Where do you think the United States gets their oil from? This was the opening question of the movie “Dirty Oil” that I got a chance to see at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Many people think we get it from the Middle East or Saudi Arabia or somewhere very far from here. Wouldn’t you be surprised to know we get it from Canada? Yes right from our neighboring country. About 75 percent of our oil comes from the tar sands in Alberta, Canada. Every day they move huge amounts of sand and use heated water to separate the oil from the sand. There is a lot of manpower required and more and more people are headed there to join this oil rush. You can see the traffic lined up on the two lane highway, known as Hell’s Highway, which starts about 100 miles north of Edmonton and ends at Fort McMurray. The locals came up with the name Hell's Highway because every day at least one person dies along this road due to recklessness of the drivers who can drive up to speeds of 140 miles per hour.
The boreal forest which is the size of Florida, is having its lakes and wildlife sacrificed by becoming full of toxic waste and having clouds of greenhouse gases emitted into the air all for black gold. Trees that are being knocked down give danger to the songbirds and woodland caribou. Contaminated water that the wildlife are drinking cause problems like tumors that have been seen on fish. The Mikisew Cree have always lived off of the land and now they are being directly affected by the tar sands. Water has always been a natural resource for them and now they have to buy bottled water. They have hunted fish and duck to feed their families and now when they have eaten fish or duck that has ingested the water that’s toxic, they in turn have experienced illnesses like leukemia, lymphomas, auto-immune disorders and very rare cancers. These illnesses have been documented and even more permanent, the bodies that they have had to bury leave a hole in the families and the community. I sat there in my chair watching so many of the people in this community talk about the affect that the tar sands have had on their families. I watched their faces and I listened to what they had to say. I saw the animals with problems, like the fish that had a tumor on it, and thought who would eat that? I saw the burial markers of the graves of people who had died from the cause and effect of the tar sands. As I watched and listened to these people, it sunk into my head that they are human beings just like you and me. Yet the government and the big companies that are being funded to get this oil say there is nothing wrong with the water, nothing wrong with the animals, nothing wrong with anything. They can care less how their operations are affecting this community. In fact they had even sent some representatives there to listen to the concerns of the people and as one woman spoke her truth of what was happening and the fact that they are burying so many people, the camera panned to the representatives that had facial expressions that seemed to show their time was being wasted listening to this.
It’s mind boggling to me how they could stand there in a room with people who are upset, who are crying and who are pleading their case and not be affected. I live in the United States not Canada, my family is not being affected by the tar sands so why should I care what happens to these people who are in another country? I should care and do care because we are talking about human lives at stake with serious conditions that no one is doing anything about. What if that was their child or their sibling or their spouse that died from those conditions? I suppose that since it’s not, it doesn’t have an impact on them. I was so disgusted by their behavior and reactions that I honestly didn’t even feel like driving home in my car that uses oil that comes from the same place that is not taking care of people and just letting them die. I don’t understand how someone who is standing in the same room as these people could feel nothing. I sat in the movie theater watching this and became so overwhelmed with emotion, that tears started to roll down my face.
This world has become so selfish and so self serving and the almighty dollar rules over everything. When we are putting gas in cars, we don’t think of where it comes from. That has changed for me since seeing this movie. I am still in disbelief at how these people are being treated and no less by another HUMAN BEING. You could sit there reading this feeling that you don’t care because it’s not in your country. Well, I have news for you, it is.
There was a part in the movie that talked about the company BP Amoco getting permission to dump over 1,500 pounds of ammonia and roughly 5,000 pounds of suspended solids into the Great Lakes from their Whiting Refinery in Indiana. All I could think was that I loved the irony of a supposed “green” company that advertises "Beyond Petroleum" saying they are a global leader in producing the cleanest burning fossil fuel, does the exact opposite of what it promotes. I think in the future when BP Amoco advertises how green they are, they should show how green the lakes are from them dumping all their toxins in it and hey, while they’re at it, change the green in their logo so that it glows! This had so many people outraged and one of the people who was loudly against this was Eddie Vedder of the group Pearl Jam. During their concert at Lollapalooza, Eddie informed the fans that he had just been told by “a couple of reliable sources” around town that the oil companies were “sitting on 40 million acres” of land that they planned on drilling for oil and that these lands are federal lands so they can keep the supplies low and the prices and profits high. The crowd’s reaction was clear that they stood against this with Eddie and the rest of the band. I was floored when I saw this because I couldn’t think of a better venue than a concert where you already have everyone’s attention and they’re already hanging on your every word. Way to go Eddie! Now as if that wasn’t enough, the band started playing an impromptu song “Don’t Go To BP Amoco”.
Here's what Eddie said and a video clip you can watch of this amazing moment.
“And with all of you here, I think you should hear it. They’ve been passing out information that uh, and it seems to be factual that they’re leading us to believe that there’s this company, and they’re called BP Amoco. ….But it’s apparently financially beneficial to them to dump their waste into your beautiful Lake Michigan”. The crowd boos at this injustice.
“So I would just suggest…that we all have choices as a consumer, that if you drove right by an Amoco and went somewhere else to get your gas...so don’t show BP Amoco any kind of love until they clean up their act”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bUAD7OPwjg
The tar sands project uses significantly more energy in their process than the energy that is used to produce regular crude oil and in fact, the tar sands project has been called “the most destructive project on Earth” by the Natural Resources Defense Council. I stated previously that it seems as though the Canadian government isn’t really doing anything about this and I posed the question of why should we care here in the United States. Well we should care because the problems in Alberta actually extends to southern Illinois, from Lake Michigan as I told you regarding the BP Amoco company and then into the sky. So now it’s here and do you think we’re going to sit back and just accept this? No we’re not because we have a President who gets involved. In fact, President Obama took a trip to Canada in February of this year to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada. Obama is in favor of using clean energy which affects not only our economy and people but the planet as a whole.
Both countries agree on technological development and research, however, expanding the tar sands oil production has no place in this clean energy plan and it also poses an unacceptable risk to the climate as pointed out by President Obama. This is one of the things that I love about Obama is that he makes people accountable. If you remember early on when the car companies were pleading their cases that they needed to be bailed out, President Obama didn’t have a problem with this, but the car companies needed to show him what they were going to do with the money. He was making them accountable. When the staff said they couldn’t figure out ways to save money, he said yes you can. He told them to sit there and figure out. He is not letting anyone be lazy anymore and he is not putting up with anymore excuses. The same goes here with this situation. I’ve heard and read so many things that people have said against the President of how come things haven’t changed yet in some areas or they don’t like the changes that he is proposing. Here’s the thing people, things do not change overnight. It takes time to get all your ducks in a row and many meetings to get through it all. I caught Obama on Letterman awhile ago and he talked about how things do get presented but then get turned down so they go back to the drawing board and find another way. He is definitely not one to give up the first time he gets a “no”. He just goes back and finds another way to get the “yes”. Here is a quote from our President on this situation:
“We are very grateful for the relationship that we have with Canada, and Canada being our largest energy supplier, but I think that increasingly we have to take into account that the issue of climate change and greenhouse gases is something that’s going to have an impact on all of us and as two relatively wealthy countries, it’s important for us to show leadership.”
Before Obama got into the leadership role he has today, he was pushing for a safe environment and I wonder how many people really know this? He was the co-sponsor of the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act while he was still in the Senate. This act would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by 80% by 2050 and even though he was ahead of his game, Congress still has to vote on this bill. Then there’s the Clean Air Act in Illinois that required 10% of electricity in the state would come from renewable sources such as wind and solar power by 2012. Obama was preventing Bush from rolling back this act while he was a Senator by introducing a bill that required more pollution controls at coal plants. Obama is committed to protecting the Great Lakes because they make up 1/5 of the world’s surface water and he doesn’t want to disrupt the balance of the lake’s ecosystem. So he ensured that Illinois would get adequate federal funding to operate a barrier that will prevent Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan.
