There's been a time or two where my declaration that I am the "Aunt to the cutest kids ever" has been challenged. I just wanna take a moment to gloat and to repeat my original assertion. I am aunt to the cutest kids ever. Go ahead... look at these and just TELL me I'm wrong. It will be all lies but just go ahead.

Yeah... what now???

so.. like... yum.

Friday we visited Greg's at UVU. It is the student restaurant for the culinary department there. It was Japanese week and it was a great time. The food was pretty good, except it seems, for a certain soup that my sister, Randy and my mom got. It was called Egg Custard Soup. When the server brought it to the table it jiggled, not unlike jello or my thighs. As they started to eat it the conversation went like this:

Mom: What's in it?

Lore: I dunno. It scary.
Randy: It has... meat in it.
Mom: I can't figure out what it tastes like.
Lore: Ummmm...
Randy: It tastes like... Mushrooms
Mom: There's no mushrooms in there!
Randy: No, no.. like um.. bean.
Mom: Yeah.. Beef.(Ber and I begin to laugh as we eat our perfectly normal Miso soup)
Randy: Not Beef! No like... Pork and beans.. without the pork.
Lore: It yucky. I'm not eating that, I can't tell what's floating in it.
Mom: Yeah.. its smokey. I don't like it.
Randy: Yeah I know what it tastes like. Smoked ASS.

So there you go. The REST of the food was pretty good and the presentation was awesome. Its a very reasonable price for five courses and really fun for a change of pace.

Check it out!

so... that meant what??

I usually listen to the radio when I get ready for work. The morning show that I listen to has a "dream interpreter" on about once a week. I pretty much feel the same way about dream interpreters as I do about psychics, taro, and astrology, which means I sorta think in my heart of hearts that its a bunch of "hooey". That's the super intelligent way of saying that I'm a bit on the skeptical side.

Sometimes I think that the dreams are sorta self-explanatory. Sometimes I think she reaches a little bit. For example: a helicopter in a dream is about something in your life "taking off". A baby is about a "new beginning". Sharks attacking you in a dream are about somebody that is trying to verbally "drag you down". Thats all fine and good I guess, but personally I think maybe you should just lay off the Nyquil and Discovery Channel combo sometimes.

The night of the last dream segment I had a particularly interesting dream:
I was at work, but not my work (you know how dreams are). I was in a room talking to Randy when my friend Di called to me from the warehouse next door. I knew everyone was there with the bay door open watching the Wendy's across the parking lot because it was on fire. I didn't want to go but she said the police wanted to talk to me. I walked into the warehouse and they started to question me because apparently, I seemed to have had a history of arson.
Mmmmk. Yeah. My friends call me Matches.

Anyway... I started to get really angry because no one believed that I had nothing to do with it. I started to yell and get really upset when suddenly Di screamed, "No! she didn't do it! I did it! I'm sorry, it was an accident!! I was just so scared that I didn't say anything!!" She started to cry and hug me. I just kept telling her it was okay, that it was an accident and everything would be alright. Of course she didn't mean to burn down Wendy's. She liked the wraps!

After that Di went with the officers and I followed her "friend" out of the parking lot who was driving a beat down metro in a startlingly reckless manner.
Now... what does THAT mean Lori from Dreamzone dot com????

busy busy busy like a little busy bee

Feels like I have been nothing but busy the last two months. Fall seems to be the time where everyone decides that they need pictures. And that's fine with me really but since I am still, for the most part, a computer nomad it makes things challenging. I've recently changed from my old photo editing software to Photoshop which has been a joy and a trial, but for being self taught in the realm of photo editing (I've never cracked an instruction manual or a book. Call it what you will but I tend to lean toward "stubborn" and or"lazy") I am feeling pretty good about myself. I still wake in the night from feverish dreams depicting a Mac, but I have also come to terms that I may not get one for a long long.... LONG time. That Mac is like the proverbial carrot on the string dangling in front of my face, just out of reach.

Alas... life sulks miserably on.

