First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

Urban Legends

My friend’s aunt used to tell me about finding a husband, “there’s a cover for every pot.” As my single years progressed with no mate in sight, that phrase would drive me crazy. But it also terrified me to ask the question – what if there isn’t? Now, I know there might not be. And that’s really okay.

That Special Someone by itspeteski

Winter Gear

Illustration by Geoff McFetridge

Recalibration

As FPS readers know, I’m an avid cook. I find it creative and relaxing and, as a single person, I take special pleasure in sustaining myself with good food. As much as I love cooking, I dread home repair. With that as context, I’ve had a growing concern about my oven, which was running between 50 and 75 degrees cooler than the indicated temperature. It was becoming a real issue when I wanted to cook things at high heat. It was clearly time to call in a repair person. Over the weekend, before making the call, I decided first to see if there was anything I could do on my own. Highly skeptical, I searched online for the oven manual – and there on the very last page, were recalibration instructions. It was easy, taking only minutes to fix. What a victory!!

End of Week Zen

Summer 2018. Can’t wait.

How to Stay Fit in the Winter

My brother is a hardy soul. He lives in Boston and a few weeks ago during the frigid temperatures, he still took his dog for a 20-minute walk. As an Angeleno who bundles up when it’s 60 degrees, this humbles me. That’s why I reside in a place where it’s temperate most days of the year. In any case, my exercise of choice (ballet class) takes place indoors. How do you stay fit during the winter months?

Fiber Art by Danielle Clough

Work Priorities

(If you’re interested in digging into the subject, I’ve written a post about job priorites for my Career Coaching site.)

Photo from things organized neatly

Ursula Le Guin, RIP

“It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.”
– Ursula Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness

Flu Season

January is a rough month. I know so many people who have been sick. My friends with kids tell me it’s been like a loop of illness for weeks. Here in L.A., we’re not cloistered inside as much, so I like to believe we’re less susceptible, but I’ve been washing my hands a lot more lately, just in case. How are you feeling?

Cruelest Month by Roz Chast

Weekend Plans

It looks like I’m in good company – spending Friday night in. And Saturday morning out (at the Women’s March). 

Chart by Michelle Rial

Pet Love, part 6

My dog Rose will turn 13 in March. The pace of our walks have changed dramatically since her manic days as a puppy. She’s much slower and more cautious. But it doesn’t make me love her any less. Today as we were inching around the neighborhood, I thought wistfully of those younger years, and hoped that someone will be equally patient with me, when I’m walking slower too.

Tea bag art by Ruby Silvious