Things in Chicago for $3 (or less)
Jane Sun of Sunnyvale, CA asked me for a list of things that cost $3, so here goes. Jane, I’ve modified your request so it’s about Chicago-specific things you can buy for $3. Obviously you can get a Starbucks cup of regular drip coffee for $3, etc. Things you can get...
If Not “Where are you from?” Then What?
Karen in Chicago asks "How do you start a conversation with someone about their nationality without offending them? For example, a Lyft or Uber driver. And, if that is possible, what should you ask them?" I love this question because I blogged Stop asking: Where are...
Still a Failure: Entrepreneurship
Again, I think failure is a respectable part of everyone's life and I support being out in the open about it. I don't think failure is a bad word, so here's another story about one of mine. (And here's another nother story of failure) In 2015 I launched Welcome...
Still a Failure: Don’t Join MLM’s
Almost six years ago I blogged about my failures as an English PhD candidate and also as a musician (that's here: I'm a failure - y qué?). I've also gone through a divorce since then and now I can add another one to the heap: I'm a failure as a multi-level marketer....
#10Year Damn Challenge
So there's another asinine challenge going around and way too many people are participating. This one is particularly cruel because only very young people can do it with dignity. It's the #10YearChallenge and what you do is post a photo of yourself from ten years ago...
Don’t Like It? Send It Back!
For those who didn't grow up in the U.S. (and many who did) I was in a restaurant with a friend who ordered a beer and then didn’t drink much of it. I gestured at it and said, “So, you’re really not a big drinker.” She said, “It just doesn’t taste right to me.” I...
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The True Meaning of Christmas
It's my annual posting of my summary of the History Channel's Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas. Part of our American Christmas tradition is for people to throw around the phrase "the true meaning of Christmas." What that phrase usually refers to is an...
Latina Equal Pay Day 2018
November 1, 2018 was the second annual Latina Equal Pay Day. Before last week I didn't know that Latinas earn less than not only white men, but white women. In fact, while white women get 79 cents for every dollar a white man makes, Latinas get 53 cents. Son of a...
“I’m sorry I tried to kill myself”
When someone tries to end their life, but it doesn't work and they end up in the hospital, one thing they often say is "I'm sorry." But is that really necessary? What are they apologizing for? Having a mind distorted by mental illness? Being a screw-up? If we...
10-Year Anniversary of a 5-Year Marriage
Yesterday was the 10-year anniversary of the day we celebrated our wedding. My husband and I got married on one day and had the reception six months later. For some reason the 10-year anniversary of the wedding ceremony didn't hit me as hard last March, but today I...
How Do I Stop the Pain?
Previous post on weight & health: Not getting better I run a depression support group Meetup and this week we talked about ways to treat depression other than with medication. I've happily been on anti-depressants since 2010, so I'm not knocking meds, but I wanted...