I always say that every film - good, bad or indifferent has at least one memorable line...

Hope Floats - Birdee Pruitt: Childhood is what you spend the rest of your life trying to overcome. That's what momma always says. She says that beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will...
.

Sailing in Hanalei Bay...

To view more pics go to my Facebook Album. xo P.

.

Green Day - Time of Your Life

Kauai Week One... Paradise?!

After commuting here to work during the past year I fell in love with Kauai and recently moved here. From my first visit to the Garden Isle, I have made a point of sharing with everyone in my life how magical and enchanting I find this place. The people, the culture, the food, the music, the flora, the fauna, the land and the ocean all welcomed me. When I returned to the mainland I couldn't wait to come back. Finally I made my dream a reality.

I want to become part of this community. I want to contribute to making and keeping this the idyllic place I believed it to be. I want to learn more about Kauai's history and culture and to share this information with my guests and tourists to further enhance their experiences. My sense of inspired hope turned to brief but painful regret today when I was schooled by a second generation North Shore local who felt the need to clue me in to their reality. He told me that, "as a visitor I was O.K." but as "an immigrant I would never be accepted by the the locals - at best I will only be tolerated." Further, I was told, I should know that I will be "secretly loathed and considered a parasite, taking a job and land from locals". Citing my experiences during previous visits he rebutted "Sure - everyone loves tourists because they LEAVE!".

I was hurt. This was the first time I had felt the blows of racism. My fantasy was shattered into a thousand pieces. The man I was speaking with had apparently fought all his life to be accepted. Was I now volunteering for the same treatment???

I was so unfamiliar with racism that I looked it up in a dictionary:

Racism is the belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

In this community of so many mixed ethnicities I had never imagined that racism could exist. I fear I had misread the acceptance I felt during previous visits.

Subsequently a very wise fourth generation local raised my spirits somewhat. She told me "That it seems that everyone has forgotten that we are ALL immigrants." She said "those in touch with their heritage know that none of us owns this land". She went on to say "Hawaii doesn't need to focus on the past, but on a future of developing healthy and supportive communities for generations to come."

Where does this leave me? Well the scales have been removed from my eyes but being a positive person I choose to share the optimistic vision of my second teacher. I'll work to make reality as good as the fantasy that brought me here. Aloha! P.

.

P.S. To view photos of Week 1 click on my Facebook Album.

.

Good-Bye Vancouver... Aloha Kauai!

Leaving my Wall Centre Team was certainly sad... but the blessings of fellow employees makes moving on just that much more inspiring!

This lovely sentiment created by the Master Jeddy-Jed was followed by the most endearing going away party...

For more photos click this FACEBOOK link

AND for the AFTER PARTY click this link ;P

Thank-you Club Intrawest & The Sheraton Wall Centre!

Love & Miss You all... xo P.

.

Rip Curl & Sashamon

I arrived on island today... You can almost taste the sweetness of the air. It's soft, like the texture of whole milk on your tongue and the humidity wraps me up as if I am being cradled in an electric blanket. The smell of the plumeria is more than familiar, it's calming and the sound of the far off roosters - even at the airport - make me smile. I'm home. xo P.

MAD MEN on AMC this Summer...

From the Emmy Award-winning executive producer and writer of the Sopranos; Matthew Wiener, is the BEST television show I have seen in a long time!

Reviewers have said:
"Television's best new drama" Newsweek
"...Possibly the best new show you'll see this summer" Time Magazine
"The sophistication of a feature film" People
"Gorgeous in every way... smart and tremendously attractive" The New Yorker
"So cool it will force you to turn off the air conditioning..." New York Post

If you missed the first season's 8 shows this summer... Catch up on AMC-tv.com or if in the US check HBO's ON Demand or if you are one of the hipsters that have mastered iTunes Download it today!

This past weekend AMC had an 8 hour marathon and while I was packing my life up - to move to paradise, I was reminded how great the writing is, the character development is deliberately intriguing. Add to that the visual details - hair, make-up wardrobe, props, set dec all perfect! Reminding me why Art Direction was once a dream of mine... I guarantee this Set Dec Team had fun pulling the 60's into reality. Plus mark my words the fashion influence of this series will be unmistakable next year... Aesthetics aside it's smart and surprisingly unpredictable. Plus as one of the producers said, "It reminds us how little we have changed. We are just better at being polite". That interests me... though being a child in the 60's I can confirm that reality - at least parenting has evolved.

Don't miss up coming episodes Thursday nights at 10pm... Enjoy! P.
.

The Flaming LIps - Do You Realize??

Thank-you Ryan xo P.

Rollie Waters Photography... Enjoy!

Kaua'i

- Color Therapy -

A Beautifully Innocent Film...

Bicentennial Man (1999) staring Robin Williams, was on the movie channel the other day and I was surprised to learn that there was a Chris Columbus film I had not seen.

