Question of the Day #276

I'm giving a cooking class tonight. I will instruct fledgling cooks on how to pan roast. I sear something in a pan and finish it off in the oven just about every day. So it's interesting to me that something so automatic to me is mystifying to others.

But I guess it's kind of like when my brother, the football coach, taught me how to toss and catch a football. I was pretty darn scared and doing that scream and duck girly thing at first, until he showed me how to hold my hands and grab for the ball.

If you had to give someone lessons, what skill would you teach?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #275

Finally. My computer is fixed. I'm heading down to the Geek Squad to pick it up as soon as I type "xoxo, Suzanne." I have been waiting all week for Friday. Not because I'm dying for the weekend, but because I'm dying for my computer.

What has you saying "Thank God it's Friday?"

xoxo,

Suzanne

Question of the Day #274

Last night, I prepared a vat of Suzie Foods meatballs and offered them as the special at Sonny McLeans. Who would have thought Italian food at an Irish pub would have been such a hit?

We sold out. And as it turns out, I even have fans! The biggest little fans ever.

Sure, I love to cook. I've always loved to cook. But I've never had any training or illusions of culinary divinity. I'm a writer. That's who I am. But lately, I've been doing a lot more cooking than writing. I'm not unhappy about that, just surprised.

Have you ever surprised yourself by working at something you never thought you would?

xoxo,

Suzanne

 

Question of the Day #273

Your comments to yesterday's post fascinate me. A lot of you answered that the one person, dead or alive that you'd like to spend time with is your grandmother. Isn't it amazing what an impact grandmothers have on our lives? 

I just think that's so cool.

And the other cool thing is that I got an email from one of my favorite regulars, Kristen, who suggested a couple questions for today. I think they are great follow ups to yesterday's topic.

1. What celebrity would you like to have dinner with?

2. Who is your favorite person to have dinner with these days?

I'd like to have dinner with Sarah Dessen. She's my favorite YA novelist and I'd like to think that if we shared a meal, her success might rub off me. No, seriously, I'd like to hear her tell her story.

And my favorite person to have dinner with these days is H. Doesn't matter if it's cheeseburgers and beer or foie gras and a Flowers blend, it's always a great time.

You?

xoxo,

Suzanne

Question of the Day #272

I've got some cooking to do. And I'm feeling quite frustrated lately. Grumpy. Like I'm ready to get off the hamster wheel I'm spinning on. And if I could, I'd like to spend the day cooking with my Granny. Listening to her tell stories while we cut, chop and stir would really help to calm me.

But the closest I can get will be to keep her in mind and talk to her while I cook.

If you could spend the day with any person, alive or dead, who would you spend it with?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #271

I'm having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I'm at the Geek Squad with my virused-up computer and H is actually typing this up. So, what's annoying you today?

xoxo,
Suzanne (H)

Question of the Day #270

So Cal is teeming with vanity license plates. Personally, I think they're kind of dorky. Like how many times to I need to see"STARGRL" or "OCSRWNR"? But let's say you had to have one? You had to choose a license plate that meant something. What would yours be?

Mine would probably be SUZIE C. I am who I am.

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #269

Confession: I am thumbing through the "If" book. The truth is I do not start every day with profound questions in mind. Sometimes I need a little help. And I just found one I like:

If you were to select a food that best describes your character, what would it be?

I'm going to go with my favorite food, cheeseburgers. They are my favorite because they are a consistently satisfying, dependable choice, a little decadent, and totally fulfilling.

On the other hand, too many of them can be a health risk.

Let's replace the cheeseburger with Suzanne: She is a consistently satisfying, dependable person, a little decadent and totally fulfilling. On the other hand, too much Suzanne can be a health risk.

I completely agree with that. How about you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #268

It's FRIDAY! So, I'm going to do some work this morning and then head out to deliver some Suzie Foods and visit with my amazing writer/editor friend, Nancy, for lunch. Then I'll wait some tables at the pub.

Tomorrow, N is going to smoke a brisket again. So I'm all over that. And on Sunday, I'd like to catch up with some friends who will be out celebrating since the Professional Bridesmaid is coming to town.

