I don't want to be a pretty girl

Sooo....

I lost 3 more lbs. That's 103 for all of you keeping count. And since I avoided the camera like a plague when I was at my all time high (in 2009-2010 ish) the only before picture that I have is of my license. Brace yourselves. 

Yikes. 

This is my current after picture- I still have a long way to go. 

So..that's my progress so far. (this was for you, Tyler!)

On a related note, I went walking at the park today. 2.2 miles. I always tell my clients to do something that is rejuvenating for them. For me, walking in PA is the ultimate in rejuvenation. I don't know why but no place compares to here. I love the trees. They are just the right shade of green. I love the rainy spring days and the chilly fall nights and absolutely everything in between. (ok..except for the humidity in summer... I wish I could live in Colorado every summer)

Anyway, just walking, listening to my crazy mix of music and being outside makes me feel like I can do anything. Here are my favorite parts of the trail that I walk. 

And lastly, on a completely unrelated note, I am trying to find quotes to hang up in my office. Another thing that is rejuvenating for me is surrounding myself with quotes and song lyrics. Does anyone have a favorite? Something that you would like to see on the wall of your therapists office?

Thanks for listening to me ramble!!

Lori Ann

I felt like a caged elf

Random Updates on a weird Saturday afternoon.

Erin visited this week. She is half pot stirrer, half therapist. It's always so much fun to have her home though. 

I can't stop listening to "My name is" by Eminem. It's straight up late 90's in this house right now. 

I went to Walmart at 6 am this morning. To buy crunch n' munch and a pink camisole. I bet they thought I was high. All I needed to add to my cart was some tuna and a fake pumpkin or something.

Oh no..MacArthur Park just came up on the iTunes shuffle. This song makes me feel crazy!

I have been thinking about writing my book again. I have to do it. I just really want to be rich and buy a stone farmhouse in the PA country side. With a pool and a theater room. And a wrap around porch.

So far the only character I have for my book is an orange cat named Captain Jack. 

I have been working out a few times a week for a little while now. My trainer is nuts. But I think (knock on wood) that it is really starting to click with me that I have the power to change my body and change my life. I dread going to the gym a little less each time.

Anyway, I am going to post something in the "live your life" series this week. I don't know what. But I (or maybe 'we'- me and my sister's kids) are going to LIVE OUR LIVES (somehow)! 

Lori Ann

100

It's official.

I have lost 100 lbs from my all time high. (which was only 120 to begin with so...yeah, I'm 20 lbs now)

I want to thank the following people and things:

My parents- for dealing with the craziness and always making me jello and delicious  (small) servings of chicken

Diet coke- for finally relinquishing the strange hold of obsession you've had over me the last 20 years

Tory- my trainer. He's bald, scrappy, and kind of like a therapist but who makes you do bench dips and keeps yelling "one more set!"

My sisters- For celebrating every single pound along the way.

People and things I DO NOT want to thank:

The scale- which tried to lie to me today. Good thing I stepped on it 3 times until it told me what I wanted.

Jr- for bringing an ever whirling array of carbs and sugar into my life

My wholesome pilgrim genetic code which interprets one missed meal as a reason to hold onto every single calorie like it's about to be winter in Jamestown all over again.

That is all.

Lori "it's ok to hate me even more now" Ann

There's nothing left to talk about

So...

Anti-Mothers Week has been a raving success for me so far.

I thought about calling it "I'm not a mom but I want to celebrate myself, don't judge me, devils! week" but felt that Anti-Mothers Week had a more provocative and angsty vibe to it.

Speaking of provoking, I am always plotting to post about controversial topics on this blog to drive up my readership. But then I think "ehhh...."

So, if you came here looking for some controversy, you are going to have to get your fix somewhere else, gossip mongers!

