Awkwardly Autumn

This past month, I have spent some much needed time at home. I've noticed something, though, and I'm thinking it's a good thing. Since I left Tuolumne County, I have seen so much more of this world and so much more of myself in a new light. I have gotten out of my comfort zone, experienced life the way I love it to be, and found peace within myself I wasn't allowed to find in the confounds of my small town. Living in a big city changes your perspective in some ways. Phoenix is all kinds of things. It's friendly, scary, peaceful, beautiful, dirty, clean and much more all at the same time. There are so many different things happening all at once there. It seems as if life never slows down. I found a new appreciation for the quite, for the clean air, and for the shade trees of Tuolumne County. While I am here I don't have to hear gun shots in the same aspect of city life. I am not thinking that someone was just shot or that some place was robbed. Instead, I think t...

As most of you who have been in college at some point or another know, spring semester is like senioritis on crack. Motivation is at an all time low as everyone eagerly waits for school to let out and summer FINALLY begins. March was an o.k. month. I can't recall anything super special about it, other than one trip. Reina and I drove 3 hours south to Tombstone, AZ. Now, if you haven't seen the movie with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, I suggest you stop reading this and get to watching. I grew up watching Tombstone as it was a staple movie in my family. Much like people have a staple food in their family, we had the 1993 classic western, Tombstone. The movie takes you back in time with an -almost- historically accurate tale of the Earp brothers, the infamous Doc Holiday, Big Nose Kate, Josephine and their challenges of living in the silver mining town of Tombstone. Upon our arrival to the restored version of the original booming town of Tombstone near the border of AZ and Mexi...

I have a heavy heart today, as sadly I received a call in the early hours of the morning from home. My grandfather, born December 20, 1937 passed today February 28, 2017 after living a long and full life. He married my grandmother Patricia (who passed in 2006) and had 4 children. He was blessed with many grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. To be honest, regrettably, I didn't get to know my grandfather that well. That aside, here are some things I do know. Marvin Lee Johnson loved Nascar and joked that we were related to Jimmy Johnson #48. He always wore a Harley- Davidson leather vest and for as long as I can remember had a long white fluffy beard. He had two birds, Bubba who was a canary I believe, and a parrot named Norman. He bit. Bubba, on the other hand was sweet and would sit on my grandpa's shoulder while he ate hoping to get a snack or two. My grandpa made a mean thanksgiving meal too. He liked to cook, or at least it seemed like it. He made an amazing ch...

Last month, in January, I was able to have a great start to the new year. I went to Disneyland with my family and was able to take my roomie with me which was really special. I love being able involve people I am close to in my family occasions. My nieces and nephew loved Reina and one night kept tackling her and playing dog pile for a good half hour. We were at Disney for two magical days... reference intentional (hehe).The first day my brother and his wife were also able to join with their son for the day which was really great, considering we all live so far apart. It was almost like a family reunion... My mom was also there all the way from Idaho! I always love spending time with my mom, as I've gotten older I have come to find how fun and awesome she really is. She bought us some yummy macaroons and went on all the big kid rides after my nieces and nephew went to sleep.     It was sunny- jacket weather, but that turned into clouds followed by showers the next day w...

As I am entering the spring semester, I have been struggling a little bit with finding my ambition in school. It's not like I have lost my passion for why I am going to school in the first place, but the spring semester is always harder than the fall. I had nearly a month off from school, but upon arriving back to Phoenix, it was like I never left. Getting back into the swing of this has been challenging, mostly because (although I did) it feels like I didn't really have much of a break. I have a whole new set of classes to put my mind towards and my job to fill my evenings, but not a whole lot of downtime. Maybe I just feel burnt out. Right now it is only Wednesday in the second week back to school and it feels like senior year and having senioritis. I don't want to do anything except watch Friends and drink endless espresso. Even though I have yet to find my motivation, I know this semester is going to go better than last... I can just feel it. I just may have to g...

Upon moving to Arizona I have been blessed in so many ways. I never anticipated this "new life" I was starting for myself would end up being so successful. I set out to reset my life, and in many ways I believe I have achieved that goal.I was able to walk away from a toxic situation for once and for all, and in doing so I walked into a place where I was able to find myself again. I have found my happiness and independence, and I owe a lot of the credit not just to myself but to the friends I have made along the way. God has blessed me a lot this year. He made it possible to move out of state and go to a great school where I was able to do so much growing. I met my best friends here, and there isn't a thing about that that I would change. The four of us have been so blessed as a group as well. We have been able to travel and experience the nature and beauty that surrounds us here in Arizona. We got to go on a three day road trip up north and camp under the stars at the Gra...

I am going to be travelling up the coast of California with my family for a last getaway before I have to head South East to Tempe, AZ. I have family coming down from Idaho to visit, and it'll be awesome to be able to spend time with them before I move onto Lope Country. In a way it almost feels like a farewell to my old life. I know that my family will always be around and will be here for me, but I won't be able to see them for a long time. It's almost like I am starting a new life and the fact that it will be my last times spent with my family and my last times in CA for a while, it really does feel like the end to something. It's a positive thing, and I am looking forward to this time I get to spend with those that I love and care about so much. I know that when I return to California and see my family again, I might be different... maybe even more grown up and put together. I guess that's part of the plan of going off to college. I can't wait to come home...