What are YOU doing this weekend?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #267

I was just on the phone with my friend M, who was actually saying she has too much time on her hands. (Lucky M, huh?) So I tossed out the idea of volunteering since it always makes me feel good when I do something for other people. She agreed that it was a good idea.

I've been pretty wrapped up in my Suzie Storm lately, so I haven't volunteered in a long time. But in the past, I've collected clothing to transition women from homeless shelters to the workplace, read to kids, cooked for the homeless and walked for Breast Cancer.

Each event was rewarding in its own way, but as a writer, I gotta say, reading to kids was the most fun. Volunteers go to local schools on Saturdays and parents drop their kids off. And for an hour or so, we read to the kids. Sometimes it's picture books, other times chapter books, all depending on their ages and reading levels.

They're sooo cute and enthusiastic. And anything that nurtures a love of books is a hit with me.

What kind of volunteering do you do? And if you don't, what kind of activities do you think you'd like to get involved with?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #266

Today, I'm meeting with someone who needs help starting an online community that focuses on green living. I like to believe I do my part. I don't use chemicals or pesticides in my garden. I conserve water like crazy. I unplug appliances when they are not in use. I use CFLs and never leave lights or TVs on if I'm not in the room. And I try to buy local produce.

But I'm sure there a zillion other things I could do. What are some ways in which you go green?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #265

Have you ever sky dived or bungee jumped or leapt off a cliff or done any kind of crazy thrill seeker activity? If so, what did you do? f not, would you like to?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #264

I've looked through every scrap of paper in my purse. Read the back of all the Suzie Foods business cards, perused each receipt and piece of register feed.

I'm out of questions. Prepared ones, that is. Whenever my friends and I think up a great question, I jot it down on something and stow it in my purse. Or I text it to myself. Then when I need a little inspiration, I dig into my bag o' tricks.

My empty bag o' tricks has inspired a question on its own. How do you remind yourself of important things? Do you text yourself, write it on a calendar? Use an electronic calendar? Tie a string around your finger?

What's your solution to staying on track?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #263

This morning, N and I went to breakfast at the Good Neighbor Restaurant. It's become habit to go there whenever we spend the night in Hollywood. It's completely unnotable. (Is that a word?) But seriously, no decor or ambiance, it's all about getting your eggs and getting them fast.

And I always order the same thing. Two eggs over medium with polish sausage (Hey, it's Sunday. Why not?) cottage fries, rye toast and Diet Coke.

Is there a place you go where you don't even have to look at the menu? If so, what's your fave "regular" meal?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #262

The girls are back in town! The Mansfield girls, that is. Well, not all of them, but two. And that makes me pretty happy. (Although don't get me wrong, we are missing the rest of you.)

It's always fun to have friends come and visit. So...are you having guests this summer?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #261

Years ago, I had a horrible breakup. The can't eat, can't sleep, walking around shaking kind. I spent a lot of time driving, because driving soothes me. And I'd play Prince's "Pink Cashmere" over and over again. Odd song choice, I know. But somehow it worked to settle my shakes, stave off tears and calm the burn in my stomach.

Even now, years later, that song can still calm me when I'm a mess. I don't know if it's the strings or the mid tempo beat or what, but it works.

What song soothes you?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #260

As a new Fairy Godmother, I've been thinking a lot about granting wishes. I don't have a magic wand yet, but when I get one, I'd like to think I'll be able to zap things into fruition. (If anyone knows where to get such a magic wand, please let me know.)

If I could have one wish, I would wish for peace. Not necessarily world peace, although that would be nice, but unwavering inner peace.

So, if you could have one wish, would what it be?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #259

"She gets that from me!" That phrase has been repeated a zillion times in the last 36 hours.

But in reality, it's hard to tell from whom my fairy goddaughter got what...yet.

I am lucky to have my Granny's beautiful Italian skin. I'm grateful that I inherited my mother's singing voice. I'm proud of the curly locks passed down from her mother.

What family traits have you inherited? And from whom?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #258

We approach the nursery window all at once
But your eyes pop when you see me
And you smile
Like somehow you knew I'd be there
Then you look down and hold out your index finger
A tree trunk in your daughter's tiny hand
The nurse pokes
And your baby cries
So you sing song her name
Her head moves
and her eyes focus up
She knows your voice
Her grip tightens on your finger
And there's no more crying
Daddy's here.

