First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

Buh Bye Valentines Day 2011

The American consumer spends an average of $122.98 on Valentines Day gifts. Given that I’ve spent zero, someone must be rolling for the big bucks. I did receive a sweet card from my brother and my gay best friend. And my dog was just licking my face. But still, I need a cocktail. Does this day have any emotional weight for you?

Image: Intoxicated Woman at a Window, 18th century

Drawing Strength From the Egyptian People

It was impossible to stay steeped in personal drama watching the historic news from Egypt. When the announcement came that Mubarak was finally resigning, tears streamed down my face, with hope for humanity, and also for me. Commenting on the courage of the Egyptian people, President Obama said, “It was the moral force of nonviolence that bent the arc of history towards justice.”

Image: View of Tahrir Square today from space

When Was the Last Time You Had a Good Cry?

I’m having a “good cry” right now, though good is not how it feels. It reminds me of the scene in Something’s Gotta Give, when Diane Keaton is sobbing at her keyboard. Details to follow when I’m not so raw.

Image: Tears for Years by Mel Kadel. See her work in L.A. through March 5.

Eat. Real. Food.

Ever since the Department of Agriculture released its new dietary guidelines, I’ve been trying to use less salt. But their recommendation to restrict intake to 1 teaspoon a day seems an impossible feat, and in some ways, it has made me throw up my hands in defeat. So I was relieved, today, to read the NY Times piece by Mark Bittman, in which he says, “the salt shaker is not the culprit.” What we really need to stay away from is fake food in the grocery store, and all the junk served in restaurants and take-out places.

Photo by Lyza Danger

If You Had Five Minutes to Live…

Really horrible headline, but I’m just the messenger. It’s lifted from a question Piers Morgan asked Barbara Walters during a recent interview:

MORGAN: Come on, which man, if you had five minutes to live, you would take –

WALTERS: If I had five minutes to live, I wouldn’t want to be with any man.

MORGAN: Really?

WALTERS: If I had five minutes to live, I would be with my daughter and closest friends. At this point in my life, I would not want to [be] with any one man.

And while I’m venting, please read Bella DePaulo’s fantastic response to a Washington Post article perpetrating the “marriage makes you healthier” myth.

Image: Title Credits for 1941 film, I Wake Up Screaming

Warm Winter Day

It’s 75 degrees here in L.A. No sidewalks to shovel. No rain gear to contend with. No complaints. Though on second thought, I could use a little more sex.

Image: Warm Winter Day, 2008, by Ricardo Carabajal Moss

Recipe: The Best NYC Deli Cole Slaw

For years, I’ve searched for a recipe that recreated the Cole Slaw of my youth. And by that I mean, the creamy side dish served at the great New York delis in and around my neighborhood. It wasn’t until I came across a cookbook from the 2nd Avenue Deli that my hopes were finally realized. This recipe is simple, and absolutely the real deal.

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The Rocky Road to Progress

But the problem is that when I go around and speak on campuses, I still don’t get young men standing up and saying, ‘How can I combine career and family?’
– Gertrude Stein, Feb. 3, 1874 – July 27, 1946

2/6 UPDATE: Much thanks to a reader, Grace, who comments that she’s pretty sure this quote is from Gloria Steinem. It has also been attributed to Gertrude Stein, but given the time frame, Steinem makes so much more sense!

Image: from an installation by Sandy Skoglund. See her work at the McNay Museum.

Finding Balance Through Breath

Do you meditate? Lying awake at 2 AM this morning, with my brain on fire, I considered giving it a try. But I wasn’t sure which technique to use. And I realized that an even better approach would be to get familiar with meditating in a more relaxed setting, when there’s nothing at stake. Then I could develop it as a muscle memory, to turn to more easily under stress. I’m going to start TODAY, using Andrew Weil’s technique (exercise #2), which takes just a few minutes. If you practice meditation, tell us about your experience, and what type works best for you.

Image: Drawing by Sasha Kurmaz

Courageous Women on the Streets of Egypt

More than two weeks ago, 26 year-old Asmaa Mahfouz posted a video online. She spoke straight to the camera, holding a sign, encouraging others to take to the streets to protest the Mubarak regime. “Do not be afraid,” she said. “As long as you say there is no hope, then there will be no hope, but if you go down and take a stance, then there will be hope.” She is one of the founders of the April 6 Movement, a group of fearless young activists committed to reforming Egypt, who have been instrumental in organizing the historic protests. More inspiring photos here.