Ruff Day? Don't Worry!

Today I discovered something wonderful; something that is capable of dispelling all of the negativity in the world; something that offers humanity a small glimpse into the glory of Heaven on earth....

A CORGI RALLY

I mean seriously... A giant group of adorable furry little friends all in one place, and what is that one place, you might ask? Oklahoma. 

We all have those days when we are completely slammed with work-- I mean, just thinking about everything we have to accomplish is enough to give someone a panic attack. I was having one of those days and I got to a point where I just needed to take a moment and breathe. I found myself in desperate need of something mindless, so I began to scroll through social media. My Instagram feed was relatively representative of its normal composition: couples' pictures, friendly appreciation posts, and the inevitable dramatic selfies accompanied by deep quotes. I worked my way a little deeper into the feed and found a picture my friend had posted of several corgis. I was a little confused because I knew that she didn't personally own one. Clearly, my immediate response was to do some "creeping" and discover where all of these corgis were coming from. Thank goodness for the capability to add a location to a picture because it made discovering what this magical occasion was incredibly simple. 

At first the concept of a corgi rally seemed a little silly and too good to be true; however, upon additional investigation, I realized that it was absolutely real and a pretty regularly occurring event back home, and in my opinion, it should be a regularly occurring event everywhere.

Based on my immense homework load, I probably spent way too much time exploring the jewels of the Okie Corgi Rally Facebook page, but just look at this picture...

These animals were just what I needed to pull me out of my studying slump. In case any of you find yourself in a studying dead end, or you just really like corgis, here are some of my favorite pictures that I found while perusing the Facebook page.

My favorite thing about dogs is how they enjoy the simple things, just look at how happy this corgi is and all it's doing in laying in the grass... wowza, what an awesome animal.

This dog is experiencing pure bliss, which will be my emotion when I finally make it to a Corgi Rally.

 Something about this angle just made this picture too cute to not be acknowledged. 

And to close it out with some classiness, here is a dog wearing a bow tie, what more could you ask for?

When I had finally had my fill of corgi pictures my primary question was when the next rally would be occurring. Unfortunately, it is February 27th, not even a week before I will be home for spring break (just my luck...) But no worries, experiencing a Corgi Rally back home in Oklahoma was promptly added to my bucket list! I assure you that once I am there, there will be a plethora of pictures that can hopefully assist someone else when they are desperate for touch of unique happiness in the middle of this hectic thing we call college life. 

Side note: Thank you to Okie Corgi Rally for the pictures and for existing.

Gems

Oklahoma has certainly produced its fair share of gems, flourishing in popularity throughout the nation. On the inverse, Oklahoma has produced some, well... not so gem-like characters. For some reason, Americans have a peculiar affinity for the off-beat and laughable, and to gift examples of such things to fellow Americans, we turn to the internet. One common internet database for us to share some of these interesting characters is People of Walmart, which just happens to frequently feature people from, you guessed it, Oklahoma!

People of Walmart 

This particular picture was cleverly captioned as "The Most Depressingly Aged Dr. Seuss Character." I truly feel bad about those who are unknowingly the source of entertainment for others; however, this particular ensemble clearly is the result of some conscious thought and planning. From the hair to the top/pants combination all the way to the toy(?) in her hand, this random lady meticulously worked to match everything.

 People of Walmart

This one I find incredibly intriguing. I would really like to know the inspiration behind this display, and what kind of activities make someone or something eligible of the title "Red Neck Dream Catcher." Please do not get the idea that this is a typical thing to see, I am probably just as confused by it as you are.

People of Walmart

My favorite part of this picture is the striking contrast between this lady's scantily clad body and the sharply dressed man to her left. Some things are only appropriate in certain situations; however, I am not completely sure that this can be deemed appropriate in any situation. I suppose I have to give her a round of applause for being so comfortable and confident in her own skin, so you go random Walmart lady!

We have addressed that Oklahoma has produced some peculiar beings, but as I mentioned before, Oklahoma is also home to many individuals who are compelling in a positive manner. I would assume that you have heard of most, if not all, of them and you may even be a fan. 

Here are just a few...

Brad Pitt
IMDb

Surprise! This iconic fellow hails from Shawnee, Oklahoma. Brad Pitt is an established actor and producer, commonly identified by his "chiseled good looks." He has appeared in a variety of movies including Fight Club, Troy, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and more.













