Tag: blogging

#Rever10: Friendship

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Since I am ALL about sharing (shuddup Garth, not your real name!) my friend Shannon is doing it and now Diana's joining in (although, the non-conformist in me can't promise to, you know, write daily) I've decided to give it a whirl.

Today's prompt: Friendship – How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?

I'm NOT very good at asking for stuff.

Oh, I ask the kids to feed the dog, change the cat litter, pick up the wet towels or take out the garbage, which, admittedly, becomes more of a DEMAND, after asking for the 3rd or 4th time, DAMMIT!

Asking someone, — specifically, another mom — to please do me a favor, not so much.

One of my mom friends, which is code for:

One (or more) of our kids go to school together, we've spent at least one hour (or more) complaining about our kids comparing notes and alcoholic beverages may (or may not) have been involved.

Without getting too personal (about her life, NOT mine!) she's had a REALLY sucky year.

The kind of suckage that leeches its way under your skin, squeezes your heart, melts all the soft squishy parts, rips through your soul and leaves an unidentifiable pile of sludge, in its wake, before the day even begins.

Comparatively speaking, my life is gooder than good.

We don't see each other much, anymore — which is the sad truth with most of my mom friends, once my daughters quit girl scouts, or our kids hit middle school — but, her youngest carpools with my youngest and, well, raising kids is real hard.

Having to raise 4 kids, on her own, sucks hairy donkey balls!

I got a text from her, this morning, asking me if I could drop her kid off at her mother's house, "If it's not too much trouble."

My heart squeezed and…YEP…making sure her kid gets home (or wherever he needs to be on any particular day) is the LEAST I could do AND truth be told, sort of a selfish act on my part, as well.

It. Makes. Me. Feel. Good.

[sound of angels singing]

Then it hit me, right there, in the middle of the elementary school's parking lot, somewhere in between the soft squishy parts, that maybe, juuuuuust maybe, I can learn to ask a friend for a favor AND perhaps make someone ELSE feel good, at the same time, too, right?

Riiiiight.

[sound of incoming text]

"You are the best!! Can't thank you enough….we are very lucky to have you for a friend!!"

Stupid soft squishy parts.

—————————————-

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

© 2003 – 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

December 16, 2010
Wordless Wednesday: Super Holidazed
Alternate Title – Desperately Seeking My Holiday Mojo While Under the Influence of Jen Singer

Because, I am a lemming and absolutely adore Jen Singer (seriously, this latest MommaSaid Video is hysterical!) I created a little holiday animation of mine own, This Full House style, enjoy!!!

Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you’re it: Wordless Wednesday

© 2003 – 2010 This Full House Blog / This Full House Gone Shopping

December 15, 2010
#Reverb10: Appreciate

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Since I am ALL about sharing (shuddup Garth, not your real name!) my friend Shannon is doing it and now Diana's joining in (although, the non-conformist in me can't promise to, you know, write daily) I've decided to give it a whirl.

Today's prompt: Appreciate — what’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?

This year? Yeah, it was a tough one. What…for you, too? I know. Right?

I got a job (for real) then, I lost it (stupid economy!) I know it was only 7 months (seems longer, working nights, while your SigOth works days, really) still, I had a REAL hard time adjusting to civilian life!

Know anyone who's hiring?

[sound of many, many crickets, chirping]

Then again, there is some good to be found in ALL the suckage.

My twin brother DID give cancer another asswhoopin' (it really SHOULD learn to just stay down, stupid cancer!) and my dad added another notch on his belt in the battle against heart disease, the bastard (heart disease, NOT my dad!)

Aaaaand, I have SO MUCH more to be grateful for, I know!

However, losing someone very dear to me recently has made me take inventory of my own life and, most especially, appreciate those who are closest to my heart.

Like, how I could have NEVER gotten through ANY of this, or the previous 20 years, for that matter, if it weren't for my husband, Garth (not his real name) and his way of making even the smallest gesture (like, making the first pot of coffee, or warming up the car and packing the kids lunches, every blessed morning) an act of absolute serenity.

How do I express gratitude for it?

I let the dog out, put up a pot of coffee, fed the cat, woke the kids, let in the dog and fed him, unloaded the dishwasher, fed the kids, drove Heather to the bus stop, packed the lunches and then drove Holly to the high school.

All before 7:30 a.m. this morning.

[one beat, two beats]

Okay, okay, so I gave the kids money to buy their lunches and they can pretty much fend for themselves, at breakfast, too.

Still.

I am ABSOLUTELY sure that Garth (not his real name) appreciated the break.

How do I know?

[grin]

By appreciating the fact that my time management skills are, you know, FAR superior to his!

You're welcome.

—————————————-

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

© 2003 – 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

December 14, 2010
#Reverb10: Action

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what’s next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Since I am ALL about sharing (shuddup Garth, not your real name!) my friend Shannon is doing it and now Diana’s joining in (although, the non-conformist in me can’t promise to, you know, write daily) I’ve decided to give it a whirl.

Today’s prompt: Action — when it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step?

Oh wow, great, well this one’s easy (NOT!!!!) because, I’ve got SO MANY ideas rolling around in my head, right now.

