Author Archives: Susan

REALITY: Design

Posted on August 29, 2004 by Susan

For heaven’s sake–you’d think that my husband, a Design Engineer, would know better than to put whipped cream on TOP of ice cream. I had to show him how you slide the nozzle slowly around the rim of the bowl … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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REALITY: Garden Joys

Posted on August 29, 2004 by Susan

Usually I spend my summer outside. Actually, my spring and autumn days as well, planting, cleaning, trimming, weeding, pinching and picking. This spring, because I had lots of other things on my mind, I never got myself out to do … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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REALITY & WRITING: Procrastination

Posted on August 29, 2004 by Susan

Putting off the things that can’t be faced for lack of concentration, control or energy. Excuses are the tool the best Procrastinator knows how to use, and use them well. Deadlines are the blade that dangles overhead. Faced with one, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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REALITY: The Secret Value of Procrastination

Posted on August 28, 2004 by Susan

Okay, last item on my list below for posting today is this entry on procrastinating. I’ll do it later. Continue reading →

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REALITY: Paternal Baggage

Posted on August 28, 2004 by Susan

This post would be too long to go into detail (actually, it’d make a great 5,000 word story; I’ll have to consider it) but it was inspired by a grumpy old man (my father-in-law), a stubborn man (my spouse) and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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REALITY: Attitude

Posted on August 28, 2004 by Susan

Geez, this post was going to be about the youthful exuberance and lack of fear among the confident youth facing the new semester, versus my own crawl-into-a-hole-where-I-can-just-reach-the-button-to-cancel-classes-via-computer-easy-way-out tendencies. But in my early morning weblog travels, I see many my age … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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REALITY: Placeholder

Posted on August 28, 2004 by Susan

Yes, this post is serving as an “Old Folk’s List of Things To Do” that I admit I’ve needed many years now in the daily doings. So, without apology: 1. Youthful Confidence/Elderly Adamance? 2. Paternal Baggage 3. The Secret Value … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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WRITING: Fresh Pineapple Inhibits Gelatin Setting

Posted on August 28, 2004 by Susan

No doubt about it, planning out a story is harder than just typing what’s freely floating in your mind. And stubbornly flaunting directions to avoid adding an element that is proven not to work is useless folly. You end up … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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WRITING: No Longer Hearing Voices

Posted on August 27, 2004 by Susan

I see it now, the problem. Answered simply by my friend, Neha, the question both to life and writing that I’ve struggled with the past few weeks. You’re trying too hard. Each story starts with an idea, an egg that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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WRITING & CURRENT AFFAIRS: Lessons in the Backyard

Posted on August 27, 2004 by Susan

I feel American, inappropriately not dressed in red, white and blue but scarlet and green, just like a hummingbird, a gentle bird that gets aggressive in the later days of summer. The hawk swoops in on silent wings—there is no … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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WRITING: Thinking

Posted on August 26, 2004 by Susan

I need to be re-inspired. To hear Waylon’s strong voice rumbling up inside of me. Willie’s words to cry for made-up scenes that cover for those uncryable. And Emmy Lou with sweet clarity of pain and purpose that changes straw … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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WRITING: Story

Posted on August 25, 2004 by Susan

I cannot tell a story over a paragraph long. This is what I’m beginning to clearly see from my concerted efforts in my writing lately. I honestly don’t know how to break out from that opening paragraph into a tale … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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SELF-ANALYSIS: Personality Conflicts

Posted on August 24, 2004 by Susan

Within oneself, I mean. I aspire to be organized, hate to be out of control, like to roll with the flow while planning ahead. In truth, I am a free spirit, given to bursts of spontaneity, am inquisitive and open-minded. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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EDUCATION: Heh, heh, heh. You Get What You Pay For.

Posted on August 24, 2004 by Susan

In the BBC News this morning: School leavers ‘lack basic skills’ “Too many school leavers cannot read, write or add up properly, business leaders have complained. A third of Confederation of British Industry (CBI) members say they have had to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: The View from The Chair

Posted on August 24, 2004 by Susan

I admit that I’m following this election a bit more closely than any I’ve followed since I was a starry-eyed idealist in my twenties. Perhaps it’s my last hurrah, my one final attempt to understand politics, a renewed sense of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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