04.03.15 For the #FastFam

This one's for my Fast and Furious Family.


Well, whether we're ready or not this Friday our movie comes out for the last time with our beloved Brian O'Conner. Furious 7 focuses on the vengeance of Owen Shaw's brother Ian (played by the exciting Jason Statham) with the startling (yet expected) murder of Han Seoul-Oh. Who appeared in four Fast and Furious films and a previous Justin Lin film entitled Better Luck Tomorrow. A fan favourite, he moved to Tokyo after the death of his beloved (and our beloved) Gisele Yashar.

I was (of course) very, very excited for this film after Fast 6. So beyond impressed in a franchise that managed to take its worst film (Tokyo Drift) and turn it into the most important and pivotal one of the series some six years later.  Turning Tokyo Drift effectively into the 6th movie of the franchise instead of the third and tying in moments that previously seemed insignificant, like a cameo from Vin Diesel and the erratic behaviour of previously zen-like Han into key moments in the franchise. The Fast series has always gone above and beyond to be much better than it needed to be but it just seemed more and more to be ageing like a fine wine, there really was every reason to believe we'd be seeing more of the #FastFam for years to come.....

Then the worst happened, I remember I used to watch Paul Walker/Tyrese interviews and #FastFam spoofs late at night when I was having a bad day or feeling particularly down and they would always cheer me up these people are so good at being ridiculous and their chemistry is just ludicrous and amazing! (see what I did there). The skits and the familial bond just got better and better and behind the scenes we learned that Tyrese's Roman definitely got his big mouth from his portrayer always stirring ish in the most bizarre and amusing ways.

When Paul Walker died, all that positivity and great energy changed for me, that safe and happy place I would go to when things were crappy disappeared, All the hope I had in a franchise that represented me and so many other faces and races that were under-represented or misrepresented by action films and by films in general, seemed to die suddenly. The heart of the franchise was gone. But we still have to honour him, and we have to honour, respect and protect what he created and valued on-screen and off, because when you care about someone that's the best way to make their memory live on and the only way to honour their legacy.

I don't have a f*cking clue how to answer what to do when someone you care about is gone for good and I'm still trying to figure it out, 2013/2014 were not particularly good years for me as I lost a lot of people I cared about in what almost seemed like a fire sale.
All I can hope is that the answer to how to respond (when you lose someone you care about and admire like Paul Walker or Jack Layton) is somewhere in this  incredible speech  that Tyrese gave. Somehow something that Paul and Jack understood about the planet that other people didn't or don't maybe made God or the universe call them home.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. So here is your Fast and Furious reupped playlist much love (as always) and I wish the best of coming weeks to you. Please donate, support, (purchase cute shirts and caps) from ROWW (Reach Out Worldwide you can learn more about the charity here.  And (just started my sentence like I shouldn't) keep your calendar clear this Friday April 3rd for our date with Fast 7! One last ride y'all, let's make it sweet.

xo

Ouch....Pretty Hurts. The Beauty Myth

Well, I was going to do a playlist on something else entirely but I got hit with a case of the sads so here it is, your The Beauty Myth (aka love yourself or die trying) Playlist.  Sooo many things to say about this but I won't bore you with the details. All the women out there know that never-mind pimps, it's hard out there for a bitch (thank you Lily Allen).

There are soooo many things we're supposed to be and not be all at once.
Example: We're supposed to be pretty but not too pretty.
 We're not supposed to be dumb but we can't be too smart,
Wwe're supposed to be sexy but we can't be sluts,
We're supposed to be demure be we can't be a tease.
We're supposed to be independent but we can't be ambitious,
We're supposed to be capable but we can't be confident.
We're supposed to be wild but we shouldn't be free.
 It's a lot, we're a lot and sometimes when you take it all in (like you shouldn't) then you take a look in the mirror it makes you want to hurl. We've all lived in those moments, but they are (horrid as they are) moments, and now at least you have some music to shake your fine, smart, literate, brilliant ass out of it. Because god knows no one wants to be trapped in a mirror with a bitchy, pitchy, haterade-drinking, magazine trolling, celebrity comparing version of yourself.  Tell that bitch to eff off, put on these tunes and dance your way out of it. Seriously, (it helps if you clap too). Please feel freeeeeeee to comment below on what you like to watch, listen to, read or do when the mirror starts to taunt you. Share and share and share alike! Girl Power and all that.

Love, Lemons and Lots of Luck (no lemons I swear. I just like alliteration, I could say Love and Liquor but some people don't drink) Have a fabulous week kittens!


(Exceedingly long) Post Script:

Tips to break out of your me-eating mood:
This fabulous to-do list to break the bads

Notable reads: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf

Notable Films: Ever After (Starring Drew Barrymore)
GI Jane (Starring Demi Moore)
Akeelah and the Bee (Starring Keke Palmer)

If This Doesn't Work:
Watch Hairspray!! Then Watch Hairspray again!!! Marathon that ish until you want to marry yourself! NO EXCUSES I've even linked the movie for you. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???!!

East Coast Patty's meets overseas Cakes.

Okay that title made no sense. Whatever.
 It's time for another blog and playlist and this week features the loverly Celtic/East Coast influence because the music is beautiful even though y'all may be too drunk off your faces (this week) to listen to it.

