Guinea Pig Update: Leif!

By | October 30, 2017

Do you remember me telling you about my friend, Leif?* I knew him when I lived in Chicago. He carries one of the best souls I’ve ever encountered. Kind and loyal and good, we saw each other almost daily for years and I counted him among my favorite people. He was also, unfortunately, a super… Read More »

Book Reviews – October 2017 Part II

By | October 23, 2017

Ever since finishing my book, I’ve felt adrift and wrong. This happens to me at the end of every big project — after graduating law school, after paying off my loans, after officially retiring — defeat takes over. I always expect to feel a sense of pride that never comes. It doesn’t help that there’s a… Read More »

Book Reviews – October 2017

By | October 16, 2017

Reading is everything. Wild by Cheryl Strayed After reading the magnificent book Tiny Beautiful Things, I’ve fallen in love with Cheryl Strayed. Wild is the book she wrote after the death of her mother and the end of her marriage. She walks the Pacific Coast Trail and tries to heal. Her voice is so achingly lovely and… Read More »

How to stop feeling old

By | October 2, 2017

In the days leading up to my 35th birthday, I spent more time than I’m proud to admit feeling mopey and old, bitter and overly emotional. Life isn’t a race. Logically, I know it’s not a race. I reminded myself repeatedly that it’s not a race. I still felt like I was behind and losing… Read More »

Book Reviews – September 2017

By | September 25, 2017

People have asked how I pick books to read. I have a large list entitled “books” in Google Keep and whenever someone recommends a book to me, I add it to that list. When I go to the library, I whip out my books list and see what that particular location has available immediately. I… Read More »

Did you already freeze your credit?

By | September 18, 2017

For years, I would check my credit report every four months. I can peek at them for free once a year from each of the three credit agencies, so staggering this way gives me the maximum amount of free without obsessing and still keeping a close eye. I like this strategy too because, if I do… Read More »

Updating My Chart – May-August 2017

By | September 4, 2017

This reminder popped up for me recently: Check your net worth, my darling! Oh. Right. It’s September. Another four months of living and not working and it’s time to write another post updating my progress on this early retirement experiment. This is normally my best shot at evangelizing. Look, it’s working! Truth be told, I… Read More »