ADVANCE: Get a signed “Never Regret the Nights” CD today!

I’m very excited to say that I have my new CD at long last and am making them available in advance of wide release if you make a ‘donation.’ (Can’t sell things on this blog.)

Your donation allows you to get a signed CD (or two, or three! ) about a month before they will be widely available for purchase online or download.

The advanced CD donations cost a little more but you get a CD signed to you (which you can’t get from CD Baby), you get the music early, AND it helps me greatly as an independent artist because the donated money goes directly to cover my production and manufacturing costs. Also, I’d love for you to have a physical CD because a) I don’t have room to store them hehe and b) I think the artwork is pretty cool (I took most of the pictures and designed it myself!), and very personal to me. It’s a little walk through some of my favorite things…and you get the lyrics!

The CD was produced in six days last fall with cool cat Clay Cook, who is pretty much a master musician and all-around great human. There are also some special guests: Emily Kate Boyd sings background vocals on a few tracks and Doris Muramatsu of Girlyman (who doesn’t LOVE girlyman?!?!?!) sings featured vocals on “You Got Me” and “How To Run.” I think it came out great…

Here’s the tracklisting:

1. You Got Me (feat. Doris Muramatsu from Girlyman)
2. Never Regret The Nights
3. London
4. A Good Day
5. How to Run (feat. Doris Muramatsu from Girlyman)
6. One of These Nights (Blink)
7. Matinée
8. Flat Earth Theory
9. The West Coast
10. Happy

I’m so proud of these songs, and this work as a whole, and they represent a very important chapter in my life. There will be some samples up on MySpace shortly…

www.myspace.com/lucasmire

I appreciate your support! Feel free to tell your friends or social networks

Signed CDs

1 Signed CD $20.00 2 Signed CDs $35.00 3 Signed CDs $50.00 4 Signed CDs $65.00

IMPT: Remember to tell me who you’d like me to sign the CDs for! See the chart above to calculate your donation based on the number of CDs you desire.

AND with your donation, I’ll email you an mp3 from the album (“You Got Me”) so you can have something to listen to as you await your snail mail.

If you have any problems, email me at lucasmire@gmail.com.

Random Wednesday

Today’s highlight — so far! — is that my I discovered my friend Eric is blogging again. And about one of my favorite topics, no less. Check it out: whattocook.wordpress.com/

I’m trying to get better about dipping in here for a quick post in stead of making it a big overwhelming deal. So, here’s a taste of that.

Regarding the new record, I’m dying to get started on the pre-sales, but in this economic climate, I feel a little bit like a douchebag asking people to pay me in advance for a CD. Still, you don’t know until you ask, and if I word the email correctly, I think I can convey that I understand these are extraordinary times. More to come on that, you can be sure.

I found out last night that my friend Hilla is taking me to see Kooza. Well, I’m paying $20 for my ticket, which is basically free. I love free stuff, if I haven’t mentioned it.

I was trying to decide if I should purchase a new watch yesterday, as both of my favorite watches died last year and I’ve been using my dress watch everyday, or not wearing one at all. The watch was a little pricey, but I found a good deal online. I was thinking though, in relation to the Kooza tickets, that I’d much rather spend money on something that will last for a few years than on an experience that will last for two hours. I think this makes me materialistic, but only in that I like that I can actually see/use the thing I’ve splurged on, instead of the money just being spent on an experience.

The exception to this is when I’m doing something for someone else. For instance, rather than buy something for my (former) in-laws a few Christmases ago when they were visiting (former) B & me from Ariz., I took them to a nice dinner and to see a Cirque show, which was a terrific and meaningful experience — something we all shared that I’ll never forget.

But when it comes to me alone, I’ll tend to take the watch.

New location, new look + more

So, it’s 2009 and several months ago, I moved this blog to WordPress to save $$ since I just bought a loft and need to cut unneccesary expenditures. It seemed easy enough to bring everything over, so I deleted my TypePad account and, then, a dasterdly thing happened. I noticed that none of the images from my blog came over. I also noticed that none of my inter-linkage worked either. Oh, well. I’m trying to be zen about it, as I never was one who posted a lot of images in my blog — though lately, I had been making really image-laden posts.

Neither here nor there, I guess, but as you peruse these blog pages, and don’t see images, it’s just the way it is…Hopefully it’s not too much of a distraction.

