Tornado Being born!

Kung Fu McDonalds

I think its so funny all the Chinese Stereotypes portrayed in this one commercial. (Kung Fu, School Girl, Chopsticks, Zen Master) However, its still amazing. Watch.

My Devotional From Today

John Courson August 18

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Eph 5:18-20 NKJ

When I feel things aren't going well, I'm tempted to lose heart. And when this happens, I know there's only one thing to do: speak to myself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

No wonder David was discouraged. He and his men returned form fighting the Amalekites only to discover that their town had been burned by their enemies, their wives and kids taken hostage.

"This is your fault David," said his men. "you took us away from here." and so angry were they that they wanted to kill him.

So what did David do? He encouraged himself in the Lord (I Samuel 30:6) He sang songs. He wrote psalms. he began to praise and worship. As a result, he rallied his men once again and they recovered all that was lost.

Had David remained in his depressed state, not only would he have been rendered ineffective, but the women and children would have remained captive. And so will you until you begin to worship. God's will is that you be free, and nothing will free you from the tyranny of your own situation like worship. You will be profoundly blessed and amazingly productive whenever you give thanks to God for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.


(AMEN!!!!!! I say. I love you babe.)

A Musical Reflection on Our Relationship

Hey Baby,

You have done so much for me this summer. Not only showing me continually how committed you are to me and how much you love me, but you also wrote me a lovely poem and made a video when you were missing me in Canada. Now I make this for you to love you in Action and in Truth. This is a "mixed CD" in a way. Some of these you have heard, some you have not, but each song was picked for a very specific reason. This Cd is a musical representation of our relationship. IT is meant to be listened to straight through (listening to the WORDS and tune) as I chose the songs based on the words and I put them together based on what flowed musically and what fit each part of the story. It's like our own Rock Musical! Like Moulin Rouge except for Caroline and Alex! Haha.

Instead of emailing you the songs, I would like to make a date (Saturday night?) to listen to this CD and talk about and reflect on our relationship which would give me an opportunity why I picked each song, and why I placed it where I did. I think you'll be surprised and impressed about how much minutia there is in the songs and order that applies to our relationship. Will you take this journey through the past with me?

Can't wait to see you soon baby!

With Love,

Care

The Beginning

At the Beginning- Anastasia
Blue Eyes- Cary Brothers

New Infatuation
When No Time Together Was Ever Enough

I’ve Just Seen a Face- (Beatles) Sung by Jim Sturgess
Arms of a Woman –Amos Lee
Paperweight- Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk
Time in a Bottle – Jim Croce

Growing Closer
Friendship, “I Love You’s” and Early Talk of Marriage

You’re My Best Friend- Queen
I have to say I love you in a Song – Jim Croce
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
Wouldn’t it be Nice? – Beach Boys

Conflict
Our Selfishness, Games and Immaturity

I Am the Highway – Audioslave
Busy Life- Michael McNevin
This is How it Goes- Missy Higgins
Foolish Games- Jewel
The Unintentional Song- Michael McNevin
Nature Boy- (David Bowie)Moulin Rouge


Resolution
Finding that God is Our Source of Fulfillment, and Deciding to Love and be Loved.

Everything- Tim Hughes
Nothing Better- The Postal Service
I Won’t Walk Away- Jewel
Caroline- Seventh Day Slumber
The Voice of Truth- Casting Crowns
All I Ask of You- The Phantom of the Opera

Let’s Be Together Forever
Commitment to Love Each Other and God


The Story- Brandi Carlile
Te Amaré – Alejandro Bassi
You Have Ravished My Heart- Brian and Jenn Johnson
A Little Longer – Brian and Jenn Johnson


Our Future
Growing Old Together and Following God the Rest of Our Lives

Silver Hair- Michael McNevin
Morning Song- Jewel
Where You Go I’ll Go- Brian and Jenn Johnson
Come What May- Moulin Rouge

John Stewart on the Olympics

I think you'll find this pretty funny babe.

The racial jokes are quite funny...and offensive

Happy Bday Alex!!!!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Campaign Video

Watch for a Cameo of someone you know.
*Indian Accent* O I think you know him very well!
No it's not Russel Peters!

