Some random Vienna pictures from last week

Pee

Oh, Vienna (dah-dah dum-dum-dah-dah)

Have landed in Vienna.

A little warmer than New York. But still cold.

A gray city. But lots of great architecture and charm.

Sadly, I won't get to see too much of it as I'm only here for three-and-a-half days (with much of that spent inside a conference center rehearsing a show).

Pee

Happy Valentine's Day (you know who)

xx

The Last Tattoo (at last)

I was browsing the DVD shelves at Larchmont Public Library (Westchester County, NY) this morning and the above title caught my eye.

Priding myself on knowing plenty about film culture, I was rather embarrassed to find that this very good noir-style war picture was shot in my home town of Wellington, many years ago. I had no idea.

It stars a whole host of talented Kiwi actors from John Bach to Kerry Fox to Katie Wolfe (who was in my film class at university) to Tim Balme, as well as a host of classic American actors.

Was very nostalgic to be watching Wellington's streets circa 1943.

It made me think about my grandmother and all her stories of the GI's in the Capital.

If you haven't seen it, do.

Pee

A great view, indeed

Madison and I attended Arthur Miller's 'A View From The Bridge' last night at the Cort Theater.

The major draw was Hollywood stars, Scarlett Johansson and Liev Schreiber.

Their presence was only topped by the fact we walked in alongside Keanu Reeves.

Woah!

Pee

Why I Love New York # 1

You can walk down 4th Street on a cold, gray day and really feel the lyrics of one of Dylan's greatest songs.

Pee

Footy Fever Weekend

This Sunday (US time) the Indianapolis Colts take on the New Orleans Saints in Miami for Super Bowl honors.

While back home Fiji picked up the IRB Sevens title this Waitangi weekend, families around this vast country are preparing pulled pork and hot wings as sustenance for a marathon game kicking off at 6.25pm EST tomorrow night.

Go Saints!!!

Pee

PS - Look out for Kim Kardashian in the stands, 'rooting' for her man, Reggie Bush

Happy Birthday to my Mum! XX

So, what's the above picture of me at a 'brand camp' with young marketing students got to do with my mother and her birthday today (Jan 31st, NZ time)?

Well, I guess it's all about reflecting on all the things she's 'taught' me.

And how, on this day, I think about how lucky I am because of everything she does and has done for me to bring me to a point in my life where I'm in an office in New York City teaching young students about how creativity and creative thinking can connect people.

My Mum's special in so many, many ways.

And as inadequate as this blog post is to pay her a little tribute (she'll also likely be somewhat embarrassed) I did want her to know that she means so much to me.

'Cos that's how I look at birthdays these days. A chance to pause and reflect on the impact a person has made on your life. (This is even more true when you've faced life-threatening illness.)

Birthdays are certainly not about 'what present can I grab from a department store' or 'shall I mail a quick pun-filled card?'.

Conversely, you think about all the gifts the birthday boy/girl has given you throughout your life and how important it is to take those gifts and commit to do everything you can to put them to good use every day to help inspire, motivate, excite, drive, challenge and nurture others.

Which is just what I'm trying to do.

Every day.

A bigger, real-life game of pass-the-parcel.

Happy Birthday, Mum!

Love

Your wee boy

Philip

The perfect pick-me-upper

Was in my local deli at lunchtime today and spied this new drink in the cooler.

It's called Synergy: some tasty Kombucha tea brewage.

It's going to be an acquired taste. But I'm up for it. It's bliss for the insides.

Am guzzling on a bottle right now. While listening to The Notorious B.I.G.

The perfect mix.

Pee

Why the empty carriage?

Today was Martin Luther King Day here in the US and A.

For most, a public holiday.

But I had to head into the office to play catch-up post vacation.

Even though most were taking the day off, the 6.10pm train from Grand Central to Larchmont was still packed.

Apart from one carriage. "Bloody great!", I thought.

I jumped on board and quickly realized why it was so empty - a busted bog. Yep, it was a toilet carriage. And the said porcelain was fully packed and off the rails.

Bless the cutbacks that the MTA has made.

Pee