Category: general

Red.
Green.
December.
Year’s End.
New Beginning.
Christmas lights.
Learning new things.
Good communication.
Problem solving with Joe.
Spending time with my kids.
Being kindly, gently surprised.
My cat, Bas, purring by my head.
Being prepared for upcoming events.
The quiet right before the alarm buzzes.
The look of snow when it’s not on my street.
Warm under the covers in a slightly cold house.
Tall shopping bags to carry tall wrapping paper rolls.
Buying gifts for others that I know they won’t expect or guess.
Doing everything with Joe including bringing in the garbage cans.
Friends.
Scarves.
Coffee.
Lists.
Gloves.
Heaters.
Cards.
Sweaters.

Kids, one of which was sick.

Made pickles, yet to be tasted and judged.

Made lip gloss/chap stick (depending on if you are my son or my daughter…it’s actually the same recipe), turned out good this year.

Created Snowflake(and an occasional mutated car or Mohawk dude)Ornaments this year using toothpicks stuck into foam balls, spray painted white and then flocked and glittered, yet to be hung.

Shopping for gift exchange between siblings, unwrapped and unexchanged until New Years Day.

Purchased 6 real ‘for keeps’ and not-getting-rid-of Christmas Stockings, hung.

Demonstrated how to prepare a pomegranate without making a mess to my daughter, created mess on her favorite pajama pants.

Long, deep discussion with kids about propaganda in general life and specifically in the government and school, learned much about my son.

My son Devon’s poem is published in this quarters Arts and Poetsmagazine, I couldn’t be prouder.

Feeling more ‘home’ with Joe, my job, my house, my life than ever before, wonderful.

Finally feeling a tinge of Holiday Spirit, relief.

How I feel this morning in a nutshell:

E: I hate when people make erroneous assumptions without first exploring the options.

Me: Please don’t use big words this early in the morning before I’ve had coffee.

or at least I’m awake…ok? I ate bad food, expelled it and slept for 24 hours straight. But that was yesterday.

I’m not a Republican. I’m not a Democrat. I think it’s fair game to make fun of them all with the same amount of gusto.

Along those lines, Bush has said some really funny things since he’s been in the limelight and someone has taken the time to compile them. It’s worth it to go and read a few.

Source: The Onion.com

Another religious rant, but not from me: opinion. *Not for everyone. Very tongue in cheek.

Along the lines of finding out more about religion in general and Mormonism specifically, I recently read Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer. The LDS church seems to be up in arms about the book. You can read their official response here and some more reviews here.

Although I found the book fascinating, I have to admit it is pretty one sided. And while admitting that fascination isn’t always a good thing, it did keep me turning the pages. Richard L. Evans, a Professor of Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University, wrote a clear bit of comment on the trouble with a riveting story that isn’t broad enough to cover all the angles in his conclusion:

“This is like asking someone: “Would you like to understand Catholicism today? Then study carefully the atrocities of the Crusades and the horrors of the Inquisition.” Or: “Would you like to gain a better insight into the minds and feelings of German people today? Then read Mein Kampf and become a serious student of Adolph Hitler.” Or: “Would you like a deeper glimpse into the hearts of Lutherans today? Then be certain to study the anti-Semitic writings of Martin Luther.” Or: “Would you care to better understand where Southern Baptists are coming from? Then simply read the many sermons of Baptist preachers in the Civil War who utilized biblical passages to justify the practice of slavery.”

However, anything that gets so much backlash has to be based on some truth.

Being raised ‘in the faith’, I thought I knew the basic church history. There were things in this book that I wasn’t aware of. Whether they are true or not, I don’t know yet. But I like to look at all the sides of the issue before making up my mind. And while the church doesn’t deny that polygamy was at one time fully endorsed by the prophet, it now says it’s not.

Which do I like better: thinking that God once said, “Hey, all you men should have 17 wives.” or that He said, “Have 17 wives. Ok, wait. No. Don’t do that anymore.” or that He said, “You shouldn’t practice polygamy.” and the church did anyway. Any way you slice it, I think it stinks.

Rgate:
Leah – What camera would you buy? Sony Cybershot DSC-F717, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1S, Fuji Fine Pix S5000, Olympus Camedia – E 20 N

Rick,

Of course I’m partial to the Sony F717. It’s what i have and love. I think the 5x (38-190mm) all-glass Carl Zeiss F2-2.4 zoom lens is the best one out there in that middle price range. This review is the most comprehensive one I could find and it covers everything I like about my cam.

Of the others you mentioned, the Olympus has the better lens, but the camera itself gets such conflicting reviews. I’ve heard from people that really love it or really hate it which tends to make me shy away from it a bit. The Fuji is probablly the next best camera for the buck. You can use 2 lens adapters for wide and tele with it. The shutter speed is a little slower but compared to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1S, it’s a dream.

Well, that’s my opinion anyway…

..that have nothing to do with each other.

I get groans in my stomach and here is why: What Causes Stomach Gurgling?
Think of your stomach as a giant mixmaster.

I think this calendar looks funny. But if you come to believe what you are told (or read over and over) it might not be such a hot idea to have this up for an entire month.

Paintings for sale. I also do commission work. Other/older paintings here.

Never been that great at marketing myself. This is as close as it gets to bragging.

Maybe I truly am just old when I can’t see any value in wearing men’s undewear bands on my head.

