Whatever it Takes: A Review of Pride and Prejudice..

As many of you know, (or possibly none of you know), I have long avoided Jane Austen. I like the idea of her books, but have always been unable to commit to them due to (what I percieved as) their excessive wordiness.

I like to read books that carry you along from page to page, rather than making you backtrack and reread, because of unfamiliar words or phrasing.

However, I am trying to read the 100 greatest books ever written and Pride and Prejudice has been on that list, glaring at me for the last several years.

With determination to finish, no matter the suffering, I applied myself to reading every hour that I could over the last two days.

The first couple of chapters were sheer torture..so much dialogue and I kept getting characters confused and I would look at the page number and think "Oh my gosh, I've only read to this page?"

The next couple of chapters were a little bit better....

By midway through the book, I was hooked! I could scarcely put it down!

I wanted to know what was going to happen with Jane and Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy and even Lydia and Wickham. (I could never have had Jane and Elizabeth's restraint..I would have smacked her the second she walked in the door!)

I loved the humor that Jane Austen wrote with, and how it translates through these hundreds of years. I love Elizabeth's relationship with her father, and the crazy, flighty character of her mother and her various sisters. I felt every character was relatable to someone I know in real life.

Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" is amazing.

It's a little bit slow at the beginning, but keep reading, and give it a chance...you won't regret it.

Now, on to Sense and Sensibility..

(14 out of a hundred books down, 86 to go...)

Lolee

It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star..

Kiss This

Today, in supervision, I had to explain to my boss how I plan to make "making your own lipgloss" a therapeutic activity for the girls I work with.

As if anyone could question the therapeutic value of making your own beauty products:)

Seriously, I'm going to invite him to come. Having his own peachy mango lip gloss, with sparkles and melted pop rocks for taste, is going to change his life!

Lori Ann

Took your soul out, into the night

Have you ever recommended a book to someone, only to find out later that they never read it? 

Doesn't it burn you, just a little? Especially if it is a book that you LOVE??

(I am not speaking out of bitterness related to my recommending Harry Potter to my dad AGAIN only to have it rejected by him AGAIN!)

Anyway, thanks Jess and Allison!! I read THE BOOK THIEF!!!

And you were both right..it was amazing!!

I found myself thinking in a disjointed fashion, after I had read it, due to the writing style (it took me less than 24 hours to finish it).

And so...as it was recommended to me by some smart girls, I am going to be smart and recommend it to you:

 

Lori Ann

Happy Fathers Day, old man!

the old man calling my mother to report on me!

I wrote my mom four mothers day posts. I have been thinking and thinking what to say for
 

  Fathers Day.

I read a book called "The Shack" recently. It is the story of a man who encounters God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit one weekend. In the book, God is portrayed as a woman. The man asks God why; in all the scripture and history, she is portrayed as a man.The woman portraying God says that it was done because He (God) knew that there would be no shortness of mothers and mothering, but the world would always be short of fathers.

So many of the kids I work with have never met their father. About 1/3 of them don't know their fathers name. 

A lot of times, my clients will say to me "You dont know what I'm feeling or going through" and I reply with "Well, I've never been abandoned by my mom, but I know what its like to feel rejected or alone, or whatever".

However, I cannot relate to their experience with fathers.

I am lucky enough to have a father who cares about me.

Every memory of my childhood is narrated by his voice, every song I hear reminds me of him. I spent 6 years in school and 3000 hours in clinical practice towards becoming a licensed therapist and yet, the majority of the counsel I give my clients, all of group therapy sessions I run, are based on lectures my father gave me or our discussions about life.

My dad makes the best oatmeal you have ever eaten. There is nothing he can't fix. He isn't scared of anyone or anything. I've never seen him back down. I've never seen him cry. My father has some of the best insight into people I have ever seen. If I ever got lost, he could find me. My dad has the funniest laugh, and nothing makes him laugh more than the jokes HE tells. 

To me, he will always be larger than life. 

So, to my dad, I want to say: thanks for watching 3 hours of Harry Potter with me on Fathers Day..I didn't want to make you do it..felt I owed it to you:) 

Love,

YOUR FAVORITE DAUGHTER!! 

Paint your palette blue and gray

One of my summer goals has been to learn 5 photography skills. I've had the same camera for about a year and all I really knew how to do was the classic point and shoot.

So, the other night I spent about an hour online learning a little about my camera. 

I feel so empowered! I, at the very least, understand the different settings. 

You just got some competition, Annie Lebowitz!
 

Not my best picture, but I loved this twilight sky! 

Lori Ann

I'm trying to tell you something about my life

I wish that I were at home

I know you have all been enjoying having me blog every thought that comes into my mind...let's hope this keeps up..there is no telling how much inspiration and joy I have brought to the lives of my readers with these daily blog updates:) 

Here is what has been going on in my life..in no particular order.

