Momma, momma, what do you see? A free spirit calling out to the inner-child…in me.
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Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
Category: Raising Teens, Tweens & Killer Dust Bunnies
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Wordless Wednesday
Just Imagine -
Trash to Treasure
Today is my best friend's birthday. Actually, she's not really my best friend. Not anymore, anyway. In fact, I can't even remember the last time we spoke.
Wait, yes I can.
[glances at calendar]
It will be 28 years, this coming June.
You see, Shirley and I fought our way out of grew up in the same neighborhood and, if I think real hard, I could probably even remember the street she lived on.
[frowns]
Okay, I give up. I can, however, tell you that her family lived a few blocks closer to the Arthur Kill, which afforded their house a better view of the Staten Island dump.
Then again, even the "uptown" folks had no choice but to acknowledge our neighbors from across the river….especially, in the summertime.
After a while, you sort of grew used to the smells, I guess and, well, quite frankly, we were too busy having fun, just being kids, to even notice, anything other than which street lights to watch for (hint: NOT the ones with the smashed bulbs) a clear signal that it was, you know, time to go home.
"Why don't you go and get some fresh air?"
My youngest is 8 and, well, not only do my parents insist that Hopey is as…ahem…active and rambunctious as I was (especially, at that age) she is also, part monkey (see picture above) I think.
"What are you doing?"
Still, a lot has changed since I was a kid. The dumps aren't visible any longer (there's a new project refreshingly referred to as the Fresh Kills Park) today, I'm missing the old neighborhood (sort of) and my best friend, Shirley (Happy Birthday, wherever you are!) and, well, there's a teeny-tiny part of me that will always be partial to the smell of garbage.
"Allllllll…most…GOT IT — I'm trying to help keep the Earth clean!"
Disrespecting where you live…no matter where you live…not so much.
"Can you buh-leeve some big, fat jerk left garbage on OUR playground!"
What can I say? She's got a mouth, like her muh-thuh!
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
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Will You Still Read Me, When I’m 164?
Meet my neighbor, Miss Grace. She's turning 103, this year. I know, right? Trust me, it's not easy being her neighbor — I took this picture from my kitchen window, yesterday.NO! I wasn't spying on her. Not really. I just happened to be doing the dishes — because, the dishwasher was full, but SOMEONE forgot to turn it on, the night before and, if you've visited here, before, it probably won't take you very long to guess who — and, well, don't let her age, or the size of Miss Grace fool you, either.
"Hi, Miss Grace!"
The woman IS intimidating as h…e…double hockey sticks!
"Liz…COME HERE!"
Aaaand, she can STILL holler, REAL LOUD, too!
"Have you changed your phone number?"
Not that I haven't thought about it, but, no.
"Where've you been?
Shoot.
"No, Miss Grace, but I got a job and…."
Then, she gave me that look…you know…like, it was a rhetorical question…MORON!
"I tried calling you."
Oh, wait, maybe I'm NOT such a dope, after all.
"Oh, really, when was that, Miss Grace?"
This time, she looked me dead in the face with her milky eyes and I winced, imagining what they must have seen, or at least, what Miss Grace saw in me, right then and there.
"I've been trying to call you…ALL WINTER!"
Shoot me, now.
"I'm sorry, Miss Grace."
She tapped her cane and her great-grand niece gave me a smile, all empathetical-like (at least, I hope it was) as she tried to nudge Miss Grace along.
"You must have dialed wrong, Auntie Grace."
[one beat, two beats]
"Well, MY phone number hasn't changed any."
Miss Grace also calls 'em like she sees 'em and, well, I can't say as I blame her, either.
"So, how've ya' been?"
I mean, what DO you tell an almost 103 year old woman…anyway?
"I'm just fine, Miss Grace, thank you, and you?"
What else?
"Did you know I fell?"
Shoot me, tie a couple of cinder blocks around my ankles and just throw me into something wet.
"No, I'm so sorry, Miss Grace."
Dang, but I felt like total pond slime.
"Nothin' to feel sorry, 'bout."
Rhetorical, or not, Mis Grace has this way of making me take a real a good look at myself (and my life) and, well, I just stood there, quietly and planted my feet firmly to the pavement, ready for my scolding.
"I'm still alive, ain't I?"
[grin]
"Yes, Ma'am and will probably outlive me…too."
