LFS: The Storyteller

©2009 by LeeZard LeeZard attended his first dog show recently.I wanted to see a friend at work. Background: "Dude" is the oldest and best friend to Wende (TWBGF!).Dude & her husband Randy raise championship Golden Retrievers.Randy also is nationally known - and sought after - as an excellent handler of show dogs. LeeZard brought his trusty camera to the Olympic Kennel Club show in Enumclaw, WA and, in addition to capturing Randy in action, found himself with a gallery of dog close-ups. Portraits? Dogtraits? Whatever, these guys are soooo expressive. Enjoy.

©2009 by LeeZard Millions of people will tell you they were at Woodstock in 1969. Only about half-a-million are telling the truth. I am one of them. I was a young (22) Washington, D.C.-based correspondent for a fledgling radio network operated by Metromedia. At the time, Metromedia was the single largest owner of non-network (ABC, CBS & NBC) affiliated radio and TV stations in the country. In those days, by the way, the FCC allowed only a maximum ownership of seven AMs, seven FMs and seven TV stations by a single company. Everyone had heard of this Rock & Roll festival near the small town of Bethel in upstate New York but nobody was prepared for the historic event it would become. On Friday August 15, 1969 I flew to New York City to attend a friend’s Saturday night wedding. At about 6 a.m. Saturday morning the phone rang at my parents’ house (where I was staying). It was my boss in D.C. “It’s a disaster up at that Rock thing in New York – 20-mile long traffic jams; nobody can g...

©2009 by LeeZard Hang on to your antennae; LeeZard is going UFO. I wasn’t going to write about this but then I saw a story in the Seattle Times, “Crop circles lure visitors to Wilbur, Wash.” (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009651729_cropcircle13m.html) and I had to hit the keyboard. I don’t want to get into the crop circle debate but it brought to mind something LeeZard observed last week in the sky over Lake Kathleen in unincorporated King County, WA. Wende (TWBGF!) lives on a beautiful 1.25-acre property along the shores of Lake Kathleen and, as we often do on clear summer nights, we were sitting on the deck enjoying our after-dinner lattes and cigars. When I’m away from urban light pollution, I like to gaze at the night sky and look for shooting stars or man-made satellites. Sometimes, I just stare and wonder what/who is out there? For LeeZard, it is a calming and humbling experience. I was lying stretched out on the wicker couch with my head in Wende’s lap (aaaahh...

©2009 by LeeZard ( NOTE: The following post contains several references to marijuana use. This reflects a lifestyle and mind-set that are more than 30-years in the past. We know much more today about the dangers of all drugs, even so-called entry-level "recreational" drugs such as pot. LeeZard today lives a clean life and neither condones or recommends the use of any drug unless it is under the supervision of a physician.) -------------------- It’s come to this in our digital social networking age; I learned of GTM’s death when it was posted on his Facebook page. So it goes: "And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make" In lieu of flowers, we would suggest donations to the organization that totally got George and treated him with the love and respect we all should be so lucky to receive as we near the end of life. The non-profit organization is Capital Hospice, 209 Gibson Street NW, Suite 202, Leesburg, VA 20176 GTM was ...

©2009 by LeeZard LeeZard is already burned out on the Michael Jackson brouhaha. I’m sorry, boys & girls but Michael Jackson isn’t (wasn’t) Elvis. He wasn’t The Beatles or Frank Sinatra. Let’s put aside, for the moment, Jackson’s penchant for diddling little boys, the apparent denial of his Blackness and whatever other “foibles” soiled his fable. As an icon, he doesn’t measure up to the “A” list above. Why? Is Leezard just being contrary? I don’t think so. While MJ fans argue that his record sales are the equal to those of the Beatles and Elvis, the “official” count shows otherwise – by at least a quarter-of-a-million (that will certainly change as MJ sales have skyrocketed since his death). But, anyone can diddle with numbers (much better than diddling with little boys!). Let’s take two examples from my generation and look at the bigger picture, starting with The King (MJ was merely “The King of Pop”). Elvis changed everything. It’s not out of reach to say he jump-started the Rock ...

(NOTE: LeeZard is sad. The seemingly endless wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, the shooting - by an 80+ yr. old flippin' neo-Nazi - at the Holocaust Museum in D.C., hate crimes against gays, North Korean nukes and terrorist kooks. Can't we all play nicely together?? And, so, I offer the following plea in the darkness...or, is it a fart into the wind? You decide) Fill the World with Joy ©2009 by LeeZard I’m walking on a mountain trail, Through valleys ever green. The warm sun shares blue sky, With cotton pillow clouds. My heart is free, My head is clear, My life is filled with joy. From oceans deep to mountains high, Bring peace upon the land. Every boy & girl, every mom & dad, All around the world, Make them free, Their future clear, Let’s fill their days with joy. It’s just a dream, I know, But I was born to dream. I dream of hope and pray for peace, No babies born to die. This dream is free, The vision’s clear, Let’s fill the world with joy. So join me now, Let’s join o...

©2009 by Leezard I’m not depressed (yet) but, for my generation, this is our Great Depression. I don’t want to get into discussions or debates about this current state-of-the-economy versus THE Great Depression. Suffice it to say that this is the worst I’ve ever seen and, LeeZard is not just whining about his sad state-of-the-economy. Before I do start whining, let’s look around. I’ve never seen more of my friends out of work. I’ve never seen so many small-to-medium businesses withering away in so short a period of time. What’s happening to the auto industry is mind shattering – even if they did bring it on themselves. Banks failing, government bailing – it all leads to unsmooth sailing. Okay, now let’s pour ourselves a glass of fine whine. Before we raise the glass, however, let’s put some caveat on a piece of toast; I am not writing this for pity nor am I writing to complain. I pledged at the beginning that I would write about life through LeeZard colored glasses. This is my life tod...

©2009 by LeeZard It was an odd convergence at the wedding held under the pecan trees on the Scarlett Roan Ranch just south of Cleburne, TX. The groom – and owner of the ranch – was Steve Stevens, Jr., a former Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association saddle bronc rider born in “The Valley” that is suburban Los Angeles. His Best Man was Kenny Call, a former World Champion steer roper and 12-time National Finals Qualifier, an honored guest legendary Cowboy Hall-of-Famer Larry Mahan and, the unexpected guest (Your Humble Servant), a New York City refugee with a cowboy heart. I was there as my sweetie Wende’s escort and, as is often the case, an observer of life. Steve Stevens, Jr., was born in Los Angeles and naturally followed his father’s footsteps into the movie industry. But rodeo also runs through his veins. “Dad” is Steve Stevens, Sr. After successful careers in acting, as an actor’s agent, a casting director for Screen Gems and a published author, Los Angeles-based Steve, Sr. (born ...