When Idea and Reality Collide is the first book of my trilogy, which chronicles and celebrates my tragic life in the Fine... More > Dining spotlight. As a gourmet restaurant with an incredible view I, Ma Belle, am the Queen of Sensuality. Told from my unique perspective it provides a peek into the inner workings of gourmet restaurants. Waiters, chef, and managers collide with conflicting visions of who I am. Brain corrupts my players with his misguided Ideas, and the Universe arranges circumstances to put them face to face with Reality. Also learn about the Origins of Restaurants and Dining, the Central Coast Wine industry, and the mystical nature of the Fine Dining Experience.“Ready to pleasure the world my Doors open.
Humanity swarms inside my Temple.
I spread my legs - my beauty open for all to see.
Making wild passionate love to my Public -
Immediately lost in ecstatic embrace - Barely coming up for air -
Merging our selves, human and restaurant, in reckless abandon - Aaiiiieeeeee!!!” < Less

These are the memoirs of an authentic American pioneer farmer – handwritten at the age of 89 in 1907- over a century ago.... More > The primary intent of this outpouring of reflections was to impart some lessons to his many grandchildren. His writings impart the struggles, hardships, and joys of life growing up on the untamed prairie. Intermixed in his life’s saga are vignettes of politics, day-to-day life, and religion, as he was a devout member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. All his little tales are mixed with practical pioneer wisdom based in the Bible as well as the poems of Whittier.

“When a man and woman in the loving integrity of their honor and purity of their hearts unite their fortunes and live as husband and wife and start out to build a home and raise a family, it is not only their privilege but their duty to avail themselves of every reasonable faculty that will aid them in the most serious tasks that falls to the lot of mortals. A record of lives before us should be a help.” < Less

Backpacking in the Eastern Sierras, I encountered perplexing land formations I’d never seen before. Curious about their... More > nature I began constructing a sculpture based upon a topography map of the region. This led to an exploration into the unique geography of Central California, which piqued origination questions. Delving deeper I learned about the discovery of glaciers, ice ages, continental drift, ocean spreading & tectonic planes, as all of these mechanisms are at the heart of mountain formation. The desire to dispel the rigid mindsets that block the direct perception of reality drove the research and topo sculpture that is at the base of this work. As such I finished the book with an exploration of personal mountains – what it takes to achieve mastery - how to distinguish mountains from molehills - and what a mountain can teach us concerning the quest for self-realization. < Less

In Rising to Power, the second book in my trilogy, I shred egos. Corporate sends me, Ma Belle, a gourmet restaurant, a... More > series of managers, who threaten Service. One doesn’t care; a teenager with no experience; and an alcoholic. Altho’ Brain spins his web of deception the Universe arranges circumstances to awaken the Hearts of my Family.
“But what can I do? I’m just a waiter. How can I stand up to managers, F&Bs and GMs?“
“You just imagine that you have no power. You are a Waiter, the most important person in the restaurant and all the managers know it. Don’t be a victim. Speak up.”
“But what can I say without any real authority?”
“Just speak from your Heart. Watch me. ‘I’m not going to put up with this anymore. I’ve been a professional for many years and this is not acceptable.’ Speak from your Heart and you will not be denied."
Don Lehman, my ghostwriter, has worked as a waiter for over thirty years. These are the memoirs of our tragic time together. < Less

Embracing Change, the third book of my trilogy, relates my fall as a nationally acclaimed Fine Dining restaurant located in... More > Santa Barbara. Sigh! After an excellent 10-year relationship with Chef Antoine, Corporate forces him out and brings in another chef, whose execution is fatally flawed. A new owner takes over with the intent of moving me downstairs despite my third story location overlooking the ocean. To maintain control Brain generates fears to frighten Mind. The Little Voice is eventually heard and Heart is awakened. Despite the bleakness of the situation my Staff show their love for me by valiantly fighting for my survival against all odds. “Although we have just escaped one disaster and are now facing another, we are still holding our heads high - gazing straight forward - embracing what the Universe has to offer. And although we might avoid calamity or an untimely demise for a period of time, the End is approaching - like a steamroller which crushes all in its path.” < Less

