At the start of 2024, I had no intention at all complete my visit of all 50 states. My initial idea was to spend a few weeks in the New England area to experience fall. But when Paul had his annual work meeting moved from New York City to New Orleans, we made the decision... Continue Reading →
I turned 50 this year (more on that later) and to top this milestone year, I'm aiming to complete visiting the rest of the United States. States left to visit are Arkansas, Tennessee, both the Carolinas, Delaware, Connecticut, and Rhode Island -- just 8 states! I'm still in the planning states for a late summer/early... Continue Reading →
We're not Christmas people. Aside from hanging up stockings and exchanging gifts it's not a really big personal holiday we celebrate although we do enjoy the day off. In the year following the pandemic, we were feeling tied down to San Diego itching to explore more places far from home and decided to do something different that Christmas. It started... Continue Reading →
We've been obsessed with huckleberries for a while and it started with a doughnut and it started us on this journey. Consider the huckleberry doughnuts made fresh at Sidecar Doughnuts. Batches of all their pastries are fried from opening to close and while their other flavors rank pretty high -- hello butter and salt! -- it's... Continue Reading →
It’s been awhile. Two years to be exact but San Diego Comic-Con is officially in person again. Despite the high rate of COVID infections, Paul and I will be appearing again after the long hiatus. We’ll be older, not necessarily wiser and with a new graphic novel, 88 Hours, about our experience of losing Doctor... Continue Reading →
It’ll be our 10th year in our home and with surging home prices, Paul and I often talk about how lucky we are to have bought when we did. Ten years ago we only had one income (me working at the business journal) while Paul freelanced. Our rent just went up on the condo we... Continue Reading →
ROUND 1: Carl's Jr. vs. Popeyes Fresh off the win against Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr. now faces tough competition from Popeyes. Popeyes' Cajun Flounder sandwich is a full dollar more expensive than Carl's Jr.'s Beer-Battered fish sandwich, and that may be enough to swing favor. But Popeyes swings flavor, and clobbers Carl. Win... Continue Reading →
Birthdays are looking really different in 2020 for a lot of people and for me, that includes birthday cakes. I took the simple route for Paul's birthday cake this year not wanting to bake and make it as simple as possible and what's more simple than an icebox cake. I've never attempted making one before... Continue Reading →
All good things must come to an end and for me, that was Zagat. My job at Zagat arrived at a time when I needed it the most. In 2013, I was laid off from my full-time job. As a perk of not having a schedule, we went on a dream cross-country road trip to... Continue Reading →
While walking around Brooklyn in January, fetching procuitto bread and bagels for Darlene, I wandered past a regional fast food chain that A) I haven't patronized, and B) had a fish sandwich. It was lunch hour and the line was modest so I decided to give their deep Sea Double a try. Like Hardee's to... Continue Reading →
My Burning Kitchen... on the road 