I have a new Facebook fan page. It might seem redundant to have a blog and a fan page, but most of the people following my blog are artists or involved in art related things. I thought some of my Facebook friends might like to follow what I'm doing through Facebook.

You can view the Facebook fan page through the badge on the right side of this page.

...or "Do you have the DRD4 exon III 7-repeat allele genetic polymorphism?"

1. Do you often try new things just for fun or thrills?

2. Do you often do things based on how you feel in the moment without worrying about how it was done in the past?

3. Are you a jack of all trades? Do you feel more capable than most in adapting yourself to new situtions, solving unexpected problems, and learning new tasks?

4. Do you have trouble wrapping up the final details of a project once the interesting & challenging problems have been solved?

5. When you have a task that requires a lot of thought [or is boring or unpleasant], do you avoid or delay getting started?

6. Do you feel compelled to overdo things just to feel more awake or alive or safe? [overkill]

7. Do you have difficulty staying organized?

8. Do you often feel half-asleep while going about your routine tasks? [sleepy while commuting, at your desk]

9. Do you crave adventure, new experiences and/or new ideas?

10. Do you have a short attention span -- that is, unless a particular subject has captured your imagination?

11. Do you act impulsively or dangerously more often than the average citizen?

12. Do you have a tendancy to allow your mind to drift away from boring conversation? [can't remember the name of someone you just met seconds ago and is now talking to you]

13. Do you have a tendancy toward compulsive behavior? [seeking mental stimulation...caffiene, popping candy, gambling, surfing the Internet]

14. Do you have difficulty feeling fully awake?

15. Do you have broad mood swings from very high to very low?

16. Do you frequently daydream or "space out" when you are not at the center of the action?

(the above self-assessment is an excerpt [with added comments by me] from The Da Vinci Method by Garret Laporto)

If you answered yes to 10 or more of these questions, then you are most likely in the same genetic group as Leonardo Da Vinci, Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Richard Branson (the Rebel Billionaire), Howie Mandel (comedian), Bill Clinton, and other great artists, inventors and trailblazers.

Da Vinci "types" make up less than 10% of the population. Many people with this genetic polymorphism are diagnosed with ADHD, ADD, OCD, bipolar, anxiety, and other neuroses and disorders. They often struggle in school and at work (Einstein did poorly in math) but if they are encouranged and are given the right opportunities they can achieve great things. ADHD and ADD used to be called "Learning Disabled", but it really means "Learning Differently". Information on ADHD and ADD only really focuses on the negative side of the sufferer's coping strategies for fitting in or meeting "normal" society's expectations.

Many Da Vinci types believe they are lazy, stupid or forgetful, but they are actually creative thinkers who have the ability to tap into the state of mind where ideas are formed and problems are solved easily. Have you ever dreamt the solution to a problem? Do you get great ideas or think of solutions to problems while just winding down in bed before you fall asleep, or while just waking up in the shower? Do you sometimes find yourself in "The Zone" while performing a particular activity and lose track of time? Then you might be a "Da Vinci".

Check out www.AreYouaDaVinci.com. And find and read the book The Da Vinci Method by Garret Laporto if you're interested in learning more. Even if you don't think you have this personality type, but you are close to someone you think does, it will help you understand them better.

Sometimes when I'm driving in the car with my own kids, I find myself humming and trying to remember the lyrics to some of the food commercials I was brain-washed with when I was growing up. I had to look up the lyrics on the Internet to fill in some of the blanks. Now my kids will be impressed during my next impromtu performance.

Armour Hot Dog Jingle

Hotdogs, Armour hotdogs.
What kinds of kids eat Armour hot dogs?
Fat kids, skinny kids, kids who climb on rocks.
Tough kids, sissy kids,
Even kids with chicken pox
Love hotdogs, Armour hot dogs
The dogs kids love to bite!

Not exactly politically correct anymore. And anyone who's had shingles will tell you, chicken pox is something they wish they'd never had.

Beefaroni Jingle

We're having Beefaroni!
It's made from macroni!
Beefaroni's full of meat. Beefaroni's fun to eat. Beefaroni's really neat.
Hooray! Whee! For Chef Boy-ar-dee!
(I think we used to substitute Hooray! For Beefaroni! at the end)

My brother used to come bounding down the stairs singing this jingle every time he heard it on TV. I also have visions of one of the commericals showing kids playing in an old world village. The bell would ring and the kids would drop their skipping ropes or whatever else they were doing and run through the narrow streets to a town square set up with tables laden with Beefaroni or one of the other Chef-boy-ar-dee products. Sadly, I wasn't as enthusiastic as those kids. My babysitter once force fed me Beefaroni until I vomited.

Alrighty then...I'm moving today, so no painting activities will be taking place. I'm thinking about a retro food series though...