Maybe 3 years ago, I was invited to the UN to be part of a world wide Women's Issues forum. Delegates from around the world were talking about the real issues of their countries. I wanted to find out and hear their stories, see the pictures, be part of this assembly to hear these women give their plea to the United Nations for help. 

It was winter and there was a monster snow storm the night before. I was in Boston... couldn't make it down to New York, even Acella wasn't running. I missed it. Actually, I heard a lot of delegates missed it too. 

I wondered when my chance to get back into the United Nations building would be... well it was Saturday. Not exactly like what would have been with my first chance to be in the UN. So, I will not fully count this one. I will wait to be invited back and count that one as my first time and 1/2 time.  

Much Luv- heather 

This has happened to you too. I bet it has.

Kanye West steals the microphone away from Taylor Swift at the VMA's as she is graciously, excitedly accepting her award at the MTV Awards yesterday. He proclaimed to the audience and the whole world that Beyonce is better. Done. Here's the mic back. Thanks. 

I know this has happened to you: someone sabotaging your perfect moment. Everything is perfect, you are so genuinely excited and slam- some moment stealer takes your joy! You could see by the audience that this had happened to them too. Because they, and all of us, were behind Taylor Swift. What a crackhead.  

This actually happened to me...this weekend! There must have been some 'moment stealer' bad kharma in the city! I was in New York, like Tayor, but at the United Nations. I have always always wanted to be in that building! There was a huge charity show I was invited to attend to show support to Northern Pakistan. I was so happy to be in the building -the general assembly, invited because of my help to this cause. They had special seating in the very front for me. Me, Deepak Choprah, Sting, a bunch of bands performing, and the entire audience of excited attendees. I'm going to take my seat, which I was pointed to by the usher, then re-seated as I was closer by another usher....happy clam. Sitting in the United Nations at the front of the general assembly, here to help lend my voice to the plight of the people of Northern Pakistan. when....

A mean 'moment stealer' cameraman gets right in my face and says 'You can't sit here!' 'Get out. Get out. You can't sit here' Apparently they had seated me in the camera section, over a row from the VIP section. This moment stealer was in my face. I was polite, like Taylor Swift, explaining that I had been seated here by not one but two people running the event. He says a whole bunch of other stuff...I was embarrassed and just sat there for a minute figuring it would be worked out. Two seconds later from the stage comes the stage manager leaning over telling me to move. I didn't want to get into the whole thing, just look stupid explaining myself. I was in the front row, in front of the whole audience, and now he was telling me they can't start the show until I leave from this seat'. Get up politely, smile at the 'moment stealer' and walk out of my seat in front of the whole audience waiting for the show to start and walk the entire isle back...back...back...to find another seat. Moment stealer had stolen my moment. And me, like Taylor Swift, had graciously exited. Out. 

So the questions is: Does graciousness work? We as girls are taught not to make a scene, not to fight, not to be a bitch. But, there she was with Kanye West/Moment Stealer being gracious and embarrassed. He looks like a fool, but that was her moment. Stolen.  

Beyonce stole back her moment. Graciousness. Gave a girl her moment back. Not all of us are so lucky. 

Pakistan and Dubai

The first time I went to Pakistan to perform I was in the middle of writing my first real album. I was at a musical crossroads. I was doing some real soul searching about what my musical vision was and coming up a bit short. Where was my place and what was my music going to be about? I didn't fit in the pop princess role, never really fit the beauty queen role, no longer lived in the opera classical world, but here I was writing my own album and stepping into my own shoes. 

That time in Pakistan helped me to find my place. Through the landscape, the people, meeting the president, performing for the earthquake victims charity, talking to the media, shooting a video in the historic city, meeting the people of northern Pakistan, I understood myself. It was such a gift. I was a traveling songstress. Every show from now on was going to benefit a charity, one that I felt strongly about and connected to. I was going to perform where most US artists didn't. My musical story was going to be about adventure, charity, independence and building bridges between east and west. 

If you have googled my name, you know that Pakistan has given me a few less welcome gifts as well...So, I was a bit apprehensive about heading over again. But, as a traveling songstress this was part of my story. I was heading to Pakistan to perform for the Swat refugees of Northern Pakistan. The Swat valley is rolling hills, icy blue rivers, green fields of crops cutting through the most picturesque mountains. These people are farmers and villagers walking a mile down the mountain to get their water from the river. 

I thought I would keep a low profile and wear traditional shalwar kamiz with my head covered. Well, that lasted a few days but before long I was walking the street as me, shooting magazine layouts, buying cd's, visiting the subsi mundi(vegetable market), doing radio interviews, talking to the media and performing. Back to the real me...and loving it. 

Dubai...whoh. This country is Fabulous. Fabulous. We stayed at two hotels, The Royal Meridian on the way over, and the Governors House on the way back. We had lunch at the Burg al Arab- the 7 star hotel I always see in Architecture magazines and books, visited Atlantis, had high tea, swam in the over 100 degree ocean(really), and visited several luxury pools.  It is about as opposite to my 'charity songstress' mission as I can get, so I didn't go crazy, but this place. whoh.

Camel ride at Clifton beach in Karachi

This is the NAQSH charity teaching underprivilidged women the ancient Islamic art of miniture painting. Its these huge painting with the most intricate delicate details displaying the Mugil Empire. Babar Ali, the founder, created the school at the site of his parents home inside the walled city of Lahore. 

Picking out and drinking cold cocconut milk in Karachi. So tasty and refreshing. 

Hill Park overlooking the city of Karachi.

Interviewing with Jung Newspaper Karachi. 

Interview with Radio Pakistan, syndicated live to entire Pakistan.

Style 360 TV shoot in Lahore

Shooting with Kawar Riaz in Lahore I fell in love with this Afgani jewelry. I went out and bought some in Islamabad.

chowing down on Bhugia- burnt corn on the side of the road on the way to PC Burbon.

Messing around with my new afgani jewelry at Pearl Continental Bourbon, north of Islamabad.

Dubai at night on the beach. The Hotel, Atlantis, and the Burg al Arab Hotel.