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I Had to Fake My Own Death

2006-11-30T20:17:00.000-05:00

to survive. they were after me, every galllldang one of them.

But I'm back now.

Tagged!

2006-05-28T21:25:00.000-04:00

I AM: strange in many ways

I WANT: to live healthier

I WISH: life wasn't so financially hard

I HATE: bad attitudes

I MISS: childhood--no worries, no responsibilities

I FEAR: that my life won't mean anything

I HEAR: poorly. I think I'm slightly deaf.

I WONDER: about all things--big, little, important and mundane

I REGRET: not taking advantage of all the opportunities I've had

I AM NOT: going to be what anyone wants.

I DANCE: like a drunken arthritic senior citizen, but it's still fun

I SING: at some point every day. I love it!

I CRY: at a movie, at a thought, sometimes at nothing

I AM NOT ALWAYS: sociable

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: playdoh and nintendo magic

I WRITE: bad poetry, short stories..many things that never get completed

I CONFUSE: the narrowminded

I NEED: a pedicure. my feet are gross

I SHOULD: look for a better job

I START: to write in journals. but I never stick with it.

I FINISH: people's sentences when I think I know what they're going to say, which is annoying, I'm sure

I tag: Jonathan and Anna (you can leave them in the comment sec. if you prefer)

Mission Impossible III: Not So Glib After All

2006-05-18T15:16:00.000-04:00

On Saturday I went and saw M:I:III. I wasn't so optimistic about it; to be frank, I thought it would suck. A lot. But I was quite pleasantly surprised by it, I must say. It was awesome! Great cast, cool plot, tons of action. Phillip Seymour Hoffman played the bad guy, and I love him. Other supporting players included Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (Matchpoint), Felicity--I mean Keri Russell, Laurence Fishburne, and Billy Crudup (Big Fish).

It was a job well done by Tom Cruise, too, and perhaps that's what shocked me the most. He's been such a moron in the press lately, I doubted I could watch him for two hours without some serious eye-rolling. But I didn't. At first I thought maybe it was because I was afraid of the Scientology police, but I've concluded that I just like Tom Cruise as an actor. It's a fondness that goes way back, starting with Jerry Maguire and intensifying around the Vanilla Sky/Last Samurai era. A relationship like that should not just be left behind just because Tom's sanity has been. The guy may have jumped the couch, but he's still got the skills. He's not on the phenomenal plain of acting that some are, but I've never been disappointed when I've seen him in a movie. He delivers.

SO I've come to a conclusion, and here it is: Tom Cruise is a maniac in his everyday life, it's true. But he is awesome in movies. It cannot be denied, and I think it's a lesson we should all take to heart.

I have a few examples to get everyone started, so let's review:

Cool

Dorky

Awesome

Psychotic

Lovely

Sickening

Any questions?

What's Da Big Deal

2006-05-12T10:10:00.000-04:00

I'd heard a lot about The Da Vinci Code over the past couple of years, and before I ever knew the meaning of its title, or its plot for that matter, I'd been warned by the Christian community: Stay Awaaay. So of course I went out and bought it in paperback. And sure enough, upon reading it, I uncovered its shocking truth. I mean, you won't believe it. It's horrifying. Scandalous. Are you ready? Here it comes:

I didn't find it shocking at all.

First off, let me say that I loooved it! It's truly a great book, a wonderfully weaved story filled with extremely complex and well-thought-out ideas and riddles. But as far as the whole controversy aspect? I just don't understand it. This book is fiction, and even putting that fact aside, I didn't think The Da Vinci Code's premise was that uncalled for. Jesus, married? (Gasp!) So what. Had children??!!! Yawn. Why does it matter? I toyed with those same thoughts myself as a child, because let's face it: we weren't there. We don't know exactly what happened. Dan Brown never implied that this man wasn't the Messiah, at least not in my opinion. So then why, Christians, do your panties continue to remain in their bunched state? Loosen up! Do me a favor: go to the loo, pick your wedgie, and really think about something for yourself before you write it off. (Wedgies, perhaps, are at the root of all of this unnecessary grumpiness.)

