Did I Say Thousand Island?

Horses and Chimpanzees

2012-02-03T13:47:00.001-07:00

The average age of the crowd that went to see War Horse last Tuesday was surprising. Maybe it was the day of the week, maybe the time of year, I don't know. But I would say the average age was over 40.

When I premiered "Did I Say Thousand Island?" in Colorado, people of all ages came to see it, but I have been surprised over time that I get the most emails from middle aged folks who say they enjoyed the movie. One of the largest demographic today is women over 35, and that bodes well for a remake of this restaurant movie. Aren't most servers female? Yes. Which brings me to another interesting fact. Two of the most popular offerings the public has had about the restaurant industry in recent years have been written by men who have spent only 10 years in the industry in one city. I'm talking about the book Waiter Rant and the movie Waiting.

I thought Waiter Rant was very well written, and the content was, I am assuming, true for a New Yorker who is a waiter by default, but it certainly isn't true across the board. Too much research that I did when I was making my movie just disagrees. Many waitresses and waiters actually do enjoy their job, and I can bet more would if it was considered to be a "real job".

"Did I Say Thousand Island?" shows servers as the fun and smart people they are and as I have been told many times, is a realistic portrayal of the restaurant industry. That must be why it's been downloaded over 55,000 times in 183 countries so far. For a no-name movie made by basically one person (with awesome help from friends) that's pretty good. Here's a link to the latest press release talking about the new project going on with the movie concerning water.

Why did I put chimpanzees at the top? When I saw War Horse, one of the ads at the beginning was for Chimpanzee, a documentary/story about a wee monkey, and if you go and see it during the opening week, Disney will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Jane Goodall Institute. That's the exact idea I have been proposing with Remake 4 Water for a long time, so see? It can be done. The difference is that my movie isn't mostly a documentary, it's a story. It's a story about everyone--everyone goes out to eat. Remake 4 Water...c'mon. Let's Do It!

Returning to "My Community"

2011-11-03T13:43:00.001-06:00

After returning home from my 6 week trip down east as they say here in Canada, I have come to realize something. I've been concentrating so hard on the "water" aspect of this mission, that the other part of my heart of this mission has fallen by the way side.

It occurred to me this morning as I was throwing away the brochure from a restaurant that I went to in Maine. I had intended to give them feedback from our visit (and it wasn't exactly positive) but decided not to, as it wasn't positive. But then I thought WAIT, if I do it in a kind way, it might actually help them. How can they fix a problem if they don't even know it exists? Then it hit me how no matter how much time I spend away from waitressing, I will never lose the love I have for the job and freedom based lifestyle, the people and the desire to do something about the negative attitudes and stereotypes that remain. Maybe it's a losing battle, but if you don't try, how can things change?

Whenever there's an article relating to anything in the restaurant business, it always receives so many comments. Why? People usually have an opinion because it might have happened to them, or they just want to be heard. Or maybe because the restaurant biz is the largest private employer in the US and probably world. That's why I am working to get my movie remade so it's seen by more people. I had so many emails saying that it "should get out there more so people see it".

Now after attending the International Water Forum at the UN in September, I know I'm on the right track. What was the biggest issue with the Global Water Crisis? AWARENESS!! That's right. People just don't know there are water troubles. So by combining a "fun and engaging" (quoting a viewer) and realistic movie about restaurant life with the subject of water (which a restaurant can't run without), we can get the messages out! We're not stupid people in the business, and wouldn't you love that cranky and demanding customer to hear that! It's in the movie. That, and a lot of other messages. Do you really like doing separate checks when the people are all over the place!? It's in the movie too...

Why do people think we spit in their food? It's in the movies. Why do they think we hate our jobs? It's in the movies. Why do they think we're stupid and are total losers? It's in the movies. It's about time there's a movie that tells them the way it really is. By the way, we just added another country: people in 182 countries have seen the movie and it's growing everyday! Not bad for a 5 year old nobody movie made by a waitress. C'mon. Let's Do It! www.remake4water.org

July 4th and restaurants

2011-07-05T00:45:00.000-06:00

Howdy!

Belated Happy 4th of July to you all (this is being posted after midnight where I am). By now the fireworks are just a memory of ooohs and aaaahs and I hope it was a grand event for you and your friends.

I was thinking today about this Holiday and how restaurants handle it. I've worked at all types of restaurants and depending on the climate of the restaurant, they treat these summer holidays differently. Well, at least they should.

At one place, we were on the main street and were a more casual dining place in the day and more elegant at night. There was, as I remember the right staffing for each shift according to the tendencies of the past. We all know how things can be inconsistent, but still, good owners and managers tend to look at past trends, throw in some common sense and go from there. Other places....not so much.

One year I missed a family reunion in Canada because of poor planning. I worked at a very elegant place in a resort town that is known for out door activities. The owner/manager thought we would be very busy and wanted a very full staff. I on the other hand knew we wouldn't be busy, but couldn't convince her of that fact. She was relatively new to the restaurant industry and that coupled with the fact that she wasn't wearing her common sense hat led to my missing a fun family event. People bbq on this middle-of-the-summer event. They don't tend to go to posh places in droves. It's a hamburger kind of Holiday.

Well I was also thinking today how this simple situation in the life of waiter or waitress could be a scene in the remake. A casual way to educate managers. I was out to lunch with a pal last week who had recently watched the movie and she told our waitress how she learned something not to ever do again when she went out with friends. It was the separate checks with couples all over the place scene. The movie is a way to educate as well as entertain.

That's all for now. Oh yeah, by the way, that 4th of July night when I was forced to miss the reunion? I waited on 2, yes count 'em, 2 people. The next night wasn't much better...;-) Ah well, that's the biz.

Waiters

2011-06-17T00:05:00.004-06:00

Am I missing something? I don't get it. I can't say for sure because I'm not in their shoes. I can only say what I know from experience, but I just don't get it.

Last night I started reading "Waiter Rant". Some friends had given it to me a while ago and I have just now picked it up. Everything in its time. I was immediately zapped back to the opening minutes of "Waiting".