1. I was going through caffeine withdrawal tonight, so I went to McD's to get a large coke. Which, upon arriving home, I spilled all over the floor. Ahhhh!!!!! Needless to say, it was the McDonalds workers lucky night, getting to see me twice in a twenty minute span. :)

2. Speaking of exotic foods, I got Danielle and I some Japanese the other night. That's right, I am branching out. And honestly, if you are looking for quality, authentic Japanese..look no further than the rural South. 

3. I have been making progress on my Summer Goals. I learned how to use my camera, which I am counting as 1 photography skill. Also, I had big plans to get a tan this weekend, but there was a graduation party at my sisters neighbors house, so I couldn't lay out. (well, I could have, but I didn't want to take the attention away from the graduate and have it focused on my hot bod)

4. My dad is coming down tomorrow, to help Danielle work on finishing up the repairs, painting, etc in her house. I wish wish wish wish wish wish that I could have him come in as a guest speaker at the alternative school I work at. At least 75% of the group discussions I do with my therapy groups are formatted around lectures he gave me growing up. 

5. I am trying to plow through Pride and Prejudice. What is it about Jane Austen I just don't get?

Lori Ann

And there are storms we cannot weather

One of my summer goals is to read ten books on my "100 greatest books of all time" list.

Today, I read Night by  Elie Wiesel.

It is his first person account of his time spent at Auschwitz. 

 

Over the years I have read a few books about the Holocaust. Some fiction, the Diary of Anne Frank...then this.

I expected to feel sad...who wouldn't, given the subject matter? 
 

Instead, I felt hollow. 

It was the same feeling I had when I visited Dachau- a concentration camp just outside of Munich, Germany.

I felt as if I were there again, as I read. In that cold, rainy, empty, dark place. Even 60 years of history had not taken the horrible feeling from that place. 

 

The only passage that broke through the feeling of numbness which enveloped me, was when the author talked about his first night at the camp. When he saw children being thrown into a fire. 

 

I felt sick. I imagined it was my precious James, or silly and sweet Elly, or anxious and warm hearted Jack-Jack. Or worst of all, sweet toddling little Katy, still a baby really. 
 

 

Now that I've read it, I will cross it off my list. 

 

And I don't think that I will read it again. 

Lori Ann

Just when I thought I'd said all I could say

It's time for Friday Confessions.

Glamazon has the best confessions. Also her blog has been redesigned..which makes me want to redesign this blog...don't make me fight you for blog superiority, Glamazon! I have like 2 followers, and I am not afraid to get a third!!

Anyway...on with the CONFESSIONS!!

1. My bath mat has been puked on twice this week. Neither time by me. Also, my bed was puked on. You'd think I was having raves and drinking parties here...nope, just Wii parties with my nieces and nephews. Apparently, some people can't stomach a combination of coke, pringles, oreos, french fries, popsicles,chicken nuggets, cheese and starbursts. (I'm looking at you, Katy Monroe...and no, being 2 is not an excuse!)

2. I still keep waiting for the "real" therapist to come to my work. When a child tells me something traumatic that happened to them or that they are depressed, I start looking around frantically, thinking "Shouldn't there be a professional here to deal with this?"....then I remember...that person is me. Yikes.

3. I wish I could spend my life crafting and doing fun service projects for people. I could do that for the next 60 years, no problem. Unfortunately, neither of those activities "pays the bills". Dang it, bills! Why don't you want me to craft??

4. My brother in law is moving up to Pennsylvania today to start his new job on Monday. He's staying with my parents for a little while until he and my sister sell their house. ha ha ha....good luck with my parents Jack...ha ha ha. 

5. It's 7:21 and I am eating the breakfast of Champions...coke. 

6. USA versus England in soccer on Saturday. I love America and am proud to be an American, but when it comes  to soccer, my allegiance is based on hotness (which is also how I vote in major elections). Wayne Rooney plays for England...so....sorry America...(although if you win, I am will jumping right back on board!)

Lori Ann

I'm walking on sunshine

There is a lot going on right now. For the past few months, I haven't had much inspiration as far as blogging, but now I have like 12 post ideas a day. 

I must be in the manic cycle of my bi-polar  ummm....I must be inspired! 

Anyway, today two amazing things happened.

         Amazing thing # 1                                  Amazing Thing # 2

                                                                           

 Amazing Thing # 1
  My completion of a wreath for my door. 

People, I am not crafty. I LOVE to craft, but I have no skills. So, while this wreath is far from perfect, I am just excited to have made something to beautify my home. (And give my neighbors even more reason to be jealous! :)

Amazing Thing # 2 
   Today, my sister and her little posse of tow headed munchkins showed up at my work and brought me flowers! I was so surprised and excited! They are so sweet and I will remember this forever. Sigh...I am going to miss those babies when they leave.

Anyway, as long as this crazy swing is going , I will be blogging every day.
 Every thought that comes into my head.

Oh yeah. Summer just got even more awesome!