It bothers me to no end that new ideas will not be given a chance due to nothing but stubborn traditionalism. And religion is the worst about it. Imagine what advances in medicine we would be without if medical scientists thought that way; we'd still be on horses and carrying water from a mile away if someone hadn't given mechanical engineers an opportunity to express themselves. All of these innovative ideas deserve a chance. We have to open our minds. None of us know the truth about it all. The only truth I know is that it's arrogant and backward to presume you do.

Staph is No Laugh

2006-04-27T11:18:00.000-04:00

For those of you who have not heard, I've been recuperating from an awful staph infection on the back of my leg. It's been no picnic. Apparently, staph infections are pretty serious biznac. I didn't know it, but they can be fatal. Here was my first clue: when I went to the doctor, I took off my pants and climbed aboard the cement butcher's block to be examined. She took a look at the area and gasped, actually covered her mouth, then said, "Oh, Susan....oh my God." I thought, hmmm. That may not be good.

I mean, it's not what ya want.

It had gotten pretty grisly; I thought it was a spider bite and had been trying to take care of it at home. But the center of it had turned black (about the size of a quarter) and the redness was at a fairly large spread, about the circumfrence of a softball. I'd been showing it to all the people I hate, and rubbing it on them, but it brought me only shallow joy because of all the pain I was in. My leg was completely swollen and it was extremely painful and sensitive to the touch. To walk was quite a feat, it felt like a dog had sunk his teeth into my leg and was still hanging on.

The doctor had to take action immediately: she had to give me three injections into my wound to numb it...ha...wish that part could've been numbed! After that I didn't feel much; she drained it as best she could and disinfected it, then stuck what she called a "wick" down into the open wound, which was a string of gauze drenched with antibiotic ointment. I asked if I could make myself a candle leg, and she gave me another shot!! Spiteful. After the operation, I got a shot of antibiotics right in my ass, just to get things started. When that happened, I felt extremely dizzy and nauseous, like I was about to pass out. They made me sit down and took my blood pressure, which had dropped considerably. The doctor told me I "fagled out" (I'm not sure how to spell it since I hardly know what it means), or my body responded to the stress it had been under by diminishing in strength. Anyway, after seeing all of the founding fathers on the vending machine for a few minutes, I was fine, and still numb...I got two prescriptions, one for a strong antibiotic, the other for the pain.

That was a week ago, and I'm feeling a whole world better. The wound is healing nicely, no more swelling or redness...just a hole. The gauze fell out in my sleep the other night, which it is supposed to do, but it totally freaked me out. I was going to take and include a picture of it, just to be cruel, but it is simply too disgusting. Trust me, you're better off that this is not a picture post.

Seriously though, if you ever get something similar, don't hesitate to see a doctor. I was told by my physician that if I had let this condition get any worse, I would have had to be admitted into the hospital for an I.V. antibiotic for a few days. That's kind of scary. So thanks to all the well-wishers, and if there's a lesson to all this, it's live life to the--no. Actually just try and not get a staph infection. They're really gross.

