This Full House Archive

Tag: this full house

  • Feeding Your Inner-Grinch

    You know what's annoying, besides the thought of people gifting Lexus-es and diamonds the size of my mortgage, I mean, or is that just me?

    Oh, and those stupid "don't jiggle it, when you wiggle it" Old Navy commercials, I mean, seriously, isn't that the reason most people are wiggling it, in the first place?

    Because, no amount of active wear is going to keep me from jiggling like a friggling vat of jello, most especially, from the knees up.

    Condescending asshats.

    Which brings me to my original point (I think) because, I really did start out having one.

    [glances at wall calendar]

    Oh yeah, now I remember.  What IS it with people this time of year?

    I get it.  It's hard to feel all festive around the holidays, when life hands you a bag filled with crap and stuff. 

    Still.  It's no excuse for folks to act like asshats, is it?

    Like, walking across the parking lot at the mall yesterday (a death-defying act, here in Jersey, anyway) helping my SIL shop for new work clothes (she's doing fabulously well with her new wellness plan) and nearly getting run over (twice) by asshats who clearly saw us coming and hit the gas, anyway.

    Maybe, because I was jiggling, when I should have been wiggling, no doubt, DAMNIT.

    Aaaaand, that's another thing.  What is wrong with jiggling?  What if I like my jiggle?  I mean, raising 2 teens and 2 pre-teens (soon to be 3 teens, hold me!) some of us work REAL HARD to look this jiggly.   

    Unlike, the poor woman I ran into at the grocery store (literally, vertically-challenged people should like carry a flag or something) as she was tearing into a box of protein bars.

    "I didn't get a chance to eat, today."

    It was nearly 4 o'clock in the afternoon and, well, been there, done that.

    "Yeah, I hear ya', at least it's something healthy, right?"

    Then, the poor woman insisted how she really "did eat more than a normal human being should," at Thanksgiving (didn't we all?) she also lost her job, right before Thanksgiving (UGH!) but, is thankful to have friends who will pay her to watch their children (sort of) and how, at this rate, she will NEVER get rid of the extra 10 pounds, yada, yada, yada.

    Did I mention, she looked to be about 30 sizes smaller than me?

    "Well, sounds like you have enough on your plate already."

    [eyes go wide]

    "I mean, maybe you should give yourself a break."

    Honestly, why do we (mostly, women like you and me) put such pressure on ourselves, all the time?  Especially, about our weight?  Most especially, around the holidays?

    "Sounds to me like you could use a real good hug, too."

    She then apologized, telling me I had a nice face, for which I thanked her for, REAL HARD (lucky for me, she turned out to be a real good hugger, too) and then we went on our merry-ish way.

    Morale of the Story:  Don't judge a person by their jiggle (or, lack thereof) just wiggle alongside, even better, hug them REAL HARD instead, or something like that.

    You know, thinking on it some more, maybe people aren't such asshats, afterall…just hungry. 

    [sound of crickets chirping]

    Stupid holiday commercials, dumbass Old Navy.

    © 2003 – 2011 This Full House

  • #NaBloPoMo Day 28:
    Old Country Fiddle

    Todays Prompt:  describe an heirloom that has been passed down through generations of your family. What is its significance to you personally?

    Old World Violin

    This is my grandfather's fiddle.  Although, my father doesn't remember his father ever playing it (then again, my dad escaped Hungary when he was 19) as the family genealogist, he passed it on to me.

    Violins play a prominent role in Hungarian folks songs — especially, gypsy music. 

    One of my favorite childhood memories is going to see Gypsy Joe and his orchestra play at the Hungarian Club and dancing the Csardas (ch-ahhr-dahh-sh) with my grandmother, on New Year's Eve.

    Although, the appraiser didn't seem very impressed by the fact the stick is fashioned with real horse hair (or wild hog, I forget) considering all the miles this fiddle has traveled and the stories behind the hands that lived its music, in my eyes, it is a true treasure.

     

    Aaaaand, I like to imagine my grandfather, playing it, just like this and (at about 2 minutes, 30 seconds in) start twirling like it was 1974, all over again, because violins do that to me. 

    I guess it's in my blood, you know?  Hoop-pah!!!

    © 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!

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  • All Decked Out & No Place Like Home

    Black Friday at Gram's House

    Decking the halls, walls and/or anything that stood still long enough at my mother-in-law's house on Friday.  But, wait, there's more!

    DSCN9461
    Hope all decked-out and taking a well-deserved break before dinner guests arrived at our house, last night.  But, not quite finished yet.

    Mama and Papa's Tree

    Because, today at their Mama's and Papa's house, the kids are getting REAL GOOD at trimming trees.  Anyone else need any help? Got hot chocolate?  A dozen cookies, or twenty?

