She looked the then-governor of New York in the eyes—the “mean, bulging eyes”—and pictured him on the toilet. “I think he was taken aback by the fact that I was... Read more >>

Butterflies, chemistry, vibes, that feeling of being tingly all over—there are many ways to describe infatuation. We’ve all had crushes, from the very first moment we locked eyes on that... Read more >>

I close my eyes tightly and cross my hands over my chest as I catch and hold my breath. I feel a slight push on my back and I quickly say a silent prayer and JUMP! As I fall rapidly, I open my eyes,... Read more >>

“Do you want to try on my flak jacket?” I was sitting in Donatella Lorch’s Washington, DC house, looking at the books on her shelves, the dagger collection on her walls, and the... Read more >>

I'm not a very good dancer. About every 10 years or so, a brief confluence of adrenaline, endorphins and booze  brings some rhythm into my soul and I manage to keep in step with some... Read more >>

I finished my morning coffee and thought, “Why not?” So I got dressed. I pulled on my black fishnet stockings (the ones with the seams up the back), stuffed my bra with socks (one on each... Read more >>

Stress. It’s a loaded word. A little bit is a good thing: it gets your adrenaline going and can kick-start your motivation to achieve a variety of things. But too much of it can be... Read more >>

When I think of summertime, I think of lemonade stands, sand in my bathing suit, and three blissful months during which it’s okay to eat ice cream every day. But sultry weather gives rise to... Read more >>

I have always called both of my sisters by the same name. Since they are older than I am (although, they would argue, not that much older), I address them with the traditional Filipino... Read more >>

Summer 2001 caught me spending a weekend in the cities of San Sebastian and Pamplona, Spain. I arrived there running from a sad feeling; looking for new things and some excitement. Every July,... Read more >>