I Asked If You Wanted To *Ask Me Anything* And You Did NOT disappoint. {part 1}

Housekeeping:

Thank you all for the well wishes for AT & UJ and their new home.

Yesterday we went to our friend Jeff’s Mass service. My dear friend Stacy get up in front of everyone and spoke about her husband. Honestly, I could not have gotten up there to speak about HER husband, much less my own. She is incredibly strong. I’m going to try and spend as much time with her and her kids in the coming days as things settle down and they try to acclimate a new normal.

Questions:

I’ll answer a few today and get to the rest soon. We are in the process of ripping out about 1,000 square feet of tile flooring and baseboards with new flooring going in. New full sized washer and dryer on the docket. *cough cough* Already anticipating all the dust. We’ve had to empty a guest room, my office/laundry and I think a toilet will be moved to our pool lanai later today; it’ll all be lovely when it’s finished. We’ve discussed doing this project for a few years, so I’m happy to get it going.

Martha asked where I’ve traveled in my life and what was my best, most memorable trip. Let me start by saying I am a LUCKY girl. Growing up we didn’t have a lot of vacations. A few times my Mom was able to take us to Disney World since it was so close and my sweet Aunt and Uncle took us camping several times up in the mountains of NC. My Dad was quite frugal, so he wouldn’t spring for Disney, he took us to GatorLand Zoo or to the KOA down the street. Which is fine, really, but with his temperament, nothing was ever that enjoyable. But in the past 15 years or so, the Coach and I have been able to travel. Our first BIG trip was to Venice Italy. It was actually a FREE trip that Coach won through one of our cabinet vendors back in the day. It was a magical time for both of us and we met some really fun people, enjoyed amazing food and saw a lot of history; it really felt like walking into a story book. We piggybacked a quick stop in London on our way home, but we were so exhausted and we were on such a limited time that I hardly enjoyed London and I only wanted to sleep.

Some of our other memorable vacations:

Good lawd. I started to link the trips when I realized I am REALLY fortunate. Not too bad for a girl who spent most of her childhood in a trailer park or a bowling alley.

Venice, 2004

I’m reluctant to say what my favorite is, because the Coach wasn’t even with me. But IF you put a gun to my head (why the violence Suz?) I would have to say the trip that Kelly and I took to New Zealand in 2018 was the bomb diggity. We went for 13 days and did a self-driving tour. Talk about an adventure; Suz driving on the wrong side of the road in the wrong side of the car and in an unexpected day-long snow storm. “We’re NOT in Florida anymore.” I really thought we might die and that was only our second or third day there. We saw a good portion of the South Island and ended our tour on the North Island. Glaciers, Kiwi Birds, whales, dolphins, pumpkin soup, wine tours, boat rides, sheep everywhere, gorgeous countryside and delightful people. *sigh* I would love to go back again with the Coach; it was truly an amazing place to visit.

Bijoux asked what has been my worst vacation. Is there such a thing? Well, I suppose if we took a cruise and *someone* accidentally threw me over, well that would be a big suck. I suppose my fiftieth birthday trip to Costa Rica could be considered ‘not perfect’ since hurricane Erma was heading directly towards our house. We were 4 couples all from Florida; the four guys were able to get flights home to prep the houses and the four girls were stuck in an awesome resort for more days than expected. Yeah, it was horrible.

Before Erma tried to steal all my fun

Debra asked What’s your favourite movie? And what movie do you hate? By the way, I love my Canadian friends and their fancy U in favoUrite. I honestly can not pick one movie. But if Deb pointed a gun in my direction and told me to pick ONE it would be: FerrisBuellerUrbanCowbowMrDeedsGreaseSixteenCandlesForrestGumpDirtyDancingWalkTheLineNapoleonDynomiteELFSayAnythingGoodWillHunting.

WHEW, that was a mouthful. I’m NOT a fan of horror movies. If I see something terrible happening, I can NOT forget it. This is why I don’t watch the news. I accidentally watched The Blair Witch Project a long time ago and I can not get it out of my head, especially when I’m taking out the garbage at night. I watched scary movies as a child and it’s probably why I’m slightly demented.

River asked About available guest rooms at our GA house. We actually had 3 guest rooms when we purchased it, as of our last visit we have four; we converted a workout room and workshop into a guest suite. Does it look like we need an exercise room? I mean, does it look like we WANT an exercise room? I’ve been meaning to post about how sweet the rooms are, but I’m not 100% done with them yet. But for River, you can visit before I’m finished, just leave the garden-eating wood chucks at home. Here are two of them.

  • The Double Room AKA The Deer Room
  • The second Master AKA The Bear Room

Nance asked What is your favourite children’s book? Is it one you loved as a child, or is it one you loved sharing with your own children? I only remember a few that I loved myself; one being Charlottes Web and I still have it. a few favorites that I read to the girls are: Is Your Mama A Llama? The Runaway Bunny, (still brings tears to my eyes) The Adventures of Frog And Toad, Little Bear and all the Dr. Seuss books. The Coach and I still quote some of the Dr. Seuss one-liners. I’ve saved ALL Of these to read to my future grandchildren. *Hint Hint* In case anyone wants to accidentally get pregnant after October 23rd of this year.

I’ll finish the rest of the questions in a few days. This was fun; thanks for motivating me!

