Confessions of the Mom Next Door

Monday, 09 November 2009

  • What's your [xanga] story, morning glory?

    I've noticed a ton of "I LOVE XANGA!" themed posts lately, and rightfully so.  I do love xanga.  Yes, I have a fulfilling life offline, but sometimes logging in at the end of the day just hits the spot.  Xanga has seen me at my best, worst, and downright silliest.  But all of these xanga-love posts have left me wondering: how did we all end up here?  I found xanga in 2004, thanks to my brother and sister.  I created a different username in 2008, just for a little more privacy.  I didn't want to embarrass myself or my family with some of the stuff I wanted to write about! 

    So, here's the question:  What's YOUR xanga story?  How did you find xanga, and what keeps you coming back?

Sunday, 08 November 2009

  • 6 months

    I realized today that I've been doing things lately that I do not normally do.  Nothing shocking, just things that are not like me.  Just to name a few:

     

    I've been watching House. 

    I made french toast this morning, topped with syrup AND powdered sugar.

    I folded my towels differently.

    I bought apple cider at the grocery store yesterday.

     

    No, not like me at all.  However, exactly like my mother.  Things she loved, things she did, and the way she did them.  Until today, I didn't even realize that I was doing any of this.  As I was eating my french toast this morning, something just clicked.  My heart felt heavy.  As crazy as it sounds, I think that it makes me feel closer to her.  I miss her so much.

    It's only been 6 months since she died.  I'm already forgetting the sound of her voice.

Thursday, 05 November 2009

  • Moms deserve sick days, too.

    Ugh.  I knew this day was coming.  I just knew it. 

    I FEEL LIKE CRAP!!!

    Sent home early from work today.  Sinus, headache, chest congestion... the whole works.  I want to just curl up in a ball and disappear until this cold goes away.  However, there are still little mouths to be fed, baths to be given, homework to be checked, books to be read, and bedtimes routines to be followed. 

    I need a sick day.  Buh-bye, xanga.  Mama needs to sneak in a little nap.

     

Saturday, 31 October 2009

  • How to make facebook suck less.

    This is probably old news, but I'm always the last one to hear about everything.  You've got to try it if you haven't yet. 

     

    1. On your facebook page, scroll down to the bottom and click "English."

    2. It should bring up another language menu.  Click "English: Pirate."

    3. Laugh your ass off.

     

    I'm keeping mine set to this for awhile... or at least until I start getting annoyed with it, lol.  I wish there was this setting for my entire computer.  Way to make things more interesting!  How fun!

Friday, 30 October 2009

  • Xanga, xanga, xanga...

    I've noticed that the more you mention "xanga" in your headlines and actual blog entry, the more attention that post will generate.  Now, I'm not quite an attention whore, but I'm also not one of those who simply writes for myself to go back and read alone later on.  The reason I have a xanga is for the sake of interaction.  If I just wanted to vent for the sake of venting, I'd pick up a pretty journal at the bookstore.  I'm not here to get featured (I never have been... not that that should surprise any of you who are familiar with my blog... ahem.), but I AM here for the friendship, the comments, the conversation, and yes... even the not-so-occasional drama.  It's funny how you write something with your heart on your sleeve (or in this case, on your computer screen) and you're really hoping to start up some intellectual conversation, but when you log on in anticipation and... not a whole lot of interest.  Then one night you're feeling silly and write a xanga-themed post, and people go nuts!  Craziness.  But I do love xanga, or else I wouldn't still be here.  My xanga friends have "seen" me at my best and at my absolute worst... and I wouldn't have it any other way.

    Honestly, now... and don't give me any of the "I just write for myself" bull ... have you ever felt disappointed after writing something that you thought was brilliant but no one else really cared about?

Thursday, 29 October 2009

  • The Elephant in the Room

    If you are at all familiar with my blog, you may or may not have noticed that I am very opinionated when it comes to drugs.  I am 100% AGAINST all illegal drug use.  I'm no prude.  I like to have fun.  I'm not perfect.  I'm not even saying that I've never done them... I have.  As a teenager, I was out of control.  I'd say that you can ask my mother, but you can't.  She passed away in April.  Why would I even say that, you ask?  Because she lost the battle with a prescription drug addiction.  That's why.  My mother is dead because of drugs.

    I don't understand how this epidemic continues to be ignored.  Our children are snorting OxyContins out of their English textbooks.  Once they're good and addicted to Oxys and can no longer afford these pills (some go for around 80 bucks PER PILL... or more!) heroin is cheaper (did you know you can get a fix for just $10?) and sometimes even easier to get.  I live in the suburbs.  I am a 30 year old mother with a limited social circle.  Yet, if I wanted to get my hands on some herion, I easily could.  People talk.  They're not ashamed.  It's easily accessible.  When did shooting up at parties become socially acceptable?  Times are changing.  And it's terrifying.  We smoked a little pot in high school.  From what I hear, the POT isn't even the same as it used to be.  What the hell is going on?