These are things that Obama was already working on so for him to make the trip to Canada was no surprise. We are a country that I feel looks after one another and we have our finger on the pulse of humanity in this country. If the tar sands were located in this country, I believe the voices of the people that it was affecting would be heard.
This movie is a must see whether or not you're into documentaries. I wasn't sure what to expect from the movie. I thought it was going to be something on oil that wasn't too exciting or that I would be bored with. The way the movie opens has you wanting to know where it's going so you pay attention. As the movie continues it's almost like layers are being peeled off until you get to the core. Each time another layer got peeled off, I kept thinking this problem is getting bigger and bigger and the domino affect kept spreading out further and further. Academy Award Nominee Director Leslie Iwerks really did quite a job on keeping your interest and at the same time bringing you into this other world that you never knew of.
I don't want to spoil too much but you'll also see a portion of the movie where a doctor comes in to help these people that are getting sick and dying and when he realizes what it's really from, he is harassed to keep quiet. He does everything to get the attention from the right people but the media slams him and makes him seem not credible in what he's saying. I was very proud of this man for not giving into being quiet and really trying to go to bat for these people and the environment.
You really must see this movie because now that I have seen it, I really want everyone here in the United States to go see it to understand my passion of how wrong this is and how it is affecting us here in our country and we don't even know it. We need to take a stand for our environment and for our own lives. I don't want us ordering fish with a side of tumor and I certainly don't want to attend a funeral daily.
One last thing I might add is that ironically Director Leslie Iwerks was born on the original Earth Day when it was founded and I find it interesting that this is her second project regarding environmental issues. Do you think someone bigger than us is trying to tell us something? I don't know but what I do know is that this is something Leslie is very passionate about and after seeing this movie I feel the same way. I guarantee you will too. You can log onto www.leslieiwerks.com or www.babelgum.com/dirtyoil for more info and the trailer on this movie. This is Babelgum's first feature film and they had approached Ms. Iwerks on directing this film. I give two thumbs up to both Babelgum and Leslie Iwerks for this incredible movie.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Oceana Interview With Sam Waterston...
Oceana is an organization that was founded in 2001 and is the largest international organization that is focused only on the conservation of our beautiful oceans. They have offices in North America, South America, Europe and Central America. I had an opportunity to interview one of the Board of Directors, Sam Waterston. You may know Mr.Waterston best from his role on “Law and Order” as Jack McCoy. He has a real passion for our oceans and it was quite apparent throughout our interview.
I asked Sam how he originally got involved in this wonderful organization and he said that Chairman Keith Addis and Actor Ted Danson had approached him. Both men serve on the Board of Directors as well and it was not a difficult task to convince Sam to join. He grew up on the East Coast in New England playing and enjoying the ocean around him. Now we see bad things happening and people don’t know what to do about them. Once such thing is the current oil spill that has been all over the news. I asked Sam what his take was on this. “It’s a horrible thing within itself”, he explained,” and the effects will be seen for years and years and years.” He is indeed correct as this oil spill has caused so much tragedy in so many directions. I’m personally saddened at the fact that I think this entire spill could have been avoided in the first place. I shared with Sam that last year I saw a movie at the Hamptons International Film Festival called “Dirty Oil”. It was a documentary and really opened my eyes as to what is going on out there. We all know oil and water don’t mix but this movie made that statement even more real. It even mentioned in part about how BP had a part in our own country to cause a similar situation on the Great Lakes by getting permission to dump over 1,500 pounds of ammonia and roughly 5,000 pounds of suspended solids from their Whiting Refinery in Indiana. What is going on with this country that our world is made up of about 71% water yet we can care less? Oceana will bring in a remote vehicle to the oil spill to study what’s going on and what happens regarding the damage being done.
Sam believes this is an opportunity for us to wake up and change course and change the way we do energy. “These spills happen around the world but we should be moving as fast as we can to try to get energy elsewhere and in effect, it would create new jobs, help with the economy and avoid these spills”, states Sam and I have to agree with him. He acknowledged the opportunities that are all around us right here on Long Island. A good example he pointed out were the windmills out here. The winds are steady blowing and the energy created by the windmills would be a lot cleaner.
It’s not just the energy issue but the fact that the ocean bottoms are being wiped out and no one really has a clue as to what is going on with the sea beds. In the past few years, about 2 percent of all money for environmental causes goes to our oceans yet we are made up of about 71% water. Sam pointed out how people may not pay so much attention to the oceans since they seem far out whereas they pay more attention to things like our forests because those are closer to us. The forests are more on a national level but the oceans belong to all of us.
He has noticed that there are more and more people becoming aware of the ocean but most people tend to think they can’t do anything about it. The oceans can actually respond quite well and if you think about it, it’s a crazy concept if we just sit back and do nothing about what’s going on.
This is where you come in. You can definitely make a difference even if you think you can’t. If you tell me one person can’t make a difference, I will throw names at you like Rosa Parks. If each person thinks they can make a difference, all of a sudden we have hundreds and thousands that are all helping to make a difference. One thing you can do that is immediate is to attend the fundraiser this July 10 at the Watermill home of Lois Robbins and Andrew Zaro. Many celebrities will be in attendance and some of the more prominent figures that will be there are Susan Cohn Rockefeller, Vera Wang, Arthur Becker, Ellen and Dan Crown, Andrew and Sandi Farkas, Tom and Lori Florio, Senator Frank Lautenberg and Bonnie Lautenberg, Lizzie and John Tisch just to name a few. You can get your ticket by logging on to www.oceanasplashparty.org and if you cannot attend this event, please log on to www.na.oceana.org and donate what you can or become a wave maker and see how you can help save our oceans.
Sam Waterston, Actor and Activist
I asked Sam how he originally got involved in this wonderful organization and he said that Chairman Keith Addis and Actor Ted Danson had approached him. Both men serve on the Board of Directors as well and it was not a difficult task to convince Sam to join. He grew up on the East Coast in New England playing and enjoying the ocean around him. Now we see bad things happening and people don’t know what to do about them. Once such thing is the current oil spill that has been all over the news. I asked Sam what his take was on this. “It’s a horrible thing within itself”, he explained,” and the effects will be seen for years and years and years.” He is indeed correct as this oil spill has caused so much tragedy in so many directions. I’m personally saddened at the fact that I think this entire spill could have been avoided in the first place. I shared with Sam that last year I saw a movie at the Hamptons International Film Festival called “Dirty Oil”. It was a documentary and really opened my eyes as to what is going on out there. We all know oil and water don’t mix but this movie made that statement even more real. It even mentioned in part about how BP had a part in our own country to cause a similar situation on the Great Lakes by getting permission to dump over 1,500 pounds of ammonia and roughly 5,000 pounds of suspended solids from their Whiting Refinery in Indiana. What is going on with this country that our world is made up of about 71% water yet we can care less? Oceana will bring in a remote vehicle to the oil spill to study what’s going on and what happens regarding the damage being done.
Sam believes this is an opportunity for us to wake up and change course and change the way we do energy. “These spills happen around the world but we should be moving as fast as we can to try to get energy elsewhere and in effect, it would create new jobs, help with the economy and avoid these spills”, states Sam and I have to agree with him. He acknowledged the opportunities that are all around us right here on Long Island. A good example he pointed out were the windmills out here. The winds are steady blowing and the energy created by the windmills would be a lot cleaner.
It’s not just the energy issue but the fact that the ocean bottoms are being wiped out and no one really has a clue as to what is going on with the sea beds. In the past few years, about 2 percent of all money for environmental causes goes to our oceans yet we are made up of about 71% water. Sam pointed out how people may not pay so much attention to the oceans since they seem far out whereas they pay more attention to things like our forests because those are closer to us. The forests are more on a national level but the oceans belong to all of us.
