Tag: new jersey

  • Wordless Wednesday: Hosed in Jersey

    Hosed
    When ALL else #fails (i.e., car in shop, pool filter seizes, refrigerator burns up, or ALL of the above, just sayin') break out the hose and just fuhgehtaboutit!!!

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    © 2010 This
    Full House Blog
    – All Rights Reserved.

  • D’oh, There’s a Deer in My Garden, Dear Maria, Dear Maria!

    VargaMaria
    This is my paternal great-grandmother, Maria, in Hungary.  My father spent many childhood summers, giving up his "city boy ways," living the "simple country life," with Maria (his mother had him late in life and, apparently, he was a handful!) and, according to my father, it was anything and everything…but, simple!

    Still, as tough as Maria's life was, my father insists that she was the sweetest, kindest, most gentlest person on earth.

    Unlike, her great-granddaughter (that would be me!) who is about ready to snare her some Bambi!

    Exhibit a deer tracks Exhibit A:  Deer tracks (post-sprinkler) this morning.

    No, I don't want to hurt Bambi (much) but, gardening is HARD work and, all of a sudden, after 17 years of fighting with aphids, hornworms and garden slugs (oh my!) NOW it seems like we've got deer!

    Exhibit b hopey's prized cabbageExhibit B:  Hopey's prized-cabbage (she was growing to win a $1000 scholarship) beheaded!

    Not just any deer (mind you) but, ravenous-militant-vegetable-swiping-giant-moose-of-an-animal that carries away an entire head of cabbage!?!?

    Exhibit c tomato plants chewedExhibit C:  Tops of tomato plants chewed!

    I went out to pick some tomatoes a few weekends ago and…OMG…where have ALL of my tomatoes gone?

    Exhibit d chewed parsleyExhibit D:  What was my parsley!

    I know…so, we've got deer…no BIG deal, right?

    Exhibit e motion detectorExhibit E:  WTH is it?

    All I kept thinking was…this is MY garden (DAGNABIT!) and WWMD (what would Maria do?) no question about it — I HAVE TO DEFEND IT!  So, Garth (not his real name) installed this sweet little motion detector smack dab in the middle of my Concord grape vine! 

    Just like Maria's (see picture at top of post) minus the motion detector, I mean.

    Exhibit f new growth Exhibit F:  New growth!!!

    Yes, Maria is probably ROIHGL (rolling over in her grave laughing) bless her squishy little heart!

    Exhibit g tomato flowers Exhibit G: Aaaand, we have tomato flowers!

    But, when in Jersey…you know…and, combined with my new bontanically-based insecticidal soap (email me and I'll let you know which) it seems to be working.

    Exhibit g eggplant Exhibit H: The vegetable bed that lived

    Oh, and no, we are NOT crucifying anyone – that's just the clothes line that Garth (not his real name) rigged up by the pool, so that the kids can hang up their wet towels, which, unfortunately, they do NOT use…DAGNABIT!

    [sound of crickets chirping]

    Morale of the Story:  Deer do NOT like eggplant.

    Stupid urban/suburban sprawl!

    © 2010 This Full House Blog – All Rights Reserved.

  • Hump Day: Breakfast of Champions (i.e. Holy Hannah Montana, It IS the Week From Hell, Week!)

    Breakfast of Champions

    If you have a kid graduating/promoting/stressing over her hair for the 8th grade formal/and/or, celebrating a birthday, this week…then, you know I meant the Pepto Bismol, right?

    Wake me up when Monday comes!!!

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature 

    © 2010 This Full House Blog

  • You Know You’re From Jersey When…

    You Know You're From New Jersey

    On the 174th day of our school daze my true love sent to me…an email that had absolutely NOTHING to do with the our 10th grader's finals, 8th grader's graduation, 5th and 3rd grade promotions, or the fact that Hope is turning 9 years-old on Wednesday (i.e. my youngest's last year in single digits) oh, and the fact that my camera AND my beloved HP laptop are fubar…YO!

