5Ks, Philanthropies, and Nearly Unbelievable Stories

 Remember a couple of years ago when I told you I wasn't a runner? Well, I still don't think I am. I'm sort of slow. I run about a 10:30 mile so sprinting is pretty much out of the question for me. Plus sprinting makes me hate life. I haven't run much in the last year although we have a GREAT park right by our house that happens to be a 5K all the way around. I've been dabbling in all kinds of fitness stuff like Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred, Yoga (which I LOVE with all my heart), bike riding, and there for a while Matt and I were really into frisbee golf. However, all of this dabbling has led to me putting on about 10 lbs over the last 2 years which I find unacceptable. Running is something that I can do pretty consistently and my only goal is to continually beat my own time so I have pretty realistic expectations of myself.

The Texas Tech chapter of Alpha Delta Pi does a 5k (the OSU chapter also did a 5k for years and years and I don't know what happened). The TTU 5k is a "flashlight dash" where you wear glow sticks and run at night. I REALLY like this concept. It's a little difficult to prepare for because I'm nervous all day about what I should eat (too much? not enough? carbs? protein??). Overall, it's unique and I really enjoy it. I ran it last year.

Notice that it's still light outside? Maybe that wasn't the greatest planning.... but it was still fun. 

I've had this year's race marked on my calendar for months. Glaring at me. Shanna, you better start training or you're gonna look like a fool! 

This year, the sorority required each girl to obtain $60 worth of sponsorships. This meant that each girl had to recruit 3 runners, get a business to donate at least $60, or pay the fee themselves. Last year each girl had to get at least 1 and it was crazy to me that no one asked me to be their runner because many of the girls knew I planned to do the race....

Shelby is smart. The first time she saw me (which was last week) "Hey Shanna, wanna be my runner this year?"  Then I was committed. I wanted to back out because I didn't feel very prepared. Now I have Shelby counting on me... and I already gave her my $20. 

It dawned on me the other day that I have only ever done Adeepi 5ks. I really believe in the philanthropy (The Ronald McDonald House) and if I have to put in a few hours of work to help out those poor families then I'm going to do it. I could always just write a check, but there's something about making a physical commitment (paired with a monetary element) that makes me feel like I'm saying  "I'm all in." 

You might not see it that way, but I'll ask you again how you feel after you complete mile 3. 

The race this year had a good turnout. Even Raider Red came out. He doesn't know that I'm doing the "Go Pokes" sign. 

Oh, and here's an interesting story. Miyuki is in our program. She is a very nice girl. She lives on the other side of town and she came down to the basement before I was heading out to the race. She was really discouraged because she missed the bus and thought she was going to have to stay the night at the school because she couldn't get home. This perplexed me. Stay at the school? No way! I told her I had a race to run in a few minutes, but after I was done I would be happy to take her home. She said she had heard about the race and it sounded fun but she thought it was in the morning. You could see the little wheels turning in her head thinking "I would like to run in this race!" 

I told her that if she wanted to she was more than welcome. I also told her that it would be $25, which I thought was a little steep, especially because I know how much we make around here. I told her about some other really fun races coming up (like a color run) that she may be interested in when she has more time and she's more prepared. 

I went out to the starting area, said my hellos, took some pictures and got to the starting line. Mikyuki comes up and tells me good luck. You could tell she still kind of wanted to do the race. I told her that if she wanted to she totally could and she didn't have to pay. I mean, who is going to stop her from running around campus? I'm the advisor and I pretend that I have a lot of authority that I may not have, and I told her that it's totally fine. She seemed like she wanted to wait. The whistle blew so I took off. I was just in my own little head thinking "Wow, I feel great. I think I started my pace too fast so I might not be able to keep this up, but I feel great!" I was passing people. ME PASSING PEOPLE. Then there were groups of people who apparently decided to quit after the first 1/4 mile. Why on earth would you pay $20 to run a race, show up for it,  and then just quit? I wanted to satisfaction of beating those 30 people that I know dropped out. Wimps! 

So I'm running along and I hear this swishing sound coming up to me quickly. It's Miyuki just booking it. 

I think, "Way to go girl!" Then I was mostly just in my own head and feeling great the whole way. I never really got tired and now thinking back I don't know why I didn't just run faster, especially for the last kilometer. I was just running along and throwing up diamonds when I passed the Adeepis. I got to the finish line and realized that it wasn't a 5k. It was a 4.6K. Well, that's cheating. So I just kept running. People were like, "Wrong way!" "Where are you going!" and I yelled back "It's not a real 5k!"

