Suzanne Says... » Memes

Give Them the Benefit of the Doubt

Suzanne — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:45:20 +0000

When friends behave strangely, act out of character, or do something that in any other situation, with anyone else, you might take offense, take a deep breath and give them the benefit of the doubt.

Ask yourself, “If the situation were reversed, what would I want most from me right now?” Then do that.

Because you care.
Because you, too, make mistakes.
Because you don’t require perfection from others.
Because part of being a friend is loving them when they can’t love themselves.

Keepin' it real in the bloggerhood,

How My Friends Help Me Preserve and Practice Vulnerability

Suzanne — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 13:00:56 +0000

My friends know that I’m quite cerebral…always good for a unique perspective or a question no one’s thought to ask quite that way. I can entertain myself for hours with ideas. So it would come as no surprise to them that I like TED talks…introduced to me in 2010 by a kindred cerebral friend.

On this first Sunday of the new year, I ask you to take 16 minutes of your day to watch this TED talk by Dr. Brené Brown on The Price of Invulnerability:

I know, from personal experience, that we really can’t numb out just the bad stuff without also numbing the good stuff we want.

My friends help me preserve my ability to be vulnerable by reassuring me that I am safe with them. I am able to practice vulnerability with them, and each time I do, I get stronger and am more willing to risk vulnerability outside of the safety net they provide.

Priceless.

Keepin' it real in the bloggerhood,

Friends

Suzanne — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 16:46:43 +0000

NaBloPoMo has declared the blogging topic for January 2011 is friends. Best friends, worst friends, friends of the family . . . how many do you have, how many do you need, and where are they when you need them?

If ever there was a topic I could blog about everyday for a month solid, this is it.

Throughout my life, it has been my friends who’ve sustained me. These people loved me when I didn’t love myself, challenged me and kept me sane. They are the touchstones of my life, witnesses to my growth and champions of who I am becoming.

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…. It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” ~C.S. Lewis

Keepin' it real in the bloggerhood,

200 Movies I’ve Seen

Suzanne — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:21:36 +0000

SUPPOSEDLY if you’ve seen over 85 films, you have no life. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste this as a post. Then, put x’s next to the films you’ve seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and publish. Have fun.

(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
() Pirates of the Caribbean
() Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
( )Boondock Saints
(X) Fight Club
(X) Starsky and Hutch
(X) Neverending Story
(X)Blazing Saddles
(X) Airplane
Total: 7

(X) The Princess Bride
(X) Anchorman
(X) Napoleon Dynamite
() Labyrinth
() Saw
() Saw II
() White Noise
(X) White Oleander
(X) Anger Management
(X) 50 First Dates
(X) The Princess Diaries
(X) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 15

(X) Scream
(X) Scream 2
(X) Scream 3
(X) Scary Movie
(X) Scary Movie 2
(X) Scary Movie 3
(X) Scary Movie 4
(X) American Pie
(X) American Pie 2
(X) American Wedding
(X) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 26
(Disclaimer: While I have seen all these movies, I would not choose them on my own. This is one of the hazards of having teenagers in the house.)

() Harry Potter 1
() Harry Potter 2
() Harry Potter 3
() Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
(X) The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
(X) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 28

(X) Finding Nemo
() Finding Neverland
(X) Signs
(X) The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
(X) White Chicks
(X) Butterfly Effect
(X) 13 Going on 30 (Suddenly 30)
(X) I, Robot
() Robots
Total so far: 35

(X) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
(X) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(X) Along Came Polly
(X) Deep Impact
() KingPin
(X) Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
(X) Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
(X) Joe Dirt
() KING KONG (2003)
Total so far: 43

(X) A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
() The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
(X) Dumb & Dumber
(X) Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination
() Final Destination
(X) Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
(X) Surviving X-MAS
(X) Flubber
Total so far: 49

(X) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(X) Practical Magic
() Chicago
(X) Ghost Ship
() From Hell
(X) Hellboy
() Secret Window
(X) I Am Sam
(X) The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 55

(X) The Day After Tomorrow
(X) Child’s Play
(X) Seed of Chucky
(X) Bride of Chucky
(X) Ten Things I Hate About You
(X) Just Married
(X) Gothika
(X) Nightmare on Elm Street
(X) Sixteen Candles
(X) Remember the Titans
(X) Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
(X) The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 67

(X) Bad Boys
(X) Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Slevin
(X) Ocean’s Eleven
(X) Ocean’s Twelve
(X) Bourne Identity
(X) Bourne Supremacy
() Lone Star
(X) Bedazzled
(X) Predator I
(X) Predator II
() The Fog
(X) Ice Age
(X) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 78

(X) Independence Day
(X) Cujo
(X) A Bronx Tale
(X) Darkness Falls
(X) Christine
(X) ET
(X) Children of the Corn
(X) My Bosses Daughter
(X) Maid in Manhattan
(X) War of the Worlds
(X) Rush Hour
(X) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 90

