Is this heaven?

Just got over a summer cold. I haven't had a cold in the summer in a LOOOONG time. It's just as "unfun" in the summer as it is in the winter. ;)
Then this week not one...but both our cars broke down and are in the shop! Don't know where the money is going to come from for those problems. We also had to rent a car. What a bummer. However, I do have to say I like driving this little rental Nissan instead of my usual Eurovan. I feel like I've lost 200 lbs. lol!

Now we are heading to Iowa...

John Kinsella: Is this heaven?
Ray Kinsella: It’s Iowa.
John Kinsella: Iowa? I could have sworn this was heaven.
Ray Kinsella: Is there a heaven?
John Kinsella: Oh yeah. It’s the place where dreams come true.
Ray Kinsella: Maybe this is heaven

My hubby quickly made this pic yesterday night. I think it's cute.

Field of Dreams...love that movie! We’re heading to Iowa for 2 public screenings of Mad City Chickens this weekend. Iowans want their backyard chickens, and we hope to help them get ‘em.

~June 27, 2009 Iowa City Environmental Film Festival presented by IC Friends of Urban Chickens - 2:00pm Robert A. Lee Rec Center Social Hall, 220 S. Gilbert St.

~June 28, 2009 Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Public Screening presented by Cedar Rapids Chicken Chat group and the Indian Creek Nature Center - 2:00pm Indian Creek Nature Center.

Anyone in Iowa? Come on out for the free screenings. I'd love to see ya.

Back from Seattle

Just back home from a whirlwind trip to Seattle, promoting and screening our documentary Mad City Chickens.

We had a 3 hour layover in Minneapolis. Then our connecting plane to Seattle was a few hours late. By the time we got into Seattle on Thursday night it was 3:00 am our time. That set me up to be tired for the rest of the trip but I still had a blast!

The Friday night MCC movie screening went well. Around 160 people showed up even though, quite uncharacteristically it was a beautiful sunny day and gorgeous evening.



On the radio at 7:30 the next morning. That's us and the Seattle city chicken educator from the Seattle Tilth group. What fun!


As it was Robert's and my first time in Seattle. Our host family (& new friends) took us around to see some of the highlights of the city.



Saw some fish "thrown" at the downtown market. Yes, when you ordered fish they throw it to the packers.










Free chocolate tasting at the chocolate factory tour!!!! I won't show you the pics of us in the hair nets. ;)



On Sunday we were up at 5:00 am and spent the whole day at airports again and on various planes to get back to Madison. The plane from Seattle to Detroit had an all male cabin crew and a female captain welcomed everyone aboard. How refreshing!

Anybody in Seattle? There is another screening of our film tonight in Seattle. However, because of a schedule conflict we couldn't stay.
Here's the skinny on the screening:
7:00pm
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
4408 Delridge Way SW.
Seattle, WA, USA, Earth, Milky Way, The Universe.
lol!

Mad City Chickens - DVD released

I am very happy to announce that after three years in the making, Mad City Chickens, my independent feature-length documentary on people who keep chickens in the city has been released on DVD!

Pasted below is a press release promoting the DVD. If you know of anyone who might be interested, feel free to forward it on.

Thanks for your support.
Tashai

~~~~~~~~

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tarazod Films Releases Mad City Chickens On DVD

It's here—the film that's been causing a buzz in the backyard chicken world! Tarazod Films has released Mad City Chickens on DVD. Three years in the making, the 79 minute documentary is a sometimes wacky, sometimes serious look at the people who keep urban chickens in their backyards.

Filmmakers Tashai Lovington and Robert Lughai take you into the backyard like you've never seen it before. From chicken experts and authors to a rescued landfill hen or an inexperienced family that decides to take the poultry plunge—and even a mad scientist and giant hen taking to the streets—it’s a humorous and heartfelt trip through the world of backyard chickendom.

With over 60 minutes of extras, the DVD includes: The Making of Mad City Chickens featurette, Cheryl Long from Mother Earth News, Cherrie’s Backyard Chicken Tips, deleted scenes and interviews, bonus chicken footage, movie trailers and more!

The filmmakers worked for three years before completing the film, shooting on location in WI, IA, TX, KS, MI, and CA. They met with chicken experts and poultry enthusiasts, and gathered over 40 hours of interviews and chicken footage. They have appeared on Public Television, the CW Network, and on numerous talk radio shows in the US and Canada as well.

Mad City Chickens opened to shining reviews at the 2008 Wisconsin Film Festival and continues to please audiences at festivals and public screenings across the US and Canada.

“I never thought I would sit here mesmerized, open-mouthed over a chicken movie,” declared one audience member at the end of the evening. Neither did I. Kristian Knutsen, Isthmus Daily Page.

Buy the DVD ($21.95) from the Tarazod Films online shop at www.tarazod.com/shop
The return of the backyard chicken...the city will never be the same again!

Redesigned film site

Sorry dear readers for my two week absence. I've been working around the clock--it seems--trying to get our new redesigned website up in time for our latest film screening March 10th. Since I still had obligations to go to my other job as well, I ended up working 7 days a week and well into the nights. So some other things had to be let go for a while.

BUT...Hooray! All the hard work has finally paid off. I launched the redesigned site yesterday. There are still a couple glitches I'm working on. A few side pages are still in the works but the main pages are done! Whew, I can breathe again! (and have a life again.)

Above is a screen capture of the new home page. Here's the url to take a "live" look: www.tarazod.com
Please let me know if you find any links not working or other issues. Thank you!