crab stuffed jalapenos or the rich shrimp and crab cakes. Celebrate dessert with ready to eat cobbler. Choose from apple, blackberry, cherry or peach. They’re fabulous. If you haven’t been in their newest addition at Danforth & Kelly, do yourself a favor and GO NOW! Also located at Britton & May and I-40 & Meridian. Open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www.tbje.com.

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H ome & Garden

BRUSH STROKES:

PAINTED EMOTIONS

S

pring sits just around the corner, and soon the shades of grey and brown that dominate the outdoors will be replaced with a colorful palette. For many, this palette can inspire far beyond the typical spring cleaning, toward a whole new symphony of colors in their home with the perfect paint selection. “There is not really a right color or a wrong color to use in a particular space, just depends on the type of atmosphere you want to create in that particular area,” said UCO Director of the Interior Design, Valerie Settles, ASID. Generally, Settles said red, orange and yellow are perceived as active and stimulating colors. Energetic and demanding attention, sometimes they can be a

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by Radina Gigova

little intense, and are often used in kitchens and living rooms where social interaction and conversation are encouraged. Believed to increase appetite, many popular fast-food restaurants use them for their logos. Deep burgundy is perfect for dining rooms– warm and inviting, and yet not too strong. Settles said yellow can be a challenging color for interiors, because it adds an unflattering hue to people’s appearance. Yellow is also the most complex color for the brain to process, and experiments show that babies tend to cry more in yellow rooms. Passive colors, such as blue and green have the opposite effect. Associated with the relaxing and calming colors of nature, they are often used in

bedrooms and baths. Blue symbolizes wisdom and sincerity, but can also evoke feelings of melancholy and sadness. Green, the ultimate color of tranquility, implies life and health. Performers and television personalities rest in “green rooms,” before they appear on stage or on air. “Purple has a rich connotation to it, royal and dignified,” said Settles, “and can have a soothing effect when not too concentrated.” Pink and purple are favorite colors for little girls’ bedrooms, but should be used in moderation because they are still within the spectrum of the reds and could be distracting. Black is perceived as the color of pessimism and negativity, but is also associated with power seeking and unnecessary risk taking. It evokes authority when used in an office setting, and brings a feeling of sophistication and refinement to furniture or even bathroom tiles. Brown and its variations of darker chocolate and lighter latte in combination with beige and crème bring warmth and calmness to any room of the home. “There are many variables with each color,” said Judy Pitts, ASID, owner of Judy Pitts Interiors. “Further, we are all influenced by the current color trends. Over the last year there has been a trend to move away from dark rooms, to build a foundation of whites, grays, and pale, calming neutrals, and add layers of bright clean accent colors.”

Pale sea salt walls

give a cool, restful contrast to creamy white accents - Judy Pitts

Designers often use color to manipulate the perception of space. Dark intense colors can make a large empty room feel smaller and cozier, while light or pastel colors create the illusion of more space. Artists, philosophers and scientists have explored the relationship between color and emotions for years, but there are still many gray areas. Michele Menzel, a natural health practitioner in Edmond, said colors have specific frequencies related to different organs and tissues in the body, and point to a number of medical, emotional and psychological conditions. This is the base of one alternative form of

medicine that she practices, called chromatherapy. “It is a form of vibrational medicine that uses color and full spectrum light on various parts of the body to balance the body’s electromagnetic field,” Menzel explained. She said restoring that balance can relieve many conditions. Caleb Lack, who currently teaches Psychology at UCO, seems more skeptical about the medical effects of color. Color’s impact lasts only through a relatively short period of time, he said. Therefore, it would be difficult to prove that, for example, a light blue room can have long-term medical benefits for a patient with ADD. “It is more of a placebo effect, rather than a psychological change that occurs,” Lack said. Lack added that different cultures interpret colors differently, so it is not accurate to attribute certain qualities to the specific color, but rather, to a specific culture. For Westerners, for example, white is a symbol of purity and life, while for some Southeast Asian cultures it symbolizes sadness and mourning. After all, the interpretations of color could be countless, just like the hues on a messy palette. “As in all color schemes, color preference is very personal,” said Pitts. “The most important consideration is that you surround yourself with colors that you love, and that give you a feeling of comfort and contentment.”