Then Miyuki comes along with a medal around her neck. She's running with me because she wanted to complete a whole 5k too. I asked, "Did you win???" She said "Yes, I won for the women". Get. Out. Of. Town. 

The woman decides to run AFTER the whistle blows (I learned later, about 30 seconds after the whistle blew) and she WON FOR THE WOMEN!

So afterwards to celebrate our victory (her win and my completion) we take a picture. 

Notice anything? 

Look a little closer. 

SHE WAS WEARING JEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And look at her. Not so much as a glisten of sweat on her face. 

GET. OUT. OF. TOWN. 

Miyuki is my new hero. 

If you have any interest at all in running a 5k, I really encourage you to take the first steps. There's lots of great smart phone aps out there to help you get going. When I first started, and what changed my life as a runner for ever was an event running around Boomer Lake in Stillwater (why on earth would they name a lake in Stillwater "Boomer"??).

I was traveling around the lake (a 5k around) and I would run run run and then walk then run run run then walk. I hated it. It hurt. 

Then I saw a couple of people in front of me running together. But they weren't running. They were jogging. Very slowly. I though, heck, I could keep up THAT pace for a long time. The next day I ran half a 5k straight. A few weeks later, I ran the ENTIRE 5k. That was when I realized I could be a runner. It's about knowing yourself and just being a better version of yourself each time. 

Find a cause you're passionate about and sign up for something that supports it. Pair a little guilt with the notion that if you don't actually do it, you're letting down more than just yourself (guilt works well on me). Or sign up for something fun like a color run or do-nut run (seems counter productive) OR they even have Zombie runs out there (google it!). 

Now I'm looking for the next 5k while I'm still in shape to do it...

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The Price of a Banana

I don't know if you know this, but Lubbock is a little sketch. It has some astounding per capita crime rate. If you're my mother or mother-in-law.... I should have added a better disclaimer. It's okay! I'm fine! My roommate's parents even bought us this fancy alarm system that I continually set off. I even got to have a nice chat with a quick responding police officer last week.  No officer, it's just me. The dumb roommate.

Last week I was briskly walking to my class which feels like the other end of the planet compared to my parking spot. I am always late so I was hustling. I noticed a man, an older gentleman sitting on a bench along my path with a lot of items with him. It was pretty clear that he had slept on that bench.

I went on about my day which ended around 8:00 p.m. A nice, short, 12 hour day. I was walking back to my car. Siva often walks me to my car at night just as added security measures. He's really just a good guy. Well it was about dusk and I was fine. I went to the computer lab and said my goodbyes. The rest of my lunch was sitting on the table and I thought about leaving it behind and just eating it tomorrow. I had a plum and I wasn't sure if I should leave it out all night out of the fridge. Thinking back that wasn't really logical thinking. The plum was in the open air when I bought it.... Anyway, I took it with me and thought I would reuse the paper bag to pack my lunch again the next day.

I walked back to my car and I noticed the man again. This time it made me a little nervous because I was all by myself on sort of a secluded street and all he had to do was ask me for my back pack and I would have been afraid enough to just hand it over. I wasn't so worried about my laptop in there as I was about my entire life for my comprehensive finals is on that computer. I just kept my face forward and went to my car. I started to feel a tug at my heart. I could hear (no not literally hear, but feel) God telling me, "Shanna, go give that man your lunch." I looked in my sack. I had a plum, a pack of mixed nuts, and a banana. A small bag of nutrition. I looked up at the man. He just sat there minding his own business. I second guessed myself, maybe he will be offended? No Shanna, go. I sat my stuff in the car and with keys and lunch in hand I walked up to the man. I said "Hello, did I see you here this morning?" he replied, "Yes, I was here this morning. I was told that I had to move my private property somewhere else. This is all my private property and they told me I had to move so now I am here." I just looked at him and said "Well, are you hungry?" He looked at me with no real change in his demeanor and said "Yes, I am always hungry." He wasn't sad, or pitiful, or pleading. Just matter of a fact.  Sort of like how people say "I could always eat." I handed over my bag and said, "Well here you go." He said "ooh a banana, that looks great. Thanks!" It was like we were friends. I wasn't condescending and he never acted desperate.

