You were my best four years

I have been creating weird stuff for my room.

Which I figured you were probably going to demand to see, so I will just go ahead and show it to you.

 I hope you're satisfied:)

This is my philosophy poster I got out of the trash

. I recently began adding my life philosophies to it

. Double click this picture to see them better.

I made this quote for my wall.

 I like it.

It's for all of us ugly stepsisters who don't have a prince charming!
 ( I do not think I am ugly. I know I'm hot. You probably think so too, don't lie to yourself!)

I don't love "Starry Night" for the painting.

 I love it because it reminds me of a song that my dad used to play on repeat track while were sleeping during my childhood.

 The song is called "Circle Game" by Joni Mitchell.

 But you have to listen to the live version.

This one is above my bed.

 It reminds me of PA in the fall.

 Sweet, beautiful PA.

I am so happy to be here and I'm so happy it's almost fall! 

I am currently obsessed with the son "Ronan" by Taylor Swift.

She wrote it for the mom of a 4 year old boy who died of cancer.

It's so sad.

9/11

 I can't believe it's been 11 years.

 I still can't watch 9/11 footage.

It makes me want to vomit.

There is a line in "Leningrad" by Billy Joel
 (that Storm Front album I was obsessed with a few posts back)

 and in it Billy Joel sings

 "And in that bright October sun, we knew our childhood days were done"
 (referring to the Cuban missile crisis)

 I felt the same way on Sept. 11, 2001.

 It felt like my childhood ended on that day.

 I pray my nieces and nephews never see a day like that in their lifetime.

God bless America.

Lori Ann

I'm falling to pieces

Ok, so..another random update.

Yikes.

My dad's minions.

Isn't it nice that I now have 3 cats lives to blog about, instead of 1?

 I just thought this was cute because my dad is recovering from surgery and he spends most of the day in this recliner.
(where they sit with him)

 When he goes to bed at night, they sleep in the recliner and wait for him to come back down..so sweet:)

Speaking of sleeping..I have been sleeping in my office.

 Yes, unprofessional, I know.

 But I have got a billion things to get done and no time to do them.

 It's not every night, but at least once a week, I am crashing there.

 Nothing like finishing mental health assessments at 1 am!

So, late nights at the office lead me to serene mornings sitting by the fountain in Delaware at sunrise.
 (my favorite fountain).

 Except last time I kind of fell asleep.

 And will probably be cited for loitering if I go back!
(On a more positive note, my street cred in Delaware is through the roof!)

One of my sweet clients gave me this bear
(AND crucifix).

I named him Marco
 (after Marco Rubio).

 I think it freaks my clients out when I pull him out of my desk drawer and introduce him as my new boyfriend. :)

I don't understand why Thomas's eyes are always glowing green??

Yesterday; when I was driving home, it started to get really overcast.

 Like  "is that a tornado?" overcast.

I got on the northeast extension of the turnpike and drove into this...

I wish this picture did it justice.

 It was super creepy.

I kept repeating anxiety reducing mantras to myself.

 Like

 "It probably doesn't hurt to be killed by a tornado, stop whining". 

I made this cake today.

 It's a black bottomed cupcake recipe that I made into a cake.

 Because I was too  lazy to do individual cupcakes.

 I think that is how every great treat is born.

 Out of laziness and a desire for chocolate.

I got this picture done at Staples ages of and today added the lettering.

 It's going in my room :)

A strange chicken pot pie I made today.

Chicken pot pie always reminds me of The Breakfast club.

 "No, dad..what about you?" 

Smoke it up, Johnny.

Lori Ann

The winters cannot fade her

And yet MORE random thoughts!

I think I have recently come to a completely new level of maturity.

 I am no longer emotionally invested in who wins Project Runway.
(but if it's not Gunner, I am going to freak!)

I got 13 of the 15 items on my to do list done this weekend.

 Strangely, both items left on the list were related to cleaning the bathrooms.

Weird how that happened.

I kind of want to replace my laptop with an Ipad.

 Ipad users..is it worth it?

 I would want to be able to do all my Internet stuff, read on it, and write my great American novel too. 

Today, I got to live one of my long held dreams

. I got to drive with my dad in the backseat while I controlled the radio!!

 He ranted and raved while I played Lady Gaga.

 It was magical!

 I'm sure that next week I will be in the back seat,

 listening to the smooth sounds of jazz radio, while my dad lectures me on something like the stock

market or the bombers of WW II or proper vacuum cleaner maintenance.
(all topics he's lectured me on)

I need to finish reading Moby Dick.

 It's slowing down my progress on the greatest books of all time list.

 Damn you, Melville and your whaling encyclopedia masquerading as a novel!

Speaking of smug liberals, I finally switched my voter registration from NC to PA.

Let's do this dance!

 I can't wait to vote!
(File this under "Things I say that remind me I am an adult on the downhill slide to middle age")

I am now obsessed with the song "Little Green" by Joni Mitchell.

 It's about the baby she gave up for adoption.

 I wonder what song my famous mother wrote about me when she had to give me up?

 Maybe we'll never know..
(but my guess is "Shooting Star" by Madonna)

My big plans for this blog are still getting underway.

Brace yourselves. :)

Lori Ann

Five minutes in and I'm bored again

Sunday Night Random Thoughts

I keep thinking that if I change my blog header enough it will inspire me to be a more consistent blogger.