    [inhales deeply, exhales in total denial]

    So, how DO you know if a person (like me) is REALLy from Jersey?  Besides, the fact that I know how to order a pork roll (with cheese, duh!) I mean?  Easy…you recognize or can relate to at least 10 of these:

    • You've been seriously injured at Action Park. [Banged my head on a waterslide!]
    • You know that the only people who call it "Joisey" are from New York (usually The Bronx) or Texas.  [waves to Jenn!]
    • You don't think of citrus when people mention "The Oranges." [Nope.]
    • You've ordered a hard roll with butter for breakfast. [Not in a while, but, YUM!]
    • You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven. [My kids do, too!]
    • You've eaten at a diner, when you were stoned or drunk, at 3 am. [No, NOT this mommy…um…but, ask me again at BlogHer!]
    • Whenever you park, there's a Camaro within three spots of you. [Nah, I live in a minivan world, my friend.]
    • You remember that the "Two Guys" were from Harrison. [Ohhhhh, yeah *snicker* nevermind!]
    • You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery. [Yep, been blogging it for years!]
    • At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, and you know what town Jon Bon Jovi is from. [Yep, I even showed Dana his house…okay…the front gate, but close enough, right?]
    • You know what a "jug handle" is. [Yeah, and they're STOOPID!]
    • You know that a WaWa is a convenience store. [Aaaaand, they make THE BEST coffee, or cawfee, if you're from Jersey!]
    • You know that the state isn't all farmland. [Not if they keep building those McMansions…dangit!]
    • You know that there are no "beaches" in New Jersey – there's "The Shore," and you don't go "to the shore," you go "down the shore." and when you are there, you're not "at the shore," you are "down the shore."  [I'm down with dat!]
    • You know that "Piney" isn't referring to a tree. [Well, sort of.]
    • Even your school cafeteria made good Italian subs, and, you call it a "sub" not a "submarine sandwich" or worse yet, a "hoagy" or a "hero." [We can be heeeeeeeroooooes, just for one day, we can beeeeeeeeeee…sorry, teenagers are on a Moulin Rouge kick, lately!]
    • You know how to properly negotiate a Circle. [Yes, see jungle handle.]
    • You knew that the last question had to do with driving. [Yep, also STOOPID!]
    • You know that this is the only "New…" state that doesn't require "New" to identify it (like, try …Mexico, …York, …Hampshire (doesn't work, does it?). [See title of post!]
    • You only go to New York City for day trips, and you only call it "The City." [Unless, you're attending BlogHer, like me, WHOOT, then I'll see you in the "cit-tay!"]
    • You know that a "White Castle" is the name of BOTH a fast food chain AND a fast food sandwich. [a.k.a. rat burgers and/or sliders!]
    • You consider a corned beef sandwich with lettuce and mayo a sacrilege. [Mustard and sauerkraut, baby!]
    • You don't think "What exit" (do you live near?) is very funny. [Still, the easiest way to explain where you live…in Jersey.]
    • You know that people from 609 area code are "a little different." [Yeah, got a few relatives that live there, too :)]
    • The Jets-Giants game has started fights at your school or local bar. [Stoopid, Jets…psych!…just kidding…mostly!]
    • You can see the Manhattan skyline from some part of your town. [waves to NYCityMama!]
    • You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers. [Take 36 to 35 to 440 to 9 to 139 to 78 to get to Mom-101's house, I think!]
    • Every year, you had at least one kid in your class named Tony. [Yo, Tone, so, how you doin'?]
    • You know where every "clip" shown in the Sopranos opening credits is. [Yeah, but I would NEVER drive there…especially, at night….psych!…just kidding…mostly!]
    • You've gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of Willowbrook Mall. [Stoopid, jughandles!]
    • You have a favorite Atlantic City casino. [Specifically, the Blue Mercury Spa at the Tropicana would make a GREAT 20th Anniversary getaway — hint, hint, GARTH (not his real name) are you listening?!? ]
    • You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February. [January would be better, just sayin'!]
    • And finally… You've never pumped your own gas. [Not in Jersey….anyways!]

