After becoming a flight attendant, I’ve learned a little bit of something about spontaneous adventure.  In one week, I spent half a day in Jamaica (bought Roasted Ground coffee and coconut rum candies), I explored nearly every edge of New York City (found a killer pizza parlor, took mock pictures at Tiffany’s and ate cookies from Bouchon Bakery) and I sunbathed next to a clear pool in Florida while sending Twit-Pics of the palm tree-clad view.

I’ve learned a lot about myself through all of this exploring. I’ve learned that I love not knowing what I’m going to be doing next week. I’ve learned that I love taking photos of new things at different angles and color schemes. I’ve learned that I love hotel beds and being alone for at least an hour a day. I’ve learned that I will ask for help if I need it. Or directions. Read More »

I did it! I graduated. Although the moment of hearing my name, walking across the stage, receiving my diploma, and turning my tassel went by incredibly fast, the road to Commencement has been an unforgettable eye-opening four-year journey.

It’s been made up of classes I’ve loved (like Arab-American literature) and those I’ve hated (Computers 100, I’m talking to you and your Microsoft Word projects). There were those endless papers analyzing literary theorists, ethical dilemmas, Shakespeare’s couplets, and acts of radical feminism. I worked on and cried over hundreds of math problems and graphs, all while reading books that would forever change me and the ways I think about the world around me. I wrote and edited poem after poem for numerous workshop classes, while expanding my poetry vocabulary from e.e. cummings and Emily Dickinson’s collections to the voices of Lorine Niedecker and Naomi Shihab Nye. All these academic experiences led me to learn things I would have never known if I strayed off on a different path.

Outside of school, I interned – a lot. There were the internships I learned a lot at, and the ones that failed to utilize their internship programs to the full extent. There were the people in the business world I met that I admire and respected, and then there were the ones that made me promise myself “I will never end up like that.” I traveled, whether it was from the Upper East Side to SoHo in New York City or from London to Paris for a weekend. Honestly, I even spent most of my time in college traveling to and from other colleges around me (this was part of my college’s campus culture – especially at such a small all women’s college), which convinced me that a two hour car ride is nothing but a quick ride down the road. Read More »

As our parents told us in a desperate attempt to keep us away from promiscuity – sex with someone you care about is the best kind of sex you can have. Turns out they were right… well, basically.

Gettin’ it on with someone you care about has all the ingredients that make for great sex – it means more than just getting off, you trust each other, you know what your partner likes and, most importantly, you can have fun without being self-conscious. But all this great sex sometimes comes with a downside: no one wants to admit it, but over time we get a little bored doin’ it with the same person over and over. That being said, even when you’re perfectly happy with what you’ve got goin’ on, sometimes it’s just fun to try new things! Spaghetti may be your favorite food, but after eating it every night, you might want to see what it’s like with meatballs.

Bad analogy? I tried.

In my experience, the key to a great sex life is some good old-fashioned adventure. The make-out, go down, have sex routine is nice occasionally, but the truth is that it does get old eventually. Adding a little spice to your bedroom routine is the key to a long and happy sexual relationship — whether it be going at it in risqué places (I’ll save that for another post) or trying out some fun toys.

The first thing you’ll need if you’re looking for some adventure is an open mind (and hopefully your partner has one too). A sex swing or some kinky bondage might not be for you, but how will you know until you try? If your sex life is reaching a lull, try out one (or all) of these toys and enjoy your new, passionate, anything-but-boring sex life. Read More »

So, I was out at the bar with some coworkers last week, and a guy started talking about “The New Facebook.”

“There’s a ‘new’ Facebook?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he replied. “Is it bad that I want to go home right now just to try it out?”

“Definitely,” I responded. “Stay here and get drunk. New Facebook will be waiting when the bar closes.”

Facebook has had quite the impact on American pop culture. I mean, really? This guy wanted to leave the bar to try it!? Whenever there’s even a minimal change in the layout and operation of the social network, it causes an uproar.

Remember when mini-feed first popped up? Immediately, groups sprouted all over the internet:

“Down with Mini-Feed!”

“Boycott F/B if They Don’t Get Rid of Mini-Feed Immediately!”

“Facebook Makes Stalking Easier with Mini-Feed!”

You get the point. Of course, now we’re all used to the program, and many of us keep updated via mini-feed every day: “Hey, I saw on Mini-Feed that you got a new job, congratulations!”

So, even though I’m hesitant to add too many applications (I don’t like that we have to check a box giving the ‘application’ full access to the info in our profiles), and even though I’m fully content keeping tabs on my friends the “old way,” I decided to check out the hullabaloo that is The New Facebook. Read More »

I love comics. I really do. Art, story, quick pacing. Awesome. The worse thing about comics? Having to wait a month between issues. Or if you’re like me and wait for the collected volumes then the wait is more like six months to a year. But still I love them. So when I need to fill that void of comic while I await the latest Fables book I turn to the internets. The next best thing to a comic in hand is a comic on screen I say! Not a comic book aficionado? No problem, I’ve got a list here to get you started. There’s a little bit for everyone on this list but be warned, this is no list of Sunday morning funnies. These are hardcore. And highly enjoyable!

[Oh and a note, many of these comics a feature a strong cast of female characters. Not because I’m being all super feminist but because well, girls kick ass]

1) Questionable Content

Indie hipsters, a trendy coffee shop, obscure references and snaky comments. No it’s not your Saturday afternoon, it’s a daily web comic by J. Jacques featuring a cast of hip twenty somethings just trying to make their way through life. Oh and also there are havoc wreaking tiny robots. Join the adventures of Faye, Marty, Dora, and the rest of the gang as they work through their piles of issues, find love, and make fun of the goth kids in the mall. Funny and easy to get into. A great place to start Read More »