The Question of the Day

Question of the Day #1,188

2012-01-28T16:08:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-27T10:42:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-25T11:36:00.000-08:00

What would you add to this list?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,184

2012-01-24T11:05:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-23T09:43:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-22T17:13:00.000-08:00

"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

2012-01-21T16:38:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-19T13:36:00.000-08:00

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

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,178

2012-01-18T10:18:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

"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

2012-01-16T13:40:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-15T13:44:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-14T12:16:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-13T11:48:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-12T11:26:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-11T08:51:00.001-08:00

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

2012-01-10T12:50:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-09T08:27:00.001-08:00

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

2012-01-08T11:20:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-07T09:09:00.001-08:00

What's the best thing since sliced bread?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,167

2012-01-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-04T08:44:00.001-08:00

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

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,164

2012-01-03T10:25:00.001-08:00

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

2012-01-02T16:14:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-01T22:21:00.000-08:00

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 thecircle
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

Question of the Day #1,161

2011-12-31T15:31:00.001-08:00

On a scale of 1 - 10, how would you rate your 2011?

I give mine an 11 because it was the best year I've had since my 20's and because an 11 seems appropriate for 2011.

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,160

2011-12-30T10:00:00.001-08:00

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,159

2011-12-29T06:31:00.000-08:00

After everybody packed up and hit the road, we found a random gift here and a forgotten toothbrush there.

In the past, I've forgotten computer power packs, phone chargers, toothbrushes and socks.

What have you left behind?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,158

2011-12-28T09:56:00.000-08:00

"Who has a question?" I asked in the kitchen full of family.

"I got one!" my brother said.

"What?" I looked up at him doubtfully.

"What's the best age?" he asked.

"Hm," I said.

"That's not bad," said V.

"It's good. Listen, is it the two year old whose biggest concern is having an awesome time in the snow?" He pointed out the window where the little ones rolled around outside. "Or is it the 40 year old who has a job to keep, mouths to feed and a mortgage to pay but can at least make all their own decisions?"

"I can work with that," I replied.

"See, that wasn't hard. You need questions? You can call me everyday," he said.

I rolled my eyes and began typing.

So, what's the best age?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,157

2011-12-27T06:36:00.000-08:00

Over breakfast, I challenged the family to come up with "would you rather" questions. This is where we shook out:

1. If you were caught stealing in a foreign country where you had these two options for punishments, would you rather have your hand cut off or spend three years in that country's prison?

2. Would you rather have a tropical vacation napping on gorgeous white sand beaches or an African safari adventure?

3. After leaving the grocery store, and arriving at home, you discover a snack treat you didn't pay for in your bags. Would you rather keep the treat or return to the store to pay for it?

4. You're on a first date with someone you're crazy about. You clog the toilet and cannot find a plunger in the bathroom. Would you rather ask your date for a plunger or simply suggest you go out to dinner immediately?

5. Would you rather bacon or sausage with your eggs?

How would you answer these questions? And what do these questions say about my family?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,156

2011-12-26T07:08:00.000-08:00

After hunching over a puzzle for hours, H and V crawled the carpet searching for a final missing piece.

Out of nowhere, N waltzed over to the puzzle and popped it in.

"Here's the last piece. Puzzle's finished!" N announced.

"Noooo!" V yelled.

"You can't doooo that!" H said.

Every family has that guy. Who is that guy in your family?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,155

2011-12-25T08:28:00.000-08:00

It's like this
We craft images of ourselves
That tell more than we know

We arrange our family
Once again
So much easier than last time
Because now

Laughter brings promise
For what's next
Gratitude
Sustains the fun
Faith in who we are
Positions us as a team

Love makes us a family

What makes your family family?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,154

2011-12-24T07:21:00.000-08:00

My mother has been talking to elves.

Last week, on the phone, she said, "The elves are driving me nuts!"

"The elves?" I asked.

"Yes, they're being very naughty. I keep telling them to behave, but they don't listen."

