Amy Ettinger

Children's Books

2011-06-03T09:03:00.000-07:00

If you have to read the same story 15 times a day, it ought to be a good one. As promised here's a list of a few books that stand multiple(as in hundreds) of readings.

1. Knuffle Bunny (1,2,3)
2. The Fierce Bad Rabbit (yes, it's violent but it's action-packed and the text is streamlined).
3. Madeline(I prefer the original. The Bad Hat requires some skipping unless you want to introduce your child to the horrors of the guillotine.)
4. Olivia (the original)
5. Maisy Goes Camping

Next week, I'll provide a list of books specifically written to drive parents batty. Books without plot, books with bad rhymes and books you hate that your kids love. Send me your worst and I'll include them.

One More Book

2011-05-31T20:20:00.000-07:00

I have one more book to ad to this morning's list:

You Know When the Men are Gone.

I'll be posting my hits/misses for children's books later in the week, so stay tuned.

Recommended Books for 2011

2011-05-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

I have benefited from access to McHenry Library, and have read some great books in the past few months. Here's a brief list of my recommendations for 2011:

1. Say Her Name
2. The Tiger's Wife
3. A Widow's Story
4. To the End of the Land(I know this wasn't a 2011 release, but it's the best book I've read in years).

Franzen is not a rock star!

2011-01-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

I really, really enjoyed Freedom and The Corrections, but I find it odd that people are scalping tickets to the Franzen reading tonight in Santa Cruz. Some lady from Ben Lomond tried to get me to pay $40 for a $10 ticket. Santa Cruz is turning into New York more every second.

Stacey from Ben Lomond: that's really bad Karma and Santa Cruz is a really small town.

Dangers of Lead Paint

2010-10-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

I have a column posted in today's NY Times Motherlode about the dangers of lead-based paint. If you have young children and live in an older home, please consider doing the tests. You can pick them up at almost any hardware store for under $10.

Also, the routine blood test Julianna had at 12 months was literally a life-saver. If you live in a city, please make sure you get your young child tested.

To read the story click here

More Books!

2010-09-20T10:09:00.001-07:00

I finished two pretty good books following the Franzen epic. "Girl in Translation" by Jean Kwok and "Service Included" by Phoebe Damrosch. I wish the Damrosch book were a little more revealing about life at a 4 star restaurant. I wouldn't have been suprised if Thomas Keller line edited it himself. But, it was still an interesting behind-the-scenes look at NYC restaurants. I liked the tidbit about how the overindulgence in food and drink leads to embarrassing stomach upsets in the dining room!

Did anyone else have trouble with the dialect in "The Help?" It was just so jarring knowing the author is white and taking on the "voice" of this black character. I know it's a huge bestseller, but I couldn't get past the first two chapters.

I am now in a very dangerous predicament. I am without reading material! Please send suggestions (or books!) if you have them.

Freedom

2010-09-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

I plowed through Franzen's new book in just a few days. I wish I'd taken it a little slower, and savored it. But, rushing through was fun too!
My favorite passage is from near the end of the book about a lesbian couple who have two year old twins:

"Between Cathy's job as a public defender and Donna's at a women's shelter, the two of them together earned one decent salary and were getting one person's decent night sleep."

Mystery Object #2

2010-09-01T08:43:00.001-07:00

Mystery Object #1

2010-08-30T12:36:00.001-07:00

Rorschach Test

2010-08-30T12:25:00.001-07:00

My daughter received a lovely set of alphabet blocks from her aunt and uncle a few months back. She loves to stack them up and topple them over.

The only challenge is that these blocks not only have letters, but they have many drawings that my husband and I cannot identify. I have started admitting that I just don't know what it is she's pointing to, and that we'll have to wait til dada gets home. Dan, however, is beginning to make up words to fit these mysterious objects! This doesn't seem like the best parenting strategy, so I've decided to enlist your help, dear reader(s).

I will try to post a few of them in the next few days. Thanks in advance for your help clearing up the mystery.

Three Twins

2010-08-26T16:58:00.001-07:00

My latest favorite frozen treat is Bittersweet Chocolate from Three Twins. Well, every ice cream they make, I like--but the Bittersweet Chocolate is truly a stand-out.

I'm pretty picky about my ice cream habits. In fact, for awhile I was so miserable with the choices that I started making it myself. But, with this new brand(on sale, by the way at Whole Foods) I may leave the ice cream maker in the freezer. I am receiving no money for this product placement. Trust me. This stuff is truly delicious.

If you're in S.F. they have a store in the lower Haight. Not far from my old stomping ground. If it had been there when I was pregnant, I may still be working off the baby weight.

Candy Pushers

2010-08-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I wrote about my rude treatment at Radio Shack in Santa Cruz. Today I have another customer service complaint--this time at Walgreens.

I went to pick up some photos and overheard the manager tell the sales people that they needed to "sell more" today. I couldn't really figure out what products they were expected to push until I reached the check out line.
"Your baby's so cute," said the woman at the register. "Have you tried the Heath bars? They are so good, and they're on sale, two for $3."

Now the Health bar is among my least favorite candy bar. It's undistinguished compared to the Kit Kat or Snickers. In fact, I can't really remember what's really even in a Heath bar.
I informed the sales clerk that I wasn't interested in candy at 10 a.m., and she promptly lost interest in both me and the baby.

Doesn't it take all the fun in impulse buys if someone's pushing to fill a quota?

Alektorophobia

2010-07-19T13:03:00.000-07:00

What causes Alektorophobia (fear of chickens) in a 16 month old? So far, my daughter has had only positive associations with poultry. She's been visiting Rancho San Antonio since she was a few months old, watching the chickens prance around and lay very expensive eggs. Maybe she's remembering the annoying rooster we used to hear near our Haight Street apartment. Or, maybe the duck song we sing to her in the bath has caused lingering trauma?