You’re a little bit right, more than a little bit right…

I’ve been listening to an acoustic version of Matt Nathanson’s song “Sooner Surrender” that Ben gave me a lot lately…. It hits a spot that the studio version can’t get near. (MP3 at the bottom of the post…) Earlier this year, Ben and I piled into the car after work and went to Athens to see Matt Nathanson, but I can’t remember if he he played this song…but I would if I saw him now.

Sooner Surrender

In the party, Love,
Some band’s playing “Hallelujah,
Hallelujah”
In the corner, Love,
All night girls drink wine and try to sing along

I made a mess of things
The stops and in betweens
They weigh me down
You got someone new singing you your songs now

I’d sooner surrender
Than watch the last wall collapse
And sooner surrender
And our love will count for everything

In my sweetest dreams
It’s just you and me
And we break wide

I wake reminded, Love,
How I just gave up
And how you moved on, how you moved on

I’m waiting for something
I’m waiting for now
For the rolling canyons of love
And I’m tongue tied
And you’re coming alive, coming alive

I’d sooner surrender
than watch the last wall collapse
And sooner surrender
And our love will count for everything

I’m sorry that you’ve gone
So sorry that you’ve gone
I’m sorry that you’ve gone
Love
I’m sorry that you’ve gone
So sorry that you’ve gone away

You’re a little bit right
More than a little bit right
With my arms around you

I’d sooner surrender
Than watch the last wall collapse
And sooner surrender
And our love will count for everything

I’d sooner surrender
Than watch the last wall collapse, I know
I’d sooner surrender and our love will count for everything
Our love will count for everything

And I miss when you were everything.

MP3: Sooner Surrender (Acoustic) by Matt Nathanson, from the excellent album “Some Mad Hope.”

he is gone like the meaning from a song…

He has gone
Like meaning from a song
He has gone
Like a vampire in the sun
Apologies, but no thank yous please
He has gone
Like a bullet from a gun
And my wheels are turning
And this heart is burning

Daddy give me one more chance
At least another dance
Across the floor
Spin me round
Throw me up
And push me down
Throw me back
But pull me up close to your heart

He has thrown
Like a teenager from home
The webs been spun
And the funeral march has been sung
And my wheels are turning
And this heart is burning

Daddy give me one more chance
At least another dance
Across the floor
Spin me round
Throw me up
And push me down
Throw me back
But pull me up close to your heart

Throw me down
Pull me up
Crash into me and then break apart
Throw me down
But pull me up close to your heart

Follow my eyes across the room
You drunken groom
What a surprise
The music stopped the shoe has dropped

If you go then I go
If you throw then I throw
But you know and I know
I just can't dance with anyone

Throw me down
But pull me up
Crash into me and then break apart
Throw me down
Pull me up close to your heart
Throw me down
Pull me up
Crash into me and then break apart
Throw me down
Pull me up close to your heart

He has gone
He has
He has gone…
He has gone…
He has gone…
He has gone…
He has gone…
He has gone…
–leona naess, whose lovely new album "thirteens" is in shops now.

Well-Fed Artist Event #15 — Scart’s Creole Gumbo

Hosts: Scott & Art (photos to come)

Relationship: I've known Scott since I was about 19 years young, but we lost touch for about 13 or 14 years…one day he googled me and we discovered we were living about four blocks from each other! The world is a crazy, wonderful place. So we reconnected and I got to meet his lovely significant other, Art. Their back deck is pretty much an oasis of calm, peace, and tranquility — and dance parties. They wanted to get in on the Well-Fed thing, because they are at almost every show, and will do most anything to cheer me on.

Menu: Scott did the cooking, and can be quite adventurous in the kitchen. For the salad course, he made a dressing that was kind of caesarish, but of course, homemade, inspired by a Paula Deen show he saw on TV. A basket of toasted french bread and butter was on the table, and went perfectly with the main dish: A shrimp, crab, and sausage gumbo served over fluffy white rice. (Scott wanted to serve brown rice, but said it seemed wrong to serve gumbo without white rice. I agree!) The gumbo was quite the hit, as I had two servings, which I am rarely letting myself do these days. It was just so good, I couldn't resist. Scott once made these stuffed peppers that I still talk about, but I think the gumbo takes the prize. Thanks, guys!!

I was planning for this to be my Well-Fed finale, but we have a few last minute additions…they'll be trickling in over the next couple of weeks…I told them I've made it past the two week point by now, plus some, but my friends are so sweet, they want to cook for me, so who am I to stop them!?

Well-Fed Artist Event #14 — Gina’s Skinny Bitch in the Kitch Vegan Dish

Host: Gina (she won't allow a photo! sorry, i tried!)

