Paul's Corner

There's more; keep it comin'! (Isn't it sad?- there's always more)

Paul--you captured how I felt on Monday--while with my family and friends celebrating my niece's birthday and Labor Day festivities . . .

Paul you've always got us and it still amazes me that you share so much of yourself with others. When I think of you I see a man with a full life. I see a man pursueing his dreams. I hope you're working on a business plan for your small brewery because your celebrity combined with a good plan will do the trick. I know you can make your goals a reality. I got a fortune cookie once that said "A goal is just a dream with a deadline" and I've read that a bakery combined with a brewery has been a successful business plan for centuries. Talk to some people in the small scale bakery biz. There's someone out there just waiting to team up with you. You're not alone Paul. I know you can do the hustle! Get out there and find like-minded people and make your pitch. I believe in you and keep you in my prayers.
You're the best!
Whitney

I am going through a difficult time in my life right now so reading this poem has come at an insteresting time.

In a moment of feeling that one would only exist in lonliness without love or of being special and the thought that one would exist like this until time has come to pass disheartens the spirit . But I believe the question really is, am I truly understanding my existence, that the opportunity to be loved and connected is really a state of mind and it is truly a choice rather than a fate?

Its still difficult...

all my best,
Julie

Whitney its good to hear from you!!

Ahhh... How often I have felt alone in a crowd. How often I've faded into the shadows and wished someone would notice me, would reach out to me.

Then again how often have I seen someone else standing in the shadows and ignored their plight in favor of staying with my comfortable friends.

Paul,
I hear the sadness in your words without seeing you. I hope for some sense of peace for you to read that across the world there are people who check daily to see if you have posted with the anticipation of finding out how you are and what you are doing and what your thoughts are. If a hug could be sent through a computer, I would send one now. Peace and comfort to you.
Jill

Gidday Whitney!! Nice to hear from you, I was looking over some of my recipes and comments and read one or two of yours and - as I often do about friends who have come and gone from here - wondered how you were. I am glad to have heard from you. Yes I am still working on the beer plans. Frustratingly havent come across that person who could help me take all these plans, dreams, goals I have to that level that they must surely someday acclaim. I shall keep at it! Thank you for your thoughts.

Ah Julie you are making me think! There are things that happen that truly are outside of our control - this is called fate. The challenge there in lies in how we choose to deal with fate, for in making choices we become victors of fate and not it's victims.

Truly understanding ones existence - a lifetimes journey - seems to lead to a myriad of lucid moments interspersed with moments of chaos and aloneness. The aloneness I think are moments of intense introspection, the chaos is the hand of fate making it's mark and those lucid moments are gifts letting us know we are on the right track.

Choose happiness.

Feeling very lonely and very sad this evening.

There are things I wish I could put into words in response to what has been said here that resonates with me, about the choice to be loved and connected, about fate, about choosing happiness, but today is not that day for me. I'm trying to find hopefulness in sadness, in the middle of tears, to believe in what I know to be 'true' even if the going is tough right now. Sadness, loneliness and aloneness are all part of life, and I embrace them as such, I just wish someone else would do the same and not pull away from me.

Evelyn you said it - you will find hope, not in your tears or sorrow but in that which you believe to be true.

I am sorry that it is tough going at the moment hey I know the feeling and share your sentiment.

It is doubly hard when there is a "someone" who is not doing.

I was going to finish that sentence with.... what you want, what is expected, what you think they should, what is right, what is good for them, the best they can, what is plainly clear what they should, the right thing... but maybe none of them fit. The frustrating thing of all is the 'not doing'!

Paul, thanks for your kind words!! The "someone" is actually my soul mate which makes the doubly hard even more doubly hard.

[this is all based on impressions he left with me in our phone conversation earlier!) I hope he finds the strength to sit with his pain, to embrace it instead of pulling away and avoiding it and I hope he finds the strength to let me be with him in his pain instead of pushing me and us away, even if I contribute to his pain because we have to be apart right now which is pretty damn difficult to take as is! Maybe he is doing the best he can right now to deal with his overwhelming emotions. ???

I've felt very lonely ever since he left for Europe for the year, but today I feel even more lonely because he's pulling away in pain instead of letting me support him. I admire his honesty that he told me, but it hurts like hell right now.

