Question of the Day #853

I fell asleep during the Oscars. I haven't seen many of the movies in contention. So, was that the problem? The awkward vibe the hosts exuded didn't inspire me to keep my eyelids open either. Maybe it was the two huge plates of Gruyere and ham mac and cheese and two glasses of wine? Or maybe it was the trance-like state I fell into while Little J rubbed my head?

I'm not sure why, but this year's Academy Awards show was a big snoozefest for me.

How did you feel about The Oscars?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #852

On Friday, when I went to Fatburger for lunch, the cashier gave me a discount because I'm a "regular."

What does that say about me? And where are you a "regular"?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #851

Last night, N and I went to L'Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills for dinner and drinks. We sat in a luxurious bar area admiring all the beautiful people around us when a man approached a grand piano.

The clatter of the room hushed. The beautiful people stared as ELEW, the rockjazz pianist in the video above posed in front the keys.

The music roared, rumbled and twinkled. He played the strings inside the piano along with the keys. It was unlike anything I'd ever heard.

How have you been surprised by music?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the day #850

The coldest storm front in almost 30 years is making its way down the west coast from Alaska. Snow is predicted in the Bay Area and newsmakers have made a big to do about the possibility of snow in LA.

Until then, let it rain.

In honor of this big storm, would you like to partake in the Rainy Day poll (on the left)?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #849

My sister in law wrote, "So where's the good news kids? I could really use some good news this week" as her Facebook status.

In response, my brother linked to the video above.

The video cracked me up. Not only because it's hilarious, but because I've been writing training materials all week and when it reaches the part about reviewing what the participants learned, well, the results are exactly what an Instructional Designer doesn't want.

Anyway, what was the last thing that made you laugh?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #848

Last night, during my critique group, I found myself taking notes. Not on the writing, but on the conversation.

"Something just hit me. All of a sudden it was time to stop messing around," G said. "I don't know if it was an age thing, like maybe I realized that one day I really was going to die or something. But I'd had enough. So I decided to go for it."

I got that. I understood how one flicker can burn a little brighter every day until you finally can't see the shadows anymore. When suddenly it's no longer about longing and it's all about action.

It's that moment when everything clicks.

Have you had a life changing moment like that? When you suddenly realized what you were supposed to do? If so, what was it like? How did it change you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #847

What are you favorite websites? Why? What do you like about them?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #846

"Wow. So things are really start to look up for you," M said yesterday, over burgers and beer.

I knocked on the bar.

"I hope so," I said.

"Hey, if I could buy theoretical stock, I'd buy it in 'Suzanne'," M said.

"I'd SO buy stock in Suzanne!" Little J said.

"Aww, you guys are too sweet," I said, all proud and blushing. Then I grabbed a napkin and began scribbling. "But I like the concept."

If you could buy stock in someone, who would it be?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #845

Today, D took me on a field trip to a Korean Market. It was fascinating. Produce I've never seen before nestled between mountains of bok choy and sliced scallions. Whole monkfish stared angrily at me while I sympathized with live crabs clawing at their last moments.

An entire aisle was dedicated to rice.

"It's like our cereal aisle," D said.

He was right. Bag after bag of rice crowded the shelves.

Next we perused the seaweed aisle.

"How would you know which one to get?" I asked.

"No idea," D said. "When I made sushi, I just picked one."

I stared at spices, sauces, pastes and kimchee. I wanted to buy it all.

"Good thing we ate before we came here," I said.

D laughed.

"Yeah. Today we were just tourists," he said.

What other culture's marketplace have you had the opportunity to enjoy?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #844

Last night, I went to The Cowboy Palace Saloon to enjoy my friend's band, Jimi Nelson and the Drifting Cowboys. Wearing my (roommate's) cowboy hat, I watched as all sorts of people, young and old, danced the two step and a whole bunch of other steps I've never seen before.

It was awesome.

