Travel Size Saves The Day – NYC Moments #123

It was one of those face draining moments:  I was on the F train on my way to a seminar to possibly (if my number was drawn out of the hat) audition in front of an agent and casting director, when I realized I had forgotten to put on deodorant.  Two things you never forget on your way to an interview:  Your resume and deodorant.  Being that I’m a problem solver, I immediately went into salvage the situation mode:  Duane Reade.  Travel Size aka: Purse Size.  Crisis averted.  I get to the SAG office and head straight to the ladies room only to discover that another actress had forgotten to put hers on as well.  I offered to share my now only once used stick, but she declined.  As it turns out, my number was not called to perform, but I was dry and ready to go if I had been one of the lucky ones.

copyright JillAnne

9 July 2009

Tripple A plus B plus C equal D- NYC Moments #122.5

I was out dancing tonight and through the course of the evening I was approached in various ways by three different guys. The first was from Albania.  The second was from Australia.  The third was from Africa.  I’m sensing a pattern here.  I didn’t want to have  a repeat of NYC Moments #122 so when Mr. Albanian sidled up to me with this puppy dog look and kept getting closer and closer in a passive fashion.   I overtly turned to him and said, “You touch me and I’ll hit you.”  then I continued to boogie away.  Mr. Australia was much more direct and understandable to me.  ”Would you like a drink?”  ”No thank you”, I said politely, where upon he went up to the next gal and seemed to have much more success.  Mr. Africa was dancing next to me and just grabbed my hand and started twirling.  I never knew you could partner dance to house music but apparently it is possible.  I would prefer someone who actually asks me rather than just taking, but things were put back in balance when he asked for my number and I just smiled and said no.  You are probably wondering where the ‘B’ comes in from the title.  I was just in one of those moods of not wanting to be Google-able so I told them all my name was ‘Betty’.   The ‘C’ stands for clubbing at Cielo whose DJ was pretty damn good.   All in all the evening was a ‘D’.   Damn good dancing for me.

Copyright JillAnne

4 July 2009

I’m worth more than a beer – NYC Moments #122

If you’re inhibitions are down when you drink, then is what you say what is REALLY on your mind?  Or when you say something asinine, is it the alcohol talking?  I stopped in a bar the other night because it seemed like a good band was playing.  For those of you who are new to following my posts, here is a news flash:  I love music.  Subways, bars, ballrooms, where ever it is, you will probably find me.  Which is the only reason I stepped into that bar to begin with:  Music.  Being that I am an attractive woman, I do get hit on frequently but this guy beat all records.  I didn’t even have time to look at the band before he was offering to buy me a drink.  So we talked as well as you can in a music bar, listened to music, yelled above the music some more and listened some more.  After a bit, I really needed to go home because I was tired, so I let my new friend know this.  He immediately grabs my arm firmly and demands that I stay.  No, I really need to go and you really need to let go of my arm.  Well, what about my needs??? He demands to know.  It is at this point that my jaw drops to the ground.  I missed the part in school where they tell everyone that one beer (and they didn’t even have Blue Moon)  makes you obligated to the other person.  If I had know that I would have bought my own damn beer.  Needless to say, I removed his hand from my arm and proceeded to walk home.  Alone.

A Little Aloha at The Duplex – NYC Moments #121

I love the island of NYC but sometimes I miss The Islands.   Yes, you can be jealous…I used to live in Hawaii and still go back about 3 times a year.  In between those trips though it is nice to run into the real thing.  I’m not talking about saying ‘Hang loose’ to the guy a the Quick Silver store, I’m talking about someone saying ‘Me ka hau’oli a me ke aloha pumehana’ (with warmth, laughter and love) and really meaning it.  You don’t have to know each other to know another Kama’aina (local).  I was at the Duplex on a date when this guy walked in wearing a Maori (fish bone style pendant) and I just knew he was the real deal.  I hadn’t realized how much I needed a little bit of genuine aloha until I saw an Islander.  Of course, I’m not shy, so on my way out I went up to him and said ‘Aloha’ and his eyes lit up ‘Kama’aina?’ he asked.  ’Hapa haole’ I replied meaning I’m a mix.  He immediately showed that he really is Hawaiian and not just by blood by saying ‘Kama’aina!’ and giving me a big hug.   I know that I now have my own little Hawaiian ohana (family) out there in the West Village.  It isn’t the village of Haleiwa, but for me this one gentleman’s warmth, acceptance and genuineness touched me as only the Island can and for that I say to my new friend, ‘Mahalo and Me ka hau’oli a me ke aloha pumehana’.