I walked away and called Matt and told him how fulfilled I felt by helping someone out. Although he never asked for my help. He may not have even needed my help. Whatever the circumstances were, this wasn't about having pity on someone. This was about listening.  The cost of the items in my bag was approximately $1.50. I've spent a lot of money on a lot of things, none of which made me feel as good as the feeling of listening to God. I felt whole. Whole in a way I haven't felt in a long time. If you know the feeling I'm talking about, then you know how great it is. If you don't, then maybe you need to take some time to listen. That's my problem, I don't always listen. Listening to God's instructions usually isn't easy. It's trusting in Him to lead you through what he calls you to do. Sometimes life gets uncomfortable, but that is how we grow.

This isn't a post about me telling you that I'm so great because I gave a guy a buck and a half of groceries. This is more of an admission that I need to do a better job of listening, and when I do I can feel that wonderful feeling of fulfillment in my actions which are driven by faith. I am happy nearly all the time, but feeling true joy, there's no feeling like it.

I was hustling to class again this morning. I saw the same man again (I hadn't seen him in a week). I said "Good morning, would you like my banana again?" His reply? "Yep."

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My Day/ Matt's Day

5:45 a.m. came a little early. 

As much as I'm not crazy about getting up so early, I am appreciative of the 3 hour total travel time SW flight from OKC to Lubbock. I also like how hard I sleep when I get out of class at 9 p.m. on Monday. 

For the last several semesters I have had the benefit of having my Teaching Assistant job be for on-line classes. This is especially useful for a commuting student, especially one like myself that runs all over creation on a pretty routine basis. Thanks to, well, the fact that it's 2013 and some bright minds I can get email just about any where. This semester is a little unique because instead of having 1 or 2 sections of American Public Policy (a course required for EVERY student) we now have somewhere upwards of a gazillion. That means we have 1900 students for one class. My role this year? Head email answer-er. I've recently sent in a complaint to Mr. Jobs about my endless ability to get emails just about anywhere. 

I saw this comic one time and I thought it was funny because it was so true. 

The thing is, students procrastinate or are entirely unprepared, or don't care, or another endless list of nonsense. It's also way too easy for them to send emails without actually trying things for themselves. They also ask for crazy stuff all the time. I have officially turned into grumpy cat. 

I also spend my time on the plane getting ready for class. I have a big responsibility in one of my classes this week to lead the class for 3 hours discussing 8 scholarly articles. If I explain more I run the risk of you never reading my blog again. I get that it's boring. 

 Oh- and shout out to Olivia M. She introduced me to the "Downton Abbey" Pandora station. Oh my, what a great study tool.

So I was not in the highest of spirits the morning. Way too many emails to respond to, lots of responsibility this morning, and I was a sleepy girl after a really fun weekend at home.

Meanwhile, Matt got into a fender bender after he dropped me off at the airport.

Poor trailer hitch plate. Matt had put that on his truck 2 days ago. A girl murdered it. However, we were just grateful that this was the extent of the damage. Then, my husband, the kind individual he is sent this email to the offender. Can't you just see him virtually patting her on the shoulder? There there, it's okay. Just a little plate. Now you go have a good day. Oh, and here's a little lunch money.

Although it was back to the grind, I did take a moment to appreciate the wonderful blessings that I have. God tends to give out signs that you're alright and things are much bigger than your little issues. Life is good and I'm blessed beyond what I deserve. Happy  Monday folks. 

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My OSU Football Story

In light of all of the craziness surrounding OSU’s Football program, I thought I might share my story with you.

Back in Fall 2005 I transferred from Rogers State University to Oklahoma State University. I essentially had a full scholarship to RSU so for a middle income kid like me it made sense to knock out some of my gen ed requirements on the cheap for my freshman year.  I knew when I was a junior in high school and won state for an FCCLA competition held at OSU that one day I would be a student.  I was totally in awe of the beauty of the campus and I just had a great feeling about all of it. I felt like it would be my home. I had no idea how grossly I had underestimated my future experience.  To this day I would be willing to have a larger student loan debt to have had one more year at OSU. All things work out for a reason and they say timing is everything so I suppose I should just have faith that it all turned out like it was supposed to.

I was assigned to the honors dorm. Every stereo type you can come up with about the residents of an honors dorm is absolutely true. There were video games a plenty. I’m actually glad that I don’t have a picture of my room because looking back it’s a little embarrassing. My roommate told me about the bed spread she bought and I bought the same one. I had the room decorated so cute, but more so if you were 14 instead of 19. I quickly abandoned that décor but I realize now that I was a little overzealous. I don’t know if Tisha M. reads my blog but I will always remember her for this. She was hanging out in my room and I asked her “So…. Do students like… actually buy tickets to the football games? Is that a thing? Would you say it’s worth the money? I pay my own bursar so I just don’t know…” I’ll never forget the look on her face. After a dumbfounded pause she replied “Yes.”