Relationship: Gina's another lady I met through work about six or so years ago, but she has also been a benefic force in my musical adventures…from helping me decipher legal paperwork, to buying music gear, to telling me how to hook said gear up, to actually coming to hook it up when i couldn't figure it out, to running my sound, she's kind of done it all…except cook for me. She's really been into Skinny Bitch (which I've also read and enjoyed), and to also appease the PETA-philes, she decided to cook me a vegan meal, which I got very excited about. (She's also pledged to cook for me when I move into my new place next week if I can't afford food. She also has some mad napkin folding skills.

Menu: Whole wheat pasta, broccoli, garlic, and sauteed vegan sausage. Topped with vegan cheese yumminess, and served with a Viognier. I know I was just raving about the apple pear dessert on Monday, but for the finale, Gina did something so simple and delicious. She grilled a banana and served it over soy dream vanilla bean faux-ice cream. The grilling of the banana really brought alive the flavor and texture of the nana, and paired with the gooey coolness of the soy dream, well, all i can say is mmmmmmmmmmm.

We then retired to the living room to watch Obama's speech at the DNC. Not one to ever get very engaged with the political process (Yes, I vote, I just don't need all this talking….), we also watched a little bit of an old Grey's episode and talked about the characters we loved or hated. (Hate George and Izzy, separately or together; love Meredith's flawed perfection.) And how creepy it was for TR to be dating a teen. Yes, we judged. Then it was time to go…


But if you see a sister biking down Boulevard with an insulated bag stuffed with vegan goodness in her bicycle basket any time soon, you know who it is.

Well-Fed Artist Event #13 — Flying Biscuit and Tub Talk

Host: Michelle

Guests: Me, Hillary and the ever-adorable Dawn.

Menu: The girls called me on the way home from my "appointment" (group therapy, LOL), and we placed our orders at Flying Biscuit. Shelly always loves the warm chicken salad, Hillary loves the Devil burger (the only veggie burger she'll eat, she says, but she's never had the veggie burger at Houston's.), Dawn had the love cakes (also vegetarian), and I had the turkey meatloaf with pudge. (This was before I discovered turkey is acidic and I need to eat more alkaline.) Flying biscuits with apple butter were in abundance.

After dinner, we retired to the pool, where Hillary showed us her mermaid-like moves. Then we hopped in the not-so-hot tub (the storms had knocked out power to the tub, so it had to heat up, which it did suprisingly quickly!), and had one of those great several hour conversations that really quench your soul. I loved having two of my best gals together and we all learned so much about each other. Suddenly it was nearly 1 a.m. and we had to work the next day…. so we dried off and hurried home….. Great night though….Thanks, ladies!

Well-Fed Artist Event #12 — Dinner with the cutest family EVER!

Hosts: Laurel, her hubby Mike, and their two amazing girls, Ana and Zoe

Relationship: I met Laurel met six or so years ago at work, and immediately discovered a shared love of Mollie Katzen, shelter mags, yoga, small space design, old Ani DiFranco, and working long hours during hurricane season. When I became a product manager, she showed me the ropes, reviewed my requirements and spent a lot of time helping me not look like a doofus. (Thanks, Laurel! If only I could be 1/10 as organized!) She is also a fabulous vegetarian cook, and a constant supporter of my music (she and Mike were at my first real show at Red Light Café back in the day!), so she was a natural for one of my Well-Fed Artist dinners…And her girls may well be the cutest, sweetest, most well-behaved, polite, fun-loving, laughter-filled, smart, and lovable creatures to dwell on planet earth. And, in the right lighting, Mike kinda looks like Russell Crowe, minus the phone-throwing antics.

Menu: Appetizers were these delicious filo cups baked with a mixture of artichokes and black olives, paired with a lovely Prosecco. Main course was a totally scrumptious veggie-and-tofu-laden red sauce, served over fettucine, served with a wonderful red wine. Dessert was simple, but delicious: a fruit platter comprised of cherries, orange slices, mint sprigs, and the most amazing new food discovery, asian pears (sometimes called apple pears). Laurel is so sweet, she sent me home with one because I couldn't stop raving about it. If you've never had one of these, seek it out the next time you're at the farmer's market. I'm hooked, and you will be, too. Really, I'm not sure I've ever tasted something so fresh and flavorful!

After the real dinner, Ana and Zoe made us some additional dishes in their play kitchen. Ana cooked, and Zoe oversaw the cleanup. They're quite a team, and definitely quite a family. Thanks for having me over, M's, and hope to do it again soon!!

