The Final Countdown!

I'll be back in CO in just a few short days! I have nearly finished my internship (hopefully to a success! I should know if I will get a second internship in September). And I feel like I have mostly successful in my OKC goals for myself.

 I saw lots of places! Some of them my myself, mostly with groups, and many of them surprisingly gorgeous! This picture above is of Lake Arcadia, where I went last Sunday!

 I attended a Styx and Yes concert last weekend. Got a good old dose of culture! And had the company of my intern-mural company Corey.

 Who knew other interns might have a soft spot for classic rocks and 80's pop too?

 I went putt putt golfing with the Western group! And lost, but not too epically. I was only one behind Alex!

 This is Spencer and his lovely girlfriend Bryn, I made sure to take these before the immense sweating of being outside in the 105 degree heat began... approximately 2 minutes after being outside.

 Nothing like sideways me looking confused at a Lake!

 Smiling. It was evening and not too hot outside! Score!

 Broker Steve! This is one of the Broker's a worked with in Lusk! Who I caught up with when he visited OKC.

Beautiful Sunset. There is something different about the sunsets here. I don't know what it is. But they are still pretty... just different. I still some pictures to share from these experience and will have to remember to make a conclusion post.

But I can start that now! with the end so near.

I feel like one of my biggest accomplishments here has been achieving a greater level of independence. There is nothing like a new place and knowing pretty much no one to make you remember a little more about yourself and make you grow outside of the comfort zone. I even made bacon for the first time the other day!

It has made me appreciate where I live more. I can't tell you how much I complain about the weather, haha. There have only been 42(!!!!!!!) days of 100+ degree heat in a row. You can be jealous. I even had a sweating competition for the first time. Who is sweating more?! You or Me?! I think it's a great new hobby/event.

I have developed a little bit a soft-spot for the people here. They proved to be rather friendly and inspired a certain friendliness in return. They definitely are ready to help with directions and smiles. Not to mention everytime I went grocery shopping alone they had this face of concern and always would wish me extra luck. It was somehow refreshing, and somewhat concerning, do I look like I can't make it to my car?

One of my self let-downs has been the lack of focus on my own health. Not that I didn't, I tried plenty of new workout classes and played intern-mural sports all the time (My team won 3rd!!! Epic). But sitting 8 hours a day drives me crazy and I don't think being here has been good for my health over-all. More focus in the future!

I didn't get a chance to try a specific new hobby per say. I did some boxing which was pretty cool, and definitely some more cooking than usual, but I will have to try to expand my horizons a little more when I get back.

I had a great introduction to the Corporate World. I have never had so many dressing adventures. Dang, I suck at heels. But I sure feel extra cool wearing them!
The job really helped me explore the city more and met some great and supportive people. Thanks CHK!

I'm excited to go back. I miss familiar people, especially my family! That was certainly the hardest part about being away. I am a home-body and hope to always continue to be that way. I always forget how close I am to my family compared to other people. But it was nice to be able to relate to their business lives a little more :) I'm hope to visit them during the fall semester while the weather is still nice. Especially since my sister just got a puppy!!!

Something about friends who already know you and you don't have to be constantly explaning/introducing yourself to would be nice. 2.5 months is too little time to get to really know what a person is about, and while I met some great people that I would like plenty of more time getting to know, it will be inexplicably nice to be back with people who already get me and laugh with me!

OKC has been a great study abroad! It's a little city that deserves a little more respect. It apparently is the most recession proof city in America! and recently the 2nd hottest... But there is a cultural pride here that certainly needs more investigating... and maybe I'll be up for that task again. Someday.

Day 60 Purchase Power

Since my last blog was about one of my favorite things -- the beauitful outdoors! (which exists EVEN in Oklahoma) its time to talk about something way different -- shopping!

I've never been a huge shopper or quite the anti-shopper. We'll say I lie somewhere in between. Mainly I'm not too huge on spending money. But that went out the window a little bit this last week.

