That may be all I need

My walk home from church on Sunday and Other Random Stuff:

 A Picture Post

Our church is on a back country road

Raspberries and morning glories?

I love the cathedral trees!

Nothing like a nice, sweaty selfie

My dream house. I wish I had gotten a closer picture. It's got a Mennonite star and everything!

And now on to the random other stuff:

Here is how I am monitoring my workout goals. When I complete either C (cardio) or W (workout) I move it from one side to the other. Pretty sweet, eh?

This is my favorite quote ever. Well, it's my favorite motivating quote, anyway. My room is kinda covered in quotes. And pictures...

Like this. It's my closet surrounded by pictures of my sister's kids (and cats), quotes, and twinkle lights. Yeah..I'm still living dorm style. Because I'm classy like that.


Anyway,

Lori Ann

p.s.- TODAY is Harry Potter's birthday!!! Happy Birthday to the BEST BOOKS EVER WRITTEN!!

And runnin', runnin'





Today I have:

Made cookies for my coworkers. (peanut butter with hersey kisses)

Walked 2 miles

Worked out with my trainer

Read the first 4 articles of the Constitution

And it's not even 9 am.

I believe this is what they call a manic episode.

Let's see how long it takes me to crash!

Lori Ann

You're yes then you're no

My mind is not as stable as I like to see it lately.

My thoughts are kind of all over the place.

But I think it's in a good way.

I have days when I feel like I should be one of those people who gets up at 4:30, works out for 2 hours, goes to work, then stays up late reading classic literature, only to do it again the next day.

Then on other days I think "This is the perfect life for me. Working, coming home and watching the news for two hours (I LOVE the news) and having a semi healthy dinner, then reading trashy novels and going to bed early"

This mental instability has been pushing me in weird directions.

For example:

I walked home from church yesterday. Almost 3 miles. Under the threat of rain. Because that's what motivated, go getting type people do. Plus, free cardio on a Sunday, right?

Then I took a 4 hour nap.

Yesterday I was eating mambas and drinking ginger ale straight from a two liter.

Today I am starting a week of protein shakes only fasting.

It's back and forth.

Some weeks I go to the gym 5 times.

Some weeks I only go once.

I lack the ability to regulate my life. I tend to go from one extreme to the other.

But sometimes I think that's not a bad thing.

I don't know.

Lori Ann

*now I am obsessively looking up bikes. I just really want a bike. I wish we had bikes lanes like Europe. And hot guys with accents*

In times gone by

Best. Surprise. Ever. 

Happy (early) Birthday to my amazing sister.

 (I hope you like this better than a ruffled bed skirt from Target)

Lori Ann

3...4 better lock your door

So, I saw this last night...

Oh my gosh. 

Oh my gosh.

Oh my gosh. 

I am never letting my nieces and nephews play hide and seek (or the even more sinister "hide and clap") EVER AGAIN!

Lori Ann

Never saw blue like that before

It's getting tedious at this point, I know.

But I can't stop talking about it.

I love it here so much. I love the sky. I love the trees. I love the sunsets as I walk out of my office at night.

I love the star filled skies at night and the inevitable torrential summer downpours.

If you've never been to PA, you need to get here asap!

Or better yet, wait until fall. Fall in PA is what I think heaven will be like.

There are always these amazing clouds every single night when I leave work. My coworkers probably think I am nuts, standing on the sidewalk, taking pictures of the sky with my ipad.

I have a giant window in my office. It is overlooking the hospital where my Jamesaroni was born. And also a great view of crazy PA summer storms.

This picture doesn't do it justice. It was the most intensely awesome shade of blue EVER.


Lori Ann

p.s.- Today I am doing it- I'm finally going to see The Conjuring. Yikes! 

It's (not) Thriller Night

I look up 'scared' and this is what google images gives me. Disturbing.

Surprise, surprise, I talked myself out of going to see The Conjuring last night.

I felt like I would probably be murdered.

I have those feelings every once in a while.

Like "If I go into that port a pot, I'll probably be murdered" or

"If I don't get from the car to the house in less than 30 seconds, I'll probably be murdered."

In that particular case, I actually envision the murderers saying "Ok, set the timer. If she makes it, we walk away. If not..*finger across throat gesture*"

So, yeah.

I watch too much TV about murders,death, and people snapping and hitting their spouse with a shovel.

Speaking of death, it's only 9:48 am. How do I still have 7 hours and 12 minutes until this work day is over?