"I see," I said.

"Oh, you'll see," she said.

Turns out, she's right. They're hanging from the chandelier.

And swinging from the railings.

What holiday decorating detail do you obsess over?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,153

2011-12-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

The mailman just came to the front door loaded with packages, wearing a Santa hat, singing Silent Night.

Who's jolly in your neighborhood?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,152

2011-12-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

"Mommy?" I said.

"What?"

"I need a question," I said.

"Where is everybody?" She pointed upstairs at the attic I was supposed to be helping her pull boxes from.

"But I need to write a question," I said.

"That's the question!" She pointed at my sister, who stared intently at Facebook.

My mother threw her hands in the air and dashed out of the room.

So, um, where is everybody?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,151

2011-12-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

I cannot wait to see my mommy!

And I'm almost 40. Does that ever change? (Not that I want it to.)

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,150

2011-12-20T14:46:00.000-08:00

"So you're going to be a daddy?" I asked E.

"Yes." E's eyes lit up. "It's pretty amazing too, because I'm a testicular cancer survivor."

"Wow. That is pretty amazing," I said. "Like one in a million."

"Exactly," he pointed at me. "And you know what? It happened naturally. You see, I had frozen sperm before my cancer treatment. But it was very expensive for them to store it. So I decided to have a talk with God. I said, 'God, I trust you. If I'm meant to be a father, you will make me a father.' Then I tossed the frozen sperm in the toilet and flushed."

"You did what?" I asked.

He smiled wide.

"And now, my baby girl is coming."

What huge life-changer have you left up to fate?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,149

2011-12-19T13:06:00.000-08:00

I've been scrambling to cook holiday food, do laundry, attend a zillion Christmas parties, finish a big project and buy gifts. The To-Do list is long and I kind of feel like a hamster on a wheel.

And I know I'm not the only one. What are you scrambling to do?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,148

2011-12-18T13:40:00.000-08:00

William Shatner - The Good King Wenceslas by KROQ What twist on a holiday classic makes you laugh?xoxo,Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,147

2011-12-17T11:25:00.000-08:00

"I'm ready to kick 2011 out the door," said P.

"Really? Was it bad for you?" I asked.

"It was weird. Not so bad for me personally, but a lot of bad things happened to the people around me. Lots of deaths," he said.

"Wow. That's not good."

I turned to M, on my other side.

"How was 2011 for you?"

"Up and down. I'm ready to see it go too," she replied. "I'm ready for change. Ready to let the good stuff in."

"What about you?" she asked.

"2011 was my best year since I was in my 20's," I said.

"Really?"

"Really. And I'm ready for more good," I said.

How has 2011 been for you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,146

2011-12-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

Jimmy Kimmel challenged parents to give their kids a Christmas present they wouldn't like and record their reactions. Although some of these kids seem like they may need to spend some time with Nanny 911, other reactions are pretty cute.

Have you ever gotten a present you didn't like?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,145

2011-12-15T13:28:00.000-08:00

The Christmas cards are rolling in. Cute pictures of my friends, their kids and their families. Beach scenes, shots from Disneyland and other family vacations.

I like getting Christmas cards. I like that people take time to have them made or write them out and actually stamp them and drop them in the mail. I like getting something other bills in the mailbox. I like that Christmas cards are a tradition technology has yet to squash.

Do you send holiday cards? If so, what kind?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,144

2011-12-14T13:20:00.000-08:00

I'm cleaning out my closet. I pulled out a pair of platform strappy sandals that I wore once. In the store, where they were half off, I thought they cute and that I could handle the height. And I was sure I would never find other shoes at such a good price.

But when I wore them out, I found myself teetering.

And now they're in the donation pile.

What dumb purchases have you made?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,143

2011-12-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

I just received a package of earplugs in the mail. I can no longer find this particular brand in stores. But they fit perfectly and they block out just enough noise and they don't hurt my ears like other brands. So I went online and hunted them down.