These are the memoirs of an authentic American pioneer farmer - handwritten at the age of 89 in 1907- over a century ago.... More > The primary intent of this outpouring of reflections was to impart some lessons to his many grandchildren. His writings impart the struggles, hardships, and joys of life growing up on the untamed prairie. Intermixed in his life's saga are vignettes of politics, day-to-day life, and religion, as he was a devout member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. All his little tales are mixed with practical pioneer wisdom based in the Bible as well as the poems of Whittier. "When a man and woman in the loving integrity of their honor and purity of their hearts unite their fortunes and live as husband and wife and start out to build a home and raise a family, it is not only their privilege but their duty to avail themselves of every reasonable faculty that will aid them in the most serious tasks that falls to the lot of mortals. A record of lives before us should be a help." < Less

These are the memoirs of an authentic American pioneer farmer – handwritten at the age of 89 in 1907- over a century ago.... More > The primary intent of this outpouring of reflections was to impart some lessons to his many grandchildren. His writings impart the struggles, hardships, and joys of life growing up on the untamed prairie. Intermixed in his life’s saga are vignettes of politics, day-to-day life, and religion, as he was a devout member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. All his little tales are mixed with practical pioneer wisdom based in the Bible as well as the poems of Whittier.

“When a man and woman in the loving integrity of their honor and purity of their hearts unite their fortunes and live as husband and wife and start out to build a home and raise a family, it is not only their privilege but their duty to avail themselves of every reasonable faculty that will aid them in the most serious tasks that falls to the lot of mortals. A record of lives before us should be a help.” < Less

Backpacking in the Eastern Sierras, I encountered perplexing land formations I’d never seen before. Curious about their... More > nature I began constructing a sculpture based upon a topography map of the region. This led to an exploration into the unique geography of Central California, which piqued origination questions. Delving deeper I learned about the discovery of glaciers, ice ages, continental drift, ocean spreading & tectonic planes, as all of these mechanisms are at the heart of mountain formation. The desire to dispel the rigid mindsets that block the direct perception of reality drove the research and topo sculpture that is at the base of this work. As such I finished the book with an exploration of personal mountains – what it takes to achieve mastery - how to distinguish mountains from molehills - and what a mountain can teach us concerning the quest for self-realization. < Less

When Idea and Reality Collide is the first book of my trilogy, which chronicles and celebrates my tragic life in the Fine... More > Dining spotlight. As a gourmet restaurant with an incredible view I, Ma Belle, am the Queen of Sensuality. Told from my unique perspective it provides a peek into the inner workings of gourmet restaurants. Waiters, chef, and managers collide with conflicting visions of who I am. Brain corrupts my players with his misguided Ideas, and the Universe arranges circumstances to put them face to face with Reality. Also learn about the Origins of Restaurants and Dining, the Central Coast Wine industry, and the mystical nature of the Fine Dining Experience.“Ready to pleasure the world my Doors open.
Humanity swarms inside my Temple.
I spread my legs - my beauty open for all to see.
Making wild passionate love to my Public -
Immediately lost in ecstatic embrace - Barely coming up for air -
Merging our selves, human and restaurant, in reckless abandon - Aaiiiieeeeee!!!” < Less

Embracing Change, the third book of my trilogy, relates my fall as a nationally acclaimed Fine Dining restaurant located in... More > Santa Barbara. Sigh! After an excellent 10-year relationship with Chef Antoine, Corporate forces him out and brings in another chef, whose execution is fatally flawed. A new owner takes over with the intent of moving me downstairs despite my third story location overlooking the ocean. To maintain control Brain generates fears to frighten Mind. The Little Voice is eventually heard and Heart is awakened. Despite the bleakness of the situation my Staff show their love for me by valiantly fighting for my survival against all odds. “Although we have just escaped one disaster and are now facing another, we are still holding our heads high - gazing straight forward - embracing what the Universe has to offer. And although we might avoid calamity or an untimely demise for a period of time, the End is approaching - like a steamroller which crushes all in its path.” < Less