With Roger - My daughter's teddy bear

Graduation from high school is done and so is summer, and our daughter departs for college accompanied by her favorite comfy toy.

Only those who have shared the experience can appreciate how it feels to suppress to choking emotion of saying goodbye to a loved child when sending her off to college. It was four o'clock in the morning, we had bowed heads and asked God's blessing and travel mercies, and as Maran turned to go she said, "Daddy, send me a poem so I can share it with my new friends at College." She then turned to get into the car and the vision of her with her bear packed in at the top of her knapsack resulted in this poem.





















With Roger

I’m leaving with Roger for college,
His top’s sticking out from my pack,
He can see past each ear
To the front and the rear
And everything that’s at my back.

I’m leaving with Roger for college,
It’s the first time that we’ll be long away,
We’ve left our home,
And our folks all alone
And flown up and off for a day.

I am safe because Roger is with me,
He keeps my spirits buoyed up,
He knows if I’m blue
And I’m thinking of you
To listen and not interrupt.

I can tell that he’ll be a good room mate,
He’s had hours of practice you know,
If it’s logic or rhetoric
Or some other what the heck
He’ll wait for my answers to show.

I’m leaving with Roger for college,
In McIntyre we’ll be there,
Working away
At our classes each day,
Miss Maran and Roger her bear.

With my love, Dad

Launching the Contact Marker CM1

For thirty four years I have been attempting to provide my patients with the highest standard of care. My USC training and the legacy of Dr Glazier's practice which I took over in 1976 have inspired me to continue to provide beautiful gold onlays and inlays.

Increasingly we are providing our patients with porcelain restorations; Crowns, veneers, inlays and onlays. It is very important that the contacting surface between teeth and porcelain repairs is precise, not too tight, and not loose. Food packing between the teeth causes gum inflammation and bone loss.

When porcelain work comes back from the dental laboratory, it is either tight, just right or loose. The chances of it being just right are slim, therefore I always ask my technician to make it just a little tight so I can adjust it. There are all sorts of ways dentists use to identify where to adjust their work, and I have tried them all. I have found that nothing is as accurate as a soft graphite pencil. So I have developed a way to carry a graphite marker to the mouth so that it is possible to adjust porcelain work perfectly.

On Tuesday 14th June I will be speaking to the Los Angeles Dental Society and will be announcing this new idea.

I am marketing my new dental instrument on http://www.contactmarker.com

Take a look and see:


Contact-Marker CM1 Demo Video from Dr. Neil McLeod on Vimeo.

John MacArthur - Unprecedented Preaching Achievement

By any standard Grace Community is a big and successful Church, and with good reason, for sound fundamental Christianity is taught there verse by verse every week. The teaching of John MacArthur feeds the need for honest down to earth understandable exposition of God's Word. You can doubt all you want, but once you have heard it you will know the truth of it.

Today was a milestone in the history of this amazing worship center. In a sanctuary packed as usual, John MacArthur brought to a close what can only be described as a nearly unprecedented achievement in his or any other preacher's long career as shepherd of his flock. Today as he brought to a conclusion his study of the Gospel of Mark, he completed a forty three year sojourn through the entire New Testament. All these sermons were from the same pulpit.

John MacArthur is firm and forthright, never wavering in his criticism of sins of our time. He fully recognizes that Christianity is under attack and teaches us the basic truths to which we must attend if we are to achieve the gift of eternal life with our Lord.

His sermons are packed with substantial insights into the real meaning of every verse. Never have I enjoyed the Word of God so clearly explained.

Together with his unfaltering teaching style there is a humor that is playful and understanding of our human foibles.
Showing his humanity and ongoing love for his wife, John presented Patricia with a beautiful rose to thank her for all her support during this academic and preaching epic.

I asked John how he managed to collect and collate all the information he has used to produce the over three thousand five hundred sermons, which are all recorded and available on line through Grace To You, and how big his staff was. His answer, "Neil, I mine all my own data."

Dr. MacArthur, President of the Master's College, and pastor of Grace Community Church is nothing short of phenomenal.

