(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
Showing posts with label Special. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Special. Show all posts
February 14, 2021
January 25, 2021
An Amazing Piano of the Arts
July 11, 2020
Super Cufflinks
These will definitely make you feel special.
Maybe like a quasi Superhero.
Some may think you're a little arrogant and all that.
But maybe you just are hoping to be super at whatever you do.
It's good to have an imagination and aspiration, and maybe a little sense of humor and fun.
As long as you don't let it go to your head or to your pompous a**. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumetnhal)
May 21, 2020
Great Chair and Ottoman
May 10, 2020
Happy Mother's Day
Even though it's been 6 years since you passed over to Heaven, I can still see you here with me today.
The love and caring you showed for me, my sister, and Dad as well as the grandchildren filled all of our lives.
You always worked hard for the family and to do your best.
Life was not always easy especially coming with your parents from the Holocaust.
Yet, I never doubted for a moment that our family was the world for you.
And both you and Dad still mean the world to me and I know you both are with me always.
I can feel it!
Happy Mother's Day--we love you! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
January 4, 2020
Gucci Bee Bag
Large decorated bee with expansive wings on the flap.
Beautiful pink with white pearl studs.
Brass chain and red, white, and blue shoulder strap.
Priced around $1500!
Small shoulder bag yet plush oversized and ornate make a big statement.
Nice gift for that special someone or to treat yourself to Gucci! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
October 31, 2019
Square Watermelons
A square watermelon.
Why do you need a square watermelon?
It was created to make transportation easier and to fit on the tight shelves of small stores in Japan.
How do you make a round/oval watermelon square?
Why of course, you put a box around it while it's still small and on the vine.
Ah, I think they broke the mold on this innovative idea. LOL
The problem is that that because they are harvested before they are ripe, they are inedible.
So the Japanese use them for decorations, and they can last about a year.
They are so unique, they cost roughly $100 for one.
Why be square, when you can be round? ;-)
(Credit Photo: Defense Acquisition University)
May 15, 2019
Success Anchored in Function AND Beauty
"It has always been a principal of our company that function and beauty are inseparable."
If you can make something useful and attractive--you have a real winner!
Companies like Porsche and Apple get it (many, many others are clueless).
Product development is both art and science and therein lay the foundations of their success or failure. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 15, 2019
The Passover Menorah
So what's with the menorah?
Well my friend, John Akkus (of Akkus Silver Touch), made this beautiful piece for me.
I love the fine handiwork of copper, brass, crystals, Jewish symbols (Stars of David) and bold colors of this amazing menorah.
John sells his art at the annual Suglarloaf Festivals in the Spring.
I am so glad I found this wonderful menorah--it is beautiful all year long (through Chanukah and Passover).
Thank you John and nice job! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 3, 2019
Relax, It's Just Sex
It says:
Relex It's Just SexForget that Relax is spelled wrong.
But advertising for sexual items in such a casual way...like it's sex and what's the big deal.
Maybe I am old school, where sex actually meant a deep personal relationship and emotional intimacy.
...Where you partner was also your spouse and best friend.
Now--unfortunately--it's just sex!
I think as a society that we have lost something here.
...Something important.
If it's just sex, and it's just with anyone, then what does that leave for us with that someone truly special in our lives? ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 22, 2018
Snowflakes Are Unique
A colleague refers to some customers as snowflakes.
At first, I didn't get it.
Then I understood.
Every snowflake is unique.
Based on how the ice crystals fall to the ground through different temperatures, moisture levels, and atmospheric pressures, the shape of every snowflake is different.
Sometimes when it comes to project management, customers too think they are unique, different, and special.
They think that solutions that work industry- or enterprise-wide could never work for them and their wholly distinct ways of doing business.
Hence, as I learned, the term snowflake.
For those of us who have been around the project management block a few times, we know that while there are specific customer requirements, most of them are not all that unique.
And when some customers simply don't want to do things differently than they've done it before, there can be greater resistance to change.
Hence, the "We're special. We're different" reframe along with the standoffishness, doubting, circling the wagons, throwing up obstacles, or just refusing to fully participate.
Obviously, it's a lot more difficult to modernize and transform through technology and business process re-engineering when your customers aren't on board.
So it is critical to manage organizational change, address the questions, the fears, and elements that are truly unique, and bring the people along as true partners.