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F ine Living

M

ark Twain once said that, “travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness,” and Edmond resident James Buie would likely agree. With a lengthy career in the U.S. Navy and a love of travel, Buie has seen more of the world than many ever dream of. He has spent years collecting memories from around the globe and is more than happy to share his outlook on life. “My Facebook says ‘get off your computer and live’,” he laughed. As he tells the stories of his adventures, you can tell he takes his own advice wholeheartedly. Having grown up in Los Angeles, Buie was set to begin a career in the film industry by the early 1980s. His father was a grip and his uncle a gaffer for movie sets. Buie’s family ties could have easily led him to make movies about far off places, but instead, an actors’ strike that left him out of work, led him to join the Navy where he could go see these far off places for himself. His father’s WWII service in the Navy inspired him to join the same branch, where he served for over 20 years, travelling the world five times. “It’s easier for me to point to a map and tell you where I haven’t been versus where I have,” Buie says. One of his early stints at sea included extensive travel around the Mediterranean Ocean. “I was in port a lot of periods in the Mediterranean,” he said, explaining that they usually ported for 10 days at a time in various countries. It was here that many of Buie’s lessons in the ways of the world truly began. “I saw all of these different cultures,” he said. “The wider you open your vision, the more you see; the more you learn, the more you have understanding of other people and tolerance of other cultures.”

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by Lindsay Whelchel His excursions with the Navy led Buie to a wide range of destinations including France, Naples, Iceland, Japan and even Egypt, just to name a few. He began his travels on a ship called the Coral Sea, but it is clear Buie takes a great amount of pride in another ship. The one he sailed on her maiden voyage, and then again on his last voyage with the Navy – the Abraham Lincoln. Buie even recalls watching this massive boat being built. “It made the Coral Sea, which is an aircraft carrier, look small,” he laughs. While traveling, Buie made it a point not to fall into the stereotypical itinerary of many who are staying at port. “We have some people who join the military and they just hit the bars and go see the tourist areas,” he said. But it was different for him and his group of friends. They all had passports and made good use of them. “We would spend Christmas in the French Alps or visit the museums. It was all about constantly learning about people and cultures.” One beautiful lesson learned came while Buie was in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a group of islands in the Arabian-Persian Gulf. He was standing in a lively market area called the Gold Souq and tells the story of witnessing a mother chase her giggling child though the aisles of goods. “I come to the realization, and so does her husband at the same time and we both laugh out loud, realizing that children are the same no matter where you stand on the planet,” he said. Buie clearly loved his time in the Navy. He speaks of destinations and their country characteristics with an almost unmatched reverence and joy. But perhaps for him, the most magical place of all is Australia, where he met his wife in 2003.

It was Christmas in Perth, a city Buie describes to be much like Los Angeles. But it was summer there and hardly felt like Christmas at all. So, in his typical refusal to spend the holiday hanging out in the bars, Buie chose instead to crash someone’s Christmas party at a local dinner club. That someone turned out to be his wife, and the rest as they say, is history. After retiring from the Navy, Buie got a job at Tinker Air Force Base and he and his family have since settled in Edmond. He has been to an estimated 75 different places, multiple times, around the United States and the world, but his thirst for adventure is not quenched yet. Two years ago, his wife gave him an anniversary gift of a hot air balloon ride and the two are constantly planning new travel opportunities. One place he would like to get back to is Venice. “When you go back to a place, even if it’s your hometown five years later, things have changed. The world constantly changes,” he said. It’s true; the world is changing, and it can change you too, if you let it – so at the advice of James Buie, get out there and live.

