This Full House Archive

Tag: this full house

  • Just Another Idiomatic Friday
    (Translates Very Well to Mondays)

    You rock, you rule We were all sitting at the dinner table (yes, at the same time, must have been a full moon, or something) don't ask me which day (I forget) when my oldest daughter (she's 16) lamented the fact that my youngest daughter (who is 9) isn't much of a girly girl, anymore.

    "My friends think it's cool I'm a tomboy!"

    This year.

    "Who am I going to dress up and put makeup on?"

    On the one hand, the thought of Holly playing with her baby sister, without having to be asked or paid…real money…is very cute.

    "But, mommy lets YOU wear makeup!?!?"

    On the other hand, idioms tend to annoy me and, well, they just don't make a lick of sense.

    [one beat, two beats]

    D'oh!

    However, it never dawned on me, until now, those funny little Hungarian sayings my grandmother would throw out, every now and again (especially, when my twin brother or I got into trouble) translated pretty well in English, too.

    For example:

    A szomszéd rétje mindig zöldebb: The neighbor's meadow is always greener (and, well, heck, it's hard not to be a little envious, when all you've got is, you know, grass!)

    Bagoly mondja verébnek, hogy nagyfejű: The owl tells the sparrow that it is big-headed (sort of like the pot calling the kettle black, stupid owl!)

    Csepp a tengerben: A drop in the sea (Especially, when you don't have a bucket, or your neighbor borrowed it and, you know, misplaced it in the frickin' meadow somewhere.)

    Egyik tizenkilenc, másik egy híján húsz: One of them is nineteen, the other one is less than twenty (Either way, equally bad when considering marriage or the price of eggs today!)

    Feldobja a bakancsot: Throw the boots up (When kicking the bucket seems futile…see above.)

    Hideg zuhany: Cold shower (which is pretty much international and doesn't count, unless you are nineteen, or twenty, I think.)

    Jobb félni, mint megijedni: Is it better to fear, than to get frightened (Not when you consider discretion is the better part of valor or your kid has a nasty case of the hiccups…for the last hour.)

    Könnyebb utolérni a hazugot, mint a sánta kutyát: It is easier to catch a liar than a lame dog (Yes, but it didn't help that my grandmother had very long legs and could run pretty gosh-darned fast…too…DAMMIT.)

    Mint elefánt a porcelánüzletben: Like an elephant in a china shop (Which is total bullcrap, considering that stuff seemed to break easily, just by my looking at it.  Wait a minute.  D'oh!  Never mind.)

    Aaaand, that's just half of the ones I can think of (because, I'm old) considering there are 36 letters in the Hungarian alphabet (you're welcome!) and I just remembered something else.

    I can't believe it's been 6 years, since she passed, this month (Happy Anniversary in Heaven, Nagy Mama!) and I am missing my grandmother, more than words can say, right now!

    Stupid idioms.

    © 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

  • Nearly Wordless Wednesday: Girls
    (All Growed-Up)

    Holly and Heather Easter 1996
    I was cleaning out their closet, the other day (which, admittedly, I don't do very often, because, it's REALLY scary in there) when I came across this picture aaaaand, I had a major heart squeeze, right there, in the middle of the sock basket.

    TFH Sisters
    Nope, don't know how THAT happened…either…but, it WAS a whole lot quicker than I thought.

    Stupid closet!!!

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    © 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

     

  • In Which I Discuss My Girly Bits in Manly Terms

    Giving Men A Dose of Menopause [Source]

    I went out to lunch with a mom friend, who also happens to be a pharmacist (don't have one, get one!) and it didn't take long for the conversation to turn all, you know, clinical.

    "How about those hormonal replacement therapies, eh?"

    I mean, it sort of goes with the territory.  Besides, I'm a mom, she's a mom and you know you're a mom when you can comfortably discuss your entire reproductive system over a cobb salad, right?

    "So, you're going forward with the edometrial ablation?"

    What?  Oh.  Sorry.  But, it felt SO GREAT to be able to FINALLY talk about this sort of…uh…stuff with someone who understands, or can empathize and not just in clinical terms, either. 

    Sort of like blogging. 

    There's something really very therapeutic about being able to, literally, write your way into a healthier state of mind, right?

    Riiiiiiiight.

