Category: Uncategorized

  • Lilacs and dog poo

    In order to understand my panic, you must know three things: 1. I prefer to shower in the dark. 2. I have a housekeeper. 3. I am very nearsighted. Without my contacts and in the best light, I can distinguish color and basic shape. I can, for example, identify that there is a human on…

  • Zombie Apocalypse in 3…2…1

    Oh my God. It’s July. How did this happen? Why did no one ask my permission? And do you know what’s worse? It’s almost July 4th. I know, I know. America, freedom, liberty. Down with the tea-drinking, dentally-challenged oppressors! I’m all for that. But holy hell, Batman, do you know what happens to my neighborhood…

  • Because My Mother Doesn’t Have Enough to Worry About

    On my 31st birthday, I booked a tandem skydive. I thought everyone I knew would want to come with me. Turns out, no one I knew wanted to come with me. It seems there are folks who think throwing yourself out of a mechanically sound aircraft sounds like a bad idea. I couldn’t think of…

  • Books That Changed My World

    That hash tag has taken over the Twitter world of book people – booksellers, writers, readers. Everybody is talking about the books that radically altered their view of the universe. These aren’t necessarily your favorite books; although, they might be. They are the books that changed something for you after which there was no going…

  • Letter to My 20-Year-Old Self

    Another blog I like an awful lot and which inspired me to start a Life List* recently suggested another project: write a letter to your 20-year-old self. So I did. It was more than a little interesting to think about who I was and what I didn’t see coming and what I wish I’d known.…

  • What I’m Reading Now

    Cast-Off Coven by Juliet Blackwell Go buy this book. No, really. Even if witches aren’t your thing. Even if mysteries aren’t your thing. Even if potbellied pigs aren’t your thing. Do it anyway because it’s smart and fun and goes so fast. It kept me up half the night. Ms. Blackwell is the reason I…

  • How to Buy a Coffee Table on Craig’s List

    1. Idly scan Craig’s List to avoid working on new book. Have no intention of buying anything. 2. Find coffee table that you would have designed if you were that smart. Assume someone else has already bought it. 3. Send e-mail to seller anyway. See step 1. 4. Faint when seller writes back with still-available…

  • Silver

    I am envious of those women in their sixties who walk down Abbot Kinney Boulevard with their precise silver bob haircuts, square shoulders and beautiful scarves. These are women who own it. Their confident gait and level gaze tells you so. I want to be one of those women, and as I stand in front…

  • At Least I Didn’t Vomit

    So that TV thing…well…that could’ve been worse. I didn’t, for example, vomit on myself, which would’ve been particularly embarrassing because the show was live. LIVE. Imagine my horror. The number of things that could go wrong in that scenario are more numerous than the French fry crumbs on the floorboard of my car. You say…

  • What I’m Reading Now

    The Milagro Beanfield War By John Nichols It’s described by the New York Times as being funny and transcendent. I could use some of that. Too many noir, angst-y, garment-rending books around here.