He has noticed that there are more and more people becoming aware of the ocean but most people tend to think they can’t do anything about it. The oceans can actually respond quite well and if you think about it, it’s a crazy concept if we just sit back and do nothing about what’s going on.
This is where you come in. You can definitely make a difference even if you think you can’t. If you tell me one person can’t make a difference, I will throw names at you like Rosa Parks. If each person thinks they can make a difference, all of a sudden we have hundreds and thousands that are all helping to make a difference. One thing you can do that is immediate is to attend the fundraiser this July 10 at the Watermill home of Lois Robbins and Andrew Zaro. Many celebrities will be in attendance and some of the more prominent figures that will be there are Susan Cohn Rockefeller, Vera Wang, Arthur Becker, Ellen and Dan Crown, Andrew and Sandi Farkas, Tom and Lori Florio, Senator Frank Lautenberg and Bonnie Lautenberg, Lizzie and John Tisch just to name a few. You can get your ticket by logging on to www.oceanasplashparty.org and if you cannot attend this event, please log on to www.na.oceana.org and donate what you can or become a wave maker and see how you can help save our oceans.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Church Lounge Restaurant Review...
TriBeCa,short for "Triangle Below Canal", is home to first class art galleries, restaurants and boutiques. The Tribeca Grand Hotel was the first New York luxury hotel to arrive in TriBeCa. The Church Lounge, located in the atrium of the Tribeca Grand, is sure to seduce you upon your entrance into the hotel. The soft glow of candles and the relaxed yet upscale lounge feel pulls you in where you can enjoy a delectable meal or flavorful cocktail.
I have been to the Tribeca Grand many times before but this time I took a friend for dinner as I've been meaning to do many times. Last Thursday, February 18, I decided it was a good opportunity to have dinner at the Church Lounge prior to going to a closing night party for Fashion Week. We were greeted by Sal Monaco, the Food and Beverage Manager. I met Sal a few years ago when he managed another restaurant and from the first day I met him, he has been a very hospitable host. The Grand family is very fortunate to have him at the helm.
We were seated at a cozy table with plush banquets that were very comfortable. There were a good amount of people at the tables and sitting at the bar. I've always noticed that people are always smiling and having fun when I've been there and this night was no exception.
We received our menus and each ordered a glass of Pinot Grigio which is my favorite wine! I had no idea what to pick to eat because everything on the menu looked so appetizing. I decided to try the Shrimp and Avocado Sandwich which came with arugula and lime mayonnaise. My friend tried the Seared Salmon that came with pink grapefruit, avocado and beet salad with a pomegranate vinaigrette. For sides we had Truffle Creamed Spinach and Baby Carrots with Butter and Thyme.
The service was pretty quick. Before we knew it our plates were set before us and it all looked so delicious. As I took my first bite, the combination of the shrimp, avocado and lime mayonnaise blended so perfectly together it made my taste buds dance! This was a dish I was definitely glad I ordered. I kept eating and didn't stop to have a conversation like I normally do. This was too good! My friend commented how perfect her salmon was and she continued on eating just like me. Two plates that were made to perfection by Chef Max Bartoli. Sal came back around to ask us how we liked our meal and the first words out of my mouth were "Oh my God! This is so good!" He smiled and was delighted that we were enjoying it. I went on to try the baby carrots and of course as I suspected, they were quite mouth watering and again just the right blend of butter and thyme. The truffle creamed spinach melted in my mouth as I tried a sample of that as well.
If you've ever gone to the Church Lounge just for drinks, you really must try dinner there. I promise you won't be disappointed. In the summer the Soho Grand opens up their restaurant, The Yard, and I can't wait to try a meal there as well. Sal manages The Yard in the summer as well and both hotels boast the terminology "The Grand Life". The word grand certainly is a word I would use to describe the service, the atmosphere and the food. If you think of how many choices you have in Manhattan alone, it's no wonder why many people choose the Church Lounge.
Annemarie Davin and friend, Lanka Dupont
Dinner is not the only thing served. They also serve breakfast and lunch and on Sundays you can have the Grand Brunch which is served from 10am to 3pm and comes with a wide array of choices. Breakfast is served daily from 6am to 11 am, lunch is served from 11am to 4pm and dinner is from 4pm to 11pm.
If you are planning a weekend in the city, you should take advantage of the special offer they have right now which is a two night weekend stay from $450 and includes a complimentary $100 food and beverage credit. Also keep the Tribeca Grand in mind if you are attending the Tribeca Film Festival.
If you're looking to book an event or want to book reservations in the Church Lounge, be sure to ask for Sal Monaco and tell him I sent you!
I have been to the Tribeca Grand many times before but this time I took a friend for dinner as I've been meaning to do many times. Last Thursday, February 18, I decided it was a good opportunity to have dinner at the Church Lounge prior to going to a closing night party for Fashion Week. We were greeted by Sal Monaco, the Food and Beverage Manager. I met Sal a few years ago when he managed another restaurant and from the first day I met him, he has been a very hospitable host. The Grand family is very fortunate to have him at the helm.
Sal Monaco, Food & Beverage Manager and Annemarie Davin, FameHampton
We were seated at a cozy table with plush banquets that were very comfortable. There were a good amount of people at the tables and sitting at the bar. I've always noticed that people are always smiling and having fun when I've been there and this night was no exception.
We received our menus and each ordered a glass of Pinot Grigio which is my favorite wine! I had no idea what to pick to eat because everything on the menu looked so appetizing. I decided to try the Shrimp and Avocado Sandwich which came with arugula and lime mayonnaise. My friend tried the Seared Salmon that came with pink grapefruit, avocado and beet salad with a pomegranate vinaigrette. For sides we had Truffle Creamed Spinach and Baby Carrots with Butter and Thyme.
The service was pretty quick. Before we knew it our plates were set before us and it all looked so delicious. As I took my first bite, the combination of the shrimp, avocado and lime mayonnaise blended so perfectly together it made my taste buds dance! This was a dish I was definitely glad I ordered. I kept eating and didn't stop to have a conversation like I normally do. This was too good! My friend commented how perfect her salmon was and she continued on eating just like me. Two plates that were made to perfection by Chef Max Bartoli. Sal came back around to ask us how we liked our meal and the first words out of my mouth were "Oh my God! This is so good!" He smiled and was delighted that we were enjoying it. I went on to try the baby carrots and of course as I suspected, they were quite mouth watering and again just the right blend of butter and thyme. The truffle creamed spinach melted in my mouth as I tried a sample of that as well.
If you've ever gone to the Church Lounge just for drinks, you really must try dinner there. I promise you won't be disappointed. In the summer the Soho Grand opens up their restaurant, The Yard, and I can't wait to try a meal there as well. Sal manages The Yard in the summer as well and both hotels boast the terminology "The Grand Life". The word grand certainly is a word I would use to describe the service, the atmosphere and the food. If you think of how many choices you have in Manhattan alone, it's no wonder why many people choose the Church Lounge.
Dinner is not the only thing served. They also serve breakfast and lunch and on Sundays you can have the Grand Brunch which is served from 10am to 3pm and comes with a wide array of choices. Breakfast is served daily from 6am to 11 am, lunch is served from 11am to 4pm and dinner is from 4pm to 11pm.
If you are planning a weekend in the city, you should take advantage of the special offer they have right now which is a two night weekend stay from $450 and includes a complimentary $100 food and beverage credit. Also keep the Tribeca Grand in mind if you are attending the Tribeca Film Festival.
If you're looking to book an event or want to book reservations in the Church Lounge, be sure to ask for Sal Monaco and tell him I sent you!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Hillary Flowers at Amnesia...