Those people can dance! They kicked, twirled and slid with confidence and they had a blast. And much to my surprise, my roommate did some badass line dancing.

Have you ever line-danced?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #843

Is anyone planning a vacation? Vacationing isn't exactly in my budget right now, so I'd like to live vicariously through you.

Where are you planning on going?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #842

I just noticed a thread on my Facebook Newsfeed in which two friends of mine were discussing Pajama Jeans.

"What the heck are Pajama Jeans?" I thought. I immediately googled them and found this.



Then I had a giggle fit.

Seriously? The concept is ridiculous. But I bet they're selling like cRaZy.

I once bought a set of knives I saw on an infomercial. In fact, I still them.

Have you ever bought anything "as seen on TV"?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #841

If you watched the Grammy's on Sunday night, you know that Lady Gaga arrived inside a semi-transparent giant egg.

How do you feel about Lady Gaga?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #840

I am freezing. Which is ridiculous considering that I just got back from a weekend where the high temperature was 28 degrees. I'm so cold, I'm contemplating going out for a cup of coffee. I'm not a coffee drinker so I don't have any at home. But I'm fantasizing that a nice warm cup o' joe will warm me right up.

My other option is going for a walk. But it's cloudy and gray out there and walking in it does not appeal to me.

I need help. How do you warm up when you have the chills?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #839

Today I started a new Instructional Design project with a new company and I'm really excited. It was kind of funny to have first day of school butterflies.

What job were you psyched to start?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #838

I've been traveling all day. Hence the super late post.

But even though I flew coach and didn't get to enjoy the ridiculous luxury of my eastbound flight on the way home, I slept a bit and watched a silly romantic comedy, Morning Glory. Even though it wasn't great cinema, it certainly made the trip go quickly.

Thank god for in-flight movies.

What movies have you seen on a plane?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #837

My Uncle Mike's sister lives in Kunkletown, PA.

Kunkletown. Kunkletown. Kunkletown.

What great town names have you heard of lately?

xoxo,

Suzanne

Question of the Day #836

It's like this
You cover your eyes with tiny fists
And make soft baby sounds
Your big sister looks at you
Trying to figure out where you came from
And why you're here
"Baby," she says
A baby herself
I pass you to Mommy
Who cuddles you on her left
As your sister climbs up on her other side
Daddy picks up his camera
"There are my girls."
God's humor
God's blessing
His family

What are you thankful for today?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #835

Last night was wonderful.

It started with champagne, followed by warm mixed nuts, a garden salad and a smoked salmon and asparagus roll. Dinner was chicken and gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans. Then I enjoyed a hot fudge sundae as I snuggled under a warm blanket in my reclining seat (with footrest and all) and watched The Town on my own personal entertainment center. Near the end of the film, I was given a warm chocolate chip cookie with milk.

It was the perfect evening. On a plane.

When have you experienced over the top luxury?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #834

I just flipped through the mail mound on the kitchen counter and came across more bills.

"It never ends," I mumbled.

What "never ends" for you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #833

The other day, as I was preparing dinner at a client's house, five year-old Rapunzel (as she likes to be called) came running into the kitchen.

"Do I smell croutons?" She tilted her head back and sniffed at the oven.

"Maybe..." I replied. Then I stared at the bowl of fresh croutons I'd just placed on the kitchen table.

"Croutons!" she squealed and scrambled up on a chair at the table, twisting her princess gown all around her. (Rapunzel's love for my croutons makes me think I should package and sell them, but that's another story.)

"So, Rapunzel, what's happening in your kingdom today?" I asked as I stirred creamy broccoli soup.

"I think I'm going to marry the prince," she said between munches.

"Ooo! Really? Then today is a big day."

"Suzanne, who are you married to?" she asked.

"I'm not married," I said.

Rapunzel dropped her crouton and gasped. Her gorgeous brown eyes bulged as she said, "You don't have to?!"

I quickly turned away from her and stifled my laughter in the soup pot. Then I took a deep breath, wiped the amusement off my face and looked at her.

