Welcome to Suzi's World. I'm Suzi. I live on an Island... I'm a song writer, poet, and story teller; a music lover and movie critic...I try to eat healthy and exercise, but I also have a passion for good food, along with fine wine and spirits. Take a tour of my world, enjoy and visit often!
The World According To Suzi is here for me to share my songs, poems and stories. I'll also be sharing food and drink recipes, links and calendars of live music and other happenings in and around the Florida Keys, along with reviews on local restaurants, and tips on things to do. In Suzi's World there is always music, so I'll also be sharing play lists and my recommendations on music-new and old. So, please take a look around, click the links, leave a comment and let me know what you think, share your thoughts and give me a glimpse into your world!
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Dear Amazing Girl
From the Brave Girls Club:
Dear Amazing Girl,
We always have at least two choices in each moment...and these are two of the most important choices we will ever make.
We can always choose to LOOK FOR WHAT IS RIGHT...
or we can choose to look for WHAT IS WRONG.
Can you see what a marvelous and compelling difference there is in these two perspectives?
One of them builds up relationships, brings hope and creates new ideas and joy.
The other tears down confidence, feeds fear, keeps us stuck and makes us feel miserable.
Just try it, especially if you feel stuck in a situation or relationship that feels all wrong. Just look for something that is right inside of it. There are ALWAYS gifts to be found in everything, even if those gifts are simply the lessons that we learn from difficult situations and people.
And one of the most beautiful and light-filled things you can do when you are faced with a difficult human being, is to go to the ends of the earth to find something beautiful and true and right about that person, and then do everything you can to SHOW that person what is right about them, instead of reminding them of what is "wrong". This experience will change both of your lives.
Miracles truly can happen when we focus on what is right and do our best to just learn from what is wrong.
You can do it. You are so amazing. And you are so loved.
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Suzi's Promoplans in Humans of the Keys
Read my story and how I started Suzi's Promoplans, as published in Humans of the Keys.
Suzi Youngberg - Suzi's Promoplans, June 24, 2016 (Humans of the Keys)
I arrived in the Keys on November 2, 1997. My husband, Scott, and I moved from Chattanooga, Tennessee, with four cats and a bird. We had come down on a diving vacation with his family earlier that summer; we came back in September to find a place to live, and moved down two months later. We both wanted to live somewhere warm and tropical, and we had fallen in love with the Keys. Scott knew that he ultimately wanted to start playing music for a living, but he started his life in the Keys waiting tables in the “fine dining” at Lorelei. (The fine dining section was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and never rebuilt…I’ll never forget they had the absolute best clam chowder EVER!) He was fortunate to be playing music full time within a few months.
My job situation was a little different. For five years prior, I had been working as an account executive for a financial insurance company. My clients were banks, credit unions and finance companies; and my territory was the southeast USA...Seriously…Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina. I was on the road a lot; but I was young, and it was exciting and interesting. Scott and I had just started dating in August of 1992, so he soon became used to the rhythm of my travel. We ended up moving in together in ’94 and were married in ’95. Life was good, but we both had Caribbean Soul and tried to get to a beach every chance possible. We made several trips to Jamaica (we were married in Negril!) and frequent trips to the coast of Georgia, the Panhandle and other areas of the Florida coast. But, it was that trip to the Keys with the Youngberg’s in June of 1997 that we found the place where we were meant to live.
I remember telling my boss that I was moving to the Florida Keys and that I hoped they could use me in Florida. Looking back, it seems kind of fearless. I’m not sure what I would have done down here at the time if they had said no. But, it turned out they did need me in Florida, and I continued to do the same work, just travelling all over Florida and South Georgia. Florida is a big state, and I was still on the road a lot! I averaged 35,000 to 50,000 miles a year on my cars for almost 20 years. Over the years, the companies changed a couple of times, but the job remained basically the same. At the last one, I was Vice President. My experience and training made me one of the foremost knowledgeable people in my field in Florida, perhaps the southeast. I don’t mean to brag, it just happened because I was always learning, always reading and studying, and taking continuing education classes. I also created all of the marketing materials, and designed and maintained the website for years; and, I still design, write and publish a newsletter for them about risk management, insurance advice and compliance related topics.
