26 May 2004 | A roadtrip arm-out-the-van-window shot of the Pacific Ocean as we drive south of Manila to Grandma’s house in Bicol. The roads were rough, but the sea looked calm. * * * I’m back, refreshed and recharged, slightly changed and hugely inspired, and mostly, oh mostly, incredibly moved — whether to tears […]

I’m getting on a plane in a couple hours, and I miss you already. I’ll be gone for almost two weeks. While I’m gone, will you do me a favor? Tell me a good thing. Tell me twenty. Tell each other good things every day, like “That’s a nice shirt” or “You really listen to […]

I knew there was a long list of To-Do’s starving for my attention, but when Rima offered me a glass of red wine I couldn’t resist. I stretched out on the futon, took small, slow sips, and talked to her and Eric about art and writing and love. And when they craved a smoke, I […]

I was thisclose to riding a horse on Sunday. I have never gone horseback riding and I am a little bit terrified of the idea, which is why I knew I had to do it. Okay, so I’m not that brave. First, I tried to weasel my way out of it. “You guys can go,” […]

The days are swirling with activity, and I feel summer breathing down my neck. It seems like yesterday that I was making plans for the oh-so-distant months of June, July and August. Now it’s mid-May, soon I’m going to the Philippines and soon after that I am going to work on a new project that […]

Why is it that I choose to spend days, weeks and, sometimes, months procrastinating something that only takes 5 minutes to actually do? Yesterday morning, I brought some winter things to the garage. I’d boxed them up a few weeks ago but hadn’t had the time — or made the time — to store them […]

There are so many beautiful pockets in Los Angeles that, if you’re not careful, can go undiscovered. Last night, I visited Little Ethiopia, which is somewhere around the middle of the sprawling metropolis. It’s only 6+ miles from my house, but I rarely visit it. I get too caught up in my own little world. […]

If I could, I’d take you each by hand and lead you into a quiet clearing under a ceiling of tree branches so we could talk. There are a lot of things I want to say, but I find it hard to say them lately. I feel secretive and silent and a little bit scared. […]

They say follow your heart, but what if you can’t hear it speaking to you? Maybe it doesn’t speak English or the cat got its tongue. Maybe it’s taking a nap or it went away on vacation. Maybe it is so in love — too in love — with everything all at once that it […]

Bake Sales for Kerry: Yum. Be kind to your country and your stomach. This Saturday, find a bake sale in a neighborhood near you and pick up a brownie or two.