I want a dog so bad.

The problem is, I live in an apartment that charges a $500 deposit for pets.  I also don’t have the time to have one.

I feel like I’m cursed though, because I see dogs on assignments ALL THE TIME.

Why won’t the cuteness stop?

-Garett Fisbeck

Chihuahua cools off in a stream of water at the Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City, Friday, June 8, 2012. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Zo-E dances with her owner, Pam Haynie, during a Concert in the Park in Midwest City, Thursday, June 7, 2012. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Penny, of Oklahoma City, wears a raincoat during the Red Mud Run on the property of K&M Demolition in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, For The Oklahoman

Rebecca Swisher, of Yukon, walks her dog, Zoe, during the See Spot Run in Guthrie, Saturday, June 9, 2012. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Basha and Mason interact with Bandit at the Steven J. Bentley Homeward Bound Facility in Oklahoma City, Friday, June 29, 2012. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Karson Wilkerson, 10 of Bethany, spends time kayaking with his mentor, Billy Swindell, at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, Thursday, July 28, 2011. Wilkerson and Swindell have been together in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for more than a year. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

I should first point out that I am an unpaid intern, but the headline stands; being a journalist allows you to go on some pretty cool adventures.

When I received my assignment Thursday to photograph children and mentors of Big Brothers Big Sisters kayaking, I expected to show up and photograph them getting into their boats and rowing off into the sunset.

Thankfully, this was not the case.

Dave Lindo of OKC Kayak was nice enough to offer to have one of his volunteers, Sharon, escort me around Lake Hefner to get a closer look at the action.

Kayak guide Sharon and I on our Lake Hefner cruise.

View from the passenger's seat.

I’ve done a lot of cool stuff in the last eight weeks, but riding in a kayak for the first time has all that other stuff beat.

Some of the guys on the beach threatened to pull my “man card” for not getting out and helping Sharon pull the boat back on shore, but I like my shoes and expensive camera too much to have any sort of pride in that situation.

Now that I have kayaking behind me, I’m hoping maybe horseback riding is next.

David Curtis, 8 of Oklahoma City, laughs as he paddles in his kayak at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, Thursday, July 28, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Read about how Big Brothers Big Sisters lost federal funding here.

To see more photos, click here to see the gallery.

-Garett Fisbeck

Players of the Oklahoma City Royals pray before beginning a game at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

For the last few weeks, I have spent some quality time with an extraordinary group of gentlemen.

The Oklahoma City Royals are a group of 75+ senior softball players that get together every Tuesday night to fellowship and play the sport they love.

Sports intern Tariq Lee and I worked on this story together. I produced a slideshow separate from his story and we somehow came out at the end of it with a great package that is featured in the sports section of the Oklahoman and on its very own nDepth page on NewsOK.com.

One of the most profound moments I witnessed while doing this project was when one of the guys pulled out a piece of paper with the name of a condition he had been diagnosed with.  He had to write it down so he could remember what it was called and tell the other guys about it.

A player for the Oklahoma City Royals reads a new condition that he has been diagnosed with, Polymyalgia rheumatica, to his fellow teammates at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

The condition was polymyalgia rheumatica, a syndrome with pain or stiffness, usually in the neck, shoulders, and hips.

I was inspired by the positive outlook of the players. I won’t ruin any more of the story for you, I’ll just say that I hope I’m this cool when and if I turn 80-years-old.

Check out Tariq’s story and my slideshow here:  OKC’s Boys of Summer

Ray Rowland gets ready to bat during a game at the Plex in Oklahoma City, July 19, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Loal Buttram runs onto the field during a game at the Plex Sports Complex in Oklahoma City, July 5, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

-Garett Fisbeck