I bought my new suit! I have some pretty big deal presentations coming up soon, which meant I finally had to cave and buy a new business suit. I was not too stoked to have to buy one and had a short time frame, but after two hours I found one I really liked :) Just in time because I had a big VP lunch the next day.

*Drum Roll Please*

This is my "Ah! I'm wearing a suit face" Note the hand to indicate that I am fancy.

In other purchase news I also bought a new Garmin, which I bet I will still be able to get lost with, but it sure helped me a ton this weekend as I ran around Dallas. I doubt I would have had the slightest chance of getting to Turner Falls without it. I hope me and my Garmin GPS will have many lovely adventures together. I'm a little worried that I will lose all navigation ability because I will depend on it though and I vow to try to know where I'm at despite its existence. I feel like getting lost is good for your brain and using real maps keeps you sharp! So we'll see if I can find a kind of balance :)

Anyway, now that I've spend several hundred dollars the last week (gosh even typing that doesn't feel good) who wants to go to taco bell and go thrifting? :)

Well I never been to heaven, but I've been to Oklahoma.

Well I never been to heaven, but I've been to Oklahoma (this is a song lyric from Three Dog Night), which today definitely looked quite similar in my mind.

I was driving back from Dallas this afternoon and realized there are so many things I want to see in south Oklahoma, and that I happened to be driving through southern Oklahoma!

This doubled my drive time home but ended up being SO worth it.

I knew Oklahoma had hidden gems, I just knew it!

YATZEE!

 The river flows along like a waterfall, where people camp, swim, and listen to music all day.

 This is the main waterfall and giant swimming hole

The picture above is my very favorite! The elderly couple chatting in the river :)


Here are the Lake Murray Pictures:

 This one says: Happy is what we make it -- always has been - always will be

 A sail boat in the surprisingly blue-green water

 A flamingo overlooking the large collection of pool play things.

 

The lake between the lovely shady trees, it was significantly hotter at the lake than at turner falls (which was about 45 minutes north)

 I simply fell in love with Turner Falls today. I intended to drive by and check it out. I almost left when I had to pay a fee to get inside, but I'm so happy I paid and went hiking. I spend nearly 1 1/2 hours exploring this place today. It was just me, and I was so overwhelmed by how gorgeous it was I didn't care in the least. I did fall into the river... which if you cant tell by the pictures really isn't all that deep but I did get some pretty funny looks from other Turner Falls patrons. Oh well, also worth it. I would love to come back and swim around all day. This was like seeing a childhood dream in reality for some reason. It was several miles of shallow(ish in some places it was deep) accessible water to swim in and cool off. There were little fish too! It wasn't even too too hot out. I cannot express how beautiful this place is! I wish I could get a chance to go back, but with only 13 days left in OK I don't think it'll happen. Either way I'm a happy camper.


I also saw the less exciting Lake Murray, it was a pretty funny little place. I couldn't tell if it was private or what but I felt like a weirdo taking pictures of the little attractions and sayings. All I can say is I love exploring :) and that Oklahoma gave me quite the pleasant surprise today.

Things I Love Saturday! OKC!

Thank you Oklahoma for all the good trouble this past week! I feel like a cultural explorer whose just stumbled upon Eldorado. If Eldorado was comprised of Catfish rather than gold. And if its residents really, really liked overalls.

<3 Fo-redneck dress-code <3 Quizzical looks from locals <3 Small town Pride <3 The joy of air conditioning after being stuck to your chair via sweat <3 640 different types of Soda <3 Harry Potter Marathon while hiding from the Heat <3 Day Dreaming of adventures back home <3 Planning far away trips <3 Friends from other states with similar goals <3 Talking work shop with work jargon <3 Volunteering and practicing my painting skills ... on myself <3

I have some epic pictures from yesterday! not only did I attend my first Noodling Tournament, but I also went to Pops and got my Shakespeare on at the OKC gardens! Phew I'm tried today, but happy to be filling my OKC ambitions!