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

No Explanation Necessary

http://www.atomicpopcorn.net/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-trailer/

Harry is Too Cool for School

Potter Puppet Pals the Vortex

Te Amaré

So i didn't tell you but earlier today when i was thinking of weddings i thought of htis song and thought, hey, what if Alejandro Bassi was our musician? Just a thought. Lol. Don't answer that. Here is the most beautiful song ever. I'll try to crudely translate for you on the side (but it sounds mmuuuuch better in spanish)

Te Amaré:

Con la paz de las montañas, te amaré/ With the peace of the Mountains i will love you
Con locura y equilibrio, te amaré / With insanity and grounding I will love you
Con la rabia de mis años / With the fierceness of my years
Como me enseñaste a hacer / Like you taught me to do
Con un grito en carne viva, te amaré / With a loud raw yell i will love you

En silencio y en secreto, te amaré / In silence and in secret, I will love you
Arriesgando en lo prohibido, te amare/ Daring what is forbidden, I will love you
En lo falso y en lo cierto / In the lies and the truth
Con el corazón abierto / With an open heart
Por ser algo no perfecto, te amaré /By being something imperfect, I will love you

Te amaré, te amaré / I will love you, I will love you
Como no está permitido /Like it is not allowed
Te amaré, te amaré / I will love you I will love you
Como nunca se ha sabido / Like no one has ever known
Por que así lo he decidido... te amaré /Because I have decided to do so, I will love you

Por ponerte algún ejemplo, te diré /To give you an example, I will say
Que aunque tengas manos frías, te amaré/ That although you have cold hands, I will love you
Con tu mala ortografía y tu no saber perder/ With your bad spelling, and though you don't know how to lose
Con defectos y manías... te amaré / With defects and odd habits i will love you

Te amaré, te amaré / I will love you i will love you
Por que fuiste algo importante /Because you were something important
Te amaré, te amaré / I will love you I will love you
Cuando ya no estés presente /When you are no longer present
Seguirás siendo costumbre /You will continue as always
Y te amaré / And I will love you

Al caer de cada noche esperaré / When every night falls I will hope
A que seas luna llena y te amaré / That you will be the full moon and I will love you
Y aunque queden pocos restos / And although little remains are left
En señal de lo que fue / In a sign of what used to be
Seguirás cerca y muy dentro / You will continue near and inside
Te amaré / I will love you

Te amaré, te amaré / I will love you, I will love you
A golpe de recuerdo / A hit of the past
Te amaré, te amaré / I will love you I will love you
Hasta el último momento /Until the last moment
A pesar de todo siempre... /Despite everything always
Te amaré. /I will love you


I dedicate that to you baby! i translated it all by myself! Aren't you proud. i'm sure its not perfect, but you get the idea. Love you!

-Care

Obama, McCain, sharing a stage with Rick Warren!

(CNN) -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain in August will be on the same stage for the first time in the 2008 presidential campaign.

The Rev. Rick Warren says he makes no endorsements because he shepherds "both sides of the flock."

The Rev. Rick Warren has invited them to appear at a leadership and compassion forum in his Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, on August 16. Warren, the author of the best-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life" spoke with CNN's Wolf Blitzer by phone Tuesday from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

BLITZER: Pastor Warren, how did you do it? How did you convince both of them to show up?

PASTOR RICK WARREN, SADDLEBACK CHURCH: Well, Wolf, they've both been friends for a long time. I knew both John and Barack before either of them decided to run for office, had talked with them. Both of them have helped me in the past with our peace plan and with -- they've sent messages to Saddleback at some of our conferences.

And so I just thought let's -- you know, I might be the guy to get them together. So, I called them up and said, let's do it. And they said, well, we'll do it if you be the only questioner, if you don't have a forum, don't have a panel. And if you'll ask all the questions, then we'll do it.

BLITZER: But they're not going to be together. They're going to be separate. These are going to be Pastor Warren and Barack Obama, followed by Pastor Warren and John McCain. But there's not going to be any interchange between the two of them, is that right?

WARREN: Yes. I'm going to -- my plan is to bring them out on stage together at the beginning or at the end. But what I want to do is I want to let each of them talk without interrupting each other. And it's not a debate format.

Don't Miss

• Obama: Stability ultimately in hands of Iraqis
• Vice president buzz swirls around McCain

There will be plenty of time for debates. What I want to do is get people to know the real person like I know them without a time barrier and a buzzer and a time for rebuttal. Let them just speak what they need to say.

