Some people move through the world as if it were a buffet of delights—reveling in a glass (or *ahem* a bottle) of wine, lingering in front of a painting long enough to make security nervous, closing their eyes while tasting crème brûlée, admiring a slow-burn sunset, disappearing into a perfect conversation, losing track of time...

Ahh, feeling dead inside. For some of us it's a phase—like “Sad Autumn Girl" who whispers “it’s the season” as a rather brilliant justification for ennui ... and for others, this dead inside business is an amusingly oxymoronic way of life. Whether you're feeling a wee-bit dead inside or a big-bit dead inside, you're all...

There are things we must lament in life—death, taxes, how they still haven’t made an all-red bag of Skittles (Mars Wrigley executives: make this make sense? Yeah, see you can’t. Proffer up an all-red bag already or heads must roll!). Another Lamentation for the Living: how we have to work at happiness. Can we all...

Look at you! You’re fabulous! You’re so talented at _________ (you fill in the blanks, Hotshot—I’m not a mentalist), and (*insert the construction-site-cat-call*) you’re stunning, too—look at those ________ (don’t be bashful—if you’ve got a great rack, now’s the time to own it!). You’re one of a kind. Sensational! You know what else? You’re deeply...

I recently visited a dear friend at her newly finished home—a home that stood on a perch with 360º views of glorious California wine country, replete with red-tailed hawks soaring in front of us as though right on cue—and I said these words to her: “Do you ever just stand out here at sunset and...

I have a playlist called “I Heart Melancholy” and I love listening to it so much it hurts. In the good way. And I know you know what I’m talking about, don’t you? I asked people on Instagram about their sad song proclivities and oh, it struck a chord! (A minor chord… hahaha… music humor—it’ll...

There are few things I love more than a practical joke: salty caramel sauce, a cat who gives me bedroom eyes, when anyone anywhere says they like my book, The Husband, the first sip of wine—although not necessarily in that order. I’m partially convinced our lives are pranks being pulled by a superior (and wittier)...

Let’s imagine you want to be living this kind of life: But in reality your life looks like this: Why the tumbleweedy life? Maybe you’re in a busy period at work and there’s not a nippy chance in hell you’re getting to that Thursday night pole dancing class. Maybe you’re depressed and your couch is...

I dare you to sit yourself down right now and write a list of 10 things you like… things you’re “into.” The thing you do for work can only be one of the 10 things (if work even made the cut 😏). Reading my Monday blog posts, obviously, will be one of your 10 entries....

You are on a crime board, honey. You're probably not the perpetrator on said board (but if you are a crime kingpin, I do love a good true crime story so please reach out and spill all your crimey beans to me). You are a victim-to-be on this board, and your face, last known address,...

A few weeks back I asked if you were a Dream Weaver or a Dream Leaver—you know, the type to pursue your goals and ambitions with fervor, or the type to leave your dreams in your dust because, well, it’s scary to risk failure and rejection and also there is some pretty good (i.e., distracting)...

I can’t bring myself to read my book reviews. Not even if I squint and try to scan— awkwardly with one eye—for kind words on Amazon and Goodreads reviews. I’m just too chickenhearted. You Only Die Once was published 500 days ago, which means I’ve spent the last 500 days in a row actively avoiding feedback....