Question of the Day #115

I'm reading a hilarious collection of essays called The Last Single Woman in America by Cindy Guidry. More hilarious because she's single in LA, which if you're not here, you don't know what a freakish place this is. Guys will wave their Bentleys at you, inquire who your agent is and poke to find out "who you know," and suddenly the date you think you're on dissolves into a portrait of a dude on a soapbox vomiting out words about how he's the coolest man who ever walked Sunset Boulevard.

Anyway, I just read this line and it stung, "Vulnerability is terrifying. It's much easier to be admired from afar than to let someone get close and actually see me."

And at 7:00 AM on a Saturday, I'm suddenly ridiculously introspective. I think about past relationships where I've settled for less rather than admit I need more. I remember moments when I should have exploded in tears and instead, took a deep breath, threw my shoulders back and smiled.

I'm aware and I'm working on it. But vulnerability is terrifying to me. (It's terrifying to even type about it.) What's terrifying to you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #114

It's a magical time in Southern California. Rains have subsided (for now) and the night air breathes orange blossoms, gardenias and jasmine. It's a reminder that Spring is coming and that the world is just about to wake up.

Every season has a scent. Fresh cut grass reminds me of east coast summers. And that slightly chilled, leafy scent of mornings before school are September. Cool rain on hot concrete booms summer thunderstorms and wood burning in fireplaces crackle winter.

What are your favorite seasonal scents?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #113

This Saturday, my friends M & K, and I are co-hosting a garage sale at their house. So today I am going to begin the sorting of junk.

I've got more kitchen supplies than any chef could ever need, tools, painting supplies, trinkets and old electronics. All kinds of stuff that could easily become another person's treasures.

Which makes me think about fabulous garage sale finds I've gotten in the past. My favorite is the wrought iron coffee table base in my living room. I picked it up for $10 at a yard sale in Hollywood (Which is tough to do because those crazies price their junk at treasure rates. $100 for this moldy chair anyone?) then snagged a glass top on sale at Pier One for $60 and put together a fabulous coffee table for $70 total that I've had for about 8 years now.

What's your favorite garage sale find?

xoxo,

Suzanne

Question of the Day #112

Last night, H and my friend Rob came over for dinner. We tried not to focus on what a tough time everyone's having lately and instead talked about what we should be doing to maintain sweet denial.

And Rob said, "Sooze, you gotta get the fun wherever you can."

So true. For me, getting the fun wherever I can includes nights like last night. When good friends come over and I cook a huge pot of short ribs and serve them up with mashed potatoes and red wine and we laugh until our faces hurt.

How are you "getting the fun"?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #111

Last night, during my critique group, we reviewed the Oscars. Rated speeches, gushed about our favorite dresses and finally, discussed plastic surgery.

We talked about how living in LA can be weird. We see women at the supermarket with faces stretched so tightly that it's hard to tell what they're supposed to look like. At the gym, we'll work out next to a woman with one eye that's open way more than the other. We'll find ladies with lips that look like they've been stung by bees trying out lipstick at the makeup counter at Nordstrom.

It's an odd, odd place. Which made me wonder, how does the rest of the world feel about plastic surgery?

xoxo,
Suzanne

PS - Thanks to everyone who notified me that the comments word verification is not functioning correctly. Apparently, you're getting a "loading" error which is not loading. I got the same error when blogging on other's people sites yesterday, so I think it may be a Blogger issue. But who knows. Anyway, I just disabled the word verification in hopes that it will help. Please try again!

Question of the Day #110

As she accepted her Oscar last night, Penelope Cruz said:

"I grew up in a place called Alcobendas, where this was not a very realistic dream. And I, always on the night of the Academy Awards, I stayed up to watch the show and I always felt that this was, this ceremony was a moment of unity for the world because art, in any form, is and has been and will always be our universal language and we should do everything we can, everything we can, to protect its survival."

