A Few Weeks In Review

We've lucked out with some glorious rainy weather. It looks like we'll be heading back to the typical 100+ weather soon. Oh, joy!

Since the Thunder made it to the Finals (still can't get over that), the University I work for had Thunder Days where the employees could dress up in Thunder gear. My co-worker and I gabbed some Westbrook/Durant frames and some official (not really) NBA microphones, and had some fun at our office press conference. We're ridiculous.

My mom and visited my grandparents in MO over this past weekend. It's always a fun time that consists of thrift store shopping, homemade ice cream eating, farm exploring, and Christmas music listening (no matter what month it is). They live next to some Amish communities, so we got to see some oats stacked the old fashioned way.
We also got to pick blackberries from my Grandpa's farm. They were delicious.

Happy Monday, everyone!

My Internal War Between The States

I am a very conflicted person.

I never know whether I should grow my hair out or keep it short.

I never know what to eat for lunch.

I never know if I should eat Ben and Jerry’s while watching a dumb movie.

OK, scratch that last one. The answer is alwaysalways yes.

Obvious ice cream questions aside, one of my major conflictions has always been trying to decide in what part of the country I would rather live.

It’s quite the inner struggle.

I grew up in northern states.

I love snow, crisp weather, and all the wonderful items that accompany those things. The excitement that comes from dashing from your car to a building while trying not to take a breath for fear that your lungs will freeze over. That cozy shiver that follows a warm sip of coffee after you’ve been out in the cold. Summer evenings where you still need a sweater after the sun goes down.

I also didn’t realize how much I took gentle breezes for granted until I moved to the land of “impossible-to-not-look-ridiculous-while-wearing-a-dress-outside.”

That’s on the Oklahoma state seal somewhere.

I’m sure of it.

But then there’s the south.

Front porches. Kudzu covered trees. Iconic food traditions. Windless days and nights. Classic colloquialisms spoken with that regional drawl.

I’m not a tea drinker, but I’m sure sipping iced coffee on a front porch would be just as delightful.

It is almost certain that I have an overly romanticized view of the south. I blame it on my overactive imagination mixed with the fact that I’ve been obsessed with Flannery O’Connor since age 14. My subscription to Southern Living doesn’t help things, either. Not to mention that I recreated Gone With the Wind with my Barbies at age 7. (Side note: pipe cleaners are an excellent substitute for whale bones when fashioning Barbie hoop skirts)

For now I’ll keep on longing for the best of both worlds here in the wind-stripped plains.

We do have the Thunder.

At least there’s that.

NYC Dreaming

I’ve been daydreaming about New York City recently.

Specifically, visiting NYC at Christmas.

I’ve always wanted to spend Christmas in New York. And let’s face it, Home Alone 2 probably had a lot to do with it.
I have been lucky enough to visit New York City on two occasions.

The first time I went, I was in college, and I went with Jo. The main thing I remember about that trip was Jo getting yelled at by some subway performers for videotaping their breakdance performance.

Normal.

I think we were only in the city for one whole day, but we fit in the obvious NYC attractions: Central Park, Times Square, Carnegie Hall, Battery Park at night (safe, right?), and the Seinfeld deli. It was January, and it was cold, but I remember thinking having a blas.

It was fun, right Jo?

The only downfall to the timing of this trip was that it was about 6 months before I got a digital camera.

Remember those times?

They were dark times.

I went back 4 years later with Julie, who is the best German friend ever! My friend Jenny from DC even hopped on a train to join us for a day.

(Side note, when in NYC, it is important to be very specific when telling a friend to meet you at the “Starbucks on the corner,” because there will most likely be 8 Starbucks on any given corner)

(let it be noted that Julie looks way better after spending a day in the scorching heat than I do. She is also not afraid of heights)

The temperature may have been 98 F with 95% humidity, but that did not stop us from taking in a Broadway show, trying to blend in at a Yankees game, nearly dying of fright at the top of the Empire State Building , taking the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, dreaming at Café Lalo, exploring Chinatown, devouring cannoli in Little Italy, night-walking in SoHo, strolling through Central Park while sipping a gigantic lemonade, and going to H&M as many times as we could.

(let it also be noted that this is my cheesey/talking through my teeth grin. I try not to look this ridiculous on a daily basis)Ummm, yeah. I want to go back.
Who has been to NYC? What areas/locations are a must-see?