*I literally just put my head on my desk in defeat for a good two minutes*

Anyway,

Lori Ann

Girls just want to have fun

There are alot of things that I need to update you people on. Ehh..not really. Life is swimmingly monotonous. But there are a few crazy things happening out here..like...

1.A sleepover with my nieces! We ate at a semi shady Subway. Then went to see Turbo in a weird theatre with a piano that plays itself. Then we went to Ritas. Every great Girls Night Out should end with Ritas! It was so much fun. We sat at this picnic table and ate our mango and rootbeer water ice and watched the fire flies while we talked about our next Girls Night Out. (it's going to be bowling!)

2. If you are wondering why I keep writing "girls night out" in all caps is because it was a BIG deal to Elly and Katy. They are new to the concept and kept asking me questions about it all night. "Are we having a girls night out, Aunt Lori?" "What happens if you bring a boy to a girls night out?" "Are girls nights out always crazy, Aunt Lori?". I love teaching the kids new things. American history. New recipes. And yes, the secrets to a great Girls Night Out.

These ladies know how to party!

3. Lastly, I met up with Danielle at the gym today. It reminded me of the old days, when we used to run together in high school. And by run, I mean I would jog slower than most people walk and Danielle would run backwards in front of me, yelling "You can do it, Lori!". Yeah, the gym was like that today. We were on treadmills and just walking 2 miles. Danielle's was on a crazy incline and; even with a several minute bathroom break, she still completed her miles well ahead of me.

We are both preparing for a 5K on October 5th. It's a color run! I've got to shave 6 minutes off each mile to finish in 45 minutes. (My personal goal)

Wow..this has been a painfully wordy and long update on really not that much. My apologies.

I'll be back to classic TSC form tomorrow.

 Or maybe late tonight- I am thinking about going to see The Conjuring at 10:50 pm.

On a work night, baby!

Brace yourselves for a crying, freaked out post at 1 am!

Lori Ann

YES!

You guys,

I heard the BEST THING EVER today.

Someone said to me

" I come to therapy with you because it's cheaper than a hooker".

I'm thinking of making a sign for my office door that says

"Therapy: cheaper than a hooker".

My apologies to sex workers everywhere...you are losing your customer base because they are coming to see me! And I don't even have to wear knee high plastic boots to get them here. (I wear them because I choose to.)

Dang, it feels good to be a therapist today!

Lori Ann

That he was here with me

My sister Erin is hilarious. She is my therapy, I swear.

On an unrelated note, I found out my dad has been mowing the neighbors yard. She is a single mom. I think I was the first person he told. (in the 3 months since he's been mowing)

Even though I know they'll hate it (my family loathes emotional crap) I have to say that I am daily amazed by the incredible people I am blessed to be related to. They are how I know that God loves me.

Lori Ann

p.s.- On a related side note, I decided to man up and help my dad mow just a small part of the lawn. My lily white office workers hands are now literally blistered. It's a sad state of affairs.

And then I don't feel so bad

A few of my favorite things: The (evil) Summer edition.

I figure that I am about 2-3 posts away from Mormon single girl blogger fame. So, people are going to be clamoring to find out what my very favorite summer things are.

Well; you, my faithful readers, will be privileged to hear it first.

Let's do this dance.

1. The fruit mix I am packing every day for lunch. It's watermelon, strawberries, pineapple, and grapes. Best. Lunch. Ever. (unless there are donuts or beefaroni available..that goes without saying)

2. Lightening bugs. Or fire flies. Whatever you want to call them. It's so cool to drive home on my late nights, through the back roads, past farms- it's all twilight and crazy blinking fire flies.

3. Laying under piles of covers with the AC turned all the way up. Illogical, perhaps. But awesome none the less.

4. The smell of grass in summer. It reminds me of playing field hockey. And anything that takes ones mind back to Jersey in the late 90's is a winner.

5. And lastly (and this should come as no surprise to anyone) PA in summer. I loathe the weather but I cannot deny that the rolling hills of corn fields, quaint little farmers markets, and endless miles of trees that are in full bloom and just the right shade of green, are absolutely stunning.

I hope everyone is surviving summer. T-minus 44 days until Sept. 1st!

Lori Ann

Self proclaimed Irish/French American

I know every one's been waiting; most likely breathlessly, for my thoughts on the Zimmerman verdict.

Alas, you shall have to continue to wait.

This trial has made me realize that I have a lot of conflicting thoughts about how we treat each other and what we expect from each other as Americans. 

I think the part of me that is hardest for me to describe without sounding...well...evil, is the part of me that struggles with people who think other people owe them something.

