This time, he pushed it to the limit

Mr. McGee brings out my inner Incredible Hulk

By Aaryn Belfer

I needed to know how much it would take before I would budown the house and walk away forever. I needed to see if Mr. McGee (not his real name) could actually be a responsible adult and drop his kid at the house at 11:30 a.m. on party day. And so: The call.

Wednesday, August 3,2011
Backwards & in High Heels

A school fund-raiser? At a golf course?

If I have to go to a golf course for my daughter's education, you have to come with me

By Aaryn Belfer

It turns out that, when your child goes to a school being slowly devastated, like so many others, by the decisions of people who prioritize war and the interests of a few rich folks, you’ll do some crazy stuff to preserve what little quality there is left in her public education.

Wednesday, July 20,2011
Backwards & in High Heels

Birthday boy

An open letter to my friend who’s turning 40

By Aaryn Belfer

I won’t laugh at you or make snarky remarks about the slow process of decline that is about to engulf you like a novice snowboarder caught unawares and goofy-foot in an avalanche. Because, truth be told, there is little to laugh about at this juncture.

Wednesday, July 6,2011
Backwards & in High Heels

Shopping spree

It’s fun imagining what you would do with found money

By Aaryn Belfer

I’m over the moon and two stars to the left because the state budget passed last week and with it comes a savings of roughly $260 a year! Can you stand it? It’s a veritable coup.

Wednesday, June 22,2011
Backwards & in High Heels

Budget woes

California is one hot mess with a tough governor

By Aaryn Belfer

If you’re blind, deaf, dumb, lame, old, young, brown and/or poor, you may no longer have services, but you can be proud, knowing you’re shouldering all of the sacrifice.

Wednesday, June 8,2011
Backwards & in High Heels

Men behaving disgustingly

About moral ambiguity and which sleazebag is sleazier

By Aaryn Belfer

Oy vey. Has it been the season for awful behavior or what?

Monday, May 23,2011
Backwards & in High Heels

False solutions

Waving goodbye to the yellow school bus

By Aaryn Belfer

Trying to get a decent public education for your child in this city is like walking up a down escalator. On crutches. While simultaneously patting your head and rubbing your tummy.

Wednesday, May 11,2011
Backwards & in High Heels

Onions

A Mother’s Day story

By Aaryn Belfer

Each year on this day, my mother asked for the exact same thing, which was to be left alone—preferably on our sun deck in her seasons-old threadbare bikini, with a tube of Bain de Soleil, a crossword puzzle and an issue of Vogue on the ground next to her lounger and a Tab poured over ice.

Wednesday, April 27,2011
Backwards & in High Heels

Going home

Planting my feet on familiar but not familiar ground

By Aaryn Belfer

As sad as some moments were, my trip to the homeland was a real-life version of The Twilight Zone, an adventure in the surreal.

Wednesday, April 13,2011
Backwards & in High Heels

Put down the glass

Kate Hudson inadvertently sparks new legislation

By Aaryn Belfer

Late last week, Radar Online posted photos of a pregnant Kate Hudson drinking a glass of what looked like red wine while vacationing with her boyfriend in Argentina.