Last night I became a Fairy Godmother. What a bright spot. What's more amazing than a newborn?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #257

As we drove to the mountains on Friday, N stopped for ice and a 100 Grand bar. I did a quick little gasp at the sight of it. Caramel, chocolate and little crunchy rice crispy like thingies. What could be better?

Maybe a Charleston Chew. But that's just me.

So what are some of your favorite candy bars?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #256

This weekend, a supercool girl nicknamed "Boogie" came camping with us. (And unfortunately, she was not nicknamed as such for her dancing abilities.) N and I gave Boogie a ride back to the OC, and on the way, we started talking about bad nicknames.

"I know someone nicknamed Lumpy," said N.

"Is he lumpy?" I asked.

"No," N said.

"So why is he called Lumpy?"

"I don't know," said N.

And I have a friend named Fruitcup. Because once, while out with his buddies, he ordered a fruitcup while everyone else ordered manfood like hot wings and potato skins.

But seriousy, it would suck to be a guy nicknamed Fruitcup, don't you think?

So what are some of the worst nicknames you've heard?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #255

Since I'm camping this weekend and bringing along a laptop and seeking wifi from my tent might highlight my writer geekness a little more than I'd like, I'm creating this post ahead of time and scheduling the question to appear on Saturday.


I didn't even know I could do that.


But with a little help from my buddy google, I think I figured it out. And if I did it correctly, this question should appear at 8:00 AM PST on Saturday:


What cool techie thing have you figured out how to do lately?


xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #254

When I was 12 years old, in an attempt to unite our stepfamily, my mother and my stepfather packed up my stepfather's camper, loaded us into my mother's station wagon and took us up to the Adirondacks for a week.

My mother, my brother and I had never been camping. We didn't really "get it." And on the shores of Lewey Lake, quite a few memorable moments occurred:

1. Continual rain. So much that we wore rain slickers. Somewhere, there's a picture of me looking like a miserable duck.

2. My stepfather bet my brother a dollar that he couldn't finish an entire pot of weirdly starchy spaghetti. (I think there wasn't enough water or a pot big enough or something to do with the camping stove.) My brother, not wanting to lose a bet, ate every bit and then puked everywhere.

3. My stepbrother chased a bear cub up a tree. Thank god mama bear didn't kill him.

4. Someone got a hold of fireworks, set them off and we were almost kicked out of the park. I may be revising what really happened, but I think there was a bribe involved.

5. I got 67 mosquito bites. (An actual number - not just a guess.)

Clearly, my parents weren't experts at uniting a stepfamily. But the point is that my first camping experience didn't exactly evoke a love for it.

Nonetheless, I'm going camping this weekend. I've gone a few times since the Step People incident and it's been fun and thankfully uneventful. I'm heading up to Big Bear with N and a bunch of his friends. Last year we went camping at the beach and had a blast, so I'm expecting more good times with this crew in the mountains.

How do you feel about camping? And why?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #253

Last night at my writing group, the other writers discussed the latest Harry Potter film. People are updating about it on Facebook and reviewing it on their blogs. It seems to be quite the summer sensation.

I, of course, have never read a Harry Potter book or watched a Harry Potter movie. I know. A YA writer who knows not of H.P.? Blasphemous!

I've been called worse things.

So, I want to know about you, oh fabulous, dedicated bloggers. How do you feel about Harry Potter?

xoxo,
Suzanne

Question of the Day #252

Last night, H, L.E.O. and I went to Fat Fish, this awesome sushi restaurant in Koreatown. The ridiculously inexpensive sushi comes out on a conveyor belt and when something yummy catches your eye, you just grab the plate and eat it. We gobbled tempura shrimp, complete with heads and legs, spicy tuna on crispy rice, crab rolls with jalapenos, salmon eggs, and all sorts of delicious treats.

But at one point, H pulled off a plate of some kind of cooked salmon and then said, "Darn. I kinda want to put it back."

L.E.O. said, "Ooo, good Question of the Day. What have you chosen that you'd like to put back?"

Soooooo, what have you chosen that you'd like to put back?

xoxo,
Suzanne