So there I am at Intelligentsia, an über hipster coffee spot in Silver Lake, on a first date, when I feel it… heat in my chest radiating up to my neck and face until I’m swooningly hot and turning beet red. There’s a prickly, skin crawly feeling and lots and lots of sweat! Spontaneous orgasm? […]

January marked three years since my husband moved out and ended our marriage. Three years is not particularly auspicious, but I did think I’d be farther along in my “new life” as single mom and single 40-something. I did buy a sporty new car — though not the bitchin’ Camaro in bright yellow I really […]

I had one of those “only in LA” kind of conversations with a friend the other day, which included some heavy name dropping and some truly epic “I knew them when, blah blah blah.” It was great reminiscing and all. But the thing is, no one — and I mean NO ONE — other than […]

It’s switcheroo day… again. The day when the children leave my house and go stay with their dad, or the day they come back to stay with me. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, or hope against hope that my kids would be, but no… someone has left their only pair of […]

Growing up in the late ’60s and early ’70s meant our generation was still subjected to many of the outdated notions of child-rearing by the well meaning but misinformed adults around us. I vividly remember being told by adults when meeting me and my sister, “Oh, how nice, a smart one and a pretty one!” […]

Ah, summer vacation! It’s almost here and boy I could use some time off. How can that be? I am unemployed, it’s like I’m on vacation all the time, right? Uh, no, it’s not. Darling, Webster describes a vacation like this:  Noun 1. A period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used […]

I have recently been attending a number of conferences for my library degree masters program. While there I’m supposed to network, hand out business cards, and generally meet people who can help me find a job after graduation. But I also have an ulterior motive: find a hot single guy to “network” with. Is flirting […]

I just sold my wedding dress on eBay. It went for $154.49. Really it was a relief just to get it out of my closet. I hated running into it when I would look for the camping gear or winter jackets. It still held a twinge of pain and loss. Some of my friends thought […]

Dear Diary, When I was young, I imagined you were one of the most important things in the world; I remember getting you and being so excited! The prospect of writing down my innermost thoughts on your pages was almost more than my eight-year-old heart could bear. I carefully kept you from my nosy sister, […]

I went shopping this weekend at my favorite store and of course spent more than I intended, but I couldn’t help myself — Koi was having their semi-annual sale! I have been shopping at Koi ever since I discovered this amazing boutique in South Pasadena, which caters to women my age. I like to call […]