"No. You don't have to."

She grabbed another crouton from the bowl and gnawed on it thoughtfully.

"So why didn't you get married?" she asked.

"Well, I guess I haven't met anyone who's good enough."

"Oh," she said. Then she grabbed a handful of croutons and ran out into the backyard.

I have no idea if she married the prince or not. But the shock and relief that she didn't have to get married if she didn't want to will stick with me forever.

What moment with a kid will stick with you forever?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #832

This question was brought to me by my brilliant sister, V.

If you could go back to visit your 12-year old self, what would you say?

I'd say:

"Suzanne, those girls who make fun of you do so because they're scared. They're so desperate to be popular that they'll say and do anything to make you feel like you’re less than them. But don’t worry, because six years from now, you’re going to be the Prom Queen. And not because you were the most beautiful or the reigning Queen Bee, but because you were nice.

And you know all those ideas you jot down? Those ideas are going to be stories. And you will sell them. Those stories will affect and connect people and teach them things about themselves that they don’t even know are there. The same will happen for you as you write.

So when you go to school today and someone snickers about the hair you can’t straighten, know that eventually, you’ll have ringlets so perfect that they’ll make strangers stop and compliment you.

And as you get older, you will learn that those walls you’re building so high can sustain an occasional window.

You will also learn to act brave, even if you’re not. Because no one can tell the difference.

So for now, wipe your eyes and try that. As you walk to school, say this to yourself over and over, ‘Act brave, even if you’re not. No one can tell the difference.’

And I promise, you’re going to be fine.”

What would you say to your 12-year old self?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #831

It's game time. Who are you rooting for? Or are you rooting at all?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #830

I'm posting late today because I met up with friends for breakfast at Du-par's. It took me about a half hour to get there, but the food was delicious and, of course, the company was amazing.

On the way home, I got stuck in Hollywood gridlock. At noon on a Saturday. "Seriously?" I thought, as I cut off the main boulevards and zigzagged through the hills to get to the freeway. My half hour drive there became a 50 minute drive home.

It can be a serious pain to go to Hollywood. But I won't hesitate to have breakfast at Du-par's. Just like I make the trip to get my toes done at the same place I've gone to for the last 16 years. The girls are so great and the prices are so good, it's totally worth the drive.

What place is so good that you will you go out of your way to visit it?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #829

For all you people staring at the second hand of your office clock on this Friday, here's a little fantasy fun for you. The scenario:

You're a musician. You play the instrument of your choice. You are in a band with three other musicians.

What instrument do you play? Who are your Fantasy Band members and what do they play?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #828

Last week, one of my east coast girlfriends sent me this picture of her front yard. Since then, another storm has barreled through the region. School has been cancelled way beyond the preset snow days. And the snow keeps piling up.

How much snow is too much snow?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #827

The Fun Theory is a site dedicated to changing people's behavior for the better. Check out this video and see how the experiment got more people to take the stairs by making it fun to do.



Cool, huh? At http://www.thefuntheory.com/, people increased recycling, decreased littering and multiplied the amount of drivers who obeyed the speed limit by making it fun.

What everyday task would you like The Fun Theory to put their spin on?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #826

Years ago, when H, T and I decided that the ultimate escape plan would be to run off to Hawaii and run a shrimp truck, we had no idea that the idea could actually be a good one.

LA is in the middle of a food truck craze.

On Saturday night, a line crawled from one end of the street to the other. Not for the bar at which I was meeting friends but for the Grilled Cheese truck parked outside of it.

The Grilled Cheese Truck is one of the top food trucks in the city. The Sweets Truck, The Nom Nom Truck, The Flying Pig and Baby's Badass Burgers also rank high.

Food Truck fans can go online and find out where their favorite foods will be that night and then show up in that location for delicious eats.

If you were to seek out a food truck, what would you want it serve?

xoxo,
Suzanne