Lost and found

Plus, new opps!

I make 30 minutes for exercise on every weekday. It feels essential for both mental health as well as physical health. (Sitting is the new smoking, after all.) Today, I used that time to walk around my neighborhood, delightfully crisp (by L.A. standards) and fall-esque.

In the alley I always walk through, I came upon a shady-looking piece of discarded luggage. At first, I passed it by. Then I returned to give it a kick and confirm there was no dead body inside. (I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts.)

Next, I came upon what looked like an upside-down discarded lottery ticket. I almost passed it too, but the same slightly compulsive impulse made me stop and pick it up. It was actually five folded lottery tickets, all still unscratched.

I’m taking this as an omen and a teachable moment. First, it confirms the impulse to stop and smell the roses, as it were.

I also hope it’s an auspicious kickoff to my upcoming quick trip to Vegas on Friday. I’m tagging along on my husband’s business trip for an annual industry trade show (canceled last year due to COVID, of course). And as a travel writer, it’s always my business to see what’s new there for potential coverage.

Plus, let’s be honest, I love hot craps table. Wish me luck! 🍀

And luck be with us all as we barrel through this crazy, er — abundant! — holiday season. (Amidst it all, don’t forget to stop and pick up the scratchers.)

Please follow me on Instagram for visuals of my reporting in action (plus travel, my twins, and my latest nail art). And if you find value in this newsletter, please subscribe and share it with colleagues and friends.

Open Press Opportunities

• I’m (pretty much always) looking for infectious disease doctors to add to my go-to source list — and answer some specific questions I have right now for two Best Life stories related to COVID and Thanksgiving.

• For Insider, I’m working on a big roundup of 22 domestic destinations everyone should visit in 2022. Open to strong pitches!

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How to Pitch

• Simply respond to this email with a new subject line or pitch pitch@alicedubin.com.