Hmm..we'll see if it works this time!

One of my clients told me that I "outflanked" him the other day.
 (as in outmaneuvered)

 Dang, my therapist slash Jedi skills are really starting to work!

The other day my dad banged on the downstairs ceiling underneath my room to wake me up.

My first thought was seriously "Wait, it's not time for seminary already, is it?".

 I only hope that this regression in my mental and emotional age will also cause me to look 17 again! (Although not with the same hair..good Lord, the 90's were not good to me, style wise)

I got done exactly 2 things on my list of 15 things to get done this weekend.

 I guess that leaves 13 things for tomorrow. 

Is anyone else now obsessed with that song "Some Nights" by Fun?

Because yeah, I'm obsessed. 

I have 4 dentist appointments in the next 2 weeks.

 The dentist looked at my teeth and said "Let's get you in here twice a week for the next few weeks".

Good thing that I love the high pitched squealing of the drill.

 Otherwise this whole situation would totally bite. 

I also got my eyes checked.

I figured that since I've been paying for insurance since last year, I might as well use it before leaving this job.

 Anyway, the eye doctor's appointment led to this..

 New frames! I went in a weird direction with these.

Wish me luck.

My eyes being dilated.

If you've never had this done, it's awesome.

You get all the suspicion of being high without any of the awesome buzz. 

In sad news, I am back on the sauce.

 AKA the diet coke.

My mom keeps ranting about me being diabetic and drinking regular coke.

 I haven 't had diet coke since 9/1/08.

 However, a few months after giving up my 20 year DC addiction,

 I began a four year addiction to regular coke.

 So..back on the DC it is...

. Because apparently meat is easier to give up than soda.

Did I tell you that Junior and I went on a non romantic date to the Red Lobster?

 Apparently it's been on his bucket list for some time to go there.

 I guess that's kind of who I am.

 I make people's dreams come true. 

Dang, when did this blog suddenly get so inspiring? 

It must be the new header!!

Lori Ann

When I see stars

Ok, so I have gotten more interested in politics as I have gotten older.

 I think that's probably the case with most people. 

Something about looking at your pay stub and seeing hundreds of dollars sent here and there makes you think...

"Wait..who decided I needed to pay for this?" 

Anyway, I decided to watch the RNC tonight
 (Republican National Convention)

 because I am fairly conservative
 (with a few exceptions)

 and I just felt like being lulled into a false sense of security by "mom, American, apple pie" campaign rhetoric.

Then it happened. 

Or I should say HE happened.

Watching Marco Rubio speak, I felt the same as when I watch the last scene with Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing.

 He was hot and his words inspired me.

 I keep fanning myself with my notebook.

 I think my parents must think I've gone mad.

Anyway, here's to us Republicans finally being the hotter party.

Win or lose, we can comfort ourselves with that on election day!!

Lori Ann Rubio 

We will find our way home

Ok, so I am kinda bored with the

"I'm living at home, look how strange my life is"

 posts.

 But it's not going to stop me from writing another one!!

 But before we get to the exciting pictures with their snappy captions, let me say this.

 I've got plans for this blog.

Crazy plans

The blogging world has been crying out for a single/living at home/non skinny jean wearing/ no crafting type voice.

 I give myself 2-3 weeks to be on nienie level fame.

 As always, brace yourselves!!

 Anyway, on with the post..

I have been reunited with my devil cat.

She's as sassy as ever

. But with less frisky adorableness and more megalomania now.

Don't ask

. Do. Not. Ask.

We got my mom some new scrubs to go with her fancy new(ish) job.

 Nothing like an exciting Saturday night in the uniform store.

Score one for my mom in the Cat War of 2012.

Thomas has yet to respond to my bribes.

I'm keeping a copy of this for the trial. 

Lori Ann

And so it goes

I can't stop listening to Billy Joel's Storm
 Front album.

Leningrad makes me feel like I'm 10 again, listening to my dad explain about the Cold War.

I really need to write him a blog tribute.

 Especially with him going into surgery soon.

Maybe I'll make him read my entire blog while he recuperates.

I've got a new plan for dealing with my long commute.

 It involves taking every Thursday off, hiding from the cleaning people, and breaking into the regional directors office.
 (not for espionage or anything)

I wouldn't blog about espionage.

I would just do it.
(but only for a good cause. Like being a whistle blower. Or taking down Canada. Or lots of money)

I'm kind of officially over my love of gay romance novels.

There's just too many 'shape shifter' ones out there- you know, werewolves, etc.

 I blame Stephanie Meyers.
 (I should do a whole blog about what I blame Stephanie Meyers for. Because it's a long list. )

There's a little bit of a cat war going on here.

 Loyalties are being questioned.

 Backs are being stabbed.

 For my part,  I'm bribing all the cats, but most especially Thomas.
 (I can't resist his gizmo face.) 

This blog is all over the place.

 When I get done with work this weekend, I am going to get this thing organized!
(this is what happens when I don't take anxiety meds. I cope by making grandiose promises to organize things that really require no organization)

I am mildly obsessed with Paul Ryan.

 If he were from somewhere other than the cheese wheel of the US I might consider stalking him.

But that's a lot of jail time to possibly face for a Wisconsinite.

Lori Ann