I'll detail these adventures when I upload my pictures :D

Day 46 - 100 Degrees

There have been 9 days of 100 degree or higher weather in OKC this June, today was one of them, but it was somehow a pretty pleasant day :)Some cool things about the 100 plus degree weather today:

- I made tea this morning that I didn't have time to drink, so I left it in my car. It wasn't a good temperature when I came back around 12:00pm, but by 5:00 is nice and toasy again.

- Taking a shower becomes slightly more thrilling. Unlike in winter, when you don't want to get out of the shower, there is limited fear of the cold.

- Sweating is good for your skin? This might be a push, but my skin does seem to like it better here.

- It makes staying up late and waking up early extra nice, because it's nicer out at those times :)

- Dresses!

- The thrill of distant fall. Mmmmm... How I love cozy fall.


Other things that make me happy:
- Extreme feats to save animals.
- The change in character enabled by playing contact sports.
- Playing epic trips to foreign countries! New Years in Ireland!!!

Day 43 - New things: Sailing, Catfish, Alligator

I've been trying to challenge myself as a person and not let new experiences escape me this summer. And this weekend that has been working out perfectly. I feel like I've been having a "yes man" weekend, and I love it!

I went sailing last night, I went to a geology social (and no I'm not in geology, so this was kinda silly) but I ended up chatting Colorado talk with some lovely people (who always seem to end up being high up VPs, I feel like a silly social climber) but they were all very nice. I was invited when I ran into my geology roommate on the way home, she pulled up next to me at a stop-light and asked me to go. I figured, why not? Who cares if I'm not a geologist? They certainly didn't.

Then while visiting with geologist my roommate was invited by an old college friend who happens to live in OKC (they went to college together in WV) to go sailing. I wished her a good time and while meeting her friends they somehow invited me to tag along. I felt a little out of place at first but they were very nice and clearly I could not turn down sailing. So I went sailing for the first time! I thought I was going to fall into the water a few times, but it was a blast. We sailed on Lake Hefner and it was gorgeous. We sailed for hours until sunset, and boy was I a happy camper. I loved the nonmotorized concept and would love to go again as soon as possible.

Then today I headed out to lunch with a friend and then again with some other interns, which turned into an afternoon of silliness and soon of dinner. Where I tried both alligator AND catfish. I feel like a real southern folk now. Except that I'm slightly afraid of seafood. Oh well today I will get over that and work the attitude of a real southern bell. Because trying new things is inspiring, and southern women know what they want, and I want to be inspired. :)


This is a sailboat on Lake Hefner, yup that's pretty much exactly as pretty as it looked like.


Here's a picture I love: it's by Lauren Lemon and it selfishly makes me think of me, but i adore it so much I'll get over that personal indulgence. for more of her quirky work: http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/quirky-cool-and-creative

Day 41 - Twisted

I saw Oliver Twist today. It was called our "cultural" intern experience. It was a great musical and it was probably one of my favorite theater experiences (in part because our group was hilarious and slightly unruly). But I enjoyed the work more than usual, to be honest musicals aren't my usual cup of tea. I won't try to explain too much because i know a ton of people who have a great affection for them, but pretty much singing in a monotone voice for an extended period of time about the same subject makes me bored and lose track of the plot. I think this is more of a commentary on my attention skills. Or my somewhat tone-deafness. Either way, this one was an exception and it made me want to pick up a Dickens novel and what the Oliver Twist with Elijah Wood in it :)

I enjoyed the cultural aspect, but don't think its the kind of unique OKC experience I'm craving. I'm sure Oliver has been in Denver. My goal for my study abroad was to understand Oklahoma for Oklahoma. I have a great sense of place in Gunnison, I feel like I help the community and feel at home outside. I strive to find some version of that here.

Culture is comprised of a lot of aspects and I received more glimpses of them on the way to and from the theater than at the theater itself. Its the way people treat one another a little more openly here, like they are searching for a little more interaction in their lives, because they know something positive can make their day better. Its the way the traffic isn't as bad. Its the way people talk about the weather. I want to gather all of these things and appreciate them for what Oklahoma is, because this is a place I never thought I'd be and I want to appreciate it for what I've found (which I admit I will be biased, but I'm doing my best to try to see both sides -- i've only given up on appreciating the summer OKC weather, sorry, but its ridiculously hot and I am not a fan)

But I love the thunder (the sound and the basketball team ;)) and the greenness and can't help but laugh when people ask me to slow down because I talk too fast. I'm putting the puzzle pieces together and must admit these are exceptional people.