I know: give it time, let him sort it out, etc. ... but I want to be part of that and not be cut out.

Hope, definitely! but for tonight more soul-cleansing tears. Do you remember Paul from way back when when I had just come to your corner something you said made me draw again for the first time in 10 years? That was about soul cleansing tears as well. Interestingly enough, of all the drawings and paintings that I have made since and that he has seen, this is the one that moved him the most and the first one he commented upon. Not too long ago, I made him a copy of it. Feels a bit ironic right now.
Ah the dramas of love ...

Dear Paul,

I am very sorry you feel like this. I hope good things come to you very soon.

Rocío

I've been keeping up with The Corner a little through dear Evelyn but haven't been visiting as often. When I found it, so many years ago, it got me through a terribly lonely time and I'm so grateful to have met life-enhancing people through this incredible (thank you cat) site.

Being so close to Paul's age (45 this Nov) I was filled with the hope of helping somehow but finally concluded that I wasn't focusing enough on my own career life to be of any real help. Though I know finding help isn't your whole intent in posting here Paul and I think we receive as much as we give, truely. I began to feel like your big sis, a bit, and like others who read this site, I naturaly send you and yours good wishes, but I was spending too much time on the computer and chose to put more time into sorting out this mess I call my life ;-).

Evelyn write!!! Millie, I love you!!! Paul you and your real, as well as "virtual" family are always in my prayers. Having said all this please forgive me for typing the following long missive written by Fra Giovanni in 1513 AD:

"There is nothing I can give which you have not;
but there is much, very much, that while I cannot give it,
you can take.

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today.
Take heaven!

No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant.
Take peace!

The gloom of the world is but a shadow.
Behind it, yet within reach, is joy.

There is a radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see, and to see we have only to look.
I beseech you to look.

Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly, or heavy, or hard.
Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it a living spendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power.
Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel's hand that brings it to you.

Everything we call a trial, sorrow, or a duty, believe me
that angel's hand is there, the gift is there, and the wonder of an over shadowing presence.

Our joys too: be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts.

And so, at this time I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you now and forever the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.

Fra Biovanni 1513 AD ----------

Just had to share that. Can't pretend to understand everything written but so much of it makes sense.

Best,
Whitney

ps: I saw the bakery/brewery info on the history channel: something to do with both activities requiring yeast. And I got the "find like-minded people" advice from Tibetan monks living in Kyoto Japan. I went in 2005!!! My hostess "booked online" a reading for $30. I ended up eating lunch with the second and third monk beneath the Dali Lama!!! Japan is so beautiful!! If we have a photo abum, I'll share some pictures. W

Whitney--thanks for sharing this with us. I especially liked this part:

Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly, or heavy, or hard.
Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it a living spendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power.
Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel's hand that brings it to you.

And Paul, I also appreciate your comment about fate:
The challenge there in lies in how we choose to deal with fate, for in making choices we become victors of fate and not it's victims.

Evelyn--I also feel for you. I've been coping with a similar situation myself and am becoming more resigned to let it go for good. If it comes to that, I do it knowing I've done all that was possible, at least from my side of the relationship. All the best to you. :)

Melody

Thanks Whitney for the inspirational poem!

Peace is a choice, but sometimes hard to come by, as is seeing the positive and joyous in the dark, I am seeking all which is life affirming!

Melody, I too wish you the very best in your difficult situation. Let's affirm the beauty and the truth we experience in these relationships, no matter what the outcome may be. Big hug to you!

Paul, as usual your words are a comfort and make me think. And big hugs to Evelyn and Whitney. My husband's been gone for more than a year now, its so hard. We have been through some of the toughest emotional troubles while he's been gone, but now that we can see the light at the end (only around three months left!!), that hope of joy is becoming reality. There were times when I seriously wondered what would happen and how things would turn out. But we never lost hope.
Janey

Although I don't post much, I read and pop in once in a while. So many new faces have replaced the older ones and I wonder where they are and what they're doing. I enjoy every newbie's posts and my eyes light up whenever I see something from an old friend.

Paul is my constant here and I can count on him to make me think and feel with his words. Where he finds such beautiful words is beyond me, but I am so glad he shares them with us.

