Author: Susan

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

Bricks, Ricks, & Cardboard

Posted in blind date, college, dating, firsts, humor, Iowa, memoir, Midwestern, relationships, restaurant, Rocky Mountains, worstsLeave a comment

(re-run) The college mixer was hosted by the men of Lorch House in Friley Hall, in the heart of the Iowa State University campus. Tappan House, the top two floors of Barton Hall, was invited. Yes, I am old. Yes, dorm floors are co-ed now. This was in the days of the dinosaurs, girl dinosaurs… Continue reading Bricks, Ricks, & Cardboard

Late-night Loser

Posted in alcohol abuse, bar, bartender, blondes, California, Chinese food, dancing, dating, firsts, jerk, memoir, relationships, restaurant, sex, worstsLeave a comment

(re-run) I met a guy at a dance. We emailed each other for a week (before texting). We decided to meet at Bing Crosby’s. I took a seat at the bar, and asked for water. After all, I’d had two glasses of wine already, waiting for him to get off work at the TV station… Continue reading Late-night Loser

Male Egos ‘R’ Us

Posted in aggression, Costco, fight, flipping the bird, Macho Man, memoir, middle finger, pregnancy, road rage, road rage, male ego, stream of consciousness, toddler, toys, Toys R Us2 Comments

Decades ago, when I was the mother of a two-year-old girl and hugely pregnant with another child, our little family took a Sunday drive down to Dublin to visit the toy store. I was lost in a world of motherhood, tolerating acid-inducing fetal kicks and not paying attention to what was happening outside of our… Continue reading Male Egos ‘R’ Us

The Crappy or Happy Post

Posted in balance, care home, chorus, Costco, crappy, dancing, Dead to Me, flu shot, handicap parking, happy, hiking, memoir, newspaperLeave a comment

(re-run) Life is a balance. Not everything can go your way all the time. Sometimes it seems as though everything is going against you.  The last seven days have been full of ups and downs. As long as there is one happy for every one or two crappies, I can muddle through. It’s nice to… Continue reading The Crappy or Happy Post

Bomb Shelter Blues

Posted in bomb shelter, Camp Fire Girl, Cold War, fall-out shelter, family, grandpa, memoir, OCD, radiationLeave a comment

(re-run) My childhood house on 69th Street in a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa, had a big bump in the backyard. It’s where my grandfather built a fall-out shelter that connected to our basement. It was during the Cold War, and thoughts of atomic bombs being dropped on us was enough to motivate him to… Continue reading Bomb Shelter Blues

Reflections on a Retired Thursday

Posted in childhood, chorus, Costco, COVID, dogs, errands, horse, horseback riding, memoir, memory, OCD, retirement, traffic, Zoom, ZumbaLeave a comment

(RE-RUN) You’d think retired people have seven days a week to reflect on their past lives. Not so, Smokey Joe.  There was chorus, plus a COVID booster shot on Tuesday which produced a huge headache. “Take Tylenol,” my adult child who lives down the hall said. “No, you’re supposed to let the vaccine do its… Continue reading Reflections on a Retired Thursday

A Victoria’s Secret Box with Dinner

Posted in California, cars, dating, dinner, dumping someone, family, gambling, humor, last, lingerie, meet and greet, NFL, online dating, relationships, RenoLeave a comment

(re-run) Saundra met Duke online on Match.  They agreed to meet at Scott’s Seafood restaurant  in Walnut Creek for dinner.  When she got there, he was already seated and waved her over.  As she approached the table she noticed a dozen lavender roses in a vase. She remembered that Duke had asked her favorite color.… Continue reading A Victoria’s Secret Box with Dinner