My Oldest Friend

2006-04-17T15:21:00.000-04:00

I'd like to introduce you to someone. His name is Steve. He was a Christmas gift from my Gannyma when I was four years old. Probably an inexpensive card shop special, he's small and plain in appearance with shabby brown fur. But he's very special. As a kid, Steve and I were inseparable. We've been through a lot together. He's had more adventures than any other teddy bear I can think of. Steve has been to over ten states, accompanied me on every trip I've ever been on, and has also been counted for lost a few times before making a seemingly miraculous reappearance.
Many years ago I left him in a restaurant, and I'll never forget the image of our waiter running across the parking lot to our car, waving frantically, Steve in hand. Once I left him at K-Mart, and when my mother phoned the store to track him down, the employee who answered said, "you talkin bout a ratty ol' brown bear?" I was offended and hoped Steve was not in the presence of these harsh words. Yet another time I left him at my Granny's house in Virginia, and did not know until we'd arrived home. I felt terrible. Granny found him under the sofa and, knowing the value of his presence, shipped him home to us. One day my sister Kelley got mad at me and decided to hide Steve. She knew this would upset me. She hid him outside in our charcoal grill, where she knew I'd never find him. This prank would have been harmless except that, when it came time to fess up, she forgot where she'd hidden him. Five or six months went by. I had wept for my beloved Steve, but had accepted that he was gone. Dad went out to light the grill for some hamburgers one spring day and there was Steve, dusty and cold but still the same. At church the boys used to tease me for having him, and would play keep away with Steve, sometimes until I cried. He's been through a lot; I'd even venture to call him lucky.

I may no longer be a child, but my affection for Steve has only increased. About a year ago I thought he'd gotten thrown away by freakish mistake, and I tearfully awoke all the members of the house in a frantic search, even going through the trash. I found him eventually--under my pillow, where I had not bothered to look. Last year I took my first distant solo trip to Charleston, and he rode shotgun with me all the way.

Steve has changed with age: once his nose was black and velvet, but over the years the white plastic underneath was revealed until it was all that remained. His beady black eyes are scratched, some of his seams show where the fur is worn, and he still smells slightly of PineSol from when my mother bathed him in it after I'd been sick. He also used to have a Christmas jacket, but that has long since been lost.

Most everyone who knows me knows about Steve. He has been a part of my life since I can remember. He's not just property to me; I see him as a creature with a soul. Perhaps that makes me eccentric (but then, there's lots that makes me eccentric). He is a symbol of comfort, peace, and nostalgia for me. Steve still sits at the head of my bed. Perhaps someday I'll give him to a daughter or son, but for now, that's where he'll stay.

Okay. I get it.

2006-04-16T09:20:00.000-04:00

I need to post. Look guys, I'm sorry. But the blog and I, we're just in different places. I didn't know it meant so very much to some of you, and I'm touched. So here's an attempt to reconcile. My life has changed. I have been pretty busy, but I can't honestly say that I've been too busy to post. So that's no good. I think this post can serve two purposes: (1) to simply be a post, and an informative one at that, and (2) to explain where I've been.

This is Jonathan. He's where all my time has gone. And it's been time well spent: he makes me laugh, he listens, he understands me. He's adventurous, gentle, and wise; he really cares for me. So simply put, the reason for my absence, or rather lightheadedness: I'm in love!! And I've been in good hands people. But perhaps it is time to come back to the old blogaroo. I really thought it had become a journal and that no one was reading it. So I'll think hard on it, and there will be a new post soon. Love you all. Happy Easter!!

Susan

This Quiz is Cool

2006-02-27T12:37:00.000-05:00

Your Love Life Secrets Are

Looking back on your life, you will only have one true love.

You're a little scarred from your past relationships, but who isn't?

You expect a lot from your lover - you want the full package. You tend to be very picky.

In fights, you speak your mind and don't hold back. You know you're right, and you can get quite angry about it.

Break-ups can be painful for you, but you never show it. You hold your head high.

Your Love Life Secrets, Revealed

take it!!! click above

I've Been Neglectful

2006-02-12T15:41:00.000-05:00

and I'm sorry. I have been busy. But I haven't forgotten about my bloggie, it's just taken a backseat. But I do have big news! Even though everyone already knows it, Kelley and Chris are expecting a baby, and it's very exciting. Nothing major has happened yet; it's really early. But I can't wait to see them start this new adventure, and be a part of it.

I have also been dating someone whom I consider wonderful. That's all I will say about that for now, I'm too timid about it to say more just yet. But I'm very happy about it and it gives me a good feeling.

Love you all!! Happy Valentine's

Susan

Guess It..Revealed

2006-01-22T17:21:00.000-05:00

And now, for the 3 of you who care....the answer to last week's guess it.

tis harrison ford.