    Home again, all snuggled in my favorite chair and enjoying a hot cup of tea.  Let the holidaze begin!

    In the meantime, I'll be right ovuh-heh, unable to move until probably sometime mid-December…YO!

    © 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!

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  • Where There Is Smoke, There is Dinner

    My husband, Garth (NHRN) worked the last 2 weekends and spent Black Friday putting out one fire after another at the bank.

    By the time he got home, well, you know that saying about getting away with poking the bear once?  Nope.  They lied.  I just hope my eyebrows grow back by Christmas.

    So, on penalty of dismemberment, I asked the kids to…please, for the love of all things holiday…let their father sleep in, this morning.

    The kids insisted I wasn't telling them the truth.

    "What's wrong with him?  Is he sick?  No, really, did you even check if he's still home?"

    Because, they know he is the early-riser of their parental units (annoyingly pleasant, too) the fact that mom was up before dad, feeding the pets, making the coffee AND unloading the dishwasher…just…does…not…compute…before 7:00 a.m., even…wth?!?

    After nearly 22 years of marriage (I know, we've been together longer than some of you have been alive and unromantically symbolized by copper, btw) I can't remember the last time he slept past 9:00 a.m., either.

    Until, today.

    "Good afternoon!"

    So, of course, I spent the rest of the day reminding him how nice of me it was to allow him the 240 EXTRA MINUTES, to himself, all comfy cozy, while I put out one fire after another (in between dismembering teens and tweens, of course) and, you know, Merry Christmas early!

    Besides, we were having company for dinner tonight and, considering EVERYONE is pretty much sick of turkey, by now, we decided to tag-team the food shopping.

    Then, we put up our Christmas tree (who knew they would keep quiet long enough for me to keep my promise, DAGNABIT!) so, by the time I finished putting dinner in the oven, I was pretty much running on fumes.

    BLEEP!  BLEEP!  BLEEP!  BLEEP!  BLEEP!

    The smoke alarm went off while my 12 year-old son was playing Xbox with some of his friends.

    "Dude, is your house on fire?!?"

    [one beat, two beats]

    "Nah, that just means dinner is ready."

    It's been a loooooooooong day, my friends. 

    Tomorrow, we're off to help my parents put up their tree and only then will our holidaze be complete.

    Or, as we like to say here in Jersey, "Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-friggin-la!"

    In the meantime, if anyone needs me, I'll be upstairs, replacing the smoke alarms and trying to remember why in the hell I had children, again?!?

    © 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!

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  • The Money Shot

    My mother-in-law gave me simply the best compliment, yesterday.

    "Your house is always so warm and inviting."

    Seeing that it is basically held together with spit and Elmer's glue.  Seriously, having tacked up the loose wallpaper on Thanksgiving Eve, I am not even kidding.

    Stupid Hurricane Irene!

    So, besides telling me that I look way thinner, it really was the nicest thing you could say to me, at the moment.

    "I just don't have your energy, anymore."

    What do you say to that?  To a woman who, as long as I've known her and even way before then, has loved the holidays best? 

    In my head, I was thinking all of the possible responses (and this would be a real good time to thank goodness you are not in my head) like:

    • Well, I am, like what, 40 years younger than you?
    • Yes, but you should see me tomorrow morning?
    • Did I mention, you are much older than I am?

    Instead, I promised to help my mother-in-law put out some of her Christmas decorations, today.

    "But, why do I have to go?"

    Much to the dismay of my 12 year-old son.

    "It would make her happy and I said so."

    Because, I'm good with the reasoning like that.

    Black Friday at Gram's House

    Although he would never admit it (out loud) that is totally my son's, "Yeah, you were right, Mom" face.

    I texted my middle girl this photo, who stayed home to rest (stupid migraines!) and honestly, we had SUCH a great time.

    Then, on the way home, my son hollered, leaving me slightly deaf in my right ear.

    "QUICK!  Pull over, Mom!!"

    In my head, I was thinking all of the possible reasons why (yadda, yadda) finally deciding that, having just passed some major roadkill, I had indeed waited too long to feed the boy.

    Turns out, he just thought the sky was too awesome NOT to stop and take a closer look.

    Aaaaand, he was right. It really was one of the prettiest sunsets I have ever seen.

    But, this?  Being able to see his warm and happy expression, right through the shadows?  In my opinion, it is the money shot.

    And, to think, we almost missed it, if it weren't for one simple little compliment.

    Thanks, Mom!

    © 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!

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  • Turkey Neck for Your Thoughts

    We've hosted more than a dozen Thanksgivings (yes, on purpose!) however, this year marks a first.

    We were ALL seated and eating by 1:30 p.m.

