Originally published for the Imperfect Parent September 11, 2008 -- as the reading of the names continue...we will never forget This time last year, my dear friend, Dana Tuske (who also is a columnist here at the Imperfect Parent) asked me if I would consider being one of her guest bloggers at The Dana Files and I was very honored by the compliment. Until, her next email and I scanned down until I found my name on the blogging schedule -- on September 11. Riiiiiight. I can’t believe that it’s been 7 years, but I remember how terribly frightened I... Read more →

I wonder if he spent this much time, you know, picking out my engagement ring? After spending Labor Day weeding the garden, along with property the size of a football field, then just hoping for a quiet moment, or two, before the work week started (did I mention, we got kids?) this wasn't quite what we had in mind. "Do you hear water running?" My poor husband, Garth [not his real name] is too busy switching off lights, or turning down the temperature, to worry about a mid-life crises. In fact, he's turned into quite the eco-nazi! "Relax, I'm washing... Read more →

Grandparents -- can't live with them; can't live without them, right? I mean, if it weren't for Mama and Papa, my kids would be heading out to school, sneakerless. My maternal grandmother played an important part in raising my twin brother and me, while my parents worked 2, sometimes even 3, jobs at a time. My two oldest remember spending lots of time with Mamama - especially, towards the end of her life, when I helped take care of her, while my parents were at work. My two youngest enjoy looking through the tons of pictures we have of Mamama... Read more →

My father's school picture, taken in Hungary, during the 1950's, when they used to call each other, "Comrade!" My in-laws turned me onto genealogy back in the 90's. I still remember logging into AOL, taking a shower, making a cup of coffee, putting Heather (my middle girl) down for a nap and then quickly dusting the computer screen, or wiping up sticky spots on my desk -- it took THAT long to load a page. Eventually, I added a few more kids to my family tree and, well, somehow the past took a backseat to planning for the future. Today,... Read more →

Photo editing courtesy of Rollip.com I took this last night. It's cute how Bucky (a.k.a. Buck Beak, the cat who lived) loves to hang out with my 10 year-old son; unless, you're my 10 year-old son and you've got a summer reading packet to finish for the 1st day of school (like, today) then, not so much. Stupid summer reading/math packets! Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday © 2009 This Full House - All Rights Read more →

Growing up, I didn't have a lot of friends. Girls, I mean. I guess it was around the time I entered the 2nd grade (around my youngest girl's age) when I realized that little girls weren't very nice. In fact, I quickly learned that some little girls could be very, very mean, too. "Look she's got boobies!" I'd like to believe that, like me, Buffy (you know, the frenemy slayer) has since grown up, gotten over the fact that she felt the need to single me out, in front of the entire 3rd grade class, for wearing a pale lemon... Read more →