What item are you willing to do some serious searching for?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,142

2011-12-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

If you could have anything you want for dinner tonight, what would you have?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,141

2011-12-11T17:14:00.001-08:00

When little kids are asking for American Girl dolls, iPods and X-Box's for Christmas, how do you make sure the focus of the holidays is love, family and fun and not stuff?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,140

2011-12-10T11:40:00.001-08:00

I grew up in an illdyllic little historic town called Basking Ridge. Named for the deer that basked in the sunlight on the ridge. And every Christmas Eve for most of my life, my family and I enjoyed a tradition of crowding around the lit Christmas tree in the center of town with hundreds of other Basking Ridge natives and singing Christmas Carols.

Unlike the other idyllic families, before we joined the other carolers, we scoured the attic and delved into closets to find the ugliest hats we could. Lopsided cowboy hats, hideous, wide-brimmed, 80's fashion statement gone awry hats, orange hunting caps complete with ear flaps - whatever we could find. Then we'd head down to the event, a little noggy, and sing very loudly.

Our favorite song was "We Three Kings," thanks to Ruthie. One year, after a wee bit of wine, she approached the upswing of "ohOHHH star of wonder, star of night" with such gusto that we mad-hatted hooligans could only join her in uproar. Which in turn, caused the sober town natives to turn around and glare at us.

Thus creating a tradition within a tradition.

So, this Christmas, you can be sure that after my dear sister exercises her mixology skills at Happy Hour, there will be some serious wailing of, "ohOHHH star of wonder, star of night."

What's your favorite Christmas carol?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,139

2011-12-09T10:17:00.001-08:00

My awesome sister in law sent me this article asking which Muppet is most like you. I am a bit of a Muppet FANatic. I remember watching the Muppet Show in my jammies as a little kid and getting super excited when the theme song began.

As an adult, I'm still a fan. And I really want to go see the Muppet Movie!

Anyway, which Muppet are you most like?

Kermit: The Everyman, and the glue that always holds the rest of the gang together. Slightly high strung (and given to moments of frustration), but generally warm and gracious, with a tender, sentimental side. Probably happiest in quiet moments, playing banjo on his lily pad.

Miss Piggy: The Diva, both feared and adored for her independence, confidence, chutzpah and occasional temper tantrums. She is all about the fine things in life - Chanel outfits, fine dining (no dieting for this pig) and, of course, Kermit. Just be careful: this pig will high-kick you if you betray her in any way.

Fozzie Bear: An extrovert and avowed attention-seeker, he is the life of every party. Probably happiest onstage, where he can regale an adoring crowd with his string of "Wocka wockas" and cornball jokes.

Rowlf the dog: A talented musician and quick with the pun, Rowlf might be considered the old-fashioned gentleman of the Muppets. Usually found tickling the ivories or cutting up audiences with his side-splitting puns. Loyal friend to Kermit and esteemed ballroom dancer. Happiest flopping his ears while sitting at the piano.

Gonzo: The Artist (or misfit, depending on how you look at him), Gonzo takes pride in the fact he is different - a skill he learned early while growing up with buggy eyes, blue fur and a long nose. Is not afraid to try strange new things like eating rubber tires, all for the sake of his performance art.

Statler and Waldorf: The Critics. Described by some as curmudgeons, they beg to differ. They only heckle and grouse because they know best, and have more refined tastes than the other philistines in the room. Their gruff outlook hides a sentimental yearning for simpler times past.

Scooter: Highly efficient and a people pleaser, Scooter is happier behind the scenes than hogging the spotlight. Not afraid to use some family connections to get ahead in the theatre world, he derives the greatest satisfaction from his career.

Animal: A walking Id, Animal is not afraid to give into his baser temptations and impulses, often living purely on instinct. Happiest when banging away on the drums and letting his freak flag fly.

I think there are pieces of all of them in me, but if I had to choose one, I'd say I'm most like Kermit. I pride myself on keeping the gang together. Yes, I can be high strung and all those other characteristics. But I'm completely content when I'm hermitting up too.