As writers, we work hard to exercise our universal language. To share stories and drive messages and inspire people to think and to learn. But it's not just us. People who aren't artists do the same thing every day. Whether they're teachers, parents or friends, everyone is award worthy.

I if I were to win one, I'd like it to be a Printz Award for excellence in Young Adult literature.

If you were to win an award, what would you like it be?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #109

Last night, my dad flew into LA and around 11:00 PM we found ourselves at In and Out Burger gobbling delicious double doubles and fries. We love cheeseburgers and are forever in search of the perfect specimin. We've scoured LA, San Francisco and New York and have rated all sorts of burgers from Houston's to The Counter, to Father's Office and straight to Fatburger.

In and Out is not our absolute favorite, but at 11:00 PM on a random Saturday, it was pretty yummy.

What foods do you search far and wide for?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #108

So last night, B, of B's Wild Ride, tells me that a couple nights ago, he misdialed a number on his cell. About an hour later, someone texted him:

"Who's this?"

He texts his name and writes, "Who's this?"

She gives him her name and a whole crazy thread of texts begin. "How old are you?" "Do you live on the westside?" "What do you do?" Then the next night they began again, "How's your night going so far?"

Now I understand that we live in a technological age. I get it. If I want to contact someone I could call him, email him, text him, Facebook him - whatever. The opportunities are endless. But texting with a stranger?

So I ask B, "Don't you think that's a little weird? Like what if you meet this girl and she's nuts?"

And he replies, "My friend met a girl by misdialing and now they're married."

I can't refute that. It could be true. People meet in crazy ways. My girlfriend and I once crashed a bachelor party in Vegas and one of the attendees and I dated for six months after that. (Surprise - not everything stays in Vegas!)

So what's the strangest way you've ever met a significant other?

xoxo,

Suzanne

Question of the Day #107

I just logged onto Facebook and saw that I had a friend request from Casamento Zeus. He looked like his name should be Casamento Zeus. Long curly hair, beefy looking guy. I ignored it. I don't know Casamento Zeus.

And while Casamento is a lovely last name, I couldn't help but feel bad that Casamento Zeus had to bear it as a first name. (Or Zeus as a last name for that matter.) Can you imagine being a little kid in grade school? "Casamento! No running in the halls!"

That'd be a tuffy.

But I wonder how Mr. Zeus himself feels about his name. Does he like it? Does it bother him? Does he want to change it to Greg Smith?

And what about you? Do you like your name? Have you ever wanted to change it? If so, to what?

xoxo,

Suzanne

Question of the Day #106

The rains have stopped. Sunlight beams everywhere, the world is lush and green and suddenly I remember why I live in Southern California again.

So now that the deluge has halted, it's time to paint the wall at back of my yard. It's a bit of an eyesore.

The thing is, I'm going to need a little help. Even with a an extension poll, I'll probably need a ladder, someone to borrow it from and someone to hold it. So I'm debating who to enlist. (Any volunteers please shout out!)

Who's your "get it done" girl/guy when it comes to home projects?

xoxo,

Suzanne

Question of the Day #105

Lately, I've heard a lot of people say, "I'll take any job. It doesn't matter what it is." Which got me thinking about the weird jobs I've had in the past. I've:

1. Shampooed heads
2. Delivered flowers
3. Slung pizzas
4. Made sandwiches in a deli (Mmm...delicious Jersey subs)
5. Sold bonsai trees
6. Been a production assistant
7. Assisted an idiot
8. Written freelance articles for teen magazines
9. Written training materials for a Fortune 500 company
10. Done errands for other people

What are some weird (or not so weird) jobs you've had?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #104

Speed Round:

1. If you could order a pizza right now, what toppings would you get on it?

Mushroom, sausage and onions.

2. When was the last time you laughed and why?

This morning. At myself and my ridiculous reasoning as I talked myself into getting out of bed. It sounded something like this, "If you get up, you can have a delicious Diet Coke..."

