Oklahoma City - The new standard? (Tulsa, Miami: appointed, how much, new home)

[n8tiv_okie]

Oklahoma City as the standard? Lord, I HOPE NOT! I've lived all over California but grew up here...the good ol boy system is ALIVE and well in Oklahoma.
take Brent Rinehart as an example of the leaders of OKC.
Another example...."Hey vote for the lottery so we can use that money for education and improve our schools and educational system so every child can have the same level of learning".
Oklahomans vote for the lottery. It passes.
2 years later, before the start of school, Oklahoma City Public Schools were in debt. MAJOR debt and had to pass an emergency budget to cover teacher's salaries. Also, various schools were in disrepair, some without A/C, some without Bus Service, some without teachers.
So you tell me, should this be a "standard" for other cities?
The only people that got rich off of the lottery were the politicians and the people who won money from it.

[irishlover]

I lived in OKC for nearly 3 years after a move from California and was never SO glad to leave somewhere in my life. Don't get me wrong...the people on the whole are very nice. BUT there is very very little to keep a young couple interested and engaged in the community. We got to the point where we looked at each other on Friday nights and said "well, should we do?... the SAME thing again for the millionth time?" Dinner at cheevers or mama rosas or irmas...UGHH so sick of those places after a hundred times. We are avid outdoors people and there is NOTHING of interest in OKC. Yeah yeah lake hefner has some "nice" trails...I guess compared to walking on hot coals....the "nearby" wichita "mountains" are nothing more than bumps on an otherwise featureless boring plain...lake thunderbird is a waste pit basically. There is just NOTHING to do if you don't have kids and don't like to go out to eat every night and get fat. Also, one of my biggest peves with OKC is the lack of NICE grocery stores...or not even the plural...we would have loved just ONE. Homeland..aka Homelessland...buy 4 less...albertsons all insult the name of good grocers around the country.

We are settled in Houston now and couldn't be happier...it is hot but we LOVE being back in a city that offers nice services...love HEB grocery stores...huge selection of non-chain restaurants, museums..beaches nearby...hill country nearby...austin/san antonio all close. Oh, and being able to have 25 year old friends that don't have 3 kids by the time they are 25 is nice too!

In short, the only redeeming quality about OKC is its people...they are very nice on the whole. BUT, all of the MAPS projects, efforts by City leaders and the very few forward thinking young people in the city are synonymous to putting makeup on an ugly girl....what your left with underneath is still an ugly girl. If there is any standard to which OKC is judged it will be what other cities wish not to become.

[ESMOU]

Originally Posted by irishlover

I lived in OKC for nearly 3 years after a move from California and was never SO glad to leave somewhere in my life. Don't get me wrong...the people on the whole are very nice. BUT there is very very little to keep a young couple interested and engaged in the community. We got to the point where we looked at each other on Friday nights and said "well, should we do?... the SAME thing again for the millionth time?" Dinner at cheevers or mama rosas or irmas...UGHH so sick of those places after a hundred times. We are avid outdoors people and there is NOTHING of interest in OKC. Yeah yeah lake hefner has some "nice" trails...I guess compared to walking on hot coals....the "nearby" wichita "mountains" are nothing more than bumps on an otherwise featureless boring plain...lake thunderbird is a waste pit basically. There is just NOTHING to do if you don't have kids and don't like to go out to eat every night and get fat. Also, one of my biggest peves with OKC is the lack of NICE grocery stores...or not even the plural...we would have loved just ONE. Homeland..aka Homelessland...buy 4 less...albertsons all insult the name of good grocers around the country.

We are settled in Houston now and couldn't be happier...it is hot but we LOVE being back in a city that offers nice services...love HEB grocery stores...huge selection of non-chain restaurants, museums..beaches nearby...hill country nearby...austin/san antonio all close. Oh, and being able to have 25 year old friends that don't have 3 kids by the time they are 25 is nice too!

In short, the only redeeming quality about OKC is its people...they are very nice on the whole. BUT, all of the MAPS projects, efforts by City leaders and the very few forward thinking young people in the city are synonymous to putting makeup on an ugly girl....what your left with underneath is still an ugly girl. If there is any standard to which OKC is judged it will be what other cities wish not to become.