MacLeod Rant - Remembering Ann Skipper

Honoring Ann Skipper

1925 - 2009

Internationally renowned

Dance Mistress of

The Clan MacLeod Dancers

Est. 1983

Last night, June 4th 2011, at the Pasadena War Memorial, the Clan MacLeod Dancers hosted their annual Rant, arguably one of the premiere Scottish Country Dances held in the Southern California each

year.

The event was a great success with live music provided by Any Imbrie on the piano and Debie Benton Grosjean on the "fiddle" who were stunningly good, making the Scottish snap zing through the air and putting lift in the lassies heels as their partners kilts were flying. A positive glut of MacLeod favorites from Angus MacLeod and MacLeod's Fancy to Peat Fire Flame and a new one from Walt Metcalf called Sea Gate. The food was sumptuous as always.

I had a chance to give a small talk remembering Ann and the huge contribution she has made to the Clan MacLeod and Scottish Country Dancing world wide.

In 2002 John MacLeod of MacLeod the 29th Chief of the Clan MacLeod wrote of Ann when she stepped down as Dance Mistress of his Clan

“I must thank you very much for all the work you have done on the dance scene in clan MacLeod. You have been most successful in your role as teacher and enthuser and the clan is in your debt. I am sure that the heritage of dance will live on.”

Sets complete! Ready for the next dance!

Click to see "Reel of the 51st"

The budget should be balanced

Cicero 106 - 46 B.C.

When Julius Caesar was invading Britain in 55 A.D. Cicero was at home contemplating the growing weight of government dependents, and he of wrote:

"The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance."

My Friend Ray MacEdwards sent this to me, and it has so much significance that I just had to blog it.

So what Ray asks have we learned in the last 2,064 years

The actual quote is: "The arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and assistance to foreign hands should be curtailed, lest Rome fall."

Nothing!

The Bride's First Footing - Missing Alan's Wedding

As my brother Alan lies recovering from a triple whammy I am lamenting not being able to visit with him. He went in to routine colonoscopy, was diagnosed as having had a myocardal infarct, and was whipped away to have his mitral valves tightened up, and during recovery, optical irregularity caused the surgeons to question why and this resulted in a diagnosis of and immediate treatment for a Pituitary tumor.

I had a similar sense of remorse when I could not attend his wedding on a New Years Day back in 1977. Here is a poem about that.

The Bride’s First Footing
Saturday January 1st 10.30 a.m. 1977 For my brother Alan and Nada, whose wedding I could not attend.

Brother Roland, Mike and Brenda, Sandy who
Took photographs,
John McNairn in kilt for show
Like Don MacLeod who read Gibran, and Brenda’s dad
Are all now in my holographs,

My synthesis of that missed New Year’s Day
When crisply lay the snow,
As Alan and Nada plied their troths
With special permission from the Bishop
So many years ago.

I wish I’d been there in my kilt, bearing gifts, to watch them
Blissfully take the oath,
And communion, bread and wine,
Then in the library by the fire share Big Chris’ cake
And hug and kiss them both.

Then out in the country at Brenda’s mother’s house
To be there as they dine.
“The luckiest First Footers of the year.”
Trouping off to Gretta’s to bless her with Nada’s posie
In atmosphere of love divine.

I wish I shared the memory
Of the day when you were wed
Not raising New Year glasses
In Hollywood instead.

Brother Roland, Mike and Brenda, Sandy
the photographer,
Kilted John who sang the songs
And Don MacLeod who read, and Brenda’s dad
Who gave the bride,
Lie far off in the memory now!

Alan MacLeod - Heart Operation

A prayer for Alan

I’ve been saying a prayer for my brother,
Today he went under the knife,
The doctors had said some days earlier,
That his ticker’s not working too right.
They said that a big valve is leaking,
And putting his heart under strain
So they’re stitching it up on the inside
To make sure it works right right again.

Alan’s off at the Royal Infirmary,
The doctors are Scottish you know,
They probably know what they’re doing
And I really should not worry so.
But its hard not to care when a loved one
Is confronting a challenge so grim,
And that is the reason I’m bowing my head
And saying a prayer for him.

I’m watching my e-mail in-box,
I’m waiting for news to come through,
I dying to hear that the op went well,
That my brother is up, good as new.
I’ve been saying a prayer for my brother,
Today he went under the knife,
I’m longing to hear that he’s alright
And safe at home with his wife.

