2AM Reckonings

A.I. photoshop, we need to talk. The youths are really, really good at makeup and we can learn a lot from them. Today’s high school graduations are DIFFERENT. Sheila’s at war with protein and kind of okay with it. Ahead of the Adriatic Writers Conference and summer travel, we’re thinking about what we have to have in our bags, besides chargers and passports and all that jazz. A beach cover up that doubles as a dress / thing you can throw on over pants and a shirt to FEEL dressy (here’s a steal, here’s a splurge). A sketchpad and watercolor pencils to keep you off your phone. A Cadence kit that makes all your skincare magically travel size. Corded headphones (Amrutha calls them “punishment headphones”). Sunglasses galore, the best to switch up your look (how cool are these). A wax stick for when you can’t / don’t want to do your hair.Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

How to celebrate an anniversary? Osteria Mozza is never a bad call. (Try for corner seats at the Mozzarella Bar, the best in the house.) Sometimes a movie’s entertaining, and that’s enough. Is a screen version of the Wall Street lawsuit in the works? Because that one’s WILD, and thank goodness one of us is a lawyer who can shed light. Is every election destined to have a reality TV contestant? Should Bravo start a bootcamp? One thing that is not up for debate: the supremacy of head massages. This Vietnamese head spa is at the top of our list. We’ve got an at-home scalp massager for a fix between sessions, but we might have to put the LED version to the test ... Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

We can’t find our lip gloss. Oh wait, we can, and it melted! Use the good stuff before it’s too late. Sheila went to Sushi Samba LA and teleported back to Sex and the City (the original). On the other end of the sushi spectrum, she dropped in on Morihiro. Amrutha went to Jerome Bailey Jr.’s show and would like more weeknight art gallery happenings, please and thanks. Whenever possible, we’re sleeping without an alarm. And listening to Lena Dunham’s Famesick while walking (or driving, but not while eating). We will find time for our hobbies and we will not monetize them! (Unless someone wants to sponsor our return to tennis in which case, please get in touch.)Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

We’re back! Sheila did a top to bottom tour of India and discovered that traveling there for work is a whole other animal. Key to combatting jet lag: a padded eye mask. Doesn’t have to be fancy. Amrutha’s into “The Pitt,” even if she has to watch it through her hands. Are sound baths the key to true relaxation? What if the person next to you is snoring? What if YOU’RE snoring? Maybe we have to embrace the awkwardness and while we’re at it, accept that it might take a minute to get back to the grindstone after launching something big. Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

Sheila celebrated the launch of her third novel, Incidentals, in New York and L.A. and we’re not going to get into the weeds about it here because there’s another post coming about all of that! Why does our social battery seem to drain faster these days? Do we need a software upgrade? Speaking of technology — at what age do you start taking calls on speaker by default? Amrutha spent a week with her parents and rediscovered physical photo albums, which we’ll both make … one of these days. Do we need a life admin party to get our taxes done? Do we need a life admin party TO SCHEDULE the life admin party? Amrutha’s starting her Substack. No time like the present!Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

Sheila rediscovered Mexico City — The food! The art! The parks! — and is soaking up the humidity of the Yucatán, where birds abound, you might hear some in the background. She’s newly into sueros, which is like an IV without the IV.Amrutha hosted a 50th anniversary dinner for her parents and made a chandelier collage. She’s also really into Yasso’s frozen Greek yogurt bars. Related: is Tasti D-Lite due for a comeback? Sheila wrote about not knowing whether she wanted to have children and what changed her mind. Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time!But wait, there’s more. Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

Amrutha went to the Houston rodeo and witnessed the greatness of Kelly Clarkson as well as children and adults BUCKING the laws of common sense in the name of a good time.Sheila went to a real estate presentation at a $134 million mansion in Bel Air with its own spa, nightclub, and several swimming pools. She’s smitten with her new ergonomic phone case by Bailey Hikawa. Amrutha swears by the clothing rental company Nuuly — that’s where most of her rodeo outfit came from. We watched the Oscars red carpet and, like a lot of people, are baffled at how the stars are aging (or not). What does that means for the rest of us? Do we all have to be hot moms now? We’re going out in sweats and no makeup as an act of rebellion.Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

Please excuse the sacrilege but we have questions about Hindu superstitions and the Internet does not have adequate answers. Why can’t you practice Bharatanatyam after dark? Did the moon really fat shame Ganesh? Sheila co-hosted Ojai Food & Wine and lived to tell the tale. (Should we pod from there next year? Manifesting!) Amrutha is really into the NYT word games but NOT Spelling Bee. Sheila read that swinging on a swing set is good for your lymphatic system so now she does that during her morning sanity walks. We’re climbing cringe mountain and can allllllmost see the land of cool … or is it a mirage … only time will tell. JR Serrano just published an account of his Ayahuasca experience. We know what we’re reading this weekend!Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening, until next time! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

