Puppy love

For those of you who don't know me, I am a huge animal lover. I just feel a lot of compassion for animals on the streets who don't have anyone to love them. I guess I put myself in their shoes and I couldn't imagine living without someone loving me. Some people may think that is a ridiculous notion and that animals can't feel like that, but I certainly think they do, especially dogs.

My first semester of college was really hard on me and I was depressed so I decided to adopt a dog. I wanted to save a life and maybe it would save mine. I looked online and found a couple dogs that I was interested in, as I was walking through the many cages I didn't see any that I was connecting with. Then at the very last one, I saw him, I saw a little scared terrier/mix puppy. He was white with patches but you couldn't tell because he was covered in dirt and poop. He was in a cage with three other dogs and they were all jumping up on the cage but he was in the back of the cage shaking and coughing. I took him out of the cage and went to a separate room with just him and it didn't take but 30 seconds for me to fall in love, he was mine. I was walking to the adoption center to fill out papers and he wouldn't stop coughing and I ran into the vet. She said he had a severe case of kennel cough and gave me extra medication for him to get better. He was 10 pounds when I left the shelter, and now he is 17 pounds. That is a lot of weight for a little dog because his body hasn't grown very much sense then. He is nothing like I thought he would be. I thought he was going to be a chill, mellow dog and he is the exact opposite. He is the most hyper and happy dog I have ever met. He is all terrier and never stops running, I guess the dog I saw in the shelter was a dog with no hope. He was scared and needed me.

I may have rescued him from the shelter but he did so much more for me. He helped me get through a tough transition from living at home always feeling loved to not. He gave me something to take care of and nurture, and in doing so it heeled me. It's amazing how animals can tell how you are feeling and my dog proved that. He is always happy when I am, but when I'm sad he knows. He will always come and just lay with me. He is the best therapist. That may sound cheesy, but to me it's true. I may have rescued him from the shelter but he saved me from so much more.

Colorado

I am on vacation in Colorado right now and I am amazed with this beautiful place! It took us 12 hours to get here and while we were driving up the hills and mountains my ears started feeling immense pressure. I needed to pop them! I knew that colorado had different altitude than Oklahoma but I didn't think my body would react to it so badly, I needed to pop them every ten minutes. We finally get here and I see the tallest mountains I have ever seen and I am close to them. Our resort is like it's own Oasis nestled up in the mountains. All the cabins are secluded from each other with large green trees dividing everything. There are four pools and a set of cascading hot springs, the water in this contains minerals and feels so soft to the body. This resort also contains tennis courts, a sauna, and a steam shower. This place is the ultimate destination for a week full of relaxation. Currently I am writing outside by the river that is flowing down off the mountains. It is just me out here with the cool breeze and the sound of the roaring river.

This resort is the ultimate place to relax but the activities available to do are endless. I am excited for tomorrow because I get to go on a ropes course over the Arkansas River. This will be a challenge for me because I am scared of heights! I also am going horse back riding in the mountains to the sunset tomorrow, this will be so fun because I have never rode a horse before. Yesterday I did something else I have never done, I went white water rafting with my family. We had to wear wet suits and splash jackets because the water was like 35 degrees! My sister and I wanted the front seats so we could experience the rapids more. We were rafting down Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River in Bueno Vista, CO and this specific trip had seven rapids that we had to face. One of them was called the "Stair Stepper" and had seven different drops, each getting worse and rougher. The last drop was the most exhilarating one. As I am coming upon this drop I see the enormous white caps of the waves and I can hear the low, loud rumble of these waves crashing along the rocks. I am saying to myself, "Do not fall out!" Okay, the time is here. We paddle as hard as we can into this doom and we clear the first wave perfectly, but as we are going down and back up, the next wave comes crashing into us over the boat. This wave was so strong that it made me lay completely out, I ended up in my moms lap in the seat behind me! Luckily I had my foot secured tightly and I didn't fall out. After this happened we just lost control of the boat, everyone was screaming and just trying to stay in. Our boat hit a rock and turned us around, making us do a complete 360, finishing out that rapid. Whew! I can breathe now. We survived.  I might have been scared but I sure had a great time and would love to do it again. I am so happy that this vacation is making me go outside of my comfort zone, it is making for some great memories!