    Which is probably the reason why my blog was voted #8 most confessional last year (anti-alpha mom, indeed!) 

    Still.  At the risk of sliding into the #1 spot in 2010 (congratulations, Mir!) I'd like to continue discussing the trouble with my girly bits in the most manly way I know how.

    In mechanical terms.

    [cracks knuckles]

    Ready?

    Last 5 Years:

    I've been experiencing brief instances of heavy load and sudden acceleration and, for fear of causing any further internal engine damage, I thought it was indeed way passed time for a professional assessment.

    2 Weeks Ago:

    A brief, superficial inspection under the hood confirmed a breach in the combustion chamber and carbon build up on the outside of the engine wall.

    It was determined that additional performance-related diagnostic information was required.

    Last Week:

    Diagnostics further determined that the engine crankcase was crammed and required pressure relief; the sooner, the better.

    Today:

    However, to be sure that the flame arrester is operable (in case of backfire, we wouldn't want the flame in the intake to spread to the crankcase) they're going to scrape carbon off the pistons for further analysis.

    Prognosis:

    Diagnostics should be available in a couple of weeks, when further assessment will be made as to whether the flame has NOT spread to the crankcase, in which firing the exhaust tip (as scheduled for later next month) should alleviate the problem, or else a complete removal of the crank shaft and/or power wash of the engine is highly recommended.

    But, that's between me and my mom mechanic.

    [hands over dessert menu]

    You're welcome!!!

    © 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

  • Wordless Wednesday:
    A-Maize-ing

    Hopey Corn Maze 2010 No, you are most certainly NOT almost as tall as the corn…DAMMIT?!?

    Taken with my cell phone.  Imagine what I could do with a REAL camera?  Yeah, I'm looking at you, Garth (not his real name!)

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

  • Worming HIS Way Into Motherhood

    Having been my children's primary care provider (i.e. Mom) for the last 17 years (I know, I'm old, SHUDDUP!) I look forward to impromptu school holidays, like Columbus Day, when I don't have to cook, clean or do anything special (like, cook or clean) normally associated with celebrating more traditional gift-giving and feasting-type holidays.

    I kind of get excited when my husband, Garth (not his real name) happens to have the day off, too!

    Still.

    Working from home does have its disadvantages.

    "When is So-and-So and What's Her Name coming over, again?"

    We're helping a couple of friends out by sitting their kids, today (what's two more, right?) and by we…of course…I mean, Garth (not his real name!)

    "I'm going to make a worm box!"

    Aaaaand, I have to be honest, I am feeling a little threatened at the moment.

    "Cool, can we help!"

    Honestly, a worm box?

    Worm box closed

    So, I went outside (seeing as I showered, got dressed and everything) to take a look at this fantastical worm box.

    Worm box open

    Aaaaand, not ONLY is it a fantastical way to get kids outside (so, mommy can get a jump start on a couple of writing projects this week) not to mention, actually convincing them that something low-tech, like digging for worms is, you know, fun (their names are Jeffrey, Skittles and Bob) but, Garth (not his real name) got a chance to demonstrate his multi-tasking skills, by cleaning out my shredder, too.

    DAMMIT!

    "Do you need any clean clothes for your trip, tomorrow?"

    Aaaand, I'm okay with that AND totally crushing on my husband's feminine side…today!

    (Disclosure:  Garth (not his real name) just reminded me that my son and his friend wanted nothing to do with the outdoors and now they are ALL folding socks.)

    Boys, however, ARE stewpid!

    (Disclosure:  I was able to convince the boys that…yeah…they REALLY would probably rather be outside, too.)

    I win!

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

  • I See a Gray Hair
    And I Want to Dye it Black!


    Liz channeling Joan Jett
    So, I did — aaaaand chopped it ALL off, too — 'cawse, us forty-something-or-another moms are edgy and totally reckless like that.

    AM SO!

    LINKY LOVE BYTES:

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    Wordless Wednesday on 5 Minutes for Mom

    Tag,
    you're it:  

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

  • 7 Truths About 7 Bloggers, Maybe

    VersatileBloggerAward
    Having recently entered my 8th year of blogging (I know, I'm old, shuddup!) I feel it safe to say that…why, YES!…I am very, very versatile (AM SO!) and not because my friend Mrs. Schmitty said so, either.

