Children can be happy when their parents are miserable. But a parent is never happier than her unhappiest child.

It's very different to have this kid that I'm truly responsible for.

As for music, my tastes are eclectic. Elvis Costello is my all-time favorite. I listen to a lot of jazz, primarily the great female vocalists, and I am very fond of the late cabaret singer Nancy Lamott.

it's smarter to be lucky than it's lucky to be smart.

I think Baltimore suffers from nostalgia and it keeps us from being honest in talking about what really happened here. A place doesn't have to be perfect to be beloved, and I love this city and I love it better for seeing its flaws.

Reporting is pretty vital to me. It keeps me connected to the world. A 40-hour-per-week day job may be less feasible as time goes on.

I'm for anything that lets writers stretch, in or out of their series.