What about you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,138

2011-12-08T09:01:00.001-08:00

I'm reading a book called Change the Way You See Everything. It focuses on Asset-Based Thinking versus Deficit-Based Thinking, which is exactly what it sounds like. Focusing on your attributes, skills and accomplishments versus focusing on what you don't have or what you're not getting.

Sounds like positive thinking, but what's different about it is that it's active. It's not just about thinking positively. It's about focusing on what positive actions you can take to improve your quality of life.

The book quotes a Mayo Clinic study which reported that people who expect misfortune and see the negative side of life (the Deficit-Based Thinkers), don't live as long as Asset-Based Thinkers. In addition, the Asset-Based Thinkers had fewer problems at work and in other daily activities, less pain and fewer emotional problems and increased energy.

As I read this, I thought about my question for today and how I could relate my reading to this blog.

"They already know this," I thought. Meaning that the blogging community, for the most part (at least the bloggers who visit QOTD), are constantly focusing on what they have - not on what they don't have.

You post about gratitude, accomplishments, goals, family, love, things you're looking forward to and lessons you've learned. You cheer other bloggers on. And you rarely complain.

You're a pretty amazing crowd.

What else have you noticed about bloggers?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,137

2011-12-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

At the risk of sounding like the lamest aunt ever, I ask, where can I find super cute kids clothes?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,136

2011-12-06T12:27:00.001-08:00

"We went to this place called 'The Sugar Factory'," said R.

"Sounds dangerous," I said.

"That's like naming a restaurant, 'The Fat Shop'," said J.

"Don't get me wrong, I'd probably go to both places," I said.

"Yeah. But they're kind of weird names for eateries," said R.

What oddly named establishments have you seen?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,135

2011-12-05T11:02:00.000-08:00

Saturday night, I met a girl who just moved to LA two weeks ago from Idaho. She oozed excitement about LA, the weather, new opportunities and new friends.Who was the last truly joyful person you encountered?xoxo,Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,134

2011-12-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

This question is brought to us by the fabulous Rosy Prose.

Rosy Prose was babysitting her grandson and they went to pick up a pizza at Bertucci's. They had a Toys for Tots box out with some donated toys in it. So her grandson was thinking maybe they were there for him to select from!

She explained that they were for kids whose parents couldn't afford to buy them toys and he said, "But Santa Claus doesn't charge for toys. He brings those free. So why do they need these?"

Rosy Prose, of course, had no answer to this question.

So, here's the Question of the Day - what has a child asked you that you had no answer for?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,133

2011-12-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

What's the worst movie ever?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,132

2011-12-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

This morning, this was posted on my FB wall by my friend E:

"Dear Suzzie Q -
You know I never talk about dreams and crap like that, but felt the need to tell you about the most awesome one I had last night:

I was watching TV (awesome so far, right?) and was watching my favorite TV Show... only problem was it doesn't exist. It was a show about you... in a mormon family... only the twist was that instead of you being one of five wives... YOU had five husbands... all beefy fitness models. You were like the queen bee, keeping your soldiers in line with awesome food and nookie galore. Best show ever!"

Heh heh heh.

E's got some solid ideas there. Do you realize how much stuff could get done with five husbands? Leaky toilet? No such thing. Unmowed lawn? Pshaw! No one to play Scrabble with? An impossibility. Money woes? With six incomes? I think not. Lack of cuddling or affection or love? Never.

I think I could get used to that.

What do you think life would be like if you had five spouses?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,131

2011-12-01T07:32:00.001-08:00

Did you engage in any Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,130

2011-11-30T08:10:00.000-08:00

This morning, I got out of bed an hour and 45 minutes before I am supposed to leave the house. Here I am, 17 minutes until lift-off and I haven't eaten yet and I'm frantically posting a question.

It could be that I usually attend meetings at the kitchen table in jammies, but that's ridiculous.

