Oklahoma is a'changin' me

Ways Oklahoma is Changin' Me

patience
In the last two months, I've waited, bit my tongue and slowed down. I'm learning to find my way in this new culture, and I'm learning that speed is not as important in Oklahoma as it is on the East Coast.
eating habits
People here either drink all the time or not at all, so meeting up for drinks is not going to happen. Every social interaction revolves around food - and lots of it. I'm not yet used to the giant portions, the six different Mexican restaurants or seeing buffalo at the grocery store.
responsibility
Never before have I had this much responsibility. We have more bills this year with our house and now life insurance. My job requires me to open the library at 7am, handle some books and supervise some students. My comedy improv performances are in my own hands. With a house comes more chores, mowing the lawn, weeding, watering and more sweeping. Christ, I feel like a "real" adult.
my marriage
When we lived in North Carolina, my relationship with Bryan did not change much, even though we were married during our time there. When we moved to Philadelphia, we had nobody but each other for about three months; thankfully, it brought us together. Here in Oklahoma, we're on the same team. It's us against the world, and we're back to being like college students. Maybe it's the town's lack of activities that remind us of Clemson or maybe it's that Bryan has his dream job and he can finally relax. Whatever it is, I love it. We're staying up late making rice krispie treats and eating from the pan. We're tickling and wrestling and showering together. We're planning improv shows. It feels like college to me.

Love.

The more you kiss, the more you hug, the more you love.

My friend just got engaged, and she asked me for marriage advice. I'm no expert on marriage; I've only been wed for a year and a half. I told her what I knew to be true for my marriage. I told her:

Remind each other daily with kisses, kisses in the morning, kisses at lunch, kisses after work, kisses before bed, kisses as you unpack groceries, kisses as you shower, kisses all the time. I believe the more you kiss, the happier you'll be.

My life couldn't be more like Belle's from Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Belle:
Little town, it's a quiet village
Every day like the one before
Little town full of little people

There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell
Every morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town

Townsfolk:
Good morning, Belle
Belle:
Good morning monsieur
Townsfolk:
where are you off to?
Belle:
The bookshop, I just finished the most wonderful story
about a beanstalk, and an ogre, and a---
Townsfolk: That's nice. MARIE the baguettes, hurry up!

Townsfolk:
Look, there she goes
the girl is strange, no question.
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?
Never part of any crowd
cause her head's up on some cloud.
No denying she's a funny girl, that Belle.

Man 1: Bonjour!
Woman 1: Good day!
Man 1: How is your family?
Woman 2: Bonjour!
Man 2: Good day!
Woman 2: How is your wife?!
Woman 3: I need....six eggs
Man 3: That's too expensive!

Belle: There must be more than this provincial life!

Man: ah, Belle
Belle: Good morning. I've come to return the book I borrowed.
Man: Finished already?
Belle: Oh I couldn't put it down. have ya got anythin' new?
Man: (chuckle) Not since yesterday.
Belle: That's alright. I'll borrow, this one.
Man: That one? But you've read it twice!
Belle: Well, it's my favorite: far off places,
daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!
Man: If you like it all that much, it's yours!
Belle: But sir?!?
Man: I insist!
Belle: Well thank you, thank you very much!

Townsfolk:
Look, there she goes, that girl is so peculiar.
I wonder if she's feeling well
with a dreamy, far-off look
and her nose stuck in a book
what a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle.

Belle:
Ohhhhhh....isn't this amazing?
It's my favorite part because....you'll see.
Here's where she meets Prince Charming
but she won't discover that it's him
till chapter three.

Woman:
Now it's no wonder that her name
means "beauty"
Her looks have got no parallel.

Shopkeeper:
but behind that fair facade.
I'm afraid she's rather odd,
very different from the rest of us.

Townsfolk:
She's nothing like the rest of us.
Yes, different from the rest of us is Belle

Belle: There must be more than this provincial life!

Townsfolk:
look there she goes....a girl who's strange but special,
a most peculiar mademoiselle.
It's a pity and a sin
she doesn't quite fit in,
cause she really is a funny girl,
a beauty but a funny girl
she really is a funny girl.....that Belle!!

Adulthood is expensive.

As the years pass by me, I am giving more and more of my (husband's) money to less fun things. In the last two months, we've purchased a lawnmower, a front-loading washer and dryer set, life insurance and couches.

What happened to the days of $350 rent? I remember very recently my money went to buy sexy clothes for parties, burgers from Wendy's and $2 movies at the Astro.

I've got to find a way to balance the necessary adult purchases with fun adult purchases. Hanging out at Lowe's and department stores is just not my thing, man.

Improvisation.

Improv is important.
Plans don't go according to plan.

Improv in Oklahoma

This weekend, Red Letters will be rocking out the 8:45 Friday night slot at the Second Annual Improv Festival Oklahoma!

We'll perform The Punch, meet hilarious people who live in Oklahoma, see friends from Chicago, Boston and Atlanta and get to train with improv superstars like Joe Bill and Susan Messing.

It's gonna be OK great!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Although my life, car and renter's insurance is with State Farm, I freaking love this commercial.

Music on the Internet

I've always gone to Pandora for music needs on the internet. Back in college, it was my go to, and since college, I've listed to Pandora at each of my jobs.

UNTIL NOW.

Welcome to a better world: Grooveshark.
Grooveshark is everything I love about Pandora plus more.
-You can select the exact song, exact artist that you like and play it instantly.
-You can search other people's playlists and add them all to yours.
-You can listen to one of their many radio stations and give a happy or sad face (similar to Pandora) to create a station that fits yours.
-There are no ads.
-You can quickly find yesterday's playlist, and replay instantly.

I love it. And I know you will, too. Check it out here. You're welcome.

Music Video Made with Stock Video

Ratatat - Drugs from More Soon on Vimeo.

This music video is made with stock images only. It totally works. And is pretty funny.

Oooooooooooooklahoma

It's 105 degrees everyday.
I've hired thirty students for the fall semester.
There's been no tornadoes. Yet.
Our air conditioning broke for three days; it was sticky.
Bryan is the city professor everyone keeps talking about.
Farmer Johnny knows me by face.
We have a "usual" at the Italian restaurant beside our house.
Every time we hit WalMart, we run into somebody we know.
I'm pregnant. Just kidding, but we thought about it.

This world we live in.

I have seen flowers come in stony places/ And kind things done by men with ugly faces/ And the gold cup won by the worst horse at the races,/ So I trust too.
John Masefield

Lady Quotes from a Lady Friend

I think junking up your fridge is what makes a house a home.
Jennifer Bell Moxley

We are home.

"Home is the one place in all this world where hearts are sure of each other. It is the place of confidence. It is the place where we tear off that mask of guarded and suspicious coldness which the world forces us to wear in self-defense, and where we pour out the unreserved communications of full and confiding hearts. It is the spot where expressions of tenderness gush out without any sensation of awkwardness and without any dread of ridicule."
-- Frederick W. Robertson