Question of the Day #1,100

Do you enjoy carving pumpkins?

Happy Halloween!

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,099

A while back, I made an iTunes playlist of "spooky" songs for a Halloween party. "Werewovles of London" and "Runnin with the Devil" played with "The Addams Family Theme" and "Jaws Theme."

Right now, around Halloween, those songs are a little like Christmas Carols at Christmas.

What's your favorite "spooky" song?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,098

The east coast is experiencing some freaky Halloween weather. Anything weird going on where you live?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,097

A werewolf, a zombie and a vampire walk into a bar.

Who orders what?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,096

What's your favorite Halloween candy?

I love Nerds. And jellybeans. Although they're traditionally more of an Easter thing.

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,095

In a zombie apocalypse, what would be in your survival kit?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,094

Is anyone else totally addicted to American Horror Story?

I'm aware that I'm totally contradicting yesterday's post about not being into scary stuff. But this show is different. It's more creepy and twisted than gory and horrifying.

I can't explain. I just know I can't wait to watch what's next.

Who's with me?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,093

In honor of Halloween, I'm going ask some scary questions this week. [Insert scary cackle.]

When I was a kid, I loved all things scary. Horror movies, ghost stories, and Stephen King novels. I read Carrie, Pet Sematary and Salem's Lot before I graduated from middle school.

Now, as an adult, I find that for the most part, life is scary enough. I don't need to add terrifying books to it.

What about you? Have you read any Stephen King novels? How do you feel about scary stories?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,092

Have you ever fired a gun?

Yes, I have. We do that for fun in Vermont. ;)

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,091

My neighbor has decorated with orange pumpkin lights and a skeleton that does a crazy Vincent Price "Thriller" laugh.

So every few minutes I hear, "A haaaaaa haaaaa haaaaaa! A haaaaa haaaa haaaa haaaaaaa haaaaa!"

Giggle inducing at first. But yesterday, when I had to shut my windows during a conference call, lest the participants hear the cackle - not so funny.

How do your neighbors decorate for Halloween?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,090

"I love this song," H said.

"This song kills me," I replied. "It has that raw desperation, that crazy yearning that you only feel in your 20's, you know?"

"Yes. When things are so dire and important that you feel like you'll die without him."

"That line 'I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited, but I couldn't stay away. I couldn't fight it' kills me. I think of the things I did when I was kid. Just showing up at a bar - out of the blue. Hoping he'd be there. Or those moments at Mansfield, when I'd walk out of the kitchen and boom - he'd be there. Standing in the backyard. My stomach would bolt. My knees would shake. I'd say something profoundly stupid. Those moments were everything."

"I know. But can you imagine doing that now? Just showing up at someone's house uninvited?"

"No."

"What if another girl was there? Or what if he didn't want to see you? You can't do that now. Now you have text or call or make a plan."

"Right. It's like those scenes in movies, where the person realizes they just can't live without that other person. So they run, through the rain, to the other person's front door in the middle of the night. Then they bang on it and profess undying love."

"Without texting to find out if that person is home? No way."

"That's so sad! It's like technology has sucked all the spontaneity and romance out of life."

"That's exactly what it's like."

What do you think? How has technology affected the way you live and love?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,089

Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not?

xoxo,
Suzanne
(PS-Before Kelly asks about my answer, I'll say, "no." But I wouldn't mind if someone inspired me to believe in love at first sight. ;)

Question of the Day #1,088

Yesterday's gray was the perfect backdrop for writing training manuals. I wore fuzzy socks and jammy pants for most of the day, sipped hot tea, ate soup and wrote about why it's important to own your work.

This morning is a gray, chilly repeat of yesterday. But while I'm thankful for the writing weather, I'm wishing for rain patting on the roof and an excuse to make more soup.

I'd love a storm. And the clouds are teasing me.

What's teasing you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,087

A Facebook friend posted this yesterday. And I while I completely agree with #1-4 (although I'm still working on #2), I am at total odds with #5, "Expect Less."

In the past, when I've expected less, I have actually limited myself. In a way, settled.

For me, expecting more is manifesting a better life.

How do you feel about these rules?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,086

While making breakfast, I listened to Hall and Oates' "Rich Girl," "She's Gone," "Sara Smile" and "You Make My Dreams."

Like scrambled eggs, they never get old.

What's your favorite Hall and Oates song?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,085

Do you have a favorite football team? If so, which team?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,084

Last night, my Internet connection went out. Since it was Friday night and I wasn't working, it was okay. Annoying, but okay.

