This Full House Archive

Category: Uncategorized

  • Let’s Get Political, Or Not Just Yet

    I did not watch the Biden/Ryan debate, last night.  Not for the lack of wanting, just didn't think about it until it was very nearly over.  I did, however, catch the last few minutes of the political debates streaming through Twitter and Facebook.

    I should have stayed off Twitter and Facebook.

    To tell you the truth, I do not know enough about politics to justify my posting about politics.  In fact, helping my 11 year-old study for her Civics test made me realize just how little I understand how our government is run — yes, that is indeed very unfortunate.

    Oh, I have my opinions and possibly even some of which align very closely with yours (just maybe) and yet the issues that concern me the most (which, quite frankly, probably involve the welfare of my family) may not hold any interest for you…whatsoever…and that is to be expected.

    Then, it got ugly.  Not that I was surprised at the lack of civility and I do so admire the passion of political pundits (mostly) but there was this one tweet:

    "To those of you who are still undecided, you haven't been paying attention!"

    Oh, I know, and no it's not the worst anyone could say (especially, to me) and if you are ready to walk into that voting booth…right now…and make your choice…without a single regret or worry…then I am very, very happy for (and proud of) you.

    All I ask in return is for you to respect the fact that some of us are just not there yet.

    It's not a matter of choosing chocolate over vanilla (I pick strawberry!) or simply picking one team over another (go Giants!) making assumptions about knowing EXACTLY what is in people's minds or hearts, judged solely by the choices they haven't even made (yet) is just plain ignorant.

    Then I saw the headline of some "odd political psa" featuring Sean Penn and Kid Rock and, well, check it out:

     

    Warning: may not be suitable viewing for everyone, has expletives.

    Okay, yeah it's a little creepy, sort of corny and, pfffttt, I can certainly relate with that.  Still, the message is a very simple one and, well, I get it.

    Thank you very much for your kind consideration and so ends my pundit blogging career (you're welcome!) remember to vote for strawberry.

    © 2003 – 2012 This Full House

  • Don’t Worry, Be Dread-y and Perish the Thought While We’re At It!

    When it comes to parenting (because, really, raising 3 teens and 1 tween, there really isn't much else going on up in here…dammit!) my husband, Garth (not his real name) and I have reached an understanding.

    Aaaaaaaand, if any of my kids are reading this (because, really, nothing is sacred…DAMMIT!) this is where you guys need to click away…m'kay?

    [blows bangs out of eyes]

    Okay, are they gone?  Good.

    It's simple, really.  Which is a good thing, because I'm not very good with un-simple (yes, it's a word) because…SQUIRREL!!!

    [BAM!]

    Aaaaaaaand, that should take care of any trolls, clicking around the internets looking for some action…NOPE, NOTHING CONTROVERSIAL GOING NO HERE.

    [SLAM!]

    We'll just wait a few more seconds.  Just.  To.  Be.  Sure.  Oooooo-kaaaaaay, ready?

    [rolls up sleeves, clears throat]

    It's sort of like a good cop/bad cop thing:   he tries (really, really hard, btw) not to go all BAT GUANO about the little things  (like, the rechargeable batteries are NOT in the rechargeable battery thingy…true story, just a couple of days ago…and OMG!) while I pretend NOT TO FLIP THE FRIG-OUT when stuff goes REAL BAD. 

    Day before yesterday (I think) stuff got REAL BAD.

    "You okay?"

    Poor guy, here he was expecting me to FLIP THE FRIG-OUT, had the puke bucket ready and everything.

    "I'm fine."

    The REAL BAD stuff I'm speaking of isn't happening directly to me…[knocking on wood until knuckles bleed]…but to two people I love very much…who are being very, very brave about it, btw…and would most likely forgive me for FLIPPING THE FRIG-OUT…for them…because, well, it's how I roll.

    Instead, something pretty good happened. We laughed.  Okay, fine, I laugh-snorted. 

    Point being, as bad as this particular piece of news was (trust me, it was real guano-y) I listened to these two very brave people cracking jokes, making me laugh-snort and trying their darnedest to convince ME that it was okay?