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,129

2011-11-29T10:11:00.001-08:00

I have a doctor's appointment today. It just so happens that my friend needs a ride to a doctor's appointment. So the plan is to pick him up, go to my appointment and then go to his appointment.

Then maybe we'll hit the Early Bird Special.

Seriously, what's aging you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,128

2011-11-28T11:15:00.000-08:00

Well, that was fast.

And by that, I mean Summer. And Fall. And while this Thanksgiving was one of the best ever, it flew by. And now, Christmas is coming up faster than a Monday morning.

And before we know it, it will be Summer again.

When I was a kid, it felt like it took centuries to become a "big kid." And it didn't stop there. High school was the longest four years of my life. And I really liked high school.

But now, as an adult, I just want to grab time and wrestle it down. Make it stop for a bit. Just slooow down.

What do you wish you had a little more control over?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,127

2011-11-27T13:49:00.000-08:00

What's for breakfast?

(Yes, I know it's 1:49 PM.)

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,126

2011-11-26T09:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a ridiculous question for you:

Would you rather have no hands and feet or have everything you touch turn to Skittles?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,125

2011-11-25T12:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was one of my best days ever. Sure, the turkey cooked at supersonic speed and was ready two hours early. And I freaked a little when I thought the gravy was going to be a floury disgusting mess. And how was I supposed to know that the electric mixer was in the "on" position when I plugged it in?

And all that smoke? That was just mac and cheese drippings burning on the bottom of the oven. It wasn't the actual macaroni and cheese.

It was funny. Really, really funny.

And fun. And yummy. And warm. And cozy. And grateful. And fun.

Oh, how I love Thanksgiving.

How was yours?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,124

2011-11-24T09:41:00.000-08:00

I gather pens and paper
So we can document what we’re thankful for
Exhuming a 17 year old tradition
Started well before I truly knew what it meant to be thankful
before life smashed open
and showed me what was really inside
This morning, I know that gratitude is what I’m most thankful for
The wisdom to stop and thank God
and the universe
often
for everything and everyone that makes it, and me,
Grow
Like
JC, whose kindness is unmatched
My mother
Who teaches me every day
That nothing is out of my reach
Her husband, the best dad I know
H
“Intense conversations,” big ideas and insane giggles
My speedy crawler and her big sister
The Mansfielders
because one can show up after two years and make it feel like we never left the backyard
Late night ice cream
Crashing waves
Propane
Work
Guitars
My voice
The return of confidence
And do-overs
Because everybody loves a good comeback

What are you thankful for today?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,123

2011-11-23T09:36:00.000-08:00

1. Make and deliver two veggie lasagnes to client. Done.
2. Make cranberry sauce for Beach House Thanksgiving. Done.
3. Make Butternut Squash Soup for Beach House Thanksgiving. Done.
4. Make and deliver two mac and cheeses to client. Not done.
5. Make and deliver one string bean casserole to client. Not done.
6. Bid on storyboarding project for business client. Done.
7. Write a QOTD. Almost done.
8. Cook and cook and keep on cooking until it's time to eat tomorrow afternoon...

What does your holiday to-do list look like?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,122

2011-11-22T07:43:00.000-08:00

The fridge is packed. I couldn't stick a soda can in there if I tried. The counters are covered with baking pans, onions, potatoes, butternut squash and everything else that doesn't require cooling.

I feel like an elf in Santa's Workshop. I'm making my list, checking it twice. In a few minutes, I'm heading out to the fourth grocery store in two days.

From this morning until Thursday at 4:00PM, I'll be cooking. And I'll be loving it.

I love Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday. As you know, bringing people together, especially over food, brings me joy. So to bring people together and feast while focusing on what we're thankful for is like the Superbowl of gatherings for me.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,121

2011-11-21T08:38:00.000-08:00

The other day, we discussed how we would romance ourselves if we were dating ourselves.

