Susan Goldsmith's Blog

There are Step Dads, and then there are men like you, Step Above Dads. Thank you,

For rising to the challenge when my biological dad couldn’t.

For teaching me to ride my bicycle.

For patiently grabbing the stop-watch while I ran around our driveway to test if my new shoes really were faster.

For introducing me to Johnny Cash and John Wayne.

For supporting my decision to play on the boy’s soccer team.

For being my preferred back-to-school shopping buddy… and for all those fashion shows afterwards.

For not only organizing, but hosting the best Birthday Parties on the planet.

For teaching me, "There Was One Smart Fellow."

For singing, "Tiny Bubbles."

For having me so excited about Christmas I couldn’t sleep.

For all those funny names you came up with on our Christmas packages.

For all those times you sat in the stands after a long day at work to watch me run track, play soccer, tumble and cheerlead.

For always yelling the loudest.

For intimidating my would-be-boyfriends….

For caring enough to set boundaries.

For having me scared to death to break them!

For all those opportunities to make something of myself.

For forgiving me when I messed up.

For walking me down the aisle.

For believing in me.

For loving my mom.

For being there still… long after she’s gone….

*I'm doing the happy dance....*

check it out:

http://readersfavorite.com/2011-award...

ABITHICA is a 2011 Reader’s Favorite Awards Finalist!

http://readersfavorite.com/2011-award...

Several book clubs will be featuring Abithica in the near future so I thought I’d try to come up with one or two talking points a day. Here is the first and most obvious one: What does it mean to exist? How would Abithica answer that question?

Family, friends, a good book, music, fine food, a pool, and lots of sunshine are the ingredients for a perfect day….

My white-bellied caique, nicknamed Sunny CrankyPants, has been fraternizing with the natives, Hooded Orioles, to be exact. They are teaching him their call, and hang with him on his fence post. I’m determined to get a picture, but every time I go outside with a camera his buddies take off, and Sunny spends the rest of the day waiting for them to return.

Any suggestions, comments or stories?

ABITHICA will be available in print tomorrow!!!

Barnes and Noble print preorder $10.86
Barnes and Noble eBook $3.25
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/abith...

Amazon print preorder $13.22
Amazon eBook $2.99
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos...

Below is a list of books/series that are fun to read out loud as a family. I’ve tried to pick books that are age appropriate down to 10-years-old. I have to admit that last year we read the Twilight series, but by Breaking Dawn, I was skipping whole pages. Anybody care to add to the list?

Hunger Games trilogy
Harry Potter series
The Percy Jackson Books
Maze Runner
Divergent
Graceling

I’m on my way to a water park from Hell with my gung-ho, I-Can-Do-Anything-You-Can-Do (but better!!!) daughters. The first thing they’re going to do is drag me on “The Slide.” You know the one. I’m sure you’ve seen them. Just follow the screams, and then look up. No higher. Higher! There you go. They’re the ones the young boys stand around so they can laugh at all the geezer’s pulling their swimsuits out of places they were never meant to be. (Oh, great! Am I one of them now?)

Time will only tell. My ego always seems to get me into trouble. I’ve picked the most wedgie-proof swimsuit I own, so wish me luck….

My 9-year-old loves to ask would you rather and if questions, and I love answering them. This morning she asked a really good one: If you could have a superpower what would it be and why?

I'd love to fly!

How about you?