My Favorite Song of the Moment

2006-01-20T10:01:00.000-05:00

The Wood Song. by the Indigo Girls

But what it takes to cross the great divide
Seems more than all the courage I can muster up inside
But we get to have some answers when we reach the other side
The prize is always worth the rocky ride...

But the wood is tired, and the wood is old
And we'll make it fine if the weather holds
But if the weather holds, we'll have missed the point
That's where I need to go

Sometimes I ask to sneak a closer look
Skip to the final chapter of the book
And maybe steer us clear from some of the pain it took
To get us where we are this far

Why Do They Call Them Number Two Pencils? And What's That Smell?

2006-01-10T17:15:00.000-05:00

......oh. (sets pencil down)

So, I started school yesterday. It was okay, except one of my classes is a "second session" class and doesn't start until February 28. Not my first class, not my last class, but the one right in the middle. So I can't arrive late, and I can't leave early. I just have two free hours. Reminder: I go to a technical school, not a college; and I commute, as there are no dorms. So I can't go chill in my room and straighten my Bob Marley poster while I wait.

(by the way, my sister--hey Kelley--and I were in White Rabbit yesterday, and every picture of Bob Marley had him sucking in or blowing out marijuana smoke. Did the man really love the ganja that much? One shirt even had just a bunch of pot leaves arranged to look like him. I mean, Dude. I bet he did other stuff once in awhile, like.....write music?!)

Anyway, I think I'm going to see if I can tutor at Tri-County's writing center while I wait. That'll be fun. I got so bored yesterday I drew a Star Wars comic. Which was awesome. But even so, it sucks finding stuff to do for two hours. You'll probably see a lot of random posts coming in at that time the next couple months.

This post is pretty random as well, but I've been feeling slack about my blog lately, mainly been posting pictures. So now you get to hear about my big, juicy (yaaawn) life.

I'm done for now, gotta go to work.

I'll leave you with my artwork.
Kbye

Guess It!

2006-01-10T16:40:00.000-05:00

Who is this well-known male movie star?

leave your guesses, I'll post the answer in a couple days. I'll give 20 bucks to whoever correctly guesses it! No, I won't. But still FUN!!!! woo!!!

Mullet Sighting at Olive Garden

2006-01-04T10:27:00.000-05:00

Not just any mullet. The most diabolical of all mullets -- the....Femullet.

Revenge

2006-01-04T10:21:00.000-05:00

Chris Cool Moustache

Oh, two can play at this game.

Days of Auld Lang Syne

2006-01-02T09:32:00.000-05:00

Me and little Mattie, New Year's Eve 2005

Happy New Year, everybody. I really can't believe it's 2006. I feel like it should still be last January, when I was moving back home from a tumultuous year away. 2005 was a year of healing for me in a lot of ways, and I feel I grew up a lot. I've mended fences and recovered from bad choices, softened my heart and opened myself up to new possibilities. My family has been a huge impact on me, and I don't know where I'd be without this haven of a home. Probably rotting in some gutter. So yes, things are better, but they are not perfect. There are still many things I want to change and improve about myself. So here's to the New Year and fresh start: may it only get better from here. I wish you all a beautiful and happy 2006!

Kisses!

Susan

Merry Christmas

2005-12-24T17:41:00.000-05:00

I hope that your Christmas is filled with love and laughter! Here are some holiday pictures from my house.

Go see Rent. And Walk the Line.

2005-12-14T17:53:00.000-05:00

at the same time.

RENT

WALK THE LINE

Actually, the two are not that different. Both have great music, tell great love stories, involve heartbreak and drug addiction, not to mention overcoming painful pasts. These are the movies of my Fall and both are worthy of respect. Go see them!

You are dismissed.

I Fart in Your General Direction

2005-12-13T16:32:00.000-05:00

You poops need to leave comments!!! I feel like I'm talking to myself, and that occurs more often than necessary as it is.

