You ever have one of those days when you wake up and find your fully charged phone has died, so your alarm never went off and you overslept. But! You still have 30 minutes until your phone interview. Phew. Except the interview has to be rescheduled by the interviewer. Wait…what kind of bug is that crawling across my foot? Is that a…a termite? Termites have wings, though. Not all termites have wings, you say? You’ve never had one of those days? Me neither. But if…
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Of Monsters and Me: Live Music and Memory
I woke up Sunday feeling tired and cranky. Could it be because I’d had a third date the night before, during which I managed to walk nine miles through a county fair, that ended with a “thanks for indulging me!” instead of a kiss? Yeah, that could’ve been part of it. I mean, I’m not unhappy about the nine miles. I hadn’t had that kind of exercise in ages – the kind of exercise that includes deep-fried, bacon-wrapped pickles. So the prospect of going to…
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Color & Mood: Peacock Blue & Petrichor (Reader Tangent)
In a post from a couple weeks ago, Linda commented about how she’s inspired all year long by autumn’s colors, which she uses around her home. I feel the same way about peacock blue. But it wasn’t always this way. Several years ago I went shopping for a new sofa. I figured I’d order one with a neutral mushroom-brown cover. Or else I’d go in the other direction, and wind up with emerald velvet. I did neither. At the urging of the saleswoman, I went…
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From My Earholes, to My Eyeballs, to a Delightful Tangent
When I moved to Los Angeles nine years ago, I had a job that made me feel a little alienated. I could barely understand most of the people who worked around me. Part of that was because they were engineers, and I had never developed that part of my brain. The other reason was because they largely spoke Chinese. I needed a way to feel less alone, that could simultaneously stimulate my bored brain during the hours I sat with little to do. A new…
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It Had to Be Cable-Knit Sweaters and Pumpkin Candles
It’s 92 degrees as I write this, but the scent of pumpkin and apple fills the air. It’s Labor Day weekend, and I’m determined to bring fall into my house even if it’s sweltering in Los Angeles and will likely continue to be for another two months. I’m the person who walked through Target’s home section yesterday just to fondle the new, cozy pillows and sniff the maple candles, so that for a moment I could be transported to a place where brush fires aren’t…
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Aspiration Desperation: Going After Something You Don’t Even Want
I remember, in the not-too-distant past, when I pursued men I knew would be a disaster. Unavailable, damaged…subconsciously, I thought saving them would give me some sense of self and satisfaction. Not that saving them was even a possibility. It was the wrong goal altogether; one that wouldn’t reward either of us. Always focused, always a perfectionist I’ve always been very focused on my creative endeavors. In middle school, I took adult drawing classes, and then I attended a high school that provided an immersive…
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Tangent from Maureen: Childlike Play and Imagination
Last week, Maureen commented that playing and being creative with her grandson brings her a lot of joy. I have a 4 1/2-year-old nephew, so I also know how much fun it can be to have the opportunity to spend time with a small child. When I’m with him, I can be in the moment and act completely silly. I may eventually be known as his wacky aunt, and that’s okay with me. But my nephew lives on the other side of the country, and…
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Grandma’s Stash: Why Those Vintage Jewelry Styles Are So Appealing
I recently pinned a bunch of jewelry: layered gold necklaces of the vintage variety. Lockets, medallions, delicate little chains…. These things look special, unique, personal…until you realize that every influencer in the U.S. and Europe is wearing them. My theory What caused this look to suddenly take off? I have a theory: this world we’re living in can feel like a shitshow. While we used to fantasize about what the future would look like – and our style often reflected that – the future, which…
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Mindfulness, Inspiration and Tangents
It’s funny (and sometimes initially scary) what happens when you practice mindfulness. You notice what you devote most of your attention to, for better (the one friend who automatically gives you half of her French fries without you asking for even one) or worse (the “friend” who always asks if you should really be eating those French fries). What I noticed was how much time and energy I was spending in pursuit of a longtime career goal. I had always planned to someday be a…
