Ryan Adams & Me

For all the hours here that move too slow

There's all this letting go, that don't pass

If all this love is real, how will we know?

If we're only scared of losing it, how will it last?

If I am a stranger now to you

I will always be, I will always be

Stronger now then me, stronger then you

Our love will always be

And if we let it go, I will try to be there for you

If I can, what if I can't?

Today is yesterday when you don't know

How to rebuild the walls that someone has knocked down

To tell the truth it's hard enough about a lover

Who you want to hide your darkness from

So they won't let you down

If I am a stranger now to you

I will always be, I will always be

Stronger now then me, stronger then you

Our love will always be

And if we let it go, I will try to be there for you

I will try and be there for you

If I can, what if I can't?

For all the hours here that move to slow

There's all this letting go, that won't pass

If all this love is real, how will we know?

And if were only scared of losing it, how will it last?

If I am a stranger now to you

I will always be, I will always be

Stronger now then me, stronger than you

Our love will always be

If we let it go, I will try to be there for you

I will try to be there for you

I will try to be there for you

If I can, what if I can't?

-Ryan Adams, If I am a Stranger

Today was a good day. Bike ride (I got adventurous and found new roads). Down side = I now have butt calluses and my legs are gonna fall off. Saw a cute boy and made breakfast complete with Cupcake Fruitty Pebbles. I highly recommend them ... the cute boy and the cereal. Went to the store with the roomie and her bf, got some brews, and we're getting ready to chow on some homemade mexican food. Homework time hasn't hit yet, but I am not even dreading it. Like I said, today has been a good day. I'm ready for this week. Lemme' at it.

-LC

A night With Ms. Cross

I am not a photographer by any means. I leave it to the ones with true talent i.e. Mr. Landberg. But seeing as I am going on a few trips in the near future; Chicago with the Sociology club, Washington for Sasquatch, Padre with the Roomie and The deep south to visit a long lost relative, I felt it was necessary to get a new camera and take some quality pictures. I picked up the Canon S90 last friday and I am in love. I took a few pictures tonight while studying to try and get a feel for it, and I thought they weren't too shabby. So keep a lookout for my photography album coming soon to my Myspace page. JkJkJk. Back to the grind.

-LC

Obsessions

So, I've found that the best way to fight stress is to keep myself distracted, busy and intrigued. Here are a few of the things that are keeping me distracted from the fact that I just added on one more class to my already full load;

1.) Johnny Cash

I picked up this little gem last weekend at Vintage Stock and found his greatest hits for 5 bucks at trusty Wal-mart. I would also like to report, that I kicked my friend Cody's rear at "Ring of Fire" on Guitar Hero at a party last week. Not to brag or anything. I can't beat my roommate, because she is basically a fembot when it comes to Guitar Hero, so it felt good to finally win and glorify such a kicker of a song. Anywho, I also picked up Walk the Line last Sunday and it hasn't left my computer since.

2.) NPR App

Thanks to the NPR App, I can be a nerd on the go.

This is the perfect little (free!!) app to pop in the headphones and tune out the noise at work, working out, and just being lazy. Go get it .

3.) Red Diamond Sweet Tea

Need I say more? I'm from Oklahoma, my favorite holiday is the 4th of July and I love back and front porch sitting. Of course I love sweet tea. Also, I'm lazy; therefore, Red Diamond prevents me from having to make my own tea.

4.)SHOES!

Surprise, surprise. What shopping addict isn't obsessed with shoes when all the Spring collections roll around.

These shoes have been calling my name. Unfortunately, I have a "No ordering Shoes online" rule. I have to be able to try them on and see them in person to makes sure they are perfect. As much as I love the sparkle and shine that the fall and winter lines bring around, I am all about the colors and patterns and possibilities that the Spring line brings. It's nice to be able to sit inside hiding from the 30 degree weather with hot tea, and pour over pages and pages of pretty skirts and shorts that are just so full of the awesome prospect of warm weather.

5.) Family

I've been heading back home at just about every chance I can get. This coming weekend, I am picking up my neices from school on Friday and I am watching them until Sunday. We are going to take in some bowling, a movie and some serious trampoline time. It's going to be a good time.

-LC

Nonsense

I found this on StumbleUpon and I just couldn't resist sharing. It makes me miss this past spring when the Star Trek movie came out. Such a good movie and such a good time of my life. Welp, this weekend is a fundraiser for Trisha A. Raney and a Rock the vote event. Plus I'm getting to spend some time with the parents. I'm looking forward to it.

Also, I interviewed this morning for to be a peer mentor for the freshman experience classes at Missouri Southern. I got the job and that means I am adding about 3 hours on top of my 18 this semester. I might have a death wish, but I am so excited to have this opportunity. Did I mention I am a very fortunate individual. Life is good.

LC

These!

These!

I lost them. I discovered as of Tuesday of this past week that a SINGLE one of my Sperry's is missing. Overall it has really put a kink in my week. I guess what is throwing me is that I am missing one. Not both, but one. That means I didn't leave them somewhere, because I have never returned home only wearing one shoe and I am never inebriated to that extent anymore.