3. What are your plans for tonight?

Going to San Diego.

4. What are you wearing on your legs?

Fleece pants. (Yes, they are as warm as they sound.)

5. Who is the last person you saw and when did you see him or her?

H. Yesterday.

Your turn!

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #103

Yesterday H and I got kidnapped by this crazy guy, B. Okay, maybe it wasn't a kidnapping. It was more like, "Wanna go get drinks at the beach?" Doesn't take much to coerce us.

So we did just that. But then we had to head back to meet Stacie to go see, "He's Just Not That Into You." That took some coercing.

We're on the freeway, when B looks down at his dashboard and says, "Oh my god. I think I'm gonna run out of gas."

This immediately sends me into giggle fits. I mean really? Who actually runs out of gas?

He glares at me and exits. The truck sputters at the red light. He shifts into neutral. I howl.

From the backseat, H says, "Don't worry. If we run out of gas, we can push!"

I immediately picture B at the wheel and H and I pushing his truck. That's right, get the women to do the dirty work. I laugh even more.

The light turns green. B slams on the accelerator. The truck bucks, finds a fume or two and we tear around a corner, wheels screeching. I clutch the door handle. H screams.

The gas station is in sight.

I yell, "Go! Go! Go!'

The guy in front of us slows to turn in. The truck sputters. B slams on his horn. All three of us wail, "MOVE!!!"

We finally lurch up to the pump.

B yells, "It's out of order!"

H and I can't talk we're laughing so hard. The car in front of us moves. B inches up. The truck dies.

Other people stare at our mobile laugh factory. They rush to get in their cars and drive away from us.

Finally, B looks at me, all twisted up in the front seat and says, "Do you really think it's that funny?"

I choke out, "It's the funniest thing that's ever happened to me."

He says, "Your life must be really boring."

"Oh, it is, I'm a total loser," I say.

And then we all explode in laughter together.

So seriously, do people really run out of gas? Has that ever happened to you???

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #102

Last night, some friends and I went to see a couple honky tonk bands play in a tiny bar. The upright bass thumped, the guitarists twanged, the singers made us swoon. I howled out harmonies, danced with strangers and pretended I was married to C so the crazy lady who wanted to make me her Valentine would pick another victim.

It was the best Valentine's Day I've ever had.

What was your best?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #101

Once, back around 1995, when I lived with 10 girls, sharing two craftsman bungalows and a pool in Hollywood, we had a "Black Friday" party.

Looking back, there was no reason why 10 20-something hot chicks in one of the most famous cities in the world should have had such disdain for Valentine's Day, but as we piled our exes' old tee shirts, boxers, pictures and gifts in the driveway and set them on fire, we must have come across as a wee bit bitter.

Which is hilarious, because there had to be 30 guys at that party. It's not like there weren't any Valentinian prospects hovering just a few feet away from the stench of scorched memories.

Now, the idea of throwing an anti-Valentine's day party or a "Black Saturday" party seems counterintuitive. I mean, what's wrong with love? It's nice to love and be loved, right? So I'm embracing Valentine's Day in all of my singleness.

I'm cooking dinner for friends tonight and then heading out to see a band. And I don't pan on burning a thing.

How do you or don't you celebrate Valentine's Day?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #100

Let me just take a moment and say, "thank you" to all you fabulous bloggers who have been playing questions for 100 days. You rock.

So, last night I had this dream that I was down the Jersey Shore partying with some high school friends and I had to get into the city for a meeting. As I packed up my stuff, the contents of my bag spilled everywhere. Girlie stuff all over the party-place.

I scrambled to gather it up, which took an amazing amount of effort. My chapstick rolled underneath Rock's chair. Where were my pajamas? Why were Dally's boots suddenly in my bag? Stuff like that.