    I am terrified of what the future holds for my children.  Drug addiction does not discriminate.  No one of ANY certain age, sex, race, social class, sexual preference, religion, etc., etc., etc., is exempt.  My best friend's daughter is fighting with everything she has to beat a heroin addiction.  And you know what?  She's a good kid.  Always has been.  One bad decision forever changed her life.  No one wakes up one morning and thinks, "Hmm.... I think I'd like to be a heroin addict.  Today's the day!"  Once you get sucked in, it can easily become a life or death battle to get out.  Until you personally experience the devastation that comes with a drug addiction or god forbid, a loss, such as I have endured, I think it's nearly impossible to understand the magnitude of this problem.  It truly is an epidemic.  And no one talks about it.

    Where am I going with this post?  I really don't know.  There is no easy solution for this problem.  There are no answers or explanations that will satisfy me.  Call this a rant if you will, because all I know is that I am furious.  I worry for my children.  Am I doing everything in my power to help them make the right decisions?  All it takes is one weak moment, one bad choice.  I need to be the best mother I can be. 

    Their lives depend on it.

Wednesday, 28 October 2009

  • REDRUM! REDRUM!

    I haven't gotten a good night's sleep since moving into the "new" house.  It's been nearly a month.

    I'm quite sure that the creepy tv shows I've been glued to lately aren't helping.  In fact, I'm sure they're just fueling the fire.  It doesn't help that the view from my bedroom looks like the hallway from The Shining.  And then I see this commercial EVERY FIVE MINUTES:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4-O-tLsCDo  (Sorry, I tried to embed it, but I apparently don't know how to do that.  Just old-school it and click the link)

    Is it just me, or are those twins just a little on the creepy side? 

    Seriously, though.  I love this house, but it kind of freaks me out.  I laugh and teasingly poke my husband because he gets spooked, too... but then bed time rolls around and he's snoring in 5 minutes.  I'm laying there, eyes wide open, and jumping at every little creak and crack our century+ old house makes.

    I need to turn off the tv.  And maybe take some Ambien or something.  Do you believe in ghosts? 

     

Saturday, 24 October 2009

  • My daughter has boobs.

    She's 8.

    I had to take her bra shopping.  And not for "training bras."  We're talking real bras here.

    She's 8.  I don't think that even qualifies as a "tween."

    My little girl is not such a little girl any more. 

    I don't think I was 8 when I had to wear my first bra.

    Sigh.

    My daughter has boobs. 

    Here we go.

Thursday, 15 October 2009

  • Adventures in the new house.

    Two weeks in, and we are LOVING the new casa.  It's gorgeous, huge, and already feels like home.  However -- and don't act like you didn't see it coming -- I have discovered that the house has a little more, er... character than that which was initially obvious. 

    Character Trait #1:

    The house is old (good.)  And huge (still, good.)  And kind of scary at night (not so good.).  Be it the creaks and cracks that we have yet to become familiar with, or the creepy little Coraline doors (Have you seen that movie?!  Um... it scared the crap out of ME and it's a movie for kids!) that are located sporadically throughout the house, this place kinda gives me the heebie-jeebies once the sun goes down.  It probably doesn't help, though, that the Hubs and I decided to be "brave" (read: STUPID) and watch Ghost Lab on our new Direct TV setup.  Yeah... not so smart.

    Character Trait #2:

    We seem to have some tenants that didn't get the memo that the house was under new ownership.  And no, we're not talking ghosts here (at least I hope not!) but rather, inhabitants of the 6-legged variety.  I've discovered some form of insect larvae in the kitchen.  I keep flushing the ones that I find (karma, shmarma... I don't want bugs in my Cheerios, thankyouverymuch) but they keep reappearing.  Worse, I think that of all bugs they could be, they are EARWIGS!  I think I witnessed the birthing process yesterday by happening upon a swollen, writhing earwig in the pantry.  Don't worry.  I put her out of her misery.  I'm about to put Terminix on my speed dial.

    Other than that, life is grand.  I took a week's vacation to get things cleaned, unpacked and organized.  We went back to the old house last night to get it scrubbed down for the new tenants.  Looking in that house, I do not understand how we fit all of our crap in there.  It just doesn't seem possible.  I can't believe we made it work for as long as we did.  I feel blessed to have been in the right place at the right time for this house.  It reaffirms my belief that all things happen for a reason.  There is some sort of divine plan.  Or at least, I hope.  For now, anyway, Mom & Dad are happy.  Kids are happy.  Dogs are happy.  Life is Good.  I've even got the t-shirt to prove it.

Wednesday, 30 September 2009

One last thought...

the_mamarazzi

  • Visit the_mamarazzi's Xanga Site
    • Name: Natalie
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 3/7/2009

The Scoop.

  • I write about love, kids, marriage, work, sex, and sometimes there's the occasional post on poop. Not necessarily in that order. Welcome to my life.

Weblog Archives

Don't worry - your calendar is here… to see it in action just click "Save" above and refresh the page.