BLITZER: The last time we spoke was right after you invited Barack Obama when he was still running for the Democratic presidential nomination. You got some criticism from a few fellow evangelicals out there. You called him in the interview with me an amazing, an amazing man, Barack Obama. Could you see yourself supporting him for president?

WARREN: Well, I don't support anybody for president publicly. I never endorse. I never campaign.

You know, as a pastor, I don't really think that's my role. I have to shepherd both sides of the flock. And I have a church full of Democrats and a church full of Republicans and a church full of independents.

So, I think they're both amazing men. I've known them for a long time. They're both very, very different.

They have both different theories of government, different theories of leadership, different approaches to life. And I -- what I do is I think, because I know them, I think I can set up an environment that people can actually say, oh, so that's what that guy's really like. And I think I can do that for both John and for Barack.

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Butchart Gardens

Caroline's Pick as one of the 7 wonders of the World

Pictures from Victoria, BC

View of harbor out my hotel


on the Ferry


Different views of hotel



Different views of parliment (i really like these photos and I'll put more later)

First Poem

the lakes He carved
the hills He formed
the glaciers behind
hold secrets untold

at peace with Him
she's reconciled
curious, mesmerized
quiet waters, she's led to

she sits at rest
captivating, ravishing
a gentle heart
a supportive spirit

in His image
she was created
Beauty divine
for His image she bears

hills that roll
like fawns among lillies
bring rest to he
who rests on them

a heart that worships
he longs to wrestle
to love and to cherish
'til death do them part

heavenward, we seek
we find, we love
we share to discover
the love of God

Want to have a Davy and Van experience?

Want to learn to sail and travel around the world on a boat. I never thought it was possible. but it might be, if you are just that crazy enough

Well we can...though a manufactured one...but it will be a christian experience. Blow this up and read it!







What do you think? Check it out. http://www.saltsociety.com

Loving Care

Thanks Alex for this Sweet Spontaneous video. I love random acts of kindness. Especially when delivered to me!

More canada pictures

waterfall at the first hotel (near where I met Jean-Nicolas)


This one is at the first hotel. A restraunt we ate at.



This one is blurry, taken from the train...but loook at that water color!


Another picture from the train






Mountain Goat!

My adventures in Canada so Far

Hey Baby,

These are some pictures from yesterday Lake Lousie (the one with Giant glacier) and another lake. I took these just for you!

Bravo, Walmart, Bravo...

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New Wal-Mart jewelry can be traced from mine to store

Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:06am EDT

By Nicole Maestri

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc is introducing a line of gold and silver jewelry that can be traced from the mine to store shelves as the retailer looks to sell more jewelry sourced from mines and manufacturers that meet its environmental and human rights standards.

Wal-Mart said the Love, Earth line, which includes a $69.84 sterling silver necklace and $48 hoop earrings, will be sold in its U.S. discount stores, Sam's Club warehouses and online. A customer who buys the jewelry can log on to a website to see where their particular piece of jewelry was mined and learn about the suppliers' environmental programs.

"It's the first time ever that we, or any major mass retailer, have been able to provide customers with a way to trace the path of their product from the mine it was actually mined from to the shelf," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Tara Raddohl.

Under Chief Executive Lee Scott, Wal-Mart has set goals of one day using only renewable energy and creating zero waste, and has challenged its suppliers to follow in its footsteps.

Last year, it released a report outlining the progress made in meeting the goals, and included a section on sourcing more sustainable products, like jewelry.

"For every ring that is made, gold mining generates approximately 20 tons of waste. Most of the world's gold deposits consist of microscopic specks that must be chemically extracted from rocks using thousands of gallons of cyanide," the report stated.

"As the largest retailer of jewelry in the world, we see an opportunity to bring more sustainable practices to this industry," it said.

Wal-Mart's long-term goal is to ensure that 100 percent of the gold, silver and diamonds used in the jewelry it sells in its U.S. stores is sourced from mines and produced by manufacturers that meet its sustainability standards.

Those standards currently include minimization of waste and pollution; safe disposal of waste and hazardous materials; respect for employee rights; and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

While Wal-Mart's Raddohl could not estimate when it might meet that long-term goal, she said Wal-Mart wants at least 10 percent of its jewelry offerings to meet those standards by 2010.

