Oklahoma Part Deux

We're back! It's amazing--we generally get to come to Oklahoma about once a year, and this time we're here twice in one month! This long break between jobs was the best thing we ever did.

It has been a fantastic trip thus far. We arrived on Friday night, just in time to catch some shut-eye before heading down to Norman for the game of the year--OU vs. Texas Tech. We stole my brother's tickets (don't worry, he did not miss his first game in 20 years for us--he was able to procure some more) and I got to show Ankur what a REAL football game is like. The crowd was electric, it was cold but not too cold, and the score of course was much to our liking, so it was a great day. (By the way--everyone should wear red tomorrow. Or at least not orange.)





At the game, we also had a classic Oklahoma moment: taking a picture in front of a stretch limo pickup truck. Awesome.

Sunday we went up to Tulsa to visit our old and wonderful friends, Zac and Julie. We got to see their beautiful new house (they are such real people!), and they gave us the VIP tour of the city. Despite the fact that both of my parents grew up Tulsa, we never spent a whole lot of time there as kids--at least, not outside of the grandparents' houses and the Coney Islander. So it really was a new experience for both of us. We saw the Giant Praying Hands, Riverside, Brookside (?), Utica Square, Harolds, the dive shop, the park where I took prom pictures that one time, and other Tulsa landmarks. We also ate coneys (no one in my family can go to Tulsa without eating coneys) and a scrumptious dinner at Lucky's, Z&J's favorite restaurant. (Oddly enough, while stopping at Starbucks to fuel Zac's caffeine addiction, we also ran into a guy we met in Rome!) It was great to spend time with two of my best friends, and great to add a city to the (very short) list of potential future homes.



Monday we went to another OKC Thunder game. It was a very exciting game--unfortunately, they gave up a 20 point lead and lost by one in the last seconds. Oh well. We'll get better. And we saw Shaq. In a suit. I wonder where he buys his suits.

Tuesday and Wednesday were largely spent preparing for Thursday, Turkey Day. Mom and I both came down with the death cold at the same time. As we were the ones preparing Thanksgiving dinner for 20, that was an unfortunate turn of events. I hope that nobody suffers ill effects from the bacteria pie.

Thursday we all medicated up and prepared for the onslaught of the W family. As always, Thanksgiving with the Ws was loud, rambunctious, drama-filled, and fantastic. We continued the tradition of Grandmother's standard low-calorie Thanksgiving meal for 25: turkey slow-cooked in cream-of-mushroom soup, stuffing, green bean casserole, rice, secret-recipe macaroni and cheese, brown and serve rolls, some needless filler vegetables, and gravy on top of everything. Then pumpkin pie with loads of whipped cream. And alcohol. Much alcohol. Then we started a fire. Then Aunt Liz walked into a door. And a good time was had by all.

We also had a few visitors for Thanksgiving. Karen, who is basically one of the family, and Michelle, a girl who lived in the house behind my grandmother and grew up with the W clan, came by, but they are used to us. We also had Ankur's sister, who came down from Kansas to experience her first real turkey day. I hope she doesn't convince Ankur to leave me. Finally, we had my potential future in-laws--if yesterday doesn't change their mind.




Today is Recovery Friday. We'll need it!

I hope you all had a warm, happy, and wonderful Thanksgiving too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a few things I am thankful for this year:

-My wonderful husband, and a wonderful first year of marriage
-My colorful (and wonderful) family--and getting to spend Thanksgiving with most of them
-My Savta
-My BFF Rachel, now only 2.5 hours away
-All my fantastic friends, near and far (Lincoln, here's your shoutout--you are included here)
-My Godson
-My new job, starting on Monday
-My old job--the best job I'll ever have
-Memories of the trip of a lifetime
-The Constitution
-Living in the land of opportunity, and being able to take advantage of it
-Change! =)
-And of course, turkey and macaroni and cheese and pumpkin pie...

New Plan

In case the economy keeps going on this trajectory, we have a new plan:

Urban Chicken Farming

It was actually Pat and Elisa's idea. Anyone else want to join?

First Celebrity Sighting

We waved. He waved back.

Making an effort

Recently, I had a g-chat conversation about the election with a good friend of mine. The conversation caused me much consternation, but not for the reasons you might think. After discussing the historic nature of the election, the potential SCOTUS nominees, and the fantastic acceptance speech, the following exchange took place:

me: I wish you were in DC
it's pretty cool here right now
the energy is amazing
Him: WHOA
I'M PRINTING THIS OUT
AND DISTRIBUTING IT TO ALL
I believe that was a (partially) positive assessment of DC from Melanie

Well, that got me thinking.

Have I really said nothing positive about DC? Ever?

And what does that say more about--my own attitude, or the city?

Sure, this is not my favorite place in the world--it's no Gimmelwald. Sure, I still do not really understand these "city folk"--I am still very much a country mouse at heart. Sure, I miss my family, my friends, and my quiet, convenient, friendly, comfortable, familiar, chicken-fried kind of home.

But nobody put a gun to my head and forced me to move to DC. (Indeed, we're ponying up a pretty penny to live here.) We came here for a reason, and there is a reason we didn't pack up and go home after the first week. So I think it's about time that I put in writing--for public distribution--some of the good things about living here. In no particular order, here are 10 positive things about DC:

1) It's an exciting place to be right now. This is where everything is happening--the turnover in government, the Supreme Court, the home of the new 700 billion dollar hedge fund, the G-20 meetings, the protests, the parades--and the energy is high.