No, I do not sail. I just have a soft spot for shoes that channel old man tendencies and are too comfortable. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to go sailing some day. I am a huge fan of the fashion and style attached to the sailing and nautical lifestyle. Who doesn't want to look like this? Cute boy and cute shoes. Not much else is needed in life.
On a more positive note, it is uplifting to know that the biggest problem in my life is losing a shoe. School is going good; busy, but good. 18 hours of all upper level is kicking my butt. I'm Prez of the ole' College Democrats. The best part of this is that campaign season is gearing up. City council elections in almost two months and the 2010 election is already heating up. Despite changing my major, campaigns just get me all fired up, still. It's truly a human phenomenon and it brings out the best and worst of people. Just love it.

Life is good right now. Simple at best. I am flat broke. I haven't been shopping in almost two months (sticking to the New Year's resolution). I am definitely learning to appreciate what I have and reduce my consumeristic tendencies. I think I like this dirt poor lifestyle. We'll see how things pan out. More soon.

LC

Once you leave the nest...

You go back for life.

This may be my life very, very soon. Minus the football star dad and the "Naked Room" of course. As of a few weeks ago, my parents and I have been house hunting in Joplin. If we find the right house, and everything falls into place, my parents will be living in Joplin. I'm looking forward to this for a number of reason, the most important being that I have a really great relationship with my parents. Moving back in with the parents is a big decision. Of Course by moving back home I will be giving up some freedoms i.e. acting like a ridiculous, irresponsible college kid. But I don't feel that that is more important than the opportunity I have been given. I am very lucky to have the relationship I have with my parents and why not do something I won't ever get a chance to do again. So, here we go;

Perks of living with my parents:

-No rent

-Less fast food, more home cooking

-No electric bill

-LAUNDRY = DONE!

-My parents are badasses

-No rent

-Start saving for Grad school

-No rent

If you can't tell, I like free. I also like my parents a whole bunch. So, why on earth would I not move in with them??

The only difficulty I am having with making this discussion, is whether or not I want to give up Oklahoma. I'm proud of where I come from, and I love being able to come back home to this state. But other than that, there really is not much here for me. I love Missouri. I love the people, the town, the school and the possibilities.

I'm done worrying about my future, where I'll go to grad school, when I'll get married, where my future job will take me ext... I don't know where I will go in my future, but my present is rooted here in Missouri and I am going to make the most of every second I have here.

So, it's gonna' take a stick of dynamite to get me out of my parents house. And I'm completely okay with that. Stay tuned.

- Larissa

"When an Okie Moves to California.."

"He raises the IQ of both states." - Will Rogers

Well, I didn't move to California, but I sure as heck will be doing a bunch more visiting. It's been a solid year since I have been out of the midwest, and it was much needed.

I was told in the Tulsa airport, that I looked like a real live, Vogue, Jet-setter. Probably the

best compliment I have ever recieved... Shows how shallow I am. I hate to sound like a completely sheltered, Okie, but California sure seemed like a completely different world from my small towns and cozy cities. At first I was fairly certain I would hate San Diego, but in my time there, I definitely became a fan. It might be the mixture of In and Out Burger, the amazing downtown area, the good company I kept while I was there or the fact that I was on the beach in October, but I loved it. I got to swim in the Pacific ocean for the first time and travel outside of the U.S. for the first time. Always good to mark some stuff off the ol' "To Do" list.

I'd say the number one lesson I learned during my trip was, "Viva Mexico!" Despite getting caught in a shot out in Tijuana and fog all day, I'm pretty confident that Mexico is the place to be. Can't beat spending ten minutes bartering for a piggy bank in the shape of a donkey and cheap beer on the beach. I came back with Mexican Jumping beans, which means the trip was a complete success. Mexico definitely made me a bit more appreciative for my clean water, decent education system and overall a better standard of living here in America. We really are a pretty lucky nation. Definitely takes traveling to a developing country to understand that though.

Also, to balance out my patriotism, here's a picture of that ridiculous wall we built along the boarder. Looked about as intimidating as a wet paper bag. Bad move, America. As a Christian nation, shouldn't we love thy neighbor, rather than build a wall to keep them out? Just a thought.

One of the stipulations of me going to California was that I return home safely. I'm my father's only daughter, so he means business when it comes to this matter. Luckily, this sailor got me back to the airport safely. Woke up to these my first morning there.

I haven't gotten flowers since Valentine's day in high school. And I'm a sappy girl, so I took this as a sign of how my week would go. Needless to say, It went perfectly. This means December 25th I will be back in beautiful San Diego. Pretty wonderful way to spend the holidays. I'll get to be there for New Year's and I will be back a week before the Spring semester begins. And then A week later I'm flying out to Florida.

Things have taken off so fast lately. I feel like my life is moving a head much quicker than I anticipated, but so far it is for the best. I'm content with how things are going and for the first time, I'm not worried about so many things. I feel like I have and am continuing to make good choices, and I'm finally reaping the rewards. I'd say I'm pretty darn lucky at this stage in my life. I plan on keeping this momentum going.