Leslie Shaffer

Friendship & Boundaries

How much do you tell a new friend? And how soon? Do you talk diarrhea? It’s hard to know. My girlfriends from high school, I’ve seen all their boobs. I know the things that once embarrassed … [More]

Jell-O and Dr. Dre

Sometimes I make this dessert. “Making” is an overstatement. So is “dessert.” I assemble this sweet food. Wait. I assemble this sweet edible item. There. I take a plastic cup of Jell-O … [More]

I am getting strict with myself in 2013, readers. Or trying. By nature I am a mess. If I could, I’d stay up late and sleep all day and eat waffles for every meal. So, as an adult living in the adult … [More]

Search and Ye Shall Find But Probably Not

Something magical I can do is see which Google search terms led people to my blog. Overwhelming amounts of people arrive at this blog’s doorstep by searching for "teens wearing short skirts" or … [More]

To Girls Wearing Short Skirts Standing in Long Lines in the Cold

You shiver. Your four-inch patent leather heels pinch your toes from top and bottom, left and right. Bruises form. Skin splits. Your legs look gorgeous. The concrete seems to push back and, after an … [More]

What I Like

I like it when I see someone on the street let the dog decide which direction they will walk. I like when people have voices that don’t match their faces. I like when you witness a moment you … [More]

And Then We Walk Out

In an interview with The Rumpus, Francis Ford Coppola describes “a little experiment” he does “for the fun of it.” He enters the elevator in his building, pushes a button that turns the … [More]

Communication Booby Traps

“OK let me read that confirmation code back to you. I’ve got M as in Mother, W as in William, T as in Table …” Do people in customer service positions receive training for this phonetic … [More]

Despite Experience

“It doesn’t start for 30 minutes; I’m sure there will be seats.” ________________ “We’re good. I’ve got it pulled up on Google Maps.” ________________ “OK … just one … [More]