Today I walked 2.2. miles AND THEN went to the gym. It's official. I am one of 'those people'. Do not show your face at the SNAP fitness in Quakertown, PA..because I will sneer at you. All I really need to get to finalize my gym cred is a weight belt. (and muscles and stuff, but I can't focus on that when I have a weight belt acquisition to worry about)

Lori Ann

Que el cielo y tu madre cuidan de ti

You guys...if you look at the history of my blog, every May you will see about a weeks worth of posts dedicated to my mother. It is; after all, "Mother's Week". (my mother never has a 'day'- its always a 'week'- birth week, mothers week, etc, etc)

And my mother deserves a million posts, trust me. But this year I am taking the Chronicles in a slightly new direction.

This week I am going to write a few posts celebrating myself. And everything that I love about not being a mom.

I think most people probably have the idea that spinsterhood and not being a mom are trials that us single girls are called to bear. And while there is a hint of truth to that...*it would be so nice to have someone to rant "My mother told me not to marry you" at, a crazy daughter to dress up, and all the, sweet, sweet Mormon societal acceptance that comes with it*... it is sometimes just a crazy awesome blessing to be free.

Not being a mom means:

That I can sleep in EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND

That I can 'play mom' (aka being an Aunt) and just laugh merrily through all of the fun and then go home and eat chocolate and watch scary movies all night on my netflix app because...once again...I don't have to wake up early or deal with the fallout of the sugar high I created.

I can get in and out of my car in 30 seconds flat.

I get to have the following conversation with myself every day "What do you feel like doing tonight, Lori?..Nothing? That sounds great"

I do laundry about every two weeks

I still have a fairly firm grip on my sanity.

Lori Ann

p.s.- It should be obvious but let me add a disclaimer anyway. This post isn't meant to be offensive. It's meant to entertain me as I begin to increasingly dread the wilted pity carnation I am sure to be handed by the young men at church this week.

Stipe's not far behind

Random Thoughts on a Tuesday Afternoon

1.  Today I smelled some chocolate chip cookies. They smelled like happiness.

2.  The only thing I can officially wear in smaller sizes so far are shoes. It will be nice getting back into my 7 1/2's, baby!

3. I am going to work out tonight. For the third time in less than a week, baby! (note to self: stop adding "baby" to the end of every sentence...baby!)

4. I have stopped reading trashy novels, people. They don't really appeal to me anymore. Mainly because I have transitioned to even more forbidden romances. Gay Amish boys. A werewolf and a vampire. Stories of rakish earls and spirited debutantes aren't thrilling enough. I wonder what the ultimate forbidden romance would be? A gay Amish werewolf and a straight, vegan Agnostic vampire?

5. One could be named Ferdinand. And the other would be Jedidiah.

6. And they could settle on respecting each other's religious views. Sometimes Ferdinand could come to church with Jedidiah..if the Amish were cool with that. But maybe Jedidiah would only tell Ferdinand he was going to hell like once a month, tops.

7. And they could have a car, but only use it on weekends or midnight taco bell runs. And they'd have a cat. And the Ferdinand would agree that the cat could have as much dairy as it wanted.  

8. And they wouldn't eat meat...unless it was a farm animal that Ferdinand took a personal disliking to.

9. Well, Ferdinand wouldn't eat it anyway, because he's a vampire.

This book is writing itself. It kind of feels like the next great American novel already, doesn't it?

Lori Ann

She smiled at me on the subway

To my dear and sweet niece Katherine (also know as Katy, Kat Rat, Ratty, Katy Kat, deal breaker, etc)

Another year has gone by.

Spring is here again and you are 5.

Most days it feels like I just blinked and years have gone by.

There are a lot of things I could say today. So many stories to tell.

From our secret passage walks to evil teddy bears to our youngest child power struggles.

When (or maybe if) you read this years from now, I hope you'll know those stories by heart.

So instead, I will just tell you what I should say every time I see you.

You are beautiful, Katy.

You are so kind.

You never forget anyone.

I am so proud of you.

In the words of Marilla Cuthbert:

"He knew we needed her."

God knew that we needed you, Katy-girl.

Love Always,

Aunt Lori