She slapped her good knee (I think) and, well, I'm just glad Miss Grace doesn't have a blog, or not that I know of, anyway.
"GAH-HAH-HAH-HAH!"
Because, just imagine what she would write about me?
"You lost weight, or somethin'?"
[eyes go wide]
"Why, yes Ma'am…yes, I have!"
[one beat, two beats]
"Well, there ya' go!"
Aaaaand, then she smiled, tapped her cane and hobbled off to her house.
"Uh…okay…um…have a nice day."
I know, right? You go ask her what she meant. Not me. Quite frankly, I'm too scared to find out and obviously way too busy being a MORON!
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
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Driveway Divas
Mom's Driving School: Holly, Day 1 – sitting in our driveway!
We live on a very busy street, so we get A LOT of traffic in the front of our house.
Like, in, HOLY HANNAH MONTANA, I can't even get out of my own driveway…GAH!…oh, forget this, they'll just have to learn to like eating dry cereal, kind of busy.
"Will SOMEONE let me in, already?"
Drives me positively mental and NOT in a good way, either.
"Oh, hey, nice to see ya; how've ya' been?"
On the weekends, however, I take back what's mine and, especially, if the weather's nice (like, this passed weekend) well, then there's most likely a tailgating party at my house!
30 minutes later.
"Yeah, I know, right, anyway, what time should I pick So-and-So up?"
I love it when my kids' friends want to come and hang out at our house, seriously, I really do!
"Oh, don't rush, we're here all day!"
Especially, when the stars are aligned and my husband Garth [not his real name] and I happen to be home, at the same time.
"We've got tons of chores to catch up on, too."
[waves]
Then, the next car pulls up.
"Oh, hey, nice to see ya!"
30 minutes later.
"Oh, take your time, we're here all day!"
Aaaaand, before you know it, there are 4 MORE kids running around the house and they are ALL hungry!
"Mom, there's someone in the driveway!"
Funny thing, living in the suburbs, I mean, one minute I'm cursing everyone (and their mother) and then, 120 hours later, we're sucking on our coffees (or, cawfees, if you're from Jersey) and shooting the breeze…in my driveway.
"Why don't you just invite them in?"
You know, I never even thought to ask.
"But, it's soooooo nice outside!"
Besides, I sorta like the idea of my being a "Driveway Diva," as my 14-year-old kindly pointed out to my sister-in-law, who happened to be over (whoops, and yep, I sorta forgot) and seems to also prefer visiting with us…indoors.
"Um, I'll just catch up with you later, okay?"
30 minutes later.
"Why is your sister's car still here?"
It was just easier to let her take my husband's car.
"There's too many cars in the driveway!"
Is it any wonder my 16 year-old hasn't started driving, for real, yet?
"She'll be back to pick it up on Monday."
Riiiiiiiight.
"As long as she get's here before the early train, or after the school starts!"
Don't believe me? Stop by, anytime, during the week, around the hours of 6 and 11 a.m., or 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. and, well, if you're trying to make a left turn, just fuhgehtaboutit!
I'll just come to your house, okay?
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
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Just Don’t Call Me a Tech Blogger!
I break things (a lot) so, calling me a tech blogger would be bad (even my kids would back me up on this point) and I am certainly not the most connected or coolest mom and she's pretty much cornered the market on savvy (don't worry, they really do know their stuff) but, does it really matter what I blog about?
No.
If I've learned anything, in my 7 years of blogging (besides, the fact it's not a good idea to change from a hosted blog site, to another, before backing up your archives, der!) the most important take away (ready?) is that the words I write (or, choose to publish) really don't matter, unless I've touched someone, in a positive, or negative way.
Hopefully, in a positive way, because, well, I don't know of anyone who blogs to feel bad about stuff, on purpose, nor would I want to.
Still. Should it make a difference, how I choose to approach (i.e. respond to) this whole mommyblogging business?
Pardon my Jersey, but abso-friggin-lutely!
In fact, last week, I was asked to speak on a panel of (along with the aforementioned cool, connected and savvy) moms who blog (because, not everyone necessarily wishes to be defined by the term mommyblogger) about working closely with brands (there, I said it!) and not just because I'm an expert, or anything (because, I'm not, der!) but, I feel, to provide a slightly different (i.e., seasoned) point of view, when addressing online mom-specific communities, as a whole.
