it's official

Good morning lovelies. Since I didn't get to cover the next four stops on Road Trip USA yesterday, I figured I'd jump right into it today. This is going to be a long adventure and I need any and all the suggestions I can get :). Also, please let me know if you'll be in any of these cities in September... I'd love to meet you!

Now onto specifics. Following my time in the the Kansas prairies, I will be reunited with the wonderful K in Oklahoma City. I'm visiting on a weekend so my favorite med student will be able to join me at the OK Museum of Art, (featuring the largest collection of Chihuly's works,) getting to know the Midwestern culture by trying on cattlemen hats in the afternoon (ha,) and spending the night along the Bricktown Canal (pictured above).

Then it's off to the mile high city. I plan to explore the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave, historic Georgetown, and, of course, hike through Rocky Mountain National Park. How does one do that in two days? Oh, Colorado is such a beautiful state (or so I've heard), I'll make it happen.

Afterwards I'm headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico, another gorgeous city as this medley of photos from the New York Times displays. P.S. The two other photographs above are also from the the Big Apple source. With my own eyes, I'd like to see the Spanish-influenced Plaza in old Santa Fe, the local farmer's market, and the SITE, the contemporary of all contemporary art spaces.

And finally, at least in this round of Travel Tuesdays Wednesday, I will be in Phoenix, Arizona to celebrate my brother's 18th birthday with him, his new best friends, my great aunt, and her husband. He'll be all moved in and familiar with the ASU campus at that point... I'm so nostalgically excited to see him in his real life freshman status glory.

   

Okay, now, about this whole food situation. Not that you knew there was one ;). I went over my midday snacking methodology a few posts back but it doesn't seem to be working, because I'm hungry... a lot. Maybe it's the whole sitting at the desk thing but I often can't do without goodies from the office kitchen, and sometimes I find myself skipping out on packing economically to grab $10 take out. Not to mention that despite the wretched heat, salads have not been appetizing, which doesn't at all help the bloat. What's a girl to do? 

Perhaps focus on the simpler things in life? You know, like becoming a full-fledged real person. Psh, yeah. Easy peasy. But still, check that out above. Yes, it is what you think it is: my very first business card. Here's to hoping that my cross-country venture ends in employment!

P.S. HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY Chris! :)