    My in-laws aren't comfortable driving at night, anymore (we live in Jersey, I don't blame them) and I'm not comfortable with my parents driving the 45 minutes to get home (give or take an hour, which is  equal to about 45-50 miles, if you're not from Jersey) either.

    Still, in our minds, each moment we get to share, with each other, is a gift.

    So, my husband Garth (NHRN) and I decided to have dinner early, giving our parents time to sit, enjoy themselves and then get home with time enough to spend a quiet evening, with each other.

    Us, too.

    So, now that the dishes are done (mostly) the dining room broken down and the kiddie table is back in the garage, it's time to start celebrating our own private little Thanksgiving.

    I've already missed half of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (the Jim Carrey version is our favorite and lines from the movie may or may not be quoted, throughout the year) soon to be followed by Christmas Vacation.

    So, pardon me, while I change into my pajamas and squee-gee myself into a spot on the couch.

    "Whassup with the turkey neck?"

    Of course, I couldn't pull ANY of this off without the help of my husband, Garth (NHRN) and yet, have to remind him, every year, about the turkey neck.

    "It's for my grandmother."

    It was her favorite and in my mind, 8 years after her passing, she still gets first dibs.  I know.  I'm a dork.  Still.

    "If she shows up to eat it, I'm leaving!"

    [one beat, two beats]

    "Go ahead and give it to the Doofus-Dawg!"

    I may be a tired, wigged-out, slightly sore and totally pms-ing major dork, at the moment (you're welcome) but, my Nagy Mama did NOT raise no fool.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, my friends.

    © 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!

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  • Nearly Wordless Wednesday:
    Williamsburg, VA 2005

    Williamsburg, VA 2005

    One of our most favorite places and yet we haven't been back since?  Perhaps I can convince Garth (NHRN) for one last road trip before the oldest goes off to college, next fall (SOB!)

    Oh, and I almost missed seeing my youngest, way over there on the right, she was so, so tiny (double-SOB!)

    © 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!

  • 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…)

  • The Big-ish Reveal

    12 cups of coffee, 6 trips to Home Depot and way too many potty stops I'd care to mention, at the moment (you're welcome!)

    Bathroom Before CollageBefore:  last Thursday, when the wallpaper fell on my head and I vowed, before the bathroom gods and my neighbors, "NO MORE WALLPAPER, EVUH!"

    Having spent most of Friday, Saturday and today working on it, I am proud to confirm that my spontaneous bathroom makeover is indeed FINISHED. ON BUDGET.  AAAAND, ON SCHEDULE.

    Wanna see?  To quote my friend Busy Mom, it's time to "move that bus!"

    (more…)

  • Under the Wire (Alternate Title: Nearly Forgot to #NaBloPoMo)

    Well, my spontaneous bathroom makeover is finished (mostly) and I keep suprising the heck out of myself, by achieving a whole new level of tired, from when I first started this project 3 days ago.

    Bathroom Redo Sneak Peek
    This morning, I posted a sneak peek on Facebook.  The color is actually a lot less yellow in person and looks more like lightly toasted, um, toast.

    Here's the really cool part:  being pressed for time, I came up with a way to cover up all the imperfections (i.e. wallpapering over sheetrock is NOT a good idea) I texturized (yes, it's a word!) the wall to make it look like stone.

    In fact, my husband Garth (NHRN) was SO impressed (okay, more like shocked) that he treated me to a new light fixture.

    BONUS!

    Quite frankly, I am very proud of myself.  Not only did I actually finish a home project (for once) it looks REAL gosh-darned good, too.

    Also, I'm considering submitting my name to the Guinness Book of World Records for person with the most paint stuck, in places a person shouldn't have paint stuck.

    Slightly related:  My youngest daughter has a friend sleeping over tonight who, during dinner, seemed a bit alarmed at the amount of paint still splattered on the back of my hands.

    "Is it going to stay like that forever?!?"

    Yes, I will be forever classic taupe.

    "I'll just connect the dots and tell people it's a Henna tattoo."

    [sound of crickets, chirping]

    BURRRRRRRRP!

    "Good one, Mom."

    Parenting Tip #29,188,299:  When all else fails, burp REAL LOUD!

    What?!?  Pictures?!?  Oh, yeah, I'm going to post the AFTER pictures tomorrow, when Garth (NHRN) promised to mount my prettiful new light fixture.

    Heaven knows I could do with some more blog fodder:  stupid #NaBloPoMo!

    Until then, I remain forever yours,

    I.M. Tired

    P.S. I said mount (HAH!)

    [Progress Report:  having nearly painted myself into a coronary on Friday (stupid #NaBloPoMo) it's the big-ish reveal!!]

    © 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!