Whether it's a racial thing, an ethnic thing, a poverty thing, a disability thing.

I honestly feel like no one adult person owes another (non related) adult person anything. (and I get that this doesn't sound Christian. That's a whole other topic I won't veer off into) 

I think we all owe children safety, good health, opportunity, education, and as much happiness as we can help them achieve.

And I think the government; or at least our laws, owe everyone equal treatment. That is not to say that all outcomes will be equal, but all treatment should be fair, colorblind, and as unbiased as biased people can make it.

I usually don't talk about stuff like this because I have this deeply ingrained idea (probably from going to public school in Jersey) that I'm not allowed to talk about this. That I don't and could never understand what other people go through and how they feel.  That I have it easy so my thoughts and feelings don't count. That I shouldn't share them anyway because they are most likely inherently biased, prejudiced, and self serving.

I wouldn't want anyone to not feel ok sharing their thoughts and feelings. Even if they were directly opposite of mine. If we are ever going to move forward as a country, there shouldn't be a list of things that we can't talk about.

I think we all too often try and fit our world into a movie narrative (helped along by the media.) There are the good guys and the bad guys. There is right and there is wrong.

And anyone that suggests otherwise is naive to reality. 

Well, I suggest otherwise.

I didn't see one hero and one villain in the Zimmerman/ Martin case. Nor did I see one martyr and one devil. I didn't see one thug and one heroic almost cop. Nor did I see one skittle popping little boy and one vigilante.

Ironically, it's not as simple as black and white. Or rather, black and 'white hispanic'.

This concludes the Spinster Chronicles Thoughts on Life, Politics, and famous trials until Jan. 2014 (when the mid terms start!)

Lori Ann

I can be your hero, baby

People in Europe are celebrating my birthday today! So, that's pretty sweet. Anyway..

I have been feeling mildly restless lately.

Like I want things to change in my life.

I have come to realize that this restlessness is part of my personality.

I mean, I have a great job, amazing family support, a comfortable life, and I am making progress in a lot of my goals.

But I'm not really happy.

I think the secret to happiness for me is constant change.

Whether it's a new place to live, a new job, a new hobby, a new experience, something different.

I've lived in 8 states, moved upwards of 20 to 30 times, and had at least 15 different jobs in my life.

Something about just treading water, doing the same things in the same places, makes me feel edgy.

I've been thinking that it's time for me to live a more adventurous life as well. 

The quote that kind of speaks to me right now is this:

“Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.” David Copperfield

Who knows...maybe it's just my I hate summer seasonal affective disorder.

Lori Ann

Beware: Somewhat rambling political post

I know you all love it when I post about politics.

Listening to other people's political views is usually about as interesting for me as listening to their vacation stories. Or their pet stories. Or frankly, any story.

I hate listening. (which is kinda tricky with my career choices and all...)

Anyway, my point is, even though I know it's obnoxious, I am going to post anyway.

I was thinking the other day about how inevitable it all feels.

How; as conservatives or libertarian's or whatever, we can put up a fight for a while, but that the increasingly progressive trends will eventually just drag us all under, like the tide.

Gay marriage will soon be nationalized.

Premarital sex will continue to increase and (has already) become the norm and with it more single mothers and non traditional families. I don't think anyone can argue that the role and presence of fathers hasn't been slowly diminishing over the last several decades.

Pro-death umm...I mean, anti- life..no, I mean pro choice activists will continue to rail against "the war on women" until abortion is legal up through the third trimester and readily available in every state and county.

And on and on and on....

I was thinking about all of this and feeling overwhelmed when it occurred to me... 

This is how Satan works.

He doesn't come into a society and paint the town red with sin and vice and all manner of hedonism.

He takes Godly principles and slowly...so slowly you can't even feel it, he twists them.

The principles of freedom, equality, free will, self determination, and love, even.

All things that originate from God. His gifts to us.

That's why people so passionately believe in the things that will; in my opinion, lead to the end of our society. Because there is some truth to them. Some remnant of sacredness.

There is something beautiful about the idea of any two people; regardless of race, gender, religion- finding love and happiness together. It feels good to think about supporting their right to be together and to be recognized.

In the argument for abortion, you get that message of self determination. Something about free will and not being held back by one mistake, one bad choice. Taking your own destiny in your hands. It feels powerful.

Single motherhood has a kind of nobility to it. And there is something liberating in the idea of finding love and pleasure and joy with someone, even if you aren't legally tied to them and then enjoying it will it lasts until you both grow out of it. Then you move on to someone new. No need to be with the person you thought you'd love forever at 19. What do any of us know at 19 anyway?