It Is A Great Day To Be Irish

It may not get the publicity that it deserves, but my grandfather, Alexander McLeod, The Chief of Police in Featherston, New Zealand, and a master Mason, married the plumber's daughter, an Irish lass. I of course fell for Nancy Neely, so there is much justification in celebrating Saint Paddy's Day.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day to you!

Ballad of Nessie Wrap Party at the Tam

Disney directors Stevie Wermers and Kevin Deters have just finished production on “The Ballad of Nessie”. The 2D short is described by the studio as having ‘art direction evocative of the Disney shorts from the 1940s and 50s’ and being ‘the honest to goodness true tale of Loch Ness and its most famous resident.’

Stevie Wermers L. yours truly and Kevin Deters R. in the Guards Room at the Tam


Stevie saw me at the Tam O’ Shanter Restaurant on one of the Burns Nights, and wanted to know if I would come back to the Tam to entertain her crew at their wrap party to celebrate the completion of this animated short. Prescindia McIntosh, Cindi the popular lady piper, was also be there to add flare to this luncheon which served to add old time bon homme to their finishing bash. I added tales of 'The Tartan Wot Not', 'The SS Politician', and tried to pitch the idea of having Disney make a new film on the Jackdaw of Rheims, by reciting the old poem

Speculation is that Disney's 'The Ballad of Nessie' may be in the theaters alongside ‘Winnie The Pooh’ and see its debut in the European market first.

Front Crowns a Joyful Result

Adding life to a smile is something I love to do. After 34 years there is still more to learn and great joy to be had from practicing dentistry. Here is an example of four front teeth with crowns that had lack luster porcelain, and veneers on the lateral incisors that have receded margins. By using all porcelain with no metal we are able to bring a vitality to restorations that make them look real.

Here is the original appearance,with the veneers showing and a yellowy hue to the crowns.



And here are the new zirconium crowns.


From the side you can really see the vitality in the way the light refracts through the porcelain.

DENTISTRY THAT LASTS - QUALITY THAT COUNTS

Missing the Cock ‘n Bull on Sunset

The times they are a changing, and as they do so also the choices of places to eat when I leave my dental office on Sunset Boulevard. There used to be a famous English pub right across the street called the Cock ‘n Bull, where the Moscow Mule was invented and the best ginger be

er in the world was used to make a

Pims #1 cup.

Their lunch time fare at the buffet was unmatched, and with the 16 story Luckman building right opposite which was ground zero for music business big wigs such as in Warner, Elektra, Atlantic, Asylum Corp. Many music industry executives were officed there, and many music deals were made at the long bar in the pub.

Well ironically, the pub was sold to Hornburg, the Jaguar agency, because John Morgan’s grand kids weren’t interested in taking it over, and when they auctioned everything off I managed to take home the mascot for the pub, the bronze Chantecler that stood over the bar. I always loved it because that French rooster is beautiful, and is my mother’s family crest.

Now Jaguar and Rover are owned and produced by India’s Tata Motors, and the Luckman building has been taken over by some extremely successful Egyptian entrepreneurs, the Mani Brothers. They also own the Sunset Medical Tower, a medical Mecca with 42 dentists in occupation. A new eatery on the opposite side of the street has changed corners and is now BOA.

And down the street Tower Records has disappeared to become a party event and style shop as the music industry is turned on its head by Apple and the internet.

A rainbow may still shine over the Strip, but the world has turned on its axis and I miss having a good pub across the street.

Honored for Slaying the Haggis

The Tam O’ Shanter Restaurant on Los Felis Boulevard in Glendale was the venue for the celebration of Burns Night on January 25th and 26th. The pipes were played, the dancer danced, songs were sung and the haggis, carried in by Chef Ivan, was slain at every sitting. In short a ‘guid time’ was had by all. My big dirk was brought out for the thirty first year, and this time Isaac Burks, the Arts and Culture envoy from Councilman Tom Labonge’s office, appeared and presented a certificate of appreciation.