My immediate feeling is that Steve and Rob share the same opinion about the restaurant business. Why did they both feel the need to open their book and movie with the subject of sex? Specifically involving the utensil they both have that I don't. Obviously they were setting a tone for their work and I don't get it.

Did I coincidentally find, in all my 25 years plus of waitressing, places of employment where the waiters actually liked their job and respected their co-workers: both male and female? Did I just happen to get jobs at places where vulgar language and crude behavior were absent? Did I find the only restaurant environments where we swore and joked around, but we still had respect for each other even if it was only for a season or a year? Did people suddenly change all their language and behavior when I walked around the corner and came within earshot or eyesight? Somehow I find all that hard to believe. Ok, before you start swearing at me saying how I am 'full of shit', I will briefly tell you about a couple of the places where I worked.

The restaurant where I worked for 15 years was probably filled with the most colorful characters. Of course there were sexual innuendos flying all over the place, that's normal. That's the biz. It's not like the corporate world. You know that! Guys are always saying things... You know, like when you bend down to pick something up, and one of those guys are there and they say, "While you're down there." Or one time I had a chef say how he wanted to take my long braids and thread them through his belt hoops. It was all in good fun--whether he was serious or not, and he didn't actually say "Hey Patti how about you and I go out back and you give me a blow job". See the difference? Maybe you do and maybe you don't. But I do and it has to do with respect. Sure you have the underlying subject of sex running rampant all night long--it usually is, but we weren't vulgar about it. AND it wasn't the focus of our time there, we're busy working hard!

I didn't get far last night because I was thinking, "oh no not again". I'm going to have to read the book (research) and actually, I think it will be entertaining and fun in a way, but it will be going overboard with certain issues because it sells. "Waiting" was filled with unrealistic situations about sex that I have never seen nor heard about. I know the movie was very popular with the 18-22 year old boys, and maybe that's what they do. I'm not a boy, so I don't know about the obsession with their equipment. When I was at the theater watching "Waiting", with in the first 5 minutes, a middle aged couple walked out. I really wished I could have joined them--research kept me there. It was tough. I will say however that there were a couple of realistic scenes about what goes on in the back of the house, but only a couple and they didn't have to do with food, but rather with actions of the waitstaff and the "acting out front" that goes on in the throes of frustration.

"Waiter Rant" was a popular book and I am pretty sure I will say "oh yeah, that DOES happen" to many parts, but all the sex at work? (If it's in there--again, I didn't get far.) I'm not saying it NEVER happens, of course it does, and no I'm not a prude, believe me I'm not, but I never ran to the walkin or to a bathroom stall to have sex in the middle of a shift like in "Waiting", and I don't know anyone who has. You wait until AFTER the shift for crying out loud! What's wrong with you guys!

The back of Steve's book says and I quote, "and ways to ensure that your waiter won't spit in your food." Seriously? In all the hundreds of years of combined service when I interviewed servers for my movie, about 99% said they never had, never seen and never would, spit in someone's food. I was told about one waiter who was fired because he joked about it. FIRED! Joked about it! So all this stuff about spitting, is in the movies and in the minds of waiters turned writers. Waiters who respect their jobs and their bosses (maybe that's harder to find with some of the managers around), would not spit or worse in someone's food. Besides, they'd have to hang around and wait to watch the person eat. What do they gain and who has time for that? Yes I can hear it now from that miniscule percentage of people who actually have tampered with someone's food, how I'm the idiot and don't know what real servers do. Well, sorry but you're wrong. Have you done the research I've done? Have you worked for over 25 years in the industry and never seen anything remotely like that?

My experience is that restaurant people have more integrity and self respect than that! I worked at one restaurant in Wisconsin where even the 'F' word was never heard. One time in a panic, I let it fly and did I ever get in trouble. I was surprised to be honest, because it kinda is an accepted word in the fast furious and stressful world of serving. It just kinda happens. Nothing is meant by it usually-- just a reflex.

Yes this post is probably charged a bit more with emotion that I usually am, but I am so tired of people portraying servers as crude and lewd people. And when it's done by those in the industry just to sell their stuff, well.... Yeah yeah I know, there are people like that in the industry-- of course there are, but do you have to start out like that to set that same negative tone that those of us who actually like the industry are trying so hard to fight? C'mon guys. Or maybe it's just a guy thing. You know, I'm going to call some of my former co-workers and ask them some questions. I know they'll be honest, they have nothing to gain. And you know? I really don't care if I get any rebuttals that I am way off. At least I'll know that someone is reading this! Peace out...

Ch Ch Ch Changes

2011-06-07T17:32:00.001-06:00

Wasn't that a great song? Well now we're undergoing changes here on the website. We're making it more sleek and taking away information that bogged it down. I guess we figure that at this point, the interviews and articles tell the story. See, I have a few friends who have been working on the site all this time. I may have made a movie pretty much by myself, but I am not about, at this point anyway, to tackle html code. I'm still fighting with Facebook for getting the code for my new website!

So one of my friends said that we need to make changes, and sell some DVD's. He so pleasantly reminded me that I haven't made a cent off of the movie and I deserve to after all the hard work I did to make a movie that I didn't want to make in the first place. Ok, I said. Sure, go for it. I'm just a messenger.

While doing the research that I am always doing for water and also restaurant articles, I came across this cool documentary that was released last year. It's called, "Dish: Women, Waitressing and the Art of Service". It has been in a bunch of Film Festivals and I'm glad because it seems to be on the right side of the table so to speak. I just discovered it last night and am looking into it. So check it out. Maybe it's counter productive to promote another's film on my blog, but the way I look at it, if people see it and like it, they might be inclined to watch ours. Besides, hers is a documentary--something people thought I should have made after my first one--and mine is a narrative: she's a filmmaker, I'm a waitress. Hey I was just doing as I felt I was told. You do know that I was in a total zone much of the time I wrote the movie. You didn't? Ah well, listen to the PRI interview and you'll see.

