Author: Susan

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

Grandfather Clock

Posted in California, flowers, grandfather clock, landscaper, melanoma, memoir, Murphy's Law, neighbors, paintingLeave a comment

(re-run) I am waiting for my grandfather clock to be delivered. It’s from my friend’s aunt’s estate.  She didn’t want it. Her brother didn’t want it. It reminds me of my aunt and uncle’s clock in their house in Iowa. I’d spend the night with my cousin and listen to the clock chime every fifteen… Continue reading Grandfather Clock

Pyracantha and the Path to School

Posted in California, deer, fences, gardeners, native plants, photinia, pyracantha, school, school district, shortcut, smoking, trash, weedLeave a comment

(re-run) When my kids were 14, 11 and 6, we moved into a house that bordered the school district’s property. The middle school sat to the right of our backyard, and the high school sat to the left. Only a chain-length fence and a hedge of Photinia bushes separated its property from ours. I called… Continue reading Pyracantha and the Path to School

Kuma, the Teddy-bear Akita

Posted in 4th of July, Akita, animal training, animals, boyfriend, California, casino, dating, divorce, dogs, father figure, Japan, kayaking, lake, Lake Tahoe, puppy, river, swimmingLeave a comment

Her husband had two Akitas.  Beth wanted to get one for their six-year-old son.  She got Lee a puppy and named him Kuma, which is Japanese for Bear. The two older dogs kept attacking the puppy.  The marriage wasn’t going well, either. Beth and her son moved out and got their own place.  Kuma came… Continue reading Kuma, the Teddy-bear Akita

The Best Ten Dollars Ever

Posted in allowance, babysitting, beer, biking, Campfire Girls, car, dad, memoir, newspaper, siblings, Spain, want ads1 Comment

When I was a kid, I walked everywhere. I went to a Bluebird or Campfire Girls meeting a few blocks away from home, and one day, on the way back, I saw a pale green leaf fluttering on the street. I picked it up, un-wadded it and discovered it was money. A ten-dollar bill. When… Continue reading The Best Ten Dollars Ever

The Moon Landing and a Funeral

Posted in death, fishing, grandma, grandpa, high school, Home Ec, junior high school, memoir, moon landing, OCD, relationshipsLeave a comment

The day we landed on the moon (July 20th, 1969), my parents took the family to a picnic/fishing spot at the Des Moines reservoir. I was going into high school in the fall, so it was a dorky thing to do on a Sunday, but hey? I couldn’t drive yet, and the food was always… Continue reading The Moon Landing and a Funeral

Ungrateful Daisy Dog

Posted in cell phone, dog walks, dogs, gates, girlfriends, harness, Jack Russell terrier, leash, memoir, rescue, sickLeave a comment

(re-run) I was sick today, and my plans to walk the dogs with my girlfriend were dashed. To my surprise, she offered to walk them for me. “You can’t walk them together,” I said. “It’s too hard.” “That’s okay. I’ll come walk each of them separately.” “Okay . .. ?” I had the pinch collar… Continue reading Ungrateful Daisy Dog

Worst Roommate Ever

Posted in dating, friends, girlfriends, holidays, humor, kitchen sink, memoir, Nebraska, Omaha, relationships, romance, roommate, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) By the time I graduated college, I’d had somewhere close to 37 roommates: the first two in the triple room my freshman year, the next two in another triple when I changed dorms after one quarter, my solo roommate all of sophomore year, then the string of roomies after I moved into the sorority.… Continue reading Worst Roommate Ever