The Monroe Doctrine

James.

Sweet, sweet baby James.

He's 9 today.

I don't know how moms do it.

 I'm just his aunt and its so bittersweet:/

I love 9 year old James.

 He's confident, charismatic, and incredibly snarky.

He's pure Jamesaroni magic.

I saw him for the first time almost exactly 9 years ago to the very minute.

 Just his little lobster feet.

He was literally breath taking.

 And between him and his 3 amigos, I have learned what it is to love something more than life itself.

Happy Birthday, handsome.

I love you.

Aunt Lori

It's a jolly holiday with Elly

Sorry about the sporadic blogging.

 It's not because my life is non stop excitement, which is what I always suspect of others when they don't blog.

I always think

 "My gosh, they are out there LIVING life, so busy hiking, watching sunsets, and dancing with their spouse as they make dinner that they don't have even ONE MINUTE to blog!".

That may be true of other lax bloggers, but if there is one thing you can take to the bank with the old Spinster Chronicles- if we are not blogging, it's not because life has become a thrilling adventure.

 It's usually something along the lines of

"Where did I put my iPad again? Oh right, the cat has it. No blogging tonight"

or

"Wow..this is the last box of ring dings that I can bid on at Ebay..I'd better focus on this tonight!"

 Anyway, I had a wild night with my favorite 6 year old the other night.
(That would be the incomparable Elly Mae Monroe)

 It involved cookie baking, glitter, and promoting a feminist agenda.

My 3 favorite things, all in one night, baby!

 In other news, since I've been off Facebook and not blogging,

 I've really stepped up my game as far as stalking your blogs.

 So, let me say this...you people need to focus and blog daily.

 Seriously, don't make me spend hours drifting through your archives, judging what you wore to your mother's house on Thanksgiving 2009.

 Do. Not. Make. Me. 

 Anyway, I'll be blogging there tonight. Brace yourselves!

Lori Ann

There is just one thing I need

Today, The following things happened:

1. Someone scraped up their hands trying to rescue someone else's oversized marshmallow off the porch roof.

2. Said marshmallows were also: covered in frosting, filled with chocolate,
 blown up in the microwave, and worn as hats.
(Not all at once, of course)

3. A mother stabbed her sweet baby sister and her own child in the back
 during a game of Settlers of Catan.

3. Jack Jack learned the meaning of petty vengeance

4 Katy smacked me in the face and then, in an unusually bold counter offensive,
 ran to tell her mother that I was being mean to her.

Well played, young Jedi.

5. Speaking of smacking, Danielle became enraged when I wouldn't make her a turkey pot pie.

6. There was a cookie bake off.

 Lets just say that I won the moral victory.
(but on a more technical note, the victory went to other cookies.)

 I guess that's what happens when you sacrifice both taste and quality decorating to use your cookies

to make various anti Canadian political statements.

Another crazy day at the Monroe's!!

Thanks for letting me get my Christmas buzz on, Danielle!!

Lori Ann

My precious

You guys.

I have an iPad.

One of the first things I did was download this book

1 chapter in and best. book. ever.

So..the Obama second term has brought me more than higher taxes and having to endure the gloating of my liberal frenemies.

It's brought me an iPad.

Thank you, Mr President!

Lori Ann

As they tear your hope apart

You guys,

Oh my gosh.

Today I went to the first day of a two day training on suicide response. 

It's a training for therapists BY therapists.

Which is as funny as you might imagine.

There was a lot of sitting in circles, a lot of sharing, a lot of  "what I hear you saying is.." and "it sounds like you feel..." s . 

Each person had to talk about how suicide has impacted their life and I kid you not

; as each person spoke, the entire circle would pivot toward them,

 recross their legs, make eye contact, and offer an encouraging smile.  

It was both bizzare, slightly annoying, and oddly cute. 

On to day two tomorrow.

Then, as a treat for myself,

 I am having a sleepover with those crazy Monroe babies!!  

It's rare that they're all out on bail at the same time, after all :) 

Lori Ann

A day that's gray and lonely

I had 7 appointments in a row at work today.

Since it's almost Thanksgiving (I felt like it totally snuck up on me!) I guess I should let it be known that I am  

RIDICULOUSLY GRATEFUL for my job. I love having a job that is essentially doing what I love. Listening and trying to help people.

It's just a little rough to go from one person to the next to the next, etc.

By the last person I always feel a little less coherent and helpful.

"Oh, you're suicidal? Oh man, that's not awesome. Good luck with that".

Speaking of suicide, I am going to a training on Thursday and Friday about crisis response and I am SO excited.

I have had now many occasions when I have been confronted by a crisis and every single time my first thought is 

"We need to get a professional in here.Someone who knows what they are doing!"

Then I look around and realize that person is me. 

No one wants an insecure, under prepared crisis manager!

Disclaimer: I take suicide very seriously,  just to clarify.

Anyway, I will update you on PLAN Ipad later this week.

I am kind of having second thoughts because I want something that had Internet, camera, and portable music device- all in one. 

Does that product even exist?

Dang, this was a boring life update. 

I promise more scandal soon! 

(like when my affair with Petraus is revealed!)

Lori Ann

To guide us with the light of love

It's Veteran's Day. 

Both of my grandfathers served in the Air Force.

My dad's father was a bomber escort pilot in Japan in World War II.

My mom's dad was too young for WWII but served in Korea. 

Hinsdales have been in every war since before the American Revolution.

It's one of the many reasons that I am intensely proud to be an American.

 And I am so deeply grateful to those who serve our country.

I've always loved America, but it's meant even more for me over the last 5 years or so, since the first time I really left the country
 (I had been to Canada once)

 and went on a 2 week tour of Europe. 

I saw the coast of Ireland

 the rolling hills of Belgium

 the endlessly fascinating cities of England

 and the unparalleled beauty of France.

The lands of all of my ancestors.

I looked around and saw so much of the state that I call home.

 My beloved Pennsylvania. 

I could see how they took the beauty and the community of their homeland and brought it to this new world.

This promised land.

How brave they were.

 How strong to leave behind their families and leave forever these genuinely beautiful countries.

All to come to a new country and to fight for freedom.

 For this city upon a hill.

 For life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I am grateful for every solider, for every family, for every single act of selflessness and strength.

 I am so thankful for blessings I enjoy because of the sacrifice of my forefathers and my countryman.

God bless America

 and I ask God most especially bless our Veterans.

Lori Ann