Oklahoma is OK!

That's right, I said it...

“Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe." Anatole France

This is a great quote for my drive yesterday.  Why?  Because as I was driving to Oklahoma City under a near cloudless and pale blue sky, a strange feeling came over me.  It was something that actually took me a minute to put my finger on.  Then I realized what it was...peace.  This overwhelming sense of calm and serenity that I have not felt in a long while.  It was fantastic and I hope it continues for the remainder of this journey...I certainly still feel that way right now.

The drive was fairly short and very easy.  Amazing weather and little traffic.  There was a decent amount of construction, but it did not cause me any problems.  Here are some pictures I took on the way to OKC.

This is a McDonald's that was actually built over the highway.  I took a picture of it because once when we were making the drive back from Arizona, my dad, Elijah and I stopped and ate here.  Naturally I thought it was the coolest thing ever at the time...

 

I mean seriously, thank God for this warning or I would have driven STRAIGHT into that brush fire!!

The whole resort was enormous...too bad I am not a gambling woman.  Also...Dierks Bentley - yum!

 

I found this guy at the "Oklahoma Welcome Center."  He has all kinds of groovy stuff painted on him.  Besides, it is a penguin - of course I was going to take a picture!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I arrived in OKC my host, Robert, was still at work.  He was kind enough to leave his (bad ass) loft unlocked for me, so I got cleaned up and decided to go walk around until he got home.  My destination was the OKC National Memorial, which I will write a blog about later, because it deserves it's own.  While I was walking around I just took pictures of random things that struck my fancy or caught my eye. 

The OKC Federal Building, I came across it when I was walking around downtown looking for the memorial.

This was the landscaping around the OKC Federal Building.  I liked the little stars that were scattered about everywhere. 

The guy on the right, Kelly, saw me taking pictures of things while I was walking around and asked me if he was photogenic enough to have his picture taken. =) He was very friendly and talkative - he asked me to take another one after this with his sleeves rolled up so I could see all of his tattoos.  Of course I obliged him.

I loved this...it was on a parking structure across from the memorial museum.  Very pretty.

He was just hanging around downtown.  It made me think of the song, "Home, Home on the Range."

This was the top of the "City Church."  See Jesus creeping?  I knew he was a weirdo.

Here is where I ate lunch - it is called the Beatnix Cafe.  Directly across from my host's loft.  The food took longer than necessary, so they gave me a free (giant, delicious) cookie!  In other words, I was content. =)

Robert took me to a Vietnamese place for dinner called Lee's.  It was primarily about sandwiches and ice cream.  There was this huge machine in the building that makes the baguettes.  The guy working inside of it was laughing at me taking his picture, so about 20 seconds after I took that he got his cell phone out and took one of me! 

Funny...in my opinion.

Same thing.  And no, I did not get any of said "chosen beer," I drank water out of it.

The HUGE TV I got to watch the game on - seriously, it was enormous.  (As an aside, look, Green Bay drew a penalty - imagine that!!)

Robert and I - obviously post game.  I have to hand it to the Bears...it was an exciting game.  Maybe next time Cutler throws so many interceptions our defense won't draw an equal number of penalties to cancel them all out. Hhh.

Robert to me to a bar called Brix in the part of OKC called Bricktown.  It was awesome.  They had tons of TVs set up, but we watched on the giant one above.  Instead of sitting in regular restaurant style seats, we were able to snag some amazingly comfortable leather chairs.  It was pretty much equivalent to watching it in a rich friend's home theater...you know, if I had any rich friends with home theaters. The Bears won (obviously)...but it was a super fun game to watch and I had a really great time.  Three of his friends joined us and one was kind enough to buy my drink!  I had a really nice time, even with the Pack performing so miserably.  However, I DID win my fantasy game thanks to Aaron Rodgers being a total beast...again! Sorry Whitney!

Last but not least, the couch! Thanks for everything, Robert!!

So it begins...

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

Well, I am officially on the road!  My first technical destination was Indianapolis to see my beautiful friend Whitney.  It was a nice evening full of ridiculous movies (Kindergarten Cop, Bride Wars) and girl talk.  She let me stay at her place to knock two hours off of my drive to Springfield on Sunday.  Thanks, Whitney!

Sunday Morning I woke up and I took off toward Springfield, MO.  Here are a few pictures from my drive...which I deemed the drive of over sized things.

This was as I was driving into St. Louis. Welcome!!

I just liked the way this framed the sky scraper, so I took a picture! (Note: GIANT arch)

Just another shot of the arch...

This was pretty much the best I could get of the Mississippi River, I was driving on the interstate and trying not to kill anyone just to get a good picture.

This one is for my Dad - he loved it here. =) (but still, Go Cubbies!)

GIANT cross.  This went perfectly with the theme of hyper-religious billboards I saw dotted across Missouri.  Sheesh.

This is the "World's Largest Rocker!"  I considered turning around after seeing it, because I doubt I could see anything more impressive my entire trip. It was just a short distance off the interstate, so I figured I would check it out.

Can't travel the old Route 66 without getting a picture!

Once I got into Springfield - it was time to get some food and find Monica's.  I passed a little joint called the Purple Burrito and thought - what?  Naturally I stopped.  It was quite yummy, but definitely no Texano's (which I will be eating in a few short days in Tempe!!).  Then I found Monica's and waited for her to return.  For those of you unaware, Monica is my cousin on my mom's side.  Her mother and my mother are sisters.  She has lived in Missouri for most of her life and I do not get the pleasure of seeing her regularly - nor have I seen her as an "adult."  Well, let me tell you this...she is pretty fantastical.  She was sweet and intelligent (which is how I remember as a young girl) but also funny, beautiful and just so genuine.  She told me to make myself at home and she meant it.  We talked about college, House, relationships, Glee, catty and dramatic GUYS and a host of other things.  It was very nice to see her and chat.  I hope we can do it again sooner than later.

Here was my couch, which I could not for the life of me figure out how to fold down into a bed. (I think I will try and get pictures of all of the couches I sleep on along the way)

Bear with us, it is pre 8am.  At least Monica has showered, I just woke up!  Lovely lady she is, though.

Here Nevin, I black and whited the bridge photo for you.  I know how you like these type of shots. =)

That's that...off to Oklahoma City!