Category Life & Times
A friend once quipped that if she were writing a book, we’d be able to identify the villain because they didn’t like Jane Austen. That’s me, the villain! College was the first time I had the unsettling realization that most… Continue Reading →
One of oldest and best friends lives in Vegas and she often invites me to concerts, but as someone who lives under a rock I rarely know who’s on tour. So I gave her the specs: find me a show… Continue Reading →
In the wilds of Reddit, I came across a hypothetical question: If you could go back to when you were 27, would you? They couldn’t have picked a more perfect age for this question — that was the year I… Continue Reading →
It’s a cozy fiction cliché to set the story in a quirky village where gossip travels faster than light and a small number of villagers miraculously pull off a full calendar of summer festivals and holiday extravaganzas as well as… Continue Reading →
Out of nearly 200 books I read in 2025, these are ones that stick out in my mind. Some ran deep, helping me grieve or challenging me to think about life differently, and some were simply fun distractions in troubling… Continue Reading →
This week I deeply miss my mother, who died a few years ago of cancer — without her, Christmas is hollow. I’m recovering from a cold but hoping I feel well enough tomorrow to bake a batch of her cookies… Continue Reading →
It’s so wholesome when hikers excitedly call you over to share a colony they’ve spotted 🐞
A layoff in 2002, well before the Affordable Care Act, forced me into my first experience buying individual health insurance. The Blue Shield PPO I ended up with cost $350/month with a modest deductible. I was a healthy 20-something with… Continue Reading →
“You have to stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
Amid the visibly destructive frontal attacks on the rule of law as well as our most valuable institutions, there’s a quieter yet equally destructive attack on our data. The US government has traditionally kept databases separate, with information about citizens… Continue Reading →
Some days I think I was born to sit on a mountain and wisely — if pretentiously — ponder the great imponderables. (Sadly, it doesn’t pay well.) I especially love philosophical questions that challenge me to consider and balance opposing… Continue Reading →
When President Obama was elected in 2008, it felt like the beginning of a new era. There was good reason for hope and optimism — we had elected a President who was inspirational, thoughtful, and highly capable. His years ushered… Continue Reading →
This quotation from President Truman goes to show there’s nothing new about today’s political divisions. Truman presided over the country from the end of WWII until 1953. Continuing FDR’s legacy, he championed progressive New Deal reforms and successfully brought Democrats… Continue Reading →
Imagine you’ve had a friendly relationship with your next door neighbor for generations — almost as long as you’ve lived there. They are the best neighbors you could ask for! You visit each other often to share backyard harvests and… Continue Reading →
As I started to talk about last time, the city of Montréal set the tone for a relaxed, happy trip. It’s a vibe! The murals, the street scenes, the food, the people, everything. I loved it. My rusty French stalled… Continue Reading →
Except for getting stuck overnight in Toronto on my way home, I couldn’t have asked for a better trip. Everything planned went well and every day there was at least one happy surprise — a charming couple I met over… Continue Reading →