() Best Bet
(X) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(X) She’s All That
(X) Calendar Girls
() Sideways
(X) Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
() Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
(X) Big Trouble in Little China
(X) The Terminator
(X) The Terminator 2
(X) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 99

(X) X-Men
(X) X-2
(X) X-3
(X) Spider-Man
(X) Spider-Man 2
(X) Sky High
(X) Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(X) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
(X) Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2
Total so far: 111

() Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street
(X) Old School
(X) The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf’s Tribe
(X) A Walk to Remember
(X) Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
(X) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 117

(X) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(X) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
() Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(X) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(X) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 122

() Basketball
() Hostel
() Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Reject
(X) Elf
(X) Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
(X) American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 125

() The Jacket
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
(X) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 128

() High Tension
() Club Dread
(X) Hulk
(X) Dawn Of the Dead
(X) Hook
() Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
(X) 28 days later
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 132

() Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
(X) Kingdom of Heaven
(X) The Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
() Army of Darkness
Total so far: 134

() Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
() Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
() Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
() Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(X) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(X) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 136

(X) The Matrix
(X) The Matrix Reloaded
() The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
(X) Red Dragon
(X) Silence of the Lambs
(X) Hannibal
Total so far: 141

Now Add them up and…

Post your total as the title.

Note: Whoever originated this list must love scary, gory movies, because there are a lot of them on this list. I have, unfortunately, seen many of them…one of the downfalls of video rentals. No way I’d have paid $8/head to see these in the theater.

There are a LOT of movies I’ve seen – by choice – that aren’t even on this list. Here are some off the top of my head, and feel free to include them in your lists….since none of us likely have lives, according to the originator’s criteria, anyway.

(X) Steel Magnolias
(X) Raising Helen
(X) Terms of Endearment
(X) The Replacements
(X) Educating Rita
(X) Saving Grace (starring my favorite cheeky, wee monkey, Craig Ferguson! Good movie.)
(X) Friday Night Lights
(X) Fried Green Tomatoes
(X) The Guardian
(X) Field of Dreams
(X) Bull Durham
(X) A League of Their Own
(X) Any Given Sunday
(X) The Commitments (anyone want to send me this DVD for my birthday in June? I can’t find it and I LOVE this movie!)
(X) Must Love Dogs
(X) Baby Boom
(X) Annie Hall
(X) Something’s Gotta Give
(X) What Women Want
(X) Jersey Girl
(X) Independence Day
(X) Seven Pounds
(X) Last Chance Harvey
(X) Love Actually
(X) About a Boy
(X) Notting Hill
(X) The Pelican Brief
(X) A Time to Kill
(X) Internal Affairs
(X) P.S. I Love You (Yeah, pretty sure I’m going to Ireland to shop for my next hubby, if I decide to shop for one.)
(X) Gran Turino
(X) The Unforgiven
(X) Absence of Malice
(X) Hunt for Red October
(X) Seredipity
(X) The Devil Wears Prada
(X) Monster-In-Law
(X) Enough
(X) Death Becomes Her
(X) Million Dollar Baby
(X) Nights in Rodanthe
(X) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
(X) Bridges of Madison County
(X) Invincible
(X) Radio
(X) The Secret Life of Bees
(X) The Deep End of the Ocean
(X) Where the Heart Is
(X) Night Shift
(X) Moonstruck
(X) Con Air
(X) Silkwood
(X) Pay It Forward
(X) Beverly Hills Cop
(X) Beverly Hills Cop 2
(X) Trading Places
(X) Dr. Doolittle
(X) The Unbearable Lightness of Being
(X) Private Benjamin

Ok, that’s enough… for now…

Keepin' it real in the bloggerhood,

Weekly Winners – November 2 – 9

Suzanne — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:26:22 +0000

I’ve been meaning to take this picture for awhile now, but it just keeps getting better and better. I finally took it yesterday, but since, the price has gone down a few cents, yet again. In September, it cost me $60 to fill my car. Yesterday, it took $25. Enjoy it while we can, folks.

I picked up Sweet Pea yesterday morning and we took her out to see her other Grandma and Grandpa (Oldest Son’s dad and his wife). Tried 4 times to get a picture of her with Grandpa, but Grandpa was just uncooperative. Here is the least goofy looking shot of the 4.

And, of course, PDD got to spend time with her favorite creatures: Star, Skippa and Stormin’.

This time, the horses thought Second Son had brought them treats (his sunflower seeds)…

…and proceeded to follow him around wherever he went. They were all 3 following him, at one point, but I was too slow with the camera to capture it. Second Son finally had to leave the pasture to get any peace.