J wimpered at the site of two chickens in Santa Cruz last night. But to be fair to the creatures, she's also been cowering around cats and dogs these days. Any ideas about how to make her less scared of harmless animals? Anyone else with Alektrorophobia out there?

Doppleganger

2010-07-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

I recently received an email from the other Amy Ettinger. The one who lives in Arizona and whose name pops up when I occassionally Google myself.

We all have these doubles. My husband shares his name with a crazy murderer and a Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

My double (the one who contacted me) runs a film festival, and I've always thought her job sounded cooler than mine. After she wrote me, I Googled my name again and found there's yet another Amy Ettinger on Twitter whose bio states "I'm awesome." Hmmm. It's good to know we share not just a name but high self-esteem.

I'd love to hear from other Amy Ettinger's out there.

Maybe we can follow each other on Twitter -- or just figure out if we're long lost cousins.

Rude Service

2010-07-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

I was just rudely ignored while waiting in line at Radio Shack on Soquel Ave.(you know who you are you very large "customer service rep."). Granted I had just had a run, my hair was sticking up in 75 different directions, and I may have looked a little itinerant. But, Julianna was as always carefully groomed, sitting quite patiently in her expensive stroller, playing with the earphones I intended to purchase.

One customer service guy was helping someone out. The other was busy making deals over the phone and ignoring me. So I threw the earphones down on the counter and left in a huff.

Was this the correct etiquette, Dear Reader? What do you do when confronted by bad service? This is a pressing concern because Santa Cruz has a reputation in this department that it fully lives up to.

Playground Vandalism

2010-07-08T16:46:00.001-07:00

I was upset to see that the high-speed slides at my daughter's playground have been closed due to vandalism. These slides are not like the ones I grew up with--they are made out of some material that generates speed of roughly 50 mph. I'm not exaggerating. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating slightly. Where did they in find the materials for equipment? Mars?

Seriously, I don't know why anyone would want to vandalize a playground. Someone who had/is having an unhappy childhood? Someone afraid of anything generating such great speed?

Whoever you are, I hope they catch you and force you to go down each slide 100 times. Maybe after the chafing you'll learn your lesson.

Character Murder

2010-07-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

Can you forgive an author who kills off your favorite character? I've always been able to, but recently my husband stopped reading a book because he was so devastated by the death of a main character.(I don't want to give anything away, but he's really missing out on the rest of a very good book). He has called the author "evil" and "mean-spirited". But, really the story could not move forward without this pivotal plot twist.

I have heard others complain that they can't read a book because they don't like a character. Do we really need to be best friends with these fictional creations? Can't we read a book to gain some insight into other people(even people we may not like)?

I have found that some people read to escape--they want stories that transport them to places they want to be. While others read to be challenged or to learn.
What kind of reader are you? And do you think you can forgive an author for creating unlikeable characters, or killing off ones we like too much?

Then What Happened?

2010-06-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

My husband and I often share books. This is one of the many wonderful benefits of our relationship. Of course, we don't agree on everything. He tends to shy away from the bodice rippers and I don't generally tackle the Proust.

Last night I finished Lowboy, and Dan asked me what happened at the end of the book. This is a novel he read and recommended. It's probably the second time that's happened this month (the first was Await Your Reply), and it made me realize that a lot of the novels we've been reading are purposely vague about important plot lines.

I tend to always think my interpretation is correct. While Dan will often contemplate multiple interpretations.

So, what do you think dear reader? Why are so many recent novels purposely ambiguous? Is that a selling point, or do you like to read things where you clearly know what happens to each character in the end?

Let the Great World Spin

2010-06-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

Just finished this novel. One of the most beautiful books I've read in years.

Redheads are Here to Stay

2010-06-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

My daughter has bright red curly hair. Ever since her copper mane started growing, I've been hearing gloom and doom predications about the longevity of the redhead.

I'm relieved to finally debunk the myth that redheads will be extinct in 100 years. According to Dr. Barry Starr, a geneticist-in-residence at the San Jose Tech Museum, redheads will be brightening our lives for years to come. Starr used the Hardy Weinberg equation to calculate that the population of redheads is about .1 percent. They are rare, but will not be going the way of the dodo or unicorn any time soon. If you're interested in reading more, click here.

Now I don't have to join the Facebook group P.A.E.R. (People Against the Extinction of Redheads).

Last Call hits the Bestsellers List

2010-06-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to see that Daniel Okrent's Last Call hit the New York Times bestseller list this week. I had the great privilege of helping with some of the research for the book. I combed the stacks of Butler Library and spent a few good hours with microfiche searching for details about rumrunners.

My husband, Dan, did much more of the digging, and even tracked down descendents of Pauline Sabin. We both learned a lot from Daniel Okrent about how to tackle the research for this kind of book. (My daughter loves to play with the small sticky notes that we learned to use as markers for key quotes and details in source material.)

Last Call is a fantastic read and proof that people are still reading and buying serious non-fiction.

Help My Daughter Sleep and Win a Book

2010-06-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

I'm offering a rare, stamped second-edition of The Cactus Eaters for anyone who can help me get my 15-month-old daughter to sleep through the night. (suggesting taking an 8 hours car trip or stroller ride doesn't count).

Send your best advice. Multiple submissions are encouraged.
Thanks!

New Post...Every Six Months!

2010-06-09T12:23:00.001-07:00

At this rate, I'm updating my blog on a bi-annual basis. That doesn't mean you shouldn't check daily just to see if I mix things up.

For all of you Vampire Weekend fans out there, I have an important bit of info. An Oxford comma is the comma that precedes the "and" in a list. Many grammar nuts disapprove of this comma, but it depends whether you use AP style or Chicago Manual of Style. (if you don't know what these two things are (mom) you are lucky). OK--they are guides that copy editors use to make sure you have hyphenated and commated your writing appropriately.