I know how it feels to be alone in a crowd, to have someone look at you and not see you. My life is filled with crowded places where no one sees me and only seek me out when they need something. Then they forget until next time, but I am at the point now where I can't give any more.

Am I selfish? Yes, but as the years catch up with me, I look toward the future and find that the years I have left are dwindling fast. All the years that I gave to others and forgot about myself makes me wonder now that I am alone again.

Was it worth it?

Thanks, Evelyn--in retrospect, affirming the beauty and truth in things is a far better way to go--wish I did that last night!

Sally, I've found myself like that, too. But also am glad I gave whatever I could during certain times. It does become worth it. Sometimes things come back to us in ways we least expect. I hope they do for you. :)

"a victors of fate and not its victims." I like that.

Whitney, I don't want to speak for our Milie but I'm sure she would love to see those pictures of your trip to Japan. I think its wonderful that you travel and seek new experiences the ones that make life juicy. Now I need to get off my butt and follow your example and find some new experiences. When I finish skin care school in about hmmm three months (I went back to school a month ago to get certified in facials so I can do massage and skin care).

Sally I understand that one can feel "used up" giving and giving. But the trick is not to hide but find those who give back whether they take your advise that improves their happiness, laughing at your joke or appreciating you company all of which can put a spring back in your step.

and since its Friday I'll be off to Waxy's soon to listen to some really bad jokes ans stories from some old sailors who lived the prime of their lives in the seventies.

Wow, you don't check in for a few days...

Feeling out of place or overlooked in a crowd... Yes, I can relate. I'm sure at times I've even been guilty of making others feel that way. Its not a pleasant feeling, although I do know some who prefer to be on the outside observing.

When I lived in NY I participated in a workshop for actors to help us with character development. Well the workshop actually ended up incorporating many factors of your real life into the acting, and it became a life changing experience for me. One of the things we were told is to "take in" everyone. Simply, when you come upon someone (for example passing them on the sidewalk) don't look away or down but look them in the eyes and really see who they are. It was a difficult exercise for many, but I found it was something I did quite well. However, in order to take someone in you have to be willing to allow them to do the same with you. Its a two way street, so to speak - but its great for helping people feel accepted. :o)

Evelyn, my thoughts are with you. You seem to know what is best for you right now.

Melody, all the best for you as well as you work through your difficult time.

As for me, I'm moving forward in my life. Yesterday I interviewed for a new position at work. I will not know the outcome for 3 weeks, so please keep me in your thoughts. Also, I'm planning to go back to university in the Spring. This is a huge step for me as I've never been a big school person but I know I need to do this to continue to move forward in my chosen career and to get out of what I'm currently doing. I promise to keep you posted.

All the best to those who lurk or who post once in awhile that I don't know very well. I hope everyone enjoys their weekend. :o)

Hi Paul

Hope you're well.

Whoa! Yet again the depth of your words astound me. To feel alone in a crowd... I know that feeling very well, thankfully not so much in recent months.

Sorry I haven't checked in lately, life is hectic. Well I'm disappearing again now..hopefully not for as long!

Best wishes to you, your family and everyone here.

Take care,

Clair. XXXX

Dear Paul,

Really very sad your words.We are with you, you are not alone, we can see you!!

My best wishes for you and your family.

Maria
Madrid-Spain.

Sally, if in the giving, you were being true to your self, then that makes it worth it, I think. And that worth doesn't rest in the hands of those you were giving to. It rests within your own essence, which could only have grown stronger with any act of kindness or compassion. It's not always easy to sense that though. Particularly when we're feeling low. Or alone. But that doesn't make it any less true.

I'm hoping for you that this time ahead will be a time for all that energy that you sent out to others to come back to you. Maybe this is the time laid out on your journey for you not to forget yourself. For you to come first. That can be a difficult shift to make for yourself, I know. But it can be done. And it sounds like you truly deserve that. I wish you happiness and good things ahead, Sally.

Evelyn, I wish you the best with all that's going on for you at the moment and I hope that things work out for this special relationship. Sometimes the stuggle is at the heart of better things being able to grow and develop. I hope so :)

Whitney, it was such a lovely surprise to see your name here! I loved the poem. Thanks for that.

Hello to dear Millie, Julie and to all my friends here. Hello to all the new faces too.