The Plot: "This film follows the 'life' and times of the lead character, an android (Robin Williams) named Andrew Martin who is purchased as a household robot programmed to perform menial tasks. Within a few days the Martin family realizes that they don't have an ordinary droid as Andrew begins to experience emotions and creative thought. In a story that spans two centuries, Andrew learns the intricacies of humanity while trying to stop those who created him from destroying him." Written by http://www.imdb.com/SearchPlotWriters?%BN2XFYLS@aol.com%7D posted on IMDB.com

This movie is a study of what it takes to be a human being, and it's worthy in my books. My favorite quote comes from an excerpt of a conversation between the main lead and his maker - about Making Love…

Andrew Martin: You know what they say?
Rupert Burns: No, what do they say?
Andrew Martin: That you can lose yourself. Everything. All boundaries. All time. That two bodies can become so mixed up, that you don't know who's who or what's what. And just when the sweet confusion is so intense you think you're gonna die... you kind of do. Leaving you alone in your separate body, but the one you love is still there. That's a miracle. You can go to heaven and come back alive. And you can go back anytime you want with the one you love.
Rupert Burns: And you want to experience that?
Andrew Martin: Oh, yes, please.
Rupert Burns: So do I.

I love this description, it speaks to my romantic idea of sharing oneself with another.

xo P.

IZ - Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Kauai, where troubles melt like lemon drops... There's no place like home xo P.

Insightful Words by George Carlin

I love this, thought you might too...

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgement, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.

We conquered outer space but not inner space.

We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.

We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less.

We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

So spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it.
A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

G.C.
For more Quotes link to: http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/George_Carlin
.

Happy Birthday Canada!

This month also happens to be my birthday month and like the beginning of every month I log onto my favourite horoscope to see what the universe has in store for me - is that hokey? Of course it is but whatever... Here's a brief excerpt (yes, I said brief - it's actually 8 pages long) :

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
Your July Horoscope by Susan Miller
"It's your birthday - your favorite time of the year! You have every reason to be optimistic about your year to come, dear Cancer. Life will be brighter than it's been in a long time, for stubborn planetary placements that have held you down are about to move on. You've been through many cosmic storms, particularly in regard to money, but your coming birthday year will be a big improvement over ones past."

Well that sounds promising and apparently the Red Planet - Mars will be heading into my corner starting July 14th and will assist in helping me to, "assertively start a whole new chapter in my life. At that time I will be ready to put into place the plans I am making now."

For those of you in the know, Mercury has been retrograde in Cancer for the last month… thankfully it will leave by July 9th and apparently will give me “a chance this month to fix something that was not working properly." They say this could be a relationship, and that "I will have the time to see if I can make it click again the way it should.” Wish me luck!

Then it declares, that on July 14th there is also a new moon in Cancer – which only happens once a year so I best be taking full advantage of this because it is supposed to “push my dearest plans forward with planetary support” and it is said to have “the power to materialize wishes”. Also, “Actions I assumed were too big to tackle and beyond my ability will suddenly seem possible.”

So it would seem that whatever I do just after the new moon will affect me for the entire next year!! It says, that, “Working with the flow of the universe is the reason we study astrology. It's the best tool you'll ever get for planning, for you can ensure the most success by anticipating upcoming conditions.

Lastly, it states that, "This year, the moon will be in elegant angle to Uranus, the planet of unexpected developments and lucky breaks.” For those of you who have heard my rants of late, this is all very exciting - here's to a new month! P.

Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark

Paddy's influence is not forgotten xo P.

2007 Spring Films

Buongiorno… or should I write Bonjour being back in Canada! Italy was Bellissimo... but I missed my movies ;P

Last night I went to see Knocked Up Written & Directed by Judd Apatow who also wrote and directed “The 40 Year Old Virgin”. It was SO good… Something I didn’t expect… Vancouver is all a buzz about it because the lead character (and actor actually) is from Vancouver, Canada and is a complete stoner – which is typical of our reputation of being the weed capital of North America due to our very mild inexpensive “BC Bud” grown mainly on Vancouver Island. Which interestingly enough is also the geographical area that supports Canada’s only Surf Community – interesting.

Anyways, the movie was TOO FUNNY following 2 story lines. One about the guy and his posy and the other about the girl and her reality… A perfect balance – in other words a perfect date film – which is really hard to pull off. Gross-out jokes seldom work in a chick flick and visa versa but Apatow did it and even better than in his first film!

I have seen a TON of films lately… all due to being on so many planes this month… Here’s my personal critique – for whatever it’s worth:

Children of Men – I watched this twice now… EXCELLENT Film!

Every character has a rich backstory, the overall theme totally touches on the subliminal fears of this generation even though it is set in the future. Michael Caine plays I think one of the best roles of his career and has an incredible monologue about the differences between “fate & chance” awesome and haunting.

