I was thinking about her

It's my birthday, people. 

I usually have a list of goals.

I love lists of goals.

 Specifically the list making process.

It's all downhill after that. 

So; in lieu of a long and crazy list...

 hHre is my goal for my 33rd year. 

Every single day, I want to be present, live in the moment, and be happy. 

Like this moment.

I am sitting in the awesome red chair I got at the Goodwill, which is comfortable and perfect for my room.

I am drinking diet coke, which I am back to loving as much as ever.

 And I am listening to "Just a Dream" by Nelly.
 (Which I am re obsessed with after seeing the movie "Pitch Perfect" yesterday)

My dad made me breakfast and everything that man cooks is amazing.

 My parents got me this assortment of fall magic.

In this moment, I am pretty dang happy. 

It's going to be a great year

. I really, truly believe that. 

May your October 7th be as magical as mine!

Lori Ann 

But I do

I am sure that you can't tell, but we Hinsdale's love fall.

Especially

  Fall in Pennsylvania

 Anyway, I love my sister Danielle's decorations this year!

 (Which; surprisingly, turned out better than my idea for orange twinkle lights and covering everything with black glitter.)

I guess this means I have to bring my A game to decorating my parents house.

 Huh...I don't know if my dad and I are on the same page when it comes to glitter. 

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY FALL!!!

Lori Ann

Loving him was red

Oh my gosh,

My week of unemployment is almost up.

A strange week of orientation, being my fake "I'm new here, let me make awkward jokes" self, and adapting to a new schedule is approaching. 

But there is so much I haven't gotten to accomplish in my week of sweet, sweet freedom. 

Here's what I still need to do with the 3 days I have left. 

LORI'S UNEMPLOYMENT LIST

1. Eat spaghettio's straight out of the can

2. Forget what day is is  ACCOMPLISHED TODAY!

3. Start a lot of talk about becoming an artist or a writer.
 But get really invested in day time TV

4.  Finish reading for the love of all that is holy Moby Dick

5. Burn Moby Dick

6.  Make my own Romney/ Ryan yard sign.
 Mostly like the ones they sell.
Just with more glitter.

7. Wear my pajamas out in public DID IT! 

You guys, wow. I didn't realize how much I had done.

I've not just talking a big game, I am living my unemployment dreams!

 2 down, 5 to go. 

In all seriousness though, I have become somewhat disoriented from watching WAY TOO MUCH political coverage.

 I've been in my pajamas for 24 hours. 

I am kinda in love with Mitt Romney.

And I am dying to see what SNL does with the first debate. 

I suspect Big Bird will be heavily featured. 

( cover your kids eyes!! )

Lori Ann

Since maybe October of last year

Ok, so..

I have been officially unemployed for 2 full days.

 It's been magical.

 Since my unemployment is only going to last one week, I have been enjoying it by doing as little as possible. :)

It's Rocktober, people.

My absolute favorite month of the year.

I am only slightly OBSESSED with fall in PA.

 It has already been so amazing.

The leaves are slowly changing, there is a chilly breeze, and the scent of burning leaves is everywhere

. It makes me so unbelievably happy.

I have also brought out my sweet cinnamon pumpkin lotion!

 If you've never tried this scent, it's amazing and it smells like happiness!!

Do you see what I mean about seasonal affective disorder?

 I am SO MUCH HAPPIER in the fall.

T minus 37 hours until the first Presidential debate.

 I can hardly stand the wait.

 I am also just slightly OBSESSED with politics.

 My dad keeps telling me

 "It's not going to matter who gets elected to our pocketbooks or lives all that much"
(I don't know why I talk to him about politics... he won't even acknowledge that Bill Clinton is hot!)

This is what kills me about my father.

 He raised me to be this way.

 To be anxious about sports and politics.

 He railed against various candidates, threw things at the TV during games, and now....now that he has mellowed with age, he tells me to just

"Relax, because whatever happens, happens."