On a less brooding, self absorded note: These are pictures I did for Ky and Kayla for homecoming. They were sorta last minute and there wasn't any sun. Randy did reflector duty. Things came out ok. Its hard to take bad pictures of two annoyingly happy people despite drab weather.

Next up I did some family pictures for Suzi. This is a special appology for her for taking so long for me to get out there to take them . I'm SORRY!! Seems like I have plans for SOMETHING for every spare minute of my day. I'm glad that I finally got these done and to her. I was beginning to feel REALLY guilty!! This shoot was sorta challenging as little Averie has developed a shyness concerning me where she won't look me in the eye. Unfortunately that also translates to my camera lens too. Heh.

Its a good thing I plucked the hedgerow otherwise known as my eyebrows and took out all my facial piercings that day.

I do manage to squeeze in some fun too. Last week I got down to Palisades State Park in Sterling for a day of golf and photography. The golf game wasn't bad. I'm enjoying my sweet new shoes (thanks Ber!) and my cute new bag (thanks Baby!). Things are starting to come together. I'm even more sad then usual to see winter coming. Guarenteed it won't be long after the snow flies that you see a blog about my recent escape to warmer climes.

mishaps make the best stories

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Mishaps always make for the most entertaining tales. Perhaps some day I will blog the horror story that was my date with "Fingers", or enlighten you about the time Lucky and I went on our first girl's only camping trip and our run in with "Joe," the girlfriend abusing drunkard. Maybe just maybe you'll hear the one about Chanel jumping out of the ravine charging golf cart. Maybe.

Today I will hopefully amuse you with an adventure titled: Tracy and the "So That's Why They Make You Sign a Waiver" Castle of Chaos

Last year right around this time Randy and I went on a double date with his charming work associate and his lovely wife. For anonymity's sake we will call them Jack and Jill. First off we went to Tepenyaki and had dinner there cause well... it makes me salivate. Sushi anyone?? O-kay... getting sidetracked. Back to the story. After we retreated to our home to decide what to do next. We finally went with a haunted house and all agreed on the Castle of Chaos. Mainly I think cause it had the best website. Or the coolest name. I forget.

Note to self: Do not make judgements on a night's activities by the coolness of websites or the awesomeness of titles. It will only end in tragedy, or at least one person being really really pissed.

Anyhow, it was a cold and rainy night. We drove downtown and got in line and were staggered by the admission price first off. Despite that we got the "X-Scream Pass" which was an extended part of the house for a little extra. I got ready for the mingled sense of anxiety, awkwardness, and very slight fear that usually accompanies your run of the mill haunted house. Silly me, I should have gotten ready for things more like pain, horror and disgust.

Things started just as they should and exactly how I expected. Lots of screaming teenage girls, bad make-up, fog machines, Randy and Jack making off-hand remarks to the actors. You know the usual. Then things took a turn for the worse. We entered a room where the actors herded two of your party into "coffins" that they had to lay in and they would pass through the wall while the rest of your group walked around and was confronted by your usual crowd of ghouls. Since we had gone to dinner, I was wearing a suit jacket and a sweater vest and didn't feel like getting dirty or rumpled so I opted to go around. After the corner the room had a strobe light. As I walked through the room one of the actors lunged at me in order to scare me.

Now maybe its an occupational hazard for the actor, but I didn't sign up for what came next. Perhaps thrown off by the strobe light, (I guess you never get used to them or maybe cause I just rule that way) the young man, who was wearing glasses at the time, while lunging at me, resoundingly, head-butted me. I was told later by Jack that you could completely hear the THWACK even with all the other noise going on. Everything went black, the pain was intense and I staggered a bit. The actor also staggered back clutching his head and mumbled "sorry" while holding onto his glasses which had snapped in half.

This was about the time that I noticed that he had hit me so hard one of my soft contacts had popped out of my eye. Fantastic. Super even. Did I mention I still had half of the house to go with that blasted extended pass? The rest of the first house was a muddled foggy mess in my mind. My head hurt, I couldn't see worth a damn, and I was royally pissed off.