And if you read my other blog on the Remake 4 Water site, you can find out some ideas about water conservation. Let's Do It!

It's just EVERYWHERE!!!

2011-05-07T13:09:00.002-06:00

Today I am working on my new website that I have for the project. It will be posted when I am done. (Now I know why so many people get other people to do their websites!)

So, I was getting links for webpages and came across this page about Ben and Jerry's new thing they are doing on Twitter. It just seems that everyone is getting in on the wave of helping others. Isn't it great! I see that Water For People has a new person who is climbing mountains to raise money. His name is Jake Norton and you can read about him here. He's using his skills and passion to help. It's really cool what he is doing. I think it's great because we are all in this together. It doesn't matter how people get water, just so they do!

I'm going to combine things so people are not having to find more money to give. They can give by doing something that they already do and might even learn something in the process. We are always learning!

Once I get my new website up, I will stop blogging here and just use one there. The new website is "remake4water.org". I choose org because I'm not looking to make money or ask for money, I need people. Just one. Just one person who sees the vision like I do (and not just friends, family or strangers whom I tell and they all say it's a swell idea). Just the right person with influence who will say, "Hey, that's a good idea. Yeah, Let's Do It!".

Do you know how many light bulbs were made before the one that worked was produced? Do you know how many publishers she went to before Harry Potter was published? Do you know how many restaurants the Colonel went to before someone agreed with him? (one source says 1009 restaurants!) Hey, I'm not trying to be that influential or big, but you get the idea! I am persistent. This CAN be done! Gotto go!

Another Country!

2011-04-19T15:04:00.000-06:00

It's amazing how much we take something for granted until it's gone. You think I am going to talk about water. Nope. I am talking about computers, so I say greetings from my new computer! Yup my old one finally decided to leave the building. It had been edging towards the door then suddenly it crashed out. It's all good though as this new one is amazing. I can work much faster and easier now so the great news is that I am back working on the project again! I have missed being able to do so, and have loads of energy to put into it, so look out. There were other hurdles to jump hence the long delay, but when I was making the movie, I had 7 hard drive crashes and I kept going, so I know that nothing is going to stop me.

The movie isn't and never was a dream for me. My dream is about 32 years old. I have always wanted to do something to help people in some way and I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing. It all makes sense to me now. So I am putting my latest video here and sorry that it's me again, but until I find the right person and people to do this, I have to be the spokesperson.

I don't know if you have heard or not about Songs For Japan, but it's amazing what people are doing and giving and I was so excited to hear about it because it just proves my beliefs that people can and do want to help. Musicians have donated, the record labels have donated and now it's out on Sony. Here's the Wikipedia page to read more about it.

What's with another country? We just added another one to the Mininova downloads, so we are at 175 and that's just from that one website. We are also at almost 45,000 and Minova was out of commission for a while! Not bad for a 4 year old movie by nobody with nobody in it! This benefit movie can and will happen! The evidence that all the components to make this happen have happened before, so why not again and NOW! C'mon. Let's Do It!

Summit Daily News Article

2011-03-21T21:14:00.002-06:00

Last Friday, the Summit Daily News ran an article about what has happened with the movie and what I am going to do with it in the future. You can read about it here. I am very grateful to them for running the article and want to point out that I am not going to remake the movie. I am going to find the people who are as passionate about the Global Water Crisis as I am and they are going to remake it. I don't want to be in the film business! I'm not a filmmaker, I'm a waitress who happens to believe in helping people with the most basic need in life--water!

Tomorrow is WWD--World Water Day, and I suggested on Facebook that people should do an experiment. When they are thirsty tomorrow, instead of immediately reaching for that glass of cool, clean and clear water, they should wait 5 minutes and see what it's like to not have water at their fingertips. I believe that too many people still waste too much water and don't understand that water is precious. The water crisis isn't just in 3rd world countries. Having lived in Colorado for so many years, I know about water restrictions, and even here in High River Alberta, we have different "levels of water conservation" in effect at certain times of the year. Don't think for a minute that water troubles are only for other countries!

So what are you going to do tomorrow to observe WWD? Even if you pause for a minute and think about the different ways you waste water, that's a start. Then you can choose from the many many non-profits that are focusing on this issue and give to them. Follow your stars and see who they support. But maybe just maybe, next year you can go and see a movie and know that all the money is going to help as many of those organizations as possible. What an idea. It will happen! C'mon, Let's Do It!

National Public Radio

2011-03-17T10:23:00.002-06:00

It was 4 years ago to the day that I was first on NPR! How time flies eh? The movie has been out and about around the world and having a great time. I just talked to a friend in Germany yesterday and she was excited about this new project and will be spreading the word.

I have been doing a lot of research about water charities and celebrities and have found that there are about 170 celebs that are concerned about water. Surely I will find one or two who agree that my Project Remake is a good idea. By the way, I just received the latest Celebs Gone Good and now Taylor Swift is on the band wagon. They keep on coming and coming, and realizing how they can help and what influence they have.

While doing research, I have come across many sites that deal with the power of positive thinking, the law of attraction and other ideas along those lines and came across a wonderful tool to use to have the life that The Secret talked about, but didn't really give a way to actually do it. We all have some work to do on ourselves to make us the kind of people whom we were really meant to be, and to reach our dreams. The World Tapping Summit is an amazing tool and it was free, which is a good sign of helping others without gain, but now they are giving 100% of the proceeds from the purchase of the movie, (which is at half price to make it easier on our pocketbooks) to help Japan. It's the very same IDEA I have about my movie and what it can do. These guys started out at $5,000 and in a day or two bumped it up to $10,000 because of the response! See??? People DO want to help others. With Project Remake, they will be doing just that. AND, it won't be only when there is an immediate tragedy, because this is ONGOING!!!

C'mon! Let's Do It!!!

More for Water!!