For more great photos, visit:

Keepin' it real in the bloggerhood,

Weekly Winners – October 26 – November 2

Suzanne — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:42:03 +0000

PDD as a Fairy Princess on Halloween:

That shot just scares the bejesus out of me. Granted, it’s a bit much in the makeup department (on purpose), but Lord have mercy…when she gets it in her head that she needs to wear makeup, I’m sunk.

However, at 9, she’s quite the cute fairy princess, isn’t she? The dress is courtesy of Baby Sis, seamstress extraordinaire, and the perfect match wings courtesy of Wally World.

I never noticed that my Canna Lilies did this after the blooms disappear, but before the stalks turn brown after the first frost. Interesting…

PDD and Fresh Air 4-wheeling.

For more great photos, visit:

Keepin' it real in the bloggerhood,

Maxine on Halloween – Something For Free

Suzanne — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:00:31 +0000

Keepin' it real in the bloggerhood,

Weekly Winners – October 19 – 25

Suzanne — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:14:54 +0000

Sweet Pea is here for another weekend at Grandma’s, and it appears Callie has joined the Sweet Pea Fan Club. Callie has spent all the previous Sweet Pea visits eyeing the bundle of predominantly pink, trying to determine if this new creature is friend or foe.

Apparently, friend is the conclusion, as Sweet Pea is yet another creature willing to pet and rub Callie as she likes to be petted and rubbed.

It may be a year or so before Callie, the ultimate lap cat, can really be seen by Sweet Pea as a lap cat. Right now? Probably more appropriately seen as a purring, furry blanket.

After awhile, Callie decided her new friend was too wiggly, so she found a spot next to her and they snuggled like this for about a half hour before Sweet Pea let Grandma know, in no uncertain terms, that it was lunchtime!

For more great photos, visit:

Keepin' it real in the bloggerhood,

PhotoHunt: Scary

Suzanne — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:01:10 +0000

In keeping with this week’s theme, I give you a Halloween past at our house:

Keepin' it real in the bloggerhood,

Weekly Winners (Lots ‘o Pics Edition!)

Suzanne — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:50:23 +0000

All pictures are clickable for a larger view.

“Live at the Improv”
(where the improv is bathtime in Grandma’s kitchen sink instead of the bathtub)

Oldest Son was jealous of all the time his daughter spent in my lap Friday evening. So, after she went to sleep, he wanted his turn.

Not to be outdone, Second Son had to have his turn, too.

And of course, what her brothers get to do, PDD must do, too.

I’ve really got to come up with a name for my granddaughter here. However, while I’m working on that, here are some pictures of our day on Saturday. We spent the morning at my ex’s house (Oldest Son’s dad). I wanted to give them some time with the baby, and PDD wanted to spend time with their horses, so we went there on the way out to my parents’.

Sitting on Daddy’s lap

3 Grandmas: Me, Ex’s Mom and Ex’s Wife

Playing Dress-up

Even though the grandbaby was supposedly the star of the show yesterday, if you ask PDD, the whole point of going to the Ex’s place was to get to see, ride and spend time with their horses. The fact that they got to see and spend time with their granddaughter was merely secondary.

Hugging Star

Hugging Skippa

Hugging Stormin’

PDD in Horse Heaven

PDD can’t get happier than this!

PDD comes by her love of horses honestly. I love them, too.

While all the horse lovin’ was going on, the boys were having their own fun with Ex’s 1977 Corvette.

Oldest Son at the wheel.

Second Son got to take it for a spin, too.

Second Son discovered hay bales can be great sources of entertainment. He took a run at one and found he could walk up it if he got a good enough running start at it. Simple country pleasures for a city boy…lol.

King of the Mountain

When it came time to leave Ex’s and go to my parents, PDD had a hard time saying goodbye. This will likely become one of my favorite pictures of PDD’s childhood, if only because of its poignancy. She really does love horses. To her credit, I didn’t have to peel her off them to get her in the car. Must be she knows that the best way to get to come back is to go willingly when it’s time. It was hard, though.

Never can say goodbye, no, no, no, no….

On we went to my parents’ house so they could meet their first great-grandchild. I defer to my mother’s aversion to having pictures taken and published for all the world to see and give you instead my dad and my granddaughter.

Talkin’ it over with Great-Grandpa

My parents’ first child was a girl (me), their first grandchild was a boy (Oldest Son) and now their first great-grandchild is a girl. I guess we’re giving each gender a shot at making family history, eh?

Dad and I gave this little one the tour of the land, the shop and all the heavy equipment she’ll one day learn to use. No gender bias in this family – trust me.

Given that my dad’s dad lived to see 92, and my mom’s mom lived to see 90, and the fact that they are now 69 and 65 respectively, the possibility does exist for my parents to see this little girl graduate high school, at least. As long as they’re not medically miserable, I hope they stick around that long.

For more great photos, visit:

Keepin' it real in the bloggerhood,