"Are you crazy?"

My son strongly asked of me this past weekend.

He is having a real hard time relating to my conservative views.

My opinions come from a traditional, less complicated upbringing.

At a time where I, and most every kid I knew, were taught respect, discipline, a strong work ethic and love for God, Family and our Country.

So fast forward 20 plus years and my son's generation (Generation "E" for Entitlement) has been mamby-pambied to death...thus possibly (I recognize that not EVERY kid is like this) leaving us to be cared for by self-centered, under-motivated, overly-politically-corrected, anything-goes-attituded, disrespectful kids...that can't even buy themselves a real clue.

what to do what to do

I caught myself doing it again…

while walking to the office this morning.

I honestly don’t know how long I have been doing it; I didn’t even know I WAS doing it until my very melancholy/choleric personalitied sister pointed it out one day.

Not that there is anything wrong with doing this.....

outside of accepting the possibility of dealing with arthritically-gnarled hands way before I should.

to me it feels comfortably good

Remain Calm

Pray.

Deep, relaxing breaths.

Anna is driving to Wisconsin late this afternoon with two other girlfriends to visit Bridget at college.

This will be her third time driving the 3-hour-each-way trip.

The first time she drove there...I BIT off ALL of my rarely-allow-myself-to-get acrylic nails.

Then I proceeded to drink myself into a de-stressing stupor.

For her second trip...I partially recognized my prior insanity and no longer having fake nails, I patted myself on the back for not chewing anything off and just drank.

This time...again not having nails to massacre, also armed with the knowledge that drinking is bad for the liver and the fact that it is a WORK night.... I am going to have to rely on my faith in prayer.

parental wear and tear

"Are you hanging in there?"

The wack-a-doodle train conductor asked me this morning.

"Yes, I am!" I replied.

"Good, that is better than hanging out, that is what I say." he stated.

He followed with "Now remember you heard that from me!"

What?

Any thoughts as to what that meant?

bent

The Video.....

as promised yesterday, presenting the eldest Ladybug's debut rock performance....



Unfortunately this is just a "snippet" of a great performance.

And for the record...as her Camp Counselor - I am so very proud!

sing it loud

Ladybug Numero Uno

For those of you who have followed Susan’s Snippets for a while...you may remember that over the last two summers I have been Head Camp Counselor to my three nieces for a week long “Camp Ladybug”.

And this summer will be no different, there is a camp being coordinated for July.

In speaking of the Ladybugs....the eldest Ladybug is growing up way, way too fast. She is beautiful, talented and loves to perform....so yesterday we went to a local pub to hear her sing lead in a rock band!

She got together with a group of kids to form a band through participation in an awesome local program called Rock Academy.

And as soon as I can figure out how to properly load the video that I have of her performing...it will be posted.

Until then I will be trying to keep the record label executives away.

there will be time for that another day

Left for me to find Friday….

Walking along Franklin Street this morning I happened upon this car parked by someone who might be very upset if this is the nice dress shirt that they plan on wearing later today.


That left-for-me-to-find-Friday image reminded me of an incident I witnessed many years ago, long, long before cell phones....

At that time I was married and without children, so my husband would drive me to the train station on his way to work.

One winter morning after being dropped off, I headed toward the station, when I heard a simple “aaahhhhh!” from behind me. As I turned around I witnessed a guy pulling away from the curb right after his female passenger had slammed the passenger door shut at the same time she was putting on her winter coat.

Unknown to the driver, his passenger had shut the door on her yet-to-be-occupied winter coat’s left sleeve.

Luckily, when he pulled away, the sleeve ripped completely off at the shoulder.

Thus leaving her physically intact, but with her left arm exposed to the frigid winter temperature.

And him....he drove away with an entire left winter coat sleeve....

a flappin' in the breeze

Is that an avocado?

Was the question posed to me from the I-recently-blogged-about-TMI-guy, while preparing lunch today in our kitchen.

It is without fail, during 9 out of 10 lunch preparations, that TMI will appear and ask what you are preparing.

For the record, in my realizing that he is just a lonely, old guy who is trying to make small talk to pass the day away....MOST of the time I am very kind to him.

Today....not so much.

So when he asked me that question, I responded "No! That is NOT an avocado!"

Which, of course, backfired because it was followed up by a long conversation of "What is it then?" and "Why would you say it wasn't one?" and "I have had them before." and "They are okay." and "Do you eat the skin?"

That is when I left the kitchen.

i am a bitchin

Yesterday's Restaurant in Review

Some snippets of our St. Patty’s Day lunch at the Paramount Room:

The decor in this vintage building was eclectic and fun:





The staff was friendly, knowledgeable and very open to showing us around.

And the food....the corned beef and fried pickle special was tender and incredibly tasty.


My fries were crisp, hot and salty and the burger, although cooked precisely to medium, was infused with thyme – I hate thyme. It overwhelmed the beef taste – turning it into a thyme burger.


The women’s bathroom was clean and is equipped with a new Dyson hand dryer which allows you to slip your wet hands in and it dries them in seconds, which we had fun playing with.


My overall experience at the Paramount Room was a 7 out of 10...now if they were to get rid of the thyme...

I would rate it a 9

Susan O'Snippets

"Are you planning on being open for lunch on St. Patrick's Day?" I inquired of an early-last-week-I-discovered restaurant, which is normally only open for lunch Thursdays thru Sundays.