To create the Love, Earth jewelry line, Wal-Mart worked with mining company Rio Tinto Plc; Newmont Mining Corp, a global gold producer; and Aurafin, a Florida-based jewelry manufacturer.

Wal-Mart said it now plans to increase the number of approved mining and manufacturing suppliers it works with, and it will introduce diamonds in the Love, Earth line.

(Reporting by Nicole Maestri; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

A Tribute to Bastille Day

Not really, it's a tribute to us. To the wildness, the liveliness, the vulnerability and the recklessness that is our relationship! And to commemorate such an occasion, here's to our pact, the pact for the next year of our God-given relationship to be wild, to be crazy and to surprise the other with something that is Davy-like, when she goes and visits Van in Pearl Harbor. To Bastille Day, to the French. Here's to us. And ultimately, here's the the One who gives us life, who gives us an identity, who gives us a purpose to live life together, to be reckless and to life. Here's to what is eternal...

::raises champagne class::

I love you, my dill pickle!









Here's a little montage of us from the past couple of weeks in Tahoe...















Meet Care, the most excellent and loving girlfriend any man could ever meet:


Meet Alex, thighs of steel:


Bring them together and you've got a pretty compelling c0uple:


This other couple's got nothin' on us...


Babe, here's to the good times...the next step in life that we're approaching...having a long distance relationship and living more recklessly for God...

Here's to Him:


and here's to you:


::raises another champagne glass::

gosh, i'm so celebratory...lol.

Babe, I'm madly in love with you. God is opening up so much through you to me...challenging me.

So this is Peas Out for now...just for this blog. Let's live that reckless & Godly life that He's calling us to...

Blessings!




Love.

Pictures from the Trip

These are all I had time for. And no time for captions but these should be pictures of a river a had to take my baths in (in clothes!) and some huts we stayed. Also examples of us doing ministry in church huts. One is of me with two of the guys who acted as our karen interpreters they were both funny but shy and just entertaining. Awesome men of God. The one on the left is getting married soon to a white american girl The top picture is of Gary (the marriage counselor guy) and teep (the one marrying an american). Sorry this is all so messy right now!

wholesome wear

speaking of bathing suits...u should wear these to thailand...

they're called "wholesome wear." no joke!

http://www.wholesomewear.com/page-4.html

New Favorite You Tube Video

NOt sure if its a girl or a boy, but regardles...it reminds me of yoU!
Only with an accent.
O wait, you would have had an accent at that age. Hehe.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chiiiiiina!

Pong Dynasty:
In Table Tennis,
Chinese Rule

Top Players for Teams
Around the World
Are China Exports

By CHRISTOPHER RHOADS
April 11, 2008; Page A1

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The best American and Canadian table-tennis players squared off here last weekend for a chance to represent their country this summer at the Beijing Olympics.

In Vancouver, British Columbia, Eric Owens bids for a spot on the U.S. Olympic table tennis team. But he's the only U.S.-born male at the event. WSJ's Christopher Rhoads reports.

Only one of the eight American players was of non-Asian descent. All but three were born in China. Six of the eight Canadians also here vying for Olympic berths were either born in China or of Chinese descent.

China's superpower status in table tennis has created a prickly problem for the sport: Nearly all the world's most competitive players are Chinese. And that has made for a lot of mixed feelings.

"The Chinese make us train harder and raise our game," says Eric Owens, the only U.S.-born male at the Vancouver event. "But a lot of people are really sick of them coming over and taking their spots on the national team."

Since China has so many top players, many in recent years have changed citizenship in order to play for national teams elsewhere. Most countries -- like the U.S. where many think of ping pong as a game played in the basement on rainy days -- are glad to have players who will give them a chance in international competition. The downside: Teams full of Chinese players undermine already scant local fan support and, according to some, the development of home-grown talent.

At last month's world championships in Guangzhou, about 170 players representing countries other than China -- about one quarter of the participants -- were Chinese. Even Japan, once a ping-pong powerhouse and not known for warm relations with China, has Chinese players on its national team. America's best hope for an Olympic medal: Gao Jun, a 39-year-old player who won a silver medal at the 1992 Olympics for her native China.

