Date Rape

I’ve been recycling at work and throwing out lots of old papers around the office. Some of them are notes for a book including some run off sheets from other books and periodicals. Some of them are on date rape.

Most of the information I already knew. One report, however, made me pay attention when I read that 27% of the 770+ college age men and 18% of the women answered on their survey that in one scenario or another, forcing the woman to have sex against her will was acceptable. Some of the scenarios varied who paid for the date and where they went and where they ended up but the fact that there are some people out there that think that in any, ANY situation, date rape is acceptable, surprised me. I know it happens all the time. I just figured that the people involved knew it was wrong.

Photo Dump

I had some time this weekend so there are 5 new albums up.

Coronado in the Rain

33 birthday party

Straws and Bazooka gum

misc stuff including our amazing cat Bas climbing the ladder, this picture of my son, Anthony watching laundry tv, and this sign.

This is my favorite album today. Coaster Ride is best viewed by using the slideshow feature and setting it to 5 second delay. You can actually take the ride with me! : )

Also in misc: Utah Trip and Joe and Bas: the usual position.

Today's Letter

Leah:

I’m a middle-aged guy thinking of moving to San Diego. I look kind of middle-class because I work as a nurse, but I’m really still a hippie inside and prefer to be around people who are a little “out there”. Where do you think I should look for a place to live in San Diego?

Thanks,

Bob in Minnesota

Hey Bob,

Gothere.com is a great site for finding out what lies ahead in an unknown city. I punched in Hillcrest, (because from what you�re telling me, I think you�d really like it there) and this is what I got.

From the look of the calendar, they�ve always got a lot of great stuff going on.

By the way, don�t think you�re the only middle-aged hippie disguised as a blue-color worker out there. And, being a nurse is a perfectly wonderful thing to be. I think you�ll find the majority of people in the San Diego area will agree with me.

Good luck on your move!

leahpeah

If You Know Me

then you know I love Laurie Notaro. Her books make my cheeks hurt and my belly ache from laughing so hard which usually doesn’t happen anymore since I gave up pot.

I’m putting a profile together of her and her work for www.writersmonthly.us. (Be looking for the interview in the April issue.) In doing so, she was gracious enough to allow me to call her this afternoon and dig into the personal.

She has a website. In the website, she has an ‘Are You an Idiot Girl?’ test.

This is #2:

2. A frantic knock at your door at 2:30 am reveals a neighbor screaming that your backyard is on fire. You immediately:
a) Call 911.
b) Call her a drunk and slam the door.
c) Run to the backyard to try and fight the fire with the garden hose, completely unaware that you are not wearing pants.
d) Make a few phone calls to let your single girlfriends know that some firemen are coming over.

Like I said, she makes me laugh.

My Morning

in a nutshell:

Co-worker: “Maybe the pinstripes in your slacks will offset the fact that you wore a navy blue jacket with black pants.”

Today's Letter

Dear leahpeah,

You seem like the kind of person that knows what’s going on around town. I’ll be bringing my girlfriend to San Diego in a couple of weeks. What’s fun to do around town? She’s into art, too.

Sincerely,

Brad T.
Phoenix AZ.

Hey there Brad,

I’m not so sure I know everything going on around town but if you are coming the weekend of Feb.20, 21st, my artist friend Pamela Jaeger is having an opening at Distric Three from 7 to 9 pm. The gallery is located at 1135 25th Street. The show runs until March 14th.

Hope you have a great time!

leahpeah

I've Been Quoted

Subject: A perfect quote from Leah…

I was reading an article, an interview with Leah Peterson. At the end she said something that made me smile and only my wife would understand why: Leah was describing me, as well as herself, and it’s probably one of the things about me that has tweaked the wife (Mona) more than once. :o)

Here is the quote:

“I’m a perpetual Pollyanna. I figure God has things in control and I don’t, no matter how much I wish I did, so I might as well have a good attitude about what’s going on. Things will work out for the best.

I’ve gotten this far. I can go further.”

Have a great day!

C.L. Nicolas-Stegall

Dear Kids at the Mall,

I know you have an image to protect: hence the nonsense with the hats askew, bellies exposed and the underwear showing. But, is there anyway you could look like you’re trying really hard to be nonchalant while standing around in little clusters and not smoke? Your little fingers gripping the cancer sticks like they are foreign objects. Your coughing and hacking while trying to swallow after the inhale. These are signs that you should STOP.

I’ll just say no for you.

Sincerely,

leahpeah