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May 7

The latest: Parenting.

There’s a good reason for the lack of updates: we had our first child in April. I never really thought I’d have a baby, especially in the middle of a pandemic, but here we are. I’ve written about the experience elsewhere, so I won’t go into more detail here. The first four weeks as a parent have been interesting, though, to say the least.

Portfolio updates, as always, are a work in progress. I published a LOT in 2019 — sometimes upward of 30 articles a month — in addition to an editing gig. It’s on the to-do list.

The memes were right: April distance brought May existence. So anything can happen.


Aug 30

Short and sweet.

Yes, it’s been over a year since I’ve updated. If you know me, you know that it was a hell of a year, too, and why, when something needed to be cut from my to-do list, this was it.

During that time, though, work’s been busier than ever. I even had to give up my twice-monthly volunteer position at the Art Institute of Chicago, just to keep up with my workflow, but I’m grateful to have had the experience.

My links in the navigation bar haven’t been updated in ages, but for the benefit of those who might be checking up on me, some highlights from the past months are below:

What else? In rough chronological order:

  • Tagged along on the Rebelle Rally, which was as humbling an experience as I’ve ever had
  • Bought a new car, 2019 Subaru WRX Series.Gray
  • Got my first tattoo, a Grateful Dead dancing bear, in honor of my father
  • Joined the team at Hagerty Classic Cars as a freelance editor, which has been fantastic so far
  • Andy and I bought a boat, a 1979 Boston Whaler Montauk, named “Cocoanut Woman”

Can’t promise I’ll update more often, but thanks for reading, as always.

Jun 8

The latest: parts unknown.

Sorry for the clickbait title and lack of cute LEGO minifigure. There are no pithy song lyrics to cover this.

I need to talk for a minute about how much it sucks that Anthony Bourdain is gone.

For personal reasons, I really can’t. That is, I can’t go into the level of detail I want to.

Instead, I’ll say this. This is a man who overcame incredible demons to become beloved by so many. Paraphrasing the words of a tweet I liked this morning, he showed Americans why we shouldn’t be afraid of other cultures. He showed me why, as a woman who didn’t have a passport until her mid-20s, I needed to have less fear and go see places I’d only heard about.

I spent the morning reading the constant flow of thinkpieces instead of working. I know how much it sucks to hurt constantly and it feels like no one understands. I have a job people want. I have people who love me. I have a house and a husband and pets and more money in the bank than I ever thought I would have. What’s the fucking problem?

If you’ve never suffered from this, it’s harder than you think. And there are no answers.

I’m not trying to make Bourdain’s death about me; rather, I’m trying to explain why this celebrity suicide gutted me in ways that others haven’t. And there are people in my very own family who will say — well, he was selfish. Well, he had it all. Well, why do you care about his 11-year-old-daughter today when you never did before.

I’m an auto writer who doesn’t give a flying fuck about car TV shows or professional racing or all the things auto writers are supposed to care about. But I always said, I wished Anthony Bourdain would do car reviews of whatever he happened to drive during whatever he was filming. He was sharp and funny and made amazing observations. He had a way with words that I can only hope to find someday. He had a sense of humor that appealed especially to people like me who see the world through a super dark lens. The world won’t be the same without him. And I am sorry for all of the pain he suffered, in public and in secret, even though I didn’t know him, even if I only passed him on the street once on a random morning in Chicago, and he smirked at me as I did a double-take, and I didn’t speak to him, but I’ve held that moment dear ever since.

Here’s what I had published this week.

U.S. News & World Report:
10 Best 2018 SUVs
The Best Four-Door Sports Cars in 2018
Nitrogen in Tires: Pros and Cons

HowStuffWorks:
National Historic Vehicle Register Honors Elite Cars
Rolls-Royce Finally Enters the SUV Market

car-ED:
2017 Lexus GS F
2018 Subaru WRX STI Type RA

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