XO

28 thoughts on “I Asked If You Wanted To *Ask Me Anything* And You Did NOT disappoint. {part 1}”

  1. I just read your post asking for questions, and here you are answering them. I tell you, I’m impressed. I’d like to visit New Zealand so I’m happy to read that you enjoyed it as much as you did. I liked Charlotte’s Web as a child, too. It seemed soothing and hopeful. Odd considering Charlotte dies, but whatever– as a kid it was good stuff.

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    1. New Zealand was a magical place for us and driving it over 13 days, it was amazing to see so many different regions. Snow/Ice and GREEN as far as the eye can see. And of course, the actual Sea.
      Yeah, Funny, I didn’t even think about Charlotte dying. I was also a big fan of Judy Blume books; like most young girls.

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  3. Bijoux

    So fun to learn more about you. Napa is our favorite place, so it was nice to see it on your list! Worrying about a hurricane barreling towards your home would count as a bad trip for me, but I’m a worrywort. I also have a soft spot for Ferris.

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    1. April 2019 was our first trip to Napa; it included live music and wine: what else could one want? We were supposed to go back last year, but you know how that turned out.

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  5. I loved reading this, especially the part about your trips! Thanks for sharing photos too. I hope you and the Coach will get to make that trip to New Zealand. How awful that you and three other girls were stuck in an awesome resort in Costa Rica for more days than expected – now that’s the way to do a hurricane!

    I loved scary movies when I was a kid, thanks for giving me an excuse for being slightly demented. The Blair Witch Project was one creepy movie, I still think about it from time to time too.

    Best of luck with the new flooring project!

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    1. We’re all a little demented, we just need to find which excuse works for us. 🙂

      The hurricane part was unnerving mostly because we didn’t know when we could get a flight out; just waiting each day. Of course, we were waiting by the pool while being served cocktails.

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  6. Wait, I’ve only just read yesterday’s post. Maybe blogging is your way of dealing with what I can only imagine is a LOUD home makeover project. Good luck with that.

    Such a fun post.

    I love reading about your many travels. Sounds amazing. If asked, I’d still rank our original 2010 Yellowstone trip as a top visit but it’d be hard not to include it on the worst trip list as well, since the tent flooded with rain water while we were sleeping. We laugh about it now, but holy heck was it miserable.

    I love most of the movies you love. There are a few on your list/mouthful that I haven’t watched. I’ll have to check them out.

    Love the cute guest rooms with the great titles.

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    1. There is also a Canoe room and a Butterfly & Birds room, because, you know, it’s mandatory.

      Having one trip being a top visit and also the worst is kind of funny, but then again: YOU.

      The noise starts tomorrow or the next day. NOT looking forward to it and it’s too damn hot to go outside.

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  7. Mine wasn’t a serious question… but thanks for answering it anyway. Fluff the pillows in the Bear Room and cut the limes. I can see myself chilling on your beautiful deck with a margarita as we speak. 😉
    Venice and New Zealand? I’m completely jealous now. The only international trip I’ve taken was Provence… though as trips go, you can’t beat the south of France. We did St. Tropez, Nice, the Cannes Film festival, the Alps, Cap D’Antibes. Ooh la la… wish we could go back.

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  8. I’m no fan of horror movies either. And I would never, EVER, point a gun in your direction. I’m more of a garrotte fancier, myself. *double-take* Where the hell did THAT comment come from?

    I’ve never been to any of the places on your list except Mexico. I spent a day in London too and man, did we pack a lot into it. I’d love to go back to London and do it right this time over a longer period of time.

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    1. Yes, that comment did come out of left field. Well for me anyway, perhaps YOU have been thinking of this for a while. *Suz takes a step back*

      There is a lot of history in London and I too wish I had more time there.

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  9. Oh, Suz! The places you’ve been how fun! I can’t wait to see the rest of your answers.

    And I am so very sorry about the loss of your friend’s husband. That is awful. I know you will bring her great comfort.

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  10. You’ve had a lot of awesome vacations! And all that time in NZ, too. That would be a dream.

    I had an elementary teacher who read our class a chapter a day of Charlotte’s Web. I was transfixed by that book. Needless to say, it was the very best part of my day. When Charlotte died, I was devastated.

    My two children are boys. We read lots and lots of books with trucks. You’d be surprised at how very, very many there are. Sigh.

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    1. Boys tend to love trucks, but do not always have a love of reading. You enticed them with the trucks; smart move.
      Yes, I’ve been very fortunate to visit some amazing places in my more recent years.

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  12. I love this! So much fun to read your answers and to see the interaction between you and your readers.
    I love reading about your travels. I love to travel but I hate to pack and the actual traveling to and from. Once I get there though, I love it. LOL But seriously, Napa is on my bucket list.
    I love your movie(s).
    I also love your guest rooms. I get dibs on the bear room.

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    1. I think the only time I enjoyed packing was about 5 years ago when was in my ‘fighting weight’ and overall I felt really comfortable in my skin; I had a great wardrobe. But now: Blah….we’re *supposed* to be going away (Napa) next month and I’m dreading packing.

      I have to admit, the Bear room is my favorite; must be because we designed/decorated that ensuite room from the studs UP.

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  13. Melanie Galliano

    You have been on all sorts of awesome adventures. What a fun post. I’ve never thought about doing a Q&A session. I may have to do the same someday!

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  14. Vicki

    Wow, look who found the lost link to your blog again!
    I loved reading about your life and learning stuff I didn’t know. How long have we been online friends ?? and I’m still in awe of you!
    Keep being your incredible self, answering more questions, cause I need to know stuff, and keep the dust rags moving around…
    Love ya ♥️

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