It’s not exactly science and yet… I’ve found it to be a relatively infallible system. Namely, if I want Malibu, Vlad’s best friend, to visit, I don’t need to text his owners. Instead, I just need to vacuum. (Vlad’s relationship with the vacuum is definitely complicated.) You see, V...

I just assumed the phrase was always more or less with us. Yet there actually is an origin story. As I was researching other classic paradoxes for this month’s theme, it turns out that the line “Less is More” first appears in Andrea del Sarto, a poem by Robert Browning about the artist. The poem b...

It’s not a problem I ever envisioned having. More accurately, I never really calculated this particular disruption in my generally cozy life. You see, this morning my iPhone told me the temperature outside with wind chill felt like -11°. Blessed with excellent central heating, it seemed a perfect ...

It may be a cliche, but as January winds down, I can’t help but wonder how many of us have already abandoned the resolutions we made––with all the best intentions––barely a month ago. Gyms that are packed on January 2nd by mid-February often look like ghost towns. Indeed, according to a recent NPR su...

Last Sunday, Vlad and I accidentally got caught up in a mob. (One brimming with teeth and claws.) Innocently enough, we were headed out for our early afternoon walk to the wine store when we spied a roving pack of dogs at the intersection. Vlad immediately recognized our friend Miku the Weimerehne...

It’s always important to consider the source of your advice. The wisdom I’ll soon reveal came from a college friend and, when it comes to business savvy, I believe this story demonstrates his credibility. During an intense round of interviews for a prestigious post-college position, the interviewer a...

It may be both the most sincere and also the most ruthless thing I do. Each year, I invite my nearest and dearest over to decorate our Christmas tree. It is a delightful gathering where I serve only gingerbread. At the same time, it’s also an incredible time saver. It’s perhaps a no...

The first time it happened was slightly unnerving. Vlad and I weren’t expecting anyone when we heard something that wasn’t even really a knock at the door. More like a subtle, almost eerie tap. The peephole revealed very little until I noticed some tan fur at the bottom. Vlad’s best friend Mali...

All elections are important but this one felt particularly so. Eager for the support, I brought Vlad with me to my local polling center which is a mere 3-minute walk from our home. The last time I voted there, they told me dogs were allowed. This time, however, I now noticed signage to the contrar...