I had NO CLUE college football was a thing. I had heard people argue about OU vs. OSU and I never got what the big fuss was all about. I’m a first generation college student and I spent much more of my childhood in rodeo arenas than I ever did at sports complexes. So… yeah, I was a little oblivious.  Forget about tailgating. I mean, I knew what a tailgate was, but I took the whole thing a little too literally.  I can thank the Durant family for helping me realize what fun fellowship before games could be like.

I can also thank Meredith for her patience in teaching me what on earth 1^st down and 10 meant (you mean, they could literally, at least potentially have 40 downs in a single play??? Now wonder this game is so long). She also taught me to wave the wheat.  Gosh I had so much fun with Abbey at games. She taught me to clap for Martel Van Zant, the deaf football player by waving both of your hands in the air. That one still makes me want to cry just thinking about it. 

Fast forward to 2007. This is the year we (my sorority- ADPi) did Homecoming with the Delts. The World’s Largest Homecoming. I didn’t want to do Homecoming with the Delts that year because we had decided to do it with them the previous year and they backed out and did it with Zeta and I always thought that was shady. I hold grudges so I didn’t want to give them another chance.  Well once again, and fate would have it, I never knew how much that decision would change the rest of my life.  The story of how Matt and I met is for another blog post (I actually like to tell more personal stories like these ya know, in person) but what I can tell you is that the series of events leads me to be continually grateful. 

So… Shanna… what does this have to do with football? Well it was Homecoming for football so I am technically staying on track.  A week or so after homecoming was over I got a text on my cool flip phone from Matt (that I later learned took him 30 minutes to perfect).  He asked if I wanted to sit with his family at the upcoming football game.  I knew that they had club seats. My first thought was I’m not worthy! I thought of Matt’s friend Scott and how I knew he deserved to sit in those nice seats so much more than I did. Sorry Scott, I took him up on the offer. Thanks for taking one for the team =). 

Our First Football Game. 

This is waving the wheat.

I met Matt’s parents that day and I’ll never forget his dad introducing me to their shih-tzu, Pete, as Matt’s little brother. Oh my, they’re those kind of people. Dog people.  Dog people who name their dog after the team’s mascot.  Fast forward to 2010, we got a shih-tzu and named him Pistol. He lights up my life.

Since that day I have sat in the same seat for 32 games and have developed so many fun memories. I have yelled and cheered and laughed.  I have invested in relationships, such as my husband, my in-laws, the great people we sit by, and our friends. We all come together at game time.  Come fall we are called home to Stillwater. Our engagement party was even a tailgate. 

This whole ordeal with Sports Illustrated is frustrating, concerning, and disheartening. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the sources of information, and the things to come in future publications this week. I told Matt last night before the first publication that I hope that the allegations aren’t true, but if they are, we deserve what is coming to us. Cheating isn’t right and I don’t support it. I just can’t imagine a world where OSU is a bunch of true, low-down cheaters.  I don’t want to win if cheating is what is required. And why the heck would they cheat? Don’t we have the most advanced facilities in the nation? Have we spared any expense?  I mean, it seems to me that a pay check is the only thing that our athletes don’t get. We’re from Stillwater, land of truly good people. We’re better than that. Or at least I hope so.

But the thing is, no matter what comes out about our sports program, it doesn’t change our institution.  Football is an integral part of the college experience, but it is a far cry from the only experience.  No matter what, Stillwater will still be a great place. It will still be my alma mater and no matter what university I attend, from RSU, to OSU, to Veritas to Texas Tech, I will always sing: “Proud and Immortal, Loyal and True.”

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Up in the Air

From Aug 29-Oct 9 I will have flown:

LBB-HOU HOU-LBB
LBB-PDX PDX-OKC OKC-LBB

LBB-OKC OKC LBB
LBB-MSY MSY-LBB

OKC-BNA BNA-OKC

I am becoming fluent in airport code and my geography knowledge is improving. As an undergrad I worked for a travel agency (despite my poor geography skills...). I still think that was the most fun job I ever had and I learned so much about booking travel. I would say that I fly about 15 times a year. I also dislike flying. It's not so much the flying itself but the airport experience.  The meticulous packing (because I don't want to pay to check bags), the removal of the laptop (what could possibly be in my computer?), the X-Ray (are you sure this isn't bad for me?), the going to second base with the TSA officer (who knew you couldn't wear sequined shirts?), and the waiting paired with powering up and down with all those electronic devices (besides, Mythbusters said that was a myth anyway). I am actually hand writing this draft to pass time until we reach 10,000 ft. I am also thinking about how miserable I am going to be for the 41 minutes of flight time (I didn't say I flew far) because Matt (I am sure in an action of love) put my ear buds on my night stand instead of back in my iPad case. Now I'll have to listen to the sweet sounds of "business or pleasure" chatter while I delve into the book for the book club I started (because I have so much free time). 