Rowing

Going into college I would have never thought I would be a part of such an amazing team. I had never really heard of rowing none the less be interested in it, but my sister was on the team for a year and pushed me to give it a try. I thought to myself, "how hard can it be?" Little did I know what it would take to be a UCO rower. I quickly learned that this sport was grueling, exhausting, but very rewarding. Rowing has two different seasons; Fall and Spring.  In the fall it is less competitive because you are not head on with your opponent, you are racing against each others times. The real competitive spirit flares up in the Spring where you race side by side with other teams from all over this country. We train the entire time, not taking a break, working hard to get the gold. In the cold, harsh months the water will freeze and we can no longer row so we wake up at 5:30am. to our death sentence of a machine called the erg. This machine is like rowing but on land and it is individualized instead of having to work together with each other. This is when you learn if you have what it takes to be a UCO rower, the dedication and wear this has on your body will completely drain everything in you and make you come to your breaking point. How you respond to this kind of low is what makes you or breaks you. Once you pass through these dreadful months you are now in the best shape of your life and you are ready to show it off. In the Spring some races you will lose and some races you will dominate, but why put yourself through all this pain? Why do something that takes this much dedication and hurts like heck? 

Let me tell you why: I learned to love the adrenaline rush race time gave me. At the start of the race my stomach falls to my toes, thoughts are running through my mind. Breathe, relax, stay calm. I am nervous but aware and awake, adrenaline is running through my veins as I sit and wait for the call to row. I am ready for the battle I am about to face, I am ready for the pain I am about to bare. Suddenly, the call "Row" breaks my concentration, my mind goes blank and my body takes over. My heart is beating rapid and out of control when we take off, then we settle into a cadence and I hear, "catch, stroke, slide" We pass the first 500 and the adrenaline fads and the reality sets in that there is no stopping, no turning back, we have to finish this. During the second 500 we sit back up, determined and ready to attack. We see 3 boats behind us but we know there is 2 others ahead of us. "FIGHT FOR IT", we hear. We are moving now, gaining momentum and speed with every stroke. We are now upon the third 500 and fatigue is gaining the best of us. It is a game of inches, every meter counts. We feel spikes driving through our thighs and our lungs are ready to burst. We don't feel like we are going to be able to make it out alive. My arms are splitting apart and this is the most miserable feeling ever. Its not just a slight windedness or leg burn, it is a all over feeling of unpleasantness. The end is near and we are in the last 250 meters of the race, I can feel that this is it, all or nothing. "Finish them!" I dig deep into my soul, bringing tears to my eyes while I push and pull with all my might. We are side by side with another boat, fighting for first. We give everything we have and in the last 3 strokes we take the lead just in time to cross the finish line. Victory is ours! It is like a drug, this is the best-worst feeling in the world. I live for this. 

Summer time

Summer is the best time of the year. It is the season that I love the most. When the flowers bloom and the grass starts turning green I know it is just a matter of time. The air becomes a little warmer and the sun beats down on your skin a tad harder. Your skin begins to have this sun-kissed glow appearance. Your hair gets lighter and your teeth appear brighter. Its the start of June and the heat is setting in so the pool covers come off. The clear, blue water is to much to bare so you jump in head first. You feel the cool splash along your hot skin and it brings a sense of complete refreshment. You are in "heaven".

Summer is the time to let your worries and stress go. It is the time to rekindle relationships with friends, family, and even yourself. Summer is a breath of fresh air literally and mentally. Those summer nights with friends are the nights you love the most. The music is turned up, the bonfire is lit up, and the night has just begun. Enjoy every moment!