My 15-month old loves Vampire Weekend--she may be their youngest fan. And she's learning about grammar and profanity all at once!

The Soloist

2009-09-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

Watching this DVD last night, it reminded me of all that's being lost in community journalism. Once upon a time(when newspaper ads were not being decimated by the internet) it was possible to do the kinds of community, human interest stories that could help people. As a beat reporter in Monterey, I would often get assigned what I thought of as sob stories--non-profits down on their luck, elderly tenets facing eviction because of rent hikes, heart transplant patients who couldn't get medicare coverage for the medicine. After these pieces ran, I would always get dozens of phone calls and emails from people who wanted to help--and often donated time or money for the cause.

But these sorts of stories (and the kind that Steve Lopez wrote in the LA Times, which formed the basis of the movie) are fewer these days, as newspapers shrink and readership dwindles. It's the real tragedy of the death of newspapers.

What's taken the place of columns, are blogs(like this one) that are about the minutia and inner-thoughts of every day people. But, where are the voices of people who don't have access to technology and whose voices are being lost?

Now I don't want to point fingers at any of my reader(s)--but CN maybe you can think of a way of giving back some of what's been lost. Maybe the internet providers who are actually making money, while redirecting(I won't say stealing) newspaper readers can form a non-profit to help out folks in the community where they are based. Or maybe the non-profit can help fund reporters who still want to tell these sorts of stories.

Reader(s), if you have ideas on how CN or other internet tychoons can help with this issue, please send them to me and I'll post them.

Craigslist

2009-08-25T09:52:00.001-07:00

My last posting has prompted reader(s)(husband) to speculate that the Craig who responded to my last post was the one and only Craig Newmark. If so, I didn't mean to offend. But, Craigslist has taken billions of dollars away from U.S. newspapers. Does that mean Craigslist singlehandedly took down the newspaper industry?

Yes.

No.

I mean, yes and no.
Once upon a time I used to get paid for writing. (remember those days?) Yes, the checks were small, but it was the idea that words were worth something, not to be given away for nothing. Now newspapers are broke, content on the internet is supplied for free(this blog, for example), and writers and editors have never had a more difficult time making a living. On the plus side, you can now find an apartment for free(which I have) thanks to craigslist. I do love my apartment, but I loved getting paid more.
This month's issue of Wired Magazine has an interesting story about Craigslist and Newmark. And it confirms that Craig is a regular at Cafe Reverie in Cole Valley, where I spotted him last week.

Now some reader(s) (mom) have been inquiring about what my secret blog project may be. Well, I'm ready to reveal....

I plan to cook all the recipes in Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking".
What?
Oh, that's been done before.
O.K., guess I have to come up with another idea. Hmmm. O.K. I think I may have something else on the burner.
Hint: it combines themes from this blog(newspapers, grouchy writers and editors, and free content).
Stay tuned.

Celebrity Sightings!

2009-08-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

We're enjoying unseasonably lovely weather here in fogtown. On Friday, we took a spur of the moment family vacation to Pt. Reyes. While snacking on the best buttermilk scones from the Bovine Bakery, I spotted Frances McDormand and her husband Joel Coen. Frances looked quite dour in her workout clothes, (but maybe it's just that her mouth turns downward?)and Joel seemed in his own little world as he trotted after her a few minutes later.

New York must have numbed me to seeing so many actors/directors, because I was more interested in finishing off my baked goods than worrying about where they were off to.
We had a lovely sandwich from the Cowgirl Creamery and a fantastic hike with the baby alternately snoozing and looking at trees in her front-pack carrier.

On a not-unrelated note, The NY Times had two interesting articles in Sunday's paper about the lack of anonimity in the new cyber era. The Modern Love column, about a daughter cyber-stalking the mother who gave her up for adoption. And a piece in the Styles section talked about NYC parties that are requiring guests to promise to go "off the record"--no twitting, blogging, or facebooking(a verb?) about the events at certain parties. Some argue that even the least glamorous are now living in the "public eye." Lately, I barely leave the house(for those who missed my last post I have 5 month old), so this isn't so much a problem for me. But, it seems that others (who actually have a life) are encountering a lack of privacy that's unique to the 21st Century.

Take poor Craig Newmark. He can't even enjoy a beverage at Cafe Reverie without someone webcasting about it(which happened today as I was passing by Cole Valley.) But, then again he did single handedly take down the newspaper industry. So I guess he deserves it.

I'm Back....

2009-07-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

For those of you who keep track of these things(HI MOM), my website is back up and running after a week hiatus. It turns out I forgot to reregister my domain amyettinger.com, and my site was usurped by a very perky, blonde 20-something. I am no longer perky (due to the exhaustion of looking after a 4 month old) and alas no longer a 20 something.

Anyway, I'm celebrating my return to cyberspace with my first blog entry in years....To update readers (HI MOM) I recently quit my job and had a baby. (but you already knew that).

I'm contemplating an exciting new cyber-adventure, which will meld technology with a literary endeavor. However, I'm a little intimidated by the technological componenet, and the time committment.(did I mention I have a BABY). I will keep you posted, Dear Reader(s)......

Not a Morning Person

2008-06-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

I am not a morning person. This fact is usually well-concealed by the fact that I am married to someone who is also not a morning person. We don't try to have long conversations before 8 a.m. In a perfect world I wouldn't even be awake before 8 a.m.

On a recent family vacation, I realized that not everyone shares my disdain for pre-coffee conversation. Children under the age of 11, for instance, seem to have an abundance of energy in the early morning hours. I don't think I was ever an early riser. My fondest memories of adolescence are of sleeping.