Sheila used to submit papers in Wingdings. We believe in the power of the deadline. Amrutha went to New Orleans and stayed at the Hyatt Centric.Had cocktails at Jewel of the South.And dinner at Brennan’s. “Pro tip go there and celebrate something bc their cotton candy bday dessert is amazing.” She also had a three course brunch over live jazz at Commander’s Palace (DREAM).Sheila went to Vermont for an author’s weekend at Twin Farms and had one of those dinners that makes you happy to be alive. She swears by this book light:Amrutha has been loving outdoor walks with no headphones. Oh, the places your mind will go! The New York Times also wrote about this. We discuss the rise of avant garde Indian fashion as seen at Raw Mango’s London Fashion Week show and Björk wearing Amit Aggarwal couture at the Brit Awards. Would we wear any of these outfits to eat chicken masala and get low in a Marriott ballroom? Maybe not, but never say never!Raw Mango FW ‘26 full collection.Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

Sometimes you’ve just gotta embrace the snow day and bless the customer service rep. Sheila spent an unwise amount on a sweater for Nikhil at a Mykonos beach club. (Same brand, better colors.) Amrutha and Juan hung up art that flies in the face of the millennial beige aesthetic. Sheila saw TAKASHI Murakami’s exhibit at Perrotin L.A. (but also loves Haruki). Did you know you can go into a lot of art galleries for free? And that you DON’T have to spend seven hours in a museum (unless you want to)? The farmer’s market is a good place to buy flowers and a bunch of kale you may or may not use. The America’s Next Top Model doc has us flashing back and realizing that reality TV is pretty F-ed. We might be part of the problem. Janice Dickinson for the sequel? Join Sheila in Vermont February 27—March 1.Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

Amrutha went to Gymkhana in all white — the audacity. The Backstreet Boys are killing it at the Sphere. Sheila went to Costa Rica and ate two Greek salads. She spent her birthday eating outdoors and looking at the stars.Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo knows what people want. Is it actually more work to wear your curly hair “natural” than to straighten it? Amrutha swears by Virtue’s 6-in-1 vitamin E smoothing cream and Olaplex bonding hair oil. Sheila swears by Genevieve Ko’s chicken, vegetable, and barley soup. Like Phoebe Robinson, we are baffled by the Norwegian biathlete. Let’s maybe leave the bad boys on the screen.Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode. If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

Is this thing on? The bots have come for Taco Bell and Amrutha figured out a veggie Mexican pizza hack. Sheila can’t get enough labneh. Especially if it’s from Ari’s Natural Food at the Hollywood Farmer’s Market, spread on a Maury’s Jordanian bagel and topped with tomato, dill, salt, pepper, lemon, and a drizzle of Brightland. Amrutha rallied 5,000 people on one night’s notice. Sheila saw The Moment. While we’re still figuring out how to best celebrate a birthday as an adult, we’re channeling the energy of a woman Sheila once met at Coachella who exuded effortless cool despite not having shaved her armpits. (OR WAS THE COOL CONTINGENT ON THE FACT THAT SHE HAD NOT SHAVED HER ARMPITS … thing to think about.)Do you have questions for us? Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

Dressing dogs like Lola the Boston/Frenchie and Pablo the Dachshund sparks joy. ALSO joy sparking: candles. Using the nice ones. Trimming the wicks. Bar Etoile and why we love restaurants as vibes. Book Club Plus is SO. BACK. A good primer on the Beckham family drama. An ‘Indian Auntie’s’ advice to Victoria. What IS the ideal relationship to have with the parents of your significant other? We’re still figuring it out.Do you have questions for us? Shoot! Comment below or drop us a line and we might answer in a future episode.If you liked this episode, we’d love if you “liked” it by clicking the heart button. That helps it get seen and heard by more people. Thank you for listening! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

We. got. into. IT! Sheila’s neighborhood restaurant.Amrutha’s skincare masks.Incidentals.SmartFlyer. Sheila’s story about Zarna Garg.The myth of the monolith.The Privilege of Mediocrity.Thanks for joining us, stay tuned for our next date! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

Does hot water with lemon do anything? We’re not sure, but we’re getting religious with it. Plus: what’s in a name, a cinema renaissance, long road trips and unsung museums, vision boarding as an annual ritual, can we divorce ourselves from Google Calendar, going analog is like being a 4th grader with a 20-pound backpack, and more. The planner Sheila ordered.Amrutha’s vision board:Here for your Qs and recs! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe

I Substacked my bestie Amrutha to talk about going out, Las Vegas, breaking up with working out, and more. We’re aiming to do this weekly in 2026. Join us! Get full access to Your Friend on the Ground at yourfriendontheground.substack.com/subscribe