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HEART OF A LION

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ister Rosemary Nyirmube is not shy. Her smile stretches ear to ear as her sincere laughter bellows from beneath folded hands, resting gently on her belly. On paper, she is CNN Hero of the Year and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. In person, she is the embodied essence of a brave mother – warm, caring, and passionate about protecting “her children.” “Sister Rosemary,” as she is called, runs the Saint Monica Girls Tailoring Centre in Uganda, Africa for hundreds of displaced women and children, who are abandoned. Rejected from their villages after violent rapes and unintended pregnancies, the victims often turn to killing their children or killing themselves. “I help them love their babies that come from the sexual violence. It demands a lot of love and care from me. I get close to them as though I do not know their past,” she said with a soothing tone. “We have to look at these young women as children. I adopt them; I become their parent so they can get to feel the sense of childhood that they lost,” she explains. “They are in essence, only children with children.” Edmond resident and philanthropist Reggie Whitten often describes Sister Rosemary as a modern day Mother Theresa. As she and Whitten embrace, you see the warmth in their comfort level, as though they were family living in the same small town. And yet, our meeting was Sister Rosemary’s very first time to Oklahoma – a journey of over 7,200 miles from her war-torn region of Africa. Whitten and the Sister’s story began eight years ago when he, and retired author Mike Hinkle, traveled to Uganda with a mutual friend. “We were moved by the violence,” said Whitten. “It was striking how beautiful the children are and how alike they are to our own children. The only difference is where they were born.”

by Stacy Brasher After arriving back home in Edmond, they bundled up a sum of six figures for Sister Rosemary with the help of donors and the Whitten-Newman Foundation. “The first time I received help from the Whitten-Newman Foundation, I knelt down – not to pray, but to cry,” she said. “It was amazing to imagine people with such an open heart saying ‘go on with your work’.” Whitten only regrets that they didn’t meet sooner. “We’ve been supporting her for eight years, but somewhere along the way it didn’t feel right to me,” he explained. “My fear was at some point in time, we’d run out of money, but the situation would still be there. We needed infrastructure to continue.” Last March, that infrastructure brought forth Pros for Africa, a diverse group of professional athletes, doctors, lawyers and engineers who banded together to go beyond providing monetary funds.

Adrian Peterson

with Pros for Africa, Uganda in March 2010

“I adopt them; I become their parent so they can get to feel the sense of childhood that they lost.” Instead, they put their hands to work, side by side to dig wells and set up medical services, treating 600 people. Whitten fondly remembers the smiles, as the young ladies laughed with NFL football players, like OU’s own Mark Clayton. “You ought to see Sister Rosemary playing football with our guys,” laughed Whitten. “She caught a football pass from Roy Williams with a broken leg. They are millionaires, but instead of lounging on a beach, they are volunteering with us. These guys are called ‘heroes’ but no one is

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Continued from page 23 shooting at them.” Bullets are a reality for Sister Rosemary though. “We were told do not go there. If you do go, don’t leave the big city,” said Whitten. “They massacred 250 women and children in the church where we held our medical clinic. It was riddled with bullet holes.” Killers have even shown up at the Sister’s center demanding to have their women back. But with the heart of a lion, she never backs down from a challenge. “Sister Rosemary stands in their face and has no backup. There’s no law enforcement out there, like there is here, but she doesn’t have any fear,” said Whitten. Some of the children she serves were abducted by rebels at only nine years old, forced into marriage, and not able to escape until age 11. By that time, they have no home to return to; no life skills to protect themselves; and no education to earn money or grow food. Sister Rosemary says “come as you are” – a message which travels further than her soft voice carries across the winds of Africa. And so, they come to her, with nowhere else to turn. “To me, the most devastating thing is that if a woman or child in our society is raped, we embrace

Sister Rosemary

with Reggie Whitten Co-Founder, Whitten-Newman Foundation

them; yet, their culture rejects them. They are seen as soiled; told they are not fit for society,” said Hinkle, explaining that a rape victim would rather kill her children herself than watch them slowly starve, fending for themselves. “Sister Rosemary is throwing her arms around these people, saying, ‘You are worthy; You are loved’. She fights the culture by leading by example.” Sister Rosemary considers work ethic to be the women’s personal contribution toward restoring their dignity. “I teach that anyone can contribute to their life through work. They dig and produce their

Pros for Africa Volunteers

playing football with

Sister Rosemary

own food to eat at the school. They should be able to cope with their future,” she said. For less than one dollar a day, Sister Rosemary is able to take care of one mother and child. This March, Pros for Africa will return to set up a new center which can serve an additional 60-65 women and children. “We’re building a momentum,” said Whitten. “I think Pros for Africa will be around for a long time after Mike and I are gone.” For more information on volunteering, or to provide a tax-deductible donation, visit www.ProsforAfrica.com.

