First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

Couch Arbitration

Update: Prickly situation –

Thanks for your concern and suggestions. As it turns out, the solution was simple. We each took a turn on the sofa (not even a pullout by the way). I opted for the first night, so that I’d have something to look forward to. (Good choice.) Should there be a next time with this occupancy dilemma (doubtful), the other guest and I both agreed we’d insist on an air mattress.

Same Same by Ben Skinner

End of Week Zen

I’m off to San Francisco to see who gets the couch.

Peace by Francesco Garbelli

Do I Need an Hombre?

The wonderful woman who cleans my house was very upset as I arrived home today. She told me that the sliding glass door to the terrace was broken. Each of us got up on the stepladder and tried to fix it, but it was off the track and wouldn’t budge. She doesn’t know much English and I don’t know much Spanish, but we usually manage to communicate. Today, she kept repeating: Hombre, hombre, you need an hombre.

Illustration by Franco Matticchio

Favorite Fast Foods

I’m all for slow cooking, within reason. There’s a chicken place near where I live that has become one of my regular to-go spots. They serve a garlic sauce on the side, along with hummus, pita bread and pickled beets. No wait, no dishes to wash and it’s delicious.

Street art by Escif

Game Time

As a citizen of the world, I’m determined to stay informed.

Photo by Eddie Keogh, Reuters

Ties That Bind

1969 interview with John Cheever:

Wedding Cake by Wayne Thiebaud

End of Week Zen, Late Spring Edition

There are several Jacaranda trees in my neighborhood. The flowers, which usually bloom in May, have a deep orchid hue. Once the petals fall and scatter on the grass, the combination of colors is breathtaking. It is enough to turn a bad day good.

Hope your weekend is filled with awe.

Painting by Phan Thu Trang

Just One of Those Days

Martini time.

Comic by Calvin and Hobbes

Where Do You Want to Go?

image from Designcrush

Try a Little Tenderness

On the way to my polling place today, I collided with an L.A. stereotype. An attractive woman getting out of a new black Porsche, collecting her well-dressed toddler from the car seat was screaming to her husband about the fu*king neighbors: “They’re ALWAYS blocking the driveway and they NEVER pick up their dog shit.” She kept repeating it, getting more furious with each reprise. Did I mention she parked her shiny Porsche in a way that blocked pedestrians from the sidewalk. Why is this woman with so much, so mad?

Image from newyorkshitty