Slice of Life Challenge

    • Practice doesn’t make perfect

      I’ve been reading Roy Peter Clark’s Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer for several months now. (I don’t know what took me so long to discover this book; it’s such an engaging read.) I haven’t finished it, only because I read it in little spurts, in between novels,…

    • A new Independence Day tradition

      I‘m currently on the beach in Playa del Carmen in Mexico with spotty internet and only a phone to type on so I’ll keep it short. This is the third year now that we haven’t been home for the Fourth and this year especially, I’m not disappointed. While the idea…

    • When I was a kid…

      I was inspired this morning by Adrienne to write about ice cream. With the current prices of gas, food, and everything, really, I find myself repeating this line over and over again: “When I first started driving, I could fill up my tank for less than ten dollars!” (Did you…

    • I see Sam. See?

      I had to make the 5+ hour drive home from Carmel to Los Angeles on my own this weekend. That meant I didn’t have to compete for the car sound system! It was just the right amount of time to listen to this new book by Patrick Harris II, The…

    • In honor of Pride Month

      I think I got this idea from Nawal –look through photos for some writing inspiration…With nothing in my brain today, that’s what I did. As I was scrolling, this silly selfie caught my eye and reminded me of a story from 10 years ago when I was completing my field…

    • What’s in your bag?

      “Do you have a tissue?” my husband asked the other day while we were out and about. “No, sorry,” I replied, rummaging around in my bag for show. I knew I didn’t have any. I felt a pang of embarrassment. You wouldn’t think not having a pack of tissues would…

    • Ooooh, I only have a few minutes and I don’t want to break my slicing streak. Can I write a haiku? Summer’s almost hereDays get longer, weeks are shortThe beach calls my name. Funny, I just listened to Thomas Newkirk talk about his book, Embarrassment, and that’s exactly what I’m…

    • Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month

      Earlier today I was listening in to an Instagram Live conversation about Zaretta Hammond’s levels of culture. This sparked interactions about how BIPOC have often been conditioned to do things that go against their own culture so that they can fit in. In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, here is…

    • That’s good! That’s bad!

      Today’s slice is inspired by this book: Saturday evening, Hoff and Vivian went on a date to see the Ukrainian “ethnic chaos” band, DakhaBrakha. Oh, that’s good!No, that’s bad! When they got to the theater there was a long line wrapped around the block and only 15 minutes until show…

    • Seasons of love

      The musical Rent was in town for its 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour last week. My sisters and I, admitted RENT-heads, had to get tickets, of course. This is a tradition we’ve had for as long as it’s been coming to Los Angeles. Whenever possible we’ve tried to see it together.…