Home projects I’ve made happen and have YET to, you know, finish.

Working (REAL HARD) and ridding myself of ALL that unproductive self-doubt I believe keeps writers (like me) from succeeding even further.

Although, taking care of 6 people, living in a 7 room house, will do that to a person (Ty Pennington, WHERE ARE YOU?!?)

No, it’s NOT about the ideas, or necessarily about making them happen, either (been there, done that) for me, the next step(s) in 2011 would be to:

Continue writing (i.e. blogging) the only way I know how, long before professing honesty and integrity was, you know, cool.

Maybe, even finish that book I started a couple of years ago (even though it feels like everybody’s writing a book these days, really AWESOME stuff, too, right?) but, this one’s a little different, as well!

Rinse ALL doubt from my mind (mostly)

Instead, focus on the ideas that inspire me and, hopefully, help me see those reluctant little aspirations of mine a little clearer — not to mention, through, to the end.

Repeat

Until then, I remain aspiringly yours,

A. Dork

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

December 13, 2010

#Reverb10: Wisdom

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Since I am ALL about sharing (shuddup Garth, not your real name!) and my friend Shannon is doing it (although, the non-conformist in me can't promise to, you know, write daily) I've decided to give it a whirl.

Today's prompt: Wisdom — what was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?

Confession. Ready? I'm NOT very good with decisions (I know, act surprised anyway!)

Oh, I can decide on lots of stuff. Dozens of times. Every blessed gosh-darned day, even!

Nonsensical declarations, like:

Sure, belly dancing sounds like fun, why not?
NO, that does NOT mean you can get your belly button pierced!
Yes, What's-her-Face can sleep over.
NO, that does NOT mean you can have a party!
Sure, a class trip to NYC sounds like fun, why not?
NO, I am NOT available to chaperon, either!
Yes, So-and-So may stay for dinner.
NO, that does NOT mean you can get a gun!

Decision like that. Every. Blessed. Day. Just, you know, NOT for myself.

Last month, I decided NOT to ignore my health any longer and, without going into too much detail (you're welcome!) turns out it was the WISEST decision I've made in a very, very long time.

For myself!

Now, I can continue dispensing my supreme wisdom, where it is needed most (shuddup!)

"You signed me up for WHAT?!?"

Without having to worry about anything, you know, dropping off, or falling out!

"Oh, alright, as long as I can walk, because running STILL makes me pee, a little."

Sort of!

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

#Reverb10: Party

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Today's prompt: Party — what social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.

[photo credit: FireMom]

These days, my kids have cornered the market on party hopping (don't even get me started on sleepovers, or, more accurately, keep parents awake until 2:00 in the morningovers) unless, showcasing unbreakable cookware and food storage containers are involved.

Then, move over and pass the mojitos, my friend, I am SO there!

Once again, I had the EXTREME pleasure of meeting up with some really AWESOME friends at BlogHer in NYC, this year — fleeting moments of SQUEE! could be heard for miles, I'm sure — perhaps it should really be called MeetHer, HugHer and GoHomeWithHer!

Kicking back on a rooftop with BusyMom, Jenna, Melisa, Sue, Carmen, and picking soot out of each other's hair…now, that's MY idea of a party…YES, really!!!

SaveHer10

However, it is what happens AFTER the party — like, riding in an ambulance with BusyMom — that sometimes proves to be the MOST, you know, memorable.

I can't WAIT to see what happens, next year!

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

#Reverb10: Beautifully Different

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Today's prompt: Beautifully Different — Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful.

I broke out the YouCam and snapped a picture, this morning (since, I showered and everything…you're welcome!!!)

Beautiful? I dunno. Different? Most definitely, from as far back as I can remember (oh, it's not THAT far, shuddup!)

I grew up speaking a different language, living on a street filled with nearly every ethnicity represented in the United Nations (today) and eating stuff that other folks would normally have trouble identifying (why, it's cow stomach soup, want some?)

Being different came, you know, naturally.

Beautiful? Hard for me to say. Different? Well, my right eye IS smaller than my left; my eyebrows are way too thick (imagine what they would look like if I did NOT tweeze them every dang-gone day!) oh, and my lips are a bit crooked (especially, when I smile)

UGH! Don't EVEN get me started on how LOOOOOONG it took me to grow into my nose (matches my crooked smile, perfectly) or, how the years are beginning to, you know, leave skid marks all over my face….DAMMIT!!!

[blows bangs out of left eye, scratches nose]

Then again, it's NOT the years, HONEY — it's the mileage!!!

I've worked REAL hard to earn ALL those pretty little lines up there (i.e. I'm a mom) AND my kids seem to like me, this way (sort of) especially, because my left eye is almost always BIGGER than my right in every picture….which, of course, means that, you know….I am smiling.

Different? Yeah, we're good and did I mention I'm raising REAL pretty kids who ARE proving to be waaaay smarter than me?

Good thing, too, seeing as I've pretty much proved to them that they won't be able to earn a college education on, you know, their mother's good looks, alone.

[snort]

Thank goodness no one's thought to start charging us moms (and dads) for heavy eye baggage…YET!!!

