Author: Susan

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

Worst Professor Ever

Posted in Chicano, college, grad school, Hispanic, humor, Iowa State University, La Raza, Latino, memoir, Midwestern, Nebraska, professor, racist, relationships, research paper, University of Nebraska at Omaha, UNO, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) She taught the research class at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I needed the course to earn my master’s degree. It would be easy. I’d written dozens of research papers at Iowa State. She said we could choose any topic. All we had to do was take a position, defend it with an… Continue reading Worst Professor Ever

The Value of Rock and Roll Music

Posted in Beatles, John Lennon, memoir, Michael Jackson, Northern Songs, Paul McCartney, song rightsLeave a comment

(re-run) John Lennon is turning over in his grave.  One of his biggest songs, All You Need is Love, is now a GAP commercial with Katy Perry singing it as she poses for the camera in GAP clothing. Dick’s Sporting Goods uses Come Together in an ad, and Airbnb uses In My Life. If only… Continue reading The Value of Rock and Roll Music

Help your Mood, Pull some Weeds

Posted in birds, butterflies, California, dogs, foxtails, gardening, insects, lizards, lockdown, memoir, Round-Up, Roundup, weeds1 Comment

(re-run) Yesterday, I made the short trip to my little downtown beach town, got some cash from the ATM, picked up two newspapers, and headed back home. On the way into town, I saw two city workers spraying Roundup on the weeds in the median strip. They were still at it, in the very same… Continue reading Help your Mood, Pull some Weeds

Chorus Concerts a Super-spreader Weekend

Posted in chorus, COVID, headache, mask, memoir, super spreader, vaccine, weddingLeave a comment

(re-run from 2021) I’m in a chorus with 94 people. Last spring we performed Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon. We all had to show a negative antigen test from Friday morning.  We thought we were golden. We took off our masks. I’ve been wearing a mask to every rehearsal for four months. But… Continue reading Chorus Concerts a Super-spreader Weekend

Weirdest Dinner Party Ever

Posted in California, dinner party, friends, girlfriends, kayaking, kitchen sink, memoir, relationships, Sausalito, thrift store, worst1 Comment

It was the holidays. Lynn and Richard had invited six couples and one single neighbor over for a lovely dinner party. The guests were told not to bring anything except ourselves. Since it was a long drive to Richmond and since we had a voucher to go kayaking the next day in Sausalito, my then-boyfriend,… Continue reading Weirdest Dinner Party Ever

Monday, Monday

Posted in California, Covid 19, daughter, dermatologist, doctor, dog walks, dogs, Dr. Fauci, drugstore, election, errands, friends, memoir, nextdoor.com, science, yard, yard sign, Zoom, ZumbaLeave a comment

(re-run) The neighbors have a new puppy. I can hear it squeaking at their back door. The windows are open, a hot night for October in California. My stitched-up leg is on the foot stool. The pain has lessened. After all, it is day 5.  Only 9 more to go before the stitches come out.… Continue reading Monday, Monday

Prom with an Older Woman

Posted in California, dad, dancing, dating, firsts, high school, humor, Monterey Bay, Prom, relationships, worst1 Comment

(re-run) Alan was a sophomore when he got asked to junior prom by an older girl. He rented a tux from his date’s father, Mr. Cohen, at the local men’s shop in Monterey. Alan’s dad had to play chauffeur in his 1962 Chevy Bel Air, since Alan didn’t have his driver’s license yet. When they… Continue reading Prom with an Older Woman

Why I Love Saturday Mornings

Posted in Beatles, California, cartoons, compost, Covid 19, dancing, Delta variant, Gavin Newsom, hugs, memoir, pandemic, Saturday, science, scientist, vaccine, ZumbaLeave a comment

When I was a kid, cartoons made Saturday mornings great. We sat around in our pajamas and ate our cereal in front of the TV. There was never time any other day of the week. Now that I’m grown and also retired, I still love Saturday mornings.  I don’t have to Zumba, I don’t have… Continue reading Why I Love Saturday Mornings