Thesis Time

Today was fun. We held a meeting with special guests giving valuable advice on how to enter the workforce upon graduation. I suppose one part that stood out to me was the fact that I may have to start out in a lower tiered position as I climb up the ladder. A little humbling, but I think it'll be ok. Another thing I learned today, was that I really enjoy running statistics. I'm such a nerd, but I found out about PSPP (Statistical software that is free) and started using it to run statistics relative to my Thesis topic. I'm excited to start writing even more this summer. My Thesis topic has taught me so much about the research process. 

Tomorrow's Proposal

Today I review my 30 page preparation for a Thesis Proposal. I pray that it goes well, and I feel very good about the topic. In a nutshell we are exploring how external factors contribute to marital quality. I enjoy this research topic, and I actually think I may have a direction for my dissertation which is a few years off. I hope to hit the ground running on it though.

Okie Letters

In an effort to describe my feelings about my home state I've decided to assemble some fictitious letters to a lifelong Okie from an Okie who has moved away and come back. Sound familiar?

Dear Lifelong Okie,

It's good to be back in my home state. There were things I missed such as Braum's burgers, Family, and Horseback riding, but there are some other idiosyncrasies I apparently missed. 

First of all, why in the world do most Okie men find it amenable to back their cars/trucks/wagons into parking spaces rather than pull them in? Is there some sort of state law passed in the recent decade that I missed? I was honestly under the impression that we were all attending church when we parked up at the chapel and not participating in a bank heist.  Your life-long wisdom would be much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Displaced-Replaced Okie

Dear Displaced-Replaced Okie,

We're glad to have you back in the home state. You couldn't have picked a finer time as we will soon have some need of your help in putting in the garden. Something you may need a refresher on as you came from such a big city with a short growing season. If you need help with your garden please let us know, for we'll bring some family and friends along as well.

Idiosyncrasies eh?   Be careful who you use that word around, for it may cause you some pain in the form of a tight fist to the jaw. Not from me of course, but not everyone will appreciate the connotation, and will, instead, take it for it's denotation, but I digress.

I'm not sure you remember, but as kids, us boys always had our toys. Mom and Dad bought us Tonka Trucks, Loaders, Back Hoes, etc, and we demolished them into flat pieces of metal within a matter of hours. Soon they were replaced with plastic, which soon demolished into multiple peices of plastic within seconds. The bottom line was that we had toys.

I married young, and, with that, came responsibilities including bills, a job, and a family. Soon all my toys disappeared with one exception, The Automobile. In our efforts to make it fun, we Okie men developed new games such as mailbox baseball, passing on the shoulder, and installing a lift kit. Unfortunately, most of those games were eliminated as safety and family became a priority. So we have been reduced to minor car games which include not letting the teenager pass us on the right, hand gestures, and backing into parking spots.

Sure, backing a Corolla is not the same as backing a sextuple axle tractor trailer, but a guy can pretend right? 

Anyways, I hope this clarifies some of the reasons pertaining to why we do what we do. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

Your cousin,

Lifelong Okie.

Day Two of writing no one reads but me...

...and that's just because I don't prefer to look like a grammatical nincompoop [I just Googled nincompoop , and yes, it really is a word] on the internet. My mother-in-law just put pictures of us up on facebook from our trip to Disneyland. I loved that trip for a number of reasons:

1) We spent time with Pat and Bill.

2) We had a great time visiting President and Sister Jones.

3) We enjoyed visiting Holly, Jim, and their two adorable kids.

I want children of our own. I see Rachel with other folks' children, and I think of how wonderful and loving she would be as a mother. I know its just a matter of time and patience, but sometimes my impatience gets the best of me.

We took Hank and Harley for a run today, for 40 minutes. Harley almost gave up, but he kept at it with a little motivation. He's a good dog. Hank was dragging us along waiting for us to actually turn it up a notch. He'll be waiting for a while. The ironic thing is that he can run circles around us, yet he (and I as well) is overweight.