After 25 years, the designing, writing and website part ended up being the only part of the job that I liked anymore; other than all the nice people I met over the years. I was just so tired of the traveling. Back in 2014, when Scott was going through cancer treatment and I was so afraid that I might lose him, I remember thinking about all the time we had spent apart over the years. I just didn’t want to waste more of my life sitting in hotel rooms waiting for time to pass. Believe me; the life of a traveling sales woman isn’t very glamorous. Most nights I was in my pj’s ordering room service and watching TV. Sometimes I would go out, but sitting in a bar alone in a strange town can have its own problems. Mostly, I was waiting for the time to pass until I could go home to my life.
This past year I made the decision to make a change... CONTINUE READING
Suzi Youngberg - Suzi's Promoplans, June 24, 2016 (Humans of the Keys)
I arrived in the Keys on November 2, 1997. My husband, Scott, and I moved from Chattanooga, Tennessee, with four cats and a bird. We had come down on a diving vacation with his family earlier that summer; we came back in September to find a place to live, and moved down two months later. We both wanted to live somewhere warm and tropical, and we had fallen in love with the Keys. Scott knew that he ultimately wanted to start playing music for a living, but he started his life in the Keys waiting tables in the “fine dining” at Lorelei. (The fine dining section was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and never rebuilt…I’ll never forget they had the absolute best clam chowder EVER!) He was fortunate to be playing music full time within a few months.
My job situation was a little different. For five years prior, I had been working as an account executive for a financial insurance company. My clients were banks, credit unions and finance companies; and my territory was the southeast USA...Seriously…Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina. I was on the road a lot; but I was young, and it was exciting and interesting. Scott and I had just started dating in August of 1992, so he soon became used to the rhythm of my travel. We ended up moving in together in ’94 and were married in ’95. Life was good, but we both had Caribbean Soul and tried to get to a beach every chance possible. We made several trips to Jamaica (we were married in Negril!) and frequent trips to the coast of Georgia, the Panhandle and other areas of the Florida coast. But, it was that trip to the Keys with the Youngberg’s in June of 1997 that we found the place where we were meant to live.
I remember telling my boss that I was moving to the Florida Keys and that I hoped they could use me in Florida. Looking back, it seems kind of fearless. I’m not sure what I would have done down here at the time if they had said no. But, it turned out they did need me in Florida, and I continued to do the same work, just travelling all over Florida and South Georgia. Florida is a big state, and I was still on the road a lot! I averaged 35,000 to 50,000 miles a year on my cars for almost 20 years. Over the years, the companies changed a couple of times, but the job remained basically the same. At the last one, I was Vice President. My experience and training made me one of the foremost knowledgeable people in my field in Florida, perhaps the southeast. I don’t mean to brag, it just happened because I was always learning, always reading and studying, and taking continuing education classes. I also created all of the marketing materials, and designed and maintained the website for years; and, I still design, write and publish a newsletter for them about risk management, insurance advice and compliance related topics.
After 25 years, the designing, writing and website part ended up being the only part of the job that I liked anymore; other than all the nice people I met over the years. I was just so tired of the traveling. Back in 2014, when Scott was going through cancer treatment and I was so afraid that I might lose him, I remember thinking about all the time we had spent apart over the years. I just didn’t want to waste more of my life sitting in hotel rooms waiting for time to pass. Believe me; the life of a traveling sales woman isn’t very glamorous. Most nights I was in my pj’s ordering room service and watching TV. Sometimes I would go out, but sitting in a bar alone in a strange town can have its own problems. Mostly, I was waiting for the time to pass until I could go home to my life.