When we got to the end of the first section we got to a waiting area where I found that we had collided so hard that I was wearing some of the accident prone kid's make-up. I had a white smear across my forehead (and a HUGE headache). Everyone had a good laugh. Well almost everyone.

Next up, thankfully the last of my trials. We entered into the second section and were told that we had two choices: go through this curtain by yourself or CRAWL on your hands and knees through a tunnel. OK then. They only let two of each party go the curtain route so I ended up crawling in my suit jacket and nice clothes through a tunnel where hundreds of people had already passed on this rainy night.

I. Was. Pleased.

The rest of the house consisted of my clutching onto the back of Jill's coat so i wouldn't get lost being that I couldn't see--fog or not, and trying not to be the "Really Bitter Person that Ruins Everyone Else's Good Time".

I'm now told that this year they make you sign a waiver cause they get "blood" and such on you and the actors can touch you but you can't touch them. Like blood flinging, grabby strippers or something. I think I pass.

Fall is almost here,,,

And frankly that blows... but it IS a good time to go out and get some pictures taken. Even if the colors are, in my humble opinion, lacking this year. We went up American Fork canyon and to Silver Lake Flats. You can skip that guys... the lake is more like a half empty puddle. Besides it's second strike is the actual unpaved road getting there. Not my favorite. We did a little hiking to get the aspen shots and were just lucky to come upon a train next to an old water tower on the way back down the other side of the mountain. All in all, it was a nice ride, the scenery was pretty and I got to torture a teenager AND his dad for a good part of three hours!! Too much fun!

happy birthday to me, me, ME!!

Because my birthday is coming up soon now, and I am going to be old, and also because I was raised to be crass and vulgar I thought I would make a list of things I want for my birthday. That way all my friends, loved ones and family members know what to get me. Especially those "trust fund baby" friends that are living modestly because they don't want friends like myself to know and treat them differently. Hey no worries!! I'll treat you like dirt the same as ever!! Now get me something!!

Also as a side note, could you PLEASE coordinate your gift giving with each other so I don't have to PRETEND to be excited about something I already got? Seriously that blows. How about we just use the comments sorta like a gift registry and you can say what fabulous thing you're gonna get me. Genius!! And while we're at it people... stick to the list. I don't like it when people go all "rogue" and think they are being "imaginative". Imaginative = Crap I Don't Want. Thank you.

First things first. We'll start out slow. I would like a iMac desktop computer. A fabulous machine I have been coveting for well over a year and which every Justin Long commercial successfully rubs my nose into. As a special bonus for whoever gets me this, I will take and edit family pictures for them for LIFE. Pretty sweet deal eh?? Eh?? Yeah I know folks, take it easy, first come first serve. Reminder: I only need one.

Next we have golf equipment. I'd like a new Taylormade Burner. I'm sure Randy could help you with specifics if you'd like to get a hold of him. I also am in need of a new set of irons and a pair of shoes. Lastly I really would enjoy a new bag. I'm really picky on the bag, guys. So make sure you covertly ASK me before you ASSUME that I like Nike, because seriously... what IS that?

Now don't think I left out my non-working nieces and nephew. Theres something on the list for everyone folks! I'd like some more Dolce and Gabanna Light Blue perfume. Its a better deal if you get it in the set with the lotion and bodywash so I guess that would be ok. But for heavens sake... get it gift wrapped at least. Show you care.

Next up is the new Cannon 50D. I've been thinking I really need something with a bit more oomph. If you know what I mean. And while we're at it, if you just wanna add on any of the Image Stabalizing lenses by Cannon, that would make an adorable gift basket. Any of the lenses will do really, I'm not picky. But lets stick with the Cannon. Knock-off's aren't really my style, if you know what I mean. I'm less particular about lighting equipment if you wanna do some add-ons.

And there you have it. I know what you're thinking, but the list is so short!! I know, right? I don't want much. I'm a pretty simple girl and my needs are relatively small. I tried and tried to think up more but this is all I could come up with. If you have any questions about certain specifics feel free to give me a shout out. Happy shopping!