Much aloha to all…Jillanne Ohana

An Unexpected Tribute – NYC Moments #120

As I was strolling home after discovering that my Chinese place was closed, I walk by this bar on 3rd Ave between Ave B and C that had a  sign out:  ”Beer Special and Michael Jackson music all night.”  I wasn’t so interested in the beer, but Mr. Jackson…  I initially was really looking forward to just going home and getting some shut eye, but it only took minor encouragement from one of the guys outside to get me in.   I did tell him that now that I am committed to paying tribute to Mr. Jackson, I would need someone to dance with.  This wasn’t entirely true because for those of you who know me, I LOVE to dance and I ain’t shy.  For that matter neither were most of the other patrons in the place…we just all danced together as Michael blared out over the loud speakers.  I have to say that my dance partner was much better at the ‘Michael Moves’ than I was but I was game to give it a whirl.  One of the beauties of NYC is that we all seem to know how to just get out there and have fun.  We were each in out own way paying tribute to a wonderful artist who will live on in our lives through his music and dancing.  It is a gift to each of us that he shared his talents with the world and I for one am very humbled and grateful to him.

Baptism Part 2 – NYC Moments #119.5

It turns out that this mornings dousing by the NYC Water Truck was just a tiny review of what my evening would hold.  I went to the show Fuerza Bruta at the Daryl Roth Theatre in the Union Square area. This show is like life:  Surreal, fascinating, exciting and best of all you never know what to expect. There is nothing wrong with just standing back and watching but if you can be free and participate fully  you will experience bliss.  Go to the show and allow yourself the glory of living life fully…
http://www.fuerzabrutanyc.com/

Many thanks to my friend Zack for turning me onto this amazing experience

copyright Jillanne Ohana
17 June 2009

Baptism by Flower Water – NYC Moments #119

In many religions and cultures you are baptized and thus renewed. It’s a big event for most as well as new start for some. What about those moments when you just need a little pick me up that isn’t in the form of say, chocolate? I was in a funk this morning and went for my usual cup of organic coffee at Whole Foods in the Bowery. I did manage to not go for the chocolate chip scone because I must have known at an intuitive level that there was a better way.  I found it sitting at a red light on Houston in the form of a NYC water truck.  It was dousing with a beautiful arc of water the pretty flowers in the median. Impulse took hold and I dashed from my corner and triumphantly stood with arms flung high under the arc of water coming from the top of the truck and was thus baptised NYC style. I yelled ‘Thank you!’ and skipped off home.  It was just what I needed to put a bit of the kid back in me in this very adult world and a smile on my face.

copyright Jillanne Ohana
17 June 2009

Call Girl – NYC Moments #118

I went to a ‘model call’ from Craig’s List today. Everything seemed kosher: the office had all the appropriate comp cards and headshots on the wall, there was an assistant working away at the next desk. The add was for ‘ethnic’ models in my portrayable age range. “So…would you like to do films?” “I’m already an actress and if it’s a union project I would love to.” “You won’t do non-union?” “Of course I won’t. I support my union.” I smile sweetly. “You could just, uhh, use a different name.” “No non-union film work.” I smile sweetly. “Will you do lingerie shots?” “As you can see from my portfolio you just looked at (but he really didn’t look) I have done lingerie shots before. “Well, I just wanted to make sure.” I smile sweetly. “Will you do lingerie at conventions?” “No.” “Will you do lingerie for, uhhh, ‘evening’ events?” Ah ha! Now we are getting to what he really wants. “I’ll think about it.” I smile not so sweetly as I get up to leave…promising to ‘keep in touch’. He was very clever about all this. Never once did he mention the terms ‘call girl’ or ‘escort girl’, but let’s face it, I ain’t stupid. Now if I continued to look on Craig’s List for modeling/acting work…well….then I would be.

Copyright Jillanne Ohana
15 June 2009

Facebook Geek – NYC Moments #117

Hi my name is Jillanne and I am a Facebook Geek. Who else would leave her friends at a club, jump on a bus, get off the bus, run down the street in heals, dash through the lobby and up four flights of stairs just to log onto Facebook. Actually it was more than just that: I was after ‘Jillanne’ as a user name. I planned my whole day around the stoke of midnight plus one second for this was when I could, along with zillions of others,  try and get my own personal user name. Planning and being a Geek worked because I am now the one and only owner of ‘Jillanne’ as a user name on Facebook (well…and Twitter too). The only sad thing is that I could not get a user name for my  fan page since I didn’t have enough fans.  Apparently, I need 1000 to qualify, so perhaps you and your friends could help me out and become my fan at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jillanne-Ohana/89893293436?ref=ts

PS – for those of you on my other fan page, I am switching to the little ‘a’ version and will be deleting that page so add yourself to the new one. Thanks!!!

My Haiku – NYC Moments #116

New York Rocks My World

Art, Music, Culture Is Galore

Much Too Little Sleep

copyright Jillanne Ohana – would be Haiku Master

12 June 2009