After I sorted it all out, I reminded Joanna that there were more votive candles in the laundry room over the washer and dryer and walked out the door. (No idea whose house we were at.) My Jeep (don't own a Jeep-but whatever) was parked across a street. To get there, I had to scramble down a very steep hill, more like a cliff, which I somehow did with ease. I tip-toed past some scary dudes wearing voodoo like face paint and crossed the street. Once I got there, the Jeep was suddenly on the other side of a lake and I had no way of getting to it because alligators inhabited those waters.

At that point I rolled over. That's right. Enough of that dream.

Anyway, a lot of my dreams revolve about me getting close to a goal and then something else blocks my path. It's a pattern. It's been going on for years. It's annoying. And I'd like it to stop.

What do you dream about?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #99

After hearing my friends complain about not knowing how to cook and groaning about always eating out and spending tons of money, I decided to start a new blog.

It's called Suzie Foods. Healthy Eating, Cheap and Easy. http://suziefoods.blogspot.com/

I love to eat and I love to cook. I'm also a wee bit paranoid about what goes in my food. So who better to decide that than me? I've come up with tons of ways to eat fresh healthy foods and not spend a fortune doing it.

That's how I roll. So how do you eat? Do you cook? Order out? Eat on the run?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #98

It was fun, but the truth is, we're probably not going to be billionaires. At least not today. So, let's look for some bright spots here. I've already had two today and it's only 10:00 AM.

First, someone called me about my copywriting services ad on craigslist. Then I found an excellent ad for an Instructional Designer (There aren't many excellent opps out there right about now - so this was a spectacular find.) and applied for it.

I'm all about thanking the universe for the good stuff these days. So, thank you universe!

What bright spots are you thankful for today?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #97

As I was writing a certification test, I thought, "Ooo, I could ask the bloggers a fill in the blank question." Let's inject a little fun into the blogosphere. The ultimate fantasy, especially right now.

"If I had $1,000,000,000, I'd ______________________."

How would you fill in that blank? Here are my first few answers right off the top of my head:

1. Run off to Rome for a serious time out
2. Write, write, write
3. Share it with my friends and family
4. Use it to grow money and donate it to people in need
5. Create some kind of foundation that pays off the mortgage principle for people who are about to foreclose and have them pay back the loans at 2%
6. Buy the "Big House" so I have a place to gather with my friends when I decide to come back from my time out
7. Just thought of another one as I gobbled my lunch and howled in pain - I'd get my last two wisdom teeth removed

How would you fill in the blank? (You can list as many answers as you want. Remember, we've got all day.)

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #96

Let's take yesterday's question and spin it. Instead of something you never could have predicted, what's something about your life that you totally could have predicted?

I could have predicted I'd be a writer. I figured that out when I was 18. I had a college interview and really didn't have any idea what college was about or who I was supposed to be or what I wanted to do - except become a rockstar.

During the interview, I muttered one word answers. Gave blank stares. Prayed for it to end. I was shaking, so I death gripped the arms of the chair I sat in as the interviewer said, "So what would you like to major in?"

I was like "huh?" In high school, my only interests had been singing, parties and boys. It wasn't like I could major in one of them.

So I sat there, wide eyed. The interviewer said, "We really enjoyed your essay. It was very well written."

Miraculously, I put together a whole sentence and said, "Well, that's great, because I think I'd like to become a writer."

I figured I had a better shot at writing success than becoming a rock star. So they taught me to write and from there on out, I knew that was what I was going to do.

And you? What could you have predicted about your life?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #95

When I was 16 years old, I had a mad crush on Jimmy B. I mean stuttering in his presence, unable to eat, stomach flipping, almost puking - kind of crush.

I imagined being his girlfriend. I fantasized about marrying him. I pictured little me and Jimmy B's. But I never pictured attending his 40th birthday party 3,000 miles away from Jersey.

Isn't funny how things change over 20 years?

Now I babble freely in his presence, down tacos with him (on a very stable stomach) and ask for advice about guys I could consider marrying. My mad crush at 16 is my buddy. And if, at that age, you'd asked me how life would turn out, I never would have predicted that one day we'd end up in Southern California toasting 40 on a Saturday night.