"That is a good question, I hadn't thought about it. Give me your name and number and I will speak to my partner and call you back." Stephen, the co-owner replied.

Shortly thereafter he called back to say "Thanks for the good idea - we ARE going to be open for lunch on St. Patty's Day!"

So, needless to say, I, along with a very small posse, will be heading over there for lunch today.

"Lunch" of course consisting of some hopefully-good food and maybe, just maybe, a pint or two.

top o the morn to you

My Summer Sentry

With the warm weather upon us this past weekend, it allowed me to open my front door and let the warmth of that incredible shining sun in.

Which immediately put Buddy the Wonder Dog on door duty.

I had some comfort with the fact that the glass in the storm door has not yet been switched out for the can-bust-his-way-thru-in-a-heartbeat screen.

And Buddy had total elation in the fact that he can now guard not only his backyard domain, but also the entire front section of our neighborhood.

So squirrels, birds, small dogs and the occasional annoying, young child in the 500 block - you have been duly warned - it is now front door Sentry-time, so beware!

and whatever you do dont double dog dare

It is once again...LEFT FOR ME TO FIND FRIDAY!!

This was discovered during my lunch walk today on the side of Blommer's Chocolate Factory....


All I have to say is that if I were permanently attached to a chocolate factory I would definitely have a big smile on my face, not a stupid zig-zag grin.

seems like a sin

"Now I know where Anna gets it from!"

a friend said recently when I was acting....well "slightly goofy".

"Oh, really?" I replied "Then just WHERE do I get it from?"

Genetics rarely have lied.

we laughed that day till we cried

Incentive

With a 40 degrees drop in actual temperature from yesterday, coupled with a "Good Morning" windchill of ZERO......

It was all I could do to climb out of my warm bed this morning after lying awake listening to the winds gust up to 50 mph, each time causing my old attic bedroom to creak and groan...just like I did as I threw back the covers and started down the colder-than-the-day-before wooden stairs to begin my work day.

Once on the road though I was inspired to keep on driving by the above pictured God-created, fabulously, beautiful full morning moon.

i still cannot wait for june

Lunch Options

Several weeks back, my friend and work comrade, Kathy and I dined at the recently opened Bull & Bear restaurant on the corner of Hubbard and Wells.

We walked into a packed room and instead of waiting for a table, we opted to dine at the bar (oh, darn!).


The atmosphere was upbeat and trendy with a mixed clientele of jean-clad (like us) and business suited people (not like us).


One of Bull & Bears' unique features are the Table Taps, where you free pour your own beer for .40 cents an ounce - which averages to be about $4.00 a glass, which isn't too bad for a Chicago joint. Although the bartender warned us that patrons have been very surprised at how much they drink when seated there...both from a $$ standpoint and just being able to pointedly stand.


Although it was disappointingly reviewed on MetroMix...we were quite happy with our food (I had fish tacos and Kath had a chicken sandwich), the friendly bartender and its vibe.




We definitely will be going back...at the least to try out "Overtime" during the week between 3 and 6 pm when all appetizers and short orders are half price and the soon-to-be-offered outdoor dining....whenever this Chicago weather chooses to cooperate.

i cant wait

T.M.I.

My morning office kitchen conversation.....

Me: Good Morning, Tom. How are you feeling?

Tom: Better.

Me: That's good.

Tom: Yeah, I am spending a lot less time coughing up phlegm in the morning.

Me: Just saying "better" would have been enough.

Sometimes it backfires when you are trying to be kind.

that image now stuck in my mind

Friday Morning City Sounds....

A view from along the river with the Merchandise Mart closest on the left and the old red brick Traffic Court Building with its clock tower in the background.

I just love the clickety-clack of the train as it goes over the steel double-decker draw bridge.

Thank you Spring for making a visit here today.

it makes me so very gay

P U

If it wasn’t irritating enough that the two women behind me on my early-train-home-yesterday-to-try-and-make-it-to-bible-study-somewhat-on-time, could not stop LOUDLY talking, about halfway thru the ride one of them removed her shoes and the smell that emanated could have peeled paint off a wall.

Focus, Susan, Focus – don’t get irritated...remember you are going to BIBLE study tonight....patience, kindness, pity....was the self talk for the rest of my ride.

Fast forward an hour or so to me sitting in church listening to a woman give her testimony on 1st John and I again get a whiff of it...that rancid, sour “put my son going thru puberty feet odor to shame" smell.

Wow!

Twice in one day!

Now who has taken their shoes off - in church no less??

That is when I glanced down at my feet, my "encased in my older-than-the-hills running shoes" feet.

My "I haven’t run in 8 years but cannot let go of my past running shoes" covered feet.

Needless to say, I stopped by a T.J.Maxx on my way home and purchased a pair of brand-spanking-new-good-smelling-running shoes and hopefully, I have become a little wiser about always looking to pass the blame.

i was the smelly shame

Lunch Time Warp

Today when I left the office for my lunch walk it was the year 2009, but somewhere between LaSalle and State Streets I must have walked thru a time machine because suddenly it was 1979....


when discos were oh so fine

Not in the mood....

to post any writings - creative or otherwise.

I will definitely be back at it when this mood is lifted.

life being sifted