I was deeply touched and honored to have received such an accolade for having so much fun all these years in our great city, and for being able to share the occasion with so many close friends and family. Looking back I thank Tom Girvin for introducing me to this event in 1978. In 1980 I took over his part in presenting Robert Burns' famous "Ode To A Haggis"




Neil and Phil
courtesy of Heather Klinger

Celebrate Robert Burns- Eat Haggis

The Burns schedule is very busy this year I have eighteen Haggis to slay. I start in Fresno this week end for the Scottish Society of Central California Burns Night, when I shall be talking about Auld Lang Syne, and stabbing the Haggis.






Midweek, and on the birthday of Burns itself, January 25th and 26th, the Tam O' Shanter Restaurant has me slaying the haggis at each sitting for two days. That is twelve haggis unzipped before your eyes. Ivan the Chef will be with us to carry in his fare.







Friday 28th is the night when the Faculty Club of CalTech hold their Burns Night at the Athenaeum. Their Chef Kevin, does a wonderful haggis for which I shall enjoy performing the traditional ode. Jan Tappan's Scottish Fiddlers will be performing as usual. My address will include the "Cottars' Saturday Night", one of Burn's greatest works.

























Finally a new addition to the rounds, Beckham's Grill in Pasadena is hosting their Burns Night with Cindy McKintosh the piper. Their haggis is going to be from the kitchen of Alex McGilivray, the renowned piper, who played for me when I sang at Raymond Burr's funeral some years back.

Busted

This incident really occurred and the irony of being condemned by a completely innocent remark must I am sure be shared and ring true with others. So here at Burns' Time is a story about whisky. Here it is!

Busted

I was strolling down the aisle

We were shopping there in style

With my daughter sitting smiling in the cart,

I was stretching out my hand

For the Martinelli’s brand

When the apple of my eye gave me a start.

With the bottle in my grasp

I saw, coming toward us fast,

A high heeled damsel, scarfed and towing her caddie

And she smirked as I, condemned,

Stood up to comprehend

The reason, as my child said “Whisky Daddy?”

There was nothing I could say,

To make it seem another way,

To vanquish the conviction so compelling

It was the color you could tell

And the shape she knew so well,

The question that my daughter asked was telling.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

It has been a good year all in all. There is no question it was tough, but with networking and hard work on everyone's part, and a complete change in internet marketing we must report the final upswing.

There was snow low on the mountains and we could see it clearly from the Griffith Park Observatory

Christmas was sweet. Happy New Year to you all

Dr Bernard Levin - Confirming My Conviction

On Friday November 19th my professor and mentor Dr. Bernard Levin, was an inductee at the Ostrow School of Dentistry, Hall of Fame. This posthumous award, given to a non USC dental graduate, was made because of the extraordinary contributions he made to the art and science of dentistry, through scholarly research, teaching, professional leadership and development of teaching techniques that advance dental science.

I met Professor Levin as his clinical dresser, an attending house Surgeon, in 1973 when he was on sabbatical and teaching at Guy’s Hospital, London. It was Bernie and Mr Prieskel, the Prosthodontic Consultant in the dental school, who inspired me to go back to the United States to study. It was Bernie who was my sponsor into USC, and my mentor when I did my research into the “Alignment of Precision Attachments”. He edited my papers and advised me on the content. It was Bernie who sponsored me into the Pacific Coast Society for Prosthodontics.

I have always thought the world of Doctor Levin, but it was a complete confirmation of my conviction that he was without doubt one of the best wet finger dentists and teachers by whom I had ever had the pleasure to be taught. His wife Kinuyo was there in his stead to receive his accolade, and she can be seen here with Bernie's sister in a picture taken by Dr Calvin Lau. It was an honor for me to be there with my colleague Simon Gamer, and see the fine new dean, Dr Avishai Sadan, bestow the awards.

Getting Back on Track - Memory Lapse

Inspired by Billy Cullins

You can’t be tying a string around your finger
Every time you have to remember
Why it is you went into the kitchen,
Or what is was you came into the garage for anyway.

You stand in front of the fridge,
In a room cluttered with thousands of memory joggers-
A block of carving knives, that lasting gift from your wedding,
The painted rose on a plate from a grateful patient,
A colonial tea canister from Williamsburg
With a key to stop its contents being purloined,
And the gallery of photographs held by magnets on the door,

And it is as if you were gazing at some rebuilt city,
Which has been completely redesigned
After an atomic bomb has wiped
All the definitive land marks off the map,
Wondering why you are there,
And what pressing task,
Which was screaming for attention,
Caused you to sleepwalk,
And if the tell tale signs of senility
Are already devastating your mind.