Special hello to Peter down under and to Michelle in Chicago.

Paul, as always, I wish you all good things and send my love to you. Thank you for all the wonderful connections that have crossed my path because of this special place.

Love to all,
Mary

Hi everyone,

Yes, unfortunately, most of us have experienced the lonliness of being surrounded by those we hope will make it all good for us and disappoint us instead. By this I don't necessarily mean family or friends only. It's the whole world that lets us down sometimes.

I know this sounds shallow at a time when others are suffering and I apologize for that, but I have to say that if you love yourself, you are never truly alone. I have lived alone for over ten years, yet still feel fullfilled inside my heart and soul. Sure, there is always more that I want to do with my self and my life. Thank God for that. When that stops, then I guess it will be time for me to move on. But, mostly I find joy in myself and my surroundings.

You may say that I live an isolated life, but I really don't. Last Sunday, for instance, I went to a friend's 2 yr old little girl's birthday party and just seeing my little friend Riley, made me very happy. I guess I'm easy to please at this phase of my life and find happiness in the small things. My sister, who has cancer seems to hate me for this right now. What am I supposed to do? I am miserable sometimes too. I just refuse to stay there. Believe me, sometimes I am MISERABLE. We're all allowed.

It's sometimes me against the universe and I won't let the bastards get me down! :)

I sincerely hope and pray that all of you that are suffering will feel strong and invincable asap.

Love to all of you!

Mary S., I can understand what you are saying and I actually agree with you in my own way. Probably because of the fact that I have lived alone for the last 8 years. For the most part I thoroughly enjoy living alone and don't know that I'd adapt well to sharing a house with others, but there are some moments when I am lonely. Mostly when I'm miserably sick and want someone to take care of me.

However, each of us must find what works for us and makes us complete. So, I am sending what positive energy I can muster out to those who need a little extra. :o)

Hello.

A mention of you in regards to the upcoming film "December Boys" (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22390402-661,00.html) made me revisit the site - and there's a lot of things you've gone through since I last checked in.

This year I've taught both Strictly Ballroom and Kick to my students, introducing them not only to ballroom dancing (which boosted numbers in the after-school classes being run for the term) but also the gender stereotypes associated with dance.

The story lives on, they see you and your message, as they watch the crowd. They're just not visable from the ground.

Hi Sarah,

What you've said is so important. I agree that when we are ill, inside or out, this is when we can truly feel alone. I think when we're not well on the inside, it's the worst. I have some days when the entire universe looks so desparate to me. Then suddenly, somthing goes well and everything looks different and better. This is why I think our minds are so crucial in that when we turn to the dark thoughts, it controls everything around us. We have to fight that with everything we've got, and when we have to do it alone, it almost seems impossible sometimes. There are so many negative vibrations surrounding us that we really have a fight to deal with to make it turn around.

I let something out of my mouth yesterday that I regret. Now I have to neutralize that poison. It's a constant struggle. I hope my sister can forgive me for saying that having a poisoned soul may contribute to illness.

HEY ALL!!

Remember me, Kelly? The sick one, the one with the great husband that does it all and the two great kids, Clay the athelete and Paige the beautiful one.

Well,,,,,,,,,,, I am not sick anymore, hardly.
Remember that very stressful job I had that caused me so much stress????????? Well I got fired 6 week ago and guess what??? most of my prblems and symptoms went away!!!! oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah!!!

How is everyone doing?? I pop in from time to time and read but felt compelled to post as to the subject matter.

Paul, I know how you feel. very much so. Ihave not been able to get even a stupid part time retail job makin minimum wage. How pathetic is that??? I feel worthless and stupid. BUT
I know it is not going to be forever.

THIS TO SHALL PASS. I go denied for unemployment, I am 2 months behind in my house, my van, my credit cards, everything. Tom only brings home $250.00 a week and I cant even get work flipping burgers. BUT I HAVE A ROOF OVER MY HEAD (for now) AND WE ARE ALL HEALTHY AND W HAVE ALL BEEN FED EVERY SINGLE DAY. What more can I ask for. I even have a amily that loves me. I would say I have more than alot of people.

JUST LIKE YOU !!!!!!!!! You have the world in the palm of your hand. It may not be the world that you hoped and prayed for, but its there.