2011-03-01T15:30:00.003-07:00

As you know, I have been doing research for my proposal regarding Project Remake and continually come across interesting news. So, apparently there's some guy who is having his 17th birthday today, who happens to be from Stratford Ontario-- where I lived many many moons ago. We visited Stratford quite frequently when I was growing up because my grandparents lived there. I was just there again about 2 years ago, roaming around by the Avon river taking photos of the beautiful swans that grace the park, by the Shakespeare Theatre and of COURSE I had Ken's French Fries downtown! Yummy!

So anyway, this young man is having a special birthday today because he has asked people to give $17 to a charity that he is supporting, instead of giving presents to him. Do people actually give presents to stars? I really don't know. I also really didn't know about this young man until fairly recently because I am so busy with the project or am gone so much, and simply because I am over 50 and don't know too much about young people's stars. But apparently millions of kids DO know about this young man. This is from an article about him today: In the meantime he's clearly done his homework on finding a charity that does a great deal of positive work on the planet. "100% of all donations go directly to building clean water projects in developing countries with Charity: Water and we'll be able to see photos and GPS of the projects we helped build!" he notes.

So, how great is that!!??

Oh yeah, his name? Who is this you ask? Justin Bieber. So many fans have donated and by doing that and talking about it to their friends, they are spreading the word! People care so much about what their favorite celebrities are doing. See how a benefit movie--stars being benevolent--would really get attention?

OK, Let's Do It!!!

Project Remake News

2011-02-25T11:54:00.007-07:00

I have been away, but I'm back. My job in the oil patch is on hold for a while, so I am working on Project Remake. You can find out more about PR if you click on its button on the home page. My goal is to have something in place by March 22 which is World Water Day. I am waiting to hear from Water For People which is based in Denver, Colorado. They do great work and I am asking simply for an endorsement for the project. My proposal has been forwarded to their marketing company in New York city, so I look at that as a good sign. But regardless of their decision, I will march forward.

My friend Paul Paz of Waiter's World suggested that I make a short video about the project, so I did and it's on You Tube. I need to find the right people who believe that this is a good idea and that it will help others as I sincerely believe it will.

Great events happening all around us, signs that people are doing things to help others get water. Katie Spotz rowed across the Atlantic to raise awareness for water through WaterAid International (and by the way is the first woman to do so!). Right now there are 4 British men who are going across on a raft! "An-Tiki" is the name of their raft--funny as they aren't exactly 22 years old like Katie! Matt Damon and Gary White who co-founded Water.org are also making headway in the fight, and Matt's brother Kyle is using his passion for athletics to help and very recently founded TeamWater.org. These are just a couple of examples, but the time is right for many reasons. Do you know about the MDG? No, not MGD for us restaurant people, MDG! They are the Millennium Development Goals. One of them is to end world poverty by 2015, and water has a lot to do with that! Do a Google search and you will find loads of info about it.

I will keep spreading the word and finding out about the wonderful movements going on to help fight the Global Water Crisis. In the meantime, if you are reading this, go to our home page and click on the Facebook and Twitter links to follow us. As things happen I will let people know. Thanks for reading this. C'mon, Let's Do It!!!

Project Remake

2010-12-06T12:47:00.007-07:00

Greetings from Alberta!

It's beautiful as you can see and we are loving the winter. Jimmy really loves to race around in the snow! We are settled and I am meeting more and more people. I will get right to it. Looking at the last blog, and seeing the stats from Mininova makes me excited! Here are today's stats: 39,458 from 172 countries. It's been gaining momentum and with the new project, it will gain even more.

As many people know. I lived without water for 13 of the last 16 years, so water has always been an important issue for me. Back in the spring, an idea popped into my head and as much as I resisted it, I am now fully committed to it. Here I go again! I have no idea how or when, but my mission is to get the movie re-made with stars, and have profits go to non-profit organizations that fight the Global Water Crisis.

Restaurants depend very heavily on water and I believe it's a perfect fit. Look into Peter Wentz and the UNICEF "Tap Water Project". I also believe there are issues in the world today that are being addressed, and being more benevolent to our fellow human being is one of them. From the research I've been doing, the time is right for a "benefit movie" and I am going to see this through even if I have gray hair and glasses when it happens! From what I am seeing with both the decrease in giving because of the hard times that abound around the world (oh I am sad about my dear Ireland) and the movement about treatment to servers (go to "I'm your server, not your servant" on Facebook) I know the time is NOW! What a concept. Go to a movie--something you already do- and help fellow human beings without dipping into your pocket for additional giving.

That's it for today. OK. Let's do it!

Back in Canada

2010-04-27T17:26:00.002-06:00

Greetings from the Great White North! Actually Spring is trying to make its way here so things are turning green.

It's been quite a while since I have blogged. One reason is because I have been without a computer for a long time, but now have one again so I might be here more often. Another reason is because I have been getting myself settled here in Canada. I was born here and spent time in Ontario- the Province of my birth and where most of my family lives- but then had to get back to the west where my heart is and has been for many years. It's been in the mountains in Colorado and now is near the beautiful Canadian Rockies. I had a chance to live in British Columbia in the mountains, but opted for a small cow town south of Calgary. I see the whole expanse of the mountain range from afar and it's pretty impressive. Just another experience to have under the ol' belt of life.

I have been away from the movie for a long time as I let it go out on its own. It has done well actually. Remember the Mininova thing--the free download? Well the movie has been downloaded over 28,000 times in 167 countries in the world! I didn't even know there WERE 167 countries! There are 195 or 203 depending on the source you get the info. So wow! Loads of people around the world are seeing the movie. My hope is that they are learning from it and treating restaurant people with more respect and politeness!

Ok anyone who might be reading this.....have a great day!

Just Hello

2008-10-28T09:22:00.002-06:00

Hello from colorful Wisconsin!

It's a beautiful fall day and the leaves are falling off the trees and it looks like it's snowing leaves! It's such a great time of year.

The PRWeb press release has been out now for almost 2 weeks and it's being seen by laods of people in many countries! It's great to get the word out and hopefully raise awareness of how people treat those in the restaurant industry. Click here to see the release. The movie is still being downloaded at a fairly steady rate now from Mininova and it's on a lot of other sites as well. It's on it's own now and it just keeps growing!