Elijah Wood as The Artful Dodger in a 1997 version of Oliver Twist. He could pick-pocket from me anytime ;)

Day 34 - Creepy Museum

So during one of our lunch breaks I convinced the Landman, Steven, to go to the museum with me. It was called the "Stage Coach" Museum, but it had a bit of everything. Steven commented that it seemed like a collection of anything old and random. That seemed about right.  

This is me under a... Rusty triceratops? Yeah, I am pretending to be one.

This is me, farming? I think? It was hard to get on it, I thought I was going to get cut on it! Not really sure exactly what it did (as it has no label or anything). Also not sure if I was supposed to get on it (there was no sign telling me not ;))

 This is me next to my new friend. When closer to her she really appeared to need a dusting. I'm glad our shirts look similar though, I felt hip because we matched.

This is Steven and his new bride. I don't think he would be happy if he knew I put this up here. Hehe.

I was rather afraid to touch this. It looked like it might eat me.

 There was also a geology section.

 And a gnome section?

But other all it was a creepy, quiet (we were the only ones there), interesting, weird, scattered little museum. Here are the manikins. They had such a variety of facial detail that it looked like some were staring into your soul and like others had just lost theirs. It was rather unsettling. I was happy to get back outside to the nice WY weather. Interesting cultural experience though, the people in Lusk have a lot of town pride. So I'm glad they got to share a little in their museum. Makes me excited to see the Oklahoma Cowboy Museum tomorrow!

Day 33 A Presidential Visit

When I learned I was going to Lusk, WY and when I looked at a map and realized it was RIGHT next to the NE and SD border, I thought how cool it would be to be able to cross the border and see SD (sorry Nebraska, I see you a lot). I didn't think I would have a chance, but low and behold, two the crew guys hadn't been there either and were stoked to take me and see SD and, more importantly, Mt. Rushmore! We left after work, probably around 5:00 for a 2 hour drive to Mt. Rushmore! It was a gorgeous drive (well the part of it I saw... I slept for an hour or so of it). We went out to dinner at a Buffalo Steak House and as we left to drive to Rushmore, it started to rain. When we arrived at Mt. Rushmore it was pooring. We almost decided not to get out of the car, but I figured when we the next time I would be anywhere near SD. So we got out anyway.

Here is the picture with the rain, it was super dark out with a ton of lightning. We were hoping for a picture with a lightnight bolt, but no such luck.

This is me in one of the crew guy's jacket. I was brilliant and didn't bring a jacket at all for my whole week long trip. I suppose I'm too used to 100 degree OKC. The rain made the presidents look pretty cool though, Steven took some better pictures and was able to keep some close ups of their faces, it looks like George Washington was crying, and Jefferson appeared to have quite the runny nose. Pretty funny.

This is Steven, Me, and Treavor (pronounced like Trevor, but said evily like a mad scientist, I had a really hard time pronouncing it without sounding like I had a silly accent). We had to go inside because the lightning. It had been raining on us pretty hard.

The rain stopped though and it ended up being a really pretty sunset

Here's a picture with the flags

And then a double rainbow appeared! You can just barely see the second rainbow in the top right corner. but the bright one in the middle actually had like 3 or 4 rainbows connected to it. It was super cool!

I wish I could have stayed longer and see the light show they apparently have at night most days, but we left around 8:45 and it was a scary drive back. We almost hit two dear, a cow, and an outrageously large tumbleweed. We got back at 11:00 and we all appeared pretty unfunctional the next day. Super nice of them to take me there though!

LUSK WY

Here are the courthouse pictures from my Lusk trip! I took over 100 pictures on this trip, so here's just a start of what I did with my time there. And let me just say I am a very productive person.

