The Greatest Love of All

It's been a weird week. There's a lot I could say, but I won't. This blog has gotten too wordy and tepid for my taste. Which is why I will delight you will some thrilling pictures instead. Let's do this dance!  

 Thomas..my sweet little butter ball. I love Thomas and I proved it to him by feeding him tuna behind my dad's back.

I made this wreath for Eri. Doesn't it look awesome on her door?? 

I finally took the plunge and ate a veggie burger tonight. It wasn't bad. But I may have put just a touch too much ketchup on it, you think? It was; like almost everything else I've discovered since becoming vegetarian, a pleasant surprise. 

So, I'll have to let these thrilling pictures tide you over until tomorrow's blog update. In which I promise not to talk about vegetarianism AT ALL. But I do promise to share my 'so what I'm not married, I'm still a therapist" advice for your love life this Valentines week!!

Lori Ann

La Vida Loca

You guys, I have like 80 clients now.

I am seeing between 6-8 people a day.

This is my dream job. This is what I've worked years for.

But, oh my gosh, 8 hours of listening to people's problems and struggles and trauma...

It's too much sometimes. 

In any given day I might work with a kid with ADHD, a woman who survived sexual assault, another woman going through a divorce, someone with AIDS, a teen with low self esteem, and so many more things.

And half of my sessions are in Spanish. 

I want to cry with them. Sometimes I want to shake them and tell them that they're standing in the way of their own progress. They tell me about their abusive childhoods, their years of depression, the decisions that they regret. They tell me about their sexual problems, their anger towards their mothers, and say I am the first person who has ever listened. 

But sometimes I just want to fall asleep and forget that this is my job. I want to never hear any one's problems again. 

I guess until someone pays me to craft, take naps, and give my opinion, I'll have to stick with this therapist gig. If being sometimes overwhelmed by my job is my greatest problem, I guess I'm a lucky girl. 

Lori Ann

J..J...Junior

Ok, people..

We are in semi-crisis mode over here.

I; once again, rashly invited my brother to stay at my place for a few days.

I am therapist, right?

I counsel people every single day about improving their communication and building stronger families, etc.

It should be easy for me to have a good relationship with my brother.

But holy Hannah, I become 13 again around Junior. 

He drives me crazy!! He makes so much noise and he's expensive to maintain, and he asks questions he already knows the answer to. 

Most mornings at my apartment are very zen..I'm eating my oatmeal, planning my vegetarian menu for the day, putting on my makeup...

Today, the stove fan is going because Junior burnt something while cooking himself eggs and sausage and there is so much confusion. I tell you one thing, I haven't missed the smell of cooking meat over the last 6 weeks.

*Deep breath*

I'm leaving for work two hours early. 

I can do this with a careful strategy of going to work early and staying late. 

We've got 3 days to go...wish me luck!!

Lori

p.s.- Junior is a very nice guy in reality. This post addresses more that I'm kind of neurotic and enjoy living alone:)

To Elizabeth Mae, on the occasion of your 6th birthday.

My very first niece is six today. 

The baby girl we all prayed for after two rough and tumble boys.

Elly is all of my dreams wrapped into one explosive package. 

She hula hoops like nobody's business.

She dances ballet in the front yard on cold, cloudless February days.

She rides her little pink scooter like she doesn't know what fear is.

She talks about wuggle pets and little Pepa pigs all the while planning world domination.

She wears her blue sparkly shoes everywhere. 

Elly is always in motion. The dreams must race through her head at night because I can't imagine even sleep daring to slow her down.

She inspires me to be a better aunt and a better person.

Elly, I can't remember my life before you. I can't remember our family before you. There is no 'us' without you.  

I love how magical you make my life and I hope you know how truly amazing you are. You (and your three crazy cohorts) are the very best part of me. 

Love,

Aunt Lorey

p.s.- I stole these song lyrics from Tim McGraw. These birthday tributes have sunk to a new low:)

Gotta hold on easy as I let you go
Gonna tell you how much I love you
Though you think you already know
I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm
You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born

You're beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again
Go on, take on this whole world
But to me you know you'll always be, my little Elly

I am an idiot!

Well, seems as good a time to blog as any. Seeing as I am currently trapped in the back parking lot of my office with a dead battery. I don't know why I don't keep up with my car maintenance. Maybe it's so I can drive my dad crazy and have little adventures like this one:)

On a positive note, I do have a whole box of tasty cakes so I probably won't starve:)

Wish me luck!

Lori Ann

*** I arrived home safely after a jump from a rather cute mechanic named Carlos***

Boring Life Updates

 I was outside yesterday, completing my assessments in the sunshine! More vitamin D, but significantly less professionalism:)

Dinner last night. Salmon again. This time I added fresh lemon juice and garlic and dill. It was really good. 

I spent 2.77 cents on a ginger ale and two yogurts yesterday. Leaving my Frugal February remaining balance at

 97.23

It's GROUNDHOGS DAY!! Look for my update tonight. We're having a ceremony/celebration at work!

Lori Ann

1 month, baby!!

It's Groundhogs Day Eve.

A time for serious introspection and contemplation.

Or not!

Anyway, you may all wish to congratulate me, I have been a vegetarian for exactly 1 MONTH!!

Here are the top three things I have learned during this month:

1. Hamburgers can appear in your dreams. Sometimes they even dance and sing.

2. Fresh spinach is really good. I don't know why I've been eating iceberg lettuce all these years. From now on all my salad greens will be spinach or other darker colored options.

3. Doing this has weirdly been the best diet ever. Giving up meat has made me much more aware of what else I am eating, since I am always looking for protein. I've given up soda, most candy, and a lot of the junkie kind of meals I used to eat. (spagettios, french fries, etc)

In addition to my ongoing vegetarian quest, Erin and I are competing in Frugal February. We're both trying to keep our expenditures under 100 for the entire month. That includes gas, food, entertainment, etc. Whenever I post, I will leave a running tally of how much I have left!!

Thanks for being so supportive. Getting to blog about all my goals motivates me so much. And keep sending me recipes!! I love them!!

Lori Ann