First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

What are you good at?

It’s because of my own yearning for sweets that I first started baking. Through trial and error, I’ve perfected a chocolate chip cookie recipe that I’m confident is as good a cookie as you’ll find anywhere. One of the secrets is using Callebaut bittersweet chocolate discs, rather than ordinary supermarket chips. I love whipping up a batch for friends and watching their eyes light up. What’s one of your gifts?

Illustration by design work life.

New Computer Time Vortex, Day 4

I’m experiencing new computer adjustment woes, and not being able to get much else done. This too shall pass.

Illustration by Klara Persson

Wresting with Technology

Sorely in need of a new computer, I finally took the leap on Black Friday when Apple was having their annual event. Though helpless with a hammer, I’m adept with technology and was confident about setting things up. Step one was transferring the files from my old Mac, which turned out to be more complicated than I anticipated. 2 days of tech support later, I was no closer to my goal than when I began. Today I realized the work around. Who needs all those old files anyway? Now, my new computer’s up and running and it feels fresh and clean.

Girl Showing Muscle by Michael Thompson

Time for Play

Happy weekend!

Art by Eric Drooker

Awesomeness of Nelson Mandela

When I read the story of Moses leading his people to freedom, it’s hard to believe a person that noble could actually exist. And I imagine years from now, people who will only know of Nelson Mandela by reading about him in history books, might feel the same way. What a privilege that this man walked the earth during our lifetime.

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”  Nelson Mandela, 1918 – 2013

Weather Adventure

I’m checking out the temperature in Denver where I’ll be this week for a brief series of meetings. With a low of zero degrees, this California girl is in trouble. Here in L.A, it was just seventy. I can’t even imagine how many layers it will take to keep me warm.

Illustration by Franco Matticchio

Gut Instinct

Last year, I went on a meet and greet date with someone who knew someone I knew. He came to me fairly vetted. The man seemed very kind. He had an interesting job in media and asked me out for a second date right away. I didn’t feel a love match, but nice guys don’t come into my life that often, so I decided to give it another try. In between our dates, I agonized over him with a familiar round of questions. Why wasn’t I more eager? Why am I so picky? What’s the matter with me? We did not have a third date. A year went by, and I thought of him occasionally, and wondered if I’d made a mistake. And then it so happened that we were touch again and I was grateful for another chance. We met for lunch and I felt that same lack of connection all over again.

Art by Tracey Emin

Happy Thanksgiving!

I’m so grateful for the community of FPS readers. You mean the world to me. Thanks!

Marshmallows #1 by Thomas Jackson

Thankful for Home Cooking

When I was a kid, this was one of my favorite meals. What were some of your childhood favorites?

Prepping for the Holidays

My friends who are hosting Thanksgiving dinner asked me to bring soup for 20 guests, and masochistically I chose a recipe from the labor-intensive but worth it Sunday Suppers at Lucques. The delicious kabocha squash and fennel soup with candied pumpkin seeds is seasonally appropriate, bursting with orange, red and green. I’ve made this recipe before and it’s not until I’m deep in dishwater that I remember that it uses almost every pot and bowl in the house.

New Yorker Cartoon by Tom Gauld