Monday, December 11, 2006 | by nathan

50 - Dr. Lewis

People who studied philosophy to be cool hated him. People who actually cared adored him. The best professor I ever had. Taught me how to think.

Sunday, December 10, 2006 | by nathan

49 - Rob

Gave me a chance when I probably didn’t deserve one. Taught me that good journalists enjoy what they do. Calls everyone “daddy-o.” A really good editor.

Saturday, December 9, 2006 | by nathan

48 - Bryon

The night before high school graduation we sat up talking and listening to Rent. That was the night it happened, for me: he became my brother.

Friday, December 8, 2006 | by nathan

Sam The Wonder Dog

Well, it’s official: I’m knocked up.

Oh, wait, no. Whoops.

We got a dog.

On Tuesday I was walking across campus with Boss-Lady, and we saw this cute little dog that was all friendly and going up to people, and we commented on how cute and nice he seemed. But, he had a collar, and so we figured some professor probably brought him to school, as some profs are wont to do.

Later in the day one of the law professors sent out an email to the entire law school, saying she found this dog who is incredibly friendly and who has a collar but no tags. She can’t take him home, so would anyone like to volunteer to dogsit while they try to find the real owners? I called within thirty seconds - I wanted to take him home.

His picture had gone out with the email, and as I still had an hour left in my day I brought him to the office, where people came by and admired how well-behaved and beautiful he is - Lassie meets Heidi Klum. After work I took him to the vet’s office to get a read on how healthy he was and to buy him some food, and the woman there fell in love with him. That night at home he was a perfect little angel, and Brian and I set him up on the sun porch with a blanket and some food.  

Everyone at the law school kept telling me that I should give him some legal name, because of where he was found. This talk ceased when I suggested we name him "Roe v. Wade." Abortion references are always a good way to shut down unprofitable lines of conversation.

I named him Sam.

Yesterday while I was at work Sam spent the day at the vet’s office. He got groomed, checked out, x-rayed. He has heart worms, hook worms, and whip worms, which may explain why he is so old-looking and shaky. He’s an underdog in every sense of the word. The vet bill was almost $500 but worth it; the law prof who found him has offered to split this with me.

The woman at the vet’s office, Shannon, said Sam is one of the friendliest dogs she has ever seen. "He has that look in his eyes like he might be a reincarnated person," she said. She gave us a huge discount on the bill. She is mine and Sam’s new best friend. After hearing all that was wrong with him I have decided not to try to find his new owners. I had placed an add in the Daily Oklahoman, but anyone who would let a dog come down with this many health problems does not deserve to be a pet owner. Either that, or he is a long way from home or has been missing for a long time, and until he learns to talk I have no way of finding out where he came from.

Now that Sam is all clean he can be in the house; he has been sleeping in the office on a blanket Judy made for me. Everyone who has met him has offered to take him off my hands, but I have fallen so in love with him that this is not ever going to happen. Brian likes him a lot and already he feels like family to us. Also, he is trained and can sit, lie down, shake hands, and he knows what the leash is and how to ask to go outside.

I could use some wisdom on how to care for a dog with heart worms - how much exercise to give him and the like. Anybody got anything? I really love this dog and want to make sure he gets and stays well. You’ll notice he already has his own category here at Okay City.

Friday, December 8, 2006 | by nathan

47 - Laura

A stranger in a strange land: the daughter of a Hollywood agent drove her daughter (and me) to school in a Porsche. Western Oklahoma wasn’t ready.

Thursday, December 7, 2006 | by nathan

46 - Andrew Peterson’s Keyboard Player

Him: “Honesty isn’t the most important thing in songwriting.  A song about, ‘I’m a homosexual and that’s okay,’ would be honest, but not true.”

Douche bag.

Wednesday, December 6, 2006 | by nathan

45 - Jesi

At fourteen, our teenage drama consumed our lives. When we met up again at 26 it was forgiven so effortlessly it was like it never happened.

Tuesday, December 5, 2006 | by nathan

44 - Frank

I had a little crush on him. I was too shy and insecure to say anything. Because of that, I met the love of my life.

Monday, December 4, 2006 | by nathan

43 - Liz

Loud, laughing, loyal, lovely. You could describe her as the typical theater major, but she’s not the typical anything. Everything she does, she does full stop.

Sunday, December 3, 2006 | by nathan

42 - Darren

Marine who served in Iraq. I thought he was one of those straight guys who flirted with gay guys for laughs, until the flirtations bore fruit.