Author: Susan

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

The Neighbors, the Pit Bull, and the Daily Pooper

Posted in animal control, antique store, California, children, confrontation, dogs, Frisbee, high school, leash, memoir, middle school, neighbors, pit bull, poop, teaching1 Comment

(re-run) We bought a house on a street that was a long court with two courts coming off of it. We were up at the top, and it was a great and safe place for my kids to walk our greyhound mix dog. Until it wasn’t. “That was a short walk,” I said when they… Continue reading The Neighbors, the Pit Bull, and the Daily Pooper

Rocky Mountain Low

Posted in backpacking, bears, Colorado, dating, female issues, firsts, hiking, humor, memoir, relationships, Rocky Mountains, travelLeave a comment

(re-run) He was the good-looking cousin of my college best friend — tall, tan, and bearded. Throw in a killer smile, and he added up to gorgeous.  For me, it was love at first sight. Marcus had moved from Minnesota to Colorado to be near his sister. He asked if I wanted to come out… Continue reading Rocky Mountain Low

Long-playing Ski Buddies

Posted in best, California, car pool, dating, flirting, humor, marriage, nature, relationships, ski club, ski resorts, skiingLeave a comment

(re-run) Ellen was in charge of the ski cabin for the In Skiers of San Mateo. Mark joined the Powder Hounds even though he was just a beginner. Mark called Ellen to arrange for a room in the InSkiers cabin. Ellen had a cold and sounded like Lauren Bacall when she answered. Mark liked that.… Continue reading Long-playing Ski Buddies

Always Happens on her Couch

Posted in aging, BART, dating, empathy, hiking, Lafayette, online dating, reservoir, Rim Trail, widowed, widowersLeave a comment

(re-run) A widow who is my same age told about some of her bad dates, mostly with guys she’d met online.  First there was Dirk.  After the initial date of cocktails, Dirk offered to come over to Vanessa’s place and barbecue for her. She was a grandma and had a new grandbaby to look after… Continue reading Always Happens on her Couch

A Donner Party Winter

Posted in Donner party, Donner Summit Museum, Hastings Cut-off, history, pioneers, Sierra Nevadas, survival, Tahoe, winterLeave a comment

(re-run) Lake Tahoe has had record-breaking snowfall this year. It is falling so fast that the ski resorts have had to close some days because of the chance of avalanches. When was the last time Tahoe has seen twenty-five feet of snow in one month? I am not a meteorologist, but one equally snowy year… Continue reading A Donner Party Winter

Payback Time

Posted in biopsy, California, dermatologist, memoir, Mexico, mole, skin cancer, sun tan, sunburn, sunshine, travel, VenezuelaLeave a comment

All those summer days as a child, running the neighborhood with the other kids, walking to the drug store with a few pennies to buy candy, riding bikes to the corn fields and back to visit the horses nearby . . . and now skin cancer. Not once, not twice, but three surgeries in.  I… Continue reading Payback Time

The Tennis Shoe and the Broken Window

Posted in classmates, college, high school, Iowa, Iowa State University, locker room, memoir, physical fitness, physical fitness award, softball, teacher, windowLeave a comment

(re-run) It was senior year in high school. I was on my last semester of PE, my least favorite class. I maintained a straight-A average in all other classes. Not PE. It alternated between a B and a C. I was feeling good. We were in our next-to last unit, the physical fitness award. I… Continue reading The Tennis Shoe and the Broken Window

My Inherited Dog, Boomer

Posted in relationships, memoir, marriage, dogs, California, honeymoon, animal training, animals, pregnancy, raccoonsLeave a comment

(re-run) Boomer was never my dog, although he came into my care when I married his owner.  I’m not sure how old he was when I got him. My dog, Tess, was two and Boomer was older. A small, part-Beagle, part terrier, Boomer hadn’t had a regular dog’s life. He had never eaten dog food… Continue reading My Inherited Dog, Boomer

Sally’s Downward Dog Disaster

Posted in humor, dogs, women's march, husband, women's rights, ER, southpaw, yogaLeave a comment

(re-run) The first Women’s March was planned for the next day. Sally went to her friend, Lisa’s, to make a poster for the march. Several women showed up, ready to drink some wine and to think of clever sayings for their signs. Sally already had her slogan:  No Uterus – No Opinion. Lisa’s cute little… Continue reading Sally’s Downward Dog Disaster

There’s That Song!

Posted in memoir, Motown, music, play list, Shazam, wine-tasting, winery, YouTubeLeave a comment

(re-run) (I heard the song yesterday in the documentary called Will and Harper, on Netflix). I make different playlists on YouTube. Sometimes I want my meditation playlist with mellow songs. Other times I like my post-colonoscopy list, which is all my favorite songs ever. I also have a Michael Jackson playlist and a summertime playlist.… Continue reading There’s That Song!