"You go to a match between Poland and France, and it's just Chinese playing against each other," says Dan Seemiller, one of the highest-ranked American-born players in recent decades -- 19th in the world in 1975 -- and now coach of the U.S. men.

In an effort to address the issue, the International Table Tennis Federation in February passed a rule requiring Chinese to wait before playing for a new country, for a period of time based on their age. Those between 18 and 20, for example, must reside in their adopted country for seven years before they can compete at certain international events. Those 21 and older can never become eligible.

The rule, which goes into effect in September, does not apply to the Olympics. But it could affect Olympic competition if fewer Chinese players decide to move abroad as a result.

"Something had to be done to develop youngsters and not just bring in people from China," says Rudi Sporrer, the chairman of the rules committee for the ITTF.

Mr. Sporrer acknowledges that his native Austria, where he heads the country's table-tennis association, is no exception to the trend. The national team features the 18th-ranked female player in the world, Liu Jia, who moved to Austria 12 years ago at the age of 13 because her mother thought she had no chance of making the Chinese national team. Austria has surged to the top 10 in world rankings, thanks to Ms. Liu and several other Chinese players.

Canada's table-tennis head, Tony Kiesenhofer, calls the rule counter to globalization -- and possibly illegal. "If you're afraid of taking on the second-tier Chinese players who move here, how in the world are you going to compete against the best Chinese players?" says Mr. Kiesenhofer.

His theory on why the game hasn't developed in North America: big houses. Homes in Canada and the U.S. are often large enough for a ping-pong table in the basement or garage, which means children here are exposed to table tennis informally. In Europe and Asia, home to the best players competing in lucrative professional leagues, generally smaller living spaces mean children must play at a sports club, where there are organized teams and training.

After some success in the 1960s, China's current domination began after the country reopened to the West in the early 1970s. The only significant break in China's run came from Sweden, led by legendary player Jan-Ove Waldner. For about six years starting in the late 1980s, Sweden won many world titles. Other individual players have punctured China's veneer of invincibility, but no country has approached China in churning out such a large number of top players.

Ms. Gao, representing the U.S. at the Olympics this summer, rose to No. 3 in the world as part of the Chinese national team. She stopped playing in 1994 when she moved to the U.S. but then picked it up again a few years ago after a divorce. With no competition near her Maryland home, she moved back to China to train.

"A Chinese player will beat an American player 11-0," says Ms. Gao. "Or the U.S. can use a Chinese player and maybe have a close match -- which way do you want it?"

For the 32-year-old Mr. Owens, the only U.S.-born male at the trials here, the Chinese influx was bad timing. Growing up in Houston, he became so obsessed with hitting a ping-pong ball that he skipped school to compete in tournaments, eventually dropping out after the eighth grade.

He captured repeated national age-group titles through his teenage years. A favorite to qualify for the U.S. team for the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Mr. Owens lost out to several Chinese players who had since moved to the U.S.

He eventually went to college, at 26, and now attends medical school in Chicago. In the matches Sunday for the final spot on the Olympic team, Mr. Owens won his first game against the 44-year-old Zhuang Yong-Xiang, who represented the U.S. at two Olympics after moving to New Jersey from China in 1990. Mr. Zhuang eked out the second. (Matches consist of the first to win four games, with each game to 11 points. A game must be won by a margin of at least two points.) The Canadians and Americans here were playing for a total of six Olympic spots, for three men and three women.

The seesaw battle of opposing styles -- Mr. Owens is considered a "looper" for his top-spin shots, while Mr. Zhuang is more of a "blocker" with his traditional Chinese pen-hold grip -- continued until each won three games, forcing a decisive seventh. At match point, with Mr. Zhuang leading 11-10, Mr. Owens slammed the ball to Mr. Zhuang's backhand side. Mr. Zhuang blocked the shot back down the line. Mr. Owens scrambled to his right but couldn't reach the ball, eliminating him from competition.

Later that night, Mr. Zhuang won again to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team. "I know how hard Eric wants to reach his Olympic dream," says Mr. Zhuang, who has competed with Mr. Owens as a doubles partner. "But that is sport."