You will not ruin my Christmas. Not this year.

That was about all. Just so as not to waste a post, here's a cute picture of Agnes.

What 2005 Song Are You?

2005-12-07T09:21:00.000-05:00

Your 2005 Song Is

Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

"But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so moving on"

In 2005, you moved on.

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

So true of me. These quizzes rule! Click on the above link to take this quiz, or go to blogthings.com to see all of them!

Peace playa. Susan

Hello Lover

2005-12-06T12:34:00.000-05:00

This will be a recurring post for all the ladies with mojo, which for all I know could only be me. But hey, it's my blog, so Nyeh!! Basically it consists of a male with an attractive appearance. I'm shallow like that.

I present to you the first Hello Lover, George Eads, the only man worthy of the first title. Most of you know I am completely enamored with him. I watch him devoutly every Thursday as the sweet and tender Nick Stokes on CSI. When it comes on I chant "Nick! Nick! Nick!" until Dad throws pillows at my head. And I mean it when I say I luuuv him. If George Eads called me up and asked, "will you have my babies?" my answer would be, "I'm free this afternoon! Fa shiz!" Then he'd hang up on me for being a weirdo. Anyway, enjoy these pictures.

George Eads

The Life Cycle of A Zit

2005-11-19T02:31:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I woke up with a goiter the size of Texas on my chin. I'm serious. This thing was and still is huge. It made my lip swell a little. It was a loud and proud zit that no amount of makeup or squeezing could rid me of. So I just had to accept it, which was hard to do, and it got me thinking--zits really control our lives! While I was in this introspective mood I compiled a list in my mind: the emotional stages of being faced with an enormous pimple. And just because I have no shame, and no one reads this anyway (except you Kelleys), I composed a pictorial life cycle for your viewing pleasure.

First, of course, there's the Initial Discovery of the zit, which consists of the following emotions: shock, horror, disbelief, fear, and intrigue.

Then you move on to stage 1: Denial. Your zit does not exist. It cannot. You try to go through the day as your usual cool self, blocking out the strange stares and snickers from your peers. This can't be real. You're too good for this.

When you come to terms with your zit's authenticity, often because of undeniable throbbage, you reach stage 2: Anger. How could this happen? This stage is often accompanied by yelling and/or stomping of feet, and most often occurs while trying to pop the zit.

Stage 2 sends you careening into what is known as stage 3: Crying Fit. You cry for everything you cannot be, everything that is denied you, and place the blame on the zit. This is a very overwhelming time.

After stage 3, you find yourself drained and a little lost, leading you to stage 4: Depression. You've lost the will to fight the zit, and the will to live. You are weighed down, and don't see the light at the end of the tunnel. You're sure that the zit will remain on your face forever.

Eventually you realize you can't stay sad forever, and begin to poke your head out of the hole a little. You aren't particularly happy, but you are no longer depressed. This is all natural, because you are in stage 5: Indifference. You start to care very little about your zit and interact with the world around you more.

A new and healthier you develops. You start to love yourself again, zit and all. This is stage 6, the final stage: Acceptance. It's been a long and rocky road, but you've done it! "Check out my zit, I don't care!" you seem to be saying. "I like myself." Thumbs up, man. Thumbs up.

The Birth Order Predictor

2005-11-09T11:03:00.000-05:00

it guessed me correctly!

You Are Likely a Second Born

At your darkest moments, you feel inadequate.
At work and school. you do best when you're evaluating.
When you love someone, you offer them constructive criticism.

In friendship, you tend to give a lot of feedback - positive and negative.
Your ideal careers are: accounting, banking, art, carpentry, decorating, teaching, and writing novels.
You will leave your mark on the world with art and creative projects.

The Birth Order Predictor

try it, it's cool

Sue

Do Me a Fever...