I'm getting to the point where I bought one of these:

I got it at Goodwill for $7.99. It's Samsonite. I looked it up on Amazon and it goes for close to $80. Count it! I glides effortlessly. I fits in the overhead bin. It has room for an overnight set of clothes (shoes included!) It holds my laptop or articles for me to read on the plane as I rush to class (I tend to cut things too close). It was appropriate to tell you the brand not because I am a name dropper, but because I think it makes me more respectable to real travelers (like my father-in-law or my friend Scott). 

What is the point of this post, Shanna? Are you bragging about all of the frequent flyer miles you're racking up?

First, the distance to Lubbock is 400 miles each way so I don't think there is any priority status in my foreseeable future. These planes don't even HAVE first class. Sometimes they do have propellers though. 

Next, this is even lower than boasting. This is whining. Despite how much I love to travel (and you know I do), I'm really just grumpy about getting up at 5:45 a.m. after less than 36 hours home in 2 weeks to jump on a plane back to the grind. The reality is that I am completely blessed and appreciate all that I have.

I just miss my hubby. And my dog. And my house. And my bed. And my friends and family. Come December... well not December... come February after I have taken my comps (and by the grace of God, passed)  I will be a happy camper. I'm happy now, but I'll be SOOO happy. SO. so. sO. 

Can't wait. Til then, more adventures and misadventures to come. 

Happy Monday. 

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Allergies, Sinus Infections, and a Life Changing Remedy

I tend to think that when you get sick, your body will take care of itself. Sometimes I'm right, and sometimes I need to learn to lean on the benefits of modern medicine. One semester at OSU I was feeling like crud and after 2 months I finally decided to go to the doctor. Turns out I had bronchitis. It was not my proudest semester in the GPA department and I could have really done myself a favor by making a $7 trip to the on campus "Voo Doo" doctor.

Usually once  or twice a year I get a sinus infection. I would probably get more but I usually can detect one coming and I drown it in Vitamin C. A week and a half ago I failed. That ever familiar tickle in the back of the throat got me. I felt like total crud. I also knew that the little girl next door had strep and we had spent two days before with her parents at my birthday party. I had a wedding coming the following weekend so out of the interest of others I needed to go make sure that I wasn't contagious. We conveniently have nice urgent care about half a mile away. I'd say you could walk there but when I think about it, those who need urgent care typically aren't in the condition to pass on transportation.

Turns out I didn't have strep (Yes! Can still go to the wedding!) but the ever common Sinusitis. Of course he gave me a bunch of pills. I hate taking antibiotics. I put them and going through the xray scanner at the airport in the same category. I know there's a lot of data out there that says that it's not a big deal but it still makes me uncomfortable. Truth be told, I don't take the flu shot either. I think it's going to GIVE me the flu. I also think that I'm young and strong enough that if I came by the flu under natural conditions I think I would probably survive it.  If you're a person with actual medical training and I am making you crazy, I apologize. This may feel to you like it feels to me when people say that climate change isn't real or is caused by "natural cycles." Hand to forehead.

If you don't have Sinusitis like me, this yo-yo weather and copious amount of rain might be giving you allergy troubles. It's actually even bothering Pistol. I had to take him to the vet because he kept scratching his ears like crazy. The bill wasn't awesome. But he's our kid and I guess you do anything for your kid.

Over a week later and I am still not feeling great. I have so much pressure in the front of my head and after working for a few hours on the computer I have been having to take a break for several hours. I don't have time to take breaks because I have a deadline for a paper coming up. Eek!

I was reading a blog several years ago and I believe it my sorority sister Elle who wrote it. Either Elle or Kathryn, but I think it was Elle. She wrote about this contraption called a Neti Pot.