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S hopping Guide

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by Nathan Winfrey

“W

hat can that board become?” is a question Todd Graham asks himself every time he looks at a new piece of rough timber. He crafts furniture the old-fashioned way, in an unassuming Edmond garage workshop filled with hand tools and a band saw. Usually, it’s a raw chunk of wood with potential that inspires a new project. If he sees a section of sycamore that looks like it could become a shelf, he makes sure it becomes one. “When you’re designing around a specific board, it dictates the aesthetics of the piece,” Graham says. “After I know what a board can be, then I draw it.”

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“The material is half the battle,” he adds. “It’s taken me a long time to actually find this stuff. If you walk into a lumber yard and ask for a 25-inch piece of walnut, they’ll laugh at you.” Graham gets his material from farmers and tree services. The lumber would be headed for a fire or a chipper if he didn’t intervene. No trees are chopped down for his work. “I’m trying to do something that’s responsible to the environment,” Graham says. “It doesn’t seem like there are a whole lot of people doing what I’m doing — using a lot of local material, making traditionally-made furniture in modern forms,” he says.

Graham does a lot of re-sawing, book-matching, and uses wood-to-wood mortise and tenon joints. “Where I can, I try to expose joints and let them be seen,” he says. “I enjoy the structural aspects of them.” His method is a hybrid process, using power tools where necessary, but hand tools whenever possible. “There’s a lot you can do with hand tools that you can’t do with power tools,” Graham explains. He started as a cabinet-maker about 12 years ago, just out of high school; then started making furniture as a hobby almost seven years ago. In the last yearand-a-half, he set up www.treetheory.com and has made crafting furniture a full-time career.

“If you walk into a lumber yard and ask for a 25-inch piece of walnut, they’ll laugh at you."

“It’s an awesome opportunity for me to be able to do this. Not everybody has the opportunity to do something they love for a career,” Graham says. His wife, Tricia Graham, says it’s great that his hobby has turned into something more. “It’s cool to see the whole process of him starting with a log and turning it into some beautiful furniture, then someone buys it and they see it and have an appreciation for it,” she says. “It will be in their homes and in their lives for years to come.” Graham loves walnut and sycamore, and by the time he finishes a piece, he’s spent so much time with it that he knows every feature, every grain. Sometimes, he’ll spend hours sanding a two-inch

part of a cabinet that no one will ever see because he wants every aspect of his furniture to be as beautiful as it can be. “I’m really inspired by mid-century design — minimal, functional, but still beautiful in design,” he says. “The more I build, the more the material tends to influence what I’m doing. It’s a little ridiculous, but I get excited about the boards.” When Graham was a child, his grandmother owned an antique store and would frequently make trips down to Mexico to collect things from the Tarahumara Indians. Graham says some of his

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Continued from page 29 inspiration comes from growing up around such oneof-a-kind pieces. A handmade, wooden bowl from his grandmother’s Tarahumara collection sits on his dining room table. The bowl is asymmetrical, yet beautiful. It’s obvious that it was held by human hands and quietly sculpted until the artist deemed it perfect, similar to the way Graham’s creations find their own unique life. His work looks and feels different from other furniture because it’s made by hand. There are tiny variations that you can only experience by actually touching the piece. Photographing the furniture can be frustrating, because he knows that it’s impossible to convey the entire feel of his work with just a picture. “It’s important that you come in and touch it, and feel it,” he says. “Visually, you see it, but it has its own texture.” “So many things are mass-produced. We want it cheap, we want it fast, and we want it now,” Graham says. “My furniture is not cookie-cutter. If you purchase one of my pieces, you won’t go to your friend’s house and see the same furniture.” Graham uses an oil finish that is nontoxic and hand-rubbed. “The finish is a big part. It gives it that glow, that silky feel,” he says.