"I blog because it makes me feel good."
Actually, the point I was trying to make (because, some of us write better than we speak, ahem) is really simple: I enjoy making other mothers feel good (seriously, if we don't lift each other up, who will?)
My mission is equally as simple: to help dismiss the idea that anything beginning with the word "mother," or ending in "hood" should be portrayed as nothing, if not perfect (especially, in the media) oh, and pardon me if my blog makes me feel a little better about myself, too.
[steps off soapbox]
I'm not the same person I was 7 years ago and I'm not saying blogging should be, either (times change, you know?) and I certainly don't want to sound like a purist, or preachy (do people really read blogs, anymore?) however, I have to agree with Busy Mom in thinking that perhaps we should all look a little inward, before responding to all the negativity surrounding moms online — or, simply reaffirm the fact that there is a community out there, for everyone, regardless of what type of blog you keep.
With that said, here's a headline you probably won't read anytime soon:
Moms aren't necessarily all about the blog bashing and the comment thrashing, or into the drama of virtual hair-pulling contests, either!
I mean, don't we see enough of that at PTA meetings, right?
[ducks to avoid flying fundraisers]
Me?
I will gladly reaffirm that:
- I am a dork (but, I'm not stupid)
- I will continue to share my stories (sorry, Mom)
- Also, share cool stuff I find online and try not to break things (too much)
- While, hopefully, continue to give back to my community, in a positive way (without being taken advantage of, by media folks who still just don't get it, der!)
- Because, well, it's how I roll.
Unless, you think moms are stupid, or blogging about nice stuff is dumb, then it ALL doesn't really matter, anyway, right?
Well, then, there's always Engadget!
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
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The Magic Garden
Beware – chuckling daisy patch ahead!This freaky little flashback was inspired by my friend, the lyrically-gifted BusyMom (apparently, she grew up watching really weird stuff on t.v., too!)
See, and we turned out alright…right…RIGHT?
[sound of crickets chirping]
OH…look…OVER THERE…BusyMom's wearing pigtails?
SLAM!
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
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NWF Be Out There Challenge: Reflections, Senior Living and Shuffleboard
Me and My Mom on Good Friday 2010
DAY 1 of our spring break/challenge was a total RainFAIL! Then, Day 2 and it was time to send out for an Ark!
[wipes feet]
Finally, we were able to get outside and fall into a pot of fairy soup.
[sound of crickets chirping]
Moving on…I love that picture of me and my mom (up there) because, there really aren't many pictures of me, or my mom, let alone, the both of us…together…since, you know, we're the ones usually doing all the picture-taking.
My mom and dad are going through a real rough patch, with several health issues, right now (theirs and my twin brothers) and, well, based on years of personal study (what can I say, I'm a people watcher) in my opinion, hanging with the grand kids can sometimes have a real positive healing effect.
Did I mention, we Hungarians are a very reflective lot? We have open forums and very passionate discussions (ahem) about the meaning of life sort of stuff and, well, there aren't many secrets in my family.Like, here, Heather is reflecting on the fact that her mother (that would be me) did NOT give her enough time to straighten her hair (seriously, takes forever) before going out…in public…and having to wear a ponytail (which she hates) and, well, I didn't make her smile for the camera, or anything.
I did, however, catch a quiet (albeit, very, very RARE) little happy moment, shared between siblings but…shhhhhhh…don't tell 'em, okay?
Then, there's my youngest, Hope (she's 8) but, her Jersey name is Hopey Baseballs.
Who's STILL reflecting on the fact that mom did NOT sign her up for softball…in time.
As, my only son, Glen reflects on the fact that mom managed to miss baseball sign-ups, as well, DAMMIT.
And, Holly, who insists she HATES playing anything that remotely resembles a sport (she'd rather spend her day reflecting on a piece of art in a museum, somewhere) well, even she seemed to enjoy…using the golf pitch…for baseball practice.However, all 4 of my kids are ALL about shuffleboard; the sport of cruise camps, senior living facilities and retirement communities, everywhere!
Yep, we ARE down with the shuffleboard and, after 5 years of incessant taunting by their grandparents (i.e., I can't believe I've been beat by a senior citizen!) my kids are gosh-darned good at it, too.
