Leahpeah : flawed but authentic

When I was growing up, cows didn’t really have an appetite for other cows or for eating chicken parts. They wanted to eat grass. They were herbivores. Which makes me wonder why feeding cow blood and chicken wastes to cattle ever seemed like a good idea? No wonder the cows are getting mad.

This seems a little DUH-ish:

“Also banned is the use of composted “poultry litter” as a feed ingredient for cows. The litter consists of bedding, spilled feed, feathers and fecal matter swept from the floors of chicken coops. The ingredient that worries health officials is the spilled feed, because chicken feed can legally contain meat and bone meal rendered from beef.

Animals can no longer be fed “plate waste,” the agency said, meaning the meat and other scraps that diners leave on their plates in restaurants and that is rendered into the meat and bone meal added to feed.”

Let’s try to not make our animals into cannibals, shall we?

Yesterday was a little on the surreal side.
Today was spent recovering with a short episode of what felt like car queasiness during a private php lesson from the master, Joe.

I was the key-note speaker at an education conference in Ramona. That was followed by a question and answer period with a preacher on my left and 2 shrinks on my right. They kept referencing my speech in their comments. And I kept thinking, ‘ Are they serious? Do I even belong here?’ But I guess I did.

The afternoon was spent catching up with an old friend and visiting some old haunts.

The evening outdid the rest of the day, if that’s possible. Gavin Kaysen created the most beautiful meal experience for Joe and I. Our names were even on our private menus. The meal included 7 different wines to compliment each delectable morsel. If you haven’t been to El Bizcocho, you gotta go.

More amazing things in the works. I’ll let you all know soon.

Sometimes there are good ones.

Like this one: permed+eyelashes+orange+california

The object in my Treasure Chest
was a large Silver Musical Note:
2 feet tall.

It shone and glimmered in the sun,
but not too brilliant to look at.

I knew it was mine.
It belonged to me.
And, even more,
I wanted it.

The Note was a little heavy:
It had weight to it.
But it was not unpleasant to hold.

The smooth edges made my fingers long
to stroke and dance along the edges and curves.

In my inner ears
I could hear its beautiful song.

It sounded familiar.
It was my voice.
It was my song.

back from the Utah Trip.
It was great to see my parents and some other family as well. My kids had a great time jumping on the tramp, swinging, shooting air-soft and rubber band guns, typing on Grandma’s old-fashioned typewriter and so many other things.
I finished Joe’s quilt. Finally. It’s only about a year late….
We made some lists for 2004.
The traffic coming home wasn’t too bad at all.
Back to work today.
I’m the key-note speaker this Saturday at a conference. I’m almost ready….
Things feel good.

This is Andrew Phelps. Check it out…the eyes follow you and it’s a little weird but very cool. I hope he lets me know when the new site is up so I can add it to my side-bar.

Project Greenlight has a photo contest.
via emese’s blog.

Just Say No to being distracted while driving. My friend Charles is alive, but it’s a miracle….

In an article by David Bernstein in The New York Times about the Flaming Lips being up for a Grammy, you get a sense of why I like them. I also like the White Stripes but I’d be less likely to want to hang out with them or wish they were around when it’s time to clean out the garage…

“Two hours before the White Stripes and the Flaming Lips ushered in 2004 with their double-bill New Year’s Eve concert at the historic Aragon Ballroom here, the Flaming Lips were onstage blowing up oversize balloons, posing inflatable robots and setting up a giant video screen and confetti machine for their extravagant multimedia show.

By contrast, Jack and Meg White, who make up the White Stripes, were mostly backstage until performance time, their roadies, in black suits and bowler hats, guarding their dressing suite. The White Stripes are rock stars, and stars are not supposed to do stagehand work.”

My birthday party at the Corvette Diner. I was there again last night, 2 years later. New photos coming real soon….