Then picking your way back to the bathroom
You peer into the mirror
Straining for the clue,
And with an Archimedean exaltation,
Discover the switch of memory
And reluctantly admitting your humanity,
Put your day back on track once more.

Frances Cecelia McLeod turns 95

Mother of Mine

For Frances Cecelia McLeod 95 years old on November 15th 2010

Long before the eye-light twinkled

Mother of mine, Mother of mine

E’re his forehead for me wrinkled

Mother of mine.

You by God’s hand were selected

So we were raised up and protected

And guided in this early time,

Mother of mine!

When the twinkle dimmed and faded,

Mother of mine, Mother of mine,

And our lives grew grim and jaded,

Mother of mine.

You buoyed us up with your intention

Of disappointments made no mention

Filled our hearts with song and rhyme

Mother of mine!

So your life has not been wasted

Mother of mine, Mother of mine,

Sweet has been the life we tasted

Mother of mine!

And the time that still remains

As the hour glass slowly drains,

Is a gift that is sublime,

Oh mother of mine!

Hilda Lane - Frozen in Time

Hilda Lane

1929 - 2010

Hilda Lane, the graphic artist and illustrator, was the owner of the Hollywood Sign Company, and consequently knew just about everyone of significance in town. She was a great friend and compatriot when I lived in Laurel Canyon, and was on my team during my presidency of the Lookout Mountain Associates. We had enormous fun fighting for good causes and planning Oktoberfests. She also loved the Wajinga gatherings of East African enthusiasts. She lived alone in a house she and her husband built, that became frozen in time after he died in a private plane crash.

On the hill crest above Laurel Canyon

With a view of the city and sea

There’s a ginger bread cookie house chateaux

Where I’ve been invited for tea.

There are carvings on gable and roof line

Repeated in each window frame,

There’s a garden surrounding this sanctuary

The home of my friend Hilda Lane.

I would just say a word about Hilda

Who lived all alone on the hill,

Her life it was thoughtful and generous

Filled with good deeds and spreading good will.

If a cause ever needed a champion,

To Hilda its advocates climbed,

She would listen intent to the story,

Weigh it carefully, and make up her mind.

Now if Hilda decided she liked you,

And she liked the idea that you brought

She would put all her effort behind it

And together the battle was fought.

I had a fine friend Hilda

An ally who never would wane

And together we vanquished the dragons

That haunted each chosen campaign.

Hilda lived all alone on her hilltop

Since her husband’s plane fell from the sky,

And she kept every nuance in order

No matter how fast years went by.

And nothing was changed in her life style

Not a curtain, a cup or a line

And she drove the same car down the hillside

From her Swiss Chalet frozen in time.

Neil McLeod 10.30.2010

Highland Games in Fresno

When my family were busy, Justin Sloggat, the producer at Six-14 Productions Inc, ran away with me to the Highland Games in Fresno. I have been the story teller up there for years, and I wanted to capture the mood of the event. I really like what Justin has done here.

Bill Gates on Israel

Please check out this wonderful short impression of the Israeli contribution to our lives. There is so much inferred in such a simple humble way. There is no question that we must support this country against its detractors, not to do so would be cutting off our noses to spite our faces.

Tribute to John Lennon at LeTip

With thanks to Julie Hopkins, the Portrait Photographer, who shot this footage with her phone, here is the tribute to John Lennon, sung by Michael Tan, the Home Theater specialist. Michael Greenfield of Ace of Hearts Entertainment played guitar, and I am on the harmonica. It was a good effort.
Neil

Blue September Hollywood in Blue

Some may have wondered when they saw it, why the Capitol Records Building is illuminated in blue this month. It is to support the new GO BLUE Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign.

Men need to get checked regularly before complications make treatment drastic or futile.



There were other building also shrouded in blue, the famous Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard.


Not to be outdone, Alan Johnson's Ramada Plaza got into the act too!


See the video!