I haven't been able to get a job in this climate of hard times it seems, but I think in my case it's because I tend to move a lot lately, so it doesn't look good on paper. That's ok because change is in the air and I am looking forward to it! Ok, gotta go and I will be back here now and then but for the most part, I'm done! Time to move on and do something else. Have a good one!

PR Web Release

2008-09-30T12:37:00.002-06:00

Howdy!

Well I am back at home on the farm in Wisconsin and am ready for the next adventure whatever that is. I will be on the farm for a while though so as to start working my way back up to broke, but that is fine with me. I love living on a farm--especially after spending so much time in New Zealand out in the middle of nowhere!

I have been getting things organized with the movie and the last things that I will do with it. I feel that it has a life of its own now and I need to let it grow and be seen by as many people as possible. The download count goes in surges but it is still growing and that is great! The interesting thing is that I can only know how many times it's downloaded from Mininova, and so there are probably many more times from other websites, so that's a good thing!

I am getting ready to let it out on a PR Web release and I feel the timing is right. It's the last blast and I hope it's a good one! I was thinking the other day that it would make a great stocking stuffer for the waitress/waiter in your family, and you might even enjoy it too. Hey for less than 20 bucks you can cross another off your list! Just a thought...

Ok, well I am going to get back to waitressing as it's my favorite job when I look at everything, and besides it's the most fun way I know to make money fast! I have realized that I really do and did miss it and despite the wonderful times I had with the movie. When I was a waitress was when I was the happiest, so off I go to don an apron and get my corkscrew out! See ya.....

Missing New Zealand...

2008-09-10T12:59:00.005-06:00

Greetings from the mountains of Colorado. It's not exactly home but where the movie was shot anyway. I had put aside doing the blog for the remainder of the time I was in New Zealand. Why? Because the last thing that I wanted to be doing was sitting inside on a computer when I was in what I feel is the most beautiful country in the world. Plus after I left Oamaru I was on farms and way out in the country, so I was enveloped in that world of nature and animals.

I miss New Zealand terribly, but know that my decision to come back to this continent was the right one--for now! I am not closing any doors that's for sure. My experience in NZ was the greatest time for me and although I still have a few things to do with the movie, I am going to be making some big changes.

I highly recommend WWOOF-ing and Work Exchange to anyone who wants to learn about a country, the people and the culture. It's a wonderful way to be living there and you get to feel that you are accomplishing something by the work you are doing for the hosts. I almost can't pick out a favorite place but I will post a few photos of a couple of places and hope you enjoy them.

The movie free download is going great! There have been over 7000!!! people who have downloaded it! That is only from Mininova, and there are other sites, so probably there have been even more! I am happy about that for sure! I was hoping for more than one donation even after reading in places that it's worth the price of a movie (and I was happy to read that!) but they didn't follow through. Oh well at least I know from many of the emails I have received, that I have helped some people and that's what it's really all about!

Ok, will add a photo or two and will be back when I get the chance! Remember to follow your heart in whatever you want to do with your life and be true to yourself! Kia Ora...

Moving Around

2008-06-05T15:29:00.007-06:00

Howdy from Oamaru!

I have left the farm as have the cows...all 1200 of them! I am now in the town by the sea named Oamaru. It has some absolutely incredibly beautiful buildings here all made from their famous stone. People use it all over New Zealand for carving and art work and so many of the buildings are made from it. I find it beautiful in it's texture and soft color.

Being in a hostel makes for such interesting people to meet! Yesterday I was sitting in a car with 2 girls from Germany, a guy from Canada and a girl from France! We have been hanging out together and having so many laughs! Traveling is such a wonderful way to get exposed to different cultures and not just the country you are in, but as you hear the stories and spend time with people from other countries you can learn great things about their countries as well.

I have less than 2 months left here in New Zealand and I know the time will fly by! I am looking to go to a place with Holsteiner Horses and am not sure what I will be doing, but I am looking forward to it because I will be out in the country again. I might be able to go and harvest olives and work on other ranches and who knows what. It's an adventure, and it keeps on going!

Ok, I am going to add a couple of photos of the buildings and see how that goes.... I will be back!

National Waiters and Waitresses Day May 21st !

2008-05-21T14:57:00.003-06:00

Greetings!

Today is the day set aside to remember and celebrate those wonderful people who work so hard to serve you food and drink and fun times, 365 day a year! They work on all the Holidays and for the majority, their vacations are not paid time off. Most of them really do like or love their job, and they try to do what it takes to make you happy. They are in the largest non-government industry in America. They are your waiters and waitresses! (I would include bartenders here as well!)

I wanted to have this here yesterday when it was May 21st where I am . but I wanted to make sure that our promotional special was here before I did this and it is! Click here to see the great deal on the movie! I was thinking about this special day a lot yesterday and when I get back I am going to look into seeing what it takes to make this a known day on a bigger scale. It seems like it might be impossible to do, but I really think that making a movie was almost impossible too, but I did it with what I believe was truly Divine intervention--after all, it wasn't my idea to make a movie! But I jumped in and there it is. I love the emails that I get that say the story of the movie has inspired them to do something that they had put off!! Yippee!

I seem to just jump into things in my life and that brings me to want to say again why I am here in New Zealand. You might think that I made a lot of money on the movie or someone is supporting me to travel all around... Nothing is farther from the truth! I will still have to work to hit broke, but as anyone who knows me will testify, I am the Queen and I mean the Queen of frugality--did you know that you can get over 10 meals from one chicken? But I digress... I saw that there were opportunities here and since I absolutely loved it when I was here for a month 10 years ago (flexible schedule... ), I jumped in. If not for my air miles that were going to expire, I would still be on the farm in Wisconsin in my camper. But I thought what the heck and I'm here. It really is amazing here with all the resources to do work in exchange for room and board. You can work on organic farms or in hostels or in so many other places, and be fed and have a roof over your head! It's great! I am going to be moving on from here and will miss these wonderful people and their farm. But I will keep in touch. Wwoofing and work exchange is the only way I am here-- as I said before prices are through the roof and many of the Kiwis are even having trouble making ends meet. It's pretty interesting how they handle things though and I love so much about this place.

