Some nights I call it a draw

YOLO

 You Only Live Once.

 I am always drawn to those quotes and sayings.

Those, "Live each moment as if it were a miracle and reach for your dreams and yada yada". 

I love fall and it's been a beautiful weekend but I've been in doors for most of it.

 I have become even more of a horrible couch potato since I've been at my parents.

There is a reason I never have a TV when I live alone. 

I am not living each moment as if it were a miracle, that is for sure. 

I can get this weekend back.

 I've got another few weeks of beautiful fall before winter weather sets in.

 But there are things and days I can never get back.

 Things I wish I had done.

 I haven't lived my life with no regrets. 

I regret not taking more chances on life when I was younger and more free.

I regret not seeing the Mona Lisa when I was in Paris.

I regret not being a young bride in an over the top Cinderella dress.

I regret not keeping in touch with my mission companions and going to their weddings.

I regret not going to Yellowstone when I lived so close for 4 years.

I regret never getting to do a session in the SLC Temple.

I regret never taking any cooking classes in college.

I regret all of the nights I could have been out under the stars, and instead I was inside, slowly losing my brain cells by the light of the TV.

I regret never figuring out what my personal style was and being too scared to experiment.

I regret dressing in over sized clothes all through high school.

I regret not knowing my dad's parents better before they died.

I regret not being a better aunt today.

I regret never making the effort to find the hot gay boy I always wanted as a best friend.

I regret not voting until I turned 20.

Yada, yada, yada... I could go on and on. 

But my life is far from over (I hope).

I hopefully have years ahead to live my dreams..and I really want to.

I want to blog in another year about how this year has been the year of no regret.

Wish me luck!!

Lori Ann

p.s.- One of my biggest regrets is not taking up choir in college, like I had in high school.

 Then I could have been in a kick ass all girls acapella group.

Like this one! 

More than I can say

Random Life Updates
 (on a Thursday for once!)

I shouldn't have stopped my anti- anxiety meds before the election.

What was I thinking?

My new job is AMAZING.

 Everyone is really friendly,

I have a twice as big office
 (with my own printer! It's like being in heaven!),

 I don't really have to work with kids
 (play therapy mystifies me)

 and I am making more money!

I made soup in a pumpkin the other night.

 It was strange, to say the least.

 I'm not the kind of chef that can go off recipe.

I've been giving the cats catnip every day.

 I feel that one or more of them may be victims of seasonal Affective disorder. 

They seem much more relaxed.

 High five to you on that one, Lori.

I know I am all over the place on this entry.

 It's because I'm trying to avoid paperwork.

 But I have important and cool stuff to blog about.

 Like the weird jean skirt I just bought. 

Or my dreams of owning a mini pig.

It's going to happen, people.

 Don't try to sway me with your anti-pork agenda.

Lori Ann

She's so lucky

Ok, so I know there are a lot of reasons why most of you are jealous of my life.

First there is my sweet new digs...at my parents house.

Then there's my awesome ride...yeah, still driving my dad's work truck.

Well, there's my hot new boyfriend... if you can call stalking Paul Ryan a relationship, that is.

Anyway, on top of all of THAT, be prepared to be even MORE jealous because I officially have the most amazing commute to work!!

So, my dad taught me the back way to my new job..I swear, my dad could be parachuted into Iran and know all the back roads within 24 hours..and where to get the best barbecue.

 ANYWAY

 On my ride I encounter all of the following:

Three old Pennsylvania churches.

 One is completely made of stone.

The other two are across the road from each other and have a very old cemetery next to them.

 Like pre American Revolution old.

Two one lane bridges.

These are scenic stone bridges that only one car can cross at a time.

Three miles or so of 'cathedral trees'.

The kind of trees that meet up over the top of the road.

 It's not even full on fall yet and they are stunning.

Endless fields of corn and miles of open woodland.

 It's the kind of beautiful that makes you just stare out the window.

 Which is great if you are a passenger, less effective if you are the driver.

So...

Working as a therapist, I have come to the realization that I need to make a special effort to find and do things that are therapeutic for me.

 I need to build up my own reserves so that I have the patience and energy to give my clients the attention and care they deserve.

Fall is therapeutic to me. It fills me with enough happiness to keep going the rest of the year.

And fall in Pennsylvania is unparalleled in it's beauty.

 And this drive encapsulates everything that is wonderful and magical about Pennsylvania in the fall.

It makes me so happy.

Lori Ann

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes

A decade. 

Jack Jack is now more than just a collections of days, weeks, months and years.

 He's got a decade under his belt. 

He's a young man now.

2 years away from the priesthood.

 8 years from his mission.

 Maybe only 10 or so away from marriage. 

My gosh. 

I love him so much.

 He's smart, he's curious, and he's kind.

 He's everything I hoped for when I found out that my sister was pregnant
 on a bitterly cold February day all those years ago.  

I love all of my sister's children equally
 (most of the time..I'm looking at you, Kat Rat!)

 However, there is a certain magic to Jack Jack.

We had him all to ourselves for over a year and those were some crazy, beautiful days. 

Anyway, on the hopes that one day he'll read this,

I write this just to my nephew.

I love you, kiddo. 

You are so much brighter than I ever could have imagined.

 You bring so much love and happiness to our family.

 We all fell in love with you from the very start.

When I first saw you in person, I swear my heart stopped. 

I hope that life is everything you ever dreamed and hoped it would be.

 Thank you for being the best nephew an aunt could wish for! 

Love,

Aunt Lori

Like the colors in autumn

My new computer sign in at work is

 Hinslor. 

Doesn't that sound like some kind of mythic beast?

"Oh no, beware the rabid Hinslor! It devoured an entire village last month!"

Completely epic. 

I am really, really, really liking my new job.

I have a recliner for my clients to sit in!
 (and by "clients", I mean me)

Anyway, I will fill you in on all the amazing details this weekend.

Try to not let the suspense kill you or anything:)

Also this weekend, or hopefully before, my tribute to the first man I ever fell in love with.

He turned ten yesterday.

I get the nostalgia now.

I get why mothers say "My baby is growing so fast!"

It really just FLIES by.

Where did my beautiful baby nephew go?

 Who is this crazy smart, well read, handsome young man I see at my sister's house?

Where did the time go?

Lori Ann

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