A Few Things About Me…

1. I gave birth for the first and only time at age 42. My precious son, Jude, is now 8. The good news and the bad news? I have infinitely more patience, wisdom, humor, confidence, and tolerance than I would have if I’d birthed at 22. Unfortunately, I am also always tired. I’m sorry, did I say always tired? I meant ALWAYS TIRED!
2. I’m an only child, born to middle-aged parents.  I think that this has prepared me for raising my own only child while in my own middle-age. Both of my parents have passed away, and I plan to do everything I can to stick around for Jude longer than my parents did. I realize this means I should stop drinking margaritas and eating bacon and ice cream…and do more pilates.
3. I’ve been married to my New York/Italian-American/Actor husband, Jimmy, for 15 years. No wait…is that right? Is it 15 or 16? 1995…2012…math (uhhh…). Damn. Almost 17! How’d that happen? Anyway, I’m blessed to have him and my crazy Italian-American in-laws, Mommy and Pop, who have taken me in, and provided a loving (albeit crazy) family for me.
4. I am a Texan. And although I’ve lived in Los Angeles for (gasp!) 20 years now, I will always define myself as such. I’ve mostly lost my accent, though it sneaks in occasionally, usually when I’m tired and/or liquored up. That's right, y'all.
5. I’m an actress. I used to have an actual “career”. Now I’m mostly that woman in  the paper towel commercial giving her clueless husband that wry, wise, wacky look.
6. I sing in my (Catholic) church choir, and it brings me great joy. Singing some rocking Handel or sublime Faure literally strikes a chord deep in your soul.
7. Target makes a really pretty decent pinot grigio in a box.
8. I’ve been told I have an obsessive/big dork personality. A sampling of my obsessions/addictions (in no particular order):  Kisses from Jude, bacon, Pogo Games, NPR, Battlestar Galactica, lists, Facebook, punctuation (my favorites are !, …, – and /), Venti Nonfat Caramel Macchiatos, face/body creams, bleach, e-mail, liberal causes, spelling, do-gooding, elaborate cocktails, NyQuil, using legalese words like whereby, aforementioned and heretofore (certainly influenced by my attorney father) and my little glass of wine after Jude goes to bed. Did I say kisses from Jude?

Comments

[Pat Mills]

Gretchen, your blog is great and I am enjoying it. Almost like having you right here telling me about Jude. What a great little guy.
You have read more children's books than almost anyone that I know...maybe you should write an "Adventures with Jude"... sound good to you? You already have great pictures...don't need an illustrator!
Love,
Pat

[Brian]

To Camp Mama/Gretchen:

My name is Brian and I work for the Sears Cares escalations team. I am very sorry that you are experiencing these issues with your washer and the service that is needed and we would like help with this situation. We are a single point of contact for escalated concerns which means we step into a situation and handle it start to finish with one Case Manager. At your convenience, please contact my office at searscares@searshc.com so that we can get this issue resolved. Please provide a contact phone number and the phone number the washer was purchased under (if different than the contact phone number) and we will call you directly. In addition, please provide the screen name (Camp Mama/Gretchen) for reference to this issue, and we do look forward to talking to you soon.

Thank you,

Brian J.
Senior Case Manager
Sears Cares

[paige viharo]

so tickled to find this..thanks for the beautiful xmas card with jude....we miss you. we love you....paige

[middle-aged-woman]

I was trying to tell my daughter the other day, about singing Panis Angelicus in choir as a kid. It still makes shivers go up and down my spine, just thinking of it.

[gwendolyn]

Can't find the one that mentions giving up things for Lent. Where is it?
Your blog is really quite well done.

[Mike]

Hi Gretchen,

I just discovered you from (I hate to say it) the long ago Seinfeld episode you did. Lol. You're very intriguing and I look forward to reading your blog.

Mike from Tennessee.

[Sigrid Rogowski]

I enjoyed reading a few things about me.You have such a great attitute.I will be back to read more about your blog and life.

[Michael]

Hi Gretchen,

We represent a national daily deal site who is just starting in LA who is offering some great deals for your readers. Can you please contact me to discuss?