Book of Mormon stories..

The package is on its way!!

 This is the most important thing it holds!!

Congratulations, Jack! I am so proud of you!!!

Aunt Lori 

Told a few thousand stories..

I was in line behind the sheriff at walmart today.

 I haven't had this kind of brush with celebrity since the '08 Barnes and Noble Chris Daughtry incident!

One week until my birthday.

Oh yeah, its gonna be me and you, 31!

Let's make this the best year ever!!

Eri and I will be the same age again..like we are every year.

We are the same age from October 7th until December 10th.

64 days out of the year. 

I was crying in my car today, listening to Delilah.

She played "i hope you dance" and it made me sad that I am going to miss Jack-Jack's baptism. 

It made me sad that he is grown up enough to get baptized.
Where did my sweet, beautiful baby go?

I am a fan of the show Modern Family.

There has been a big facebook movement for the gay couple on the show to kiss.

 They finally did, and man oh man, was I disappointed.

 When I turn in to my prime time show and I hear there is going to be a gay kiss, I want something a little more exciting than that.

Put some effort into it, guys...seriously.

I have been learning so much about my own psychosis lately.

 It's fascinating.

 Next week I feature a list of topics I want to address with my future therapist!

I am stalled on Moby Dick.

 I think it happened when Ishmael started creating categories of whales, their features and behaviors, etc.

 Herman Melville hijacked my entertaining high seas adventure and turned it into some sort of whale variances encyclopedia.

Yikes.

Spanish is my superpower

. It still gives me a thrill when someone new sees me speaking Spanish.

 I love the look of confusion and the questions "wait...you speak Spanish?" 

I drank an entire thing of simply orange in one evening. 

I've got to get up at 6 am to make brownies.

 How do I get myself in these situations? 

Night, night!

Lori Ann

When you wish upon a star..

I know there is a God.

  I know it.


Here is how I know.

 This morning, when I woke to a cloudy, gray day, I thought to myself:

Oh man, I wish I were a stay at home mom, I would be able to relax, stay in my pjs, eat some ice cream, maybe watch some rainy day movies.

Then I trudged off to work, heaving the heavy sigh of a martyr as I went.

At work, I had crisis after crisis and could not get anything accomplished on my list.

 I couldn't sit down for 1 minute without someone calling my name, I couldn't even go to the bathroom without people hovering around, waiting for me to help them with something.

 Then the light bulb came on.

God had granted my wish.

 I was living the life of a stay at home mom.
(just without the pjs).

 Running around, putting out fires, looking sadly at my "to do" list as I ran by, and not even being able to go to the bathroom in peace.

So, today, I salute you, stay at home moms!

 I don't know how you do it.

I hope you get to spend the evening, in your pjs, eating ice cream and watching classic rainy day movies!
 (because that's what I am going to be doing!)

Lori Ann

Yesterday

 Yesterday was one of the most important days of my life.

After 6 years of college

 2 years of clinical supervision

 and over 3000 hours counselling families and individuals

 there remained only one last task to accomplish before recieving my licensure.

 (LCSW- Licensed Clincal Social Worker)

The dreaded state exam.

170 questions.
 (covering everything from Freud to elder abuse)

I didn't tell anyone I was taking it because I was so sure I was going to fail.

I didn't fail.

I passed with flying colors!

 The testing lady said she hadn't seen a score like that in a long time.
  (Maybe she was just trying to rein me in, as I was practically hyperventilating and crying at having passed!)

I can't tell you all how much I appreciate all of the warm wishes, positive comments, and shout outs that I have received.

 I am the luckiest girl in the world, and I have some amazing friends!

So yes, in case you've been wondering, I will diagnose you all free of charge!

 Just leave your mental health issues in the comments section and I will have you committed..diagnosed ASAP!

Lori Ann, LCSW

*Thanks Mom and Dad for the flowers! I was so surprised and excited! Party at the shore in my honor!!!*

Ode to Joy

Step 1:  Please press play on this video (ignore the images, its all about the music)..move the cursor to the one minute mark..

Step 2: Read the following
(well, really just the part that says I passed)

Step 3: Have a weekend of celebration! 

Lori Ann

that I'd be lost without you

You don't even have to ask.

You can totally come to my house for dinner.

 (BYOGCTSAC)
 *that stands for Bring your own grilled cheese, tomato soup, and coke*

Lori Ann

p.s.- I miss those babies.

 I miss seeing them run to the door yelling "Aunt Lorlee!!"  

57 days until Thanksgiving vacation!

Random Thoughts: The late Sunday Afternoon Edition

I haven't made any more progress in Moby Dick.

 Maybe because I keep reading it while laying across my bed.

 Inevitably, I wake up 3 hours later with my glasses on and the book still clutched in my hand. 

I plan to finish it tonight though- look for my review tomorrow!!

I also plan to finish up all of these craft projects for my fall packages and SHIP THEM OFF!!

I may or may not have eaten some candy from the fall packages.

Maybe.

 But let's say I did.

Am I really to blame?

 Or is it, in fact, the CANDY ITSELF that is to blame, calling my name from the depths of the fall package boxes?

I love social work, but there are so few social workers I like.

 I find most to be smug and self loathing.

 It's exhausting to deal with.

I don't like to do product endorsements, but I have to say that the pumpkin spice candle from Walmart totally rocks! 

My sisters have been chatting and talking about what a terrible pet owner I would be.

 Are you kidding me?

 I am the daughter of the "cat whisperer".

 I would be an excellent pet owner!
 (and yes, I HAVE killed a number of houseplants. Or should I say, they have killed themselves, due to their own lack of initiative!)

People need to update their blogs more often!

 Put down your children, responsibilities, and hobbies and entertain me, people!

What I focused on during my last training..sneakily reading and GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!!

The strange lunches social workers eat when we all get together

I was tired of waiting at this light
 (which is literally like a 3 minute wait)

 until I realized I was missing the chance to see an amazing sunrise!

Lori Ann