My (MIS)Adventures in Texas

In case you're curious about Costa Rica, don't worry. I shall blog soon about the wonderful time that I had there. I am waiting on some pictures, to really fulfill it's "blogworthiness". So in the mean time, I'll tell you about the most recent happenings in my life.

I took off several weeks from my job so that I could have some "me" time. So first was the trip to Costa Rica and now I have traveled down to Midland, TX to visit my fiance and get some work done on my thesis and uh hem, the wedding. They're both going at about an equal pace so far. Slow. However, it's Monday. I'm settled in. It's time to get to business!!

The drive down here wasn't too bad. I broke up the trip by going to Duncan and staying the night with Matt's parents. It was really nice to get to visit with them- even though Matt wasn't there! Pete (the Dog, more like the sibling) missed me. It was sweet!

My dad ran off with the iPod cord that connects to my car stereo (Actually it belongs to him, so it's more like he left for work before I got the chance to ask him if I could borrow it). I decided to improvise. I'm not quite the CD buyer that I was in high school. So I looked through my CDs and found some Marroon 5, a Perfect Circle, Tim McGraw and WOW 2004 Christian Music Hits. I started off with WOW because it had the most tracks. Like 35. I praised the Lord the whoooooooooooooole way down here. When Matt would call I would answer "Shanna's House of Worship, how can I help you?"

I made it to Midland. The house looks great! Matt really has been hard at work. We have a lawn now! Woo! Here's a before and after.

So we went to this play called "Summer Mummers" that is put on every year and is centered on the community of Midland. Basically everyone watches a show put on my unpaid volunteers, drinks enormous beers out of a straw, and people throw popcorn during the show. (The straw is necessary so popcorn doesn't get into your beer). The pictures are a little blurry, but you get the idea. For future reference, don't curl you hair for this event. It creates a nest for popcorn and you'll be finding it for DAYS!

The play was a good time. It's something I could do once a year. One thing that started to make me nervous was when the crowd ROARED at the mention of this being the birthplace of George Bush. How long did I sign up to live here again? We better be moving somewhere uber green next to make up for this. It's only fair.

Okay, I will give Texas it's due and say that their roads are nicer than in Oklahoma (This can be kind of a touchy subject because my dad works as an inspector for ODOT- but I am also open minded enough to realize that most people don't take their job as seriously as my dad does, and therefore there's a lot of issues with our roads in Oklahoma- anyway, that's besides the point). Here in Midland there is a "loop" around the city and you exit when you're close to your destination and take a service road to your place. We don't do this in Oklahoma. I agree that the Texas system is faster, but it's also confusing. For example: if you decide to stay on the service road to get to your destination instead of entering and exiting the loop (especially if you're not from around here and don't know where stuff is!) you have to yield to those that are exiting from the loop. I guess I haven't perfected this. I was just driving along. I THOUGHT I yielded, and before I know there's this enormous SUV behind me, excessively honking at me. They had me so flustered that I pulled over to make sure I didn't need to exchange insurance information. Hello! Oklahoma plates! I'm sorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry!!!!!!!!

Okay- one more story. It's been a while!

I have been doing a pretty good job of cooking so we don't eat out so often. It's better for us, and frankly, it's cheaper. I've bought tons of produce and have started collecting things for the composter (I think Matt secretly hates this endeavor, I think it has something to do with him kicking the pieces of the composter and me saying that I will put it together. Even though I did it wrong and have to start over). Last night we were so cute and went to the HEB (Holy cow these stores are ENORMOUS!) and we got some seasoned chicken to cook for dinner. Matt decided to help this time.

WHOOPS!

Poor guy! He tried! I was able to salvage it. We ended up having a nice grilled/baked chicken salad with home style mac n cheese.

It worked!

I am certain there is more to come! I'll be here for 3 weeks!

Posted in: Travel