Question of the Day #1,191

How did you figure out what you wanted to be when you grew up?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,190

Blogger buddy, Zinn, wrote a post about dreams and inspired today's question. Thanks Zinn!

The other night, I had the best dream I can remember in a long time. I was riding bikes with some friends. We passed a group of people, on a lawn, playing guitars and singing, "Wild Horses." Then, when I began singing the harmony, I started to fly.

It felt amazing.

What good dreams do you remember?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,189

I smell fire. The smell of fire in LA sends alarm up my spine.

What smell, sound or sensation reeks of danger where you live?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,188

My friend N has one of the most coveted jobs in LA.

He's a server in a restaurant.

In the land of wanna-be actors, restaurant jobs are sacred as Oscars. Since servers and bartenders can trade shifts, restaurant jobs provide the flexibility needed to make last minute auditions.

Since these jobs are so desired, establishments can establish crazy rules. Like the must-have ironed crease down the arm of N's dress shirt. The perfectly polished shoes. And the sideburns razored off right at the bottom of his earlobes.

It's driving him nuts. So to shake off the ridiculousness of it all, he's maintaining the mantra, "It's just burgers and fries."

In order to get through it, what annoyance do you boil down to "just burgers and fries"?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,187

Writers receive a lot of criticism. At first, I didn't like it. The suggestions felt personal. So I tended to ignore them. But over the years, critique groups and criticism from readers have become amazing tools with which to improve my writing.

I think writing for a living has definitely helped me develop a "thick skin." After all, I'm writing what the client wants, not what I want. So when they tell me to rewrite something a certain way, I write it that way.

This week, I took a first draft of an essay to my critique group. I knew it was disjointed and needed help. They pointed out the cracks, suggested ways to fix them and helped me pinpoint my overall message.

I am so thankful for their help.

I think learning to consider and accept writing criticism has helped me learn to accept criticism in my personal life. I am far less defensive than I used to be. Now, I tend to listen and then ask how I can approach things differently.

How do you deal with criticism?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,186

After two years of living here, I just discovered that a light switch in the hallway turns a light on in the kitchen.

What aspect of your surroundings were you late to discover?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,185

What would you add to this list?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,184

My friend has at least 17 Red Sox t-shirts. He's trying to narrow down to 10, but it's proving to be difficult. Apparently, there's something he likes about each of them.

What do you have trouble parting with?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,183

Since I cook a lot, I'm hyperaware of polarizing foods. Like onions. M and M hate them. H doesn't like them cooked but will eat them raw.

But I find that the most polarizing food is cilantro. H loves it. E hates it. My mother hates it. I love it.

How do you feel about cilantro and onions?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,182

"I kind of wanted to kiss him right now," said L.

"That's weird," I replied.

"I think it's his nose," she said.

"You have such a thing for noses," said J.

"She does?" I pointed at L.

"Oh yeah, I totally have a thing for noses," said L.

What do you have a thing for?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,181

I had a cheeseburger for dinner last night and another one for lunch today. I could probably have another for dinner and repeat it all again tomorrow.

What food can you eat over and over?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,180

Three things that would make my Friday fabulous:

1. Finally getting my essay into good enough shape to send to my critique group.
2. Crossing off all the items on my task list.
3. A beach walk.

Right now, all of these things are looking attainable. So, I'm pretty psyched about my fabulous Friday.

What are three things that would make your Friday fabulous?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,179

When you're upset, do you vocalize it right away or do you hold it in?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,178

Off a long options list from Everything to Cranberry, I just ordered a Sesame Seed bagel, toasted with scallion cream cheese.

If you were to order a bagel, what would you get?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,177

"Some people are apple people and some people are orange people," said M.

"Huh?" I asked.

"It takes effort to peel an orange and get to the good stuff. Some people don't like to go through all that effort. But with apples, you can just take a bite out of them and there's instant gratification."

Are you an apple person or an orange person?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,176

I just skyped my mom and my stepfather. And last night, I skyped with my dad, his wife and my brother.

It's very nice to see faraway relatives.