Let's back up a step. If you were to approach yourself, how would you "pick up" on you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,120

2011-11-20T09:54:00.000-08:00

This question should be easy for Los Angeles residents. What do you do to occupy yourself in traffic?

I sing or I pray. Depending on my mood.

What about you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,119

2011-11-19T09:27:00.000-08:00

This genius question is brought to you by the letter H.

What, besides money, would you take as acceptable payment for something?

For example, I would accept payment in Whole Foods gift cards, since I spend most of my money on food anyway.

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,118

2011-11-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

If you were dating yourself, where would you take you? What would you talk about? How would you romance you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,117

2011-11-17T12:43:00.000-08:00

My friend T posted this picture on Facebook with the caption, "So a pig walks into a casino..."

How would you finish that?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,116

2011-11-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

On 11/11/11, I wrote question #1,111. I just realized that everyday since then, the question numbers have correlated with the date. For example, today is 11/16 and the question is #1,116. (Quick, aren't I?)

That's some serious synchronization for somebody who feels pretty unbalanced lately, trying to juggle multiple projects, cooking, and a semblance of a personal life.

What about you? What part of your life is actually lining up?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,115

2011-11-15T08:51:00.000-08:00

What do you feel like you can never catch up on?

This question popped in my head when I spotted the clothes mountain in my laundry basket. Didn't I just do lundry on Friday? How can there be more?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,114

2011-11-14T08:54:00.000-08:00

My computer is driving me crazy. last week, it suddenly decided it hates PowerPoint. Which is a problem because I'm working on a very big PowerPoint. It keeps "not responding" and shutting down. I checked for viruses. It's virus free. It just hates PowerPoint.

Great.

The truth is, it's old. It's tired. It's slow. It's cranky. I think I have to suck it up and get a new one.

What do you need to trade in for a new model?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,113

2011-11-13T08:47:00.000-08:00

My mother called me yesterday, totally perplexed. She didn't understand yesterday's question, "What would you do if you weren't afraid?"

I laughed.

"I knew you wouldn't get it," I said.

And, the thing is, she really didn't get it. I had to give my mother three hypothetical answers before she said, "Ohhhh."

My mother is fearless. And I am the luckiest girl in the world to have had her as my first and greatest teacher.

Who do you know who is fearless?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,112

2011-11-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

What would you do if you weren't afraid?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,111

2011-11-11T10:59:00.000-08:00

Today is 11/11/11. Notice what question we're on?

1,111.

Coincidence?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,110

2011-11-10T07:26:00.000-08:00

I just got a renewal notice for a subscription to a cooking magazine my mom bought me. It's the only magazine I subscribe to. Which made me think about how years ago, seeing an issue of Seventeen in the mailbox was thrilling. And in my 20's, receiving that fresh copy of Jane was a treat to savor.

But now, I wonder if people subscribe to magazines that much anymore. Do you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,109

2011-11-09T10:38:00.000-08:00

Is Justin Bieber the father of an infant? What happened to Kim Kardashian's marriage? Lindsay Lohan goes to jail for 10 minutes - again.

Who cares? Can somebody tell me why this "news" is so pervasive that even I, who, unless we're talking about an icon like Julie Andrews, could care less about celebrity, have heard these stupid stories?

Seriously, can you help me make some sense out of this?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,108

2011-11-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

This question was pulled from Dawn's awesome interview with Jessica Bell.

If I opened your refrigerator right now, what key ingredients would I find?

In mine, on any random day, you'd find:

Milk
Butter
Eggs
Mushrooms
Onions
Mixed Greens
Carrots
Beer
Cheese
Heavy Cream

What staples would I find if I peeked in your fridge?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,107

2011-11-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I met a girl who had broken both her legs in a skiing accident. She had spent five months in a wheelchair and now, a year later, was fully recuperated.

"I know this is a little deep, but how did the experience change you?" I asked.

"Well, first, I went through a deep depression. I felt sorry for myself. Kept asking, 'why me'? But now, I'm just so thankful that I can walk. I can even wear heels!" She smiled and waggled a boot at me.

