Senior Sendoff & More

Norman, OK - McAlester, OK - Dallas, TX
June 28, 2012
Total Mileage: 432


It had only been four days since I had traveled, but I was itching to get out again.  This trip was the first leg of our summer vacation, which might explain my eagerness.  In order to get everything done I had to schedule an oil change in Norman so that my Jetta would be ready for the another 10K miles.  My drive to Norman was pleasant with great weather and I was fortunate to not experience the typical I-35 south traffic.

After driving another 2.5 hours, I was at Rotary Park ready to welcome incoming freshmen to the OSU family.  For the first year, the turnout out was good with about 20 people and 5 incoming freshmen.  Before it got dark, I was on the road to Dallas to meet Keegan, who had been at NACMA all week. Southbound and down :)

I throughly enjoy driving, especially places I have never been, and the drive from McAlester to the Oklahoma/Texas state line on HWY 75 was gorgeous.  The hills and green trees were beautiful as the sun was setting.  The picture below doesn't capture what I saw, but it will serve as a small reminder of the God's amazing creation and being.

Before I knew it, I was in Dallas and enjoying an outside evening with Keegan and a mutual friend at the Katy Trail Ice House.


Magnificent: Driving through the SE Oklahoma hills at sunset
Manure: Having to drive an extra two hours to get to the VW Service Shop

Oklahoma sunset

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Ross Reunion

Bartlesville, OK
June 22-24, 2012
Total Mileage: 244

For the second time this week, I headed to Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  This time we were traveling for a family reunion (step-in-law family).  We were very fortunate to make it to Owasso on Friday night to eat with some friends at Andolini's Pizzeria.  The owner of Andolini's is dating one of my best friends and we had some amazing food for dinner.  We had heard great things from others that had eaten there, but it is definitely "a must eat."  After carb-loading we made it to the Best Western of Bartlesville.

Saturday didn't start too early, but started off right with Starbucks!  I have an addiction to espresso and enjoy starting off my day with a good latte.  Mid-morning we were all loaded up and headed to Woolaroc to see animals, explore the museum and attend kidfest.  Our niece had a great time at kidfest although the heat was almost unbearable.  We made our way inside the air-conditioned museum and I was presently surprised by the amount of history and information that had been preserved.  The museum featured some amazing Native American clothing, paintings and artifacts.

Following the museum, we stopped to eat in downtown Bartlesville at Frank & Lola's.  This small restaurant used Oklahoma beef from Nowata for their hamburgers.  Keegan and I shared the "Johnny" burger, which had jalapeno cream cheese with all the fixins.  We had amazing homemade bread pudding, but a tidbit if you visit, you have to order the bread pudding when you order your meal because they make each batch to order (takes about 20-30 minutes).  This filling lunch was probably not the best idea prior to attending a picnic and family competition.  Fighting the heat, we headed to Johnstone Park to celebrate the 48th annual Ross reunion with lawn games, snacks and friends.  The weekend always goes by too fast and before we knew if Keegan and I were on the road back to Stillwater.  We unfortunately didn't get to stop anywhere neat to eat, but there are more adventures to come next weekend in Austin!


Magnificent: Learning more Oklahoma history at the Woolaroc Museum
Manure: The Oklahoma summer heat

Buffalo roaming in the National Preserve

Favorite quote while at Woolaroc:
"Those of us who have been more fortunate have a debt to society which I believe I can best be paid by training and educating the youth of the nation. I dedicate this museum to the boys and girls of today- the fathers and mothers of tomorrow. May they profit by a knowledge of man's past and be enabled to plan and live a happier future."
- Frank Phillips


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Cowboy Caravan

Bartlesville, OK
June 18, 2012
Total Mileage: 214 


Cowboy Caravan is an athletic-focused event hosted by the OSU Alumni Association Chapters and presented by the POSSE. These events are hosted throughout Oklahoma and Texas to feature the great OSU teams and coaches.  This week I attended the Washington County event in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  The speakers were Coach Annan (WBB), Coach Ferguson (MBB) and Coach Monken (FB).  They were wonderful speakers and comedians.  Coach Monken had the crowd laughing majority of the evening.  My favorite quote from the night was, "I don't remember his name, so I call him Little Homie," Coach Monken.

Magnificent: The drive into town on Highway 60
Manure: Forgetting the camera at the office

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Girls Weekend

Bella Vista, AR

June 15-17, 2012

Total Mileage: 470 

After a wonderful weekend in northwest Arkansas, I realized the how many great experiences I have had traveling across the US.  Although I have a decent memory, blogging would be fun and a great reminder of the privileges I have to be healthy and traveling. 

This weekend was a great trip for the first post!

During the summers growing up my mom would always go to "girls weekends" with her sorority sisters and I was never able to attend.  Traveling to Bella Vista marked the first time for me and my "little sister" to attend the infamous girls weekend and it was everything we had hoped.  We got up early Friday morning left from OKC, stopped for lunch in Tulsa and made it to the lake house by 3 p.m.  Friday night was relaxed with dinner, drinks and lots of conversation.  Saturday came quickly and we were very eager to get on Loch Lomond and spend the day on the water.  Initially, I thought this would be the best part of the day... laying in the sun, reading and enjoying good friends, but little did I know!  We ate a marvelous dinner at the Monte Ne Chicken Inn and as we were finishing up the waiter handed us a postcard.  This postcard said "Special Event Tonight at 8:30 p.m."  The sister smirk and are off to the house to get ready. 

The youngsters are left questioning the shenanigans we are about to get ourselves into.  We had to waste two hours before we could head back to the house.  When we arrive at dusk, there is champagne, chairs and a tripod set up in the back yard (interesting to say the least).  In a matter of five minutes, the sisters are walking to the deck and we have our eyes shut.  As we open our eyes, words cannot express what we saw on the deck.  The picture and video below will give you a small dose of the amazing performance. 

Thanks to the sisters, my mom and friends for an amazing weekend!

"What happens in Bella Vista, stays in Bella Vista." (Except this video) 

Magnificent: The surprise performance
Manure: Getting lost multiple times

The sisters performing Super Trouper from Mamma Mia

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