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 ;)