Hey, I will not talk forever, just wanted to say HI and let you all know I think about you often even if I don't check in.

I will be back soon....

Love to ALL

Kelly.

Kiss kiss hug hug to Paul, Mil, Evelyn, Sally, Diane, Mary and Kat.

Kelly, the job you are right for is out there and you'll find it! Don't give up! :o)

To all my "Chickies" new and old...

Today, 9/11, has a special connotation each year
for Ellie and me, and for those that adore Paul, Tara, Cat, and "Strictly Ballroom".

On the evening of 9/11, 2001, the day that lives in infamy, I was slated to show "Strictly Ballroom" as my monthly movie...I had advertised it in advance, not knowing what horrors that day would bring. (I am the movie and entertainment guru in our retirement village.)

I told Ellie that no one would show up in the auditorium that night because of the shock and horror of that day.

We went to the auditorium anyway, and to our surprise, people started to arrive, very quiet, very sad and anxious, and at 7:00 p.m. I started the movie without too much comment to a filled
auditorium.

At the end, with the "Paso Doble" and "Love Is In
the Air" the audience applauded and applauded,and was almost cheering, and for the first time I saw smiles as they left the auditorium, almost dancing up the aisles to the exit.

I was to show "Strictly Ballroom" every year afterwards for 6 years, and in the meantime, found
PC and met so many wonderful, thoughtful people from all over the world, who also fell in love with Paul and Tara, and their exceptional work in this outstanding classic.

In 2005, Ellie and I hosted the first "Strictly Ballroom" Convention here in Florida, and 9+ fabulous PC people from all over the world attended in person, meeting each other for the first time and forging lasting friendships.

Those like Julie, Evelyn, and Mary still check in. Cat and Paul have made this all possible in the first place, and for that we owe them a debt of gratitude.

There have been other amazing benefits, which I cannot devulge at this time, but soon.

So, you can see that this day, although full of sadness, also connotes that on this date 6 years ago, a auditorium was filled with seniors who were uplifted for 2 hours by the magic of two amazing young people, in a film that is a cinematic classic.

If anyone has any doubts about this generation of young movie fans, just go to YouTube, click on 'Strictly Ballroom' and find many wonderful music videos in its honor.

Shalom and Love,

Grandma Mil

HELLO PC FRIENDS,

For those of you who are going through time right now-I hope it gets better. There's nothing like being alone in your aloneness. I know-I've been in a bipolar episode for a few months now and have become so consumed and self focused. I'm not enjoying my life like I used to. Well, I'm still grieving the loss of my mother, too. I haven't had a bad episode like this in years. I need and want to get back to my "life" and start living and enjoying my girls.

HUGS,
ABETH

Welcome back Abeth--I can relate to what you're feeling. After my mother's passing, I actually felt orphaned as both of my parents were gone. May time ease your loss and your memories a comfort to you.

Go for it, Kelly! May you find a good job soon.

Grandma Millie--you bring to mind what happened for us six years ago when 9/11 struck the WTC, the Pentagon and Flight 93. The next day, before I began class, I suggested everyone join hands in a circle and we took time to acknowledge those that lost their lives, their families and friends, those working at the sites, anything that came to our minds. There were tears, hugs, and then we danced like there was no tomorrow.

Getting back to Millie and her showing SB--what a wonderful uplifting movie for such a sad and unnerving day--I'm sure it was a special night for all of you.

As Mary S said: It's sometimes me against the universe and I won't let the bastards get me down! :)

Good thought to remember 9/11 today.

I was living and working in Brooklyn, NY on 9/11 and parts of that day are still very vivid in my mind. However for the past 4 years this date has had other meaning for me as well. It was 4 years ago the past August that my cousin Danny was killed in the small plane he was piloting. He was born 9/11/78. Today would have been his 29th birthday. So, its a bit rough realizing he's not physically with us any longer but I know he's still with us in spirit.

To those who lost family or friends on this day, my thoughts are with you.