Don't think you understand the transformation that is occurring here. Guess if you like Houston that much though...i just thought it was a dirty metro and angered me that you cant do anything if you don't speak Spanish.

[irishlover]

Originally Posted by ESMOU

Don't think you understand the transformation that is occurring here. Guess if you like Houston that much though...i just thought it was a dirty metro and angered me that you cant do anything if you don't speak Spanish.

The "spanish" you speak of is called culture, ESMOU. Something OKC doesn't have. Granted there are places in Houston that aren't nice...just like ANY big city. But I'm sorry, there's no way OKC with minimal services for a city of 1 million people will ever be able to offer what Houston (or many other cities have) with > 5 million people. In my opinion, OKC is one of the if not the worst city of 1 million or less residents in the country for those of us who have been out in the world and have actually seen what real cities are and should be able to offer there residents. There is a reason OKC is so cheap...you pay for what you get.

[colleeng47]

Well then, I guess not just you are happy you left OKC. Different strokes for different folks. I'm glad you're happy where you are. No one should be miserable. One less miserable person in OKC is just fine and dandy with me.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by irishlover

I lived in OKC for nearly 3 years after a move from California and was never SO glad to leave somewhere in my life. Don't get me wrong...the people on the whole are very nice. BUT there is very very little to keep a young couple interested and engaged in the community. We got to the point where we looked at each other on Friday nights and said "well, should we do?... the SAME thing again for the millionth time?" Dinner at cheevers or mama rosas or irmas...UGHH so sick of those places after a hundred times. We are avid outdoors people and there is NOTHING of interest in OKC. Yeah yeah lake hefner has some "nice" trails...I guess compared to walking on hot coals....the "nearby" wichita "mountains" are nothing more than bumps on an otherwise featureless boring plain...lake thunderbird is a waste pit basically. There is just NOTHING to do if you don't have kids and don't like to go out to eat every night and get fat. Also, one of my biggest peves with OKC is the lack of NICE grocery stores...or not even the plural...we would have loved just ONE. Homeland..aka Homelessland...buy 4 less...albertsons all insult the name of good grocers around the country.

We are settled in Houston now and couldn't be happier...it is hot but we LOVE being back in a city that offers nice services...love HEB grocery stores...huge selection of non-chain restaurants, museums..beaches nearby...hill country nearby...austin/san antonio all close. Oh, and being able to have 25 year old friends that don't have 3 kids by the time they are 25 is nice too!

In short, the only redeeming quality about OKC is its people...they are very nice on the whole. BUT, all of the MAPS projects, efforts by City leaders and the very few forward thinking young people in the city are synonymous to putting makeup on an ugly girl....what your left with underneath is still an ugly girl. If there is any standard to which OKC is judged it will be what other cities wish not to become.

I lived in Carmel by the Sea for a couple years (Like whatever!). Moderator cut: Sentence removed

[irishlover]

Moderator cut: Quote removed

Whoopi..a big building! Now that's a reason to move to Oklahoma "City"! "Hey dear...did you hear?? they are building a big building in Okie city...yeah let's pack up the kids and move them to a hell hole with a sore thumb sticking out...maybe while their there they can get undereducated, fat and pregnant by 16...YEAH"...

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by irishlover

Moderator cut: Quote removed

Whoopi..a big building! Now that's a reason to move to Oklahoma "City"! "Hey dear...did you hear?? they are building a big building in Okie city...yeah let's pack up the kids and move them to a hell hole with a sore thumb sticking out...maybe while their there they can get undereducated, fat and pregnant by 16...YEAH"...

You've already made your point on a couple of OK threads. I think I hear the Texas forum calling you. Time to spread your happiness.

[nevergoingback]

Originally Posted by irishlover

The "spanish" you speak of is called culture, ESMOU.

Heh. I'm glad you like Houston.


FWIW Tulsa>OKC

[Bass&Catfish2008]

Originally Posted by colleeng47

Well then, I guess not just you are happy you left OKC. Different strokes for different folks. I'm glad you're happy where you are. No one should be miserable. One less miserable person in OKC is just fine and dandy with me.

Amen, Friend!