This morning, I was awake early to listen to Dan speak on KFOG radio. For someone who usually eats his cereal reading a book, so he won't have to talk--he did amazingly well. Maybe it was the high-octane Peet's he brewed up, but he had everyone in the studio cracking up.
Thankfully, his next speaking gigs are in the evening.

Why I Miss NYC

2008-05-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

There are many things that I love about San Francisco--the Victorian apartments, fresh produce, relative lack of vermin running around in the streets. But the longer I'm here the more I notice a certain intellectual laziness that can be best be summed up by what I witnessed on the muni this morning.

When I walked down to my stop at Masonic and Haight I saw at least 20 people waiting for the bus. Usually, there are only a handful--the late stragglers who don't mind being a few minutes late for work in the morning. But, they must have missed the early bus. Or there was no early bus.

Anyway, the 7 came, and I pushed my way on and got a seat. I'm reading perfect commute material, Sloane Crosley's "I Was Told There'd be Cake." The essays are easy to pick up and put down, and there's no plot to follow or remember.

Across from me, someone was reading "Snow Falling on Cedars" and next to me....next to me sat a woman who was struggling to complete the crossword in People magazine.

This begs the questions of:
1. why anyone would bother doing the crossword in People?
2. how anyone could struggle to come up with the answers?

Was it the "Last Name of Han in Star Wars" that had her stumped?
I myself don't do crosswords. But the crosswords I choose not to do are in the NY Times. Occasionally, I think "hmmm....I really should start doing these puzzles." But, then the Modern Love or the Magazine catches my eye and I'm relieved of the burden.

Book projects, Writing, and Life

2008-05-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

I have been truly horrible about keeping up with this blog. But, I have a good excuse. My husband and I have been gearing up for the release of his book "The Cactus Eaters: How I Lost My Mind and Almost Found Myself on the Pacific Crest Trail"

10 years ago when I first met Dan, he handed me a rough draft of the manuscript. I quickly fell in love with it (and him). Now after long hours working to revise it, it's being released on Tuesday.

This version is funnier, better written and more honest than the one I read all those years ago. As the Los Angeles Times reviewer wrote today: "Every step toward Canada was a step toward manhood," White writes, in that voice you will grow to love. "I feared that the trail, if I never finished it, would leave me stranded in a permanent kindergarten."
If you love fast-paced, witty non-fiction it won't take you long to love this book.

To read the full review click here

Amy Sedaris and Cupcakes

2008-02-13T11:45:00.000-08:00

I went to see Amy Sedaris and Daniel Handler last night at the Herbst Theater. I didn't know she sold her cupcakes! All those snowy days I spent in line at Magnolia, and I could have been munching on homeade snacks from a real celebrity.

Here are a few tidbits that Amy shared:
--Her brother, David, just bought a new home in London. Apparently, he likes to call her up and brag about how much money he has. Maybe that's why she feels compelled to make a few extra bucks selling baked goods?

--She has an imaginary boyfriend, Ricky, who's been brought back to life!

--Her rabbit, Dusty, is housetrained. She's named Dusty because of the dirty mop-like effect of her white paws.

--She asks her neighbors to keep a steady supply of sugar, flour, eggs, and vanilla in their kitchens in case she runs out.

--She once felt up Dolly Parton to see if she was missing any ribs.

Just an aside, my old co-worker, Ash, used to live in the Amy's building in the West Villiage. I wonder if he ever supplied her with vanilla?

Urban Wildlife Encounter

2008-01-09T14:20:00.000-08:00

During my lunchtime run, I saw a brown hawk feeding on a pidgeon. A crowd, including two police cars, circled around the bird, which was lunching on the sidewalk on Mission Street across from the post office. Curious onlookers snapped cellphone pictures to share with their friends.

I must admit I was slightly disgusted. Whoever said nature was beautiful?

Pedestrain Rage

2008-01-07T14:54:00.000-08:00

This isn't the most pedestrian-friendly town. Cars surge ahead into cross walks, oblivious of the bipedal right-of-way.
This morning, as I was crossing the street at Masonic and Waller, a silver lexus cut in front of me. I guess I've grown used to the driving etiquette, and I ignored the slight. But, the 60-year-old man with the cane, who was also crossing, couldn't contain his rage. He beat the passenger side door with his cane. Are we now reduced not only to road rage, but walk rage?

In another auto-related matter, Dan's car was nearly totalled by a falling tree this weekend. The tree crashed into the car that was parked one space in front of him. Does insurance even cover that?

Muir Woods aka "Beer Woods"

2007-12-17T09:42:00.000-08:00

The Chronicle has a front-page feature today celebrating the 100th anniversary of Muir Woods. I was out there on Saturday, celebrating a little early. We found a trail that leads to German-style brew haus on the top of a mountain!

We started our journey through "Beer Woods" at the park entrance, dodging the throngs of camera wielding tourists. We connected to the Ocean View Trail, following it up about 1.5 miles through spindly redwood forests and trickling streams. There was a very annoying group of behind us--one woman had the legs of a linebacker and the booming voice of an inner city high school teacher. We tried our best to get away, but they kept gaining us.
Finally, we rested at the interesection with the Panorama Trail and followed the Redwood Trail to a three-story chalet, known as the "tourist club."The place keeps eccentric hours (it's closed the second weekend of the month) and there's no food, only fantastic brews. I downed a Speakeasy IPA, and a frothy dark beer, before heading back on the Dipsea aka "Tipsy"Trail.

Overheard at Banana Republic

2007-12-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

I was in the dressing room at Banana Republic during my lunch hour and heard the following exchange by two women on the sales staff:

"My family and I went to Vesuvio last night."
"Oh, where's that?" the other woman asked.
"In North Beach. It's where Jack Kerouac and the other beat poets would meet."
"Who's Jack Kerouac?"
"You know the guy who wrote 'On the Road'."
"I've never heard of it."
"You've never heard of On the Road? Or Jack Kerouac? He was a member of the beat poets, they were a big influence on people coming to the city."
"You mean during the Gold Rush?"
"No, during the 60s."
"You sound old," said the woman.
"I'm not old. I'm just cultured. There's nothing wrong with being cultured."
"Whatever."