Not every requirement is a snowflake and neither is every customer, but we have to manage the similarities and differences in every project and make sure it improves performance and meets the needs of the customer and the organization. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 19, 2018
Fav Ice Cream
Soft chocolate swirl ice cream topped in a hard chocolate shell that literally melts in your mouth.
OMG, this is to die for.
This is not something you get every day...it's a special treat.
They have this ice cream locally in the mall, and sometimes I just go there, literally, just a taste of this.
Usually, I get the small and then share this, but even that is too much really.
It is like a meal in and of itself.
So rich, creamy, cold, and chocolatey flavorful.
Who needs caramel (sitting next to it) when you have chocolate!
Love it, love it, love it.
Yum, yum, yum. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 22, 2018
Monopoly Yerushalmi
The properties of obviously from famous places in the Holy City of Jerusalem, such as The Kenneset, Mount Olives, Mount Herzl, Hebrew University, Montefiore Windmill, Mahane Yehuda Market, The Biblical Zoo, The Israel Museum, Tower of David, and of course, The Western Wall, and more.
The cards are in both Hebrew and English so I can continue to improve my Hebrew language skills.
I think this is a perfect topic to be thinking about today, which is Tisha B'Av (the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av).
This is a perfect Shabbat game for after Shul and Kiddish, and I am looking forward to the family sitting down to play Monopoly Jerusalem style.
I want to also note that Jerusalem along with the Holy Temple (may it be rebuilt speedily in our day) is a perfect topic to be thinking about today, because this is the day on the Hebrew calendar when the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in both 586 BCE by the Babylonians as well as in 70 CE by the Romans after they had laid siege to the city--the exact same day of the calendar year over 650 years apart--and so this is a day of commemoration, mourning, and introspection for the Jewish people. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 22, 2018
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival
I love this time of year when the weather gets nice and we can do more outdoor activities.
Today, we took the opportunity to go to the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival.
There were so many vendors with artistic works in metal, glass, art, jewelry, leather, photography, pottery, and more.
Everyone seemed to be looking for those one-of-a-kind special pieces.
I did manage to find a very special colorful menorah, which I had my eye on since last year, and which I was glad that I waited for because the artisan made it even better and more beautiful than before.
Again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and most things were an easy pass on, but some things definitely caught my eye and attention.
The photo here was one of them where the artist was selling pots, and he set up this plastic chicken--as if the chicken was set and ready to go into the oven.
Creativity can definitely get weird, but everyone likes a standout. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumethal)
December 16, 2017
Beautiful Innocent Child Angel
Today, we had a celebration in synagogue called an Aufruf, where the groom is called to the Torah and makes the blessing and then we all throw candies (we chose bags of chocolates).
After the services, we had a kiddush luncheon and it was really nice to see everyone from the community sharing in this wonderful Simcha with us.
But something happened towards the end of the services that had a really big impact on me...in fact, I can't stop thinking about it--I need to write it down.
As services concluded and we were leaving the sanctuary, this beautiful innocent little girl came right up to my daughter--sort of out of nowhere and without her parents--and wished her Mazel Tov.
There was something about her and the way she did it with such sincerity--I literally couldn't have been more touched.
It was almost like this child was some sort of angel--I mean it!
The child's eyes and facial expression had an innocence like I have never quite seen before.
All I could do was marvel at this child and how she came up all by herself with this incredible pureness of heart that I can't fully explain to wish the bride and groom well.
Then I found my words to say thank you and wish her that in a "few" years she would be getting happily married too, G-d willing.
I think I will always remember the piecing innocent eyes of this child and how she was like an angel visiting us on this special occasion today. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
June 26, 2017
Shock Value Gets The Ball Rolling
When you do or say something that is S~H~O~C~K~I~N~G.
And it jolts the other person out of their daily stupor so that they really take notice.
It's hard to stand out in a global population of over 7.2 billion people and counting.
Everyone wants to be special, unique, have an impact, and make a difference.
It's our answer (partially) for why we are here and why it matters.
Our life is a journey and it can be a log slog if we don't have a purpose and meaning in it all.
We look to the One Above for guidance, meaning, love, and protection.
But we also have to look at ourselves in the mirror...what are we doing with our lives.
Shock value doesn't mean real value...it's just the initial jolt to get noticed...like that purple and green spiked hair or those sparkly shoes you adorned.
