5 Million Peeps Born Each Day

As friends and family know, I LOVE Peeps. I confess that I haven't eaten a Peep, or actually, a whole package of peeps since I can't eat just one, in about three years. This year I'm going to make it happen.

The NBC TODAY show featured a segment on the Peeps factory preparing for Easter. I learned that Peeps were originally individually born through a piping back but now they are birthed by the millions in a super secret machine. Image above shows the individually birthed Peeps. I want to bite their noses off.

Professional Portrait at 44

Finally, I have an updated professional portrait. This one taken by my work colleague Marty Chappell.

SMASH: The Bells and Whistles

The show SMASH is finding its way with the episode The Bells and Whistles where the theme is obstacles. The possibility of two people falling in love is obstructed by obstacles. What are they? Other people. This beautifully choreographed segment captures that life-long journey of past-present-future lovers moving towards, and sometimes away from each other, usually sidetracked by choices they make, or are made for them, by other people.

Open Hearted Yoga wih Kofi Busia

My yoga school classmate, Joe, lives down here in Santa cruz. Over the past two days we have attended classes with senior Iyengar instructor Kofi Busia www.kofibusia.com. This has been a profound two days. 

Kofi immediately identified that I get migraines, without me telling him directly. During the two classes he used a great deal of humor and physical direction to help me strengthen my torso muscles, front and back. His recommendation is that I go backwards into backbends, from standing, 12 times a day. To demonstrate, he had me do it 12 times today. How was I able to for his so easily as a child? Felt like being on a roller coaster.

I felt that his attention was coming from a loving place, if it was extremely challenging, physically and mentally. Somehow I have lost strength over the years and I think it is the direct result of bad relationships to which I responded by turning in on myself. Now to open up. 

Today I am in Aptos and the people are so calm, friendly and beautiful. Although I love Oakland, as a concept in urban perseverance, does life have to be that hard?

This is a photo I took yesterday near the Ocean in Sanra Cruz.

The First Place I Lived in California

On Branciforte in Santa Cruz with Jen, my friend from college. I think the year was 1993. I pretty quickly got a job in Salinas, started commuting and then moved there.

Made it to the Ocean

Finally feel like I'm on Spring Break. Out for a visit to Santa Cruz.

Portrait of Me and Ike

My yoga mentor Nancy Leigh-Smith of Yoga in the Middle took this photo of me and Ike in Castro Valley.

Ike the Bike Stolen

Welcome to Oakland. All of our bikes were stolen from the garage in our building. I had a dream about Ike last night. A sad day. Hopefully he will be in good hands and get a ride from someone who can love him.

=44=

Last week I celebrated my 44th birthday. I like the simplicity of the double 4's.

Blossoms on the Beach

Beautiful blooms in Alameda.

Ultimate Ginger Cookie

My yoga peep Erika made our Saturday yoga class these huge, awesome ginger cookies.

Student Culinary Clash at Luce

Students from the school in which I teach, The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco, are participating in a Culinary Clash at Luce restaurant in San Francisco. As part of my birthday weekend, one of the Chef Instructors and I are heading out there for dinner. Very proud of our students!

The Science of Sharing and Winning

Last night I attended a talk at the Commonwealth Club of California featuring Po Bronson discussing his new, co-authored book, Top Dog. The book provides insights into the science of winning and losing.

Post-talk there was a long line to purchase a copy of the book and have Bronson sign it. I hemmed and hawed, took a trip to the restroom and gave the line a half-hearted second chance.

Ironically, my behavior illustrated one of the points in the book - that the majority of women, when faced with a competition in which they are less than 20% likely to win, will not enter the "race".

As I approached the sales table there seemed to be two copies remaining for purchase. The sales person was deep in discussion with a patron who wanted to return the three books he had just purchased. Apparently his friend, also in attendance, had also purchased three books for their little trio. As I stood there and witnessed the discussion, the man asked me if I wanted to buy a book and then he decided he wanted to give me one of his copies, "here, I bought this for you." I was surprised and delighted that he would give a copy to a complete stranger - I hadn't even had to compete for it. He was happy to know that I was a teacher and that knowledge gleaned from the book would be shared with my students.

There has to be a lesson in this situation about waiting your turn, being patient, taking your time and then somehow "winning" through the generosity of another. He received a free book from his friend, and in turn I received a free book.