    Wake me up when September comes…YO!

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature 

    © 2010 This Full House Blog

  • No Business 4 Boyz

    Hope Wears Oprah Swag

    My 8 year-old is SUCH a free spirit and, unlike her sisters, is a bit of a Tomboy, as well (she gets that from me) and, well, being the youngest of 4, the survival instinct is strong with this one.

    "I wanna do the Lip Sync show, again!"

    Last year, her older sisters helped choreograph Hope and her friends in performing, "We Got the Beat" by the GoGos and, more importantly, I didn't have to do a gosh-darned thing, other than, you know, drive them to and from the show.

    "Am I picking your daughters up at school, or your house?"

    This year, however, I did even less.

    "I dunno?"

    Lip-sync-related stuff, I mean.

    "What time do we have to be there?"

    My father was scheduled for major surgery and, well, if you were to ask me a week ago, at this EXACT time, exactly what was on my mind, I would have said…uh…I dunno, what day is it, again?

    "The show starts at 7 o'clock!"

    However, by Friday they had kicked my dad out of the hospital (thank you for ALL the good thoughts, btw, they worked) and he's recovering, quite well.

    "Can't wait to see the show!"

    I was so ready for the week to be over, but had no clue what to expect, other than their act was based on the Risky Business dance scene, this Heidi Klum Guitar Hero commercial and one of my favorite episodes of The Nanny (you know, Fran Drescher…she tawks funny) and they called themselves, No Business 4 Boyz!

    They did a FABULOUS job, right (Hope is the cutey on the left) so, who's the boy?

    "What a good big brother you are!"

    Apparently, my oldest daughter bribed my 11 year-old son to play the part of the "boss man" (for the latest issue of his favorite wrestling magazine, I think) and extortion sorta runs in the family…here in Jersey, anyways.

    "I had to sit in a room full of screaming girls!"

    I'm sorta glad it's over, too.

    "I almost threw up."

    Aaaaand, I'm grateful that, as they get older, my kids really seem to enjoy helping each other out.

    "But, I just swallowed it and walked on stage."

    Mostly.

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature

    © 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

  • You Say Garbage, I Say, “GAH-BIDGE!”

    You Say Garbage, I Say GAH-BIDGE!

    I just love garbage men.  Okay, trash men.  Wait, waste collectors?  Oh, I know, sanitation engineers.  Or, maybe they're refuse removal technicians?

    Whatever.  

    My guys ALWAYS take a moment to place (not throw) my cans
    back onto the sidewalk (not my next door neighbor's lawn) and move out
    of the way, so that I can get passed them and into my driveway, on my
    way home from dropping the kids at school.

    Okay, let me repeat…THE GARBAGE TRUCK PULLS OVER TO ALLOW ME TO GET INTO MY DRIVEWAY…I love that!

    The dude driving in the sparkly new Mercedes SUV, while STILL talking on his cellphone, this morning, not so much.

    Or, maybe it was a Crossover (IDK) and he could have been just too busy discussing a very important business deal (I bet Donald Trump would pull over – if he drove his own car, I mean) either way, I guess expecting him to be nice would have been considered a luxury.

    [slams on breaks]

    "Move that piece of garbage!"

    A few hours (not to mention, about a thousand expletives) later and I'm still at a loss as to what would provoke such an extremely well tailored young man to act like a snot-nosed little booger.

    "UP YAWS, YUH BASSTED!!!"

    MY trash guys, however, are like the cream in my McCafe and they obviously don't take very kindly to acts of random assness, either (thanks, Trash Guy!) and, well, I am very happy to report that chivalry is NOT dead!

    "Yuh buhleeve that [expletive] guy?"

