The Alexander Hotel

I had the opportunity to stay in the Alexander Hotel in Indianapolis.  The Alexander is a chic new hotel in the Indianapolis downtown and it presents a wealth of art which create the interior and exterior appeal of the building.  The most impressive element of the hotel was the amount of art that it contains, as soon as you enter you are confronted with big, bright and vibrant works of art.  The art is well placed and resemble what is occurring within that space.  If you are ever visiting Indianapolis, this is a hotel worth staying at.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located in Arlington National Cemetery.  The entire complex is meticulously kept and does a wonderful job of honoring our service men and women who have perished in the line of duty.  The expansive rolling hills lined with stones, and crosses, and stars of David take your breath away as you realize they all lost their lives defending our Nations freedoms just for you.  Even more incredible are the dedicated United States Army members who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, everyday, all day, no matter sleet, or hail or snow.  Watching the Changing of the Guard is an experience everyone should partake in.  It shows the precision and dedication of our servicemen.

National Capital Building

I was taken back by the power that our Nations capital presents when you are there.  The building is not only intense but its dominance ensures that our Nation is perceived as a world power.  I would like to visit the Capital again and take a more in depth tour.  I can only imagine that every visit would be different, with different faces and different things going on.

Oklahoma Murrah Building

The Oklahoma Murrah building was tragically destroyed by a domestic terrorist attack by Timothy McVeigh on April 19th, 1995.  Over half the building was destroyed by a bomb created by McVeigh made of fertilizer.  The blast killed 168 people including many children and injured 680 others, it also damaged 324 buildings in a 16 block radius.  In all, the attack effected more than just peoples lives and the surrounding buildings, but it changed the Nation.

I never visited the Murrah building, I was only a toddler when the attack occurred.  However, I have visited the memorial and museum.  The museum encompasses the events which occur that tragic morning and it pays tribute to the lives effected and the building which proudly stood in downtown OKC.

Rodeo Drive

Rodeo Drive is home to many high end, luxury shopping stores.  The contents of the buildings are extremely expensive, but the buildings themselves are beautiful as well.  The buildings on Rodeo Drive have been called a museum of an architectural experience.  My favorite part of Rodeo Drive is a corner, which has been developed into a several story complex.  It is a cobble stone walk with shops on both sides and it resembles a quaint european town street.  The entire area is gorgeous, I may not be able to shop, but I sure like walking around.

The Cotton Bowl

The Cotton Bowl is a stadium in Dallas, TX, surrounded by the Texas state fair.  It is home to the long lived Red River Rivalry.  I have been to the OU texas game for several years now and I always enjoy going back.  The stadium has a great Southern feel, and the liveliness of its surroundings during the state fair are very exciting.  This game, wouldn't be quite the same if it weren't at the Cotton Bowl.

Gamma Rho - Lambda Chi Alpha

I am a member of Lambda Chi Alpha in Norman, OK.  I joined in the Fall of 2011, ever since joining the Fraternity, one of my favorite things is the house.  Fraternities create an opportunity for members to become brothers and to create life long friendships, many of these first opportunities are formed at the house.  I have many fond memories of 904 College, but my involvement with this building goes beyond the memories.

Even before I was initiated I became an officer within the Fraternities leadership and have served as such until this, my senior year.  This responsibility instilled in me, great pride for the members, but also the physical house itself.  I grew up working around my own home with my dad, and I am very familiar with general upkeep and maintenance.  I was able to live in the house for one semester before they temporarily closed the residence for a $3M remodel.  I was involved with the housing corporation, architecture firm, and construction company during the remodel.  I am happy that I was, it allowed me to become even more familiar with the house and how it would work once complete.

The housing corporation considered bulldozing the house and starting new, but Lambda Chi has a strong history within the house.  The house was originally built in 1929 and served as a small veterans hospital, where pre-nursing students often studied.  Soon after, the veterans hospital was decommissioned and Lambda Chi purchased the property.  Lambda Chi at OU has lived nowhere but 904 College, every one of our members have been initiated in that house.  In the 1960's an additional wing was added and renovations were done.  With this kind of history, the housing corp could not justify destroying the landmark every Gamma Rho member remembers.

The Alamo Mission

I visited the Alamo after living in San Antonio for two months.  I graduated from USAF basic military training at the end of January and when my family came down to see me, we toured San Antonio.   I remember the Alamo seeming out of place, the older building surrounded by a developed city.  I remember this building fondly, because I was surrounded by friends and family after being away and isolated from them for two months.