Editing LoriChickadee (section)

== About Lori ==
Those who have met my character [[Lo'ren T'Vof]] understand some about me already, as she is based upon me. For those of you who don't know my character(s), sit back and read the story.

===Family History===
I am the youngest member of my immediately family - though I have a plethora of cousins and I have a niece and a nephew, with another niece on the way. I hold my family very dear to my heart and when I manage to get away from my busy life I give the greatest hugs to those I love deeply. At last count, my family numbers 41 when we gather! (That's Grandparents, Parents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Niece, Nephew and In-Laws)

I was born and raised, and continue to be a Roman Catholic. I do hold dearly to my faith, but don't make that scare you off. I have no desire to convert others - as long as they are not attempting to convert me! I do so love a good solid eccumenical discussion. If you are looking for something faith based to scare you off, perhaps this next tidbit may do such: I am in the process of becoming a Religious Sister (a Nun), though not a Cloistered Religious. AND I AM IMPATIENT TO GET THERE!!!! Hurry up student loans and BEGONE! Update: As of August 2011 I am within a year of finishing off my loans! YAY!

I am the only member of my family (almost) to have any degree of professional musical inclination - though I am trying to convert my nephew in that regard. The only others are my father's father and my mother's cousin. The rest are nearly hopeless musically. I am most fond of Choral singing and when I have been unable to be in a choir I have languished horribly, I also have a deep love for Muscial Theatre, I will sing along to the point where I know all the parts and will have my own little show in my bedroom. I know I'm crazy because I volunteered to help with the Musical at the school I work at, which came off really well and I look forward to the next bought of craziness that is Musical Theatre with High School Students!

===Life today===
Currently I am struggling to return to active singing after an extended absence. I have lost several notes off the top of my former vocal range and need a new vocal coach to regain them, hopefully the new year will bring that into existance. For those of you who know music I am a first soprano and was able to hit B5 regularly and C6 occasionally, but now am struggling to hit A5 without strain. Life has curveballs aplenty. I am once again not in a classical choir due to issues surrounding a very cranky and tempermental back. I have tried out for a Barbershop style chorus, I really enjoyed the experience, but it's outside of my means at this time. So I now content myself with my Church Choir and singing in the shower.

I sometimes find great humour in the fact that I am, in general, the most musically inclined member of my family. Why, you might ask? Ah, well, I am Hard of Hearing. I wear, and have worn since I was two years old,  Hearing Aids. With out my 'ears' I am unable to hear in any sort of normal range. This has also been one of the greater struggles coming back to music, I got a new set of hearing aides during my absence from music and am having to re-learn how to listen in a choral setting... sigh, the things we do for what we love. I actually acted like a Diva in my frustration (so not like me)!

Note about Hearing Aids: They are dying and so I NEED money to get new ones. Anyone got a spare 5000 Dollars? So, yeah, got the new ears... one cost $2075 the other... $3850, thank God for programs that are set up for people like myself (aka no money to spare and NEED aids to live/work/funtion). Next on my list after paying off the loans... set up an account to shove some money in to cover these down the way.

===Passions===
I am very much in love with language and take every opportunity I can to read and increase my vocabulary - it's no wonder that I have found and enjoy this wonderful forum of creativity (Would that I had discovered it before!) Recently I finished reading the '''''"Sword of Truth"''''' series by Terry Goodkind and am now looking for the next great adventure in reading.

I spent a good portion of the summer of 2009 with my ears glued to the book on CD I chose to tackle. Yes, on CD, I wouldn't DARE tackle this particular one in print.... drumroll please.... '''''"Great Expectations"''''' by Charles Dickens.... a slog of a book even on CD (15 CDs to be exact). I'm thinking my next project will be to re-tackle '''''"Gravity's Rainbow"''''' by Thomas Pynchon and/or some other large (extremely large) classic of a book. Suggestions? '''''"Catcher in the Rye"''''' by J.D. Salinger is my current read but it's not super long.

Actually, my current challenge is that I've gone back to University. I'm currently studying for a Masters in Religious Education. (YIKES) I have 8 credits under my belt and plan on taking 1 course per semester during the year and a couple in the summer. I have finished '''''"Introduction to Spirituality"''''', '''''"Introduction to the Old Testament"''''', '''''"The Letters of Saint Paul"''''', and '''''"The Gospel of John"'''''. Right now is '''''"History of the Church"'''''. Currently sitting with a 3.5 GPA.... not bad, eh?

I am also a self proclaimed computer geek and love to fiddle around with computers. I particularly enjoy working with a program similar to PhotoShop (called '''''Gimp'''''), where I have created the Character photos you see for my characters. (Not bad eh?) I think I'll drop in a couple of my other creations as well, just for the heck of it... scroll down, you'll like them.

And last but not least I am a Canadian. (Eh.)