Author: Susan

I do this blog for PG audiences and another one for R audiences with Bae Bliss.

The Dog Whisperer

Posted in animal adoption, animal rescue, animal training, ball throwing, California, dog whisperer, dogs, fridge, HOA, leash, massage, memoir, pandemic, poop, ZoomLeave a comment

My son moved in with me. He has managed to get the super anxious, high-strung Jack Russell to roll over onto her back when she sees him coming. She allows belly rubs to happen. This is huge. I’ve been massaging Daisy Dog ever since pandemic life went online with Zoom. She knows to sit in… Continue reading The Dog Whisperer

Dog Training, the $100 Secret

Posted in animal adoption, animal rescue, animal shelter, ARF, best, California, dog training, dogs, holidays, humor, memoir, relationships, secret, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) When I got a ten-week-old puppy four days before Christmas six+ years ago, I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be. I’d trained many a dog, but I did it within the context of my family, with my children at the ready to wear out the new pet. This time I was… Continue reading Dog Training, the $100 Secret

The Scars of our Lives

Posted in accident, aging, broken bones, dentist, dog bite, health, make-up, memoir, scars, stitches, sunburn, tetanus shot, tooth, Venezuela1 Comment

(re-run) When you get to be my age, you’re bound to have a few scars. I haven’t had any big surgeries, but I do have scars from burns, bumps, and scrapes along the way.  Right now it’s my thumb that is most noticeable. I broke it by pulling down a three-piece sectional garage door an… Continue reading The Scars of our Lives

Daisy Gets a Rap Sheet

Posted in animal adoption, animal shelter, animal training, dentist, fences, insurance, medications, memoir, Prozac, veterinarianLeave a comment

Jack Russell Terriers get a bad rap for being hyper, alpha, and prey driven. Sometimes, however, the title is earned. The last two weeks have been anything but easy. Two friends and a neighbor died. I hosted a party, lost a crown, had a $1300 dentist bill, took one dog to the vet for chewing… Continue reading Daisy Gets a Rap Sheet

The Morningstar is in the Garage Freezer

Posted in burglaries, Costco, Facebook, gangs, Guatemala, mailbox, memoir, Morningstar, phone calls, spy, texting, vegetarianLeave a comment

(re-run) I live in a town with a lot of well-off people. The burglars have figured this out. I bought a locking mailbox that sits on the street with two other mail boxes. Mine has been tampered with twice. Once they bent down the metal to reach their hands inside and get a 2020 calendar,… Continue reading The Morningstar is in the Garage Freezer

My Friend, the Thief

Posted in babysitting, bus, cherry pie, department store, Des Moines, downtown, flat feet, Iowa, memoir, shoplifting, shopping center, store, store security, troll dollsLeave a comment

(re-run) We took the bus to go shopping downtown.  We weren’t old enough yet to drive, and it was a boring Saturday. Debbie suggested the shopping trip. We had a shopping center (before malls) within walking distance of our houses. A bus trip was more adventurous. Debbie was always up for adventure. She had moved… Continue reading My Friend, the Thief

The Red-tailed Hawk and the Toddler Fence

Posted in birds, California, children, humor, hunting, Lindsay Wildlife Museum, memoir, Mount Diablo State Park, nature, outdoors, relationships, toddler, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) I’m a bird lover. I feed the song birds and the finches. I have an ongoing water supply in the form of a fountain in my back yard. I’ve planted native plants for the hummingbirds. When I hike, I am thrilled to find a hawk feather to add to my hat. Twenty-odd years ago,… Continue reading The Red-tailed Hawk and the Toddler Fence

Fleetwood Who?

Posted in 1970s, Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Iowa, Iowa State University, memoir, Nebraska, Spain, Stevie Nicks, student teaching, Study abroad, teaching, travel, Venezuela1 Comment

Whenever a Fleetwood Mac song comes on, everyone around me goes gah-gah.  I admit that the Rumours album is a good one, but I just don’t feel it like everyone else does.  The other month, I tried to figure out why that is. At karaoke, many of my girlfriends want to sing Fleetwood Mac songs.… Continue reading Fleetwood Who?