John
John is my Dad and the reason this Blog has been started. If you have been lucky enough to meet him you will understand his kind heart and totally innocent comical acts that make everyday more enjoyable.
He is a Veteran and the most proud American I have ever met. Years ago he helped to found a Volunteer organization that sends packages to soldiers that are deployed and help various Veteran organizations through out the state. It is more likely to spot an albino elephant walking down Main Street Somerville than it is to run into John not wearing a military shirt with out the logo of the Operation Jersey Cares on it.
Over the years I have come to realize that every morning my Dad has a set list of goals for the day. He is a creature of habit and routine runs his life 7 days a week. At the top of every morning’s list is to drive my Mother crazy. Every day to date he has successfully checked this off the list. Ask Linda, she will verify.
Linda
Linda is my Mom and has been married to John for 35 years. When my Mom was younger she was an incredible athlete and softball player which is how her and John met. John sponsored a softball team and needed players so mutual friends were able to connect them and the rest is history.
I get my strength and my looks from my Linda. She is a very strong woman with very little patients for nonsense. After living with John for so many years she has become numb to the everyday mind blowing acts of comedy that happen around her. This just makes it so much more of a challenge for John’s morning check list. Once again she will confirm, he succeeds.
Ladybug aka Jillian
That is me! My family is everything and laughter is what gets me through every day smiling through even the toughest situations. If we can’t laugh at ourselves than what is the point!
I have the perfect mix of qualities from both of my parents but I will admit, I am more like my Father than anything. Mom cringes when she leaves us alone or sends us on a task as the “JD Dream Team”. Guaranteed something is getting broken, someone will be lost, a hospital visit might be needed and everything but what she asked for will be picked up at the store. When she walks in the door and she sees the two of us with power tools, a ladder, flashlight and a mop her immediate response is always the same. “I don’t want to know and I am walking away”. Don’t ask, but I promise we needed all the materials.
Dad always gets excited when I tell him I had a JD Moment and fill him in on the event that happened to me that day. Famous quote from JD, “No DNA needed”. Yes, I am my Father’s Daughter.
Kenny
Kenny is my younger brother and is a child prodigy. A little over a year ago he broke our hearts when he announced that he was moving from NYC to California to go work for Facebook. Yes, I cried for 4 days. Linda is a proud Mom and always loves announcing this to everyone she meets from the mailman to the cashier at ShopRite. Her delivery on the matter is perfect, “Kenny is living in California and works for Facebook! Jill is divorced and lives with us.” Love it.
This May Kenny is getting married in Philly to his clearly better half, Tara. Tara is the most wonderful person I have ever met and could not imagine a better person to complete my brother. She puts up with his crap and has stuck by his side through multiple shoe shopping trips where the rest of us tapped out long ago. I mean to be fair, 4 hours and trying on shoes to leave with none is enough to drive any girl crazy. It is even worse when it is a boy that can’t decide!
Tara
Have you ever met your Brother’s girlfriend and thought to yourself, “Good luck lasting in this family, chick” upon first impression? Well that is not Tara! The moment I met this girl I immediately knew she was the perfect addition. No one more than John is excited to be adding another daughter to our family. When Kenny proposed to Tara, Dad hugged her and said, “Now I have another daughter!”
Tara’s love for ice cream, tennis, competitive pickle ball games and dogs that she is allergic to make her the perfect addition to our family. Our common goal to get the family drunk with the perfect Pintrest cocktail at every family gathering is by far the highlight of our relationship. We have been very successful to date.
Layla
In April 2014 my parents had another daughter and added a third sibling to the clan. They say that even a surprise baby is a blessing and Layla is clearly that. She has the most adorable face, beautiful brown eyes that melt your soul and Dad wrapped around her paw. Yes, Layla is the dog.
Never would I ever feel that I would be as jealous of anyone as much as I am of Layla. Dad dotes over her, tells her he loves her every second of the day and is always willing to play ball in the most inconvenient hours of the day. He constantly whispers sweet nothings to her and the song of, “Who’s my girl? Yes you are Daddy’s girl!” fills the house all day every day. Mom and I have started responding, “I am!” and I stare right at Layla who is always wagging her tail when I yell it. Bitch.
Kenny and I fight all of the time over who is the favorite child but deep down inside we both know the truth… Layla is clearly the favorite.
Lucy
Lucy is my dog and we have been through a lot together. She is the sweetest most gentile dog you will meet with an incredible talent for being a natural goof. If anything she provides great entertainment for us and gives John a run for his money. On most days the two can be spotted taking a nap together on the couch. Be sure to read about John’s wild Birthday where after a long day of partying the two really get crazy.