Cross-posted to our 365 Days mircoblog project — where I'm taking a self-imposed timeout, every day, to post wordless (you're welcome!)
No, it may not have been a day in Disney World (seriously, we are
perhaps the only family, in Jersey, who has NOT had breakfast with a
princess, yet) but, it's nice to know that even a leisurely day, spent outdoors, with the people who love you the most, well, Holy Hannah Montana, the kids and I couldn't have asked for a better day!Reflect on that, Mickey!
Now take your kids and GET OUT (heh) also, you can visit the NWF site for ideas on what you can do to get these kids outside…besides, promising them a trip to Disney…I mean!
[FWIW: I'm a Founding Mother of NWF's Be Out There program
– just helping families (like mine) get their kids outside and enjoy
nature, more – no payment was received for this blog post.]© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
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NWF Be Out There Challenge: Day 4 – Here Comes the Sun (dah-duh-dah-dah)
DAY 1 of our spring break/challenge was a total RainFAIL! Then, Day 2 and it was time to send out for an Ark!
[wipes feet]
Moving on.
I'm scheduled to work at the gym, this afternoon (stupid braces, dumb college fund) but, I left the camera home, with my kids and, well, it'll be interesting to see what they come up with.
Yesterday, I decided to allow my 2 oldest girls to sleep in (as if, I could wake them, or I had any other choice) and took Doofus-Dawg for a walk.
Having spent the last 3 days home, alone, with 2 very cranky teenagers (trust me on this one) my 2 youngest were more than happy to tag along!
"Let's go and visit the waterfall!"
When they were little-er (yes, it's a word!) we would take pre-nap walks into the next neighborhood and visit "the waterfall."
"It used to look a whole lot bigger."
Still, there's something really cool about the water…even if it's simply rushing over an embankment…no matter how old you are, I think.
Not to mention, the moss-lined creek running through our little corner of the suburbs, in Jersey; who'da thunk, right?
Aaaand, there was lots and lots of onion grass!
Good thing, because the fairies, who live under "the waterfall," just LOVE onion soup; or, so I'm told.
Even though he would NEVER admit it (out loud) Glen still believes in flower fairies — yes, he does — especially, when exploring the woods behind our house, or hunting for fire flies in the summertime and most especially whenever his little sister is around.
We spent the rest of the morning, enjoying the playground at Glen's school and, yeah, it was a little muddy.
Still, it's sorta nice to have the pre-commuters' tunnel…all…to…ourselves…and, when you're 8 and 11, being able to jump, run and even shout at each other, without being hollered at, well, life was good.
Until, someone gets a little too close to the fairy soup.
Accidentally falls into said soup (yes, she's my daughter alright!)
Aaaaand…well, then even this Mom knows that it's pretty much time to go home.
"Wait, take another picture!"
No, it may not have been a day in Disney World (seriously, we are perhaps the only family, in Jersey, who has NOT had breakfast with a princess, yet) but, it's nice to know that even a simple walk through our neighborhood, during a rather rainy spring break, can become, you know, totally blog-worthy.
Now take your kids and GET OUT (heh) also, you can visit the NWF site for ideas on what you can do to get these kids outside…besides, promising them a trip to Disney…I mean!
[FWIW: I'm a Founding Mother of NWF's Be Out There program – just helping families (like mine) get their kids outside and enjoy nature, more – no payment was received for this blog post.]
© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
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Wordless Wednesday
Sleeping In
Cross-posted to our 365 Days microblog project — where I'm taking a self-imposed timeout, every day, to post wordless (you're welcome!)Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you're it: Wordless WednesdayIt stopped raining (YAY!) so looking forward to FINALLY getting out of the house for the NWF: Be Out There Challenge…um…as soon as my two oldest girls, you know, wake up!
[FWIW: I'm a Founding Mother of NWF's Be Out There program
– just helping families (like mine) get their kids outside and enjoy
nature, more – no payment was received for this blog post.]© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
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NWF Be Out There Challenge: Day 2 – Send the Ark!
DAY 1 of our spring break/challenge was a total RainFAIL! Moving on. So, it's Day 2 and wanna know how it's working out…so far?
Stupid rain!
[FWIW: I'm a Founding Mother of NWF's Be Out There program
– just helping families (like mine) get their kids outside and enjoy
nature, more – no payment was received for this blog post.]© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.