Black Market Monkeys

The sun was just starting to rise over Ahwatukee, casting that perfect golden glow across the desert. It was early June, one of those rare mornings in Phoenix when you could actually enjoy being outside without feeling like you’d stepped into an oven set to broil. My twin Havanese dogs, Barry and Jasper, were already … Read more

Be Careful Whose Advice You Buy

Photo of a bottle of sunscreen from Baz Luhrman's Everybody Free video

It was late September, 1999, and the Phoenix heat pressed against my skin as I slid into my Jeep Cherokee, which had recently lost its AC. Every commute to downtown felt like a slow roast. As I wiped sweat from my brow, I found myself wondering, for the hundredth time, if I made the right … Read more

MSAA Reblog: Celebrating My Birthday Despite MS

Celebrating My Birthday Despite multiple sclerosis

When you are living with multiple sclerosis sometimes you don’t feel like celebrating. Especially, if you live near Phoenix and high temperature on the day of your celebration was 111 degrees. I was feeling fatigued, overheated and wanted to stay in bed all day. I was considering cancelling the dinner, but there was one party … Read more