Thoughts and Ramblings about Kids and Family and Real Housewives

I sent my oldest son back to college yesterday and just in time too. He loves to do things that irritate me like not putting the beverage he just poured a glass of back into the fridge. Now, everyone knows that there is nothing worse than having a warm beverage when you are expecting the milk or lemonade to be cold. Then he leaves 'stuff' on his bed, floor, and everywhere he wandered the entire visit home. When asked to pick up after himself, he looks at me as if I was crazy. Yep, I love that boy of mine and miss him when he is gone, but man-o-man, I am so glad he goes back home.

Nonetheless, we are blessed with a great family. Mike and Tony suffered through my Real Housewives of New Jersey phase. Now between you and me, I am hoping that Teresa does not return next year because she is nothing but a narcissistic trouble maker. She has to have all the attention on her and if it does not come naturally she causes issues to develop to bring the attention back to her. She is raising four young daughters that have no idea how to behave due to the ineffective parenting and the example she and her husband are giving them. I look at my family and compare the family to the families on the Real Housewives and I realize that the problems with the families on the shows comes from the desire to have all the attention. I have to say, the only family that does not have real serious problems aired on the television is Carolyn's family. Her son Christopher has really changed as the camera has been focused more on him this season and is rather obnoxious but overall, their family appears normal. Joe from Joe and Melissa really needs to come down a few notches in his narcissism, he is well on his way to being very much like his sister Teresa, which is annoying. I wonder if they will change the title of the program to the Real Families of New Jersey since several husbands seem to need to have a ton of attention on them as well as their wives. Then Ashley or Ashlee, Jacqueline's daughter really should be kicked out of the house and fend for herself. Chris is not doing her any favors by allowing her to stay and bring drama on the house. She loves the attention and I swear if she was my daughter, the first time she called me a _ _ _ _ _ she would be out of the house and feeling the effects of calling me that.

On Monday nights, I have been watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I feel bad for Taylor, do not have a great impression of Dana (I have to announce how much everything costs so everyone knows I am playing rich), feel sorry for Brandi trying to impress others and being treated like a disease, Lisa needs to stop making out with her dog as it is too gross for words, Camille thinks too much of her body and should seriously reign it in if she is looking for another man. I mean leave a little to the imagination, the hot tub scene last season where she showed most of her body to a friend of Kelsey's and the cameras. Kyle is very much in denial about whatever it is going on with her sister. The number of phone calls that she sounded completely wasted, her odd behavior, and her avoidance of social situations. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, it could be drugs, alcohol, or it could be prescription medications causing the problems but shouldn't someone related to that show address the issue with Kim. Her quality of life is at stake as well as her reputation.

So, what does this have to do with my family. I watch these shows and I think how normal my family is. My youngest son loves his brother and they fight when they are together in a playing manner. Both my boys are slobs in their rooms, but they do not do drugs, drink, or smoke. They are doing well in school, heck, Andy was listed at the beginning of the year at 12th in his class. Both are civic minded, help others, involved in sports and other school activities. Their biggest act of rebellion to date is not putting their dishes in the dishwasher and having a messy room. I am blessed as a parent.

Taking care of the written word,
Dannielyn

Somewhere in the 21st Century

Our family is living somewhere in the 21st century. It certainly is not the same place or time we were living just one year ago. Last year at this time we had cell phones that worked without cutting out while talking in our own home. We had satellite television and internet that worked wonderfully, at least 99% of the time. But that 1% was easily understandable and we were okay with it. Life as we knew it was changing. One son off to college, another son getting braces and my income being very fluxing, had no choice but to 'decide' to reduce our expenses.

We moved to a 'cheaper' place and cut some other expenses as well. We moved to a location with a mentally ill landlord. Of course we did not know that at the time of move in, but a few days later we began to realize how disturbed she was. After bouts of threats, harassment, attempts at coercion, filing for eviction, court dates and crazy accusations from our mentally ill landlord we moved to a new location. We happen to know the present landlords and what a relief to not be under the thumb of the mentally ill landlord. By the way, she is still trying to harass us even after we left her property. You will have to read the previous entries about the situation we suffered under her to get part of the story.

Anyways, we moved and set up to have internet and satellite television. We have internet that is slower than dial-up but far more expensive. We do not have satellite television. We do not have local channels and we may never have these great inventions. Why? because our home and the four homes in our little subdivision are left out of this century. We see phone lines, cable lines and other modern conveniences surrounding us, but they forgot all about our little road. We have tried cable, phone, internet, satellite and every other company out there to see if anyone would happen to provide us with the little luxuries many take for granted. However, we are not so fortunate. We have difficulty with getting radio stations in at home too. Can you believe it? With all the advances we have in this world, something as simple as laying cable lines to a small street where four homes sit very closed together is impossible.

We have gotten back to reading books (Kindle for me), playing board games (we are a competitive little bunch of people), talking to each other (sometimes even laughing and joking), holding on to our IPod touches and Kindles just in case the internet comes back up while we are laughing it up. We are a family with a 19 year old college son and a 16 year old licensed driver spending more time together than most families could even imagine somewhere in the 21st century.

taking care of the written word,
dannielyn

Making Life Easier for Moms and Dads

I am all for making life easier in any manner possible. I spend a lot of time on the internet researching all different topics and I bookmark quite a few of those sites I have researched. I was sitting there one day searching through the multitude of bookmarks wondering if there was an easier way to find the sites that I use all the time. It hit me, what about a site that lists a number of highly popular topics and the most popular sites regarding those topics.

That is what Taking Care of the Written Word is. All the sites that make a difference in a person's life will have links on this website. Pages will be added all the time to cover the topics of most interest.

That is where you come in. You can suggest topics that are important to you and sites that cover those topics. It will be a great site for anyone looking to make their life easier.

Take a look, make a comment or two and get involved in this site. Together we can make this a great resource for everyone.

Family Fun Day

I am getting ready for my second year on the Family Fun Day committee. We plan an incredible day of fun for families with a member who has developmental disabilities. We have tons of activities planned for the day and quite a bit of work goes into the planning stages.

It is an awesome experience for me. I have worked with the developmentally disabled for so many years. I have a six year old nephew with a seizure disorder and developmental disabilities. Some of the other members of the team have children with a diagnosis of a disability. It is incredible to see their faces as they come together to put on a day just for their children and the others in the community with a diagnosis of a developmental disability.

Can I ask a favor? If you see someone with an obvious or not so obvious disability, can you look at them in the eye and say hello? Can you see all the amazing things they can do so well? Can you look at the love in their hearts and the skills that they have worked so hard in accomplishing?

What you take for granted, these families look at as a miracle. What you get frustrated with, these families see a new skill learned. What you see as heartbreak, these families see as the most incredible and perfect child. A child may have needs that are more difficult to fulfill; but will love you unconditionally.

That is what family fund day is all about. Family Fun Day celebrates the fun every family needs, the fun that every family deserves, the fun that accommodates the needs of the population that often sites on the outside trying to fit in.

If you are interested in finding out more about Family Fun Day, please contact me.