Terry's Billboard Pix from 11-7 cocktail party for Opportunity Green

These photos were shot by Samantha Lloyd-Gordon at last Friday's cocktail reception kicking off Opportunity Green at the eco-friendly Hotel Angeleno.

As I reported in a prior blog, many of the environmentalists I met last weekend at the conference would have volunteered to have the head shaved for an opportunity to explore New Zealand.

I learned so much at Opportunity Green that I plan to start a separate Green blog.  

It turns out that going green is great for businesses because the energy savings ultimately improve a company's bottom line.  Companies including Patagonia, Pangea Organics, Leaf Paper and Walmart are focused on being sustainable and helping other companies move toward sustainability.  Ultimately, what's good for the planet is good for business because clean energy leads to savings that help a white roof with daylight collectors pay for itself quickly.  Walmart sees the value in sustainability and is sharing its knowledge with other stores like Costco and Target.  

. . .to be continued. . .

Well, my hair is growing back (with amazing speed according to my co-workers) and the tattoo is completely gone now so I'm experiencing life as a (very) short-haired-girl.  I have a few observations: 1. I really like being able to take a shower whenever I want and not having to do anything to my hair 2. I still find myself reading Glamour and paying attention to hairstyles even though I've got a good 6 mo before I need them again 3. There are a lot of women out there whose hair is not doing them any favors (I feel like I've got guy goggles on now and can pick out the women that do and don't use their hair to their advantage) 4. I am allowed to be judgemental about hair because everyone else is judging me (I can feel it) 5. My favorite thing is getting home and taking my hat/scarf/etc off  6. I would keep my hair short forever if it weren't a social stigma- I don't like people staring and then quickly smiling 7. I've never felt so edgy before and it's inspiring me to wear crazy clothes 8. I'm acquiring a very fun scarf wardrobe and am skilled in wrapping them 9. I can't wait to go to new zealand and am having trouble getting the time off- what the hell! I shaved my head for this give me a few freaking weeks off without pay ok!!? 10. Any of you semi-bald guys out there looking for a very short - haired date?  This is not going very well as far as the singles scene......

Will I ever want to come back from NZ?

Now that I've begun planning my New Zealand adventure, I wonder if I'll want to come back.  If you are planning a trip, you may want to check out a few websites:

For scuba diving, I'm planning to go out with Dive Tutukaka - the only activity operator in New Zealand so far who have been awarded the Qualmark Enviro Gold logo and were also founding members of the Northland Sustainable Tourism Charter: www.diving.co.nz 

It looks like I'll spend three days in Tauranga Bay in the Bay of Islands for both cultural and eco adventures including visiting the Waitangi Treaty Grounds (www.waitangi.net.nz), taking a Maori canoe (waka) trip with www.taiamaitours.co.nz and going kayaking with Richard Israel from Northland Sea Kayaking (www.northlandseakayaking.co.nz )

Next there will be sand tobaggoning in Hokianga followed by a forest walk with Maori guides - http://www.footprintswaipoua.co.nz/index.html

and I haven't even researched a visit yet to the wine country from where our Kiwi billboard Paul Carton hails.

ARE YOUR BAGS PACKED YET?

Andrew's Billboard is a Hit at a Hockey Game

One of our billboards, Andrew Shanks, shared this report on his Air New Zealand noggin:

I went to an ice hockey game the other night and was in the first row of the section with a full crowd behind me. I could hear everyone behind me talking about the message on my head. Curiosity got the better of alot of them and they had to ask more.

The guys directly behind me initally thought I must work for Air New Zealand and were amazed that Air New Zealand's employees were so dedicated to the cause! HA HA!

Being in the front row, I made a point of standing up as much as possible on any good plays to get as much exposure as possible. By the end of the game I was feeling like quite the VIP in my area. Just walking around the back areas and waiting in lines for food and drinks was a laugh because everyone wanted to talk to me about New Zealand while waiting in line. They had either been or knew someone who had or wanted to go themselves one day.

Of course, I told them that Air New Zealand was ready to take all of them there any time of the year!

Saturday at the Green Opportunities Conference

The eco conference at UCLA was fantastic.  Tomorrow I'll blog in greater detail about the event.  The cool thing Saturday was that my head/billboard seemed to only attract positive attention.  Even better, two women said that they would like to go to New Zealand as much as me -- enough to shave their head for a trip!  Several men at the conference also said they would happily present their craniums to Air New Zealand for a chance to head off for a Kiwi adventure.

At the after party Saturday night, I found out even alcohol can be grown sustainably. Barbelles, a green bartending service (www.barbelles.org) served up sustainable cocktails in bio-degradable cups.  I tried a vodka tonic made with Crop Cucumber Vodka.  It smelled like cucumber and went down clean and smooth. 

Day13 as a Billboard

See how many hairs are now on my head?  And yet my Air New Zealand message remains.  Sadly, the Air New Zealand web address is growing more and more obscure.

The hair on my head feels like puppy fur.  When I rub my head on some level, I think, Good Dog - which is not necessarily healthy for my psyche.

Tonight I went to a cocktail party for Green Opportunity, an eco conference at UCLA this weekend.  My shaved head was as welcome at this eco event as it was my gay friend's wedding.  A few guys said they would happily shave their heads and be a billboard in exchange for a ticket to New Zealand.  A few people had been to New Zealand and said it's one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

One woman, however, did admit that she initially thought I was either in chemo therapy or a lesbian -- so I still worry this look may make it difficult to find the right guy.  It's a shame I signed up for Match.com one week before my head shaving.  But then again I wouldn't want to be with someone who lacks a sense of adventure.

Report from a Kiwi - Paul C.

To all those who don't speak Kiwi - (technically Maori, New Zealand's native tribe), here are two phrases to pack for your trip: Kia Ora (also the name of ANZ's flight magazine) literally translates: "be well/healthy" -- it expresses good will or gratitude -- typically not a sentiment found in traffic on an LA freeway.

Kia Kaha means: literally 'be strong'; roughly "be of good heart, we are supporting you"

To study more New Zealand English, go to: http://www.tvwiki.tv/wiki/New_Zealand_English

Paul reported to Sarah, our billboard wrangler: Kia Ora. The owner of the company wasn't too pleased --

Owner: You need to grow your hair or wear a hat cause you look like s*%t!!!

Paul: Oh well !! (but dreaming of New Zealand)

Although Paul viewed his billboard as water off a bald head, his employer didn't think much of his free speech.

On a brighter note, Bugs & Daffy loved my head at Magic Mountain.

Paul says a variety of people were intrigued and enthusiastic about his deployment as a cranial billboard. It was especially entertaining to watch reactions while waiting in long lines for a ride. Just seeing people's expressions as they wanted to look -- but tried not to look until Paul encouraged them. Once Paul welcomed their viewing, people were "all up in the business (when, how, what)."

"One business man actually from New Zealand called me the smartest person he has met in a while (the complete opposite from the comments from my own boss!!! Gee, maybe I need to look at my work status????).

If Air New Zealand needs any more promotional assistance from Paul's cranium, he'll be happy to step up (as would I this moderator -- if I could keep at least the peach fuzz covering my pate).

Paul says: "I would be glad to represent Air New Zealand & my country that I love!!!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed every part of this journey from the selection , the shaving and the comradery of all that were selected."

Go, billboards -- what an adventure this has been. And yet it's nothing compared to what awaits us in New Zealand -- a land of pristine beauty calling all kayakers, divers, rafters, parapenters and hang gliders!!