Do you skype?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,176

M and I stayed up waaay too late last night. We fired up the heat lamp and let the porch talk flow. Now I'm suffering from fuzzy brain.

I love nights like that.

When was the last time you stayed up way too late?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,175

If you could have a story or article published in any periodical or on any website, which would you choose?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,174

I just read that over 60 million people worldwide have a fear of Friday the 13th.

That made me think about the number 13 and how some high rises don't have 13th floors. In fact, there's actually a phobia, Triskaidekaphobia, of the number 13. It's a superstition and related to a specific fear of Friday the 13th, which also has a phobia named after it, paraskevidekatriaphobia.

I don't suffer from these phobias. But maybe you or someone you know does.

All of this got me thinking of phobias. What unique phobias have you been made aware of?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,173

I'm constantly jotting things down on receipts or napkins. So now, it's time for Notes From the Purse:

"My boss is my boss. He's not cool. He's my boss."

"It doesn't matter if you don't recognize us. We recogize you."

"I'm not good luck. I'm good fun."

"What's the worst term of endearment you've ever received?"

So there's a little insight to things people have said lately that moved me to grab a pen. Since there's only one question in the purse, why don't we go with, "What's the worst term of endearment you've ever received?"

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,172

You have the day off. You get in the car. Where do you go?

(I'm choosing Santa Barbara.)

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,171

My friend, Sara's debut novel, Harbinger, will be in bookstores on February 2, 2012.

The story sucked me in from the first few draft pages, years ago, all the way through the ARC I had the pleasure of devouring, just a few months ago.

In addition to writing an amazing book, she created this awesome book trailer. The music, the the tension, the acting and the writing make me want to dive right back into the story.

I'm so excited for Sara, her book, her trailer and all the awesome things she'll encounter on this journey.

Who are you cheering for?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,170

You're standing in front of a jukebox already loaded up for one free song. What song will you play?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,169

Yesterday, I attended funeral services for a girl I knew from a pub where we were both regulars. We weren't close friends, but she was always very kind to me. And she always shared a smile and a question or two.

As we gathered outside the church, M.B. recounted her asking him to, "Tell me something that makes you smile every day."

Now, that's a good question.

What makes you smile every day?

Thank you, Ericka, for the inspiration.

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,168

What's the best thing since sliced bread?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,167

I once dated a guy who lived in a highrise right on the beach. I stood at the window, admiring the ocean view, and said, "It's so beautiful. You must go down there every day."

"Actually, I've never been down there," he said.

If you lived steps away from the sand, how often would you go to the beach?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,166

There are a few things you can depend on in LA. Astonishing traffic, occasional earthquakes and a heatwave in January.

It's like Mother Nature plans this little pick-me-up. She ushers in the new year with reminders of sunshine, warm breezes and cool nights perfect for sleeping with the windows open. Metaphors for the new start before us, possibly even a do-over.

And a little hope.

January is my favorite in So. Cal. What's your favorite month where you live?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,165

When you need advice, who do you go to? Why?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,164

I suppose I should have cleaned up after my vacation. Instead, the house is a mess, my suitcase has yet to be unpacked, my laundry level has surpassed "urgent" and I have six errands to complete.

Have you recovered from the holidays yet?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,163

My job is fantastic.

I get to write and be creative. Even though training people doesn't sound very creative, it can be fun to come up with exercises and new ways to present information.

I work at home. So I can eat what I want whenever I want to, wear what I want and I don't have to suffer through LA commuting.

I'm always learning.

What are three things you like about your job?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,162

It's like this

I ask for a question

in the inner circle

We God Bless away

Because everyone knows if it wasn't for him
We wouldn't be "us"
We contemplate the 2011 "shoulda's," "woulda's" and "coulda's"
The "either or's"
And the "what you would have done differently's"
But none of it's important when you're sitting in the circle
12 hours past your original resolution
Enjoying the hum
Of rambling questions
And loving laughter

For an instant, it feels just like yesterday, last week, last month
Where everything is the same
And nothing's different

Except hope.

How will you make 2012 different than 2011?

xoxo,
Suzanne