The Official Hillary Flowers Fashion Week Runway Show took place on Monday, February 15th at Club Amnesia in New York City. This President's Day Celebration had a special performance by Axixs. Axixs is a group that was formed by Pras Michel, formerly of The Fugees, and Selina Carrera, one of the groups vocalists. The other vocalist is Stefi Nova and she also plays bass guitar.
Hillary Flowers, in the middle in the silver shining dress, with some of her models.
Selina Carrera and Stefi Nova take time out to strike a pose
Selina Carrera, Pras Michel and Stefi Nova of Axixs
The fashion show was sponsored by Hampton Daze Magazine and many people came out for this fun evening. There were even goodie bags on the tables which included scarves courtesy of Hillary Flowers and a special gift courtesy of Hiipuss V.
Hillary Flowers and Annemarie Davin, Publisher, FameHampton.com
Melanie Anne, Joe Cipro and Jessica Mackin, Hampton Daze Magazine
Lanka Dupont, Hiipuss V and Annemarie Davin, FameHampton.com
There were many dresses and many designs that were showcased that evening. Here are the models and the dresses they presented.
At the end of the show, Hillary Flowers came out to take a bow with her shining smile on a successful evening. I've also included a video clip of all of the models as they paraded their beautiful dresses.
Thanks to everyone who came out and showed their support.
Hillary Flowers, in the middle in the silver shining dress, with some of her models.
Selina Carrera and Stefi Nova take time out to strike a pose
Selina Carrera, Pras Michel and Stefi Nova of Axixs
The fashion show was sponsored by Hampton Daze Magazine and many people came out for this fun evening. There were even goodie bags on the tables which included scarves courtesy of Hillary Flowers and a special gift courtesy of Hiipuss V.
Hillary Flowers and Annemarie Davin, Publisher, FameHampton.com
Melanie Anne, Joe Cipro and Jessica Mackin, Hampton Daze Magazine
Lanka Dupont, Hiipuss V and Annemarie Davin, FameHampton.com
There were many dresses and many designs that were showcased that evening. Here are the models and the dresses they presented.
At the end of the show, Hillary Flowers came out to take a bow with her shining smile on a successful evening. I've also included a video clip of all of the models as they paraded their beautiful dresses.
Thanks to everyone who came out and showed their support.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tru Renewal Launch Party...
This past Tuesday, October 20th, I had the pleasure to attend the launch party for Ramona Singer's Tru Renewal Skin Care line. It was held at the Equinox Spa on 2nd Avenue in New York City. I entered the Equinox Gym and was greeted by the friendly staff at the front desk. There was music playing and so much going on that I thought that was the launch party but it was actually their own party celebrating their one year anniversary at that location. I ventured down three levels to the spa where the Tru Renewal launch party was being held. There was a display table with the Tru Renewal products on it that you could sample. The bubbly girl who asked if I wanted to try it was Ramona's assistant, Melissa Klein, who was doing a great job of getting people to let her put some of the cream on their hands to sample.
Melissa Klein and the Tru Renewal Products for sample
I entered into the room where the other guests were and saw the Bravo TV camera crew already rolling. I didn't want to interrupt so I held back a bit until I could go up to say hi to Ramona and congratulate her.
Ramona and friend, Melissa, conversing while cameras were rolling
There were plenty of appetizers for everyone and for drinks they had ice cold water with lemon and what kind of wine do you think they served? Well, Pinot Grigio of course! That's Ramona's favorite wine and I must say she has good taste because that's my favorite wine too! Massages and Tru Renewal facials were available and a percentage of all the spa treatments that evening were going to benefit the foundation "You Can Thrive!" which supports breast cancer survivors. It's great that Ramona could share with others on her big day.
Luana DeAngelis-Halpern, Founder of "You Can Thrive!", Annemarie Davin, FameHampton.com
Tru Renewal Anti Aging Skincare is a line developed by Ramona that has been 15 years in the making and I must tell you that it has been worth the wait! The Ultra Repair Cream with Algae Enzymes is to be used morning and evening. I can only imagine the results of long term use because just trying a sample sent my skin back to its youth. I have never tried anything that worked that fast! This cream repairs and protects your skin. The Oxygenated Algae Boost has many layers to it that when shaken all together, gently exfoliate the skin and regenerate the cells while at the same time smooth out expression lines. Stimulating collagen synthesis, toning and firming are other tasks this formula performs and there are no preservatives or chemicals.
One thing I'm finding more and more with myself and other older women is the puffiness, fine lines and dark circles around and under the eyes. Well I'm happy to tell you that the Ultimate Eye Repair with Retinal will help with these problems as well as firming the skin in the area. The liquid oxygen and micronized pearl for healing are two things that made me really want to try this product. The one complaint I have on my face is my eyes. I'm not 20 anymore but I don't have to look like I'm in my 40's either. I'm so glad Ramona made this one because I was really starting to think of alternatives that I didn't want to try. The great thing about this is that you pat just a little around the eye area. The Gentle Gel Cleanser with Algae Extract is a mild, foaming cleanser for all skin types and I'm even talking about those of you with irritable or sensitive skin. Some people use it once a day and some use it twice a day. It's all up to the individual.
Testers were available and this really is a great product. I get complimented all the time!
I really think Ramona hit on every spot and every age with her product and I'm so glad she came out with these products. Throughout the evening you could try the products there and even purchase whichever ones you liked. I think if you're going to buy one, you should just buy the whole line since they all work together. That's how most ladies purchased the product.
And speaking of ladies, all the other New York City housewives were there to support their friend and castmate. Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and Kelly Killoren Bensimon walked in and were not hard to miss since they are both so tall. Jill Zarin floated in with a big smile as she always has on her face and Alex and Simon McCord were on hand as well and I really liked Alex's top that she was wearing. The Bravo TV film crew were there taping for the show and it all ran so smoothly. You would expect some chaos but everything was under control and I was happy to see that.
Kelly and Jill discussing the Tru Renewal products while cameras capture it all
There was one part where all the girls were talking and then someone had brought over a gift wrapped bottle of wine and presented it to Ramona. It was from Bethenny Frankel and Ramona called her to thank her. That's when Bethenny told her she was pregnant and of course that is why she could not attend but everyone was so happy for her.
Countess LuAnn and Alex having a discussion...hmmm...guess you'll have to watch the new season to hear what it was about!
Mario and Ramona Singer, a fun and energetic power couple!
Laurie Lombardi, Dr. Sharon Giese, Annemarie Davin
Ramona Singer, Annemarie Davin
Melissa Klein and the Tru Renewal Products for sampleI entered into the room where the other guests were and saw the Bravo TV camera crew already rolling. I didn't want to interrupt so I held back a bit until I could go up to say hi to Ramona and congratulate her.
Ramona and friend, Melissa, conversing while cameras were rollingThere were plenty of appetizers for everyone and for drinks they had ice cold water with lemon and what kind of wine do you think they served? Well, Pinot Grigio of course! That's Ramona's favorite wine and I must say she has good taste because that's my favorite wine too! Massages and Tru Renewal facials were available and a percentage of all the spa treatments that evening were going to benefit the foundation "You Can Thrive!" which supports breast cancer survivors. It's great that Ramona could share with others on her big day.
Luana DeAngelis-Halpern, Founder of "You Can Thrive!", Annemarie Davin, FameHampton.comTru Renewal Anti Aging Skincare is a line developed by Ramona that has been 15 years in the making and I must tell you that it has been worth the wait! The Ultra Repair Cream with Algae Enzymes is to be used morning and evening. I can only imagine the results of long term use because just trying a sample sent my skin back to its youth. I have never tried anything that worked that fast! This cream repairs and protects your skin. The Oxygenated Algae Boost has many layers to it that when shaken all together, gently exfoliate the skin and regenerate the cells while at the same time smooth out expression lines. Stimulating collagen synthesis, toning and firming are other tasks this formula performs and there are no preservatives or chemicals.