I have no idea about where I am headed to next, but I know that it will be wonderful. With the beauty and scenery, how could it not be! Even as I sit on a rainy and cold day in fall, I know that something great will show up and I will have more fun adventures! Well, I hope that you are especially nice to your waiters and waitresses and bartenders today and what the heck, make it a habit! (And nice doesn't always mean just a bigger tip, be creative and do something special!) I think we might even put a place on the site where you can tell about those special people who mean somthing more than just a server to you! Well have a great day and remember the Golden Rule!

Kia Ora,

Free Download is here!

2008-05-10T06:19:00.003-06:00

Hello again!

Hope you enjoyed the last blog, and as promised I have such great news about the movie that I just had to blog about it on its own...

I am here in New Zealand, but my wonderful buddy Jerry has been so busy in the States getting everything going so that you can now download the movie for free! Thank you Jerry! It's on the website and if you want to you can donate to the cause (for those of you who listened to the NPR interview, I really meant what I said about the finances! I am in New Zealand only because I had air miles ready to expire and I was thinking of moving here because I loved it 10 years ago and still do, but won't move here for a few reasons, one being how expensive it is! Gas and milk are both right at 8$ a gallon...it really is easier being poor elsewhere) or you can just download the movie and tell others so they get the messages! It's so exciting though because in less than a week, over 3000 people have downloaded it!!! I am thrilled to say the least. I even got a great email from a gal in Tasmania so I know it's being internationally downloaded. So very cool. Ok, that's it for now and I will return later on! I hope you enjoy the movie and as always love to hear what you have to say. Peace and smiles, Patti

NPR Radio

2008-05-03T14:18:00.002-06:00

Kia Ora!

That's the official greeting here in New Zealand. It's Sunday morning and before I head to church in beautiful Wanaka I thought I would update the blog. It's absolutely beautiful here and matter of fact reminds me very much of Summit County Colorado--where the movie was shot. I am headed to Queenstown where a lot of filming goes on and also where there are some 5 star restaurants that I am going to check out. The industry is so very different here and with all the talk on Waitersworld about tipping and pooling and minimum wage in most states but not all, I am curious to learn more about what it is here. I will post my findings later.

This weekend and into the week depending on the market, my NPR interview is being replayed. I am excited as last year when it was played, some really neat things happened from it. I am glad that I was able to inspire some people to also follow their hearts and persue their dreams! Not to mention the fact that people heard about the movie and shared it with others who might not understand our world. I think one of the best comments I heard was: "I am going to make my dad watch it because he is so mean to waitresses!" Music to my ears as that was why I made the movie--to show people who we reallly are, and not the crap that Hollywood wants you to believe we are.

Also new is the fact that you can download the movie onto your computer for free or a donation if you like. I just want people to see the movie and get the messages so we decided to do that. It still is available for purchase (and at a discount for a bit) so you can share it with friends not in the business. Well I have to get going but just wanted to say howdy. I will post again after talking to the 5 star people, and until then I will stay on the left side of the road! I love driving here, it's really fun! Have a great day and remember that life really is a gift, even on those days when you are discouraged. Make yourself laugh in the morning and it will be a better day!

From Here To Awesome Page is Up!

2008-04-13T23:47:00.003-06:00

Hello all!

It's here! The page is up and running and we are thrilled about it! We have been getting people looking at the site and hopefully people are getting a message about the movie. We hope that when we get the download available, people will take advantage of it and watch the movie. Here is the link to the clip in case you got here someother way...

I had another screening here in New Zealand and people really enjoyed the film and its messages. It is always so interesting what people see in the movie that I didn't think people they would after seeing it only one time. When you see it a couple of times, you even catch more of the message and the fun! There were even some people who have worked with Peter Jackson, so that was pretty cool!

I am staying here with a friend whom I know from Colorado and we are enjoying the West Coast of beautiful New Zealand. She has been here for 14 years has a pub/restaurant and is playing in a band so it's fun to be here visiting! I am going to be going down to the southern parts where the stations--what the call ranches here-- so maybe I will run into people with horses there and I can be around them for a bit.

Weel that's about it for now and hopefully I will have some more fun news soon! It's great to be here and even though I miss my family, I am happy here at the moment! Take care of your waitresses and waiters and bartenders! You wouldn't have the fun without them!

Peace,

New Zealand

2008-04-05T04:38:00.004-06:00

Hello or should I say Kia Ora,

That's the greeting here in New Zealand which is where I am at the moment. It's very beautiful here and the people are still as wonderful and nice as they were when I was here 10 years ago.

I am going to be here for a little bit and will keep a post going here on the blog. The big things happening are that the radio interview that was on NPR a year ago is going to be played again on KAWL--a staion in San Francisco. They are using the movie as a thank you for people who pledge to the station! I think that's really great! Still getting the message out. Also I am in the From Here to Awesome Film Festival on line and you can check out the video here. I have recently discovered that the review has disappeared and I am working on that. I apologize for this and will post when that is fixed.

I showed the film here for a group of people and they really liked it. One young man even told his dad when they were going home that he would like to be a waiter someday! I didn't ever really expect that response but was very happy to get it. Another guy came up to me the next day saying how much he enjoyed the movie and that he thought the actors did a great job. Always like hearing that!

I did a video for a group event here as a trade out for being able to live in a tee pee for a couple of weeks and showering outside. I loved it and recommend the outdoor life. Just watch out for the sand flies here! They are absolutely incredibly vicious and I have the scars to prove it on my hands and feet. Well nothing like a good scratching session.

It's getting late and I must go. I will let you know when the FH2A site is up and working with my special page. Hope you are having a wonderful day!

David Malsch Review

2008-03-04T19:50:00.003-07:00

Howdy again!