 As seen by my bounding with the local residents. There were animal heads and skins hung all over the town. And there were quite a few live animals too. In this picture I am trying to make the buffalo feel better about not being alive anymore. Not sure if it helped. Sorry that you almost went extinct buddy!

This is outside the museum, I tried to climb into this stage coach but was concerned I'd break it. It did not seem stable. I'll show you pictures of the creepy museum in the near future!

 This is me working! It was in fact a work trip. I am seen here reading, typing, AND writing. So focused. So real.

 Here are just a few of the many, many books I was looking at to run title. They are heavy.

 Here is the outside of the courthouse where I spend the majority of my time in Lusk. It was beautiful! It even didn't smell like weird, musky library-ness on the inside -- bonus!

 This is me staring down the buffalo!

This is some of the text I was reading! It was a step below a romance novel but a step above a dictionary. I read (or tried to read) a lot of these. I think this was part of a warrenty deed!

I had a great time in Lusk, no joke. The weather was perfect. Like absolutely perfect. I played golf outside and this happy little breeze went through the open (bug-free) doors of the courthouse. I feel like I learned a significant amount about running title and had a great time with the Lusk crew! They were wonderful at teaching me things, but even better about entertaining me! I went to South Dakota (!) on Monday and went to a BBQ, went tandem biking (including mountain tandem biking), hiking, and park golfing on Tuesday! It reminded me a ton of Gunnison and the people were just as nice!

Day 32 - Business Travels (in Italy! oh wait.. I mean Wyoming)

I’ve been avoiding blogging because all I really wanted to blog about was my business trip! And I had to keep it a secret from my lovely sister.

I knew the 2^nd week of work I’d be going on a business trip, I wasn’t really sure when I was going to  go though. We wanted me to go sooner rather than later so I can get an idea of field work and the people I am emailing. So when looking at date I suggested one of the earlier ones and when planning it looked like I’d be flying to Denver. My boss suggested I could take a weekend with my family! Clearly I had to take up the offer and when given the choice of weekend I asked if I could take this past weekend as it was my sister’s bachelorette party weekend! After some seriously bizarre travel planning (I almost had to fly from OKC to Dallas to Tennessee to Arkansas, a 12 hours flight travel time for a 3 hour drive!)  I managed to work out a plan where I flew to Denver Friday to surprise my sister.

I showed up at her doorstep and she freaked out! Double-take and everything! Super hilarious and awesome. She had no idea. Which was even more hilarious because pretty much everyone else in the family knew. Her fiancé. My parents. My cousins. The other bridesmaids. Epic.

Super stoked I got to visit home! Made me realize how much I love Colorado! When I arrived at DIA and was walking around the airport and saw my beloved mountains I squealed outloud and said, “Eeee! Mountains.” Unfortunately I was traveling alone, so this probably looked more crazy than nostalgic.

On a side note I survived my first trip flying and traveling alone! I’m pretty proud of myself, not going to lie. I know I’m a little old for my first solo flight, but I’m pretty directionally challenged and didn’t get lost one on the way to the airport or in either of the airports. I need to give myself more time for my plane travels later this week but it worked out and I got on the flight and was shocked when it landed so quickly. How can a 11 hour drive be less than an hour flight? Oh technology! You amaze me.

Now however, I am no longer in Denver.
I am in Lusk, Wyoming!

Which is makes Gunnison (of ~6,000 residents) look huge. There are apparently 2 restaurants. Fancy stuff.

I’m looking at this like my study abroad near-by visits. You know how people who study abroad in England would go visit Italy? Yeah. I’m visiting Wyoming from Oklahoma. Take that! This is my study abroad trip and I’m in my Italy. Maybe I should have picked some place less famous to nickname Lusk, but I’m sticking to it. I have to take pictures of my field study for work so I will put up pictures when I get back to OKC. Don’t worry there will also be pictures from Arkansas. I think I will dove Arkansas my Germany. Another place I would love to go, of which it is filling my study abroad void.