    Yeah, reality check…multiple pieces of emotional baggage…please.

    It made me realize that the stuff that Garth (NHRN) and I have been going through, for the last few months, is no where even in the vicinity of being REAL BAD!

    Besides, if you worrying about something bad happening (and I realize that everyone has stuff, with many different and very, very complicated levels of bad) chances are, it will happen. 

    Karma has a sick sense of humor, like that…[whispering…the bastard]…so, why don't we all decide to dread something that we really, really want instead, like:

    • Gosh, but I hope Keeping Up With the Kardashians doesn't get canceled.
    • Can you imagine going a whole year without a car repair…OMG!?!?!
    • I don't think I can take another day of losing more weight.
    • Or keeping a job.
    • There goes the phone again, I really hope it's bad news.
    • OH MAN!  It would be absolutely AWFUL if somehow we managed to find a way to finally take the kids to Disney.
    • Geez, I really hope something REALLY BAD happens today.

    For starters, anyways.  Okay, your turn…oh, and…HOLY GUANO, PERISH THE THOUGHT!!!…you know, just in case.

    © 2003 – 2012 This Full House

  • Nearly Wordless Wednesday: Just Me and My Shadows

    Just me and my shadows
    Gathering my thoughts and enjoying the nothingness of a day off from school, before the kids wake up I mean.

    Me and My Shadow
    Aaaaaaand, yet another quiet moment is interrupted by a good morning snuggle and, well, when did my shadow's legs get so gosh-darned long?!?  I have NO words.

    Other folks going wordless today:  Wordless Wednesday.

    © 2003 – 2012 This Full House

  • 11 Years

    September 11, 2012

    September 11, 2012

    It was 2001, soon after the World Trade Center attacks, when a momfriend and I both volunteered to help with the talent show and lead my middle girl Heather's kindergarten classmates in singing God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood.

    There were many songs of patriotism sung that night, each met with the
    more than just the obligatory whoots and hollers from various family members, friends and teachers, as our children waved their flags and mouthed words they
    didn't quite understand at the time, followed by standing ovations that
    lasted very late into the evening.

    Heather is a junior in high school, Holly a college freshman in the spring, their two youngest siblings continue to navigate through the myriad of hallways of middle school with no recollection of this day, 11 years ago.

    Time goes on.  My husband and I gaze across the Raritan Bay and it still takes a few moments to orientate ourselves.  The feeling that there is something missing will always be there, as we remember.

    God Bless the USA.

    © 2003 – 2012 This Full House

  • #BlogHer12: Blood, Sweat & Tears AND More Sweat

    This was my 6th time attending BlogHer yet here I am again, sitting for nearly an hour in front of a blank screen, wondering "Where in the heck do I start?!?"

    Me and Busy Mom

    Yeah, I'm hanging out with Busy Mom…WHAT?!?

    I could choose to begin by telling you some crazy-assed story of nearly popping a blood vessel just trying to get there, like my dear friend Busymom did, but my train ride into NYC from Jersey is less than an hour and was completely uneventful.

    DSCN0442

    #PopCapMoms Afternoon Tea at the St. Regis Hotel

    Or, after attending my first event shortly after arriving into NYC and drinking my weight in tea (that's A LOT of tea, btw) how I had to find a bathroom REAL BAD and was tackled by Jenn in the lobby of the hotel.  

    Me and Jenn at MoMA

    Me and Jenn scarin' the straights at MoMA

    Seriously, nearly had the pee squeezed out of me, that Jenn's SUCH a good huggah!  Not for nothing, but she seems to also enjoy making me pee my pants snort-laughing every blessed chance she gets, bless her heart.

    DSCN0432

    9/11 Memorial: pool of tears.

    There were tears, as well.  This was my first visit to the World Trade Center, or downtown NYC for that matter, since the 9/11 attacks.  The rain just added to the terrible feeling of loss and, personally, living just across the river, I couldn't help but reach out and want to wipe some of the wet away.