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His furniture is often displayed at Istvan Gallery in the Plaza District off N.W. 16th between Classen and Pennsylvania. Graham recently entered some of his work in VisionMakers, a biannual craft show in Tulsa. Last year, he won the curator’s choice award at Momentum, an annual show in Oklahoma City that features artists 30 years old and younger. His next exhibit will be at a fine furnishing show in Baltimore. “I think Todd has a lot of passion and drive. We’re all immensely proud

of him and the quality he puts out is amazing,” Tricia said. “It’s satisfying. There’s something about making something with your hands — starting with a tree and ending with a piece of furniture,” Graham says. “It’s a very gratifying process to see something from start to finish, after it’s just an idea in your head.” To see more of Graham’s work, or to contact him for a piece of furniture, visit his website at www.treetheory.com.

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FEBRUARY 11 Edmond Elks Lodge is sponsoring a Boot Scoot’n Valentine Dance Friday, February 11 at 8 p.m. featuring live music from Renegade. Cost is $15 per couple. Everyone over 21 welcome. Located at 5925 E. Waterloo Rd. For reservations, call 359-1491 or 348-8252 after 4 p.m. daily.

FEBRUARY 11-13 An Affair of the Heart will be held at the OKC Fairgrounds February 11, 12 and 13. Grab your friends and enjoy three fun-filled days of shopping for arts, crafts, custom furniture, collectibles, décor, jewelry, clothing and more. Open Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 and covers all three days.

FEBRUARY 19 Watch the magic unfold as children enjoy stories by Ariel and a minimakeover on Saturday, February 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Uptown Kids, located at 5840 N. Classen Blvd. Free to the public.

FEBRUARY 19 College Nannies & Tutors is having an open house at their new Learning Center (1333 N. Santa Fe Ste. 116) Saturday, February 19th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Register for a FREE ACT practice test plus other great door prizes. Visit www.collegenannies.com/edmondok or for tutors go to www.collegetutors.com/edmondok for more information.

FEBRUARY 25 The 9th Annual Delta Delta Delta “Art With A Heart” show will be Friday, February 25 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center at 2401 N. Laird Ave for an evening of celebration and recognition. Children receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders create the art and donate it to the silent auction with all proceeds to benefit the Oklahoma Children’s Cancer Association. Tickets are $30. Visit www.artwithaheart.com for more information.

FEBRUARY 26 Plan to attend the 17th Annual Edmond Neighborhood Summit at The MAC at Mitch Park. The topic this year is “Keeping You Safe”. The speakers and events will be presented in a totally different format this year. Registration starts at 8 a.m.

FOR MORE EVENTS, VISIT: www.edmondoutlook.com/community/calendar-of-events

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Name: Rob Hunt Edmond Resident Since: 1998 Why did you move to Edmond more than a decade ago? I grew up in Texas, while all my relatives lived in Oklahoma. I never thought I wanted to be an ‘Okie’, but that changed when I moved to Edmond to become the Memorial Bulldogs Head Basketball Coach for eight years. We even won State Runner Up my first year coaching in 1998-1999. What do you like most about living here now? I’m able to live and work among some of the best people in the country, in one of the best communities in the nation. Edmond has been a great place to raise my family. What does basketball teach youth today? Basketball teaches young men and women balance, discipline, and perseverance. I like a quote by John Wooten, who said the key to basketball is quickness and balance. I like to add that the key to life is love and balance. How has basketball affected your life personally? It’s all I knew growing up. My dad was a basketball coach. I loved being in the gym, and once I was out of college, the Lord opened up doors for me to coach for 17 years – nine years in Texas, and eight years in Oklahoma. What spurred you to put coaching in your past? When God laid it on my heart four years ago to serve him full time at a church, I never dreamed that I would get an opportunity like that. Now I’m on staff at Henderson Hills Baptist Church leading the men’s ministry and Saturday night small groups. It’s amazing how God used Edmond and Edmond Memorial to prepare me for a life of serving him here. What do you look forward to in the next 5 years? I’m most looking forward to watching my children [Ben (13), Rachel (7), and Lily (3)] grow up through their teenage years, to watch which direction their paths go. What two words would your children use to describe their dad? Competitive and playful Biggest fear? I’ve never lived with much fear.

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