Finishing up the work for North’s January issue, The 50 to Watch in 2004. One interview I did was Gavin Kaysen, 24 year old Sous Chef at El Bizcocho in Rancho Bernardo, that could whip all the masters on Iron Chef. He created a wonderful meal complete with my first taste of Egg Mousse with Citric Caviar served in a real eggshell opened at the top, cuddled by two red rose petals and squared off by sprigs or rosemary. Also a first that night: 3 different styles of oysters. And I can honestly say I liked one of them very much. His staff obviously adores him and couldn’t stop telling me nice things about him as I ate lamb loin rolled in truffles. The dessert, not to be outclassed by the food before it, was served on a marble slab and included a chocolate mousse ball with a Crème Brule center and a scoop of apricot sorbet. My meal was accompanied with wines chosen by the staff and Gavin. The entire meal was an orchestra to my taste buds. Not a surprise, I suppose, when you take into account that he was the first chef from the U.S. to compete in France for Le Trophy in 26 years and the youngest to ever compete. And he won 1st in fish.

Recap:

Monday: insane work day
Tuesday: kids came
Wednesday: shopping
Thursday: dinner with Joe’s family
Friday: sunset cliffs walk, family dinner
Saturday: movies
Sunday: swap meet

Also: 3 interviews with photo shoots, 1 pair of black pants lost on the freeway, sprained ankle, laundry, yellow flowers in a vase, a poinsettia and compliments on the kids’ behavior when I�m not around.

Monday: back to work for a short day, kids going home tonight, picking up Leo our adopted cat.

I’m amazed that new weeks always begin again. It’s like on Sunday I think maybe the day will last forever. I fall asleep hoping that the night will keep stretching and stretching. But then the alarm rings and it’s Monday morning and I think, ‘Hey. It’s Monday again? How does this keep happening??’

The weekend was packed full and wonderful. I went to my first Mass at the church where both Joe and his mom were baptized. (There was a Mariachi band!) I made a rosary out of coral and turquoise and had it blessed by Father Brown who wore a green felt European flavored hat home after the meeting ended. He took the rosary, prayed over it and dowsed it in Holy Water. Then, for good measure, he dowsed me and Phyllis, Joe’s mom, with a healthy helping of Holy Water as well. I had a mini baptism my very first time at a Catholic church. Joe’s grandmother told me, ‘You may be the only Mormon girl that made her own rosary.’ She might be right. But I’m not really Mormon. And I’m not really Catholic. I don’t know what I am besides me. That’s what I’ve always been.

On the books for this week:
Family and more family. Some work thrown in. Mostly fun.

Trying to enjoy every minute.

I’m still,

leahpeah.

Subject: FLY ALASKA AIR

Before takeoff…………….

“Hello, and welcome to Alaska Flight 438 to San Francisco. If you’re going to San Francisco, you’re in the right place. If you’re not going to San Francisco, you’re about to have a really long evening.

“We’d like to tell you now about some important safety features of this Aircraft. The most important safety feature we have aboard this plane is… The Flight Attendants. Please look at one now.

“There are 5 exits aboard this plane: 2 at the front, 2 over the wings, and one out the plane’s rear end. If you’re seated in one of the exit rows, please do not store your bags by your feet. That would be a really bad idea. Please take a moment and look around and find the nearest exit. Count the rows of seats between you and the exit. In the event that the need arises to find one, trust me, you’ll be glad you did. We have pretty blinking lights on the floor that will blink in the direction of the exits. White ones along the normal rows, and pretty Red ones at the exit rows.

“In the event of a loss of cabin pressure these baggy things will drop down over your head. You stick it over your nose and mouth like the Flight attendant is doing now. The bag won’t inflate, but there’s Oxygen there, promise. If you are sitting next to a small child, or someone who is acting like a small child, please do us all a favor and put on your mask first. If you are traveling with two or more children, please take a moment now to decide which one is your favorite. Help that one-first, and then work your way down.

“In the seat pocket in front of you is a pamphlet about the safety features of this plane. I usually use it as a fan when I’m having my own personal summer. It makes a very good fan. It also has pretty pictures. Please take it out and play with it now.

“Please take a moment now to make sure your seat belts are fastened low and tight about your waist. To fasten the belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle. To release, it’s a pulley thing — not a pushy thing like your car because you’re in an airplane — HELLOOO!!

“There is no smoking in the cabin on this flight. There is also no smoking in the lavatories. If we see smoke coming from the lavatories, we will assume you are on fire and put you out. This is a free service we provide. There are two smoking sections on this flight, one outside each wing exit. We do have a movie in the smoking sections tonight … hold on, let me check what it is … Oh here it is; the movie tonight is ‘Gone with the Wind.’

“In a moment we will be turning off the cabin lights, and it’s going to get really dark, really fast. If you’re afraid of the dark, now would be a good time to reach up and press the yellow button. The yellow button turns on your reading light. Please don’t press the orange button unless you absolutely have to. The orange button is your seat ejection button.

“We’re glad to have you with us on board this flight. Thank you for choosing Alaska Air, and giving us your business and your money. If there’s anything we can do to make you more comfortable, please don’t hesitate to ask. “If you all weren’t strapped down you would have given me standing ovation, wouldn’t you?”

After landing…

“Welcome to the San Francisco International Airport. Sorry about the bumpy landing. It’s not the captain’s fault. It’s not the copilot’s fault. It’s the asphalt. Please remain seated until the plane is parked at the gate. At no time in history has a passenger beaten a plane to the gate. So please don’t even try. Please be careful opening the overhead bins because ‘shift happens.'”

Forwarded from a co-worker.
Thanx for the laugh, Michelle.