Some of the posts about memories got me thinking. To keep it all alive I make and display collages from stuff I seem to constantly gather: photos, schwag, postcards, tickets -- anything that has some meaning or will spark a memory of a particular moment.

The one on/… Read full post »

My name is Dorelle Rabinowitz. I’m named after my grandmother - my father’s mother. Born in Romania, apparently Dorelle is a more common name there than it is here. When she came to the US in 1917, the story is that the authorities couldn't understand… Read full post »

Have I mentioned I'm big into old movies? Last night I watched an amazing film, "Stairway to Heaven," and I had to write about it.

This film, directed by the master Michael Powell, was also titled "A Matter of Life and Death." Starring David Niven and… Read full post »

My mom just made me this hand-crochet afghan  - its a house-warming gift.  I think I mentioned to her about a year ago that I wanted a granny square 70s type throw to use as a bedspread (and I bought one on etsy.) About a year ago.… Read full post »

Bianca lives in the corner. She's about six feet tall, wears a size four or six, and has a thing for bridesmaid dresses and disco makeup at all times. Lately, she's taken to wearing a long brown wig, but has also been known to wear a short blond… Read full post »

In a way, summer camp saved me. For two summers I was a camp counselor at a sleepaway camp, where I escaped my family, school & worries while enjoying my youth.

As a child I went to a day camp for artists, where we had majors and minors. (painting and/… Read full post »

I'm looking for ideas on how to make my ugly fireplace less ugly. It is the focus of my living room, and I love lighting a fire - but its big and beige. The surround is made of beige tiles, and the step in front is huge.… Read full post »

I have a thing about my albums - I love them and still play them all the time. The atwork is special to me, and I've used them to decorate my home. The key is that I have to like both the artist, the album and… Read full post »

Part of the stated concept of OpenSalon is that it is a social networking site. Designanator and I thought the OS community would be interested in our developing conversations. The following exchange pretty much summarizes our early comm/… Read full post »

My mother is a wonderful painter, and I have fond memories of her teaching me how to mix colors, stretch a canvas, and how to draw in perspective.

Years ago though, she started painting the same face, unintentionally, in each of her paintings. I think this is the first… Read full post »

After my last post, I'd to share my lighter side. And what better way than to show some of my Elvis collectibles. You might notice that I have a teeny teeny thing about the King, but I rarely purchase any of this schwag - most of it has been… Read full post »

Its the view from my old apt in Palo Alto.

This is from my new apt further south.

  Read full post »

Don't daisies make you smile? 

I need to today. I just started a new job. You all know it. I am a Valleyslut, having worked for two other really well-known places as well. Yesterday the leaders of my User Experience Design Team (including me)  had an offsite, and… Read full post »

I have a tendency to share too much - so finding 10 things I haven't revealed before is tough.

1. I can name all the "Best Picture, Actor, Actress" Academy Award winners. My dad got me hooked and for some reason it stuck. I have to say that the/
… Read full post »

My best friend's life is so totally alien to me that I almost can't imagine it. She's married, with 2 kids, and is a busy stay-at-home mom who is really really active in the PTA. She and her husband belong to a country club, and she spent the past… Read full post »

A couple of years ago I moved to the bay area from NYC, where I'd basically lived my entire life. Although I hadn't lived with my family since I went away to college, I'd always lived just across town, close by, ready (and expected)  to be relied upon to… Read full post »

So everyday I use a bit of a song lyric as my IM status. Its not helpful at all -- it doesn't tell anyone if I'm in a meeting or available, but I don't care. I choose the song first thing when I get to my desk -- mostly… Read full post »

I'm not a girly woman - I tend to be perceived as tough and quirky. But as I played with my co-worker's 4 yr old daughter Kaita, I started giggling and tickling her and whispering secrets, and we had a lot of girly fun together. Later, I asked her… Read full post »