Yup, I just can't seem to get used to these modern day ways of keeping in touch. You would think with all the snow and cold weather I have been living in, I would be happy to sit inside and type along on the computer. But no, I actually always find a way to get outside and enjoy the cold.

Well, the great news is that I have had my first actual review by an experienced film critic. David Malsch is a critic who lives in Arizona who used to have The Blackpoint Film Festival here in Lake Geneva, and after I contacted him and sent a movie, he was able to squeeze me in and gave a fantastic review of the movie. He was very honest in saying that it's a low budget indie movie which it is, but he saw through the imperfections and found the heart of the movie. For that I am so grateful as he was able to see the movie and enjoy it for what it is. His review can be found here. I hope you take a moment to read it!

I am working on a new adventure and will put it down here when time allows as I will be very busy here for the next while. It will be revealed in good time...

In the mean time, be kind to your servers and let them know you appreciate their hard work!

Happy New Year

2008-01-23T13:44:00.001-07:00

Now that the Holidays are well over, it's time to be thinking about goals for the new year. Everyone you talk to about goals who is an accomplished goal maker will tell you that the best way to acheive goals is to write them down. I don't know about you, but I do find that writing things down does help. Think in your head about what you want, picture it and then write it down. I will tell you that when I was writing the movie and learning how to write a movie, I was picturing the movie up on a big screen. Well, if you have been around the website, you will know that it happened.

To say it wasn't easy will be a huge understatement, but I persisted even with 7 hard drive crashes (didn't know that did ya?) and rebuilding files that yes were backed up, but you can only back up huge files so much. Of course now with external drives with 1 million gigabytes (yes I exaggerate) that is not a problem, but you get the idea. Those were only the rough things that happened after everything else in this crazy adventure, so for those of you who want to be a filmmaker, remember that you must keep on going no matter what happens! Persistance in achieving your goals is key.

I am going to be changing the website again in a few ways and they will be in line with my goals that have gone back to the real reason I wrote and made the movie. I want people to see the movie and get the messages that are in the movie. By the way, after asking various folks about what they get from it, I am not getting a standard answer. That makes me happy to think that there are more messages to be seen than the obvious ones.

I will blog when I can and have things to say. Actually I have things to say everyday, just am not in the habit of doing this blogging thing. I am not of this generation who blogs.....guess I better get with it eh? Ok, see you on myspace or youtube or facebook. Oh yes the movie is on those too......

Have a great day and write down your goals!

Thanksgiving

2007-11-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

Holiday Greetings!

I hope Thanksgiving was a wonderful feast for everyone, and that they didn't eat too much! That certainly is hard to do at this time of year. At least those of us in cold climates can hide underneath sweaters!

No real news here except that orders continue to trickle in for the movie. I even had a call from someone who had ordered it in the spring, had a problem with Paypal, and is now wanting to re-order. (Paypal is working fine by the way) So that is encouraging to me! I have been told that the movie would make a great stocking stuffer or present for people in the restaurant business. One viewer even made a comment about the fact that since it isn't a snazzy and polished Hollywood production, it is more genuine and real. I was happy to hear that! It defineately is relateable and an honest look into our world, good and bad...

I have applied to speak at the National Restaurant Association Food Show in Chicago in May, so I am keeping my fingers crossed! I will post the result here when I get it. Well keep warm or cool and I will write again soon!

Peace,

In the Paper Again

2007-11-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

Back again...

Just a quick note to link to the latest article in the paper. There was a write up about the movie in the local paper here in southeastern Wisconsin. I was on the cover of The Week with a great article inside. I was very happy with the article written by Donna and hope you take a moment to look at it! Have a great day and be happy and safe.
Click here for link.

Chain Leader

2007-11-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Wow what a great conference! It was so fabulous to meet such wonderful people at the helms of so many restaurants. Everyone was very friendly and they made it easier for me to get up and speak to such an elite group of restaurateurs. I just pretended that they were one big table... ;)

I showed the trailer for the film, then used various clips to help me tell the story about the making of the movie as well as telling them about the movie itself. I asked for help in getting the messages in the movie out there. I ended with telling them that if they have a dream in their hearts, no matter how crazy or impossible it seems, do it! Jump off that cliff because if you believe the net will be there, it will be. I know.

One of the facts I mentioned is that there is a National Waiters and Waitresses Day. Did you know that? Yup. It's May 21st, and not many people know about it. I myself who had been in the restaurant business for almost 30 years just recently found out!!! How crazy is that?? Heck, I knew about International Speak Like A Pirate Day! (September 19th) and there are a lot more people in the restaurant business than there are pirates--in this country anyway! Why don't we know about it?

I don't know what will happen from the conference, but it seems that they enjoyed my story. I was applauded twice! That was really cool to experience. I might get a different line of work from this... I do know that when I get started on the whole reason why I made the movie, I really get going and everyone seems to want to keep me away from coffee! I have been exposed to many articles and discussions about why servers aren't respected and what we can do about that. I guess I thought that making a positive movie was what I was called to do. Now I just have to figure out how to get it in front of the masses. On that note, I better get back to it. Hope all are well and jump off that cliff. It's not always smooth going but it's worth it.

The Morning Blend

2007-10-16T18:39:00.000-06:00

Greetings from back in Wisconsin!

The travels are over for a bit and it is great to be home again. My trip to Colorado was of course fun because I was able to be around that bunch of silly friends, and the golden leaves of the aspens as they fluttered in the wind was very familiar and great to see again.

After The Motivation Show in Chicago, where coincidentally I was able to connect with some restaurant people, I headed to New Jersey to help a friend move some furniture. We were like real truckers being almost as high as the semi's! Man it was a fun adventure. I always wanted to be a trucker and I think I still do!

Back home to prepare for my first television appearance for the movie. (I was on Hee Haw when I lived in Nashville oh-so-long ago, sittin' on a hay bale justa clappin' and a grinnin'!) But anyway, it was really fun to talk with Allison and Molly about the movie. They were very nice ladies and I think they had fun too! You can check out the segment for the next 30 days here! It was a great experience for me to be there and the staff was very friendly and helpful! I hope that this will be a start so I can be on other shows to really get the message out. One lady ordered the movie and she had never even been a waitress, she said it looked good, so she bought it!