    Patty and Me

    Visiting my bloggy-friend Patty.

    Thankfully the happy outweighed the sad.  Like visiting with Patty and her mom in Queens (gracias por las empanadas, Senora!) while she's recovering from surgery was most definitely a highlight for both me and Melisa. 

    Me and Michelle

    With my two other roomies: Michelle and Flat Sue

    Traveling the subway, in 1000 percent humidity, not so much (even the camera is all like, b*tch please!) however, traveling with Flat Sue?!?  EPIC!!!  Don't believe me?  Check out Melisa's post Flat Sue visits #BlogHer12.  Go ahead, I'll wait.

    Invite to Martha

    Table setting courtesy of @TheNextMartha

    This year, however, stands out above all others:  I was invited to sit @TheNextMartha's table during Martha Stewart's lunchtime keynote.  Trust me when I tell you that my new friend Jen is ALL that and a bag of blue glitter.

    Sue @TheNextMartha table

    Flat Sue says, "THPBBPBBPBPBPTH!!!"

    I was totally honored to share the experience of MARTHA STEWART DISSING ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO CELEBRATING PURE INSPIRATION AND JEN'S CREATIVITY ENTIRELY with her.  No, really.  It's okay.  Glitter-envy is hard.

    BlogHer12 Peeps

    MMMF, I love you, you're number one!

    Along with spending much needed quality time with some of my favorite people IRL (see also:  Melisa's entire BlogHer12 photo stream) priceless.  My stomach still hurts from all the snort-laughing and giggle-talking that went on and, well, I wouldn't trade in those moments for all the swag in the universe.  Truth!

    Then again, BlogHer is not ALL fun and games (mostly, not all) this year was a working trip for me and live-tweeting from one of BlogHer's newest sponsor's suite ALL DAY was an awesome experience that I will write about, on my other blog, at a later date.

    MoMA Double

    At the MoMA:  we could be related.

    Or, as soon as my eyes uncross — you're welcome!!!

    © 2003 – 2012 This Full House

  • BlogHer12: Caution, Professional Dork at Work!

    @BBSummit with friends

    Tracey, Me, Melisa and OH LOOK! It's freakin' Busy Mom at #BBSummit12!

    I love traveling to blogging conferences and when people ask me, "What IS it that you do again?" I half-jokingly reply about my being a Professional Dork, by definition:

    • A little odd
    • Often times silly
    • Extremely clumsy
    • Breaks things (a lot!)
    • Prone to laugh-snorting
    • Jumping jack hating
    • Careful to cross her legs when sneezing
    • Average, every day, you just can't make this stuff up, dork of a mom

    In other words:  what you see is what you get and, well, it's our imperfections that make us unique…most especially, in the blogging world…yes?

    That being said, I feel blessed to be able to work with some of the smartest, kindest, funniest folks I've ever had the pleasure of meeting (IRL) and touched upon this while speaking on the Blogger and Brand Relationships panel during #BBSummit12 last weekend.

    I'm still working on a blog-worthy recap (soon-ish, rather than later-ish) but my friend and BlogHer12 roomie Michelle actually live-blogged the whole shuh-bang AND my sistuh-from-anuh-thuh-muh-thuh Melisa shared her experience as one of the awesome organizers, as well.

    Today, I am honored to be able to share with you my partnering with Readers Digest and Taste of Home Magazine during BlogHer12.

    I will be live-tweeting from the Reader's Digest BlogHer Suite #4203 as:

    (more…)

  • It’s Sort of Like Wordless Wednesday, Only Not!

    Fishing Rod

    Supporting anti-SOPA with a grayout!

    There's this internet blackout thing going on today.  You heard about it?  I'm not intentionally being flippant about the opposition regarding SOPA and Pipa — honest. 

    In fact, I signed Google's petition and not because I'm all that AND a bag of chips on the internet or anything.

    However, after nearly a decade of clicking the "publish" button (sounds way cooler than 9 years, right?) you probably already know:  I.M.A. Dork.