The time will come… (and it will)

Derek Walcott is one of my favorite poets, and has been since I was about 20 years old. This editor that worked with me at the time was always giving me books with thoughtful inscriptions.  (o, where are you, Diane Moore? Omigosh, she's now a deacon in the Episcopal church, says google!) One day Diane gave me Walcott's Collected Poems, 1948-1984. I dove in and devoured almost every word. My copy is extensively dog-eared and well-loved.

A few years later, I found myself in Castries, St. Lucia, after a friend won a trip on Jeopardy! and invited me along. (She played the last game of the 1900's!) One day, while exploring the town, I stumbled upon a park dedicated to Walcott — it turned out he was from St. Lucia! I had no idea. I love the randomness of the universe.

Anyway, there was one poem that I loved more than the others because it spoke of a love that sometimes seems most elusive: Self-love…  Randomly (or so it seemed), Michelle last week emailed me this same poem not knowing it was my fave…and I felt like it had come full circle. It had been many years since I had read it but I savored each line as if I were retracing a conversation with a long lost friend. Here's the poem…

Love, After Love

The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit. Feast on your life.

– Derek Walcott

Well-Fed Event #11 — The Schwindhabibs Do It Right!

Hosts: Lisa and Jeff

Relationship: Lisa is this very cool and stylish colleague and friend of mine. Luckily so, because we sit across from each other every day at work! We have the same 90s musical touchstones and have even taken in a lovely Patty Griffin concert together. In short, she's good peeps, super smart and a lot of fun to be around. Her hubby Jeff is the modern day straight equivalent of a bon vivant. Good-natured and hilarious… 

But who knew they were so skilled in kitchen!? Read on.

Menu: Things definitely started off on the right foot when Lisa offered me a Kettle One vodka tonic upon arrival. Cocktail at the ready, I sat with their friend Carol at the kitchen counter while Lisa whipped up the best bruschetta I think I've ever had, complete with parmesan, sundried tomatoes and basil from her garden! It was like I was watching a cooking show. Then, after a tour of their lovely house with recent renovation, it was dinner time. WARNING: Please don't read this if you are hungry!

After the bruschetta, Lisa served one damn incredible salad. It was arugula with bacon, goat cheese, and pine nuts with a Caesar dressing…Not sure what on God's green earth made this so heavenly, but I think it was the bacon. (Sorry, PETA!) The main course was pesto roasted chicken (made with homegrown basil, natch!) and Anson Mills polenta baked with garlic, and homegrown tomatoes and oregano. 

The meal was paired with a new-to-me New Zealand Savignon Blanc called Whitehaven. (Add it to the must drink list, Traci!) 

For dessert, we had port wine (my first time!) and chocolate-covered sugar cookies. I felt like I was at Feast, a lovely Decatur eatery…this was truly one of my favorite meals yet and definitely a standard-setter! Definitely a perfect way to end a pretty awesome weekend. I'm salivating just typing it out! It was elegantly rustic perfection!

A big thanks to my hosts, Jeff and Lisa, for a wonderful night of friendship and food. If I ever wondered how important these two things are to living well, you reminded me on this rainy Sunday evening. 

Well-Fed Event #10 — Michelle in Paradise

Host: Michelle S. 

Relationship: Best friend, sister from another mister, soul mate. That really says it all.

Menu: After a week of fine dining, I was kind of exhausted so Michy invited me over to where she was house-sitting and we just kicked back with a bottle of red, green salads, two pizzas from Mellow Mushroom (Cosmic Karma and BBQ Chicken), and refreshing flavored Poland Springs sparkling water. (Julia's fave!)

We noshed while Michelle facilitated me on a "work" sheet on text messages and petted the dogs. Then we moved outside watched this amazing video M made for her mom's 80th BD, and then did our numerology and horoscopes. Then I picked up her guitar and played about half the songs from the new record out on the deck, aka paradise. I skimmed the pool with a net to get the leaves out, while Michelle walked with me and we talked about everything and nothing.

Then we put on our suits and hopped in the hot tub, then swam in the pool (which was ice cold), then back to the hot tub, then the pool. I kept worrying my heart would pop due to the changing temps, but it was surprisingly refreshing – exhilarating, even! 

I kept marveling at the universe — how everything was so lovingly provided, with almost no care on my part. I really basked in the gracious generosity of the last few weeks…

I had planned to sleep over, but by then it was 1 a.m. and my buzz was completely killed by the cold water of the pool. I felt really awake so I drove on home…. a pretty perfect night. Michelle is so cozy, and so easy to be with, I hated to leave, but I knew we're have another go at this on Tuesday (with Hillary and Dawn in attendance this time!)