Chuck Norris
Official Home of Chuck Norris 

That's right, the man behind the jokes regarding his inhuman capabilities is from Ryan, Oklahoma, which I have actually never heard of... but the internet doesn't lie, so it must be true. Norris established his fame as a successful American martial artist, actor, film producer and screenwriter.












Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood

Winning the fourth season of American Idol launched this girl from Muskogee, Oklahoma to stardom. Her numerous music awards, including seven Grammy Awards; 17 Billboard Music Awards; 11 Academy Awards; and nine American Music Awards, prove that she is undeniably talented. Also, she just so happens to frequent PA on tour, in fact she is in Pittsburgh this Wednesday (2/17) and Philadelphia the following Monday (2/22).






  
  

Kristin Chenoweth
 IMDb

If you are familiar with musicals, you are certainly familiar with Kristin Chenoweth. She is from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, which happens to be about 50 minutes from where I live. She has frequented both the Broadway stage and the big screen, but most of you would probably know her for originating the role of Galinda in the musical Wicked.












The All-American Rejects
All-American Rejects
To conclude this list of gems, here is one from my hometown: Stillwater, Oklahoma! It is a common assumption that Oklahoma only yields country singers, but The All-American Rejects are a well known alternative rock band with songs such as Gives You Hell, Dirty Little Secret, It Ends Tonight, Swing Swing, and Move Along. The members of this band met in middle school, which happens to be that same middle school that I went to. Additionally, Tyson Ritter and I have the same birthday... so I guess the mutual school system and birthday essentially makes me second-hand famous. Thanks, All-American Rejects!!

Thank You, Mom

With a new semester comes a new wave of blogs. After a greatly needed break from the hectic life of a college student, I returned to State College and recommenced this blog. I was excited to get to continue documenting my experiences as a girl swept from her Southern home and sometimes gracefully, and sometimes hilariously clumsily, handling the variances in culture. However, my excitement was nothing compared to my mother's. Just a few hours after I had published my first post of the new semester, I received this text message from my mom...

"Yes, the stalking has started..."

I would presume that this is not a typical statement that many people hear, but in my family, this was absolutely in the realm of normalcy. I recall casually mentioning the creation of this blog and about how enjoyable it was to write, and that was about the extent of my explanation. After that comment, it took about a week until I received a phone call notifying me that my entire series of blogs had been diligently perused by my entire family, in fact, it had become a family affair in which my mother would happily read the posts aloud to anyone who was willing to listen. Week after week I continued to get phone calls so that my family members could express their commentary to me, and if any post deviated from my regular posting date, I knew to expect a text that night asking where my new post could be found.

Although mildly invasive, something about my family's desire to delve into what I was doing from so far away brought a level of comfort. When I was at home they were close behind me every step of the way, and they still have the same interest, even 1,215 miles away (that would take 397 hours to walk if you were interested). That is quite the distance, but as soon as something happens, I know my family is there for me, and this was proven just this week.

I have been having some leg pain, so I made an appointment with University Health Services to squelch whatever the issue was before it could get out of hand. I saw a doctor who suggested that I start a regimen with a physical therapist, and I did just that. Everything was going great and I sensed that I was improving, or at least not worsening, but on Saturday night, everything turned around. I found myself entirely immobilized and unable to walk. On occasion I could find relief and do what I refer to as "gimp" around to make it to where I needed to be. I contacted my doctor regarding my worsened condition and he was " incredibly concerned," which is not what I wanted to hear.

As my condition progressed, I continued to update my mom. I knew that she wanted to be here, and sure enough, the following morning I got a phone call from the air port. This action was what I needed more than anything in this situation. Medical practices can only do so much, but moms can truly work magic. My mom showed me that distance means absolutely nothing, especially when it comes to family. I am so incredibly thankful for her, and she certainly deserves more thanks than a simple blog post... but hey, I suppose this isn't too bad for a start.

p.s. Oddly enough, I had written the first section of this post pre-medical issues with the intention of dedicating it to my mom, it's funny how things work out sometimes.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I love Christmas. At the foundation of my love for this holiday is the genuine meaning of it, rooted in my faith. However, I have to admit that I also appreciate the tacky superfluous elements that go into celebrating December 25th every year. From brilliant light displays, to fuzzy Christmas socks, to giant inflatable Santas inhabiting front lawns, I love it all. One transcending contribution to the holiday spirit is Christmas movies. I am sure that many of you watch a few classics every year, and adopted doing so as a family tradition; back home, my family has done the same. Regardless of the movie genre, there is one consistent image, and that is the scene of Christmas night. Everything is peaceful and the ground is laden with snow...