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

#Reverb10: Make

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Today's prompt: Make — what was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?

My youngest daughter (she's 9) and I recycled some old stuff to make this cute reindeer ornament for a Clever Girls Collective craft project last month!

We did A LOT of crafts when my kids were younger — give a kid a piece of paper, a crayon and a couple of glue sticks, well, you ARE the Queen (or King) of Distraction — especially, around the holidays.

As for things I want to make?

Well, we don't seem to have time to craft together as we used to (could be a bad, or good thing, depending on how you look at it) however, you are NEVER too old for paper chains and snowflakes, right?

Then, there are those pesky little home repair projects.

[blows bangs out of eyes]

Got a few minutes? There's a list. Somewhere. I just had it. I swear.

In all seriousness, Garth (not his real name) and I are hoping to make time to actually finish several projects we've started…um…a few years ago, or twenty, like:

The kitchen: there's the ceiling (i.e. actually put one up, or just paint the damned drywall, already) and the cabinets (oh, they're up, just old) these really DO need our immediate attention!
The bathroom: whose idea was it to wallpaper it, anyway? Oh wait, that would be me (shuddup Ty Pennington!)
Our bedroom: see kitchen notes (minus cabinets.)
Girls' bedroom: They're 17, 15 and almost 10, so the Barney colors have G2G (see bathroom notes!)
Dining room: In a moment of, "Do'oh, I just can't take it anymore," my husband came home from work, one day, and found the fugly brown rug rolled up at the curb, years ago. I was surprised to find a beautiful hardwood floor underneath that is now SCREAMING for a new coat of varnish (seriously, I hear it whimpering in my sleep!)
The livingroom: is in between the dining room and kitchen and, well, it would also be EXTREMELY jealous if we didn't, you know, pay its walls at least some attention, too.
The boy's room: still needs a door, DAMMIT!

Hence, the reindeer gift tag addressed to, "Daddy!"

[sound of crickets]

No, it's NOT a door! Besides, Garth (not his real name) and I adopted the "no gifting each other" rule this year (stupid economy!) it is, however, a BIG bunch of good intentions all wrapped up with a pretty little bow and everything!

Shhhhh, don't tell him…okay?

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

#Reverb10: Moment

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Today's prompt: Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).

Hope is a word that I use often and not just because it happens to be my youngest daughter's name (a.k.a. mommy's little ticket into heaven) but, after years of exhaustive study (i.e. stupid insomnia!) I've come to the conclusion that, for me, the benefits of remaining hopeful far outweigh the risks of considering an alternate ending.

Then, life throws a curve ball and knocks those rose-colored glasses right off of my face and, well, maybe if I had remembered to wear my crash helmet.

But, this is NOT about me.

It's about watching the people I love the most, get smacked in the soft-squishy areas, time and time again, where your body's immediate reaction is to double over and puke.

When the best I could do is, you know, hold the bucket.

Then again, I could think of worse things (which is what I was doing, considering our annual 4th of July picnic at Ft. Dix) then one of my kids (and, I can't tell you exactly who) pointed at the sky and, well, it took my breath away.

"Looks like fingers reaching out from heaven, doesn't it?"

Okay, but I was thinking more like strands of cotton candy.

"Thank you."

It was when my SIL poked me that I realized, you know, she wasn't talking to the sky.

"For what?"

Then again, she might as well have been.

"For just…you know…letting me be…right here…with you guys."

That's it? I mean, really, my SIL was the one who beat cancer, the BEE-YOTCH (cancer, not my SIL!) and all I did was, you know, hold her hand.

Still.

It was MY George Bailey moment and it's okay if you think it TOTALLY CORNY (my SIL would agree with you, btw) but, it felt REALLY good, you know?

Aaaand so, 2011, I remain, yours truly, a little corny and totally filled with hope, with perhaps just a dash of anxiety, for good measure.

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

#Reverb10: One Word

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Today's prompt: Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?

One word: Fail.

I haven't been the best mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend…etc….
I've lost my temper with my kids.
Used my outside voice with my husband.
Resented the fact, many, many times, that I wasn't born "a boy."
After 7 years, questioned my blogging prowess more often than not.

A year from today? Acceptance.

I realized, loooooong ago, that I am NOT perfect, but my kids still seem to like me (sort of) and, hopefully, will continue to learn from my mistakes, while remembering all the fun we've had together, too.

Like, opening the advent calenders (one is filled with trinkets and the other chocolate) then, hunting for Heather's birthday present (when I finally remember to write the clues, at 2 o'clock in the morning, but who cares) or, looking for THAT stupid elf (see last parenthesis) and ending the day with a burping contest at the dinner table.

As for Garth (not his real name) I really am looking forward to celebrating our 22nd Christmas, together, quietly.

Continue to share with my blogging community (you're welcome) send "hand-written" Christmas cards (see last parenthesis) and apologize now for bad grammar and my terrible penmanship — especially, to those of you who have visited over the years and STILL like me (sort of) or, with names ending in "T" thru "Z!"

Imperfection? Yep, it's a good thing!

See, NOW aren't you glad that I promised to, you know, NOT do this…everyday?!?