Well-Fed Artist Event #9 — Rush throws a pot luck

Host: Amy Rush

Relationship: I've known Amy since we had a spontaneous Robot dance off at a lesbian party back in 2002. Our paths kept crossing… then in Feb. of this year, she mentioned she felt artistically blocked and I mentioned I was starting an Artist's Way group and she joined. Since then, we've gotten close and are, of course, super supportive of each other's artistic endeavors. (You can catch Amy as the solo star of the current show, The Ugly Duckling, at The Center For Puppetry Arts.  But hurry, the show is closing soon!) 

So, in support of *my* artist, Amy threw together a potluck dinner at her place. I love her for that, and for just being her cute, funny, awesome self! She invited Ally, Jen, Genevieve, Doris, Nate, Ben, Nicolle and Erica…and we ate, laughed, drank and played games…all in all, a perfect night. 

(Btw, Doris and Nate are two-thirds of wonderful group called Girlyman…please go out and buy all of their records, and if you have a chance to see them live, DO IT. You won't regret it and you won't forget it. P.S.  Nate also co-wrote one of my favorite songs of the year: "Avalanche" by Adrianne. Download it now and your iPod will love you.)

Menu: Doris' baked ziti (she trained in Italy, people!), Ben's pasta salad and bottle of Nobilo (my favorite!), Nate's Caesar salad with *HOMEMADE* dressing (this is impressive!), Ally's take on a caprese salad, Nicolle's cheese platter, and Genevieve's spinach and mushrooms. Dessert was Jen's cupcakes and Doris' chocolate chip cookies. Pretty yummy any way you look at it!

Well-Fed Artists Event #8– Wicki & Alex

Hosts: Wicki & Alex 

Relationship: Wicki and I met at work, and I was immediately drawn to her upbeat vivaciousness and can-do attitude. You can tell she has a high BS detector and is a straight shooter, and I love that in a woman. Although we have a blast working together (her project manager role pairs often with my product manager position), we'd never socialized before. Sure, we bonded over our love of Nanci Griffith and Lyle Lovette, and veggie tempura, but when I saw she's made a gumbo from scratch, I knew we'd be buds. When she heard about my Well-Fed Artist evenings, she stepped up to the plate and offered to share some of her yummy gumbo with me, the real deal Cajun bayou boy. And she's never even heard me sing before! 

Alex and Wicki have the cutest house in Grant Park, two awesome doggies, a great deck, and a large garden in which she grew the okra for the gumbo. (She's also given me the best cherry tomatoes and zucchini that tastes like butter!) I called it paradise the moment she poured me glass of white.

I'd only heard about Wicki's hubby Alex, but he also proved to be a host with the most when he provided me with a wonderful charger for my iphone and other USB-powered tech gadgets when I mentioned my new iPhone's charge barely lasted half a day. These people know how to make fans!

W&A's super fun friend, Becky, showed up and was instantly so easy to be around. In addition to writing for a cool design blog, she buys high-end/upscale shoes — think louboutin, think Brian Atwood — and then sells them on eBay! I've never before met anyone who does that job. How cool is that?

As we ate, we listened to Nanci Griffith and David Gray…two musical faves…

Menu: Hot and spicy chicken, andouille sausage, and shrimp gumbo served over a fluffy bed of white rice, with homemade cornbread that was to die for….It was a little taste of home for this Louisiana boy! 

For dessert, W made this amazing berry, cream cheese, whipped cream, and graham cracker concoction that blew my mind…it was perfectly satisfying without being too sweet. (Recipe to come — it's a must on summer evenings and W says it's easy to make!)

(Sorry for posting only one food photo, but the flash really doesn't work well when snapping lovely food pics in the dark  )

Thanks to Wicki and Alex for not only whipping up a terrific dinner, but also for being such kind, fun and gracious hosts. I will take you up on your offer for a return visit very soon!! But what do we do when it gets too cold to hang out on your deck!? I'm sure we'll think of something.

Well-Fed Event #7 — Anonymous

I originally had plans with TrayB for a Well-Fed evening tonight, but he wasn't feeling well and cancelled so I had to fall back on an email offer I received from a friend today. His/her freezer broke so he/she offered to have me over if I didn't have Well-Fed plans, on the following condition: No blogging and no pictures. I agreed, but don't any of your Well-Feeders get any ideas…it comes with the territory, usually.

