Larissa Does Germany

Correction: I only partook in their food ... in Arkansas. I know, I know. I wouldn't expect much from Arkansas and their take on German food, BUT The Bavarian Inn KILLS IT!

I pretended to be a food critic for a minute. I could not help documenting the huge feast I partook in. Sauerkraut soup, and roast duck. Needless to say, I'm a little less mad about that whole World War II thing.

I bring this up, because I did the annual Cross Family Venture to Eureka Springs this past weekend. Always a good way to start off the summer. Today is Wednesday. Thursday I am meeting up with a photographer as a precursor to becoming a model for him. No worries. He's not a perv, so I won't end up nude in shot 64. I'm excited. Mainly because I have never done anything like this and there's nothing like a new experience to spice life up life a bit. However exciting this may be, I am LIGHT YEARS more excited about what Friday is bringing. Friday, I will be traveling to Shell Knob, Missouri, to pick up the missing piece of my life. A bloodhound. I'm buying him from Country Lake Bloodhounds. Their homepage has the Beverly Hillbillies theme song going, so you know it is legit. I have wanted a bloodhound for some time. I've put a lot of hours into figuring out whether or not I need this dog, and it just feels perfect.

I'm real satisfied on life right now. Everything is just perfect. Expect an update of my joy with my dog later this week.

-LC

Closing shot of me and my parents dog heading back home.

A Late, but Still Windy Chicago

Well, it has been well over a month since I have returned home from Chicago and I am just now getting a chance to sit down and blog about it. This should tell you something about how ridiculous this semester has been lately. I'm so burnt out on school, it is ridiculous. I need summer like crazy. I want river time, sunshine, sunglasses, bare shoulders, star watching and late nights. Anywho, CHICAGO!

I went to Chicago with the Sociology club at MSSU for the Midwest Sociology Convention. It was my first time in Chicago and it blew me away...Literally! We stayed at the Mariott Mile High Hotel and It was the perfect way to see the city.

We were right in the heart of downtown and literally minutes away from everything. The second day, the roomie and I skipped out on classes and took a trip to Boys Town. It is the largest and first official Gay Community in America. The shopping was out of this world, the people were friendly and we took in plenty of good sightseeing. In Boys Town, the bars stay open till 3 a.m. during the week and 5 a.m. on the weekends. We went during the day, but the area was practically alive with activity and overall good vibes.

One of my favorite things about the trip, was getting to spend A LOT of quality time with people I find substance and admire as fellow students. And of course I got to hang out with my favorite professor, Dr. Conrad Gubera.

I have him and the convention to thank for giving me the solidity I needed in my decision to change majors and put my faith in Sociology being the direction I need to take my college career.

So, to keep this post from being a novel, I'll wrap up with saying Chicago did not rule out the possibility of going to the University of Chicago some day. I am adverse to cold weather and wind, but the city itself is darn near perfect. I found it exactly to my liking and if I call it home some day, I won't complain... That is if the whole state of Illinois doesn't implode before I get there. : ) Here's a picture Ms. Quakenbush (The Chicago roomie) snapped of me on the subway at 2 a.m.. Needless to say, I SURVIVED THE SUBWAY! It was my first time and being a midwestern girl, I was pretty darn proud of my ability to manage myself in such a large, foreign environment.

-LC

P.S. EVERYONE IN THE MIDWEST IS A BUNCH OF LIARS!! If you ever want REAL Chicago style pizza, go here:

And get the four cheese and think of me when you are going to heaven on a little garlic and cheesey cloud. Graffiti is strongly encouraged here, so Glendola busted out her finger nail police and we got our vandalization on. Here's a closing shot of me with my handy work.