Well. gotta go, but I will be back soon with news about other happenings that are in the works! Have a great day and be true to yourself.

Colorado

2007-09-18T13:13:00.000-06:00

Greetings from the beautiful state of Colorado!

It's been a fun time here visiting with friends and meeting new ones. I am getting advice on the upcoming TV appearance as well as the conference in California, which is great. Being here reminds me of the time making the movie and what a fun experience it really was. There is a lot to be thankful for yes indeed. Well I am on vacation so to speak, so back to work! People to see things to get done!

2007-09-04T10:25:00.000-06:00

Howdy!

The summer is officially over now that Labor Day has come and gone. I hope the grills were busy and the fun was flowing for all. I learned something about a small resort area in Illinois yesterday. They missed out on business!! My friend and I met at a small restaurant bar to enjoy lunch and old times working together at Silverheels in Colorado, and they were closed! As we were sweating in the parking lot (I was hot from my leathers as I was on my motorcycle--yes I took off the jacket...) deciding where to go, about five other parties came by and also were very disappointed. This was in a span of less than 5 minutes. So we went to the nearby community of Geneva and on the main street where many of the restaurants are, none were open! We just couldn't figure it out. We had never had a Labor Day off in our resort community and there really were many people walking around. Yes I know it's a bbq day and all, and I think that formal restaurants might not be so busy, but burger and beer spots that are appealing to many (and there also were many many bikes out on the road...) people would be busy. Ah well such is the way and we ended up enjoying an outdoor place where an incredible guitarist was serenading the customers.

I am heading to Colorado in a few days to attempt a vacation but know that won't happen. A lot of running around for the movie, but I love it. I'm just happy to be able to spend time in the mountains and be with my friends! I am excited about the things that are happening and now-- I'm slated to be on The Morning Blend, a TV show out of Milwaukee, so I am thrilled about that! I will get this word out one way or another! Well, gotta get to work!

Slainte!
Patti

Oh yeah, Irish Fest was great! Although even the Irish folks were complaining about the rain so that goes to show what a deluge it really was!

2007-08-16T13:06:00.000-06:00

Hello!

Been a while since I have blogged, I seem to be so busy this summer that it's flying by. The horse carriage job will be winding down soon and I can get back to concentrating on the movie!

Have I not blogged since USA Today!? Well, besides that, there was an article in Nation's Restaurant News on July 16, (http://www.nrn.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2farticle.aspx%3fid%3d343038&id=343038) and I was also in the National Restaurant Association's newsletter that went out on July 16! (http://www.restaurant.org/pdfs/washingtonreport/2007/wreport_2007_07_16.pdf) So things are happening and the word is slowly getting around. I have shipped movies to Hawaii as well as Alaska and almost every state on the mainland. Now I have shipped to Canada as well! I am officially international. (Well I kinda was before as some friends in Ireland have seen and liked the movie.)

One restaurateur even bought multiple copies to give to his FOH staff as a token of appreciation for a summer well done. If anyone else in interested in this type of fun reward, contact me as I gave him a bulk discount.

I hope you are enjoying a fun and profitable summer. I will strive to be a better blogger...

Slainte,
Patti (it's Irish Fest this weekend!)

USA Today!

2007-06-12T15:11:00.000-06:00

HEY!!!

It's here! The article in

USA Today

appeared today, June 12th and what an article! I had no idea that it was going to be that big! Thank you Craig Wilson!

It talks mostly about what it's like to be a waitress and what our lives are like which mirrors the movie in that regard. As those of you who have seen the movie know how it is a slice of life look at the lives of servers. Craig and I talked of many things and the general idea is certainly there. Restaurant workers deserve respect and it

a hard job! Reading some of the comments people have added makes me think though that they didn't quite understand certain things. For instance my comment about the "hanky panky in the kitchen" was not saying that it doesn't happen. It does--hooking up of cooks and servers, or bartenders whatever. What was meant was that it doesn't happen in the

actual

kitchen in the middle of a shift (or bathrooms all the time as other films have portrayed), but it might happen upstairs. All righty then... we are in the paper!!!

Check out the article here

We would love to hear your comments!

USA Today

2007-05-24T11:00:00.000-06:00

After returning from the NRA Show, and not even upacking my motorcycle, I had the wonderful experience of meeting Craig Wilson from USA Today. We spent the afternoon together at a few restaurants, talking with managers and staff about some of the unique issues of restaurant work in a resort community as opposed to restaurant work in "the real world". We had a delicious meal at Gilbert's in Lake Geneva, where I had previously worked, and chatted about my movie and also about the new movie "Waitress" which was recently released. It really strikes me how very different the movies are in some ways, yet there are very similar threads that run through each one. The timing is also amazing to me, and I hope it helps us to be discovered by someone who can help get the word out. We will see! As I said in the other note, better get back to work! Cheers!

NRA Show

2007-05-24T10:51:00.000-06:00

WOW!
It was absolutely an amazing experience to be at the show in McCormick Place. The place is massive and there were thousands of booths and millions of people! Well maybe not that many but it sure seemed like it! I was up and down every isle and enjoyed meeting loads of great people. I knew it would be fun...restaurant people can't help but be fun! I did manage to eat some delicious food and try a bit of wine, but I really was busy yapping happily about the film. Now it's time to sort it all out and contact everyone. It will take a while--but it will get done! Ok, back to work!

NRA Show

2007-05-17T08:18:00.000-06:00

Hey!

Patti here and I am going to go to the National Restaurant Association Food Show in Chicago this weekend! (May 19th-22nd) I am excited as I will be around really cool people again...the restaurant crowd. I have been holed up working on the movie and all the behind the scene type things that go on, so it will be fun to get out again! I am going to do research, learn new things and eat a bunch! Better wear my big pants for this! Will be back with any news. Slainte! Patti... (Oh yeah, that's cheers in Gaelic)