I'm sharing the email from my friend because it had a funny bit in it:

Well, my fridge/freezer gave out last night and I had to make an emergency batch of crock pot chicken.  So, if you 1) don’t have “well fed artist” dinner plans tonight and 2) you promise not to blog it (for fear of offending the PETA patrol) – - would you like to join me for dinner?

Well-Fed Artist Event #6 — Brandon

I have an appointment every Tuesday after work until 8:30, at which time I usually motor over to Hillary's for our weekly dinner. Those dinners are a bright spot in my week, as we always have a delish meal and wine and laughs and conversation. Today, though, because I've had plans every night for the last week for my Well-Fed Artist program, I woke up knowing that what I really needed was a night at home….

So as luck would have it, on Sunday I received an envelope from Publix in the mail containing a $50 gift card from Brandon in New York. Very sweet and kind of inventive when you think about it — and it works out great because there are actually a lot of meals that I am not being Well-Fed for during this little program, so this will help me stay Well-Fed when I need to stay home.

So instead of going to Hillary's after my appointment, I stopped to pick up a lot of my favorite non-perishables, like brown rice, black beans, frozen veggies, Amy's burritos, pasta sauce, Rice Dream, soy yogurt, two Healthy Choice dinners, one bottle of white wine, one bag of light cheese ravioli, one bag of beef ravioli, and Mamma Bella's amazing garlic bread. 

I also picked up some perishables, like cherry tomatoes (one pint for $1!!), two Red Delicious apples, fresh green beans, sliced chicken, fresh fruit salad, and two cucumbers! 

I really tried to stay within my $50 budget as practice for future budgeting, but I went a little over. 

Still, I love the feeling of having a stocked fridge and pantry…so thanks, Brandon, for being so thoughtful. 

If you were here, I'd share my light cheese ravioli with you!

A great day in review…

People often ask what would your perfect day be like. One version of my perfect day goes like this past Sunday went, though my eating habits were HORRIBLE for the most part. I wasn't trying to be cheap and not spend money on food, but I just kind of forgot to eat. This rarely happens, people. Trust me. 

how it unfolded…

I slept over at Griff and Chad's and for some reason I always sleep like a log in their guest room…I logged 11 hours and loved every minute of it. Woke up without an alarm (key point) and went to join the boys and Lucy and Oscar on the outdoor living room for a little morning conversation. (love this) Griff poured me the last of the diet coke. (Another key point, though I promise I am giving it up!)

Confirmed coffee date with Lara, who wanted me to introduce me to her pal Sidney, who enjoys The Work as much as I do. (any day with a discussion of The Work is a great day!) Since coffee date was on, Griff dropped me off at the MARTA station, and I wrote my Morning Pages, and did my forgiveness work on the train ride home.(another perfect day element!) Once home, I groomed myself and set off to meet L&S. Had a wonderful time with them, really enjoyed Sidney, and I drank my one coffee for the year. (I'm not a coffee drinker, but I tend to have one about once a year. This was the once for '08. It was yummy, but not a meal.)

It's now 2:30 and I haven't eaten anything, but I have errands to run (which I enjoy). I think I will pick something up to eat while I am running around. Ally and I make dinner plans since it seems we haven't seen each other in ages. Traci, Josh & Jeanette invite me to see Vicki Christina Barcelona because they know I adore Woody Allen movies (key point) and am hotly anticipating seeing this one. Ally is not up to speed on the Well-Fed Artist, and I am not in the mood to explain, so I pick up dinner on the way home (love to go to the market) from coffee. Very affordable at Trader Joe's…tuna steaks for all, and lots of veggies…about $11.

Ben is also eager to see the film, so he agrees to pick me up. (Love being chauffeured…) I park the car, unload the groceries with just enough time to get back down to the lobby to head off to the movie. I think I should eat, but it just never happens. I look for hunger, but I don't find any.

Movie is AMAZING, everyone enjoys it and agrees it is the best Woody since Match Point and maybe even before. Rebecca Hall is stunning and original and I find myself talking later like I am speaking Woody Allen dialogue. 

Ally calls. I meant to leave the door unlocked, but didn't so she's unable to get in. Luckily, I'm almost home. She didn't mind, and I love her for that.

She whips up an amazing meal — I finally eat solid food! — and we catch up on the balcony for hours. 

It sounds like a rush, but it had so many elements of my perfect day….

Meanwhile, isn't this photo from the Vicky Christina Barcelona movie poster just perfection!?

PETA wants Well-Fed Compassionate Artist nights!