Reviving the Blog

2007-12-06T14:21:00.000-08:00

Dan has asked me to revive the blog, so I'm going to try and be more vigilant about posting. After all, I am now officially a webmaster at the Sierra Club, so I'm learning more about the power of the Web.

Today is a soggy day in San Francisco. My little black ballerina flats are soaked. I miss my pink galoshes that I thoughtlessly abandoned on the corner of Broadway and 122nd Street before I left NYC. (if anyone has them, I'll pay for the shipping to Cali.!)

A man with a very long, grey, stringy beard sat next to me on Muni this morning. I found this annoying since half the bus was empty. When he said "hello" to me 30 seconds into the ride, I ignored him. While that may seem rude, I actually think it's worse to try and engage people in conversation at 8:30 in the morning when they have no ESCAPE! He promptly gave up on me, and headed for an empty seat in the back.
The woman who replaced him a few stops later scolded the man who was standing in front of her--claiming he was in her "space." If she wants "space" why doesn't she take a taxi? I am thinking of writing a muni etiquette book. If you have any suggestions for what to include, please send them to me.

Pogonip Park

2007-07-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

One of the wonderful things about living in Santa Cruz, is all the green space that surrounds the city. The outdoor lovers here have worked hard to preserve park land, depsite the increasing demand for buildable property.

Pogonip Park is the best example of the rewards of maintaining these open recreation areas. The park has trails that wind above the city, leading to views of Monterey Bay. On a clear day on Saturday, I parked up near Spring Street, laced up my walking shoes and headed on the "lookout trail." The path lead through chaparal covered hills and redwood forests to the old Pogonip Club house. When I was a student at UCSC, I'd been incorrectly told that Pogonip was an acronym for "polo, golf, and a little nip." Really, Pogonip is an Ohlone Indian word meaning "icy fog."

But, on Saturday the park didn't live up to it's name--there were clear skies for miles. The three mile loop is challenging enough to get your heart pumping, with views to reward you at every turn.
To get to Pogonip from Mission Street: Turn right on Highland, make a left on High Street, and park on Spring Street.

Exploring Big Sur

2007-06-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

I was down in Big Sur this weekend, taking advantage of the rare coastal sunshine. The trails at Andrew Molera State Park offer some of the best hiking in the region. Dan and I decided to push ourselves and do an 8 mile loop, starting at the river, following the bluffs and ascending over a steep (seemingly vertical) ridge.

After we made it around some families and a pack of mutinously slow pack horses, we were all alone. The waves crashed over the rocks to the right of us, as we followed the coastline for miles. The Big Sur Lighthouse loomed behind us, and the ridges of the Ventura Wilderness beckoned us forward. About three miles later, we came to the cut-off for the Spring Trail, which led down to the beach. Piles of driftwood, laid out like steps, led to rocky shore.

The getting there was so pleasant, that instead of continuing the loop we decided to follow the same path back. A group of six hikers decided to picnic in the shade of an oak, in the middle of the narrow trail. We were forced to go around, brushing against poison oak. (Dan, who wore shorts, is still itching...) Too bad, because if the group had been more patient (and considerate) they would have reached a much better picnic spot on the bluffs along the ridge.
We finished the hike, and celebrated with sand dabs and beers at Phil's Fishmarket.

See it for yourself:
Andrew Molera is 20 miles south of Carmel along Highway 1. Parking is $8. The park is home to both California condors and Monarch butterflies.

Get the Lead Out

2007-06-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

My blog's been asleep for the past few weeks because we moved across the country! In a few weeks we packed, sold or dumped the entire contents of NYC apartment, loaded our Toyota Tercel and drove it 4,000 miles through mountains, forest, and desert. The trip was great--much better than the one three years ago--but we did get snowed on while trying to camp near Stanley, Idaho.

We've been taking advantage of the open space on the West Coast, hiking in the redwoods and jogging along the Aptos shoreline. I hope to get out to the Pinnacles soon to try and spot the elusive California condor. I wrote another piece about these amazing birds in the latest issue of Sierra. Environmentalists are trying to get a law passed that would ban hunters from pumping lead ammuniton into condor habitats, since the birds eat the fragments and become deathly ill. Copper bullets are much less toxic and just as effective.
Stay tuned for updates.

Talk Radio

2007-05-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

If you've ever wondered why so many shock jocks flame out and derail their own careers, check out Broadway's production of Talk Radio. Liev Schreiber plays Barry Champlain, a hard living call-in host of Night Talk. He's getting great reviews in the role and he deserves them. (I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to put on that kind of performance eight or nine times a week) Wouldn't the snot and tears eventually dry up?

I sat in the second row yesterday afternoon and like everyone around me was transfixed. During the hour and forty minutes their was no intermission, (no coughers or paper rattlers, or cell phone talkers.)
With the recent news about Imus, the play is more timely than ever.

Peak Blooms

2007-05-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

I was at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden yesterday enjoying this beautiful site. The cherry blossoms are finally in full bloom.

The gardens are some of the most beautiful open space I've seen in the greater New York area. You can memorize verse in the Shakespeare Garden, or stroll around the conservatory. But beware the bonsai--they are disturbing!

Adventures in the Gunks

2007-04-23T06:10:00.000-07:00

I am sunburned and muscle-weary after spending the weekend up in the Shawangunk mountains. After a long, dreary winter it felt great to be out hiking in a tank top and shorts in 75 degree weather. I found a 7.5 mile hike that looped around the edge of the Gunks, delivering views of the Catskills, the Hudson Valley, and a pristine mile-long lake. It was truly one of the most spectacular hikes I've done in the northeast. But, two days later my legs are still aching and my arms are slowly turning from lobster red to tanbark.

