Author: Susan

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

Belly-up Beetle

Posted in alcohol abuse, beetle, California, cars, dating, drinking, drugs, guardian angel, high school, marijuana, memoir, relationships, Volkswagen, worstsLeave a comment

(re-run) Curtis drove a 1969 vintage Volkswagen Beetle. George, his wing man, brought the weed. They’d met their dates at a party. Stacy and Camille went to San Leandro High. Curtis and George went to Castro Valley. Curtis liked Camille. George got Stacy. They all partied at a friend of a friend’s house in Oakland… Continue reading Belly-up Beetle

Surprise in the Porch Stove

Posted in beach, dog training, dog whisperer, dogs, glue traps, Jack Russell terrier, memoir, poison, porch, ratsLeave a comment

I just got home from the beach with temps up to 70 degrees. “Why am I coming back?” I asked myself as the car’s outside temp rose to 82, then 88 then 92 as I pulled off the freeway in San Ramon. When I got home, the dogs went ballistic as they always do. We’re… Continue reading Surprise in the Porch Stove

The Gun at Grandma’s House

Posted in bedroom, childhood, church, grandma, guns, memoir, relationships, religion, sister, Sunday dinner, VictorianLeave a comment

(re-run) The thing was cold, black, and heavy. Even though I was just a kid, maybe nine or ten, I knew a gun when I saw it. I’d been jumping on Grandma Nellie’s bed. The pillow had fallen on the floor. The gun was under the pillow. I put everything back the way I found… Continue reading The Gun at Grandma’s House

My Can Runneth Over

Posted in Bolivia, cheese, climate change, culture, fast food, food, garbage, memoir, offspring, party, stomach issuesLeave a comment

(re-run) My garbage can is tiny because when I ordered it, I lived alone. Half the time it was only half filled when I put it out on Monday evenings. My recycle can, twice as big, is always full. Then one of my offspring returned to the roost, with their little dog.  The can got… Continue reading My Can Runneth Over

Build Me Up, Buttercup

Posted in 1968, chorus, commercials, daughter, female bonding, Foundations, go-go boots, Gong show, judges, memoir, singles' club, sister, ski club, talent show, yellowLeave a comment

(re-run) There’s a Geico commercial for motorcycle insurance that starts out with the introduction to one of my favorite songs – Build Me Up, Buttercup. Of course, I have to sing along. Buh, buh-duh, buh buh buh-duh, buh, buh-duh, buh buh buh-duh . . . Why do you . . . build me up, buttercup… Continue reading Build Me Up, Buttercup

Tough Wednesday

Posted in contractor, dogs, earthquake, editor, Google Alerts, HOA, integrity, memoir, TargetLeave a comment

Being retired, my days are mostly eating breakfast, taking a shower, exercise, dog walks, coffee break, shopping and writing, lunch, reading, sewing and TV, sometimes dancing. Wednesday was different and tough. It started out with a contractor calling yet again to schedule the earthquake bolt and brace job under the house. Even though I loved… Continue reading Tough Wednesday

Sometimes It’s Good to Be Clueless

Posted in car alarm, children's author, children's books, clueless, Eve Bunting, grocery store, memoir, pedestrians, Pet Food Express, thrift storesLeave a comment

Today I ran a bunch of errands, including the thrift store, grocery store, bank and pet store, in that order. The thrift store parking lot gets cry at noon since there are many restaurants next to it, so I went there before noon to get a spot. The older volunteer at the thrift store was… Continue reading Sometimes It’s Good to Be Clueless

Don’t Get a Sun Burn

Posted in airforce, California, dating, humor, military, Monterey Bay, relationships, travelLeave a comment

(re-run) You think you know someone. You’ve sat across from your brother-in-law at countless holiday meals. You raised your kids together, although far enough away that you only saw them four or five times a year. You know George loves Monterey, but you didn’t know the whole story. You knew he’d been in the military,… Continue reading Don’t Get a Sun Burn

The People I Meet When Thrifting

Posted in memoir, Oakland, people, shopping, therapy, thrift store, thrift stores, White Elephant saleLeave a comment

(re-run) I have a deep need to thrift. I do it at least once a week, even on vacations. I’m not talking consignment stores where people bring in items, hoping to get some money back.  I’m talking about stores that take donations and sell things on the cheap because they got them for free. Last… Continue reading The People I Meet When Thrifting

His Baby, She Wrote Him a Letter

Posted in best, California, dating, firsts, getting dumped, humor, last, military, relationships, VietnamLeave a comment

(re-run) Holly moved from San Francisco to the East Bay and missed her old classmates. The smart kids and the popular kids had already established their cliques. She was an outsider. Holly had no close friends with which to share her excitement and concerns at Bishop O’Dowd High School, even though she was kind of… Continue reading His Baby, She Wrote Him a Letter