Dan Landrum is a friend of mine. We belong to the some of the same San Diego clubs etc. We talk on occasion and I’ve always had the sneaking impression that there was way more cool stuff about him than I knew, but I couldn’t put my finger on it until now.

Seva Deva is his resort where people can come and rejuvenate/heal themselves. Here is more about him along with the things he does at Seva Deva. And here is his partner, Carol, and what she contributes.

What an awesome team!

Someday I’d like to go for one of their retreats.

I love that after women have climbed by the skin of their teeth out of the pegged hole named ‘only a stay at home mom’, these men are jumping into it in full force. It’s so good to see parenting taken seriously.

As it should be.

Joe has a great link for the decline of fashion photography. I SO agree.
Another great link: Diane Arbus is one of my favorite photographers. Michael Kimmelman, the author, gives more than just the brief background per usual.

Hey…if you can’t see the new blog colors, then refresh, my friend, refresh.

The new STORE link is up. All the paintings for sale are there now.

Some of you might know that I frequently get emails with questions. I’ve answered a few here and there in my blog and I’ve also answered almost every single one in an individual reply email. I’ve decided that I’m going to answer them all here from now on for the benefit of all mankind. That is unless you expressly ask me not to in the email. Then, of course I won’t. Heaven Forfend….

So, if you have a question, send it on over. If I don’t know the answer and can’t find the answer…I’ll just make one up. And be warned…I won’t correct your spelling.

Today’s Question:

Dear leahpeah,

I’m only 14 and everyone else in my class is 15 already. Well, not everyone, but like almost everyone. Almost everyone my age will have their drivers’s licensess before me!!! So, what would you do if you were me? Do you know how to fake being older?

Love,
Simon’s Girlfriend XOXOXOXO
P.S.. i like your one painting with the ocean..!!! It make’s me want to go to the beach!!!!

Dear GF of Simon,

First of all, I’ve noticed that most people your age like to use the !!! button a lot!!! But, here is a tip: less is more.

Second, I don’t think you are really in that bad of a problem. You signed your name Simon’s Girlfriend XOXOXOXO and while I think you might want to take those X’s and O’s and put them away from future use instead of using them up so soon, being Simon’s GF might help you get in at least the passenger’s seat sooner rather than later. Just make sure his hands stay on the driving wheel….

Here’s hoping that Simon is a little bit older than you and smart enough to get you home by dark,

leahpeah

I watched Donald Trump last night in The Apprentice on NBC. It was fascinating. I didn’t know if I’d like it because I really don’t like reality TV (besides Queer Eye) but I did. The women and men against each other…watching the teams try to come together. It was truly interesting and I’ll be looking for it next week. And the women kicked butt. : )

Also, this is funny and weird. His entire house was wrapped in foil. This report has pictures.

I changed my mind. I want to go back to acting. Just Kidding.

I’m starting to like Terminator Schwarzenegger. He’s human.

Joe and I went to get a Christmas tree about a week before the big day. We looked everywhere for a place that felt a little bit human instead of a tree killing frenzy. We decided to support Troop some# in TierraSANTA. They were your usual bunch of kids with the supportive parents here and there.

We got up to the open part of the gate. The scent of pine was in the air from trees piled up everywhere. A young man about the age of nine or ten, with hands pushed deep in his pockets to warm his frozen fingers, wearing a flannel shirt and boots, asks us in the utmost serious tone,

“What are you folks here looking for today?”

Joe and I looked at each other, with matching serious faces replied almost in unison,

“Well, a Christmas tree.”

“Step this way.” He outstretched his arm towards the tree piles. “Are you looking for a 7-footer?”

You could see in his manner that he took his job very seriously. We opted for a 5-footer and paid about $25 more for it than we would have at a chop-shop. But we did get a coupon for a free 2-scoop ice cream sundae from Baskin Robbins. Just what you want after freezing in the cold weather looking at trees….

I’ll do it the same way next year.

or at least a better and improved site: Gordon Training International has launched the new site that I have been working on for them for the past few months.