Hello all.
This is the first time I have posted anything. I came across this site by accident. I was doing a search and somehow one page led me to another and then to this one. I am a playwright/screenwriter and short fiction writer. Finding work in this lucky country of ours is very difficult. Any performing artist will agree. I do have a paying job that helps pay some bills, I am married and have two gorgeous children. I think we all feel lonely and vulnerable at some point in our life. Are we good enough? Can we cope with all the stress of daily life? We are all good at something. We cope the best way we can. Sharing a problem with someone will help. No one is ever completely alone. Take care and I hope to visit again soon. By the way, I was looking at some of the names here and although I have never met a 'Melody' before. I wrote a play about an 80 year old woman, who is dying and lives on her own ... her name is Melody. Keep smiling and God bless.

Hello all.
This is the first time I have posted anything. I came across this site by accident. I was doing a search and somehow one page led me to another and then to this one. I am a playwright/screenwriter and short fiction writer. Finding work in this lucky country of ours is very difficult. Any performing artist will agree. I do have a paying job that helps pay some bills, I am married and have two gorgeous children. I think we all feel lonely and vulnerable at some point in our life. Are we good enough? Can we cope with all the stress of daily life? We are all good at something. We cope the best way we can. Sharing a problem with someone will help. No one is ever completely alone. Take care and I hope to visit again soon. By the way, I was looking at some of the names here and although I have never met a 'Melody' before. I wrote a play about an 80 year old woman, who is dying and lives on her own ... her name is Melody. Keep smiling and God bless.

OOOOPPPSSS! See how new I am to this?! I posted the same article twice. My apologies.

Dona--you need to tell us more! That just might be me one of these days! ;)

Welcome aboard!

Melody

Welcome, Dona. :o)

Hi everyone,

Thank god we at least have each other here on Paul's corner. Sometimes we confide or purge to a perfect stranger easier than to someone who is close and thinks they know us so well that they can judge us and pigeon hole us. I am so thankful to have gotten to know all of you in this way. I can truly say, that without really knowing you, with all our flaws and imperfections, it is very comforting. Even when we speak of our losses, our emptiness, and our suffering, we comfort each other. Thank you all so much. Paul, and Cat, I hope you realize what you have done here.

Grandma, your spirit moves me. You are such an inspiration, as I have said before and will say again.

Welcome Dona!

Abeth, you always give us hugs. I wish I could give you one right back and here it is! I'm so sorry to hear that you are also going through some pangs of life. I think they are given to us for us to be forced to learn from. The messages can only be heard if we are ready and all we can do is send it out there that we want to learn. If we put it out there, we can't help but hear the lesson eventually. Please don't stay away. We are here for you. Stay strong, please. You have so much to offer.

Sarah, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I hope you have fond memories of your cousin that bring a sense of what it all could possibly mean.

To all of you here, yes... this week we remember what has and could happen to us again. Although I am so sorry that we entered into this war, I pray that we are at least protecting our country from it ever happening again, although, that is what is so troubling. Are we accomplishing this or simply showing further desperation to the world?

Love and peace to all of you!!

Hi all and Paul,

Melody, Sarah and Mary thank you for welcoming me. I hope you are all well. I'm not sure what I'm meant to do and whether I should use words of encouragement. What I can gather from reading the information above is that you all seem wonderfully kind, considerate, compassionate and loving. I believe in fate, but I also believe fear holds us back. Never let a day go by without telling those you care about how much they mean to you. Take care and many happy thoughts to you all.

Grandma Mil-I went to Youtube and was amazed at all the videos and clips for Strictly Ballroom. It truly is an amazing movie and stirs up such good feelings while watching. I have recommended it to all my friends.
Sara-I have been trying that exercise you spoke of, looking into people's eyes while walking past. I hadn't realized how many people avoid eye contact till now-guess because I had been doing the same. I don't like to draw attention to myself so I guess in my case avoiding eye contact gives me the illusion that no one is looking at me, makes me feel safer. It is nice to catch someone's eye and get a smile or a hello, though that also doesn't happen too often.
I just wanted to add to comments made by Whitney regarding brewery/bakery and such. I stayed in a wonderful hotel in Duluth Minnesota called Fitgers that is an old brewery converted to a hotel with a brewery and dining and shops. It was great!I am going to a small winery tomorrow night that is in the heart of a little town in the middle of cornfields, but it is a great place-every weekend during nice weather they have tables outside with a stage and have live entertainment, dancing, and dinner. We love it-the whole town comes out. I don't know what your plans are, Paul, but I wish you much success and if it is anything like these places, it will be wonderful when it happens for you.
Wishing you all peace.
Jill

Hello Paul,

I am a huge fan. What struck me was the hate crime you were a witness to and talked about how all affected will be forever changed. As a lawyer and a jew I am always interested in how other countries deal with hate crimes. In the U.S. people are not always charged with hate crimes even though a hate crime may have been what they committed. Were the defendants charged with a hate crime? Were the defendant all males? Ages? Sentences?