I wanted to share an interesting email I found in my inbox this morning. I've been friends with the writer, Robbie,  since 1995, and he recently took a job with PETA UK.  I know he —  and many of my other friends — feel passionately about this subject so I thought I'd share this email with you and hopefully we can have a spirited discussion in the comments section.

As for me, I've lightly dabbled with vegetarianism since my first serious boyfriend Chad in 1991. (After years of vegetarianism, he's now eats meat.) Since reading "Skinny Bitch," I have been shooting for at least one veggie meal a day, mainly for health reasons.

Coincidentally, I also went to Zoo Atlanta this weekend and my friends and I had a thought-stirring chat around our feelings around caged animals for entertainment and educational purposes. My thought is that we each have to decide what feels right for ourselves, including the food we put in our mouths.

(It's more and more difficult for me to have a 'should' around this topic or anything else since discovering The Work, so I question thoughts like these: "I shouldn't eat meat." "It's better for the planet if I am a vegetarian." "I have a spiritual path." "If I am spiritual I shouldn't eat meat." –it's hard to think this thoughts without the wordless questioning beginning…. "is that true? Can I absolutely know that that's true?" www.thework.com)

I do have a couple of vegetarians on the docket for the Well-Fed weeks ahead, so do stay tuned, Robbie!

Here's Rob's email:

Hey!

I am writing today to specifically ask you to consider something.  I was kept awake last night after our instant messages and you asking me to read your blog.

I am really super excited about the new recordings coming up-and your Well Fed Artist thing is a wonderful idea……………but my heart was broken that you guys are including sentient beings in your meal plans.

I know that you are super keen on your spiritual path, but I am unsure if you are aware of the pain and suffering that goes into the production of some of those meals that you raved about, and photographed, on your blog.

Chickens are the most abused animals on the planet.  The sheer number of these beings forced into crowded sheds on factory farms means that their every natural instinct is suppressed.  And even if you are eating organic/free-range/whatever, they all end up at the same slaughterhouses (intensive farmed, free range, organic all are killed side by side).  Here chickens are handled by hurried workers and shackled upside down by their legs (which causes a huge amount of distress, tears skin and breaks bones) on a conveyor chain before having their heads passed through a bath of water that is charged with a current that stuns them motionless (but leaves them fully conscious).  This is how they hang until they have their throats slit and bleed to death.  And in full view of other chickens further down the line.  I won't even go into the environmental damage of chicken farming, or the human health impact of the hormones, antibiotics etc fed to these animals.

And your other meal of pork chops-pigs are really sociable animals and have been proven to be more intelligent than dogs.  My next question is "Would you pan sear dog flesh and eat it for dinner?"  I am guessing that the answer is NO.  So, why is it ok to pay for someone else to raise a pig in confinement (where tail docking, teeth clipping are all done without painkillers), kill it, and chop it up for you so you can then sear up its parts and find that an acceptable dinner?  It isn't.

Just some thoughts to chew on-no pun intended.

I have been vegetarian (and vegan) for over 20 years now and have converted a small army of friends and acquaintances behind me by example of great food, good health and a waistline that is the same as when I was 22 yrs old (I am 39 soon!).  I think that you are light years ahead of most of the people I have helped to adopt a more compassionate life.  That is why I am asking you to move towards cooking veggie or vegan meals for the rest of your Well Fed Artist program and blog about those and be a beacon for change and kindness and compassion.

These animals are all made of flesh, bone, blood, brains, hearts, etc-just like we are and feel pain and want to survive just as we do.  We must get over ourselves in thinking that we are a special species and we can use others for food, clothing, entertainment or to cut open and test on, this is all morally wrong.  We cannot talk about serving ourselves and the luxuries of creating a space for us to be creative while depriving other living beings of their very lives.  They only have their lives and their flesh and skins-and we are even trying to take those from them.

As someone searching for enlightenment and peace and happiness in your own life, I think that you essentially realise that all of the choices you make are connected-and that includes the ones that end up in your plate and in your stomach.  Remember, a single meal is inconsequential to you; you can eat veggie or dead flesh to curb your appetite-but the choice that you make is TOTALLY consequential to the animals if you decide to put dead flesh on your plate because you have killed another living being needlessly in order to satisfy a passing urge for yourself.  Each meal of animal flesh is compounding misery.

Sorry if this at all sounds didactic, it really isn't meant to.  Let me know if you would like and I can throw some resources your way to make the change feel easier if change seems hard (it really isn't).  I haven't eaten meat since I was a teenager and have not missed it for one second.  And I am Cajun, I am sure that I was born with boudin in my mouth!!!  It is do-able, and pleasurable.  And you can live more healthily and guilt-free.