Satan knows that we are all looking for truth. All looking to find our way back to God. He knows that Godly principles will resonate with us as we are His sons and daughters.

People never give Satan credit for how smart he is. How he managed to convince 1/3rd of the Heavenly hosts to follow him. There are times; when I am swayed by these liberal ideas, that I wonder how I wasn't one. The idea of saving everyone, not losing a single person, bringing everyone home- it's very appealing to me.

All of the liberal ideals are appealing to me. But I've come to realize that Satan isn't the voice that  jumps up and says"Have a hit of that heroin, Lori. It's time to get high! Then we can go and rob someone".

Satan is the voice of the friend that is rubbing your back and whispering " You are about to graduate college. You can't raise a baby. It wouldn't be good for you or the baby". The voice that says "I'll go with you to the abortion clinic and you'll be ok".

Satan is the voice that says " You don't need a man in your life. What kind of father is he going to be anyway? You can do it on your own. I'll help you. You can be the mom and the dad".

Satan is the voice that whispers " Your parents are just hateful bigots who won't accept the beautiful person that you are and what you need to be happy. I love you and I'm proud that you are gay".

These words couldn't sound less like the cackling voices of devils. They sound like the voices of love and understanding. Isn't that what God offers us? Love and understanding?

Except, they're not.

Because they are taking sacred principles and applying them to wickedness. It's wicked when you hurt someone else. And abortion hurts someone else.(and you. My gosh, how it hurts you) And raising your kids alone hurts you and them.(I can't tell you how badly this hurts the kids). And being gay (and this is the hardest one for me to say) hurts someone else. It hurts you because it limits your eternal potential.

Satan is persuasive. He's got a comforting and reasonable sounding argument for any moral hangup or "old fashioned" argument against any of these issues. That is how he has convinced so many brilliant people and how he continues to find new converts every day.

Just like in Lehi's dream, the path to God is not easy. (I should know, I've over here in the mists of darkness somewhere!). But the great and spacious building is easy to get to. It's open and welcoming- a sort of "come  as you are" establishment. It's got great music and an open bar. You can sit and chat with your friends for hours in a big, comfy char while you get a nice buzz and have a few too many pigs in a blanket.

When you look out the window and see the wretched souls, dragging themselves along the rod towards the tree, you kind of feel bad for them. You wonder if they know how nice and warm it is where you are. How everything feels good and soft and comfortable. It's kind of sad for them, actually, right?

Wow.

This is the longest post I've ever written. I think the 2014 mid terms are revving up my bipolar already:)

Anyway, I'm not trying to change any minds or make a big statement with this post. I'm just trying to figure things out for myself and not be afraid to say what I think.

If you've made it this far, thanks for listening.

Lori Ann

And never see the 7 wonders

Danielle and Elly on our late night McD's ice cream run in Lancaster

Random Life Updates: The Monday I really don't want to go back to work Edition

Ginger ale is my marijuana. I've given up soda but; when I got a cold a few weeks back, I started drinking ginger ale. And now I can't stop. And it's going to be a gateway to the hard stuff...diet coke.

I have avoided watching trials. I can't tell you anything about Jodi Arias or Casey Anthony (other than the headlines). OJ just burned me too bad. But I've recently gotten sucked into the Zimmerman trial. If he doesn't get acquitted, I am going to riot. By myself. Unless you want to join me.

I have had off from work for 5 days. I really, really, really don't want to go back. Like, really.

We are already making plans for musikfest. I haven't been in years and I need some musikfest in my life. 

I was telling my dad that I want a laptop and a nice camera for my birthday. (Not much, right?) Because I am older, single, and slowly losing the weight that has slowed me down for years. I've decided that it's time for me to go on adventures! (and I need a camera to document it and a laptop to blog from the road! *first world problem*- it's hard to blog on my iPad)

On a political note, what is the deal with abortion clinics? I feel like pro-choice or liberal politicians want to regulate EVERYTHING from how much soda you can drink to where you can smoke to what wattage light bulbs can be sold, but then they want everyone to BACK OFF from regulating an industry which has recently (umm...Gosnell, anyone?) shown that it can be given to unhealthy and unsafe practices.

I need a really good quote I can put on my wall to motivate me to go to gym every day. Any suggestions?

Lori Ann

I keep your photograph

I have lived in 8 different states. They have all been beautiful in their own way. 

In Colorado I felt the stars were the biggest and brightest I'd ever seen. 

In Utah I was awed daily by the wall of majestic mountains all around me.

