Wonder and Hope — Mom always convinced me it would be an adventure. By Ian Anderson The Animal Keeper— Animals spoke to my mother “in a language only she understood.” By Whitney Butler La Gringa …

When I am an old woman who repeats the same stories over and over again, the one I will tell of my mother will not be about the bread she baked some Saturday mornings, or …

The downside of happy-pill nation.

“This is it. My bones are here. San Diego is the best place on Earth.”

"They never look at the bottom of my cart. But if they do, I'll just say, 'Oh my gosh. Sorry. Totally forgot."

Sarah Stieber paints in what she calls “Electric Realism,” a style that projects the “amplification of real life,” and uses bright, vivid colors that suggest “wishful seeing.” Stieber created “Fierce” in 2014, originally intending the …

Picture this: you spend the evening climbing in and out of cars where you experience a series of five-to-ten-minute plays that take place inside the cars (The Car Plays, La Jolla Playhouse, 2013–2014). Or you …

In April 2013, Ryan Grainger and Bobby Sullivan found themselves faced with a particular First World problem at Coachella. The then-20- and 19-year-old University of San Diego students could not see all 190 performances. Although …

“A kid raised his hand in the back and said, ‘How long does it take to become a black belt?’”

Stolen chances.

Why not teach the teen to cook? Fashion Valley Practice and prepare for your holiday meals with hands-on cooking classes featuring instruction on classic dishes and treats from prime rib to eggnog, and from snowflake …

Chain-linked in suburbia.

The last couple of times Brenda Peterson had job openings in her court-reporting company, she filled the positions with members of an unlikely pool of candidates: ex-convicts, or more politely put, the formerly incarcerated. It …

I’m standing in Terminal 2 at the San Diego International Airport on a Monday morning in early July. My escort, Constance White, the airport art program manager, leads me through the new food-court atrium, past …

Where most school websites are built for parents who need calendar information or want to check out next year’s fourth-grade teachers, High Tech High’s is a full-fledged marketing campaign. Many of the pages include statistics, …

At a time when the taxi-versus-rideshare hubbub takes on momentum, a player slinks into San Diego and sets up shop downtown. The Free Ride offers a wave-us-down ride service in a coverage area between Little …

Katie Wagner, president of Katie Wagner Social Media, explains the importance of social media in your job search. First, please tell me about your company and what you do. I own a social media and …

Teresa Poole, from UCSD Extension, explains how you can become a copyeditor. First, please tell me about yourself. I am the program manager for several certificate programs here at UC San Diego Extension, one of …

“When I first hired in, I would have people ask me all the time, ‘You want me to carry your tools for you?’”

Dev Aujla, creator of 50waystogetajob.com, might be able to help with your job search. First, tell me about yourself and how your website came to be. I am a Canadian. I started a non-profit called …

Dianne Koehle explains what it takes to get into construction. First, please tell me what you do. I’m a project coordinator. I work on jobsites maintaining submittals, drawings, correspondence, meeting minutes, material and equipment logs, …

San Diego's income: 12.3% above the nation's average. San Diego's cost of living: 29.2% higher than the nation's average.

Rebekah Sager offers insight into what it takes to become a fashion writer. First, please tell me what you do. I currently work as the social media editor and a reporter at the U-T San …

Sherry Luft is a participant and founding member of the Job Seekers Club at South Metro Career Center. Let’s start with what line of work you’re in. How and when did you become unemployed? I …

Paras Newsstand in North Park offers Soap Opera Digest, Cheetos, clove cigs, and a whole lot of this and that.

Joda Mize, founder of Girl’s Guide to Real Estate, discusses what it takes to get into the real estate business. First, please tell me a little bit about your background? Well, I moved to San …

The correlation between good works and big smiles.

Kim Mohiuddin, chief career storyteller at Movin’ On Up Résumés, compares the résumé to the curriculum vitae and offers tips for both. Let’s start with the brief answer to the difference between a résumé and …

Need extra money? Anthony Pretto invites you to sell your wares at Kobey’s Swap Meet. Tell me about the swap meet. Kobey’s Swap Meet was founded in 1976 by my grandfather Monte. It started with …

Emily Moberly says you, too, can use your car to make a little extra money. What is Lyft? Lyft is a better alternative to a cab! It’s your “friend with a car” as they say …

After meeting Samantha Ginn twice, I’m left with the impression that at the end of a long day, when the rest of us drink beer, snap at our children, or numb our brains on reruns …

Author Henry S. Miller explains why happiness may have everything to do with the success of your job search. How did you become so interested in happiness? When I read one of the very first …

The residents deserve to live as well as anyone else, not better.

Eric Wray, human resources and operations manager at Noah Homes, might have a job for you. First, please tell me about Noah Homes. Noah Homes is a Catholic organization serving all faiths, whose mission is …

Frank Kasunic explains how you can get work as a YMCA camp counselor. First, please tell me what you do. I’m the recruiter for the YMCA of San Diego County, which serves 390,000 members and …

A couple of years ago, my friend Tina Frantz began taking a San Diego Continuing Education course to help develop her handbag business. All I knew for sure was that Tina was suddenly unavailable by …

Felena Hanson, founder of Hera Hub, offers five bold tips for success. Tell me about Hera Hub. Hera Hub is a shared, flexible work and meeting space where business women can create and collaborate in …

In 1973, if you’d asked 15-year-old Andrea Rushing if he’d rather meet Salvador Dalí or Michael Jackson, he would have picked Salvador Dalí. “I was probably the only black boy in the South whose hero …

I stand on Kettner Boulevard experiencing a tinge of regret that I’m already married. Not because my eyes feast on some hunk of fine-ass man but because I’m witnessing the wedding I kinda wish I’d …

Megan Johnson of TipsyWriter.com, explains that yes, you really should wear pants to your Skype interview. First, please tell me what you do? I’m going to avoid job titles here because those can be boring …

Geneva Karwoski explains how Urban Corps can help you get work ready. What is Urban Corps? Urban Corps is a certified local conservation corps and WASC-accredited charter high school that offers young adults a chance …

On a Tuesday evening in late September, Lindsay Marks stands in the center of a group of people at Spike Africa’s Fresh Fish Grill and Bar on Broadway. She wears a cheek-stretcher of a smile …

She's like, "It's cycling, running, and swimming stuff." And I'm like, "I don't swim."

Kim Mohiuddin is a nationally certified résumé writer, president of both MovinOnUpResumes.com and Authentic Executive Careers, and Certification Chair for the National Résumé Writers’ Association. Why don’t you start by telling me exactly what you …

Joe Hruska, founder of RescueTime, explains how you can become more efficient in your job search or job upgrade process. First, please tell me about RescueTime. What’s the story behind it? RescueTime began as a …

Grant Cooper explains how to best use the Internet in your job search. First, please tell me what you do. For the past 19 years, I have operated a résumé writing and career coaching business …

Interviews with adjunct professors who realize that the colleges and universities that employ them never intend to give them tenure. Most teachers who make a living out of it have to hold down more than one job.

Vaughn Brown, creative director and founder of Parker Dusseau (ParkerDusseau.com), explains the perks and challenges of being a new business owner. Tell me a little bit about your job history. I was in sales and …

Lindsay Marks explains what it takes to be a Dishcrawl Ambassador. First, tell me about Dishcrawl. Dishcrawls are kind of like pub crawls, but we visit restaurants instead. It’s not your typical tour company. Rather, …

Matt Keener, author of Executive in Sweatpants, says he can help you find success among the growing ranks of those who work from home. First, tell me a little bit about your story. After graduating …