First Person Singular by Wendy Braitman

What Makes a House a Home?

My mother created a great home, filled with love and roast chicken. Five tips I picked up from her:

1. Have 50 extra rolls of toilet paper on hand at all times.
2. Stock the freezer with chocolate ice cream.
3. Be gracious with guests and feed them well (and in my house, serve good cocktails.)
4. Keep surroundings clean, but not austere.
5. Hug a lot.

What makes a home for you?

Image: Still Life #30, 1963, by Tom Wesselmann

On the Rag

I love babies as much as the next woman. Well, maybe not exactly as much. But I truly get their appeal. It’s just that lately, I feel surrounded by them, and it’s making me grouchy. Or maybe, I’m grouchy because of the old lady who hit my car on the freeway 10 days ago, and the mounds of paperwork, and wasted hours on the phone with my insurance company that have been the result. Or maybe it’s the unexpected gloomy weather in L.A. that I am not logistically or emotionally prepared for. (Gotta get my boots from the attic.) Or is it simply a matter of not enough sex?

Image: Paint on Rag, 1999, from Absolute Sellout

Making the Case for Sweets

Here’s a swipe at one of the most stubborn medical myths. There is no scientific relationship between sugar and hyperactivity. REALLY. Sugar has no nutritional value, plus it causes tooth decay, so it’s wise to avoid. I’m just not willing to give up on it. (Fruit has its place, but it’s no crème brûlée.) When I left my parents for college, I reveled in the freedom of experiencing drugs and sex, but also candy bars for dinner, without reprimand. Now, I take a more measured approach. I try to limit my intake to one delicious (not junky) sugary thing a day, including the hidden kind in cereal, protein bars, maraschino cherries, coffee drinks, though there’s no tyranny here. The way I look at it, I’m active, healthy, with no kids to corrupt. And a life without chocolate wouldn’t be as sweet.

Image: Bakery Case, 1996, Wayne Thiebaud

In Line Dating

There used to be an urban legend circulating in San Francisco about a Marina district supermarket where it was easy to hook up. Too far to walk, I was never motivated enough to get in the car to pursue it. But the other day, at Whole Foods, I made serious eye contact with an attractive guy while shopping for produce. (Me: Brussels sprouts, him: melon.) We crossed paths a few more times before ending up 3 feet away at the, uh, checkout line. I wasn’t sure how to finesse a conversation from a distance, so I bagged my groceries and went home, alone.

Image: Man Looking at Woman, 1949, Adolf Gottlieb, at MOMA.

Standing on the Sidelines

My sweet next-door neighbor invited me to a party this weekend to celebrate his son’s first birthday. It’s at a park nearby, so I thought I’d walk over with my dog, for a very brief hello. When I RSVP’d, “I’ll drop by,” my neighbor pressed me to stay and make an afternoon of it. It would be rude to say no. So I’m guessing it’ll be a crowd of parents with their toddlers, the balloon-maker, then me, clinging to the perimeter.

Image: Tetrarch, 2009, Christopher Bucklow. At Danziger Projects through October 23.

Has the Social Network Made Dating Easier?

Last night, I saw an advance screening of The Social Network, the gripping, must-see (and see again) movie about the origins of Facebook. (You can bet on the fast-paced, brilliant screenplay by Aaron Sorkin to win an Oscar.) Social networking isn’t a new idea. On this exact day, 350 years ago, a British entrepreneur established the “Office of Addresses and Encounters,” which was a rudimentary Craigslist, with information on jobs, real estate and even potential marriage suitors. But does it work? Have dating sites improved YOUR love life?

Don’t Share Lipstick, and other Cold/Flu Season Tips

1.  Wash your hands, or shove them in your pocket.
2.  Drink plenty of liquids. (Alcohol doesn’t count.)
Continue reading »

When All You Want to Talk About is the Weather

We’re dripping sweat here in L.A, but at least it’s for posterity. At 12:15 this afternoon, the temperature hit 113 degrees, the hottest since 1877, when the weather service first starting keeping records. Being outside feels like being inside an oven. I seriously considered whether it was possible to slow roast a pan of tomatoes on the steps of my backyard, because, for one thing, you’d have to be crazy to turn on the stove. My cat and dog are laid out on the couch (although that’s nothing new) and we’re all drinking plenty of liquids.

Image: Walking Woman, 2004, by Chantal Joffe.

One Last Seasonal Fling with Tomatoes

My favorite tomatoes are the tiniest, cherry-sized ones, called “sweet 100s” and since their appearance is fleeting, I’m gorging myself. For a throw together meal, I use Julia Child’s method of macerating (softening) tomatoes in oil, vinegar and seasonings for about 10 minutes, then spoon them over packaged tortellini. This recipe would also be fantastic over grilled bread.             Continue reading »

How to Stay Healthy

Are multivitamins effective? Is there a risk to mammograms? Should we give up carbs? Will taking calcium prevent bone loss? Are flu shots worth it? Have we become too sun-phobic? Do peptides reduce the signs of aging? Is high fructose syrup really as bad as they say? Will wearing high heels cause permanent damage? Does caffeine have any benefits? Is a daily glass of red wine a good idea?

Image: Apples and Cigarettes, 2004, Roe Ethridge