Was this a jury or bench trial?

Finally, I am very sorry for your loss. And for what you and your wife had to go through. I wished we lived in a society were all minorities are treated with dignity and respect notwithstanding the color of your skin; who you pray to; economic status; or your sexual orientation.

Will you be dancing in American in the near future.

Yvonne

I am a Chinese girl.I am 20. I felt in love with you when I finished the movies you played and I admire your dancing very much!Thanks to my English teacher, he showed us your splendid films which I would never forget. It's a pity that my English is poor,or else I could express my respecets to you in beautiful words! ^^Please do not laugh at me, I spent 5 hours to find this web site finally.It was a hard work!……I just wanna say hi to you and wish you a happy life!There are not too much fans of you in China,however,I will try m best to introduce you to them!

Hi Paul,my life is just beginning and I am full of energy to face any challenge.Your words are sad in someway-after so many years'struggle one still feel disappointing,aimless……？Maybe when I come to 44 I could feel what you feel,but I don't want to be sad at that time,I hope I can feel satisfied……
Since my English is bad,I send you my best words to you in Chinese:生活对于每个人都是公平的，得到的同时必然也会失去，我想我们要做的，就是淡然地看待这一切，为自己而活才是生命的意义，不论你是否是公众人物抑或普通老百姓，都不要让自己背负太多沉重的包袱。please,live your own life for yourself. I will prey for you everyday.
Sherry

Hello Again,

I re-read your poem and I really hope you don't mind Paul, I've changed a few words to encourage you. I guess it's a bit like being in an unfamiliar place and feeling alone, then someone, a stranger smiles and makes you feel better.
The poem you wrote expressed the mood and feelings you were experiencing at the time. I hope you feel much better now.

It's a lovely place, my self awareness
amongst my friends, as I am now.
They all see me...
I am no longer lost
standing tall and proud with them
I know my time will come! :)

Again, I hope you don't mind. Take care and best wishes always.

I said there was more! You go, Dona! I only hope, Paul, that you have found a happier place like Dona. Funny thing, there's always more, but who you meet and where you go- there's the adventure! May everyone find smiles along the way! Happy weekend, everybody!

Hi Jill, yes it is interesting to see how many people will avoid eye contact. But it is very rewarding to get a smile or even someone saying hello. :o)

Sherry, welcome to The Corner. Your English is fine. :o)

Dona, have you figured out yet that we are a rather diverse group here? LOL

I hope everyone is well and looking forward to a lovely weekend. I have studying ahead for a class I'm taking, but I hope to enjoy the milder weather we're having as well. All the best to everyone!

I know exactly how you feel, paul. i still watch your movies all the time. no need to feel alone when the whole world loves you!

love jodie in spain

I know exactly how you feel, paul. i still watch your movies all the time. no need to feel alone when the whole world loves you!

love jodie in spain

Thank you dear Sarah for your encouragement!I am trying my best to learn English although I made little improvement~sigh……
I have a few questions:Is this corner made by Paul's fans?
WHY the style of this web so……so simple(I mean the words are small and there are only 3 color in this web)?When I post Chinese characters on, they become too small to recognize……
How often does Paul come here?
Sorry to have so many puzzles…
^0^
I love Paul~This is the first time I leave message to a movie star of foreign country~~Nice to meet you guys here!
If there's anything wrong with my miserable English, please do help me to correct it. Thanks.

Jodie you posted the same words twice +.+
The Internet is bad enough to annoy me--it took 3mins to open a web site! Is that because I am in China, far away from Austrilia?!!!!