Write to Christopher Rhoads at christopher.rhoads@wsj.com

Interview with Produce Adi Ezroni

It would be incredibly hard to not be humbled and inspired after a conversation with Adi Ezroni. From quite a commendable acting career, to literally risking her life to produce films that reveal some of the worst atrocities of humanity such as child sex-trafficking, (her film “Holly” opens at the Quad on April 25th), this Israeli beauty brings a certain kind of passion to the world that is simply infectious. In her latest project HomeBase, Adi, along with several other artists of all different mediums and nationalities, invite us to join them in exploring just what “home” means. Harlem is where the “home” of this cross-cultural dialogue will be this Spring, (Opening day April 27th), but it’s clear that Adi’s journey is far from over….we feel grateful that she has called our city “home” for the time being, and we can’t wait to see what else she’s got up her sleeves.

Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like? How did you get started in acting?
I was born in Israel in a suburb of Tel Aviv, on the beach. When I was 6 years old, my family moved to New York for 5 years and I came back to NY about 5 years ago. Growing up in Manhattan and Israel was great, and it embedded this duality in me - I really got the best of both worlds – the curiosity and diversity of NY, and the fields, beach,and the connection to Israel.

When I was in sixth grade, I went into a video store and chatted with the owner about a film I just saw ( I think it was “parenthood”…) he asked me if I’d like to act in an off Broadway play he was directing, and that’s how I got into acting, I guess…I played Shakespeare’s daughter in a play called “the players” and it ran for about two months. When I got back to Israel I did a couple of shows for the educational channel, but my parents were very focused on keeping me on ground – I was a head counselor in the scouts, went on field trips all over the country, there was no mention of acting or modeling. Then, right before I went to the army (in Israel, it is mandatory for everyone, and I served for two years as medic instructor), an agent contacted me sent me on a couple auditions and I got a couple of big campaigns, and parts on TV. I was super patriotic, and wanted to complete my service, so it was two years later, that I got into the leading children channel in Israel, as a host and actress. I was a well known host for about 4 years, doing interviews, skits, game shows, family moves, commercials, etc. and then I decided its time to move to NY  Today, I am able to live in NY and go back and forth to Israel and act. My latest TV drama in Israel, which I am the lead in, “When Shall we Kiss” is airing now.

In NY, I focus more on producing and in Israel on acting. I guess that producing allows me to feel more in control, and I act in some of the films I produce.

You are working with so many amazing organizations that are helping to bring people together all over the world on such important issues humanity is struggling with. As a producer, one of your latest ventures is “Holly” a feature length narrative film with Ron Livingston, (”Sex and the City’s” ‘Berger’) Chris Penn (Sean Penn’s brother in his last film, he passed away a year and a half ago) and others, deals with the child sex trade and is now in the theaters in the US. What made you so passionate about this project in the first place?
I met my producing partner, Guy Jacobson, when I just arrived in NY. He was an investment banker, that had just gotten back from Cambodia where he found himself in the middle of the day, surrounded by a group of 6-8 yr old girls soliciting him for prostitution. When he told me he wanted to write a feature film about a 12 yr old Vietnamese girl who was sold to prostitution and an American man, I thought it was amazing. I told him that I would be the water girl…little did I know that I would become the head producer and the adventures that I would go through, or the many years of my life that would become committed to this project.

During the filming of the movie you were held hostage for two weeks in Cambodia. What was that experience like? How has it helped form you into who you are today?
Yes, that was crazy. The minute we landed in Cambodia, we were told we are in danger. We were trying to expose an explosive subject matter in a third world country, and the local mafias were not so happy about it. We ended up hiring 40 body guards with ak47s (that’s a gun), we had to hide some of our film, bribes, everything you can imagine. When at last, the whole production had left, I stayed to take care of the final thing, and when I got to the airport I was stopped, and told that I could not leave the country. I had a bag full of film, and could not read what the warrant said, nor why this was happening, or who I should contact. I switched hostels, and stayed under a fake name for five days, meeting with a couple of local friends in dark bars to figure out how I can leave. A local attorney helped us transfer the funds needed…or so he says and I was let go 2 weeks later.

How has it affected me? I feel like I’m 45…I feel like I’ve seen the dark side of humanity, one that I had no concept of, growing up. But I am glad to say that it has not shattered my faith in the good in people…and, I think I trust my ability more.