 

Lori Ann

The List

Lori’s List of Summer Goals

1. Get a tan

2. Write the first ten chapters of my book

3. Go away for a weekend

4. Read 10 books on the greatest books of all time list

5. Get budget organized

6. Pay off car by September

7. Use entire dental deductible

8. Go to Chiropractor

9. Walk 1 mile
(I hate walking)

10. Write in journal minimum 4 days per week

11. Update and organize blog

12. Go camping at least once

13. Buy myself flowers once a week

14. Get a chemical peel

15. Spend 150 hours outside

16. See 6 sunrises

17. See 6 sunsets

18. Learn 5 new photography skills

19. Test for my LCSW

20. Take the midnight train to Georgia
 

Lori Ann

Don't Stop Thinking about tomorrow

              I got this new Polaroid thing I can't              This is Jack and Danielle's house at sunset

                 stop using..this is my living room

I've been reading other people's blogs again. 

Sometimes I get wrapped up in them, like I am reading a book. I wonder what the next chapter will hold.  

Blogs have been both good and bad in my life. Bad, in that they are an AMAZING time waster, and good in that they inspire me. 

Inspire me in everything from craft projects, to home decor, to testimonies, to living life as an adventure. Chances are, if I have read your blog, I've been inspired by one post or another. 

I think, of all of my gifts from God, that's the one I love the most. The ability that I have to so easily be inspired by others and to not be disheartened by my own lack of talent, but instead feel a rush of energy, like "Oh, I want to do that to!" 

I have had this feeling recently, like change is coming and it is going to be good change. I think I have a lot of growing to do, as a person, an aunt, a blogger, a therapist, just about every aspect of my life.

I am kinda excited for what the future holds. 

So, buckle your seat belts, because the coming months are going to be awesome!! 

Lori Ann

Tonight we're going to party like 2009!

You know, being LDS you don't get to "party" like most young people.

I spent the majority of my twenties working, serving a mission, and finishing 6 years of college.

I've always felt like I missed out on my chance to have some wild and crazy nights.

Well, that feeling is gone because now I've got some younger friends.

And boy, oh boy..do they know how to party!!

Last night...

We totally got "trashed"

We played games all night
(and by 'all night' we mean 930..that's right, an hour and a half past bedtime!)

Then everyone "passed out"

What happens at Aunt Lori's, stays at Aunt Lori's!

Lori Ann

Where I'm coming from

I always wonder where people blog from.

Is it a home office, with big windows and a view of the mountains?

Or is it a toy scattered living room, on a cluttered coffee table?

Maybe its wherever their laptop happens to be in that moment.

I blog from here:

In a strange, wood paneled living room with poor lighting.

It's OK to be jealous:)

Lori Ann

p.s. I may or may not have hidden candy before taking this picture to give myself a better blogging image:)

Let's get it on

Thanks to my amazing blogging friend, MINDY, I have won the Plastic Joy award..which means that I must now reveal, to my immense blogging audience, which five celebrities I would love to hook it up with!!!

*sorry for all of those of you who did not make the list- there's always next year*

That's right...it's Lolee's "Let's Get It On" List of 2010...which will now be a yearly feature:)

1. Russel Crowe

I only knew of him as a rude, drunken Aussie until...Robin Hood. Holy Hannah, that man puts the hot in the "tall, dark, handsome, and hot"!!

2. Vince Vaughn

Funniness beats out hotness any day. Hands down. I think my favorite line from Dodgeball is when he says "Look White, we didn't come here to "rumble"..

3. Cris Colfer

Kurt from Glee...its because he is younger than me and gay. It's an irresistible combination:)

4. Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre

It will be great once he leaves Jane...and stops being fictional..

5. Joshua Jackson

Hot back in the Dawsons Creek days..even hotter now:)

Lori Ann
 

*editors note*- I want to formally apologize to both David Beckham and Alan Rickman, who should have been all over this list! I can only claim that I was temporarily mislead by dang Russel Crowe and his Robin Hood hotness!*

I'm Proud to be an American

Do not be alarmed..some of these pictures don't really tie into this post. I'm taking this blog into a more avante garde, 'pictures dont match the post' type direction:)

 

Elly and Danielle (doesn't Danielle look reflectively maternal? a la "CJane? We always wonder how long it takes CJane to set up her "looking thoughtful and motherly" pictures! This is our version of one!)
 

Crazy, crazy boys! I love the look on Jack-Jack's face (the one in green)
 

Memorial day grub
 

Jack-Jack and his flag:)

Memorial Day is one of my favorite holidays.

Both of my grandfathers served in the Air Force. Grandpa Hinsdale in World War II and Grandpa Wilson in the Korean War.

Both of them made it home, thank God.

Countless men and women do not ever get to come home to America, home to their families.

This memorial day was special for me because Jack and James are getting old enough to understand the idea of what a country is and what it means to be American.

We took them to the cemetery to leave flowers on the graves of veterans. We want them to know that the privilege of having freedom, the honor of being an American, does not come for free.

To all of our servicemen (and women) past and present, and their families..
 

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Lori Ann

p.s.- Try not to let the excitement overwhelm you, but it looks like I've won a blogging award! Thanks, Associate Mindy!! Prepare yourself for my exciting post all about it tomorrow!