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.

One Month Later?!

Well, being 20 is still wonderful. I've been writing a bunch papers and reading a whole bunch. I quit my job at the casino. You can only be hit on by creeps one too many times before you realize the kind of image you are projecting by being a cocktail waitress. So I am jobless and being forced to budget wisely. If you know me, then you know I am not good with money management and therefore this is a big challenge for me. 

I love clothes. I am not an artists by any means. I can't paint, draw, take beautiful pictures or do anything of the sort to express myself. My clothes are an expression. I attribute it to the years of hiding in my room, staying up past my bed time, and watching "Sex and the City" every night, when I was not allowed to. It started in 5th grade. I was convinced I was going to be a fashion designer and that New York City was the only place for me. Obviously things have changed a bit since then. I adore my life here in Middle America. I want to be a community organizer, a politician and retire to be a college professor. Although my dreams have changed, fashion will always be my outlet and a HUGE passion of mine. My outfits are something I can create entirely on my own each morning and that is wonderful.  So now, I've got to be completely resourceful and recycle  to continue creating something great each day.

One another note, I roadtripped with the parents to Oklahoma City this weekend. It was family reunion time. It was a good time. There was lots of smoked meat, potato salad, the football game on the radio and coffee heated over the fire.

My dad and Betsey Johnson at Cross reunion '09

See that line of old men? Those are the men that I come from. They are 100% Oklahoman. Part cherokee, part grumpy old man and part beer connoisseur. My dad is the youngest of 6 brothers. Not only can I not imagine growing up with that many, siblings, I can't imagine how his mom dealt with that much testosterone. I have a pretty large family and that's nice. Of course I am not super close to all of them but it's still nice to know there are a few people out there who are rooting for me. 

Finally, in about 48 hours, I will be on a California bound plane. I'm real excited. I've never been to California and I've got a pretty darn good excuse to go. I will be flying out this Wednesday evening and flying back next Tuesday. Expect some expansion when I get back. I've got a bunch of packing to do and a whole bunch of homework to get out of the way so that I can be distraction free during my time on the west coast. I'll try and not wait a month to write about my adventures in California.

-Larissa

The 28th

On Friday, August 28th 2009, I had the most significant moment of my life occur... In a Food 4 Less. I got the call from my dad on the way to see my mom. "Your mom wanted to tell you, So Don't tell her I told you because, I'm not supposed to." I found my mom in the meat isle and gave her a hug, simply because I was speechless. I was shaking, and laughing and crying and when I told her I knew and we both started crying. "He got a 100%." Right there in the middle of Food 4 Less.

If you know anything about Veterans, then you know about the Bureau of Veterans Affairs. It is an agency designed to provide support and benefits to our country's veterans. For as long as I have been aware  of my family's situations, I can remember my father constantly appealing for 100% disability from the V.A.. My father is clinically diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. It is defined as  an "anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat." Over time my father has been awarded 35% and 70%, but no 100%. It has been a symbol to our family. A goal that once reached would solve so many of our family's problems and answer all of our unanswered questions. Receiving 100%, to our family, was the government finally owning up to the fact that their war, a war that in no way should have affected my father, ruined his emotional and mental health and would affect every avenue he chose to take for the rest of his life. As It is in no way about the benefits that come with being 100% disabled by the V.A. what matters, to me it is the governments 100% recognition that every mile of jungle my father trekked through, every grenade launched, every time he was ordered to open fire on a village of women and children, every moment he thought would be his last directly impacted the man he is today. I am convinced that there is no human being that can witness that carnage, cause that much death and know that they are the ones inflicting it, that can home and sleep soundly. To live through a war, you must simply arrive back in the U.S. alive. But to survive a war, you must carry on in society as if those days in the jungle never occurred. You must not show weakness just as you were instructed in the army. You must be a good father and forget about the blood. I will never forget the moment I saw my father stumbling drunk. He confessed through slurred words that, "You don't know what I have seen or the things I have done... And I don't want you too. That's my burden." From that moment on, I never doubted my father's mental state. I saw Vietnam as vividly as he saw it every day in his mind and I knew that it was simply something one could not erase.

On August the 28th, 2009, My family finally escaped the legacy of the Vietnam War. We can finally turn the page, finish the chapter and close the book. Looking back, I realize that my father is not the only "war hero" in our family. My mother is the bravest, captain of them all. She stood by a crazy, Vietnam Vet, diagnosed with PTSD and a family verified alcoholic for 20 years. She remained an anchor for my father and I when we all thought we couldn't handle our situation for one more day. When the nights seemed insurmountable for us, we would wake up to biscuits and gravy; over which we would become a family again. She handled herself with grace, bravery, and dignity. There are times when any normal human being would cut their loses and call it "every man for themselves", yet she continued to fulfill her duties as a mother and a wife. She went above and beyond the call of duty and for that she deserves every medal offered. 

I have never been more proud of my family in my life. I have yet to see my father since we received the news, but the many times we have spoken on the phone since, I hear a change. There is a spark in his voice that wasn't there before. To me it's a spark of hope, but at the same time, it's the sound of absence. It's the absence of years of pain and misguidance finally sealed and closed. Time to move forward together, Mom and Dad.