Don’t you ever feel that you are up against a giant mammoth (the selling of children, sex trade industry, etc)? What can people do to help, and how do you remain positive about the future?
As for the issue itself – its huge. Child trafficking and sexual exploitation affects 2 million children each year. I think the thing I can do is raise awareness and promote action through law enforcement and governmental pressure. If you go on priorityfilms.com you can read more.

Tell us a little bit more about your production company Priority Films…
We are three partners – Guy Jacbobson, Mandy Tagger (former head of production at IndiGent) and myself, with an incredible team of people. We are growing this year as a company, and hope to become a studio for micro films – 1-5M dollars - so that we can provide an alternative for the bigger distributors by creating innovative strategies for smaller films.

What are the pros and cons of living in New York? Of living in Israel?
Big question. I guess, I am, like many others in NY, dealing with the duality of being an immigrant (even if you’re American, you’ve kind of immigrated to NY). NY is a place for individual growth, for “doing”. Its crazy how much energy needs to be extended in order to create a community, or a routine with friends, its lie theres a big wheel that’s turning, and you really need to stop it for a second in order to create a home routine, to meet up with friends, to do nothing… Israel is super communal, family is very strong, its so small – you see everyone all the time, people go to their parents for Friday night dinners EVERY WEEK, so its also a place that keeps you in check in a way – you cant “just disappear” for a while. I feel like Israel, as a land, is like my lover. Every place I go to feels familiar, I feel like I belong to it and it belongs to me… so I guess I have two homes…

All this focus on home, an idea that so many New Yorkers struggle to define…you are currently a co producer of The HomeBase Project, an annual international site specific art project that explores the notions of “home”. This years project is in an old brownstone off the ‘A’ train in historic Harlem. Can you tell us more about this, why you were anxious to become involved and what you hope comes out of it?
The project’s founder, Anat Litwin, is the former director of the Makor Gallery, and is just magnetic. This is an incredible project – we all deal with what is home in some way or another. And especially after working on social justice issues. It is the essence of our definition of ourselves, and it is such a fertile ground for artistic exploration. So to bring international artists that create a true cross cultural dialogue about it, is amazing. I love art, and I am very curious to see what will happen this year – so many different mediums – from fabric installations to video and sound installations… And what better place to do it then in the historical area of Harlem, across from one of the oldest jazz pubs in the city.

The project is broken up to 2 – the first phase, the artists meet twice each week to talk about home and hear lectures and create their site specific installations. Then, on April 27th, we open HomeBase for the public to interact, come to guided tours, and hear lectures, and consider what home means to them…

What does home mean to you?
I am dealing a lot with this question now because my apt in ny is temporary, and my childhood home, in Israel is home, but also not really, anymore…so now I’ll need to create my own. Good question – Yesterday, in our first artist meeting I wrote this: my parent’s kitchen; the smell of jasmine in the summer; falling asleep with my boyfriend.

What is a typical day like for you?
There is no “typical” for me. For instance yesterday I started my day meeting the musicians who are doing music for a film that’s in the edit room, emailing about the upcoming release of Holly, continued to a meeting with Anat, the founder of HomeBase to finalize things, then a screenplay conference call on an upcoming film, and in the evening, I started creating my art project for HomeBase…

In the many amazing projects you have helped produce, you have no doubt met some extraordinary people along the way….who have some of your role models been?
Hmmm…I guess different entrepreneurs that I meet – that are creative in making things happen, artists that confront the vulnerability of presenting their art with devotion and passion.

The best part about my job is…..the creative juices, new ideas, traveling all over the world.

Where is your favorite place in the world?
The lake of Galilee in Israel

You are one of the most passionate people I have ever met. Where do you find your inspiration?
Wow! thanks. I am energized by people like YOU. Truly. I find inspiration in many little things, and the idea of the potential for things to happen is invigorating. That’s not to say that I don’t have moments where I just want to do nothing and stay under the covers…

What’s next for you after HomeBase, after Holly screenings? Do you have other projects in mind or are you taking things one day at a time?
My next project is “Rachel” but that’s for next time…

Favorite thing to do in New York on a Sunday afternoon?
Sounds geeky – the Rubin museum is the most serene place in NY – its like stepping out of the city to a different energy zone.

I hope that during my time here on earth I ……….. experience and love