And there are storms we cannot weather

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.”

August Wilson

I like this quote because it speaks to how I am feeling today.

Today, I feel like there are so many parts of me that I want to change.

I crave the approval of others.

I lie to myself, all the time.

I rarely follow through on the things I say I am going to do.

I consistently chose comfort over happiness.

I think that we so rarely know other people.

 Maybe its because our own psychosis is so overwhelming or our lives are so busy, that, in reality, we don't really WANT to know other people.

It's too exhausting.

I am all too pleased with a nice surface acquaintance.

Almost no one really knows me.

 Not that I am some sort of psycho or anything..much of what I present to the world is me.

Just not all of it.

For example, this very blog post.

 I know tomorrow that I will be regretting it, because I prefer to blog about my love for my nieces or nephews or Taylor Lautnor:)

I hate that people will be reading this, feeling uncomfortable, wondering "yikes, do I leave a supportive comment, or just wait this moody phase out?"

Yet, this blog is much more representative of the real me than any I have written before.

I don't know what I am saying anymore.

Goodnight:)

Lori Ann

The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing

Ok,

I LOVE Christmas music.

 Well, most Christmas music.

 Before I get into that, I should begin at the beginning..

My parents are music people.

Not band geek, Broadway musical type music people, but more eclectic love of and appreciation for all kinds of music people.

 My dad tends toward classic rock, classical, and alternative.

 My mom is more of an oldies fan.

I grew up listening to Elvis, Santana, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel, Cher, The Beatles, Beethoven, Pink Floyd, and a million others.

Despite this, I have a mostly surface relationship with music.

Whatever is popular at the moment is what I like.

I think it's a source of some shame for my father.

It's different at Christmas. I don't know if it is the nostalgia that accompanies the holiday season, but Christmas is when I feel the musical influence of my parents the most.

Having said that, I will now compile my list of MUST LISTEN TO Christmas favorites, as well as my PUKE, WHY IS THIS CONSIDERED Christmas music list.

MUST LISTEN TO:

Carol of the Bells- MoTab

Oh Holy Night- MoTab (or Celine Dion)

Anything and EVERYTHING by Manheim Steamroller

Anything and EVERYTHING by Transiberian Orchestra

It came upon a midnight clear- MoTab

I'll be Home for Christmas- Bing Crosby

All I want for Christmas is You- Mariah Carey (you know you love it!)

PUKE, WHY IS THIS CONSIDERED Christmas music list:

That shoes for momma to wear to Jesus song

That one about the guy who meets up with his ex at the grocery store

Santa is coming to town- Bruce Springsteen (sorry, Dad!)

Santa Baby- Madonna

Wonderful Christmastime- Paul McCartney

What's on your Christmas playlist??

Lori Ann

Rockabye, sweet baby James

So,

My sister and I exchanged blogs for the week of Thanksgiving.

She is an evil genius.

After she wrote "Tuesdays Confession and Resolutions",

 I got even by writing a few posts on her blog about her love of Tupac and the joys of self medicating:)

 Anyway, I feel like I owe my readers the truth, so here is the blog she wrote, only updated to reflect the TRUTH!

I admit it. I am a beast during the holidays.
 (I am NOT!)

I fuss about many things when my fam gets together,
 (I would never use the word 'fam' and I do NOT FUSS!)

but this year it will all stop.

I promise.

And you can take that to the bank.

This year,
I won't try to control the TV. We don't have to watch TLC 24/7.
 (Yes we do, they are having a 'say yes to the dress' marathon!)

I won't count presents.
 (I only count because I always get less then everyone!)

I will admit that I am spoiled.
 (I will never ADMIT it!)

I will eat whatever is served.
(yuck, no way)

I will let Danielle nap whenever she wants.
(Danielle's whole life is one long nap!)

I will be especially sweet to Junior.
 (Junior does not respond to sweetness. He responds to a firm tone and promises of treats!)

I will put no pressure on anyone to have the most super magical holiday ever.
(This will be the most super magical holiday ever! Even if it kills us!)

Hope you enjoyed our blog switch!

 It will be back to the same old, same old starting tomorrow..anyone have an idea for Will it Wednesday??

p.s.- On a side note, Happy Birthday to the most beautiful boy in the whole world:)



Lori Ann

Tuesday's Confession and Resolutions

I admit it. I am a beast during the holidays.
I fuss about many things when my fam gets together,
but this year it will all stop.
I promise.
And you can take that to the bank.

This year,
I won't try to control the tv. We don't have to watch TLC 24/7.
I won't count presents.
I will admit that I am spoiled.
I will eat whatever is served.
I will let Danielle nap whenever she wants.
I will be especially sweet to Junior.
I will put no pressure on anyone to have the most super magical holiday ever.

We can all find ways to better our family holidays, and these are mine. I really want to change this year. So, let's hear it for me!! I think I can do it!!!

On the reef of Norman's woe

It's almost Thanksgiving...ding, ding, ding.. let the family squabbles and tears over pumpkin pie commence!!

Anyway, I have been encouraging my clients to think about all of the things they are grateful for, and it occurs to me that I rarely count my own blessings.

I would list them all here, but I don't want anyone to be even MORE jealous of my high rolling lifestyle.

It would make all of your lives seem even more trivial and pointless than you already secretly suspect them of being:)

That having been said
 (in the most convoluted manner possible),

 I will list just one thing of many which I am grateful for.

My sister Danielle.

She doesn't know it, but she is amazing at everything she does.

 She is the reason I served a mission.

 She is the reason I finished college.

 She is the reason I stayed in the church.

 She is the reason I never borrow sweaters from anyone!

 She also happens to be the mother of my four favorite people.

There is so much more I could say, but I think Tennyson said it best when he said:

There she weaves by night and day

A magic web with colours gay.

She has heard a whisper say,

A curse is on her if she stay

To look down to Camelot.

She knows not what the curse may be,

And so she weaveth steadily,

And little other care hath she, The Lady of Shalott.

Lori Ann

p.s.- After you read this, could you finish changing Megan-Peter? :)

I met a man in Tennesse and he was headed for..

One week until Thanksgiving!

We are kinda excited:)

 Off to Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie!

Lori Ann

A little case of History repeating

I love watching the History channel, not necessarily for the programming but for the narration.

Every program is the same.

"And now we will take a look at a mystery that has haunted the world for the last ten centuries."

What makes it funny to me is that sometimes the topics are quite obscure, like "Various early Lincoln assassination plots" or "Did Cleopatra murder her siblings?"

I don't want to speak for anyone else, but neither of these topics have ever really haunted me.

Oh History Channel, why do you make me laugh so much?

Lori Ann