Happy Constitution Day

Happy Constitution Day!

It is Constitution Day, which has been one of the highlights of my time in the Oval today. The Honors Students something or other was passing out personal U.S. Constitutions, which I thought was pretty awesome! I know mine will come in handy.

However, I don't know if it is the weather or the onset of midterms that makes everyone look like they have just been reading the Constitution. (Excluding Political Science/History majors of course) It seems as though everyone on campus has a case of the Thursday blues.

The pace of campus is rather slow. Where normally I see people walk by as speedy as possible, today people seem to be in no particular hurry. Everyone walking at their own leisurely place, and dark circles under their eyes.

I think most people couldn't even make it out of bed to come to class today, because the campus seems barren. All of those that can make it to the oval seem exhausted and ready for a break.

The weather has been cause for a few amusing incidents though! I enjoy watching the people in flip flops glide by me on their heels every other step, hoping for traction, and praying no one sees how silly they look. They all look like figure skaters on concrete.

I must say that I appreciate today's fashion sense, though. Normally, rainy days are handled by most in a fashionable way... Girls sport their rain boots, their sorority jacket that swishes when they walk, and their Nike shorts. Boys are a little more versatile, they get to choose between their Sperries or their Tom's shoes, sporting either jeans or cargo shorts, and a T-shirt/Polo, and a baseball cap. However, today no seems to care. The rain boots are on, as are the Sperries, but they are paired with messy pony tails and sweat pants.

It is oddly refreshing to see people physically resemble how they are feeling. They walk tired, act tired, look tired, and dress tired. It is understandable why everyone isn't a socialite today.

It's like if you were walking in the Oval and someone went to say hi to you and you brushed them off, giving them a look that says "Refer to the outfit." and they would know and think to themselves, "Oh, she can't talk today... she is wearing sweat pants."

The image is a disclaimer of sorts for your attitude, I can appreciate that.

Shout Outs:

To the guys legitimately sporting the Landry Jones creeper stash: Power To You! I Love it!!! I laughed multiple times when spotting someone walking by me with a little caterpillar on their lip!

To the gardner who has been gently carving the bushes for the last two hours! Thanks for keeping OU beautiful.

Last but Not Least! The people who made it out of bed to go to class today! Yay! You made it!

A Shaded Confidence

I am happy to report there has been some progress across sooner land since the last time I observed the Oval!

Today I saw smiling faces, and observant eyes... Well, kind of. I have decided to attribute the confidence boost across the campus to the magical appearance of the sun today. If I were reporting on fashion, I would say the array of sunglasses were more than impressive.

With shades on, more than half of the travelers let their eyes wonder the campus and look at their peers with friendly faces. I guess we all have our security blankets, and apparently sooners think much like celebrities: if they can't see my eyes they will never know it is me.

Even though I think the shades move is a little shady, I will take it! Congratulations OU, I'm so proud of you!

Moving onto further business... I have made three other significant observations about what I saw today.

1. I saw dozens of people talking today, laughing with their friends, saying hello, etc. The interesting part about this is that, only pairs of two could walk and talk at the same time!

If there were two people talking, they were more than happy to leisurely walk along side their friend, continuing their discussion.

However, groups of three or more had to stop to talk in semicircles. I saw one group of boys to attempt a threesome walking group... Let's just say it wasn't very successful, they were tripping and running into people... It was madness! However, I must encourage them for their efforts.

I don't know if this is a coordination problem, or just common social etiquette... Why is this? What makes people instinctively do this I wonder?

2. The double bag phenomenon... Girls this goes out to you! Almost every girl I saw today had a backpack over her shoulders, a purse across her arm, and everything that should be stowed away in those storage containers in her hands!

Now I understand girls, I have done the very same thing a time or two...but watching it today made me wonder why?

Do we really need our keys and phone ready in our hand outside Bizzell Library (where there isn't parking for at least a quarter mile in any direction)? Why can't we consolidate all of our belongings into one huge bag instead of carrying two HUGE bags and putting half of the things in them?

Something to think about...

3. Skate Boarding:

- First comes a question, that I do not have an answer to, neither does any other person in the Oval from what I noticed. Should people on skate boards use the bike lane? Most skaters rolled right on top of the line, unsure of where to be, weaving back and forth, in and out of designated areas. This is something I feel should be indicated, I don't know why... but people seemed confused when a skater just brushed by them with an inch of their life.

-There is most definitely a "cool" way of riding on your skate board and a "not cool" way. The "cool" way of skating would be to roll by, no sense of urgency, however with speed. However, the "not cool" way would most definitely be to push of the ground at almost a running speed with a look of terror on your face. These transportation devices, are not ones of extreme speed, perhaps you should consider a bike. People were frightened by your face and your lack of coordination. Sorry, just keep practicing... at home, as to keep from killing anyone.

Shout Outs!

My favorite camo shorts wearing guy (you weren't wearing camo again today, but it's OK) was back and friendly looking as ever! Keep it up, Buddy!

The fratty group of three trying to walk and talk at the same time. Bravo!!!!! Your efforts were relentless and entertaining!

To the girls pretending to be pack mules! We have all been there, it's OK, but give your little arms some rest!

Confidence Boost

Hellooooo OU!

Can you hear me?! Hello?

I didn't think so...

As I walked towards the South Oval this afternoon, in excitement of what I may find, anticipating nervous trips, hidden nose-pickers, accidental waves, etc. I was disappointed to find nothing of the sort.

What I did find was OU has an obvious confidence problem and unlike myself, is TOO aware that they are insight of hundreds of their peers.

I could honestly estimate that about 15 (ish) percent of those in the Oval today were plugged in to an iPod, a phone, and sometimes BOTH! I couldn't even begin to understand what I was seeing! You want to connect with other people? This is your chance, you are surrounded by hundreds of people and you choose to ignore all of them to talk to someone you can't even see.

Those who weren't sucked into the sea of iPhones, were looking at their feet, nervously twitching and tugging at their belongings, rushing towards their destination without hoping to look preoccupied.

The optimist eye inside of me hoped that perhaps all the people I saw were just freshmen scared to be in a new place, but I stood corrected when I saw a line up of professors crossing my path. There they were, veterans of this place, scurrying to avoid their students and colleagues. Most pretending to run their lectures through in their head as they walk or look for their next building. But, let's be honest profs! You have been here for years, you know where your building is and you have said this lecture enough times you could repeat it in your sleep. I expected more from you!

What is with the obvious avoidance of eye contact? What are all of you so scared of? That someone may say hi, or smile? What is the worst that can happen by being noticeably happy? Someone will think you are weird because they are to wimpy to feel anything themselves?

To all of this I say: GROW A PAIR OKLAHOMA! Be a human being! Take some time to be the unapologetic version of you!

If you are upset...fine plug in, avoid the world... as I'm sure that will make you feel so much better. However, remember your attitude is infectious.

From this observation I have decided that my mission for this week (or for life) is to travel my destination with hopes of making a new friend. Even from afar, to move with a smile on my face and my shoulders back.

With that being said, I must give a few Shout-Outs!

-To the guy in the camo shorts and black T-Shirt: While, you were plugged in, I noticed you! You looked ready to say hello at any moment, you made eye contact with each person you passed and had an easy smile across your face. I'm sorry that those people you looked at were to scared to notice you, but I did and I appreciate you!

-To the girl texting while riding your bike and giggling at the same time... that just takes skill.

-To my friends: I saw several of you and you didn't even notice me because I wasn't directly in-front of your face! Take a look around every once and awhile!