What he fails to realize is that I can personally change the direction of a game or an election by projecting my anxiety on everyone in the house and glaring at the TV and ranting.

I think know it's the reason that the Giants missed their last field goal on Sunday night, leading to an Eagles victory.

So...I'm off to a day of pajama wearing.

 And eating tasty cakes.

 And googling "Why is Paul Ryan so hot?"

Lori Ann

Ok, so...

Ok so,

I've gotten 8 fillings, 2 root canals, 2 extractions, and 2 crown preps over the course of 5 dentist appointments.

 In a 2 week period.

 Note to self: Put down the jolly ranchers

My new red chair has been taken over.

By my (recuperating) father and his little minions.

This is my last week of work at my present job.

 I am thinking that it will be the longest/shortest week of my life.

 It's almost like time slows down once you get close to the end.

I will have an entire week off
 (which will include my birthday!!)

 between jobs.

 Oh yeah...fall crafting, here I come!

 Plus, I was thinking of getting my hair cut like this.

What do you think?

Oh my gosh, I just fell asleep for 10 minutes.

 I guess its lights out for now. 

Lori Ann

A long, rambling political post

I have so many random things to update you on.

Like how I'm making this for all of my coworkers.

I call it the Wheel O' Diagnoses. 

Then there is this.

My fall fun list. 

But what's really been on my mind is this.

The Election

I have been thinking about asking my doctor for anti-anxiety meds to last me through November 6th.

Election year brings out every element of crazy that I have!!

 And even though I know it's not kosher to talk too much about politics on one's blog,

I am going to do it anyway. 

Let's do this dance!

Here is a WAY TOO LONG explanation of my political perspective

I believe that most people's political views are influenced by a combination of: socioeconomic class, gender, race, geographical location, religion, education, job, life experiences, etc. 

All of these different elements combine to write the story of a person's life.

 If my life were a book, it would be a tale of a: strictly raised, blue collar, white, Mormon, college educated girl from the East Coast who grew up to be a social worker/therapist.

I'm a little bit of a dictonomy.

There are elements of the conservative "strictly raised, Mormon, blue collar, white".

There are elements of the liberal- "female, college educated, East Coast, social worker".
(not that college educated people can't be conservative, they just trend towards liberal)

Surprisingly enough (not),

 I am neither completely conservative nor completely liberal. 

I believe in civil unions for any two (or 3 or 4) people who want them

 But not because I'm necessarily in favor of gay marriage.

 But because I know how hard it is to have to have to do everything alone and I think any two (or more) people who want to support each other should have as many legal rights and tax helps as they possibly can get.

I am pro-life.

Not so much because I believe that life begins at conception (though I do) but because I have counselled literally dozens of women who deeply regret their abortions.

Their abortions that were 18 years ago, 7 years ago, 4 years ago.

 One client said "A part of me is still there in that room...
 (where the abortion occurred)

I feel like I'll always be in there, trying to find my way out".

 I cried with her.

I worked with too many illegal immigrants on my mission and in my work to not have sympathy for their plight.

I'm kind of pro DREAM act.

 I know too many kids who were raised as American, who are the most hard working and decent people.

 They deserve an equal chance at an education.

I've worked with too many overwhelmed and depressed single moms to not believe in the absolute need for the traditional family.

 Not just as a social stabilizer, but an economic one too.

I've seen too many kids who desperately need a dad, women who need a partner, and families who need hope.

I've seen the fall out from drug use of a few months, drug use of a few years, and drug use of decades.

I'd vote to keep marijuana illegal.

 I've seen what it can do to people.

I could keep going and going and going...do you see what I mean by crazy?

 I just can't stop thinking about and talking about it because it's so important to me and I feel like whoever is elected has to power to change things for the positive or negative. 

I am not in love with either candidate.

I think they are both good men and amazing fathers.

But; considering all of the factors, all of my life experiences, and considering that writing my mother's name in during the election of 04 didn't get her into office,

 I am going with:

Romney/Ryan

Yes; once again, I am voting based on hotness.

Lori Ann

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