One thing I'm finding more and more with myself and other older women is the puffiness, fine lines and dark circles around and under the eyes. Well I'm happy to tell you that the Ultimate Eye Repair with Retinal will help with these problems as well as firming the skin in the area. The liquid oxygen and micronized pearl for healing are two things that made me really want to try this product. The one complaint I have on my face is my eyes. I'm not 20 anymore but I don't have to look like I'm in my 40's either. I'm so glad Ramona made this one because I was really starting to think of alternatives that I didn't want to try. The great thing about this is that you pat just a little around the eye area. The Gentle Gel Cleanser with Algae Extract is a mild, foaming cleanser for all skin types and I'm even talking about those of you with irritable or sensitive skin. Some people use it once a day and some use it twice a day. It's all up to the individual.
Testers were available and this really is a great product. I get complimented all the time!I really think Ramona hit on every spot and every age with her product and I'm so glad she came out with these products. Throughout the evening you could try the products there and even purchase whichever ones you liked. I think if you're going to buy one, you should just buy the whole line since they all work together. That's how most ladies purchased the product.
And speaking of ladies, all the other New York City housewives were there to support their friend and castmate. Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and Kelly Killoren Bensimon walked in and were not hard to miss since they are both so tall. Jill Zarin floated in with a big smile as she always has on her face and Alex and Simon McCord were on hand as well and I really liked Alex's top that she was wearing. The Bravo TV film crew were there taping for the show and it all ran so smoothly. You would expect some chaos but everything was under control and I was happy to see that.
Kelly and Jill discussing the Tru Renewal products while cameras capture it all
There was one part where all the girls were talking and then someone had brought over a gift wrapped bottle of wine and presented it to Ramona. It was from Bethenny Frankel and Ramona called her to thank her. That's when Bethenny told her she was pregnant and of course that is why she could not attend but everyone was so happy for her.
Countess LuAnn and Alex having a discussion...hmmm...guess you'll have to watch the new season to hear what it was about!Lots of people showed up for this great event and had a great time! If you want to purchase the line, you can log onto http://www.ramonasinger.com/ and click on the tru renewal link.
Mario and Ramona Singer, a fun and energetic power couple!
Laurie Lombardi, Dr. Sharon Giese, Annemarie Davin
Ramona Singer, Annemarie Davin
"Speed Grieving" Movie with Alysia Reiner...
Every day we hear of someone in the news who has passed away. It could be someone who’s a celebrity or just an average citizen that had a tragic death. We comment how sad it is and move on. We do this because we don’t really know these people and it’s just not close enough to us. But when someone very close to us dies like a family member or good friend, we have a different reaction. Each person is affected in their own way. We wonder who to go to talk about how we’re feeling and what we’re going through because grief and dying have always been subjects that aren’t widely discussed in our culture. It’s avoided when it can be and then we’re left feeling alone and hopeless.
Alysia Reiner, the actress and producer of the movie short “Speed Grieving”, lost her father when he was in his early fifties. To lose her father at such a young age was devastating but then to lose him so quickly within ten days of finding out he had cancer, sent an even stronger shockwave to her soul. Through what happened following his death led her to the idea of making this movie because the issue of death and grief should be talked about and dealt with.
Alysia Reiner in the movie "Speed Grieving"
I had the opportunity to talk with Alysia about the movie and was excited about this because like her, I feel this subject is not addressed enough in our culture as it is in others. She found out that her father had cancer and ten days later he died. She told me that the quickness of it all gave her no time to process what was happening. I really understood first hand what she was talking about. When I was sixteen, my mother had to take my father to the emergency room because he wasn’t feeling right and wasn’t sure if he was having a heart attack. The next day my mom said he was doing great and they wanted to keep him for observation. Later that evening, my mom called me at home to tell me that my father had gone into cardiac arrest and they were working on him. This was his second heart attack in ten years and the outcome wasn’t looking good as forty percent in total of his heart was damaged which is fatal. The helplessness I felt was overwhelming. I wanted to stop the clock and start bargaining with God to save him. I knew there was nothing I could do, so I gathered my sisters together and we started to pray for our father and for strength for all of us to get through this. Alysia and I spoke about our experiences with our fathers and what we felt at the time. You really don’t have time to prepare mentally or emotionally and you can’t process it fast enough. It’s not really happening yet it’s happening too fast. Things that seemed so important become petty. Who do you go to for advice and help?
Alysia Reiner and James Naughton in a scene from "Speed Grieving"
Alysia shared with me that her original idea for this film came to her in a dream with specific ideas of what to talk about. I don’t know about you but when she told me that, I was wondering if she realized that it was divine intervention at its finest that was happening. When something bad or dreadful happens to someone and they turn it around into a positive that will help other people, I believe this was in part the purpose of why they had to experience that situation. I believe that her experience had the purpose to make this film. You cannot understand what it’s like to lose your parent unless you have. The feelings and emotions you go through are unimaginable to someone who hasn’t lost either parent yet. I know that I could never imagine losing either of my parents until it happened. When you lose someone like that, it’s amazing who you can count on. “Sometimes people who you expect to be there aren’t and then strangers who you don’t expect to be there, are there”, Alysia told me and I emphatically agreed. When the chips are down it’s surprising who is there for you. Another thing that she touched on was that as a society, “America is youth based and afraid to talk about death.” She noted that the more we can talk about this subject, the less alone people will feel and how great it is to have a friend who will reach out to you. When funeral arrangements are being made and family and friends attend the services, you feel that support system. But the real challenge is after all of that is gone and you try to get on with your daily life while at the same time trying to deal with your loss. Who’s there then? That’s the time you really need someone and need the support and that’s when it matters who is there.
I am thrilled that this film was made because it’s not just a film that will be watched and then forgotten about. Alysia told me that they plan on using this film at hospitals, hospices and showing it to caretakers. They also plan to work with grief counselors and use this as kind of a discussion guide. This is phenomenal because when they started to go forward with making this film, Alysia couldn’t believe the outpouring of people who wanted to get on board and did come on board to help in making this film in honor of someone they love. So many things were donated from a person’s time to the chocolates that the crew enjoyed during their long hours of work.
James Naughton and Alysia Reiner in a dance scene from the movie
Our world is changing in regards to spirituality and death. There are many shows on television that deal with death as the next step and not as the end. More and more people are coming forward to talk about their experiences and are more open with their feelings. Both of my parents have passed and that was hard. But last December I had a very close friend who died that is the same age as me. That was a whole other situation as my mortality hit me right in the face. I could not imagine not being here right now. I was shocked but I wanted to be there for everything. The first night of the wake, there were so many people there and so many people I had not seen in a long time. My friends know how spiritual I am and that I talk about death and moving on like it’s nothing. There were people there who are the same way that I am and there were also people there who just don’t like to talk about it at all. Those were the people who were just outside the room and talking about what was going on with their lives or anything else but what was happening. Keeping what you’re feeling inside just brews and then one day you have a break down and you don’t know why. I was glad to see so many people inside the room talking about my friend Jeff and memories they had with him. Talking about it is a release and you’re sharing it with others who are going through the same thing as you are. If you have ever noticed that the people who talk about it move on in a better way or faster way than the others. Then when the others are ready to talk, it’s awkward because you have moved on from that stage.
