Concrete Jungle

Like I said in my last post, I moved recently. I’m living in a new state that I had never even been to before April when I came for less than 24 hours. All I could have told you about Kansas was that Jason Aldean describes it as a “fly over state” soooo that was encouraging. Another new experience for me is that my residence is considered “downtown,” that’s right I am a city slicker, a pavement pusher, a woman-about-town!

I live on Main Street in the large metropolis of Ottawa, KS; the city where shoes are not required and Hoverounds rule the sidewalks. So, as you could imagine, I have been bombarded with many different issues that pertain to city living. For example, I live right by a stoplight so in the morning it is very loud because, like in most cities, Ottawa has its own form of rush hour. I haven’t taken an official tally just yet, but I would guestimate that an average of 100 cars go by…this may seem small to you, but when it is 7am, it sounds like a NASCAR race out there.

I have gotten used to this over the past month however, I cannot get over the shenanigans that go down here at night. I think that Main Street is home to an underground drag-racing society. I have been hoping that I will look out the window and see Vin Diesel and Paul Walker outside filming the next The Fast and the Furious movie, but I usually just see an old Impala that someone put rims on. 

Plus, I don't understand the need to peel out on Main Street, the speed limit is 20mph. Is it cool to brag, "Hey, bra, my Impala with spinners can go zero to twenty in 4 seconds...."

A view from my window that doubles as the meeting area for Ottawa's underground drag-racing crew

  

Yesterday, I received my first parking ticket. Obviously, I was really upset with this mainly because it really was my fault. I was parked in two hour parking for nine hours (according to the ticket) and that is against the rules. What really upsets me about my fine is that I parked in the same exact spot for the past two months and have not received a ticket…I also parked in that same spot for NINE DAYS IN A ROW when I came back to Texas and didn’t receive a ticket then…why now? Well, Ottawa’s meter maid is an older gentleman who rides around in a three-wheeled car thing, so I guess it took him a second to come down our direction.

Where I was parked. Notice the sign? ha

It’s okay though; I will just have to cut out a trip to Pizza Time this week in order to pay my $5 parking ticket.

My latest inconvenience as I am trying to assimilate to downtown living occurred last night. It was midnight and I was just about to fall asleep when “BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ!!!” I hear a ton of drilling out my window. So I glance outside and see a work truck with a man in the crow’s nest who is drilling holes into the side of the building. Naturally, I was very confused why this would be occurring at midnight. Much less what the heck is so important he would need to be drilling into the side of a building right next to my window. Not surprisingly (because city living is very spontaneous), he was putting up Christmas lights.

Christmas in August. The large blurb of light in the center is not a UFO, it's the po-po busting some butt.

Nothing beats losing sleep over Christmas in August.

Preface

I have been having moments lately similar to the ones Bruce Willis experienced in The Kid. If you don't remember this movie, Bruce Willis meets himself as a child...as an adult. Anyways, the basis of the story is that Bruce Willis's character gets to learn about what experiences throughout his life shaped who he became. 

For your memory

The point of this entire spiel is that I have been having the exact same experiences lately, just without a mini-Shae running around (which I would probably enjoy). It's like my life is on Google Maps-street view and I get shot back into time and relive things that were defining to me. Some I really wish to forget, others you would think were insignificant. Anyways, I have thought about four experiences that I believe have changed my life the most.

1. My dad came home when I was about 12 and said a few of his swimmers were caught drinking. My mom turned to me, stuck her finger in my face, and gave me 'the look' (for you of those who have experienced this, I hope it doesn't haunt you as it does me) then she said through gritted teeth, "If you EVER, get caught doing that, you don't even want to know what the consequence will be!" Then I probably peed myself. And from that day forward I was always scared of consequences, no matter what the situation was. I followed the rules to the T and I am still scared of what the consequence would be if I was caught drinking underage, I'm 23.
2. Middle School. I was awkward, mean things were said, I was still awkward...I don't like to revisit it. But because of this I think I grew a few other skills. I rely a lot on humor to mask my insecurities and I became pretty good at observing situations and understanding people. Aka, everyone is predictable, even you.
3. Playing basketball at Memphis. It was a lot of fun, but I also experienced a lot of tough personal times. It taught me how to handle my weaknesses. I wish I could have done it differently at the time, but it shaped how I handled those situations later. I also had some awesome coaches, ones that I hope to mirror in my own career.
4. Attending Southwestern. I have never loved one place as much as I love SU, I grew up there as a kid and when I attended. I met my best friends there, I gained a lot of knowledge, and I began to understand myself more. Best three years of my life. 

Best friends, thank you SU.

Two months ago today, I became a semi-grown up. I moved away from home and I'll only return there one more time. Sadly, I'm not even being dramatic, my parents sold our house. It is weird how when you move away from your friends, family, dog, and comfort zone you actually start to reflect on those things that have made you the person that you are. One of my roommates said the other day, "isn't it weird to think that we will never be in our 20's again." That's the main reason I started this blog, I have a lot of things and experiences that make me who I am and I want to share and document them. Even if I am the only one who reads it, I can share it with my future self. 

If you do read it, you'll start to notice that I have a lot of random interests as well as some very strong opinions. And, I also really love Diet Coke.