Read the full story here at the Teva Collect blog.

Let's Talk on the Phone This Week (Really)

One of the easiest, yet most satisfying ways I keep in touch with friends is with a phone call--sometimes several times a week, but at the very least half a dozen times a month. And this past week, I had an influx of delightful rings from my nearest and dearest. There was a heart-to-heart on why a friend's "combat boot-wearing Clark Kent" love interest was more interesting in sharing his chocolate chip cookie recipes instead of a glass of wine. While on the receiving end of a transcontinental call, I was encouraged to "lead with my heart and not my head" but not be so "CB" (read: Carrie Bradshaw) when it came to new men in my life. And it isn't unusual for me to save a few of these humorous voicemails ("Grandma!" "Cocoa Caliente!" "Grams, are you in your 'jams already?!"). The phone call is as direct a form of communication you can get without actually having to be in the same room with that person. Unlike other modern-ish correspondence like texting or instant messaging, a phone's most exceptional quality comes from being able to keep a conversation's score, so to speak.

No amount of emoticons can take the place of hearing a friend's in-the-moment vocal reactions, whether it's because of a lunch-break debate over outfit potentials for the evening (it's chilly, but I just shaved by legs, so skirt for dinner girlfriend?), or a two-hour dialogue about what each other's serious and silly goals--become fluent in Spanish, start an interior design company, hire another beautiful soap opera-worthy intern, etc. There's something undoubtedly heartening and genuine in hearing your friend's uncontrollable laughter after sharing some buffoonery of foreign, yet utterly amusing British slang.

Today, having a new job that keeps me out of the house a good 11 hours a day, five days a week, my social playtime became understandably limited, with 9-5 business hours and (gasp) weekends no longer applying to me. It also meant letting go of those occasional, but much-coveted happy hours at Barbarella. 

In the end, rather than let a career force me to purge all social interaction, it's helped redefine it. Time is valuable for everyone these days, and I try to make every minute spent with a friend, count. Perhaps, in this way, it serves as a healthy reminder that when it comes to investing time in friendships--it should always be about quality not quantity, especially when you want to make that five-minute "ketchup" chat in between meetings, matter to you both. 


Related: Listen More, Talk Less, Ask Questions

Men Sure Don't Dance Like They Used To.

St. Vincent

I'm slightly (but in an oh-so-healthy way) obsessed with St. Vincent. Especially this song, her album is out today.

Screwy Dating Affairs: Guitar Strings

I used to think that screwy dating affairs could only originate from a certain breed of young types -- the sort of folks who'd often put themselves in those socially horrifying and irresponsible situations because well, they enjoyed late-night, drug-induced trysts, and partying with the wrong crowd, and therefore were wholly responsible for whatever dating catastrophes happened upon them. 
Boy, were my theories lacking research.

A lifetime of playing a bachelor(ette) isn't even required to understand what all the hubbub is about. In the past year of my singledom status, I've been blessed with many a chivalrous moment as being told by *writer guy, "I think we should see each other for a few hours this weekend;" being emailed a list of I'll-make-love-to-you songs by *car guy; and *tv guy who simply insisting on sending me a list of get-to-know-you questions before our date (you know, the one that never happened).

I suspect every man has over the years honed his own special method for gaining the affection of women (even if it's for one night for said affection). I once interviewed a guy who authored his first novel on bedding women by way of a little saute and garnish. A totally interesting guy -- and for a reason, he carried a holy sensual agenda that most single gals would come to know. And Danny Devito implies a little more than safe sex with his monster condom bit. To be fair, this isn't an original Devito Pièce de résistance as I had the pleasure (er, no pun intended) of experiencing this same triumphant act while on a date with *Guitar strings.

*Guitar strings was making me laugh to the point that I could hardly finish my prosciutto and wine. Entertaining was second nature to him, as he performed for a living, natch. As a lead singer, he was more than accustomed to girls screaming at his sweaty body as it pulsated across stage at the House of Blues and the Viper Room. Dinner soon concluded and we began exiting our booth. *Guitar strings smiled one last time at me as he turned to reach for his jacket. As he did a glimmering gold piece came flying out of his jacket and directly found itself a new home atop the check on the table. Blinking, I bent closer to see what I thought a recognizable logo. And that's when I realized what I was looking at.

Yes, I suddenly found myself standing in the middle of a very populated dining room, next to a guy who I'd just finish dinner with ... and who'd just casually let a Magnum condom tumble out of the privacy of his duds and into public view for all of West Hollywood to witness over their antipastos.

I nervously laughed and pointed to the still-glimmering package, turned to him and asked, "Ha, so, you trying to leave our waitress a tip or something?"

To this day, I still can't decide if the in-flight Magnum or the distressing + horrified look that immediately settled on his face was the better of entertainment to me that night -- either way *Guitar strings delivered a great performance. 

Adventure Journal - How Girl Scout Cookies Kill Orangutans

Please check out a story, "How Girl Scout Cookies Kill Orangutans" I did for online magazine Adventure Journal (from the makers of National Geographic Adventure). I'm especially happy because in under a week, my story has received over 100 Facebook "likes" and nearly 50 mentions. 


I became interested in writing about these two girl scouts after reading about their stance against the Girl Scouts organization, a well-established organization they set out to idealize, but later refused to represent as their own values after learning a dark secret behind the much coveted cookie. Please share the story and learn more about adventure lifestyle at Adventure Journal.