Stranded at the drive in

Ok so...

My work is closed for the next day and a half.

 I went in today for 4 hours and did some paperwork and then we closed and my dad came to pick me up.

 Oh yeah..I'm one of those strong, independent women who have their dads drive them to work in bad weather!

 Take that, feminist movement!

Anyway, my father is half comforting, half crazy.

 He's driving me home through all these heavily wooded back roads, talking about how "its just raining a little".

 The crazy part is that he really means it.

I don't know if I have ever seen my father freaked out about anything.

 He's the last of that old school generation of dads (or perhaps men) who fear nothing.

It could be Armageddon and my father would be out back, grilling steaks, saying things like

 "Jesus C#$@, Lori, you wringing your hands ain't going to do a d&@# thing to change things.
"
 or

 "Well..what did you expect? This is what happens when you let liberals get elected."

Speaking of liberals, I keep worrying about how this storm will affect the election.

Because I lack empathy for others and put my own political agenda ahead of the health and safety of others.

Anyway, I'm off to put on my pjs and read some Harry Potter.

Do you think I could read all 7 in 36 hours?

Maybe I'll start here..

Lori Ann

Even at the height of our revelry...

This blog has been sacrificed to Election Mania.

 I have a two part plan set up for November 7th, once all of the ballots have been counted.

Plan A

 Romney wins!

Rejoice and write patronizing words of comfort on every single one of my democrat friends' facebook walls.

 Plan B

 Obama wins:/

Stay in bed ALL DAY.

 Eat tuna casserole and drink coke- fully sugared and caffeinated coke.

 Avoid all social media.

I have so much to tell you all though.

 Oh my gosh.

 I've got crazy work stories (already), crazy Sugar stories (you know you miss those) and more insane life goals I have little to no intention of actually accomplishing!

 No matter who you support, get out there and vote!

(And remember, Republicans vote on Tuesday and Democrats on Wednesday :)

 Lori Ann

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