Oklahoma 28, Texas Sucks, I mean, 21
Number of times Sam Bradford said "four quarters" in the post-game interview: 27,946. To the eleventy power. Times nine.
Go Sooners!
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Oh, Norman.
City of festivals, OU football, and a bronze likeness of Maverick.
How I love you.
Last week I was asked, for what was not the first time in my life, what was "good" about Norman. I bit my tongue to refrain from saying, "Nothing west of I-35," and after I recovered I lectured for a full 10 minutes before my audience of out-of-state botany graduate students lost interest-- somewhere between "the single most important collection of French Impressionism ever given to an American public university" and "Beat Texas!"-- and began discussing more interesting things, like lichen.
I, however, was captivated by my own ramblings. I don't think I am alone in loving Norman with my whole heart. In fact, I'm certain that I am not. I am also certain, though, that loving our little diamond in the rough might take a little guidance and a little explanation. I don't think I adore this town because it is the only place I've ever lived (it's not) or because all of my friends are here (they're not-- though so many wonderful friends are!) or because I've just settled (I haven't, though it might not be a bad idea.) I don't love it because it's "great... for Oklahoma" because I think Oklahoma is one of the most remarkable places in the country, and for Norman to be among its most enjoyable towns speaks highly of Norman in a nationwide context.
Even if you hate it, and you just can't wait until you defend your dissertation so you can FINALLY move to Ohio or graduated high school so you can FINALLY move to another college town just like Norman but with higher tuition and a more nasal native accent, maybe you can use this blog to find things to do to make your time here go by in a more amusing fashion.
Hopefully here on Normanist, we'll be chronicling the goings-on of one hip town, even if we have to color them with a few unsubstantiated rumors every now and again, phrased as facts, of course.
Little Known Fact #1:
Abner Norman, grandfather of James Garner (writer of Sorority Boys and Possums), once killed a man with the branch of a redbud tree for the most important collection of French impressionist paintings ever given to an American public university.
Right?
City of festivals, OU football, and a bronze likeness of Maverick.
How I love you.
Last week I was asked, for what was not the first time in my life, what was "good" about Norman. I bit my tongue to refrain from saying, "Nothing west of I-35," and after I recovered I lectured for a full 10 minutes before my audience of out-of-state botany graduate students lost interest-- somewhere between "the single most important collection of French Impressionism ever given to an American public university" and "Beat Texas!"-- and began discussing more interesting things, like lichen.
I, however, was captivated by my own ramblings. I don't think I am alone in loving Norman with my whole heart. In fact, I'm certain that I am not. I am also certain, though, that loving our little diamond in the rough might take a little guidance and a little explanation. I don't think I adore this town because it is the only place I've ever lived (it's not) or because all of my friends are here (they're not-- though so many wonderful friends are!) or because I've just settled (I haven't, though it might not be a bad idea.) I don't love it because it's "great... for Oklahoma" because I think Oklahoma is one of the most remarkable places in the country, and for Norman to be among its most enjoyable towns speaks highly of Norman in a nationwide context.
Even if you hate it, and you just can't wait until you defend your dissertation so you can FINALLY move to Ohio or graduated high school so you can FINALLY move to another college town just like Norman but with higher tuition and a more nasal native accent, maybe you can use this blog to find things to do to make your time here go by in a more amusing fashion.
Hopefully here on Normanist, we'll be chronicling the goings-on of one hip town, even if we have to color them with a few unsubstantiated rumors every now and again, phrased as facts, of course.
Little Known Fact #1:
Abner Norman, grandfather of James Garner (writer of Sorority Boys and Possums), once killed a man with the branch of a redbud tree for the most important collection of French impressionist paintings ever given to an American public university.
Right?
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