Tag: Suz as a kid

Feeling Sunny In A Dismal World. Also, Funny Family Pics.

On By SuzIn As blogged by Suz17 Comments

Did you know that Christmas is in exactly 2 minutes? I’ve noticed a lot of you overly joyous and organized people started decorating for Christmas back in September October November. So.very.early

Boy have I changed… Did I ever tell you that when I was about 10 I pulled the Christmas tree out of the shed in our back yard, dragged it into the house and assembled it myself before Mark could call my Mom at work. I still remember it like it was yesterday: “MOM, SUZANNE PUT UP THE CHRISTMAS TREE!” I was told that August was too early. What a blow that was.

Anyhoo, this year I kept seeing all my little elf friends decorating to the nines and I’m over here with my head under a blanket wishing the holiday away. I’m just not feeling it. It’s not that I’m sad. Or down. I’m just not feeling the spirit of Christmas this year. If not for my kids coming over around Christmas I wouldn’t decorate at all. But I’ve decided I’ll put up the big tree this weekend and call it Christmas. There will be no Griswold Christmas or Griswold shenanigans. With that being said, we did take Christmas card pics over our Thanksgiving visit, so those will be happening.

Christmas cards: I always send them and I LOVE receiving them. I always include an updated photo of the family and write a nice note about how our year has been. You know, the highlights. There is never mention of anything bad in my updates. Even the year my Mom passed away, it wasn’t dread and sadness; forever the Pollyanna finding the positive in every situation. I used to write funny stuff about how happy I was that the girls hadn’t been arrested, joined a gang or had a *face tattoo yet. (*I had to clarify the ‘face’ part of tattoo a few years ago)

I always find the SUNNY and POSITIVE and share those points. This year, me sharing the SUNNY AND POSITIVE feels harder. Not because I don’t have any good stuff to share, it’s quite the contrary, we’ve had a good year, (business is great, we’re all healthy, Lolo is getting married) and that is hard to fathom with what I see others going through.

I struggled doing my sunny Christmas cards because my life is good. *sigh* What is wrong with me? Can I ever be happy to just be happy? Damn, my childhood scarred the heck out of me. If only Beverly would have let me leave that tree up in August of 1977, perhaps things would be different….

Or maybe I just overthink things?

The crowd in the back shouts YA THINK?

So, I ordered my cards with my sunny and positive updates on them, so if you think I shouldn’t have, it’s too damn late.

Do you want to see some of our Family photo outtakes? Of course you do, you’re always here for the pictures.

Look at my boots! No, look at ME!

Well, well, look who made it into the family photo this year! He’s officially family and he can never leave because we are the mob and I know his secrets!

Wait a minute–I HAVE CUTE BOOTS too! *Suz doing her best flamingo impression*
We were getting some ‘behind’ pics of Lolo and Nathan & when we asked them to lean into each other, he took it to the extreme.

None of those will make it onto the card this year, but I might add this one of my new boots. I’m obsessed! They’re Vionics, so I can wear them with my sad, but special feet!

(fake snake!)

Do you send out cards? If so, do you use a family photo with an update on your year? I so wish this was similar to FB and you could all drop me a family photo in the comments; that would be so fun for me!

XOXO

Have You Looked Under Your Bed Lately?

On By SuzIn As blogged by Suz16 Comments

My friend Kelly suggested to me a few weeks ago that I should listen to a podcast she stumbled upon called Haunted AF. She learned how much I enjoy podcasts on our last drive up to GA; it’s a great way to pass the time.

This Haunted podcast is basically two hosts who talk with real people and their ghostly encounters. Some are your regular run of the mill ghosts, you know, Casper the friendly one, but some mention encounters with demons. Regular ghosts frighten me, but demons, devils & satan? They scare the BeJesus out of me.

I just drank holy water after I typed that.

I was hanging with the podcasts and this kind of being scared stuff until I listened to a podcast where people who were listening TO the podcasts were saying that they were starting to have MORE ghostly encounters and they thought it was BECAUSE they were listening to the podcasts. As if a ghost can travel through a podcast. Right? I mean that is preposterous!

Can we blame a haunting on my bad hair in 7th grade?

Earlier this week I had some time in the car, so I gave it a try. I was enjoying it in a kind of scared, but still interested type of way.

*Suz looks deeper into her car speaker*

Literally the hairs were standing up on the back of my neck as I listened to a few stories from podcast listeners who were having said encounters. So, I immediately stopped listening to the podcasts because I was not taking a chance on my ghost trying to invade my life again. No flipping way Jose.

That post/link right up there is 100% true and I pray to never relive something like that again. If you care to read it, this is part two of that link up there.

I still get chills reading it, because it’s so vivid in my mind it could have been yesterday and not 40 years ago.

13 year old Suz; haunted AF

If you’re into scary stories and you aren’t afraid of them coming to get you through your speaker, take a listen. BONUS: they feature a “Dead Pet Of The Week” too; who knew pets could haunt you? I’m gonna have a seance and see if I can bring back my Cocoa bean.

Have any of you had any ghostly encounters?

I’m All About The Jacksons And Prince.

On By SuzIn As blogged by Suz19 Comments

Good lord, do I loathe doing laundry. Can I get an AMEN? Lucky for me though, I’m only doing it for two people now, even though it seems like the neighbors sneak in and fill up our hamper nightly. Also lucky for me, I’m tipped very well.

This is my haul from Thursday. I think I’m going to splurge and get those pine nuts I’ve had my eye on at Costco.

You know how people ask those stupid questions while putting a gun to your head? Such as, what would be your last meal if you knew you were going to die tomorrow? (something with cholesterol!) OR what 2 things would you bring with you on a deserted island? (A boat and fuel)

Well, I posed one of THOSE questions to myself the other day while driving. Which was crazy dangerous since the gun was so heavy and I almost crashed.

Anyhoo, without doing any deep thinking or research answer this question:

If you could ONLY listen to ONE album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Photo by Elviss Railijs Bitu0101ns on Pexels.com

Did I just age myself using the term album? Yes, yes I did; it’s 1974 and I’m digging these bell bottoms because they make my butt appear smaller.

It took me only a second to figure out my top albums, then I narrowed it down to the one that I DO love the best.

Pic borrowed from Wikipedia

This album came out when I was a junior in HS. I had just met a new group of friends after moving and changing schools. (again!) My new friends were awesome; Tanya had a car and she drove myself, Joanna and Robin to school each morning. We had this cassette blaring as loud as Tanya’s old car allowed; surely my neighbors were not fans.

Honestly, before I wrote this post, I didn’t realize even realize that Prince was HIS REAL GIVEN NAME! Did you know that? I’m kind of embarrassed.

So, did you think my favorite album was going to be The Best Of Englebert Humperdink? Goodness, I just love saying his name….

Other album contenders:

  • The Grease Soundtrack
  • Synchronicity-The Police
  • Jagged Little Pill-Alanis Morrisette
  • Under The Table And Dreaming-Dave Matthews Band

How about you? Can you remember one album that you never tire of hearing over and over?

So, that’s all the riveting information I have to share with you this good day. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend. I mean, if you’re into such things.

XOXO