2005-11-09T10:09:00.000-05:00

wipe my nose. why are you loogieing at me like that? it's snot like i threw rocks achoo. I don't have sniffylus, or anything sneazy like that. well if you won't do it then you might as well put me in a coughin. i'll consider myself sinus one friend: you. Now boogar off.

That was pretty catchy wasn't it? Kind of like a cold!!! HA HA HA HA That was my clever way of introducing you to the fact that I'm sick and i have some drippage. Everything goes in slow motion when you don't feel good. i'm drowsy and i've taken no such medication. But i'm still sharper than a steak knife, eh?......eh?! Yeah, that's the spirit.

Have a good day. And i hope the little germ that looks happy on an
"I just farted" level brings as much joy to you as it did to me.

Love Sneezan

Pet Peeves of Mine

2005-11-02T10:10:00.000-05:00

The #1 cause of stress, both physically and mentally, is life's everyday little aggravations. I just learned that in psychology, and it fascinated me. And it's true--my blood boils at some of the most dimunitive things sometimes. I started listing them, and they began to flow very easily. I tried to narrow it down to ten. Here they are:

1. Over-opinionated rednecks.
2. A screaming child in an adult place.
3. Being interrupted or ignored.
4. Unhelpful salespeople.
5. Being patronized. Ex: "Not quite, sweetie.."
6. Having to rush through a meal.
7. Someone looking over my shoulder, or not having privacy.
8. Negligent drivers.
9. Getting a blank stare when I'm trying to be conversational.
10. Forgetting something.

What are yours?
Soo

God: Cheesy? Angry?

2005-10-18T17:45:00.000-04:00

If you've ever wondered why people dislike, and are even sometimes scarred by Christians:

I personally conjure up this sort of image when I read a sign like that:

Scene: Mills Road Baptist Church. A car pulls in.

Pastor: (looking out window) We got one, Bill. (drums fingers together) No more free thinking for you BWA HAHA!!!! gimme a biggo amen!

Bill: (laughs awkwardly).....amen?

Pastor: You hesitated, Bill. You weren't "thinking freely" now were ya boy?

Bill: No, I mean, never. (shifts eyes nervously) mommy..

That's never good.

In case you haven't noticed, this is a topic that drives me NUTS: cheesy church signs. It really angers me. I mean, who do these people think they are? God never said these words. And even if they aren't completely ridiculous and untrue, like the one above, they're just flat-out embarassing. They take God's words and turn them into cheap cliche's. And no one's biting.

What do they expect to happen?

"Non-Believer"/"Lost Soul": (driving by church, reads sign) Stop drop and---What?!! (Slams on brakes.) Well there goes my WHOLE PLAN!! Gah!! In that case...(pulls into church and gets saved immediately)

Seriously, guys. Needed: new plan. When: Well, about thirty years ago, but I guess NOW would be okay. Why: Because people are making a mockery of us!! And, in some cases, we are making a mockery of ourselves. Get it together. God is neither cheesy nor pro-violence, as this next sign suggests.

When I see this sign, I get this image in my head:

GOD: ( sighs, rubs temples)

That sums it up for me. Well, having gotten that off my chest, I'm done. Leave your thoughts on this in the comments.

Sue

P.S. Love how they have "Jesus Saves" in quotations. Like, "well, supposedly"

I Was Cooler Than Usual This Weekend

2005-10-09T22:08:00.000-04:00

This weekend was a blast! I went down to Charleston for my fall break, and got to stay with my grrrl Katie. I also got to see Tyler, Anna and Annie. It was great.

It was my first visit, and also my first long trip from home all alone. Empowering, it was. Yoda, I sound like. Katie showed me the town, including Rainbow Row and the Battery, and Annie and I shopped at the market. Saturday night Tyler, Anna and Katie took me to Nakato, an awesome Japanese restaurant with the fire and stuff. It was my first time at one of those, too. I had a great weekend celebrating with friends, and taking an escape from the ordinary. But enough about me. So how've you Been?