People try to keep themselves busy so they don’t have to deal with the person who has just been taken from their lives. They try to speed through it which is why the title to this movie is so accurate, Speed Grieving. People need to confront their feelings as they’re happening. They need to really feel. That is what makes us human. I was sixteen when my father died and the first time I saw him lying there in the casket, I lost it. It was like the waterworks were turned on full force and they didn’t stop. My mom was so great because she just hugged me as we walked up to casket. She didn’t say a word because she knew I had to just get it out. My aunt on the other hand, ran over to us and wanted to take me to go sit down. It was like she was pulling me away from my dad. Then the words you don’t want to hear came out of her mouth,” It’s ok, come on let’s go sit down. Ok just calm down.” What? Are you serious? I just pulled away and said,”No! Leave me alone!” As much as I couldn’t take seeing him lying there, I had to. I had to because I needed it to sink in. I needed to feel the devastation and the reality that this was it, he wasn’t coming home and no matter that he looked like he was sleeping, he was not going to wake up.
The grieving also can come years later when you least expect it. I had shared with Alysia that about five years after my dad passed, I was watching the news and they were showing shoppers who were shopping for their dads for Father’s Day and out of nowhere I started crying. I guess it hit me all over again that I couldn’t go shopping for him and I wondered how many people took their dads for granted. Alysia knew where I was coming from with all the mixed emotions because with the loss of her father, she had all these feelings happening at once. It’s such a rollercoaster ride that she was on. One minute you could laugh about a memory you’re having and then the next minute you’re crying because you miss that person. We talked about how there are constant reminders around us all the time and there’s no rhyme or reason to things when it comes to death and losing someone who’s so dear to you. There’s no medical research that can say this is how we'll feel or this is how you will get through it. Though the death of her father was the saddest event that could happen, the happiest event took place when she gave birth to her daughter. Imagine dealing with the grief of losing your father and at the same time having such joyous feelings about your baby girl. One thing I really admire about Alysia is that this film is part of her grieving process. And to share this with the world is a gift that she is giving to everyone. When you go to see a movie, you always talk about it afterwards. The same applies here when you see this film. It will get people talking about their experiences and sharing with each other. “The main goal of this film is for people to feel free to feel all of their feelings” she told me because the process never ends.
Lucy DeVito and Alysia Reiner in a scene from "Speed Grieving"
She has done such a wonderful thing by making this film and sharing with everyone. When the day comes when you are confronted with a loss like this, I hope you will see this film. Even if you have not had to deal with a loss in your life yet, you should see this film. Everyone should see this film because it will help in so many ways. I hope that when people are attending the various film festivals that this movie will be shown at, that they will go see this. Death is not an end; it’s a transformation of our journey. Your human life on Earth will come to an end but your soul will go on to the next chapter. As a matter of fact, I’m finding that at the funerals I have attended in the past few years, people are actually smiling because instead of looking at death as a negative they are celebrating that person’s life. I think that is such a wonderful thing because their life should be celebrated through shared memories and speeches where people say good things about that person.
I remember asking my dad one time what kind of funeral he wanted and he told me. He didn’t tell my mother or anyone else so when we sat with the funeral director to make arrangements and the question was posed as to what kind of funeral to give him, my mom was at a loss for words. I looked around the room waiting for someone to say something and when no one did, I sort of started laughing and then all eyes went on me like I was crazy or something. I apologized and then said,”I’m so sorry I don’t mean to laugh but my dad is funny”. They all still stared at me. “I know what he wanted but I don’t feel right doing this”, I said. Then I went on to tell them that he told me that when he died, he wanted us to cry on the way to the funeral and get it all out. Then after he wanted us to celebrate and have a big party for him. He wanted us to have the party to celebrate the fact that he was going to a better place that was far better than any place on Earth. He said that he would be the one crying for us because we were stuck here and he got to check out. The room was quiet and there I was still kind of laughing at my dad’s views on life. Then it hit me that he was right and then I started to cry. Yes, that rollercoaster of feelings was happening again. So you see, it is so important for us to talk about this subject more because it is a release and a sense of healing for our own soul.
Talk more, share more and don’t look at death like it’s something that’s taboo. Youth is a state of mind and the fact is that we don’t remain young forever so enjoy your journey here for as long as you can. Take it all in. Feel the feelings that you’re supposed to feel because after all, you are human and one of the joys of being human is to feel both the good and the bad. Be free with who you are and don’t listen to what people say when they tell you to calm down. Cry your eyes out and feel the hurt because you can’t avoid it so you might as well deal with it. And always remember that there is no speedy process when it comes to grieving. Thank you Alysia for making this film and for sharing it with everyone.
http://www.speedgrieving.org/
Alysia Reiner, the actress and producer of the movie short “Speed Grieving”, lost her father when he was in his early fifties. To lose her father at such a young age was devastating but then to lose him so quickly within ten days of finding out he had cancer, sent an even stronger shockwave to her soul. Through what happened following his death led her to the idea of making this movie because the issue of death and grief should be talked about and dealt with.
Alysia Reiner in the movie "Speed Grieving"I had the opportunity to talk with Alysia about the movie and was excited about this because like her, I feel this subject is not addressed enough in our culture as it is in others. She found out that her father had cancer and ten days later he died. She told me that the quickness of it all gave her no time to process what was happening. I really understood first hand what she was talking about. When I was sixteen, my mother had to take my father to the emergency room because he wasn’t feeling right and wasn’t sure if he was having a heart attack. The next day my mom said he was doing great and they wanted to keep him for observation. Later that evening, my mom called me at home to tell me that my father had gone into cardiac arrest and they were working on him. This was his second heart attack in ten years and the outcome wasn’t looking good as forty percent in total of his heart was damaged which is fatal. The helplessness I felt was overwhelming. I wanted to stop the clock and start bargaining with God to save him. I knew there was nothing I could do, so I gathered my sisters together and we started to pray for our father and for strength for all of us to get through this. Alysia and I spoke about our experiences with our fathers and what we felt at the time. You really don’t have time to prepare mentally or emotionally and you can’t process it fast enough. It’s not really happening yet it’s happening too fast. Things that seemed so important become petty. Who do you go to for advice and help?
Alysia Reiner and James Naughton in a scene from "Speed Grieving"
Alysia shared with me that her original idea for this film came to her in a dream with specific ideas of what to talk about. I don’t know about you but when she told me that, I was wondering if she realized that it was divine intervention at its finest that was happening. When something bad or dreadful happens to someone and they turn it around into a positive that will help other people, I believe this was in part the purpose of why they had to experience that situation. I believe that her experience had the purpose to make this film. You cannot understand what it’s like to lose your parent unless you have. The feelings and emotions you go through are unimaginable to someone who hasn’t lost either parent yet. I know that I could never imagine losing either of my parents until it happened. When you lose someone like that, it’s amazing who you can count on. “Sometimes people who you expect to be there aren’t and then strangers who you don’t expect to be there, are there”, Alysia told me and I emphatically agreed. When the chips are down it’s surprising who is there for you. Another thing that she touched on was that as a society, “America is youth based and afraid to talk about death.” She noted that the more we can talk about this subject, the less alone people will feel and how great it is to have a friend who will reach out to you. When funeral arrangements are being made and family and friends attend the services, you feel that support system. But the real challenge is after all of that is gone and you try to get on with your daily life while at the same time trying to deal with your loss. Who’s there then? That’s the time you really need someone and need the support and that’s when it matters who is there.
I am thrilled that this film was made because it’s not just a film that will be watched and then forgotten about. Alysia told me that they plan on using this film at hospitals, hospices and showing it to caretakers. They also plan to work with grief counselors and use this as kind of a discussion guide. This is phenomenal because when they started to go forward with making this film, Alysia couldn’t believe the outpouring of people who wanted to get on board and did come on board to help in making this film in honor of someone they love. So many things were donated from a person’s time to the chocolates that the crew enjoyed during their long hours of work.
