Amanda grabbed the top handle and I grabbed the side handle as we walked up the staircase, my suitcase dangling diagonally between us. Awaiting us at the top of the stairs was her very adorable, very cozy house. Inside, a mix of old and new. Shelves of medical books and rows of old records. I…
Six states in five days. I had my reservations about the whole undertaking. What if it turned out to be exhausting? Would I end up wasting all my time in airports and on airplanes? Maybe i’d just get tired of trying to pack too many people and places into such a short amount of time….
If you’re expecting a small deserted Midwestern town with a lifeless city center, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with what you find instead. Indianapolis is discovering a whole new life with a bustling downtown that’s filled with all the new buildings and old buildings in a constantly developing mix. Of course, downtown only spans about four…
It felt a little bit like Brooklyn or Queens, smack dab in the middle of the Midwest. It was a row of brick houses, some laced with ivy, all with charming, quirky character, and the streets were lined with trees and fences of infinite variations. The neighborhood, tucked away at the edge of Wicker Park,…
A revamp had been brewing in my mind, but I didn’t just want to redecorate or throw down a new paint color. I wanted the full remodel– new cabinets, tiled backsplash, and everything. I’m talking about my website, of course. It was time for a structural overhaul, not just a new blog theme. The key…
Downtown Los Angeles. I shouted bye to Jon and Will as they crossed the street and headed to their meeting. I walked down the street with camera in hand, no smart phone, no maps, just a mental picture in my head that told me how not to get too lost. This used to be one…
If I just concentrate for a moment, I can conjure it all back. The amazing overlooks, late-afternoon blue skies, and the feeling of being in this beautiful city with no obligations– only an open day to explore and spend time with friends. Seattle has a vibe not unlike the Bay Area’s. Despite its gray reputation…
Sometimes I dream about the jetsetter lifestyle– not only flying to all kinds of places, but actually doing so spontaneously. I could wake up in the morning and think, I’d love to be in New York today, and voila, be there before sundown! But really, how many people actually have the flexibility in their time…
I know it’s a matter of familiarity and time. I just moved to San Francisco, and I haven’t been there long enough to enjoy it yet. I haven’t become a part of the city, and it hasn’t become a part of me. I’m not used to this fog, this windy chill, the irony of my…
Even before it hits, you can feel it coming on. It takes but one step from the plane onto the jetway for it to strike in full force. The humidity. The heat. It’s a giant cloud stifling you with its sticky, unsolicited embrace. Welcome to Cincinnati. To be honest, I kind of missed it. There’s…
My favorite thing about our “tafLabs” room is not the ten computers or the impressive mass of wires and hard drives everywhere. It’s not even the six Canon DSLRs with all their amazing lenses scattered on all the desks. (And you know how much I love my DSLRs!) No, it has nothing to do with…
The afternoon sun entices me out of my desk chair and over to the window. Floor to ceiling, wall to wall, Downtown Oakland. Seven palm trees in front of the Tribune tower, next to the courthouse. OUSD, Laney College off to the left. I’ve looked at this view a million times, and it still hasn’t…