Author: Susie Krivacic

My daughter, Sammy, made an interesting statement today. She said that building Lego kits as a child prepared her for putting furniture together as an adult. Interesting…

You see, I bought Sammy and her boyfriend, Martin, a dresser for their apartment for Christmas. She instantly started to put it together. It took quite a while, but she followed the instructions step by step until she completed her project.

I recall Sammy and my son, Ethan, putting together Lego kits for hours at a time. They examined the instructions and followed them to the letter, separating out the Lego pieces and forming them into smaller parts that put together became a whole. They built Star Wars spaceships, Harry Potter scenes at Hogwarts, and many adventure sets.

At the time, it didn’t occur to me that these skills they were developing while building these kits would transfer to everyday life. They learned how to read and follow directions, how to organize objects, developed spatial sense, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. And they had fun! All from Lego kits. Those are my new favorite gift for kids. Have you built anything with Legos lately?

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Will, I did it…My resolution for 2022 was to publish my children’s book called Tattling Trisha. And I did it!

I’ve never been good at keeping New Year’s resolutions, but this past year I made it happen. As a classroom teacher for over 20 years, I witnessed plenty of questionable behaviors from students. One that drove me crazy was tattling. I’ve been working on this book for a long time. and to hold it in my hand is quite a gift.

What does Emily do when a new girl comes to school who is a tattler? Emily and her friends believe in solving problems on their own when possible. How can they teach Trisha that tattling is not always the best answer to challenges?

If you are a parent, grandparent, or teacher at an elementary school, this book is for you. Check it out on Amazon by searching “Tattling Trisha” or “Susan Krivacic”. Thank you for taking a peek!

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Do you remember Christmas carolers? In my youth, they were a big thing around the holidays. People would gather together with sheet music and knock-on doors to serenade their neighbors. Six years ago, I was delighted to have a group of ten carolers from the local high school stop by to share some Christmas joy. They have not been back since, but I hope to have more come by someday.

I was reminded of carolers while decorating for Christmas. I opened a box of decorations and found a set of four ceramic carolers complete with a tree and dog. My mother had made them back in 1958, sixty-four years ago. Imagine that. They’ve sat on someone’s table during the holiday season for all of those years.

Do you have something that someone you love made for the holidays that you put out each year? Share the joy in the comments section.

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Wow! I just recognized that I didn’t post in November. I just got busy, but now it’s time for the holidays.

And it’s time to decorate. But what about this decorating thing? You see, people started decorating really early this year. And last year as well. And the year before that. It seems every year the decorating begins earlier and earlier.

Well, my decorating begins tomorrow. The first Saturday in December. For us, that works. It’s not too early, and not too late. It’s just right…for us. I’m not going to judge those who decorate early. I’m not going to judge those who have loads of decorations that make you think they vomited Christmas. What’s good for you is good for you. And what’s good for me is good for me.

It’s a time of joy. A time of love. A time for family and friends. Enjoy the beauty of the time and the thrill that it brings.

Stay groovy…

–Susie

It started in 1955, when my mother put her high school ring on her finger. It was beautiful and represented that time of her life. When I entered high school, my mom passed her ring down to me. Then I passed it down to my younger sister. After Amy graduated, the ring made its way back to me again. It sat in my jewelry box for years.

When my daughter entered her high school years, I pulled the ring out and gave it to her to wear. And when Sammy graduated, it once again found its way back to me. But this time, I didn’t put it back in my jewelry box. I took it to the jeweler.

I had it dipped in white gold and sized it for my pinkie finger. You see, I recognized that something so beautiful and meaningful didn’t belong in a box. It should be worn and celebrated daily. Will I pass it on someday? Maybe. But until that day I will wear the beautiful ring every day and remember my mother each time I look at that finger.

Stay groovy…

–Susie

Hurricane Ian devastated parts of Florida, but we got lucky. We had no real damage and were only without power for about six hours. Now, I don’t say this to brag as my heart goes out to all of those impacted by the storm. But something interesting happened after we lost power.

Without distracting technology, we found ourselves down in the living room enjoying libations and visiting. Just visiting…

We spent hours talking, remembering, and laughing. It was actually a good thing to be cut off from the modern conveniences that capture us daily, even if just for a little while.

It made me recognize that we should periodically turn off those pesky devices, open a bottle of wine, and just hang out for an unspecified period of time. It’s good for the soul and good for the family. Be safe everyone…

Stay groovy…

–Susie

So, we were lounging in bed this morning and my husband said, “Remember watching cartoons on Saturday mornings?” Well, I certainly do, and I have a feeling you do too. That’s when cartoons were awesome. Bugs Bunny, Roadrunner, Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones, and The Jetsons just to name a handful of the greats.

But there comes a time when we grow up. I recall reaching an age when I felt I was too old to watch cartoons. I honestly can’t remember what age that was, but I felt I was definitely done with them. Then came the hard part. Trying to figure out what adults do on Saturday mornings if they don’t indulge in the fun.

The first couple of Saturday mornings were challenging as I searched for alternatives to viewing. I eventually noted that my parents were always reading the newspaper. I figured I’d give it a try. So, I read the comics. It didn’t dawn on me that I was merely trading one cartoon for another, but there was one plus side. I started looking at the paper which, over time, led to me reading it cover to cover.

But I still enjoy the comics…

Stay groovy…

–Susie

One of my favorite times of year is when we have our annual family reunion. I come from a very large family, so with siblings, spouses, children and grandchildren, we have quite the crowd. We are spread throughout the country, so we don’t always have the opportunity to gather during the year. But we can always count on one weekend in the summer to meet up and catch up…

We come together each year at the Hilton in Melbourne Beach, Florida. Between the beach, the pool, the tiki bar, the hospitality suite, and family dinners, we have plenty of places to visit with each other. We talk about what is going on in our life now and reminisce about the past. And we laugh…oh how we laugh…

I recommend a family reunion no matter how large or small your group is. Life is short, and these opportunities to connect are so valuable…And a shout out to my sister, Tammy, who plans our reunion each year!!

Stay groovy…

–Susie

So, I had to go for some blood work today, and I found myself pondering why I am always so nervous beforehand. It’s not as though it would be my first time. I get blood work done at least every six months. It never hurts, and the phlebotomist is always very kind and gentle.

Yet, I still get that nearly nauseated feeling as I prepare to go. My heart beats quickly as I enter the diagnostic center, and my palms get sweaty as the moment of the stick approaches. But afterwards, I always think about how easy it was as I thank the phlebotomist.

How about you? Do you get uptight before a procedure that is rather routine and quite simple and, if so, which one?

Stay groovy…

–Susie

So, we went to lunch yesterday at a lovely pub known as The Brass Tap in Waterford Lakes, Orlando. It specializes in craft beer, but also carries a decent selection of wine including a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. (My personal favorite type of wine.) Stef enjoyed a couple of recommended beer choices. Then why, you may wonder, do I call this blog “Cheese”? Well, that was the theme of our meal…

We are fans of cheese curds, and if they appear on the menu, we give them a try. These cheese curds may go down as the best we’ve ever had. Excellent mozzarella flavor and not too much breading. And you could just taste that they use clean oil, a priority for good curds. The happy hour special was a cheese flat bread, so we thought, “Why not?” Five savory cheeses on a fresh flat bread. Yum! I liken this meal to a makeshift sort of cheese board. And I love a good cheese board.

So, if you’re in the Waterford Lakes area, check out The Brass Tap. You won’t be disappointed…

Stay groovy…

–Susie