    [cringe]

    A little stinky…a bit crude, perhaps…but, then again, a little gah-bidge never hurt nobody, you know what I'm sayin?

    "Man, he's got a potty mouth!"

    [one beat, two beats]

    "But, our garbage man is real nice…right mommy?"

    There's a lesson in there, somewhere.

    "He's a sanitation engineer, Sweetie."

    Aaaaand, if you happen to find it, just throw it up on the curb, next to the cans, up there, okay?

    [beep]

    "UP YOURS!"

    Since, I'm probably STILL trying to make a left turn!

    "It's…UP YAWS…Sweetie!"

    Aaaand, teaching my kids proper diction…Jersey style!

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature

    © 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

  • A Different Kind of Bird Watching in Jersey

    Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal

    I looked out the window and, yeah, more snow (blech!) but, I noticed something else; something I missed, while shutting off the lights and waiting for my husband to come to bed, at 4:30 this morning.

    "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

    Actually, this time, my son kicked me in the head, the dog rolled over my legs and, well, I couldn't really blame my husband for falling asleep on the couch, again.

    "Oh, look, Mr. Cardinal has gone food shopping with Mrs. Cardinal."

    My husband, Garth [not his real name] and I could totally relate.  In fact, shopping for groceries, or running to the corner for the paper and our weekly runs to Home Depot are the few times that we get to spend together, alone (sort of) except, maybe, the shower (you're welcome!) so, yeah, we do a lot of our shopping, together.

    "I picked up some seed and filled up your bird feeder, last night."

    We stood there, in silence and each smiled, as Mrs. Cardinal scratched and pecked, while Mr. Cardinal stood by and watched.

    "Thank you for taking care of my birds."

    He put his arm around my waist.

    "You're welcome."

    And, considering the precipice that formed between us, last week, I was more than happy to just stand there and, you know, let him.

    "I wish you didn't have to go to work, today."

    [frowning]

    "Me, either!"

    What…oh…yeah…I bet most folks think that bird watching…in Jersey…only happens whenever someone flips you one, right?

    "Stupid bank!"

    As it should be.

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature 

    © 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

  • Viewing the World Through Frozen Side Mirrors

    Back-to-school

    Most days, I wake up and, if my feet hit the floor and my head is still attached, then, it really doesn't take much to convince myself that, YES, half the battle is actually getting out of bed and HOORAH! but, it's gonna be a good day…DAMMIT!

    Until, it's time to leave the house.

    "Why IS it so hard to make a left turn!?!?"

    Then, I remembered.

    "Oh yeah, 'cawse I live in Jersey!"

    Is it just me, along with perhaps the rest of the Eastern seaboard, STILL digging out of one of the snowiest winter's in, well, recorded history (yeah, I'm looking at you, Washington, D.C.) or, has Snowmageddon (or, as I've come to call it, Snowpocalypse) frozen everyone's nice buttons, shut? 

    (more…)

  • Into the Woods

    Autumn in Pittsgrove

    Over the river and thru the woods, 

    Oh, how the wind does blow!


    It stings the toes and bites the nose,

    As over crispy ground we go.

    Sometimes, you just have to grab an extra blanket, maybe even a fishing pole, or two, hop into the car, drive to where the sun sets deep into quiet shades of autumn and leave the rest of the world behind.

    Yes, yesterday was one of those days.

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature

    © 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved

  • Looking For Some Hot Fun in the Summertime, Then You Must NOT Be From Jersey!

    Sandy-hook-traffic

    I got the call around 8 p.m. Saturday night, while I was saying goodbye to my in-laws and thanking them for bringing my husband, Garth [not his real name] into the 21st century, by giving him a cool new mp3 player for his birthday (me next, okay?) and it is perhaps one of the most dreaded phone call (besides, you know, the school nurse, of course) that THIS Jersey mom hates, anyways.

    "Wanna go on the hook?"

    [blank stare]

    (more…)