The gunks are one of my favorite areas. Their craggy cliffs can be seen when your driving along route 87 North from the City. But to really get a feel for them, you have to lace up your hiking boots or hop on a mountain bike and explore.
If you want to find out more about where to go and what to do in the Gunks, check out my New York Magazine story at www.nymag.com/travel

First Love Essay on Commonties.com

2007-03-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

My essay about first love is posted today on commonties.com. It seems like everyone has a story about their high school sweetheart. Now British researchers have discovered why. Scientists have identified pathways in the brain which light up when teenagers are in love. Falling in love seems to have a similar effect on the brain as using cocaine. It's so pleasurable it's almost like an addiction.

Commonties.com has some wonderful personal essays--about love, death, addiction, pets, illness, and family. It's the stuff I always love reading. It's like opening the Sunday NY Times Magazine and seeing the Lives column. It's a window into the lives of others.

Watch for Me Tuesday on the Today Show

2007-03-08T15:43:00.000-08:00

I was part of a taping for Tuesday's Today Show about older men and fertility. My husband, Dan White, was interviewed about why he's delayed having children, his fears and anxieties about being an older dad, and whether he buys into this notion of "male menopause."

A few shots were taken of Dan and I holding hands and kissing. It reminded me a little like posing after our wedding, except that instead of our close friends and family watching, our audience was about 8 million people.
The wives were ushered out of the green room before the interview started, so I don't know what Dan said about the subject. I'll just have to tune in and see!

The segment airs Tuesday between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. on NBC.

Culinary Adventure Weekend

2007-02-26T09:52:00.000-08:00

This weekend I tried one new restaurant, one new bakery, and discoverd the BEST chocolate I've ever had in my life. In between shoving my mouth with hearty, delicious food I went to the gym and slept. My idea of a perfect two days.
Friday night, I headed over to Pisticci, at 125 La Salle Street. This little trattoria is practically right around the corner from my apartment, but I'd never ventured inside. Part of the reason, is that I'm practically addicted to the rigatoni with eggplant from Max's Soha, which is also right around the corner from me. And I cook a fair amount of Italian food myself. I only realized the extent of my Italian food obsession after the consulate contacted me and offered me honorary citizenship.
Pisticci reminded me of the little restaurants in Florence--with small, wooden tables and candlelight. I had the homeade fettucini with mushrooms (excellent) and the tiramisu(not to be missed).
After a beautifull walk in Central Park on Saturday, I headed to the Buttercup Bake Shop at 72nd and Amsterdam. The shop is filled with every variety of cake--red velvet, chocolate cup cake, yellow sheet cake--but I had heard a rumor that the banana pudding was to-die-for. It didn't disappoint. Filled with custard and vanilla wafers, the creamy concoction was the perfect mid-afternoon snack. My only criticism was the presentation--they scooped it into a take-away coffee cup! I would have preferred it in a glass icecream cup or bowl.

The culinary highlight of the weekend was a sampler I received from Vosges. I nibbled on the tiny, scrumptious truffles during the Oscars. So far, I've had the Mexican vanilla, and the rose champagne--both were fantastic. I have seven left and am hoping they'll last the week!

Rejection Collection

2007-02-22T15:13:00.000-08:00

I'm inspired after reading Catherine Wald's fantastic collection, "The Resilient Writer: Tales of Rejection and Triumph from 23 Top Authors." Some of my favorite authors, including Wally Lamb and Amy Tan, talk about their struggles with launching a successful writing career. Lamb tells the story of how after years of rejection he accidentally submitted a story twice to the same literary journal. The first time they said "no" the second time "yes." Of course, the story was the same, but it's a great reminder that we can't take rejection personally. Sometimes it's all about luck. By the way, he landed his agent after the story appeared in print.

Wald also has a website www.rejectioncollection.com where you can post your own tale of literary heartbreak.

A Constructive Way to Fidget

2007-02-12T08:27:00.000-08:00

I was inspired to dust off my knitting needles this weekend after seeing the exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design. "Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting" brings together dozens of contemporary artists from around the world.

These tiny gloves were knit at 1/12 scale with medical wire that is used in IVs. Some of my favorite work included a dress knit from shredded dollar bills and a chandelier constructed from fiber optic wire.

Why Outraged Women Aren't Funny

2007-02-08T12:18:00.000-08:00

The only thing I enjoyed about Christopher Hitchens' article in January's Vanity Fair was the anticipation of the outraged letters I knew would follow. In case you missed it, Hitchens' wrote an essay about why he believed women aren't funny. Hitchens claims we're not funny because we don't have to be. We've got other appeals.

I imagined the inboxes of Vanity Fair staffers clogging with witty, eviscerating prose.
But, unfortunately the letters were painfully un-funny.
One female comedian writes: "As a male-dominated industry, it's a long, hard fight for women until the numbers start to even out. What would help to even them out? If people would stop publishing article claiming that women aren't funny."

There's nothing less humorous than talking about humor. That's why Hitchens' essay failed. He disproved his own point.

The vast majority of people, men and women, think they're funny when they're not. I don't think there's any gender inequity in that sad fact.
Hitchens does get the last laugh. His response to the letters:
"I took care to distinguish females from female comics. Some of these chicks can't even read."

Confessions of a Celebrity Stalker

2007-02-07T08:15:00.000-08:00

Editor's Note: The following is a work of fiction.
This blog is in no way affiliated with the I Hate Celebrity Club blog.

Confessions of a Celebrity Stalker

I started the I Hate Celebrity Club two years after I moved to New York City, and two minutes after Jennifer Aniston cut in front of me at the Sixth Avenue Starbucks. I was late for work, and caffeine deprived, but did Jennifer Aniston care? No way! Her perfect butt was already sitting in the taxi by the time the baristas stopped gawking long enough to make me my tall non-fat latte. Couldn’t she have gotten it delivered?