This past year I made the decision to make a change... CONTINUE READING
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Life After Cancer
I think many are guilty of thinking that someone who has been declared cancer free should be able to just return to their normal lives as if nothing had happened. But that is just not the case. Most cancer survivors spend the rest of their lives with the fear and anxiety of regular follow up scans and the constant fear of cancer returning. The trauma of fighting this battle, from the shock of diagnosis through the hell of treatment and surgery, and then follow up treatments and scans, doesn't just fade away. Many come out of it with a form of PTSD that makes it almost impossible to just pick up their lives where they were before cancer. Try to be patient and understanding with your friends and family who have been through the hell of cancer. They may not just "get over it." They might not even realize that they are different now, and it won't help them for you to point that out. Just love them...shower them with love and understanding. Love can help heal the unseen scars of cancer. Just love them, let them know you are there for them, and be patient.
These are my thoughts after reading a blog from the "I Had Cancer" page. It's a good read:
By the Way...
It was late in the year of 1992, and I had been dating Scott for a few months when I wrote the words to "By the Way." I remember that I gave him a copy of my love poem, and when I saw him again 2 days later he had turned my poem into a song. I've been writing verse for as long as I can remember, often humming along with the tune in my head as I wrote. It is an indescribable thrill to have someone hear the song in my words. With his lovely finger picking and string harmonics, together we wrote a beautiful song, if I do say so myself!
He is performing at a wedding today, and the couple chose it as their recessional song. The first time he performed "By the Way" at a wedding was for some friends and we were actually in the wedding party. Tony and Shelly loved our song and had Scott play and sing it for their first dance.
That was in 1999.
Over the years, he has played more weddings than he can even remember. Many brides and grooms request "By the Way"...
CONTINUE READING
"...then you reached out to me and you put your hand in mine,
and you said that life's a song, and we were the next line.
And by the way, I'm in love with you today."
He is performing at a wedding today, and the couple chose it as their recessional song. The first time he performed "By the Way" at a wedding was for some friends and we were actually in the wedding party. Tony and Shelly loved our song and had Scott play and sing it for their first dance.
That was in 1999.
Over the years, he has played more weddings than he can even remember. Many brides and grooms request "By the Way"...
CONTINUE READING
and you said that life's a song, and we were the next line.
And by the way, I'm in love with you today."
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Honey Moon
June 20th, it will be a Honey Moon
A Full Moon hasn’t landed smack on the solstice since 1948. It’s the kind of thing that would have inspired the Mayans to shove a few extra in-laws from their pyramids. The sort of coincidence that would have made the Stonehenge folks haul additional stones into position. But that’s what’s actually happening on Monday, June 20.
This has visible in-your-face consequences. The solstice is of course the day with the most minutes of sunshine. It’s when the midday Sun is the year’s highest. When the sun rises at its leftmost spot on the horizon and sets at its rightmost position. When the setting sun sprays into windows at a strange angle, and touches bits of furniture that are not illuminated at any other time. It’s when the Sun’s path across the sky makes its longest and most curvy arc.
Then you have the full Moon. By landing exactly on the solstice, this Full Moon doesn’t just rise as the sun sets but is opposite the Sun in all other ways too. The Sun gets super high so this Moon must be super-low. Even at its loftiest at 1 AM, it’s downright wimpy-low. This forces its light through thicker air, which also tends to be humid this time of year, and the combination typically makes it amber colored.
This is the true Honey Moon.
The moment of full Moon is early Monday morning. So it will look equally full on Sunday night and Monday night. You get two chances to enjoy the Solstice honeymoon.
From: The Best of the Florida Keys
Saturday, June 18, 2016
New Lizzie Cook!
It's about time! Y'all know what a big Elizabeth Cook fan I am, so you know that I'm thrilled she has finally released a new album, "Exodus of Venus." And, you know what? It was well worth the wait! This is some kick ass music. Wow.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND LISTEN TO THE MUSIC!
Let me know what you think about Lizzie's new sound!
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Suzi's Promoplans
One stop shopping for all of your marketing needs! From promotional products featuring your logo, radio advertising campaigns, establishing and maintaining a social media presence, to recommending the right creative solutions to achieve your marketing goals - promoting and preserving your brand is what we do!