Being in Lusk will be interesting. I get to go to the Courthouse tomorrow (I was slightly surprised they even had one of their own) and see what field work is like. I don’t have a car here (too young to rent L) but its small so I don’t think this will be a big deal. It reminds me a little of Gunnison home J

I saw this sign today! (attempt to restrain your extreme jealousy)


This shirt represents the state of WY and where Lusk is, right next to the border of Nebraska and South Dakota. If I had a car I'd drive to South Dakota, just to say I did.

This is the "little town with big possibilities" let's see what it brings me!

Day 26 - So tell me about your dreams

I've been reading about the concept of "unschooling" when people take their children out of school to develop their beliefs and passions outside of a routine and standard curriculum. I can't say I agree with the concept completely, especially for myself. I loved school as a kid and feel like it gave me the opportunities to meet great people and explore my passions through the opportunities and people it presented. At the same time, I feel like it's what you choose to do with your free time that really helps you figure out who you are as a person. You can't always have your job as your passion, and I feel like that may actually turn your passion into something less desirable.

So am I following my dreams here?

As a kid I always wanted to own land. To the extent when I would read the classifieds for open land in the newspaper on Sunday mornings (I was such a cool 4th grader). I loved the concept of exploring and having places to roam. I cannot remember quite when I started reading National Geographic online and in hard-copy (maybe 8th grade onward) but it made me want to learn about the mysteries of the world and see the places few people see.

Hey, not that many people go touristy on Oklahoma! I think its a start. Now I just really need to get outside! I really want to see some museums too, and it is incredibly hot out, but I would love to bring some of my childhood exploration ambitions to light again.

I want to use more of my creativity and employ the parts of my mind that aren't engaged at work!
Even if i can't achieve many of my impractical ideas, just thinking about them will surely be a start.

My goals this week:
- Spend less time at the apartment, not that I've been here a ton, but I need to get out even on those days were work is tiring me out. I think being outside of this place will inspire me!

- Don't wait for other people to do the things I want to do. I've always struggled to adventure alone (and it's probably no advisable in a crime-prone city) but small adventures and small/near places sounds achievable. -- Write some snail mail. I have some friends who are simply wonderful and deserve some handwritten letters :)

- Plant my miniature plant!

*here's a picture from finals week in Gunnison, i think the spring icicles are gorgeous!*

Day 21 - Back Track!

I volunteered last week with a group called Miracle League! The group was started by a lady named Margo who has an autistic son who wasn't allowed to play baseball when he was a kid. She didn't think that was fair, so she started a league for handicapped individuals so they could play baseball as well. She organizes the league and gets volunteers to help with the games.

Our first game was with the kids, who were adorable, but probably not as excited to be there as the older group. I helped a kid named Jack, who was very insistent that he could hit the ball himself. And he could, and did. He was the only kid in the group to get a homerun! I felt pretty proud :). He was pretty silly and insisted on practicing his swing a ton and confided he didn't like tennis. I managed to avoid a major tickle fight, but my friend Cameron and him had a pretty serious battle. I met his family after the game and they seemed really grateful for the opportunity to watch him play. It was a really cool experience and it made me feel really lucky to be where I am and lucky to be able to help. Not going to lie, those kids and adults were far better at baseball than I will ever be. When helping in the outfield I had to go retrieve the ball three times, once it took three throws for me to get it over the fence. I'll have to stick with other sports and leave the baseball to them.

The kids all received trophies since it was their last game of the season (this is the trophy ceremony)

Jamie (a geology intern) and me. I caught a ride with him and his roommates

 John and Cameron, the other two interns I came with. They are in the field, catching all those homeruns!

 Oklahoma has beautiful sunsets, here is a picture of a sunset from the park in Edmond, OK

The field was super soft and bouncy to avoid injuries -- my kind of set up!

Later that night I also visited a friend in Yukon, OK, who was driving through from visiting her sister in Louisiana. I was hungry after baseball so we went to Braum's. Yum! Cookie Dough Malt!

I got back to the apartment super late because of my visit. But was able to go to sleep by 12:00am for work the next day, totally worth it. Super happy to see a familiar face!