This Full House

You know you're from Jersey, if....

Having been born, grown up and now raising a family of my own (and blogging about it) in New Jersey (what, you too...SHUT up!) I've pretty much heard it all.  Still.  You may be surprised to learn, however, just how difficult it can be, listening to jokes about why we're called "The Garden State" because, it's too hard to fit "Oil and Petro-Chemical Refinery State" on a license plate, etc...

[rolls eyes]

So, New Jersey has a lot of chemical companies; I get that.  Hell, I used to work with a couple of them - way before children - forgive me, but the assumption that moving here would be less than desirable, by anyone who refuses to take a look-see beyond the Turnpike tolls, you know, upsets me.

Or, in more Jersey-type terms...it friggin' frosts my ass, people!

How many Sears representatives DOES it take to screw a dissatisfied customer...DAMMIT?

[This entry is cross-posted with Moms Speak Up]

This is an emergency, people - quick, somebody call Ty Pennington - we seem to have a severe laundry backup!

Now, I'm NOT the type of person who likes to complain - heaven knows, my mommy ears are VERY tired already - but, our nearly new dryer broke two weeks ago and it's STILL not fixed DAMMIT!

Did I mention, we've got 6 people living in our house?

Last week, The Boy (he's 9) had a wicked stomach virus and threw up 11 times, on Thursday - I know, my 6-year-old was home sick with a fever and was good enough to count it for me - oh, and...DAMMIT...our nearly new dryer STILL doesn't work!?!?

Not for the lack of trying - we've got the service center on speed dial - but, it seems that reliable customer service is the last thing on Sears' mind.

Monday Mommy Tip: Let It Go!

Last week, I spoke of how much I used to hate Mondays and that - after years of taking quiet little moments for granted - it's taken me some time to learn how to stop, drop and breath.

Today is NOT one of those times.

My Aunt Theresa - my mother's only sister - has been suffering with diabetes ever since she gave birth to her second child at 20.

Theresa is also my Godmother, but has always treated me like a younger sister - she was 12 when I was born - and has been my mentor and one of my best friends for, well, ever since I can remember.

You see, Theresa and I have a lot in common - in more ways than one and some too painful to mention - and having been raised in a similar fashion, we both couldn't wait to turn 18 and Theresa is the one who helped me develop my...ahem...rebellious streak.

We shared secrets and our clothes, I was her full-time babysitter and she got me into the hottest bars - sorry, Mom! - and when I got married, I was very honored to learn that she was more than happy to be my Matron of Honor.

Then, I grew up.

Garth (not his real name) and I both worked very long hours on Wall Street (yes, NYC) and once we saved up enough to buy a house and then started having children of our own, we sort of lost touch.

Oh, Theresa and I called each other and saw the families on holidays and such, but we both longed for  each other...of who we were...back in the day.

Today, Garth (not his real name) got home early - a few minutes ago, in fact - to tell me that my parents had called to let him know Theresa is in the hospital, AGAIN.

Her kidneys are failing - no biggie, just one more thing on a long list of suckage dealt to one of the strongest women I know -  but, this time, she's refusing treatment and my parents thought it best if that I wasn't home alone.

Actually, my cousin had to take the phone from my mother and fill Garth (not his real name) in on the details, so that he could "break the news" to me.

"How could she do this to her family and give up so easily?"

Garth thinks she's being selfish.  I, however, believe the opposite to be true and think it would be too much to ask that, you know, she hang around any longer.

Theresa is 10 years younger than my mother and (at 55) she looks at least 20 years older than that!  Suckage will do that to a person.  Most of our family and friends know that Theresa is a survivor.  But, it seems that I am the only one in the family who does NOT expect, or even want her to fight, anymore and just let the poor woman go and give up, already!

"How could we ask her NOT to?"

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, or how in the world my mother and I are ever going to live without her  - not to mention, how in the hell we're going to tell the children that, yes...one of their favorite people in the whole wide world IS probably going to die - for today, I've decided to just...let it go.

