Back in the Midwest

Since graduating from Oklahoma State in 2009, I haven't been able to stay in one place for more than 6 months at a time. My wandering feet (and soul) have taken me west to Oregon, south to Mexico and far north to Alaska. Yet despite the new adventures and incredible things I have done and seen, I find myself pulled back to the heartland of America, Oklahoma.

I am not in love with Oklahoma. And since I grew up in Texas, I can't really say I have Okie in my blood. The summer heat can be unbearable, the wind whips down from the plains making a beautiful day miserable and tornadoes are always lurching around the corner. The people are kind and friendly, but the culture is conservative and slow to change.

So why do I find myself here once more?

Well for all of you who live here in Oklahoma, or find yourself coming back time and again, you know the answer. Despite its challenges and frustrations, Oklahoma can be a wonderful place. We are proud without being arrogant. The land still offers a touch of wildness and sense of the frontier. One can easily step outside the concrete walls of the cities (the two that exist in the state) and find miles of plains, pasture and forest. What few hills exist in the state are beautiful and quaint.





"Tulsa is the next up and coming Austin" is a phrase quietly spoken around town. For all of you who know Austin, don't close this blog so quickly. There really are undercurrents of progressive, hip culture popping up all over Tulsa. And the great thing about it is that hardly any one knows! (unlike the too expensive, impossible to find a job, 20's something overrun, Austin.) First, downtown Tulsa has a night scene that surprise even Tulsans with its variety, affordability and options. McNellies boasts over 100 beers on tap, The MAX offers a unique retro throwback to the 80's with arcade games and pop culture like "Saved by the Bell" decorating the walls, Joe Mamma's serves up late night pizza, beer and trivia, and Fassler's Hall German-style pub is a clean, no frills brat and stein servin' joint. Live music can be found at any of the said (and unmentioned) bars nearly every night of the week. And a soon to be open Blues and Bar-b-que place will round out the scene with an open air balcony and live blues music. Besides nightlife Tulsa's fantastic new microbrewery Marshalls has surprised and impressed even the most pretentious beer drinker. Shades of Brown and Double Shot offer espresso that will satisfy the snobbiest of coffee drinkers. And for outdoor lovers, the 80+ miles of trail along the river, the multitude of disc golf courses, and Turkey Mountains developed trail system allow any outdoor enthusiast to fulfill his wishes (except maybe downhill skiers, but after this last storm even they made have a chance to ski around Oklahoma)





And so I have convinced you, and most importantly myself, that Tulsa, OK is a worthwhile place to spend some time. Because here I am, lease signed and all. And so in the first time since graduation, I will "settle" in one spot for over a year. Quite the commitment. At first it was scary, but more and more I have accepted the reality. I am home in Oklahoma......for now.