As you'll know if you've read a previous post of mine, (http://open.salon.com/blog/littleboxofspoons/2010/02/12/handsome_is_as_handsome_doesnt) I have a phobia. It isn't a terribly debilitating phobia, so I don't actually remember that I have it, most of the time.  Anyway, just for kicks… Read full post »

Halloween is my Christmas.

Every year of my life I have dressed up in some way for Halloween. Every year of my adult life, I have made at least one and often two or three new costumes to wear for the occasion.  

And, as a qualified expert on the subject,… Read full post »

There are certain movies that need to come with their own special warning label on the dvd: "Warning: viewing this movie may cause you to crave Italian food like nobody's business." Something like that.

There could be a scale, too, like movies that only feature yummy food in one or two… Read full post »

In my experience there are two kinds of people in the world. Those who give advice to just about everyone and those who never give advice unless it is asked for.

I myself have become the latter variety, mainly because I believe in the golden rule and I hate when other… Read full post »

Ever since Inception hit theaters I've been thinking about dreams, and how the dreams in that movie don't look anything like any dreams I've ever had.

I know, I KNOW! The dreams in the movie are supposed to be manufactured dreams in which the dreamer doesn't necessarily know he or she… Read full post »

Human:  "Cat, what is your purpose in life?"

Cat: (condescending stare)

Human: "Come on, what do you do? What do you contribute to the world?"

Cat: "Perhaps your already-feeble human eyesight is deteriorating.  If it weren't, you would immediately recognize that I contribute beauty, and qui… Read full post »

This year, as I sealed the envelope of the card I was sending to my mom for Mothers Day, it occurred to me that there was once a time when I firmly intended to remain childless forever.

I still am, for now, but my intentions have changed.  For the moment, I'm… Read full post »

Ever since returning to college last summer, I have found myself in the rather lonely and thankless position of being The Girl Who Talks In Class.  I chose this, and I'm not sorry, even if no one else ever wants to initiate a class discussion or dare to ask a question,… Read full post »

 This is an experiment.

From time to time, my dad and I will exchange e-mails of an utterly nonsensical nature. We do this to amuse ourselves, and because it has become a cherished family tradition. I've often wanted to share the humor with others, but it sometimes becomes politically… Read full post »

First the background:

My best friend can't read.  

Well, she can, but it is not her strong point.  She was so slow at reading, even in our early teens that when we would drive places, she'd ask me to read the signs for her. 

If we watch a foreign… Read full post »

Dear Professor:

I know that you are tenured and therefore you don't have to lift a finger to improve your teaching method, but it would be a good idea if you could find a way to do so and thus join the 21st century. 

It has come to my attention that… Read full post »

Dear Me,

 Oh boy.  This is not likely to be worth it.  For the most part anyway.

So, here's the good news: that obsession with chastity that you currently have? That will serve you well.  Don't let anyone get on your case about it, those people will be sorry later.  You… Read full post »

Some people are terrified of clowns.  Some are scared of spiders.  Heck, I even know a guy who has a fear of paraplegics.  He will cringe and run away if he sees one.

I am not afraid of these things. I am afraid of handsome men.

(I devoutly hope none… Read full post »

I have begun to notice of late that some people can't seem to refrain from using the word "little" in rather annoying ways.

There are relatively minor offenses, like, "I don't know if I can make it to your little shindig tonight."  Or, "I love your little outfit!"

Eh. Minor.… Read full post »

Lest you mistake my meaning, this is not a rant, merely an observation.

Every time I write a new post (so, not terribly often) I am a little bit sad because I know that in all probability this means no one will ever read any of the previous posts on my… Read full post »

In a time of some financial desperation, which admittedly looks like a cakewalk in hindsight, with the perspective brought on by the recent recession, I once spent several months as a game tester. 

Before I get into this tale, I should explain that I am not a gamer. I own… Read full post »

My name is Abby, so A is my letter.

As a child, I did not like my name.  Neither my first name nor my last name.  Since this is all about A, we'll stick with my first name.

My classmates were constantly rhyming it with scabby, plus I really wanted to… Read full post »

Actually, those initials don't really apply to all of these. At the tender age of thirteen I still didn't know what we were supposed to do with boys when we caught them.

I distinctly remember my first ever literary crush. I was thirteen and he was Boromir in “Lord… Read full post »

The other day, a friend and I were talking about Russell Crowe for some reason and his seeming lack of a sense of humor (in my friend's opinion) and the tigers in "Gladiator" that he fights in the arena.

It was one of those random conversations that turned into a big… Read full post »

The 'you' in my title does not refer to you, specifically.  (Unless, of course, you really hate strippers.)  It refers to people in general who use strippers as their go-to textbook example of bad people.

A guy friend of mine, (who is himself a textbook example of many irresponsible and laz… Read full post »

This year, autumn has arrived with the swiftness of a cricket and the subtlety of a cannonball, here in my part of SoCal, anyway.  And once it's autumn here, it's really pretty much winter, such as it is.

 I have always been particularly sensitive to the changing seasons, which may explain… Read full post »

I have been a professional costume designer for eight years.

When I started out, one of the first things I noticed was that many other costume designers -ususally older ones- seemed to have a chip on their shoulders.  Not all of them, but a significant percentage.  To the degree that… Read full post »

Is it okay to criticize your significant other's appearance?

(Is it okay, or worth a damn to criticize anyone's appearance? Probably not, but there's a reason I ask.)

My feeling used to be that it was okay to criticize aspects of their appearance that are within their control, as long… Read full post »

 ...unless it involves burning his effigy.  No, I'm kidding, that would be a lame and pointless thing to do.  But seriously, at the risk of sounding like a total Debbie Downer, why do we celebrate (or even observe?) Columbus Day?

I recall some time ago when I was in Barcelona,… Read full post »

Since this past June, I have been attending school full-time in pursuit of some sort of degree.  I'm not sure what yet.  The original plan was anthropology, but then I got sort of seduced by history and the idea of teaching. The jury is still out, but I'm having a wonderful… Read full post »