James Naughton and Alysia Reiner in a dance scene from the movie
Our world is changing in regards to spirituality and death. There are many shows on television that deal with death as the next step and not as the end. More and more people are coming forward to talk about their experiences and are more open with their feelings. Both of my parents have passed and that was hard. But last December I had a very close friend who died that is the same age as me. That was a whole other situation as my mortality hit me right in the face. I could not imagine not being here right now. I was shocked but I wanted to be there for everything. The first night of the wake, there were so many people there and so many people I had not seen in a long time. My friends know how spiritual I am and that I talk about death and moving on like it’s nothing. There were people there who are the same way that I am and there were also people there who just don’t like to talk about it at all. Those were the people who were just outside the room and talking about what was going on with their lives or anything else but what was happening. Keeping what you’re feeling inside just brews and then one day you have a break down and you don’t know why. I was glad to see so many people inside the room talking about my friend Jeff and memories they had with him. Talking about it is a release and you’re sharing it with others who are going through the same thing as you are. If you have ever noticed that the people who talk about it move on in a better way or faster way than the others. Then when the others are ready to talk, it’s awkward because you have moved on from that stage.
People try to keep themselves busy so they don’t have to deal with the person who has just been taken from their lives. They try to speed through it which is why the title to this movie is so accurate, Speed Grieving. People need to confront their feelings as they’re happening. They need to really feel. That is what makes us human. I was sixteen when my father died and the first time I saw him lying there in the casket, I lost it. It was like the waterworks were turned on full force and they didn’t stop. My mom was so great because she just hugged me as we walked up to casket. She didn’t say a word because she knew I had to just get it out. My aunt on the other hand, ran over to us and wanted to take me to go sit down. It was like she was pulling me away from my dad. Then the words you don’t want to hear came out of her mouth,” It’s ok, come on let’s go sit down. Ok just calm down.” What? Are you serious? I just pulled away and said,”No! Leave me alone!” As much as I couldn’t take seeing him lying there, I had to. I had to because I needed it to sink in. I needed to feel the devastation and the reality that this was it, he wasn’t coming home and no matter that he looked like he was sleeping, he was not going to wake up.
The grieving also can come years later when you least expect it. I had shared with Alysia that about five years after my dad passed, I was watching the news and they were showing shoppers who were shopping for their dads for Father’s Day and out of nowhere I started crying. I guess it hit me all over again that I couldn’t go shopping for him and I wondered how many people took their dads for granted. Alysia knew where I was coming from with all the mixed emotions because with the loss of her father, she had all these feelings happening at once. It’s such a rollercoaster ride that she was on. One minute you could laugh about a memory you’re having and then the next minute you’re crying because you miss that person. We talked about how there are constant reminders around us all the time and there’s no rhyme or reason to things when it comes to death and losing someone who’s so dear to you. There’s no medical research that can say this is how we'll feel or this is how you will get through it. Though the death of her father was the saddest event that could happen, the happiest event took place when she gave birth to her daughter. Imagine dealing with the grief of losing your father and at the same time having such joyous feelings about your baby girl. One thing I really admire about Alysia is that this film is part of her grieving process. And to share this with the world is a gift that she is giving to everyone. When you go to see a movie, you always talk about it afterwards. The same applies here when you see this film. It will get people talking about their experiences and sharing with each other. “The main goal of this film is for people to feel free to feel all of their feelings” she told me because the process never ends.
Lucy DeVito and Alysia Reiner in a scene from "Speed Grieving"She has done such a wonderful thing by making this film and sharing with everyone. When the day comes when you are confronted with a loss like this, I hope you will see this film. Even if you have not had to deal with a loss in your life yet, you should see this film. Everyone should see this film because it will help in so many ways. I hope that when people are attending the various film festivals that this movie will be shown at, that they will go see this. Death is not an end; it’s a transformation of our journey. Your human life on Earth will come to an end but your soul will go on to the next chapter. As a matter of fact, I’m finding that at the funerals I have attended in the past few years, people are actually smiling because instead of looking at death as a negative they are celebrating that person’s life. I think that is such a wonderful thing because their life should be celebrated through shared memories and speeches where people say good things about that person.
I remember asking my dad one time what kind of funeral he wanted and he told me. He didn’t tell my mother or anyone else so when we sat with the funeral director to make arrangements and the question was posed as to what kind of funeral to give him, my mom was at a loss for words. I looked around the room waiting for someone to say something and when no one did, I sort of started laughing and then all eyes went on me like I was crazy or something. I apologized and then said,”I’m so sorry I don’t mean to laugh but my dad is funny”. They all still stared at me. “I know what he wanted but I don’t feel right doing this”, I said. Then I went on to tell them that he told me that when he died, he wanted us to cry on the way to the funeral and get it all out. Then after he wanted us to celebrate and have a big party for him. He wanted us to have the party to celebrate the fact that he was going to a better place that was far better than any place on Earth. He said that he would be the one crying for us because we were stuck here and he got to check out. The room was quiet and there I was still kind of laughing at my dad’s views on life. Then it hit me that he was right and then I started to cry. Yes, that rollercoaster of feelings was happening again. So you see, it is so important for us to talk about this subject more because it is a release and a sense of healing for our own soul.
Talk more, share more and don’t look at death like it’s something that’s taboo. Youth is a state of mind and the fact is that we don’t remain young forever so enjoy your journey here for as long as you can. Take it all in. Feel the feelings that you’re supposed to feel because after all, you are human and one of the joys of being human is to feel both the good and the bad. Be free with who you are and don’t listen to what people say when they tell you to calm down. Cry your eyes out and feel the hurt because you can’t avoid it so you might as well deal with it. And always remember that there is no speedy process when it comes to grieving. Thank you Alysia for making this film and for sharing it with everyone.
http://www.speedgrieving.org/
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
"Desert Rose" Movie: True Story of Waris Dirie...
True stories usually make great movies and “Desert Flower” is no exception. This film was adopted from the book “Desert Flower” by Waris Dirie. The book as well as the movie is the true story of her life. Waris became a top supermodel despite coming from a line of Somalian nomads. Her roots had followed a ritual of female circumcision and arranged marriages. When she was thirteen she left her family and everything she had known to get away from marrying a much older man. She wound up in London, England where she worked and lived with her wealthy relatives. After a falling out with them, she tried to go it alone. She tried to make ends meet and even worked at a McDonald’s. She met and became friends with a woman, Marilyn, and through this friendship she realized that women in America do not go through the trauma that she did in her youth. She comes to realizations through being forced to relive her past as she is trying to move forward with a new life.
Fortunately she was discovered by photographer Terence Donovan and he helped her land the cover of the 1987 Pirelli calendar. This was the pivoting point that launched her modeling career and top designers such as Revlon, Chanel and L’ Oreal chose her for their ads. She has graced the runways in New York City, Milan, Paris and London and was in the most elite fashion magazines including Vogue, Elle and Glamour. She even had a minor role in the James Bond movie “The Living Daylights”.
Here is one of Waris Dirie's ads that she modeled for.
In 1997, Marie Claire magazine interviewed Waris where she revealed that she had undergone female genital mutilation, also known as FGM. This sparked worldwide media coverage and this was also the year that Waris became a UN Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutation. The following year she wrote her book which became an international best seller. She was at the height of her modeling career at this time and she made the conscious decision to leave her career and concentrate on her efforts to end female circumcision. She also has a foundation that raises money for clinics and schools in Somalia called Desert Dawn Foundation.
The beautiful, brave and inspirational, Waris Dirie
Waris is a woman of inspiration for everyone. Her story is one of courage and willpower. In order to have her book come to life on the big screen, the search to find someone who could portray this fascinating woman was sought out in many different continents, including the United States. After literally spanning the globe, they found her in the talented Liya Kebede. Liya was born and raised in Ethiopia and shares some similarities with Waris. She is a supermodel that has appeared on numerous covers of fashion magazines including Vogue and has been in ad campaigns for companies like Revlon just like Waris. She was also appointed as the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. It’s interesting that she portrayed a woman who she has so much in common with.