I mean, she IS still with us and the hubs and I are leaving for the hospital, as soon as the kids get home from school, today.

Sometimes, life sucks - SHIT, I'm so pissed right now - and people around us are hurting and there's just nothing we can do about it.  Except, perhaps ask God that he, you know, step in, at anytime, really, if he feels like it and QUICKLY!

Nope, today is NOT a good day.

Monday Mommy Tip: Stop, Drop and Breath!

 

 

I used to hate Mondays - well...being that it IS laundry day in This Full House of holey socks, that's a whole LOT of laundry! -  but, since the kids seem to have finished tag-teaming each other with the creeping crud, I can FINALLY brush my teeth (you're welcome) and spend a few moments in peace and relative quiet.

Seriously, I've got a houseful of people coming on Thursday (read:  time to break out the extra folding chairs and "good" toilet paper) and this is about the ONLY time I'm going to get, you know, alone.

With you, I mean.

So, let's get this party started - Blogomama.com is a blogging mom-type community that I enjoy visiting, especially on Mondays, because it's ALL about me...uh, I mean...the meme and sharing little tidbits of just how in the h-e-double hockey sticks am I going to get through another gosh-darned week of...ahem...well, never mind...let's just move on...shall we?

Today's mission - should you chose to accept - how to survive those annoying little pre-holiday preparations, without having to go CRAZY?

[drum roll, please]

Plan ahead...as little as possible.

Seriously, take it from me - we've seen everything from snow storms in the summer, to heat waves in the winter, from animals throwing up on each other, to appliances actually blowing up and at least one kid sick every freakin' holiday, or Aunt Flo making another one of her famous unannounced visits - why make yourself crazy?

Stop, take a breath and just..you know...go with the flow!

[snicker]

Sorry.

Allow yourself some time to breath and leave the rest up to...well...would it kill me to forget the stupid laundry, for once?

No.

But, like my good friend Dana, I hate...Hate...HAte...HATe...HATE cleaning out the fridge and, if I hadn't read her post, I would have probably NEVER have thought about doing it, either.

Thanks, Dana.

[rolls eyes]

Because, well...uh...cheese and rice there's so much to do this week, already...yes?

[rolls shoulders and scratches head]

I could be like my friend Mary Tsao (gosh, but I love saying her name) and clean my fridge every week and not have to deal with all the...um...well, I dunno exactly what and there's a whole lot of unidentifiable stuff growing and taking up house, in my fridge, at the moment.

But, we ARE talking Queen of the Dorks here - no, not Mary...ME! - so, after I took Thing One for her blood test on Friday (still waiting to hear if it's mono, or just a case of the creepiest crud...EVUH!) I went food shopping.

YeeHah - wild and crazy woman that I am - but, of course, you know what that means, don't-cha?

Yes, ladies (and the men who...sort of managed to stumble in...just to get out of the cold) it's time to play...

[cue the Capital One Vikings]

...what's in YOUR fridge?

Oh, it may not look so bad right now - yes, I took pictures...SO WHAT? - just be glad that you're not actually standing here and, you know, smelling it.  But, if you're into that sort of  stuff...[cough]...freak...[cough]...feel free to click on the picture and take a closer look.

[drum roll, please]

Look, it's so much brighter - I just can't put anything on the top shelf, at the moment - now, I can face the rest of the week knowing that...AT LEAST...the fridge is cleaner than it's been in, you know, weeks!

Until, I closed the door.

Now, I'm trying to figure out a way to convince Garth (not his real name) that we so NEED one of these, since the fridge is just about the ONLY thing in this house that is NOT about ready to keel over and call it a day.

Go figure.

[Edited to add:  Doctor just called.  It's NOT mono!]

You're more than welcome to join me, next time, as I teach everyone the fine art of playing:

"C'mon, kids...drop the Play Station and let's hide the laundry!"

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some serious cleaning to do...DAMMIT!