So you have to take the initial jolt and make it into deep impact--by touching not just a cord, but the nerves that run through.
In Florida, there was a funny sign along the highway with that shock value that said something like this:
"Your Wife Is Hot So Call {X} To Fix Your A/C!"
What did you say about my wife?
You know you're right, I do need to invest in better air conditioning! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
March 31, 2017
Shabbat Candle Holders with Gorgeous Flowers
So colorful, and full of nature and life, and it makes me happy.
I just wanted to give a callout to Mira (Pinki) Krispil from Ashdod, Israel who makes this beautiful artwork.
Her expertise is in using polymer clay and glass and making it very special.
You can find her Mira's wonderful work on Etsy.
Enjoy and Shabbat Shalom!
March 29, 2017
X Marks The Spot With A Dot Dot Dot
Unfortunately, they were out of passes for this special showing, so I could only grab a quick photo or two.
But I was amazed at how splashes of dots and color can make such am amazing impact on a room.
Futuristic and yet surreal.
Everything in the room--walls, floor, chairs, tables, fixtures, and ornaments--had the design elements on them.
The only thing that didn't were the people checking it out and what a contrast that was.
It felt like being in the fantasy world of Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory or something amazing like that.
It is no surprise that people were lining up out the doors for tickets to this exhibit.
What an spectacular vision for the world--so happy, so magical and so wow beautiful! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 13, 2017
Off The Charts
Is it that they are abnormal or bad people?
Certainly many, if not most people, want to stand out in some fashion or form.
As the shirt says:
"Being normal is boring."We all want to be a little different or special.
If we're the same as the other 7.5 billion people out there, it's hard to feel that our lives are truly meaningful.
Yet, being different or abnormal can be a good thing or a bad thing.
Usually, you can be distinct in your combination of attributes within 1-3 standard deviations around the mean (average) and still be in the range of normal.
1, 2, and 3 standard deviations equate to 68%, 95%, and 99.7% of the values in a normal bell shaped curve.
So you can be different and still be considered normal.
The problem usually arises when you are off the charts deviant--and then you become "abnormal."
Is abnormal a bad thing?
Not necessarily, but generally extremes of anything can tend to become problems.
For example, you can fall somewhere in between very generous and very thrifty, but when you go to the extremes of giving it all away or being a miser then that's usually considered problematic.
Similarly, you can be curious or indifferent and either of those may be okay, but at the extremes, if you become intrusive or apathetic then that's a problem.
So most of the people we deal with are normal in most senses of the word, although they may have traits that take them to the extreme and which can cause conflict or harm.
Others may have many traits that are extreme and they have severe difficulty functioning at all with other people--they are seriously off the charts.
Perhaps, that's where healthcare professionals come in to assist with things like psychotherapy and behavioral modification (or even medications) to help people.
Being completely average is boring, but being off the charts can be dangerous to others who try to be themselves yet also constructively and humanely go along and get along. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 24, 2016
Computer Luminaries
On the wall are these pretty awesome photos of many of the founders and inventors behind modern-day computing.
1) Doug Englebart - the GUI and Mouse
2) Dennis Ritchie - C and Unix
3-4) Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston - Visicalc and Spreadsheets
5-6) Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard - HP
7) Gordon Moore - Intel
8) Grace Hopper - First compiler that led to development of COBOL
9-10) Robert Khan and Vinton Cerf - TCP/IP
11) Steve Wozniak - Apple I and II
Of course, the following deserve a place of the wall of fame as well:
12) Steve Jobs - Apple
13) Bill Gates - Microsoft
14-15) Larry Paige and Sergey Brin - Google
16) Jeff Bezos - Amazon
17) Mark Zuckerberg - Facebook
On one hand, these are people like you and I, who live, feel joy and pain, and one day die. In the end, we're all just flesh and blood, plus a soul that is our moral compass.
But on the other hand, G-d has given some people special gifts to pass to mankind, like a master painter, musician, inventor, or holy person, whose worldly works are as near to G-dly as perhaps we can get outside of Heaven itself.
G-d must have a plan for us as he sends us these people--or more like angels--to guide our development and our destiny.
Whatever G-d wants from us, we're definitely on a course to get there and that is comforting and a ray of hope for all of us. ;-)
(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
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