2) There are tons of people our age, everywhere. For the most part, they are excited about life, and they are doing something with it.

3) People come to visit. We already have a full slate of houseguests planned, despite the fact that they have to sleep on the couch or an air mattress.

4) No matter what kind of food you're in the mood for, you can find it within walking distance. Thai, Indian, Ethiopian, Peruvian, Malaysian, Italian, Mexican, Steakhouses... anything.

5) There are actually some decent country radio stations here.

6) There is real diversity--ethnic diversity, religious diversity, political diversity, financial diversity, sexual diversity, etc. Along with that diversity comes acceptance--we don't have to worry about being an interracial couple, we don't worry about having a funny name, we don't have to defend our religious or political choices, and we get to learn a lot about other people.

7) I never have to drive. My feet or the metro can take me anywhere I want to go.

8) I don't have to plan meals in advance--I can just walk across the street to the grocery store and get what I need that evening.

9) You never have to worry about places being closed at 9pm.

10) I may not have my own little piece of land or my own garden, but I do have a pretty neat backyard: My trees are the Japanese cherry trees, my pond is the reflecting pool and the tidal basin, and my statuary are the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

There. I feel better already.

Oooooooklahoma!

As the slogan goes, Oklahoma is OK. Better than OK, actually. In my opinion, Oklahoma needs to get over its massive inferiority complex and admit that it is actually a better than mediocre place to live. Oklahoma is Great! (Except for the unfortunate fact that it is the only state that did not have a single county go blue in this year's presidential election--a fact about which my father constantly reminded us during our visit.)



Our trip home was action-packed. We arrived on Wednesday, the day after the election, just in time to go to an Oklahoma City Thunder game. (Sorry Adam.) I still can't get over the fact that Oklahoma, which bleeds football from its red clay pores, now has a professional basketball team. But the city has taken to it beautifully. The stands were packed, the people were excited, and the guys behind us actually knew all the players and their strengths and weaknesses, only five games into the season. Yet more proof that OKC is on the rise!

(PS: If you look closely at the picture above, you'll see two former Jayhawk standouts!)

Also during the time that we were home, we hung out with the family, went on a walk around Arcadia Lake, played a lot of Rock Band, attended Jay and Ellen's beautiful wedding, went shopping, caught up with old and wonderful friends, and ate a TON of mom's homemade macaroni and cheese. And Braums peppermint ice cream. Oh how I love Braums peppermint ice cream. And macaroni and cheese. Two things you can't get anywhere else. Have I mentioned that I LOVE Oklahoma?

Another random tidbit-- on both our way to and from Oklahoma, we noticed a parade of giant--and I do mean giant--windmill parts travelling north on I-35. We're talking tons and tons of gigantic windmill parts. I don't know where they're coming from or where they are going, but I must say that it was quite heartening to see real progress being made on the wind energy front. I happen to think that the Oklahoma and Kansas landscape is beautiful as it is, but for those detractors who think that it is just a bunch of wasted empty space, it's now no longer being wasted!



We are now back in DC, doing our best to get settled before one last trip home for Thanksgiving and then starting work! It's hard to believe that our adventures are almost over. At least, these adventures--I'm sure there are many more ahead! Hope all is well.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Chicago, Illinois

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

Election Day

Celebrate America: Go vote!

Long time no see

Boy have I missed Kansas! The land of the waving wheat, Jayhawks, wide open spaces, old friends, smiling strangers, basketball, easy parking, family, salt-of-the-earth people, Mass Street, and more. It has been wonderful to be back.

In addition to our Indian festivities and family visits, we have been busy catching up with old friends. On Wednesday, we drove to Lawrence, home of our alma maters. It was great to troll Mass Street, have lunch at La Parilla (my absolute favorite cheap restaurant), walk the KU campus, and visit old professors and debate coaches. That evening we met Cassy--my brilliant, thoughtful, quirky, delightful roommate of four years--at our favorite sushi place in Lawrence. I almost didn't recognize her, as she had cut off all of her trademark long hair; but other than that, she has remained true to the wonderful Cassy I've always known and loved. She even brought me a Macaroni and Cheese cookbook--awesome! =) Dinner was followed by a delicious home-made ice cream cone at Silas and Maddy's, and then the three of us retired to the delightfully hippy, unique, Lawrence-esque Java Break to round out the evening. It was great to see her.

Yesterday, we met Justin--Ankur's roommate of four years--at Boston Market. It may sound like a weird place to meet for lunch, but I was very excited about bland food. He regaled us with stories about medical school while doing a relatively good job of keeping it lunch-table appropriate, which was much appreciated. It was great to see him as well.

In the evening, we finished our tour of KU roommates by going to McLouth, Kansas--a tiny town of about 800--to visit the mayor and his wife. Yep, my former roommate Jennifer is now the wife of the mayor and the mother of three beautiful girls (see the pictures above), not to mention a pharmacist herself. I got to hold the baby much of the evening, which was heaven! =) Jennifer made us a lovely dinner, and the wine fueled a spirited political conversation. When you get me in the same room with someone who regularly listens to Rush Limbaugh, you might expect sparks to fly--however, it remained remarkably civil and fun. A great evening.

That's all the excitement for now. Hope all is well with you!