Recognize this? It's the Home Alone house!

Unfortunately, this is a blaring inaccuracy. Christmas in Oklahoma was about 65 degrees this year, and that, honestly, is not too uncommon. In fact, I can only recall experiencing one white Christmas in my life. But not to worry, readers, when I returned to Penn State after a lovely hiatus back in Oklahoma, I was met with a plethora of snow and freezing temperatures (yay.)

I cannot begin to count the number of times people ask me if it snows in Oklahoma, and the answer is yes. We get occasional flurries, but it is exceptionally rare to see more than about four inches of snow on the ground. I was overjoyed to finally experience a legitimate snowfall, and it was incredible... for about ten minutes. Two friends and I decided to go outside to enjoy the pristine, fresh snow and take pictures. Our awed appreciation of the delicate flakes soon faded when Penn State was suddenly transformed into a tundra. I am sure that to many of you this was Mother Nature's amateur work, but to this girl from the South, this was Snowmageddon awakening for the first time to wreak havoc. 

This is absolutely something that I am not used to, but a huge part of college for everyone is being put in situations and needing to adapt to things we are not used to. For me, it just so happens that this new thing is the snow; however, I plan to fully embrace it. Being here at Penn State and enduring the cold gives me opportunities for adventures that I would not have had before. I am endlessly thankful for that and I already have my first new adventure planned: snowboarding (please pray for me...) I know that it is easy to grow complacent because we have already been here for quite some time, but that does not mean it needs to be boring. There are still new experiences out there just waiting to be had. Adventure is out there, so seek it out and experience it fully. 

So here's to a fantastic new semester! I wish you all the happiness you can possibly imagine and immunity from hypothermia. 

Pictures courtesy of 

Home Alone

UP

Knowledge

Well my friends, we have almost made it; the end of our first semester at Penn State is in sight. I'm sure we have all learned some incredibly valuable material in our classes; however, I would like to argue that some of the biggest things that we have learned had nothing to do with calculus, CAS, or whatever other classes you may be taking. Instead, the biggest revelations simply came from living life in a totally new setting. This semester marked a new chapter for all of us, and here a few things that it has taught me.

1. Girls are gross.
I know there is a stigma with boys and being gross, but let me tell you... nothing could have prepared me to share a bathroom with an entire dorm floor of girls. At home I shared a bathroom with my younger sister, and of course, this led to some sister rivalries about who left what out and whose responsibility it was to clean particular messes, but the dorm bathroom experience is an intensely escalated version of this. If you are on an all girls' floor, I urge you to be cautious.

2. Squirrels somehow manage to be adorable and terrifying.
I have always loved squirrels. At Penn State, I continue to foster my love for squirrels... at a safe distance. The squirrels here on campus are plentiful, and for a long time I loved seeing these little furry friends scurrying about campus and intermingling with the college students, until I heard one of them screech.


If you watched this video and were not struck with fear because of the hostility of these seemingly adorable and serene creatures, I applaud you.

3. If a random stranger starts talking, 99% of the time it's not to you.
Far too many times I have been walking to class and suddenly heard a random stranger say "hi, how are you?" or something along those lines. I excitedly turn around expecting to engage in a conversation with them because randomly striking up a conversation with a stranger is pretty normal in the South; however, they're actually on the phone using the microphone in their earbuds to talk. Unfortunately, it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out why all of these people were  walking around campus awkwardly having conversations with themselves. Don't worry- mystery solved.

4. Regardless of how much you love college, when it's time for a break, you will be more than ready.
I have a confession... I've have a countdown to the second until Thanksgiving break since we first got here at the beginning of the semester. I have made some incredible memories so far at Penn State, yet I couldn't help but periodically check my countdown. No feeling comes close to cuddling your dog after months of separation and trust me, I am more than ready.

p.s. I promise my dog really does love me. 

SMAC to THON

As promised, to contrast the solemn subject matter in my last post, this post is focused on a happy topic... and what could possibly be happier than Penn State THON?

As the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, THON is an incredibly powerful event in which we can all come together and fight pediatric cancer. This organization is what drew me to Penn State, and it all started when I caught the "THON bug" in high school with another philanthropic organization.