Today it's spotty.

Now I'm super annoyed because I have to call Verizon and troubleshoot the problem so I can work Monday morning.

I don't want to call Verizon. I don't want to sit on hold forever. I don't want to waste Saturday morning dealing with a service I pay for that should be working.

Who do you hate to call?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,083

After Wednesday night's birthday party, I dropped R off.

"I'll see you this weekend," he called out as he walked toward the stairs.

"Oh god. I hope not," I replied.

He laughed, knowing my comment didn't mean I didn't want to see him. He knew it meant I didn't want to do the same old, same old hanging out at the pub where he works.

What part of your world could use a shake-up?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,082

What's your stance on cuddling?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,081

Have you ever sleepwalked?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,080

After hours of porch talk, cocktails, burgers and Scrabble, Little J got up to leave.

"Tomorrow, I have to get my life together," she said.

What would that task list look like for you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,079

How much money would it take for you to quit working forever?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,078

A few years ago, my parents gave me an outdoor heat lamp as a Christmas gift. Since then, that heat lamp has stood over endless hours of porch talk, heaps of mac and cheese and some serious Scrabble tournaments.

It's one of my favorite belongings. A perfect practical gift for me.

What practical gift have you been given?

(I'm already imagining someone replying with a story about her husband giving her a lawnmower or vacuum cleaner for their anniversary. Aye aye aye.)

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,077

It's like this
The moon shines white over dark rippled waters
Stars dot the clear after-rain sky
Waves thunder
And we wait
in the cold sand
As the white yellows
The shine fades
And the orange moon
Sinks out of sight

Did you see anything interesting last night?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,076

This might seem like an odd subject (Because most of the things we ponder here are so normal, right?) but I've been thinking a lot about rice.

I never make rice as a side dish for myself. In fact, the only time I eat it is in sushi or with Mexican or island food.

But the people I cook for are rice crazy. If I'm serving up steak and potatoes, they still want a batch of rice.

So, I'm wondering, what kind of role does rice play in your diet?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,075

Have you ever:

1. Eaten frogs' legs?
2. Gone skydiving?
3. Been to Montana?
4. Seen a ghost?
5. Broken a bone?

xoxo,
Suzanne
(I'll post my answers in the comments.)

Question of the Day 1,074

It's raining. Like real rain. Not just 10 minutes of splattered drops.

I love the rain. I know. Everyone in normal climates must think I'm crazy. But go with me here.

I love waking to the patter on the roof. I love gray writing weather. A reason not to leave the house. An excuse to make homemade soup. Curling up under a blanket with a good book.

I could go on and on.

What do you love about rain?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,073

A few years ago, I took a UCLA Extension writing workshop. As an icebreaker, the teacher asked everyone to share a crime they would commit if they could get away with it.

A couple people announced that they would rob banks. Someone said, "murder." But then one guy said, "rape."

Everyone shifted in their seats. The teacher cleared his throat and mumbled something like, "okay," and then moved onto the next person.

For the rest of the semester, that guy was known as "The Rapist."

He was a good writer and seemed like an okay guy. But that initial faux pas stuck with him like a disease.

Have you ever known someone to make such a bad first impression that they never recovered?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,072

I've been facilitating customer service trainings lately. Teaching how to set the tone of a customer interaction, how to deal with irate customers, how to ask effective questions - stuff like that.

It's a lot of fun. My goal is to keep them laughing and engaged. That way, the participants are eager to share their experiences.

It's weird to think of myself as a teacher, but that's what I'm doing - teaching.

If you were to teach something, what would you teach?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,071

I love that it's 75 degrees and sunny. I love that I'm about to take a long beach walk. I love that after that, I'll probably sit on the beach and read.

I love where I live.

What do you love about where you live?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,070

Last night I sang backup for a friend's band. I've sung karaoke many nights. I've performed at most of my friends' weddings. But I've never gotten on stage with a full band in a bar for an actual set of songs.

I was scared.

It didn't help that the harmonies were really weird. Not straight forward thirds like the harmonies that wail in an Eagle's song. I had to really fight to find these.

That fact that I was shaking didn't help.

But after the first song, I shook a little less. And by the time I sang lead, I was ready. And it was good.

Yesterday, when fear was taking over, I kept reminding myself that it's good to do something I'm afraid of. And it was.

What have you been afraid to do? How did you feel when you did it?

xoxo,
Suzanne