One of Liya Kebede's many covers that she was on. This is Vogue Italia.
I thought that both women might have met before filming took place but I found out when I interviewed Liya that they actually met on the last day of the shoot. I also assumed that Liya was called to audition for this part but she informed me that she had heard about the role and decided to audition for it especially because she had read the book. I was impressed by that because this was a role she wanted not just something her manager called her with to audition for. I think that when an actor goes after a role that they are passionate about performing, the movie goers get to truly see that character come to life. This was definitely the case with Liya because her portrayal of Waris is outstanding! They had auditioned actors on every continent looking for the right fit and Liya was the right one for this role.
Liya Kebede as Waris Dirie in "Desert Rose".
I asked Liya how playing the role affected her as far as how she felt about the life of this brave woman. She said that it made her appreciate Waris more and what she went through. “It’s an incredible journey for women and very empowering for them” she told me. “Waris doesn’t become a victim of her circumstances” she went on to say and she also said that the movie raises awareness on an issue of something that has been going on for so long in the country of Somalia.
Another still from the movie of Liya Kebede as Waris Dirie
I asked about the FGM and why do they do it. She explained that marriage is the only way out for these women so when they become of age, this ritual takes place because the husband knows that the wife is clean and untouched. In some places in that country it is changing but it does still take place. Eventually it will stop as the women find other means of getting out besides marriage such as education. I was intrigued as Liya was telling me all of this because living in the country that we do, it’s hard to imagine that these barbaric acts take place. As I sat across from Liya, I really listened to what she was saying and it was sinking into my head that I am sitting with a woman who is giving back to the world in her way and who actually knows the fearless woman that this movie is about and what she went through. I started to think how far apart our countries are geographically but in reality how close we all are in being able to help people who go through such horrific circumstances. I can’t imagine what Waris went through and even though Liya is acting the part in the movie, I have to imagine that actually going through the same actions and motions that Waris did, has to have some impact on her psyche and emotions. That’s why I applaud both of these women; Liya for having the desire to portray this woman and being able to handle the role and Waris for her bravery to lead by example and show women that they don’t have to accept what’s expected of them, they can take a stand and become their own person.
I asked Liya what Waris thought of the movie and if she knew how she felt about it and was it hard to see it out there on the big screen. “Yes it was overwhelming for her to see it because it brought back memories of everything that she went through” Liya explained. I asked her what did Waris think of Liya being the one to play her in the movie and she smiled and said,” Waris told me I was so happy it was you.” Well I have to agree because even as you watch the trailer, you will want to see this movie. Liya’s performance has you believing that you are watching Waris first hand. This is a movie that is a must see for everyone but especially for women. When you find yourself saying that you can’t do something, or it’s too hard, or you can’t figure it out, just think of what this woman went through and you’ll realize that you can overcome anything at any age.
Fortunately she was discovered by photographer Terence Donovan and he helped her land the cover of the 1987 Pirelli calendar. This was the pivoting point that launched her modeling career and top designers such as Revlon, Chanel and L’ Oreal chose her for their ads. She has graced the runways in New York City, Milan, Paris and London and was in the most elite fashion magazines including Vogue, Elle and Glamour. She even had a minor role in the James Bond movie “The Living Daylights”.
Here is one of Waris Dirie's ads that she modeled for.In 1997, Marie Claire magazine interviewed Waris where she revealed that she had undergone female genital mutilation, also known as FGM. This sparked worldwide media coverage and this was also the year that Waris became a UN Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutation. The following year she wrote her book which became an international best seller. She was at the height of her modeling career at this time and she made the conscious decision to leave her career and concentrate on her efforts to end female circumcision. She also has a foundation that raises money for clinics and schools in Somalia called Desert Dawn Foundation.
The beautiful, brave and inspirational, Waris DirieWaris is a woman of inspiration for everyone. Her story is one of courage and willpower. In order to have her book come to life on the big screen, the search to find someone who could portray this fascinating woman was sought out in many different continents, including the United States. After literally spanning the globe, they found her in the talented Liya Kebede. Liya was born and raised in Ethiopia and shares some similarities with Waris. She is a supermodel that has appeared on numerous covers of fashion magazines including Vogue and has been in ad campaigns for companies like Revlon just like Waris. She was also appointed as the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. It’s interesting that she portrayed a woman who she has so much in common with.
One of Liya Kebede's many covers that she was on. This is Vogue Italia.I thought that both women might have met before filming took place but I found out when I interviewed Liya that they actually met on the last day of the shoot. I also assumed that Liya was called to audition for this part but she informed me that she had heard about the role and decided to audition for it especially because she had read the book. I was impressed by that because this was a role she wanted not just something her manager called her with to audition for. I think that when an actor goes after a role that they are passionate about performing, the movie goers get to truly see that character come to life. This was definitely the case with Liya because her portrayal of Waris is outstanding! They had auditioned actors on every continent looking for the right fit and Liya was the right one for this role.
Liya Kebede as Waris Dirie in "Desert Rose".I asked Liya how playing the role affected her as far as how she felt about the life of this brave woman. She said that it made her appreciate Waris more and what she went through. “It’s an incredible journey for women and very empowering for them” she told me. “Waris doesn’t become a victim of her circumstances” she went on to say and she also said that the movie raises awareness on an issue of something that has been going on for so long in the country of Somalia.
Another still from the movie of Liya Kebede as Waris DirieI asked about the FGM and why do they do it. She explained that marriage is the only way out for these women so when they become of age, this ritual takes place because the husband knows that the wife is clean and untouched. In some places in that country it is changing but it does still take place. Eventually it will stop as the women find other means of getting out besides marriage such as education. I was intrigued as Liya was telling me all of this because living in the country that we do, it’s hard to imagine that these barbaric acts take place. As I sat across from Liya, I really listened to what she was saying and it was sinking into my head that I am sitting with a woman who is giving back to the world in her way and who actually knows the fearless woman that this movie is about and what she went through. I started to think how far apart our countries are geographically but in reality how close we all are in being able to help people who go through such horrific circumstances. I can’t imagine what Waris went through and even though Liya is acting the part in the movie, I have to imagine that actually going through the same actions and motions that Waris did, has to have some impact on her psyche and emotions. That’s why I applaud both of these women; Liya for having the desire to portray this woman and being able to handle the role and Waris for her bravery to lead by example and show women that they don’t have to accept what’s expected of them, they can take a stand and become their own person.
I asked Liya what Waris thought of the movie and if she knew how she felt about it and was it hard to see it out there on the big screen. “Yes it was overwhelming for her to see it because it brought back memories of everything that she went through” Liya explained. I asked her what did Waris think of Liya being the one to play her in the movie and she smiled and said,” Waris told me I was so happy it was you.” Well I have to agree because even as you watch the trailer, you will want to see this movie. Liya’s performance has you believing that you are watching Waris first hand. This is a movie that is a must see for everyone but especially for women. When you find yourself saying that you can’t do something, or it’s too hard, or you can’t figure it out, just think of what this woman went through and you’ll realize that you can overcome anything at any age.
Below you can click on the first link to view the English version of the trailer. The next link you click on is an actual interview with the real Waris Dirie. Watch how Waris Dirie went from walking the sands in the Somalian desert to the catwalks of the fashion world. It will encourage you to go after whatever your dream is or empower you to walk away from your bad situation and change your life forever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W3imc7BSzo. (this is the link for the trailer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojRYxEseWa0&NR=1 (interview with the real Waris Dirie)
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