Painted Veil – Beautifully filmed and incredibly acted by Edward Norton & Naomi Watts. A period film from the 1920’s about a Cholera outbreak in China. A CLASSIC LOVE STORY… They didn’t have a lot of money for marketing – I predict huge numbers in DVD rentals & sales. (By the way... American History X was on Television the other night and is still on my Top 10 Provocative film list... Edward Norton is up there with Sean Penn & Ben Kingsley as one of those actors whose character development comes from a place of authenticity vs. ego!)

History Boys – A British Film about a prep school preparing it’s elite students for entrance exams to go to Yale. It won tons of awards when it was a musical play on stage… So imagine my surprised to learn that the main character – their teacher was a Pedophile! NOT MY KIND OF FILM.

Pan’s Labyrinth – A Spanish film that was up for several Academy Awards this year due to it’s special effects. They made a point of saying it was a fantasy film about a little girl but it was NOT for children! So… true, it swung back and forth between fantasy and reality… The reality was very BRUTAL & VIOLENT hence the main character a 12 year old created a fantasy world to escape. I have a hard time watching anything where children or animals are hurt so not my type of film, but I could see why it was being praised for it’s creativity.


Music & Lyrics – Billed as a Romantic Comedy but really only a Comedy, and light hearted one at that, due to the fact I didn’t believe the chemistry between Hugh Grant & Drew Barrymore. EHHhhh... A rental at best.

Shooter – Interesting stats and math on how to successfully shoot a moving target but a little too red-neck and violent for me. In general a Rambo remake. For the record, I would have NEVER gone to see this - but it was the only film on a flight to Toronto :{

Catch & Release – A cute & sweet little Romantic Comedy filmed entirely in Vancouver (pretending to be Oregon), a perfect MENSTRUAL rental ;P By the way, did you know that Kevin Smith went to The Vancouver Film School - briefly, 3 months I think. He got a 70% tuition refund and used that to make his first movie!

Letters from Iwo Jima – subtitled, so a little hard to sit through but an interesting Japanese perspective on war. Clint Eastwood is consistently amazing with his attention to detail. More my FATHER's type of film...

Apocalypto – Talk about violent but really WELL DONE – excellent story telling.

The Good German – It’s tough when you try to make a “classic”. They filmed this in black & white - fashioned after “Casablanca”. A character study of 3 people (2 Americans and 1 German) in Germany in the 40’s. The crude sex and violence made it uncomfortable to sit through, hence the word of mouth killed it at the box office and I predict in DVD as well. DON'T Bother...

Happy Feet – sweet and fun – with a great Global Warming message.

I haven’t seen the big releases like Spider Man 3, Pirates 3, Shrek 3 (though I LOVE Mike Myers – being Canadian and all), Oceans 13 or Surf’s up - yet…

As you can tell, I don’t have a favorite genre, I’ll watch pretty much anything. That comes from working in the film industry I think, even if the movie is CRAP I realize how much work and effort has gone in to the making of a film that I truly believe there has to be at least one redeeming quality – like people ;P People are never black and white, we operate in the grey, that’s what makes us interesting - I think. P.

The GOOD News Show!

One day I was asked by my Father about some current event. I said, I wasn't following the news... he seemed shocked, so I explained that quite frankly, I was too sensitive for the stories that the media reports. With motto's like, "If it bleeds - it leads" why would I tune in? I always end in tears and feeling like I can't make a difference to the world, my country, my town, my neighborhood or even my own back yard at times... hence the result is denial.

Not accepting my apathy, he said, "Why don't you and David (my old roommate and one of my best friends who is an actor and local improv artist) create your OWN news show - and only report on GOOD NEWS? David could be the "comedian" that he is and you I could be the "straight" gal that you are!"

C'est VOILA the concept was born. I mentioned it to David and the brainstorming began... We talked about researching events and happenings from around the world to Vancouver and even having "man on the street" interviews - requesting people to only relay a positive story! I even found our theme song by Jack Johnson - Where did all the Good People Go?



Everywhere I looked I started seeing people - just like me wanting to focus on a more positive message... Was "happiness" becoming a trend?

The SECRET hit town last March with it's haunting message from Mother Teresa, who was paraphrased by Jack Canfield, Creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul saying, "I won't go to an anti-war rally, but invite me to anything supporting PRO-PEACE and I will attend." Energy goes where attention flows... Love it!

Then the GOOD magazine came out in September! I am proud to say I have a copy of their first edition! Check it out - it's SO worthy...

Last but not least... The FREE HUGS Campaign began in Australia in October and thanks to You Tube (The Video with the Sick Puppies Song - ALWAYS gives me goose-bumps when Juan Mann gets his first HUG.) went VIRAL after he appeared on Oprah! I even attended a Free Hugs Vancouver Event...

So here's my PITCH! If anyone is aligned with my vision and interested in watching GOOD NEWS drop me a note and spread the word... Let's start a MOVEMENT! Let's change television!!!

xo P.