Life Style & Travel

UNITED STATES—On an October afternoon a poignant figure showed up on my doorstep at Manhattan Place, an accountant separating from his wife after 48 years. Can you imagine why a couple that age wants to split? They already must know each other too well; then again, maybe that’s why. The man was from Huntington Beach, but had his office on...

UNITED STATES—When it comes to online games, tastes are different - and so are the games themselves. Many people indulge in playing MOBAs, puzzles, strategy games, or even racing games on their smartphones and tablets. And then there are those who prefer a more relaxing and random game type, which provides them with an instant sense of accomplishment: slot...

UNITED STATES—'Zucchini' is Italian for 'little squash.' They certainly can grow to become big squash, but by then, they do not taste so good. They are best before they get to about six inches long. As they mature, they get bitter and tough, and the seedy pulp within develop an unappealing texture. Maturing zucchini also waste resources that would...

UNITED STATES—One night in New York we went to the Angelica Theater in the Village and saw David Lynch’s ‘Wild at Heart.’ I got to see that scene where Laura Dern and Nicolas Cage come across a dead-still single car crash in the middle of the desert, the headlights still on. The tires still slowly spinning. Amazingly, a couple weeks...

UNITED STATES—Autumn foliar color is not the concern yet. It develops later as deciduous plants defoliate for winter. Purplish, reddish, yellowish, bluish or gray foliar color that can be seen now is provided by plants that are colorful while actively growing. Almost all of this sort of foliage is most colorful when it is young and fresh, early in...

UNITED STATES—I often have an itch to contact some who lived at Estrella Ave. But they have invariably fallen off the face of the earth. Like Ron Leaf. Ron was about the best guy who ever was, very nice and shy and regular with the rent. He was so regular. From the start Ron rubbed me the right way, he...

UNITED STATES—Has anyone ever told you, “You need a hobby”? If so, it was no doubt said in jest. Nonetheless, it was probably good advice. Alright, then. Let’s humor whoever it was who spoke these words to you. Now what? Most of us have been workaholics the last few years, or juggling family and work, or incessantly interviewing for...

UNITED STATES—Felton League, the Facebook group of the homeless and their friends in Felton, California, briefly mentions the source of some interesting, but typically overlooked fruits that can be found in the wild or unrefined landscapes. Blackberries, American plums and elderberries collected from rural roadsides have produced award winning jellies for the Santa Cruz Mountains Harvest Festival. Unlike the fruit...

UNITED STATES—The subtitle to these Los Angeles memoirs (1989-90), in that little silly white brain of mine, was going to be “How I Almost Got to Be A Racist,” in view of current events involving the law and black people I will acknowledge this subtitle rather than hide it. Kind of like opening up the bandage over the wound...

UNITED STATES—Sergeant Carmichael was badass. Before I went into Runyon Canyon undercover, she sent me to the Yale School of Yogic Arts in Van Nuys to bone up on kundalini.  At least I could bluff my way through a yoga class: “Close your eyes and just say om.” That’s how I met Fay Greener, alias Sri Faye. The winsome 19-year-old greeted...