Suzi's Promoplans can help get you SEEN, HEARD AND FOUND with promotional products & imprint apparel, radio advertising, website & social media management, and more!
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Truth In Advertising
If companies had to use realistic slogans, ever thought about what they would sound like? I remember an old Dudley Moore and Daryl Hannah movie, "Crazy People" I think, about a bunch of mental patients who go into advertising and the results were a lot like these. One of theirs was: "Volvo - boxy but good." Anyway, these are pretty funny and spot on. Enjoy!
What if companies marketed the truth, instead of what they (or we) wished was true?
Dasani: Italian for “Coke just sold you water”
Ben and Jerry’s: Who are we kidding a pint is definitely one serving
FreeCreditReport.com: Credit reports are already free, but don’t let our name fool you, this one really isn’t.
Costco: When you’re not sure what you want, but you know you want a LOT of it. (This might be a paraphrase of a Mitch Hedberg line.)
Facebook: We know more about you than you do
SlimJim: If we showed you how we make these you’d stop eating meat forever.
Friday, January 22, 2016
RIP Chad
Keys beloved Chad Gardner left us this week. Our little community has been hit too hard lately...we have suffered a lot of losses. One thing I am sure of, they will be eating well at the big table in the sky today. Here is the official announcement from the family:
Chad Gardner, on Monday January 18th, 2016 collapsed at his restaurant due to a massive heart attack. After 4 days of being in two different hospitals, running tests, trying procedures to reduce swelling in his brain, we finally have received a new scan and information from the doctors which have confirmed what we were most dreading. Chad has sustained severe brain damage because oxygen was not being pumped from his heart. The loss of oxygen to his brain and swelling has caused there to be no more brain function. Multiple tests have proven that he is no longer with us. Chad is an organ donor and his organs will be used to help other people. At this time our family is thankful for the prayers and well wishes from the community but would like to be given a few days to process this information and make arrangements. We will be planning a community celebration of life in Chads honor and that will be announced at a later date. Thank you for you understanding. He's riding off into the sunset.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Relay For Life
Scott and I are the Event Leads for the Upper Keys Relay For Life, which will be April 23rd at Plantation Key School, Tavernier.
We have also formed a team:
Team Suzi's Promoplans.
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/suzispromoplans
By clicking on the link, you can Donate to our Team, Dedicate a Luminary, or Join our Team.
Thank you for your support!
Why We Formed a Relay For Life Fundraising Team
Hi! Team Suzi's Promoplans is captained by Scott & Suzi Youngberg. Welcome to our team page! Cancer has touched Scott & Suzi directly, and many of us in some way, so we decided to fight back and raise funds to support the American Cancer Society by walking in the Upper Keys Relay For Life event April 23, 2016.
Monday, January 11, 2016
RIP David Bowie
January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016
David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, arranger, painter and actor. He was a figure in popular music for over four decades, and was known as an innovator. His influence on pop music is unique; he reinvented his own image multiple times and constantly challenged the core belief of rock music of every decade since the 60's.
I personally knew and loved the song "Space Oddity" as long as I can really remember. And "Changes" represented the angst of my teen years. But, sometime during the year I turned 18, one of our famous "midnight movie road trips to Atlanta" put me in the theater watching the movie "Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars Farewell Tour." I'm only kinda joking when I say that it changed my life.
CONTINUE READING
David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, arranger, painter and actor. He was a figure in popular music for over four decades, and was known as an innovator. His influence on pop music is unique; he reinvented his own image multiple times and constantly challenged the core belief of rock music of every decade since the 60's.
I personally knew and loved the song "Space Oddity" as long as I can really remember. And "Changes" represented the angst of my teen years. But, sometime during the year I turned 18, one of our famous "midnight movie road trips to Atlanta" put me in the theater watching the movie "Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars Farewell Tour." I'm only kinda joking when I say that it changed my life.
CONTINUE READING
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