She explained how it worked (much better than I am about to) and I didn't know that it was for me. Until I couldn't breathe and I couldn't sleep and I was miserable about a year ago. Then I was ready to give it a whirl.  So if you have nasal congestion you go to Walgreens and buy this little pot. It comes with 60 saline packets and at the rate I am going that's going to be nearly a lifetime supply. You fill the little pot with water and the saline packet. Then you put it up to your nose and lean your head over the sink. I find that you wait until your spouse is out of the room. I think it puts a damper on the romance.  You have to breathe through your mouth or you get a sensation that is akin to being in the ocean and getting water up your nose. It's no good. Anyway, you do this and water comes out the other side of your nose and with it goes all kinds of gunk that was making your life miserable. Then you breathe the sweet scent of oxygen. Because you can breathe again. 

Now I probably wouldn't do this in the work bathroom either. Maybe you work in a really cool place. I work at a school and the bathroom makes me lose all hope for humanity. I don't want to be part of the problem. Or risk contracting something else by staying in there any longer than I have to. So my back up which I am sure is far less natural and overall good for you is a vapor inhaler. You're only supposed to do it once every four hours or so which indicates to me that it's probably not that good for you. 

But if you're in a pinch, this sucker works. 

So if you're feeling like crud, I hope I've helped you out. We can't be our best selves when we feel like crud. Unless our best selves is cuddling with our dog and watching Harry Potter. When I think about it, maybe that is my best self. I'd also like to breathe while I do it though. 

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A Coffee Shop, A Farmers Market, and A Paper

I have a paper I am working on for a conference in Portland, OR in a few weeks. It's about how states create policies for Renewable Portfolio Standards and how those policies diffuse to other states. I'm basically taking an over-arching theory and applying it to a specific policy. So far so good. I am running low on time and I need to start another paper like yesterday (still waiting on university approval).
I have discovered that I am not awesome at getting work done at home. When I have a serious deadline, I'll get done what I need to get done. But if I have a couple of days to work with then I'm pretty distracted. As a result, I travel around from one library to another to get some concentrated time in to work. It's unbelievable what I can get done at a library in 3 hours compared to what I get done at home in 8 (as I write on my blog from the library).

Well what's a work day without a cup of coffee? Don't all serious academics drink coffee in all of their sophistication? More like imbibing copious amounts of caffeine in order to meet deadlines. Tomato/ Tomato.

I decided to give this new place a try in Edmond, "Evoke".
I went in and it was a total hipster spot. I like hipster spots so I'll take it. I told him to make me something that would make me a repeat customer.

I ordered a caramel latte. I'll be going back. 

Then, I remembered that the Farmer's market is on Wednesday and Evoke is right by the Farmer's Market. I bought some of these lanterns from a girl that looked to be about 12 years old the last time I went. They have a solar cell in the lid of a Mason jar. You charge them up during the day and they illuminate at night. They actually work pretty well! At $10 a pop I decided to invest in the youngster's entrepreneurship. I bought 2. Hey, it's not like she was selling shares....

Anyway, all of the lanterns have different decorations inside. I think they're really cute and a fun conversation piece when we're hanging out on the patio. Come over and hang out on the patio and I'll tell you all about 'em! I told my mom I would pick up one for her, so I can now scratch that off of my to do list. 

If you've never been to a Farmer's market, well it's an experience that you need to have. It just feels like you are part of a community. They are all over the place so they're easy to find. A quick Google search led me to this link which lists where there are Farmer's Markets across Oklahoma. 

It is nice to support local farmers. If you have questions about their product, they are right there to answer them for you. You also help the environment by reducing CO2 emissions from transporting foods from long distances. There are many people who pledge to only consume food that is produced from within 100 miles of their home. This requires one to amend their eating habits to only consume certain foods during the season in which they're produced for their location. Even if I haven't committed to it yet, I think it's an interesting endeavor. I do think we spend too much time letting other people that we don't even know make decisions for us and what we put into our bodies. It makes sense to me that we should take more responsibility for what we consume and provide to our families. 

Another cool way to eat locally is to sign up with the Oklahoma (or others states) food Coop. You can learn about it here. Through this program you order food that you would like online (I often order different meats and eggs) and on the third Thursday of each month you go to a location near you (there's 2 sites in Edmond) and pick up your stuff. It is a great way to support local farmers, know where your food comes from, and dictate the quality of food you want (such as no hormones or antibiotics and such). There are a TON (like literally thousands) of items you can search through. I encourage you to look around! It's kind of like an online Farmer's Market.

Well It's time to get back to the paper. I have about an hour and a half before I need to meet up with my in-laws and pick up my puppy. Then maybe I'll venture to another library. We'll see how this data set building goes. 

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