And how, you might wonder, did that little act of hubris lead me camp out in Tom Cruise’s closet? And who would have ever suspected it was a 24-year-old woman, and not Cruise himself, who was waiting to be let out of the closet?

To be fair to most people’s favorite “friend” my vendetta against celebrities started well before the Starbucks incident. On March 24, 2005 my brilliantly researched and potentially award-winning investigation about foreign adoptions for Vanity Fair was “killed” because the editor wanted to run a Q&A with Meg Ryan (!) instead. I asked the editor what interesting questions he had for Meg Ryan. Did she also want to gouge out her eyes rather than watch her own films during cross-country flights?

The 25 percent kill fee amounted to half my utility bill that month, and I was forced out of freelancing and into a corporate communications job. The job for which I needed incredible amounts of caffeine just to keep breathing.

Sipping my latte, squished between two fat Italian tourists on the subway, I hatched the idea for the I Hate Celebrities Club. As soon as I emerged from below ground in Midtown I dialed my friend Briton.

“We’ll do annoying practical jokes,” I said. “We’ll find ways to disrupt their perfect, comfortable existence.”

“Maybe we can pay the Falong Gong protestors to hang near Aniston’s hotel,” he offered. “Or we can send Kabbalah braclets laced with itching powder to everyone in Hollywood.”

“You keep brainstorming, I’m going to find us some more members.”

I shut myself in my 34th story office (with views into the 34th story offices across the street) and by noon I had launched the I Hate Celebrity Club blog.

“They have perfect hair and perfect teeth and perfect bodies.” I wrote. “They’re the perfect people to hate.”
Anna from Seattle was the first to respond at 1:15 p.m.:
“I agree. It’s bad enough that there are these people who are telling all the rest of us what to wear and what to eat…now they want to tell us how to act and what to think?

Brandee from Long Island wrote in at 1:20:
Cool site. I’ve made myself so crazy trying to be as perfect as the people on TV. I’ve spent so much money on clothes I’ve had to move back in with my dumb parents to pay off my credit cards. My exboyfriend told me it was my fault I don’t have enough confidence. But it’s hard to feel good about yourself when they are so thin and pretty and on the covers of every stupid magazine.

What a bunch of losers! I didn’t want comraderie with the Low Self-Esteem Movement, I wanted revenge. I was sick of being pushed aside by the Jennifer Aniston’s and Meg Ryan’s of the world. The latte incident stuck in my craw like a three day old scone.
But as much as I hate celebrities, I recognized that each has a counter-terrorism network which would have put the CIA to shame.

Sure when Donnie e-mailed me the photos of Nicole Kidman’s cold sore I passed them around the office. (he had been paid to touch up her latest movie, and erase the coldsore from the film) And yes, I took some pleasure in the “Oh, gross,” responses from my co-workers.
But I stopped actively trying to derail celebrity’s lives. I adopted a “live and let live” philosophy. Shaudenfraude was one thing—(and was absolutely acceptable), but plotting anyone’s career or relationship demise was off limits.

I was only too aware that in New York City I might be faced with a Celebrity Encounter at any moment. Coffee shops and music stores were the biggest hot zones. But there were a few empowering techniques I could use to limit Exposure. I tried to avoid all celebrity news—which meant canceling my subscriptions to all publications(including the Sunday Times) and unhooking my cable! I spent the money I was saving hanging out with Briton in bars….and yes, you guessed it, a few too many late mornings cost me my job. My boss slipped the number for AA in my box of personal items as I headed out of the office.

Now I was really in for it. As an unemployed adult, there was no way to avoid the onslaught of celebrity gossip—isn’t the great benefit of unemployment getting to watch TV all day? I had no choice but to rehook cable. I had no job, for God’s sake, people !

I was having a relatively unproductive Monday, surfing the Web, when I flipped on the TV and watched as Tom Cruise preached about Scientology and dolled out mental health advice to America. I watched as the man who became famous at my Junior High School for tongue kissing Mimi Rogers in Top Gun, looked into the camera with his big brown eyes and begged America to swear off prescription drugs.

It was soon after I recovered, a few hours later, that I revived the I Hate Celebrities Club. This time the club had a greater purpose. This time the club would succeed with its mission, because the mission was simple: the mission was to stop Tom Cruise.

“It’s mission impossible,” Briton said, when I called him the next morning. “You’ll never get close enough to him.”

I called my friend Mel(who worked at People) to find out where Tom was staying. “The W Hotel” she told me. “Why? What are you going to do?”

I had no time to lose. In 15 hours Tom would be on a flight to Paris and my opportunity to help save Western Civilization would pass. I pulled out my map of Manhattan, and synchronized my watch. It was 10 a.m. My plot required speed, resourcefulness and at least three different disguises. The maids outfit was easy, I had a slutty version in my closet from Halloween three years ago. The alien costume required a trip to the East Village.

“It needs to look completely convincing,” I told the clerk.
“Convincing to who?” he asked. “The other aliens?”
I headed to Madison Avenue and maxed out my Mastercard on a $350 outfit that would get me through the door of the W.

At 1 p.m. I strolled into the lobby and booked a room on the 10th floor. By the time I switched into the maids outfit and walked up the 14 flights to the penthouse, it was 1:45 p.m.. You’ve seen the movies. You know what happens next. I got the card to Tom’s room off the maid’s cart and snuck in. The room was totally immaculate. My third costume change took some more time.

I had the green scales to glue to my face. I wasn’t sure I could get the body armor on without help, but I leaned against the wall near the bathroom and twisted my arms around back like a pretzel. It was 3:00 p.m. by the time I was finished and camped out in the closet. I inhaled the cologned shirts of my nemesis mixed with the fumes of the body paint I had smeared on my face.

