Introverts and the people they love
“So, if you feel like an impromptu road trip this weekend…” began the text message. Three days later — this past Sunday — I was speeding across Indiana with my friend Hannah, heading toward Ohio and our good friends Sam and Leen, whom neither of us had seen for nearly six years. I didn’t think [...]
Coyote Ugly Soup
As a follow-up to my last post, I thought I’d share how I used the wonderful chorizo I bought at Publican Quality Meats. Originally, I was going to make split pea soup, but, to be honest, split pea soup is kind of boring. And I didn’t quite have enough split peas to make a whole [...]
meeting people, a how-to from the world’s most socially awkward woman
I’ve been asked a lot of strange things in my time, but, “Are you going meat shopping with us later?” is surely one of the strangest questions I’ve ever received. The answer was, of course, “yes.” Because who could pass up something so…odd? A few hours later I was traipsing around somewhere in downtown Chicago [...]
A pinch of perfection, a dash of delight
I’ve been baking a lot lately. Cooking, more than anything else, always seems to make a place feel like home. (Though, I have to admit, I anticipated a lot more “baking weather” from Chicago — it’s been beautiful out!) And, fortunately for me, I have coworkers who are more than willing to eat whatever sinful [...]
Team Pastrami
Last night, the first major project I’ve been a part of here at the Trib launched. Vivelohoy is a Spanish-language news site, which, let me tell you, broke my brain in all sorts of ways. It’s a complete joy to see it live. The team went to a place called Manny’s today to have a [...]
True friends bring you edelweiss
I hadn’t seen Hannah since 2006, but when she came to visit me last weekend, it felt like I’d just seen her a few months ago. (One of the perks of moving all over the country has definitely been getting to connect with friends that I haven’t seen in years.) While we were hanging out [...]
Brr!
One “advantage” to having most of your family in a warmer climate is getting constant reminders of how cold it is where you are. “The Weather Channel says it feels like minus four there,” wrote Mom helpfully in an email to me today. “Do you have plenty of supplies in case you get snowed in? [...]
A resolution of sorts
I have a confession. I’ve always sort of looked down on people who make New Year’s resolutions. I’ve never understood why resolutions should be the sort of thing made only once a year, or why it’s okay to put off doing something you know you should be doing, like getting healthier. I’m a person of [...]
Overheard in the newsroom
The newsroom is a pretty crazy place, and journalists are just a little bit loopy sometimes. Here are a few of the more entertaining things I’ve heard in the past month, including a couple of things from yours truly that got “oh-ayched” on Twitter. “That’s the smell of synergy.” (On how often geeks do laundry.) [...]
On being a woman
Outside Tribune Tower is an enormous statue of Marilyn Monroe. She straddles a giant replica of a subway grate, bent over, head thrown back in the classic Seven-Year Itch pose. (It’s become a favorite game of mine, when I need a break, to go to the lunchroom and see how many people in a fifteen-minute [...]