I don’t get out much — the editor’s lament — but this spring I made a point of inviting myself to artist Monica Aissa Martinez’s central Phoenix studio. She graciously agreed. I wanted to see up close how she maps people. It’s pretty literal, this mapping. The artist’s subjects aren’t exactly naked; it’s more of […]

This past weekend, Sophie  performed onstage at the Herberger Theater in downtown Phoenix for the third year in a row. The production is Snow Queen and as far as I know, Sophie’s the only kid with special needs (definitely the only one with Down syndrome) who’s ever been in this show, sort of a Nutcracker […]

The other night at a gallery opening, a beautiful woman I don’t know very well approached me in tears. “I need to tell you I’m sorry,” she said. “Do you know why?” I did. Back up 20 minutes. I was having a pleasant conversation with this woman and her date, a writer in from LA […]

Naming it was hard. There were so many choices. My first thought was “Guns as Roses,” or “Guns ‘n Poses,” then “Pistol Whipped.” “Project Gunway.” “Put a Gun on It.” In the end, it was “Gun Show.” “Gun Show” was taken on Instagram (why was I surprised?) so after some trial and error, it’s “2013 […]

I did it. I’ve been talking it about (a lot — apologies to those who have listened to me go on) and today I finally did it. I sent in Sophie’s Special Olympics registration. For cheerleading. What follows is a piece I read last month at an event sponsored by a group called the Lit […]

Today I am 46. When I mentioned last week on Facebook that I was having trouble with my list of 50 things to do before I’m 50 (with thanks for the inspiration to my friend Megan, who came up with the idea for 30 before 30, a much more rationale notion!), I was bombarded with […]

I quit eating candy corn last week.  This week, I’m going cold turkey on Honey Boo Boo. I have a feeling it’s going to be tougher to give up my new favorite reality show. And that’s saying a lot, because I really love candy corn. But against all odds, TLC’s show about a (very) small […]

“Hey Mom, why do I have to fold the laundry before I put it away?” This question came from my beautiful 11-year-old, who stood in her room over a basket of laundry, about to shove a wadded up (but clean!) t-shirt into a giant dresser drawer filled with the same. I just looked at her, speechless, and suddenly […]

Except for the occasional limerick, which does not count, I do not write poetry. I’m too self-conscious, too aware that this is not a medium for a dabbler. You’ve got to really know what you’re doing to write a good poem. (Or be really lucky.) But I do know a good poem when I read […]

Last night I walked into Scottsdale Center for the Arts and smack into two of the coolest women I know. No surprise, it was a Friday night and the place was bustling. This is one of the best places in my town to see a show. Over the years I’ve gone there for Ira Glass, David […]