February 4, 2009

Is It Wrong To Wish for Hollywood Endings?

My two friends and I are planning a European adventure for 2010. We have it narrowed down to either: a) Italy and Greece, or b) England, Scotland and Ireland. None of us have been to any of these countries, so we really have no idea what to expect.

I am really torn between the two destinations but am also fine with either. Why? Because since I've nothing to base my decision on but the Hollywood films I've seen, they both seem to hold unbridled potential in my eyes. Is it wrong to base such a decision on what I've seen on celluloid? Is it wrong to wish for a Hollywood ending?

Italy and Greece
How can Italy and Greece not be the countries for me after watching:

Under the Tuscan Sun
I could definitely get used to this . . . well, minus the scorpions and fixer-upper.




Roman Holiday
In Rome, you can be anyone you want to be.




Stealing Beauty
The picturesque countryside steals Liv Tyler's beauty.




Mamma Mia!
The chalk-white buidlings against the sparkling blue ocean is breath taking.




Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 1 & 2 (This is the trailer for 2)
Both 1 and 2 featured Greece's beauty.




England, Scotland and Ireland
But, what about:

The Importance of Being Earnest
Who wouldn't love to get lost in a completely British mansion like this?




Tristan and Isolde
Yes, I'm a few centuries too late but I'm sure there are still tons of natural beauty to see.




Far and Away
Granted most of the scenic beauty is in America, but both characters do come from Ireland. Plus, this was a Tom Cruise I could actually stomach.




P.S. I Love You
This one definitely sealed the deal for Ireland - tons of green everywhere you looked. Hopefully, there'll be tons of hot Irish lads like Gerad Butler's character (although, I'll take his hot native Scots as well).




Made of Honor
You might not be able to tell from this trailer, but Scotland and kilts were definitely a big player in this film.


Beer Launcher

After $500 and 150 hours of work, this guy invented his own paradise. Can you top that?

February 2, 2009

My New Lyrical Love - Ron Pope

I was futting around on Myspace checking out the new music and came across a new artist named Ron Pope. I don't know if it's his music, voice, lyrics or my recent optimistic belief in fairy tales, but I think I've just found my newest lyrical love. *sigh* I could listen to him sing all day and feel content.



He seems to be one of those soulful singer/songwriter types. He's a cross between Bryan Adams, John Mayer and Jason Mraz. His songs and his voice just seem so real and believable to me. It's not something manufactured by the studios. It's not simply a marketing ploy to rake in the money and fame. It's just pure expression of emotions. I like the melodies - simple but soothing somehow.



Here's his bio off his website (think it's the same on his Myspace):

Bio
Where should I start…these stories, my music, it comes from all the places I’ve been, the people I’ve been blessed to play music along side, the way it feels to play my guitar until it bleeds or to bang on that old piano in my living room until my shoulders ache and my fingers won’t move anymore.From Georgia to New York, New York to the road; Charleston and Memphis, Vermont to Chicago. Turned 21, then 22…released my first record with The District…Maine and Boston and who knows where else…made love in the grass and meant it…walked down Wilshire, blinking in the Los Angeles sun… got lost in Delaware scrambling to get home to my family after too much time…swam in the ocean with the boys, thanking God for purple and orange Florida sunrises. Soaked up New Orleans…tried to become Levon Helm; realized I wasn’t much of a drummer……turned 23. Wrote A Drop In The Ocean with Zach Berkman and then put it away for six months because I didn’t get it…fell in love…drank whiskey from the bottle and howled at the moon…released Last Call…played the blues back-to-back with Buz in Charlotte and just about everywhere else along that godforsaken highway…the van broke down…we fixed it…the van broke down again. Got lost heading to South Carolina and ended up in Alabama…fell out of love and hit my head on the way towards the bottom…turned 24…made a Christmas album, because, damn it, I like Christmas albums. Played big rooms…played small rooms …listened to Van Morrison and cried…listened to trains scream somewhere off in the distance on ink-black sleepless nights… I traced the outline of a woman’s face on a piece of paper; someone I loved and didn’t want to forget once we’d put the whole thing to bed. The picture didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped, so I took my ink-stained fingers and spelled her name out in big, smeared letters on my arm. I guess that’s all I’ve ever really had…my words. This music is the story of where I’ve been, who I am, and where I’m going…these songs are my life.



How could you not fall in love with this guy after reading his bio and hearing his songs? He sounds so honest, so real. It's almost like he's pure - you know, before the labels, money and fame get to him. Hopefully he's able to hang on to some of that purity because I predict he'll hit the mainstream real soon.

To assist him in his musical journey, I "demanded" that he come to Honolulu on Eventful. I was the first but probably not the last. If you're feeling the vibe too, demand Ron Pope and bring him to the islands.



Demand Ron Pope in Honolulu!
Ron Pope in Honolulu - Learn more about this Eventful Demand

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