By Hannah Black
Once in a while, living so far away from my family, I have moments of that deep sadness that only a momma or poppa hug can really cure. Even at 28 years old and after five years of living in Bali there are times I want to jump on a plane and jet [...]

By Chris Erskine
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES ~ The little boy with the Creamsicle hair is beginning the first grade. He’ll be in Room 15, the note from the teacher advises a few days in advance.
“Please get a good night’s sleep the night before school starts and eat a healthy breakfast,” the letter reads.
“I always eat [...]

By Chris Erskine
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES ~ Several large IKEA bags rest outside the little girl’s bedroom door. She is leaving for college soon. By all estimates, she will barely sleep her freshman year, yet she seems to need $300 in bedding. So be it. I try to pick my battles.
The other day, I got [...]

By Chris Erskine
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES ~ Random thoughts, while waiting for my advanced-placement steroid tests to come in:
* I don’t want to go to any movie that’s louder than my own kids.
* Joe Torre is the best thing to happen to Los Angeles since the movie camera.
* When someone says, “Believe me, you don’t [...]

By Chris Erskine
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES ~ I’ve been giving it serious thought, and I’m pretty convinced spiders are taking over the world. Not that they wouldn’t do a better job.
In the kitchen, there’s a web running from the skylight to the stove. It glistens in the morning light, which leads me to think it’s [...]