Good Morning everyone,

I am sitting here whilst eating breakfast and cheking emails. I thought I'd visit again. There doesn't seem to be a lot of Australian people here. I am in Australia in NSW, I will continue working on my script today and then I promised to take kids out bikeriding. It's so windy here that we may just be blown off our bikes. Paul, I was wondering if you're still interested in acting/dancing, whether it's something you still want to do, if so, I have an idea. If you are interested please let me know. Enjoy your Sunday everyone. I shall be back soon, if I don't get blown away today :)

Hello everyone!

Busy weekend. We had a benefit for our studio and it was a great success. Now our director needs to figure out what best to do with the proceeds from Saturday night.

I performed a duet with one of my advanced students and he really did well. I'm hoping to include this dance in our concert next year. I'm trying to encourage him to do a solo--just decided which is best. Maybe a Zapateado or Farruca. (If you think of Antonio Vargas in SB while he does Paso Doble, it will give you an idea of a Farruca--similar approach.)

I just finished painting my bedroom--long overdue!! The color looks so much better--it's a soft/pastel blue-green called "Peaceful Time" by the paint company. Now that I look at the finished walls, I can see why.

Time to crash!! Working on my living room tomorrow!

Hope all had a good weekend!

Congrats on your productive (and production) weekend Melody!

On the subject of Paul's entry here. Did you ever notice how when you talk to someone who goes around in circles as a normal way of conversation, you might as well be talking to yourself? lol

Wow, I find that a challenge that drives me to drink. Just thought I'd mention that!

Hope you're all well and off to a good week.

Melody, Funny that you just finished painting your bedroom. At this very moment I have a color swatch hanging on my bedroom wall. The color is a soft sage green called Cool Reflection. Since the walls are currently white, the green looks like a huge change. I'm not convinced that I want to change quite that much (once the room is painted, I'll have to live with it -- like it or not -- for the next decade). Purhaps a lighter shade of green?

Welcome to our new people. I hope we get to know you well in the days ahead.

Sherry jiang, your English is easily understood. Congratulations on that. As to your difficulties with this web site, perhaps the text settings of an English site are smaller than those of a Chinese site? Anyway, welcome.

Thank you all for being you. Your personalities come together on this site to make PC a very refreshing place when my heart is troubled or lonely. I hope your individual trials are eased and your days ahead will come to look more bearable.

Funny about the paint...

I've been deliberating for months over trying to paint my creamy white walls. I have painted a wall between my kitchen and living room a muddy taupe color and most of my kitchen (under the counters) this color also. I love it. I want to paint the rest of the walls the lightest shade of this. I also had a color sort of an olive green for my bedroom. I saw an awesome picture that reminded me so much of my bedroom and they used this color and it looks so serene. Here is the link for the picture. Maybe it will give you an idea to visualize upon??

I love white walls. I like my color to come from my things in the room. When walls are painted, they dominate, in my opinion. But I really want to go for it for a change! Good luck in your painting girls! :)

http://www.coastalliving.com/coastal/da/enlarge/0,24903,1070109,00.html

Marian and MaryS--

Talk about not changing anything--it took me 13 years!! :)

Well, I repainted my kitchen about 3 years ago, and very soft yellow--goes with all that southern exposure sun I get.

Which brings a thought when thinking of Paul and other friends down under--that makes your nothern exposure as the sunniest?

Back to painting, I chose the green based on the more dominant color in my bedspread. I shopped for the palest version of it, just down from white. The original color I had was mauved beige (very popular decorating back then), and as the room dried, I am very happy I finally found what I like.

And lastly--paint to SB soundtrack--painting and singing-- "rumba de burros . . . ay!" (What can I say--my neighbors already think I'm pretty out there with practicing castanets and flamenco music . . . )

I was so into the paint theme I forgot the other thing I was going to mention--

Paul, does DWTS start again? Our US version is starting next Monday.

I looked at the Aussie DWTS website--it's an SB alumi cast (Scott, Tina Sparkle and Nathan). :)

Paul, did you have any idea that a TV show would bring all of you together again?

Nice site. Thank you.
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Paul, I'm a new fan. Just watched Joseph.You were so great in that I have to pick up more of your movies.
your time seems to have come over and over again. That's' because your so talented. God gave you a gift for acting and dancing. maybe knowone sees who you realy are. A guy with a lot of talent. New adventures are great but never give up on your true dream buddie.

Your new fan......Robert