I may well have become aware of this incredible music around the height of The Cranberries and Ashley MacIsaac's popularity, Natalie MacMaster was creeping in around that time too. Ah the bagpipes! Prominent in my life since an early age, born in a tiny Canadian/Scottish town which held a bagpipe parade every Saturday through the summer, hence stuff like that there just gets to me.
 I strongly recommend lending a Saturday to a Chieftains or Natalie MacMaster record and just knitting a sweater (I don't know how to do that) or painting a picture ( I don't know how to do that either) or baking some cookies (that I can do) or something, it's real 'heart of life' kind of music and it's sure to pick you up if and when you are feeling down.

Here in Canada the East Coast (Newfoundland, PEI, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) has a vibrant and exciting music scene which is rather entwined in their culture, their food and the overall experience. Check out The Starving Artist to read recipes and anecdotes from a straight-up Newfoundlander musician now residing in the big city and while you're testing out one of his many recipes (he gives very detailed instructions, not to worry) you can throw on my Celtic/East Coast playlist and have a few shots of wheatgrass to cure that epic hangover.


**Incidentally the song is called *Kilkelly (Ireland) not Kilkenny. Kilkenny is a beer,. (I don't even drink beer what is going on?!!??!!) Whatever the case, enjoy your week, I wish you many four leaf clovers and a leprechaun that doesn't want to kill you.

Happy St. Paddy's Day All!

Girl Power!!!!!!

Believe it or not I didn't plan this, but this week's awesome female dominated playlist is all girl power baby! Happy International Women's Day! Today we celebrate strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them! I did some girly things today like going to work, applauding other women's fashion sense and generally being impressed with the way we women hold it together. There has been soooo much girl power in music long before the Spice Girls came along, and I tried to include just a bit of it on this week's playlist. Now don't feel bad that I left anyone out, there was bound to be someone and I have all the jazz greats covered on my jazz and blues playlist and a lot more brilliant ladies on my 90's playlist.

Listen, we all know that women like Madonna, Janet Jackson and TLC were instrumental in the socio-political music scene in the 90's tackling issues like HIV and AIDS, homophobia and racism. These women never backed down from the truth, Ruth. By the time the Spice Girls came along the air was rife with the scent of mobilization and owning who you were, imperfectly perfect to a fault.

Nowadays we certainly have our issues and it seems quite often that we take one step forward and two steps back, right now in Canada we have a terrifying ongoing situation regarding the murder and abduction of Aboriginal Women in which our prime minister refuses to order an inquiry into.

In North America Black Women are still struggling to have their voices heard in society and on film and various media. We are at this time however finally able to say that we have 3 shows to claim as our own. They are the first 3 shows to feature African American Female Leads since 1974! We have writer, producer Shonda Rhimes to thank for 2 of those 3 changes, a true example of a Smart Girl if ever I saw one!

Hey speaking of Smart Girls, have you seen this? Amy Poehler has been brightening up my Facebook feed for many months with this wonderful website that shines the spotlight on brave, smart, passionate, capable, beautiful, strong, loving women. God bless her because it is Phenomenal.

Well Women, Hope your day was incredible or productive or profitable or romantic or clever or stupid-funny or musical or creative. Much respect to all the women out there doing the best they can and treating other women with as much dignity as they would love to feel and receive themselves.

xo
Enjoy the playlist and
Happy Women's Day! (you deserve it)

Score Me Too! No, seriously, score me....again

Yup! It's reading week, (well for college's anyway) and you need MUSIC. This is relaxing and fun and exciting and depressing what? Sit down, grab your books and your venti coffees  lattes and get to reading like you should. Of course if you're not in school I have selected some handy dandy reading titles for you, they are thusly....
For the introspective: Measure Of A Man Sidney Poitier
For the resident gigglers: The Princess Bride William Goldman (alternatively) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams,
For the perpetual moper: Girl Interupted Susanna Kaysen,
For the history freaks: The Other Boleyn Girl (historical fiction but still quite fetching)
For the romantics: Something Borrowed (then go ahead and read Something Blue afterwards (which is told from the other friend's perspective and is even more enjoyable IMO) parenthesis within a parenthesis, good lord)
For those in turmoil: Why Me, Why This, Why Now Robin Norwood (or alternatively) The Secret Rhonda Byrne
For the Agnostics: Would You Believe Tom Harpur (or alternatively) Conversations With God Neale Donald Walsch
For the Entrepeneurs and Biography lovers: Losing My Virginity Richard Branson and/or Empire State of Mind Zack O'Malley Greenburg
And finally.......
For the Young Adult Lovers (like myself): Fall Into Darkness Christopher Pike (or alternatively) The Wakefield Legacy (Sweet Valley Saga) Francine Pascal.

So here is your Score Me Too Playlist happy reading week gals and guys and do enjoy the playlist, hope it takes you back to happier tv days (although television nowadays is getting pretty damn good). Cheers and beers wine, always wine (unless of course you don't drink then chai for you!)

P.S Do let me know (in the comments or by railing to the gods) how the Playlist  and suggested books (or your unavoidable studies) went down.