Do you remember when you were little and the moment it became December first, you were prepared for Christmas, anxiously counting down the days until Santa would come grace your living room with a multitude of presents? However, as time went on this sensation began to dull, Christmases seemed to sneak up on us from year to year. Years later, I found myself immersed in that sensation once again, but this time for something entirely unrelated to Christmas, though it might as well have been a holiday: SMAC.

SMAC (Stillwater Makes a Change) was, without a doubt, the highlight of my high school career. Every year, our SMAC committee chose a local charity and spent the entire year planning, which ultimately led to a week in April full of fundraisers to benefit our selected recipient. We had events ranging from carnivals, to block parties, to talent shows, to a mini dance marathon, to the Mangeant, and many more. My favorite of these was unquestionably the Mangeant, an all-male pageant.

Senior year I was elected to the position of executive director for Mangeant, the largest event of SMAC week. When I accepted this position, little did I know that I was also accepting the role of "mom" to fourteen brave souls who wanted to compete for the coveted title of "Mr. SHS." Throughout the months of planning prior to the event I was entirely unaware of my motherly responsibilities until it was time for dress rehearsal. I had the revelation when I was asked, "can you safety pin my suspenders for me?" it then escalated to "will you watch me on stage and tell me if my butt looks okay in these shorts?" and "Is everything tucked where it needs to be?" In an odd way, seeing the guys express themselves in a vulnerable way was demonstrative of their genuine care for our cause, and at that moment all of the hard work and sleepless nights became worth it because I understood that my part in the entire ordeal had so much meaning, not just for myself, but for others as well.

Since coming to Penn State, I have shifted my focus to THON, and I could not be more excited... I mean seriously, look at some of what happened at last year's THON.
As a member of Dancer Relations, I am overjoyed to be an invested contributor in the team of volunteers who help execute THON weekend. There is nothing more amazing than being a part of something so much bigger than yourself, and this is certainly a prime example. Remember friends, have courage, wisdom, honesty and strength (The Four Diamonds) and do it FTK!!

Picture credits to
THON

Homecoming

Being so far away from home it is certainly easy to feel disjointed from what is happening there, but when it makes national news it is a different scenario.

A question that I am frequently asked is if we get a lot of tornadoes. People are in awe of their power and sense of mystique because they have never experienced one. They assume my home in Tornado Alley makes me some sort of an expert, but I am far from it. My hometown of Stillwater, Oklahoma fosters a community of people pretty comfortable when the tornado sirens sound, signaling that it is our time to seek safety. The reason for this is that we are situated in a bowl, so the powerful storms dance around our town and we are safe. Facing storms makes us feel invincible, and adds to our recognition of Stillwater as a little safe haven. In reality, we have no immunity when it comes to tragedy, and perhaps us failing to recognize this is why when something terrible happens, it seems as though the world stops spinning.

I am not going to bore you with details of the incident, but instead tell you what it was like feeling so disconnected from the town that shaped me. However, in case you don't want to sift through the numerous news stories here is brief overview of the situation...

In my hometown we pride ourselves with having one of the biggest homecoming celebrations in the country. The central event of the weekend is always a huge football game, and the morning of the game we have a parade. The weekend was filled with joy just as it always was year after year, until the parade was coming to a close. A driver, who wasn't part of the parade crashed into people watching. It sounds pretty bad, right? Well it definitely was, and the proof is in the outcome.

An incident like this is shocking regardless of where you are, but something like this so greatly juxtaposes the constant condition of Stillwater that the impact is immeasurable. I was casually scrolling through my social media to see my friends' pictures of their exciting first homecoming as OSU students when, on Twitter of all places, I saw a headline something along the lines of "Tragedy at OSU Homecoming." With a younger sister walking in the parade, an older sister studying at OSU, parents employed by OSU and the majority of my friends being OSU students, my level of panic peaked. Literally all I could do was call people to check on them and that was it. Thankfully, all of my family and friends were not involved.

The weirdest part is that despite such a terrible thing happening, all I wanted was to be at home. The best quality of my town is that when anything happens, everyone unites regardless of whether they are family or complete strangers. Stillwater is a family and even in Pennsylvania I am so blessed to be a part of it.

Side note: sorry for the forlorn topic, next week I'll try to do something happier like puppies or Insomnia Cookies.

Picture credits to
OSU Alumni Association