North Carolina had rolling fields of tobacco and remnants of its old Southern charm. 

Idaho, Illinois, New Jersey, and Michigan all had their own specific features that I loved.

But none of them; in my opinion, compare to Pennsylvania.

There are very few things I feel strongly about. I don't hold on to friendships, jobs, homes, things, or old places. Everything I cherish can fit into one bin.

Moving so much in my life has made everything very transitory for me. 

Except Pennsylvania. 

In every state I ever lived in, I would dream of PA.

Of it's rolling hills, endless trees, and incredible history.

The Constitution was written here.

Gettysburg happened here.

Early pilgrims; notably the Quakers and Amish, settled here.

You can feel the history in every square mile of this state.

From the winding, narrow roads built for carriages rather than cars, to the stone cobbled roads of Philadelphia, to the strong heritage of Pennsylvania dutch found in the complicated town and river names. 

You can see how the settlers tried to recreate their homes and towns in the this new world. 

The history is beautiful.

And; my gosh, the land is so beautiful. 

I love nothing so much as being in the passenger seat of a car, just staring at the farms and fields and rivers and lakes.

This past week Danielle, her kids and I were up in a town called "Bird in Hand". There was so many Amish there. And just like everything about Pennsylvania, I love little Amish towns.

There is something so compelling about the way they live their life. 

And while I am no fan of manual labor, explaining their life to the kids made me realize that; if conversion weren't required, I think I could live a plain life as they do.

At the risk of unfairly romanticizing their lives, I think I could live on a small farm in a beautiful corner of PA and give up all the distractions which take me so far away from God. 

Anyway, I took all of these words and all of these pictures to basically say what you all have heard me say a million times before. I love my Pennsylvania so much.

Lori Ann

p.s.- On an unrelated side note, my niece Elly is becoming quite the photographer. Enjoy this moving self portrait she took during unsupervised iPad time:) 

Let us live to make men free

I know you were all looking forward to my post on beautiful Pennsylvania. Don't worry. That post is coming.   (Along with my pictures of the Amish, homemade soft pretzels, and my thoughts on living a 'plain' life)

But you all know that no Monrobie adventure is complete without a video. I really love this one. I hope you will too. 

Lori Ann

Never looking back again

The Battle of Gettysburg.

A somewhat appropriate title for our whirlwind 36 hour mini vacation and American history expedition. 

Here are the top 3 takeaways from our latest Live Your Life adventure!

3. We would never have made it as soldiers at Gettysburg.

 (except maybe Danielle...that girl does not stop!)

Danielle and the Monrobies going to check out the Union camps

The "high water mark"- we watched the Pickets Charge  walk from here

The kids with a civil war surgeon reenactor

It was rainy. Then scorchingly sunny and hot. It was HUMID. The children were hot, tired, and at times very crabby. (maybe I was too) There were several plaques that said things like "The 5th Vermont Battalion marched 32 miles overnight and then had to immediately cover the battle from the top of Little Round Top."  Yeah, I started melting down emotionally when I had to wait 10 minutes for the shuttle. 

2. Even when hot, tired and crabby, those Monroe kids take some cute pictures! 

They are so cute, right? SOOOO cute. 

Their very first time jumping on hotel beds

Elly and Katy (super excited to be in traditional civil war dresses)

1. It's really cool to not just observe and remember our amazing American history but to be part of it as well.

Elly with the Union soldiers, waiting for Picket's charge 

A plaque to the women of PA

Pickets Charge (see the confederate flags?)

Not an unusual sight yesterday in Gettysburg

The PA memorial. It was beautiful and sad. 

Even though I know they don't appreciate it right now, I hope that this trip will be part of who my sister's kids become. I hope they will be proud and grateful Americans. 

Yesterdays trip; while exhausting and insane, was a moment for me to recognize and remember how very lucky I am to be an American. 

 Happy Fourth of July.

Lori Ann

p.s.- Tomorrow's topic will be Amish country and how stunningly, breathtakingly beautiful Pennsylvania is.

No telling where it will take ya

You guys,

We've been to Philly.

 We've conquered NYC

And now, the next city to feel our wrath  (I love that phrase, I can't explain why)

Gettysburg!

(just like NYC, only rural. And smaller. And the site of a major civil war battle. And no hot dog vendors.)

Everything about this trip is already awesome. Between staying in a shady hotel in Amish country, to the kids extreme fascination with the idea that there might be ghosts, to the Miley Cyrus heavy playlist I created for our roadtrip.

This is going to be the most epic trip yet, I can feel it!

Lori Ann