I couldn’t remember what we did last year for the holidays.  I’d completely forgotten how miserable we were and how little money we had.  We didn’t even celebrate Xmas or the Solstice.  We sort of acknowledged NYE.  And I didn’t bother with my birthday at all.  We also had that arsonist running around, burning carports, including the one across the ( Read more... )

Since LJ is all but dead, I’ve created a new blog here

We’ll see how it goes..

One of the things I so love about Los Angeles is the fact that out of nowhere,  you can find yourself in the midst of something rare and special without warning.  Last night was one of those moments.  I realized I was sharing space with two of the greatest chefs in the city if not the entire US as well as hands down the finest mixologist in our ( Read more... )

Thanksgiving.

It feels very different than in years past.  It’s relaxed. __wolverine__ is happy about the holiday for the first time in years.  And we are enjoying one of the best times in our relationship ever.  But this is how it is supposed to be. This is what I have spent my whole life believing in but never experiencing.  We have been through so much and ( Read more... )

Every year I am sure we have reached the peak of retail frenzy for the holidays.  And every year, I am wrong.  It gets worse.  Given people’s behavior, you’d think Black Friday was an actual holiday wherein it is mandated that you spend money on crap you just don’t need.

I have actively refused to buy a single thing on Black Friday for at least 8 ( Read more... )

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I get to meet a lot of very neat people these days.  It’s fun. And sometimes, it’s deeply moving.

Last night I had the chance to meet Luciana Paluzzi, Fiona Volpe of  the original Thunderball.  Classic Bond Girls were some of my early aspiration figures. So getting to tell one of them how big an impact they had on the woman I became… that was such ( Read more... )

There is something about reading stories of New Yorkers walking for hours to get to work as if that’s just what you do that has struck me hard.  It’s ridiculously inspiring.  That is what you do.  You just get it done.

So, given the absolute luxuries I have… in comparison… what feats could I be accomplishing instead of chasing after ridiculous ( Read more... )

"...conflict is the primary engine of creativity and innovation. People don't learn by staring into a mirror; people learn by encountering difference."
-- Ronald Heifetz
I still marvel at how I was able to fill page after page effortlessly for decades and now all I can muster is the most sporadic flurry of entirely forgettable words.  I’d much ( Read more... )

With six days left to go, I have $223 left to raise to reach my 1K goal for Bowling For Boobies.  A shocking mere 35 people have helped make that possible.  With the thousands of people I have access to via social networking, it’s truly stunning so few have responded.  Even more wild that most of those people have very little to give.

Every single ( Read more... )