I laughed.

She looked away and got quiet for a moment. Then she looked back at me.

"I realized that it's really important to be grateful. The whole experience made me a better person. And as awful as it was, I'm really glad it happened."

What tough experience has made you a better person?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,106

2011-11-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

My father grows fruit trees. Right now the figs are booming. So this weekend, I ate figs for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dessert and even dinner last night.

My fruit of the day is definitely figs.

What's yours?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,105

2011-11-05T08:57:00.000-07:00

When I was about 30, a lot of my friends were getting married and getting pregnant. I went through a weird loathing period full of thoughts like, "What's wrong with me?" "Why doesn't anyone want to marry me?"

I should have concentrated on being awesome. Like I do now.

What period of your life do you wish you'd handled better?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,104

2011-11-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

"I stopped in at a dance studio to see what they were offering," S said. "And as soon as I hit the door,the boom boom, thump thump took me over. They had a live DJ bumping tunes!"

"The crazy thing is," she looked at the floor. "I didn't know how bad I'd been feeling until I felt that music. The energy was unbelievable. It made me feel like a firework."

"It was amazing." She smiled.

"Joy rising," I said.

She looked at me like I was kookoo.

"Have you seen Oprah's Life Class? Every Friday, she focuses on Joy Rising. The idea is that when real joy comes out, it's palpable. The feeling is euphoria," I said.

"Exactly," she said.

"This could be good for a question." I dug in my purse for a pen and wrote, "Joy rising."

"What elates you?" H added.

"Right!"

I've always been elated by bringing people together. Parties, Sunday night dinners, BBQ's. Any time I can bring people, their ideas and dreams together I feel joy.

But the one time I felt absolute joy rising was on my mother and my stepfather's 20th anniversary. My brother his wife, my stepbrother, his wife and daughter and my stepsister and I planned a surprise weekend for our parents.

We traveled from LA, NJ, Ottawa, and Boston up to Vermont. We met in the tiny village they live in and then began our caravan up the mountain. My sister and I blasted The Scissor Sisters in the car, singing louder and louder as we elevated up the mountain, watching our siblings cars following in the rear view the whole way.

We wailed on car horns, trailing down the driveway. Lights popped on in the house and our parents crept on the porch, not believing what they were seeing.

"We thought we'd stop by to say 'Happy Anniversary,'" I said as I hugged my teary, shaky mom.

We laughed a lot that weekend. We healed a lot that weekend. And we cried a lot that weekend. Tears of joy rising.

When have you felt joy rising?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,103

2011-11-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

When you were a kid did you ever sell something for a cause? Like Girls Scout Cookies? Or I remember kids selling peanut brittle for Little League. Or was that Pop Warner?

Anyway, what have you sold for a cause?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,102

2011-11-02T09:30:00.001-07:00

If you had to be famous, what would you like to be famous for?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,101

2011-11-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

Last night, I worked the craziest Halloween party. Hundreds of people toured the Haunted House where invisible hands grabbed at visitors, zombies lurched with chainsaws and psychodelic lighting and music played tricks on minds.

Celebrities and California Royalty roamed the backyard, eyed the shipwreck for pirates and skirted around the skeletons in the front yard car crash.

Police shut down the streets. Secret service surveyed the scene and I ran around for hours.

As a result, every muscle in my body aches. I'm moving like an elderly woman.

When was the last time you worked so hard your whole body hurt?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,100

2011-10-31T08:25:00.001-07:00

Do you enjoy carving pumpkins?

Happy Halloween!

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,099

2011-10-30T13:09:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-29T11:46:00.001-07:00

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

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,097

2011-10-28T08:11:00.001-07:00

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

Who orders what?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,096

2011-10-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-26T10:56:00.001-07:00

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

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,094

2011-10-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-23T15:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever fired a gun?

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

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #1,091

2011-10-22T13:04:00.001-07:00

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

2011-10-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

"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