Lots o' Love

Suey

Me and My Shadow

2005-10-01T12:34:00.000-04:00

Chandler: Alright! it's Saturday night, date night, Sa-tur-day Night!

Joey: No plans, huh?

Chandler: Not-a one!

Well, this is rare. I'm at home on a mindless, easy Saturday with nothing to do. I've done my English paper. I've cleaned my room. I was surfing the Web, till I cracked a rib on my monitor. My babysitting got cancelled. I can actually....what's the word? rulocks? reelacks? Relax, that's it. Haven't used that word in awhile. Well, I'm going to go do that now. Yeah. See, my brain's fried from the Internet, and I can't even type a decent post.

Happy October

Suse

Sorry, I'm Taken. Jeff Francoeur and I Have Something Very Special

2005-09-28T13:35:00.000-04:00

I'm going to go out of the ordinary for a minute and talk about my buddy Jeff. Those of you who follow baseball may know who he is. Those that follow the Braves will definitely know his name. He's the red hot rookie for Atlanta, and he's torn the competition apart this year, cranking out 14 home runs (that's a wow for a rookie), 76 hits, and a .306 batting average. More importantly, he's 6'4", and only 21 years old with dark hair, chiseled features, and the ability to churn my insides. I've really been following baseball this year, and I have to say he's mostly the reason. He gives me the mamba jambas; that's of course Latin for "I want some of that candy." Anyway, I'm not going to pretend this post is anything other than an excuse to glorify Jeff Francoeur and his adorable beehind. Even Chipper likes it. Look at him shamelessly going for the slap.

That hand looks like it means business.
May we all know the gentle affections of a good tushie slap.
Susan Francoeur

Life Hath Dragethed Me Down

2005-09-27T21:37:00.000-04:00

Bleh, lately life has been no picnic. All I do is go to school, go to sleep, and go to babysit. I feel like I have no real time for myself or my friends. Even when I get to relax and hang out with them, I'm not really there...I'm dazed, thinking about the next thing to do. When I get an opportunity to stay up late, all I want to do is sleep. And I miss my friends. Most of them are away and I haven't seen them in months. The ones that are here I still don't see as often as I'd like. I still haven't gotten used to my sister being gone. I feel lonely. Not iwantaboyfriend lonely, just sort of sad, like: is that all there is?

I miss the days when life was simple, and it will never be that way again. Does anybody else ever feel that way?

Be not saddened by this post, just me talking.
Susan

Beach Terror

2005-09-19T10:20:00.000-04:00

Hey pals;
This weekend will stay with me awhile, like bad tuna. Nah, it wasn't that bad (rotten tuna induces vomiting). I went to the beach with the family I nanny for, the Mahons, and it was just a smidge catastrophic. They have four kids: Quinn, Zane, Jude, and Rowen, ages 8, 6, 2, and 18 months. First of all, here's just a general observation:

Kids. complain. about. every. thing.

You heard it here first. And these are good kids--they don't generally throw tantrums, or hit, or repeat everything you say after you say it. But for someone like me, who doesn't endure it on a daily basis, it drove me nuts. That's just something I wanted to get off my chest, not dwell on. So here's what happened: The trip started off with Jude almost immediately throwing up on my pillow in the car. If you know me....at all, then you know. Enough said. I handled it well, i think; they coaxed me down from the roof of the minivan within the hour. It was actually sort of funny...I looked back at him, and he had this ill look on his face. He's generally a happy-spirited child, so I tried to cheer him up. He swatted me away, which was unusual, so I turned to Dave and Dawn and said, "You know, I don't think Jude feels very good-" and turned back around and he was barfing. The funny thing is, he looked really surprised by the whole thing as it was happening.

The meals were an adventure. Children are untamable in restaurants. In addition to this, they won't eat. They beg to order weird food, pout until the parent gives in, and push it around and complain that it's "gross." Then we get back to the hotel, and they are hungry again. Grrr!

