Resurrecting the Element of Surprise
To this day, my brother references Heart and Souls, a Robert Downey Jr. and Elisabeth Shue film we saw the summer of 1993, as the ‘best movie experience of all time.’ And it’s not because…
Did Abu Nazir Steal My Cell Phone?
There was a permanent indent in the couch cushion where I’d been—stationary— for the last two days. It rained for a few hours Saturday morning, poured even, but that eventually passed, and it was perfectly…
The New Year Begins With A Volt
This year, like the past four, Jonathan and I flew back east to celebrate Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) with his family. We typically fly to New York first and spend a few days…
From Riches to Rags to Paper Bags
I remember a conversation I had with my podiatrist back in 2007. And no, it wasn’t about my feet. We were standing in my parents’ living room during a party. He told me about his…
But Grandma! I’m a Vegetarian
I have a lot of fond memories of my grandma Shirley, who’s actually my step-grandmother, but since all my actual grandparents had passed when I was little or before birth, she’s the grandmother I got…
Baby Naming’s Never Been So Complicated
Remember when dreaming up the perfect baby name was fun? I haven’t had to do it myself, but I can just imagine it was a fun task in the 60s and 70s. Young girls in…
Cuisine is My Comfort Zone
I’ll admit it– when I moved to the Bay Area in 2007, I was scared. Scared to have just left my friends in Los Angeles; a family I’d invested seven years of my life developing…
Grilled Peach & Goat Cheese Focaccia Panini
Have I told you how much I love summer? And no, it’s not because that’s when everyone lays out in the sun and spends weekends at the beach. I tend to think those activities only…