Some of you might remember Michelle of Ask Michelle/Michelle’s Mom from the old Squishy days. She writes: My older sister’s husband (brother in law as they say) is in need of a kidney transplant. They are having a charity auction slash fundraiser to offset some of the costs not covered by insurance. He’s a great…

My friend Kate writes: I volunteer for an organization called Pet Orphans of Southern California, in Van Nuys. It’s a non-profit, humane dog and cat shelter that specializes in not only rescuing, but in education about animals and the importance of spaying/neutering (that sounded like Bob Barker, didn’t it?). On Sunday, July 11th, from 2…

Here’s a conversation I keep having these days. “How’s the house hunt?” someone asks me. “Good. We’re in escrow.” There’s a pause. The person nods, squints, nods again. Folds his or her arms. Then: “I have no idea what that means.” I didn’t either, just a little while ago. I also didn’t know exactly what…