Then there was the incident where the two youngest pooped at the same time, and in the middle of nowhere. Good times. Also I had to lunge across the room at one point to stop one of the older ones from peeing off the balcony(which was right above the pool area--think of the horror, and slight humor). And the cartoons. They are still swimming in my head. I'm drifting through a sea of SpongebobFairlyOddparentDoraYugiohmygod make it stop!

Playing with the oldest boys in the water proved to be a fun activity, until they discovered and found much delight in the new game "Let's Kick the Crap Out of Susan. It's Underwater, So it Doesn't Hurt, Right?" Hmmm wrong.

Rowen is the baby, and I mean that in all the senses of the word. She's quite the demanding little diva. On the trip home, she was bored so she jammed her finger up my nose quite intrusively. It still hurts. But she said my name ("Deh-doo"--baby for "Soo-Soo," which is the name Jude gave me) for the first time, and it warmed my heart and I forgave her. I'm so gracious.

On a side note, we saw a shark on Sunday. It was very close to shore and looked to be about 4 feet long, slightly smaller than the width my footsteps were apart from each other after i saw it. That's when we decided the pool was the hap'nin place to be.

And that's it. My weekend wasn't anything out of the ordinary, i guess. Just a strong dose of what, to them, is ordinary life. And I had many moments of joy. They are a truly cool family, and the kids are so hilarious. But I think I'll put off having kids for a bit. 20 years, to be exact.

The Blog Scares Me

2005-09-13T20:27:00.000-04:00

I was so excited to start a blog; all day long i kept thinking of things i wanted to write. And then, when i sat down to do it, they all seemed stupid. So now I feel like Jessi on Saved by the Bell when she struggled with her 27-minute-addiction to caffeine pills: "I'm so excited, and I'm so.....so....SCARED!!!" But there's no Zack to hold me and tell me it will be alright, that all i have to do is sit in bed like i'm fragile as the gang stands in an awkwardly staged line around me and Lisa assures me "Guurl, you just need to go shoppin." Man i wish she were here. That weave- adorned daddy's girl just puts everything in perspective...

Anyway, this is my Scared of the Blog Face.

Heeeey Big Spenders!!!

2005-09-13T11:10:00.000-04:00

so....how's it going? My name is Susan Conway, I'm 20 years old, in college, love movies (a little too much), hope to be an english/drama teacher someday, and will always dream just a little bit of stardom. My Mom and Dad are Ray and Vanessa, and they did a great job raising three well-read, if undeniably strange, children. That would be Kelley, me, and....well....Matthew. I love my family. It's one of those rare cases where they are the people i most enjoy hanging out with. I have a lot of fun and funny friends i love too.
I look for humor on the underside of things, and I love to laugh. It's pretty much my daily quest. I often think people are way too uptight. They just need to unclench every once in awhile, and let the weirdness in. The world would be a lot more fun if we didn't try to be so normal all the time. Anyway, back to me of course.
Right now I am nannying my way to the top! Really I'm just a glorified babysitter, but it's not a casual thing. I'm here on average 3 times a week, sometimes Looong Days, with 4 children. They are a handful, and very special. I'm sure i'll be posting more about them. They are a fountain of funny.
I have a 10 year old "strawberry red" Dodge Neon named Milton, whom i vent and confess things to in the early morning drives to school. I love my car. Have you guys told your cars you love them lately? Try it; they like it.
I love reading a good book, when i have time. I'm one of those busybusy people now that i used to hate. But such is life. The more you do, the more funny things you see. I've been a little unlucky in relationships with the opposite gender. Sometimes I feel I don't belong here, in South Carolina, where I've spent 17 out of my 20 years. I love the atmosphere: the mountains, the rivers, the quaintness; but you know how people stereotype southerners as ignorant goat violators? it's not all that far off base sometimes. Me no likey. Anyway, that's me, maybe I'm wrong.

So there it is. I tried to go more indepth than "my hair is brown," but I hope it kept you interested.

Big Kiss,
Susan