I practiced the monologue I had written on the subway.
“Tom Cruise, I am the ghost of L. Ron Hubbard.” I whispered. “Oh, shit that sounds too much like a Christmas Carol.” I tried again.
“I am the reincarnation of L. Ron Hubbard. I have chosen you to visit, because you are the most special of my disciples. You have had a tremendous career, a tremendous life. This is a great day for us, Tom. Today, you can stop your mission. Today, you can focus again on making movies, on entertaining people. You no longer have the burden of spreading my words. I want you to stop. Tom. I never want you to speak of Scientology again.”
Armed with my carefully prepared speech, I waited in the closet. I waited for three hours. I was ready to pass out from heat and hunger when I heard the door open. And I heard giggling ( Get out Katie, get out!!)

I took a deep breath and flung open the closet door. “I am L. Ron Hubbard, Tom. I am L. Ron Hubbard!” I roared.

The shocked eyes of Britany Murphy stared back.
Briton told me later that Tom was at the Waldorf, not the W! Too late I remembered Mel had failed her reporting class at J-school. Never trust a copy editor to do a reporter’s job!

I am in jail on trespassing charges. Tom Cruise is still out there, free.

Snoozing to Utopia?

2007-02-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

The NY Times article Sunday said what most of us who saw Coast of Utopia were thinking. "Here's something that works better than Ambien!"
I should preface my comments by saying that I am a huge Tom Stoppard fan--I even named my goldfish after one of his plays, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead."

So, I was thrilled when my husband scored $35 tickets to the second part of the trilogy. But that excitement waned, and eventually drooped, as I sat through three hours of uninspired dialogue. Act II was much better than the first half, and Amy Irving was superb for the 1 minute she was on stage. But, I have to agree with Charles Isherwood that Stoppard over-reached with Utopia and didn't create a drama, so much as an ambitious assortment of characters who bounce off each other at odd angles.
Still, at least Stoppard tried to create something intellectually powerful. That's more than I can say for most of the stuff that's out there.

How Cold is It?

2007-02-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

It has been damn cold in NYC lately. Manditory scarves, mittens, hat weather. When I ask a friend how cold it is, he replies: "It's so cold people are even saddling up near my mother for warmth."
Ignore the undeniable Freudian issues, and you still get the idea. It's really unpleasant out there.

So, I've taken to cooking manically. Today, I made Tuscan white bean soup. It was a pretty simple, except the prep time is like 36 hours, since you've got to soak the white beans overnight. At first they're a frightening site, all wrinkled and gross. But eventually they soften beautifully.
I also made a focaccia. I tried to time it so the bread would be done when the soup was ready, but the 36-hour prep. time thing really through me off.

Anybody have any tips for how to survive the winter? Any good winter recipes?

Restaurant Week

2007-01-30T10:52:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite week in NYC. Even though the temperatures have dipped below the point of tolerance, the city's restaurants give New Yorkers a reason to step out the door.
I had a fabulous lunch at Nobu today. For just $24 (not including tip and drinks) I noshed on sashimi salad, an incredible black cod with miso, and a spiced ginger cake. This was my third visit to Nobu during restaurant week, and I can't recommend it highly enough. This time my waiter was actually nice to me!

Anybody else have good restaurant week recommendations?

Ready for Spring?

2007-01-28T16:03:00.000-08:00

Today I went to see Spring Awakening, a surprisingly poignant Broadway musical about teenage love and adolescent angst. The cast did a fabulous job, and I was particularly impressed by the leading actress. Spoiler alert: there’s one scene where she is the “bottom” as her male castmate thrusts his naked groin between her legs. I know he was naked because his bare ass was thrust into the air for all to see. (I was VERY glad that we didn’t get the onstage seats.)
Seriously, If you haven’t see the play, it’s worth checking out.

Good Times Article about my essay in the Secret Lives of Lawfully Wedded Wives

2006-07-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

The Good Times has published a hilarious story about the competition between Dan and me.
"In the late ’90s Amy Ettinger was scraping by in San Francisco—living in a flat with two crazy sisters, and working a medley of jobs. Eventually, she was priced out of the city. But fortunately, living arrangements opened up in Santa Cruz and Ettinger returned to the hometown of her alma mater. Desperate for some work, and curious about a possible career in journalism, Ettinger landed a job as a clerk at the Santa Cruz Sentinel. It wasn’t exactly a glowing, news-chasing position, like that of the guy who sat next to her, Dan White. But for $10 an hour she got herself into a newsroom and pounded out wedding announcements every week. Oh yeah, and she fell in love."
To read more visit http://www.gtweekly.com

Good Times Interview about the The Secret Lives of Lawfully Wedded Wives

2006-07-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

Look for tomorrow's Good Times, which will feature an interview with me and my thoughts about competitive marriage. I had a thought-provoking discussion with Christa Martin about relationships and competition. The article deals with some of the questions in my essay in the Secret Lives of Lawfully Wedded Wives. Is it better to be involved with someone who is in the same career field that you are? What are some ways that we can minimize jealousy with our spouses?
Look for tomorrow's issue for some answers!

New Website

2006-07-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

My new website www.amyettinger.com is up and running. Please visit for links to my articles and more information about the anthology, The Secret Lives of Lawfully Wedded Wives. You can even read an excert from my essay "It's Not a Competition."

The Secret Lives of Lawfully Wedded Wives is on Sale Now!!!

2006-01-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

I am a contributor to the upcoming anthology, The Secret Lives of Lawfully Wedded Wives: 27 Women Writers on Love, Infidelity, Sex Roles, Race, Kids, and More. My essay is about the competition in my marriage. Because my husband and I are both writers we are naturally competitors. We both write about adventure and relationships, often for the same publications.