What's something you never would have predicted about your life?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #94

I've decided it's not the same question if you use different celebs. Therefore, it's time for another round of Marry, Fling, Kill.

Click here to check out our last round.

Need a refresher? Here's how you play. You have to choose one of the following people to marry, have a fling with or kill. For example, of Harrison Ford, Adrien Grenier and Kobe Bryant, I would kill Kobe Bryant, have a fling (or 20) with Adrien Grenier and marry Harrison Ford.

Get it? So, I'll offer up a set of women and set of men depending on which gender interests you:

1. Pink
2. Serena Williams
3. Penelope Cruz

or

1. Tom Cruise
2. Denis Leary
3. Kanye West

Who would you marry, have a fling with or kill?

xoxo,

Suzanne

Question of the Day #93

It's like this
You're not here tonight
I don't know where you are
And I'd never cross the line and call to find out
But your friend
is
here
His eyes follow me everywhere
I flush
Do your eyes follow me?
He propositions
I disclose
He tries again
No, I say
He asks why not
Because he's your friend
Isn't that reason enough?

Why are guys so weird???

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #92

I have a confession to make. I am not inspired to score in the question zone today. I've got nothing. Nothing interesting is happening to reflect on. Nothing inspires analyzation. I am questionless.

So I'm going to dig deep into my bag of old standbys and pull out a simple, seemingly flat inquiry that somehow always blossoms into deep answers.

What's your favorite tree?

Sounds boring. But there are great answers. Like my friend, R, who long ago responded with a palm tree. Because after his parents got divorced and he and his mom moved into their new home, they planted a palm tree as a symbol of a fresh start.

Or my answer, which will always be the treehouse behind the house on Tanglewood Lane. Neighborhood boys had built it, and years later, abandoned it for girls and parties. I climbed it almost everyday with a Judy Blume novel tucked under my arm. I read "The Pigman" up there, "Are You There God It's Me Margaret" and "Bridge to Terebithia."

So...what's your favorite tree?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #91

I haven't been exercising much lately. I got a nasty cold a few weeks ago that kept clinging on. The idea of heading up the hill (and I'm talking HILL here) when I could barely inhale without exploding into coughs was hilarious.

But then, as the cough subsided and I ran out of excuses not to go up the hill, I subconciously decided to avoid looking out the giant, eight foot wide, sliding door next to my desk. Ignored the fact that it's been 70 something degrees all week and that most people would kill to go for a walk in this weather. I found it much easier to sit in my office and stare at the computer all day.

It's supposed to rain tomorrow and through the weekend, so today is really my last shot at a sunshiney walk through the hills. So I'm going to finish this post, put on my sneakers and get out there.

Okay, I wrote it. I committed. I'm doing it.

What do you have talk yourself into it today?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #90

So while we're exploring our celebrity crushes, it's only natural we move on to TV. When I was growing up, I was OBSESSED with Charlie's Angels. I wanted to be an angel. The neighborhood girls and I would actually "play" Charlie's Angels, when each of us would get to act like Jill, Kelly or Sabrina and run around chasing after imaginary bad guys.

My fave was Jacklyn Smith. I so wanted to be that cool. She could walk a tightrope, pose as a high end call girl and wrestle guns away from huge burly men - barehanded.

In fact, as I eye my Charlie's Angels DVD box sets and plan my marathon for tonight, I think I still want to be that cool.

Who was your TV idol?

xoxo,
Suz

Question of the Day #89

Remember the famous Farrah Fawcett poster? And that one of Shaun Cassidy? As a kid, I didn't necessarily hang posters on my walls, but I was madly in love with each and every cast member of The Outsiders.

Who was your favorite celebrity crush as a tween (or a teen)?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #88

Superbowl: The unofficial American holiday.

What will you do today?

xoxo,
Suzanne