We had a great visit with Mom and Dad this weekend. We went out to eat, but the real fun was taking Dad around the library looking for some fun information about archeaological sites near Gore Oklahoma. I swear he'd be a great archeaologist, and I think he needs to join a local chapter of the Archeaological Society. Our land there in Eastern Oklahoma is loaded with some Prehistoric artifacts. There was a neighbor who had an enormous collection of arrowheads. I always enjoyed camping out in those woods as we would hear different sounds of wildlife there year round. Maybe there are some courses he can take for fun there at the local college.

Random Thoughts:

• I feel blessed today. 
  
• There needs to be a G-Rated version of the Comic Mitch Hedburg. 
  
• Couscous is the best side dish, next to Cheezy Potatoes.
• I'm proud to have a dad like my Dad (Same goes for Mom I suppose.)
• Last but never least: I love my wife so much. She is honestly my best friend in the whole wide world. The fun we have and the memories we make are priceless.

Been awhile...

So 2007 eh? I promise I've logged more about our life, but that would be found in hard copies in the form of random notebooks and journals distributed throughout the apartment and put in my scripture case.

Things are going great for Rachel and I. No children yet, but we'd be glad to have them. It just doesn't seem to fit into the Lord's plan for us right now. So we've accepted that and enjoyed being with our dogs and saving money. We feel very blessed here in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Rachel has a great job, and I've got the wonderful opportunity to teach and take classes at the same time while working on my graduate degree. We're both Ward Missionaries, and we enjoy working with the Sisters helping other members of our ward tell others about our beliefs.

Two More Weeks...

...Until I can relax a bit from the fun of school.
...Get to my Grandparents to enjoy some time on the Ranch.
...Clean the house and get it all decked out for the holidays.

SOONER FOOTBALL

Our Basset Harley found some old Bailing Twine.
A Proud Moment Hank at Full Stride :)

Harley, Keystone Lake, and the City of Mannford

Oklahoma Weather and Scenery :)

Some old pictures from Graduation

Trip to Maryland

I've learned I don't like flying in wind storms or flying with United Airlines at all.

Here are some pics from our trip.

Disneyland Jan 2007

Today

Well, life has been very good to me and Rachel. We have two dogs who makes us so happy. I mean who could find themselves stressed out after hanging out with this face for a couple minutes. Harley is such a fun dog to relax with. There've been chilly evenings when his curling at my feet has been more than welcome to keep my toes from freezing.

Then there's Hank. The most loyal dog in the world. He truly lives to make Rachel, me, Pat, or Bill happy. He's such a hard worker and he really is obedient. He has a face that everyone just loves. Here's Hank on the beach in Lincoln City. Rachel and I have so much fun together. She truly is the best thing to ever happen to me. I look back at how we met and were eventually married and I'm so grateful my Heavenly Father opened the doors to our marriage.

We had Mom, Dad, and Jake over for the weekend. It was a fun time making memories before our little brother comes back here to Utah to serve as a missionary. I suppose some would think this is a chance for Jake and I to hang out alot, but that's not so because I hope to see this boy focus on the mission for the next two years. I don't want to be a distraction. I know how much the mission changed my life and blessed me, so I don't want to take those memories away from my bro. He's such a fine person and he'll do well here on his mission.

Mom, Dad, and Jake, thanks for coming out to see us. We truly love you guys and are greatful to be your family.

Thanks for the memories, and here's to making many more.

>

Here are some Random Pictures we Took While Mom, Dad, and Jake were in town.

Dog Row

We Dog Sit sometimes.
I thought this sight of the row of kennels would make others laugh like I did.















Left to Right (smallest to the largest)
Barron, Sooner, Harley, Hank

Random Trip to Oregon

So we took a spontaneous trip to Oregon. With the help of some awesome friends (you know who you are) who put us up for a couple nights we were able to make some great memories on the Pacific Coast this weekend. Our dogs had a great time too.