Why you should travel alone.

I've done my fair share of solo traveling over the years. Here's my take on why you should give it a shot.

How to pack for two months in a carry-on.

For some reason, many of us fear under-packing on trips. We don't want to leave behind something super important we might just need. Actually, overpacking is what will kill you.

Hair Journey Part III: Chocolate Brown.

I always wanted dark brown hair. Ever since I was little, I've admired people with deep chocolate-black hair. To me, it always seemed the most striking, romantic, thoughtful hair color. As if being brunette made you automatically pensive, if not intelligent (like Belle! Or Hermione!). So I was super excited about this stage, mostly to see … Continue reading Hair Journey Part III: Chocolate Brown. →

Reading restrictions.

I fly to New York on Saturday, and thence onward to Madrid. Trying to make some tough choices about what books to bring along.

Roadtripping.

I've spent the last few days out in Illinois, visiting my brother's family and meeting my newest niece. Since they moved out, I've made the trip a half dozen times, always on my own, usually for a weekend stay. There are a few things that always strike me about this trip, which I will enumerate for lack of anything else to write about.

Post-glacial rebound.

Feeling relieved at having finally gotten through some major work stress and hoping I'll learn from this experience to manage myself better in the future.

How to choose a book to read.

Ever struggle to pick out a book to read? Here's my recommendations for making your choice.

Punctuality and learned helplessness.

I've often struggled to be on time to things. Here's what I've learned on how to be more punctual.

Rebuilding the reading habit.

I've always wanted to think of myself as a reader, but I spent a while as an adult struggling to finish a book. Here's how I built my habit again.

What I read in December.

At first glance, it doesn't look like I got much reading done. However, that's nearly 1,000 pages of reading, and it doesn't include some of the titles that I almost completed but didn't quite make it across the finish line. January will probably be a much taller stack. Last of the Amazons, Steven Pressfield I've read a … Continue reading What I read in December. →