There is simple "Double S" rule, if it is slaughtered or stolen it is not ours in the first place.

Please make your evenings Well-Fed Compassionate Artists nights that really embrace life.  All life.

http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming.asp

Thanks for listening (or reading)!

PS: Or you could sign up for free vegetarian starter kits from PETA.  It is totally FREE!
 
http://www.peta.org.uk/feat/UKvegkit/
 

Well-Fed Artist #5 — Traci, Josh & Jeanette (reprise)

If you read Well-Fed Artist night #3, you met Traci, Josh and Jeanette. This week was twice as nice because they cooked for me on two different nights. Here's what happened:

When my Friday night Well-Fed plans fell through, Traci promptly invited me over for another amazing dinner… They were cooking already, and what's one more, Traci said.  Are you suuuuure? I wondered.(There may be a fine line between Well-Fed and Moocherdom!) Of course, silly, you're always welcome! she said… (Awww. Love that!) So with that, I walked over around 7 and had one of my favorite meals yet. Just when you think it can't get any better…..

Menu: Appetizers were garlic-stuffed olives, a soft cheese platter (Gruyere and San Andre), and two bruschettas: artichoke and lemon, as well as as tomato and roasted red peppers with capers and garlic. INCREDIBLE! 

If this weren't enough, the main course juxtaposed even more amazing flavors — spicy arugula topped with ribbons of roasted red bell pepper tapenade. Resting on top of this colorful combination of veggies were the most amazing fresh sea scallops, perfectly seared and golden brown. 

To cool off from the Atlanta heat, we sipped a crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Dessert was homemade (yes!) brownie bites iced with cool whip and sprinkles…. 

Thanks again, dear Traci, Josh and Jeanette!  You've blown me away with your culinary kindness… you gots the chops in the kitchen. 

I'm not sure if I can remember when I've eaten so well. After my first five days of doing this, I must say, I'm rather happy with the results!! And I am extremely well-fed, but also blown away by how fun my friends and supporters are making this…. I will tell you though, I am always open to fast food or other creative ideas! Just yesterday, I got an unexpected — and very thoughtful! — surprise that you'll have to read about later this week!

Well-Fed Artist Evening #4 – Ben

Host: Gentle Ben Jammin'

Relationship: Ben came into my life late last year and we immediately bonded over our love of the same obscure, slightly depressing musical artists, and the film "Dancer in the Dark." While considered the ultimate downer to many, I joined Ben in my love for this amazing film. Ben is a sweetie…he'll give you the shirt off his back, help you move a mattress and tell you you did a great job when you kind of sucked. I love that about him. He also constantly discovers music in my collection that I had no idea existed, then proceeds to get me hooked on it. We share a love of Darren Hayes' "The Tension and the Spark," a nice malbec and clean closets. It's hard to imagine this last year without Ben's presence at shows like Kate Walsh and my Edie Carey/Rose Cousins birthday show. The night I got kicked out of Rosa Mexicana for wearing a hat, I called up Ben and we met over at Agave. He ordered Pozolé, which I'd never had before and it looked amazing. When the Well-Fed Artist evening came around, he was going to take me out, but then decided to whip up his own variation at home. Read on…

Menu: We started with homemade guacamole, corn chips and silver pomegranate margaritas (who needs Rosa after all?!), as Ben put the finishing touches on his Pozolé. The Pozolé was a lovely melange of chicken, hominy, and a cornucopia of fresh veggies, including jicama. After a piping hot, hearty bowl of Pozolé (I love writing that word!), Ben produced two chilled plates, each piled high with a serving of luscious, creamy tiramisu. We usually have it from Little Azio, but tonight it was from Whole Foods. Quite a tasty meal, I must say! I love the attention BJ paid to every little detail and the way he thought everything through from margs to dessert…it was pretty perfect!

Entertainment: As we sipped on margs and finished our tiramisu, we watched the three-part Byron Katie/Oprah interview. (It was wild to see Oprah struggle with a question like "is it true?" — she was utterly perplexed. If the scan says you have cancer, you have CANCER! Is it true? I love asking that question when I don't have to answer it. LOL) Then we watched the new Darren Hayes live DVD and an older one called Too Close for Comfort, which was entertaining and fascinating. It seems like he's really grown as a person over the last few years. 

All in all, a really great night. I had a stressful day and the evening completely took the edge off…. Thanks, Ben!