    Still, words like censorship and boycott make me itch.

    So, taking a cue from Miss Zoot (because, she's pretty AND smart) I am going to visit my favorite blogs  AND tell my online friends just how glad I am that they decided to click the "publish" button, today.

    Unless, their blog is all blacked-out or until the contractor who's supposed to give us an estimate on a new-ish roof gets here (he's late) then I'll just tell them tomorrow.

    Because, words really do matter and they ARE SO my blogging friends (DAMMIT!)

    © 2003 – 2012 This Full House

  • Luck Be a Cup of Coffee, Tonight!

    22 days into NaBloPoMo and, well, NOW I remember why I have never NaBloPoMo-ed before.

    This blogging every day thing is hard, man (for me, anyways) however, it's been a great writing exercise (so far) especially, this time of year, when my head could always do with a good, you know, brain dump-ing.

    You're welcome!

    Aaaaaanyway, the cool thing about NaBloPoMo-ing is that there are daily prompts to help get my blogging juices going.

    Today's prompt:  What is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to you and why?

    (more…)

  • Honoring ALL Who Served & Uncle Bud

    Glen and Uncle Bud 2004Glen and his Uncle Bud:  Deployment of the Troops Ceremonies, 2004

    Funny, light-hearted and totally lovable, Steve is an amazing person.  Not long after this photo was taken, my twin brother lost a kidney to cancer (the bitch!)

    Still, you'd never know it.

    He's the sort of person who, after only a few minutes of conversation, you can't help but like the man and then, amazingly, come away feeling a little lighter in spirit.

    Trust me, I know.  Steve is a constant inspiration to the troops he's trained, the men and women who serve alongside him and, most especially, their families, who sacrifice a little piece of their hearts, every day.

    Not ONLY because it is his job, it's how he rolls.

    With love and appreciation to all who served:  most especially, thank you, Uncle Bud!

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

    I'm NaBloPoMo-ing it, this month (first time NaBloPoMo-er) feel free to check out what I've NaBloPoMo-ed, thus far (PHEW!) and let me know how I'm doing (I mean, 30 posts, in 30 days, really?!?) when you have time, of course!

      Feed me, see more!!

  • Are You Smarter Than My
    5th Grader’s Smart Phone?

    NO!!!  Because, my 5th grader doesn't have a cell phone.  She will (eventually) then text me, how much she HATES the bus, like her siblings before her, most likely.

    All arguments for or against cell phone use in school and kids today with their entitlement issues, aside (really, 4 kids, living under 1 leaky roof, I get it) her latest argument that, "My friends are texting each other, except me!" is more than just a little disconcerting.

    "Which friends?"

    I mean, we ARE talking 10 year-old girls, who stop talking to each other, every other day, just so you know.

    "ALL my friends!"

    Still, I remember when it seemed ALL my friends wore Converse sneakers and, being raised hearing stories of my father entering this country, with borrowed shoes (2 sizes too small) how torn I felt about my Shoprite specials.

    Unconvinced (see last paragraph) I remind her that it couldn't possibly be ALL her friends.

    "I mean So-and-So calls you on our house phone, every day."

    Okay, I mean, at least every OTHER day.

    "Beeeeeee-cawse, I don't have a cell phone, remember?!?"

    [blink, blink, blink]

    GAH!  Whatever!  It's sort of hard to argue with a child's sense of logic, without sounding a little like a 12-year-old, my ownself, yes?

    "Well, that's not ALL your friends now, is it?"

    See what I mean?

    "YES IT IS!"

    Times like this, squashing my inner-12-year old is really, really hard, just so you know.

    "What about So-and-So?"

    [one beat, two beats]

    "Beeeeeee-cawse, she has me on conference call!"

    [eyes go wide]

    "I can't even do that with my phone, DAGNABIT!"

    There, I said it (keep your Blackberry, Droid and iPhone apps to yourselves, please) I have a dumb phone, don't judge.

    "Well, you COULD get a smart phone and we CAN always learn to share!"

    Damn, that kid is smart (stupid phone!)