    [throws check in the mail]

    Coming up with new, light-hearted and entertaining stuff to write about is hard (I know, sorta hurts to read, too — sheesh, but Monday's a ROUGH crowd!) keeping in mind that not EVERYONE who stops by here is necessarily interested in reading about non-controversial stuff (I know, act surprised, anyway) or, the fact that it just so happens my blog is ranked #1 on Google for, "it's your birthday make a mess" is even harder (yes, it's a word!)

    Still, there are those who would beg to differ (I'm not quite sure what is wrong with them, either) and I am very, very, honored to be able to call them…my friends!

    No payment, necessary.

    So, yah, I am very pleased to accept The Versatile Blogger Award (thank you and please don't cash that check until Friday, okay Mrs. Schmitty?) and now I'm supposed to tell you 7 truths about myself and then pay my award forward to 7 bloggers.

    [the sound of many doors, SLAMMING!]

    Are they gone yet?

    [phew]

    Good.  Aaaand, if you're STILL here, well, just know that there is a special place in heaven (or, a close facsimile thereof) for those who indulge professional dorks, like me.

    So, for your reading pleasure, 7 Truths About 7 Bloggers…Maybe:

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  • If You Give a 14 Year-Old PlayDoh

    Playdoh

    Nope, you are NEVER too old for PlayDoh! 

    BONUS points if you can, uh, guess which 14 yo is, you know, mine?

    LINKY LOVE BYTES:

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    Wordless Wednesday on 5 Minutes for Mom

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

  • Home is Where Your Drywall Hangs

    TyPennington
    We are ALL major Ty Pennington fans (okay, mostly me) so, last night, the kids and I settled in on the couch and watched the premiere episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

    The design team surprised the Boys Hope/Girls Hope chapters in Baltimore — you can watch it here, if you, you know, feel like having your heart squished.

    "You crying already, Mom?"

    Not even five minutes into the show, man, and I was reaching for the Kleenex.

    Then, Ty let the families know that Girls (and Boys) Hope will be getting full four-year college scholarships (including room, books and board) this time, my kids were reaching for the Kleenex and I think a couple of them even started to cry.

    "Maybe we should apply to be on the show, Mom!"

    Oh, if I had a dollar for each time I wished (out loud) for Ty to come crashing through the drywall, well, it would be nice to actually quit using our garage…as a basement.

    Never mind, worrying about how in the heck we're sending our kids to college.

    "There are A LOT of people who need help more, right Mom?"

    Always.  Still.  It WOULD be nice not to explain that, you know, we don't decorate in early drywall…on purpose. 

    Then, Ty started interviewing the families.

    "We never let my daughter know that we couldn't afford to send her to college."

    I grabbed another tissue and cursed myself (in my head) for not thinking and doing the same thing. 

    Oh, it's NOT like we're going around saying stuff like:

    Heather:  "I want to go to Boston University."
    Holly:  "I'd like to go to Italy and study art."
    Glen:  "I want to go to Rutgers."
    "Me:  Well you can ALL just FUHGHETABOUTIT!"

    But, practically speaking:

    Me:  "That WOULD be nice, maybe, I dunno, we'll see."

    Then, my youngest (she's 9) snuggled in closer.

    "Well, I love my home."

    [bites lower lip]

    "I think our house is perfect for us, right mommy?"

    [squish]

    I do now.  And, if I didn't, I certainly would NOT say it (out loud) not anymore.

    "You need 'nother tissue, Mom?"

    Hang the drywall, stupid economy!

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

  • So, This Housewife Answers the Door
    (Dude, stop me if you’ve already heard this one!)

    I.M.N. Ass

    I know, I know, I said it…housewife…it's a bad word…however, rather than get into a debate on whether stay-at-home mom is any better (honestly, I really don't give two bon-bons about labels) say what you want, just, don't call me desperate.

    Unless, we're all out of coffee AND milk [shiver] or, the microwave explodes AND takes the toaster with it.

    What?  It can happen, trust me.

    Aaaaanyway, I work from home…BAH!…there I go again…okay, so, like do working moms stop working, you know, once they get home from work?  

    Color me confused (preferably, in a soft and slightly muted tone, like, heather gray) but, I thought we were ALL passed the, I know you are, but what am I, sort of thing.

    Until, yesterday.

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