'Love Allergy' by Kenneth M. Walsh (Instinct magazine)

So pardon me while I get all geeky telling you about some exciting news: I have my first personal essay published in the new issue of Instinct! (Since my career switched more toward editing, my most-recent bylines were for The Arizona Republic years ago.)"The Boyfriend or the Cat" details what happened when my then-boyfriend developed an allergy to Troy (that's the star himself on the right page). Although it's a silly little piece, it was quite a nightmare when the whole thing happened. (Anyone who reads this blog knows how that one turned out!)

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If you're interested in reading the piece, pick up a copy at your local newsstand. The extra pictures of J.P. are worth the price of admission -- although my favorite surprise from the issue is after the jump.

I wasn't even sure that the story was running in February, but because of all of the hoopla surrounding "Survivor" hunk J.P. Calderon's coming out, I ended up seeing a leaked photo of the cover last week and noticed my cover line. Thrilled, Michael and I spent the last week popping by every magazine store in Manhattan (to no avail) until we were nearly exhausted. Last night, Michael and my friend visiting from Chicago, Nina, showed up unexpectedly at my work with a copy they had just found in the West Village. It was really cute of them to be so spontaneous and surprise me like that. I was all teeth all night at work.