Sad news: Tower Records going bankrupt.
If I could figure out a way to boycott Walmart, I would do it. Sadly, even I need to shop there on occasion.
Famous
Heard my name on the radio this morning after I pledged about $100 to KPBS. That was weird.
Yesterday I talked to Bobbi Stoll, past president of the American Art Therapy Association and currently on the board of the SoCalAATA branch. She encouraged me some months back with her support. It was extrememly nice of her to spend part of her day with me hammering out a grant proposal I sent in. If I get the grant, I’ll be able to do a 2nd book, this one about art therapy.
My KIDS come TODAY.
I’m a bit excited about that, yes.
New Resume
My new Resume is up. Feel free to pass it amongst yourselves…
The Drive
The commute to work yesterday morning held a beautiful rainbow for about 10 minutes while driving 5 North.
I felt like I was entering a magical land.
The commute home tonight gave me a huge rising moon on my left and the setting sun complete with wild orange and hot pink ribbons slashing the sky on my right.
I felt like I was living in Dune.
February Column
New column up:
The Joys of Puking at 30,000 Feet
And the interview I did with Carl Nelson, author of Import/Export: How to Get Started in International Trade and his new novel, Secret Players.
And lots of other fun stuff at writersmonthly.us
The best way to watch the Superbowl.
Books, papers and a laptop spread all over the bed.
It’s after 4 pm and we are still in pajamas.
The tv is on but muted.
We occasionally look up.
‘What quarter is it?’
‘Who’s ahead?”
‘Is it half-time yet?’
‘Do you have any water left?’
‘I liked that commercial.’
‘The donkey was cute.’
‘Can I check my email real quick?’
‘Oh! Hello Bas.’
‘It’s over?’
‘Who won?’
‘Someone did.’
‘Rad.’
Two More
Today's Letter
hey leahpeah,
i’m thinking about being a professional singer when i get out of high school or maybe even now if my dad will let me. the problem is that i don’t know if i’m really a good singer or not. and, like, i’m afraid to ask my friends because what if i really do suck? i think i could be really good.
steph
Dearest Steph,
Have you watched TV lately? American Idol is back on for a new season. Sadly, I�m a junky for that show. As I�m watching them pick people, I�m amazed at the courage some of those kids have. Dude! They know they are going to be on national TV and they have the guts to get up there and be open to criticisms. My favorite was the Asian young man that sang Ricky Martin’s She Bangs. He was a treasure. His comment, �I�ve had no professional training.� followed closely by, �I came here to try my best and I did. I have no regrets.� (or something like that) stole my heart.
Anyway, my point is that sometimes you have to put yourself out there and take a risk that might make or break your singing career. That doesn’t mean that if you bomb, your life is over. It just means you might want to only sing in the shower. That’s what I do.
Good luck.
i wish you the best,
lp
Girl Power
These shirts have bothered me since the first time I saw them. I would never buy one for my daughter, but she hasn’t asked. She’s too smart to think they are clever instead of what they are: demeaning and sending the wrong message.
Girl Power Gone too Far?Dana Williams, Staff Writer for Tolerance.org, explores the issue:
Marilyn Quisenberry, a school psychologist at Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills, CA. does not see the trend as a “feminist” plot against pre-teen boys or even as intolerance of boys. Instead, it points to a general acceptance in society of inappropriate behaviors, she said.
Heather Johnston Nicholson, research director for Girls Inc. said, “I think it’s funny when people take the ‘Hooters’ shirts and turn them around in ways that bring attention to stereotypes that demean women,” she said. “But name calling isn’t funny or acceptable no matter what group it’s targeted at. These shirts are simply substituting one power message for another.”
Besides my daughter I have three boys I love very much and I wouldn’t want them to be hurt by these shirts. It just seems stupid.
I'd be a Mad Cow, Too.
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?
Today's Letter
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From: kirk “hance”
Date: Sat, January 24, 2004 3:53 pm
To: ask@leahpeah.com
Priority: NormalDear Kirk from the UK,
I can tell by your letter that you must be extremely upset about something. The fact that you sent the very same message twice suggests insistence. The fact that it�s incoherent suggests you must have been beside yourself with worry. Alas, your mind all a jumble; your little fingers typing away but making no sense�.or maybe your fake nails are too long?
If I could, I�d like to try and decipher your message.
Umm… Nope. I got nothing.
best,
leahpeah
Surreal Saturday
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.