Grass Not Always Greener

Sometimes the grass isn't (always) greener. 

Instead the grass grows in beautiful multi-colors. 

The grass art in this garden looks a lot better than the grass itself. 

The only real green is money and envy!

When comparing your lot with others, make sure you're comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges. 

Even then you'll never know the person's real "package" (or basket) in life. 

Be sure that everyone has their share of good and bad, so never be jealous of anyone. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Grass Not Always Greener

Merry-Go-Round and Round

Merry-go-round and round. 

Bobbing up and down, up and down.

Faster and faster and slower and slower.

Animal figures, colorful props, mirrors that reflect it all up.

Children smiling, children happy, what can be more satisfactory. ;-)

(Credit Video: Andy Blumenthal)

Merry-Go-Round and Round

A Smooth Jazz Shabbat Shalom!

A Smooth Jazz Shabbat Shalom to all!

A little song.

A little dance. 

We're back in the groove. 

Thank G-d for Friday, because then comes Shabbat! ;-)

(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)

A Smooth Jazz Shabbat Shalom!

Her Bike, His Tires

I really like the look of this simple bike. 

The pink frame for her. 

The blue tires for him.

This bike is unisex and a standout!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Her Bike, His Tires

Boots Of Many Colors

Similar to Joseph and The Technicolor Dreamcoat, these boots come in a virtual rainbow of colors. 

Honestly, not sure who would actually wear something like these. 

I think them gaudy except as a sweeping fashion statement by someone fairly spectacular who could carry it off. 

Perhaps another show featuring the dancing Rockettes, doing the long row of eye-high kicks could be quite a sight in a managerie of these colorful boots rising and falling. 

Kick 1-2-3.  Higher and higher.  Red, yellow, and blue.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Boots Of Many Colors

O - Change The World - O

Change the world...by changing your attitude.

Life is Beautiful!

It's a gift.

Every day is renewal and opportunity. 

Everything is for the best. 

Believe it.  Live it.  And share it.

A smile and a positive attitude is contagious in a good way!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

O - Change The World - O

Learning Hebrew: One Book at a Time

My daughter had a great idea for improving on our Hebrew language skills. 

Start small...as in children's books. 

She got a few of these from the library and it actually was fun to read these. 

Aside from taking me back a few years in parenthood and bonding as a family over these, I found it useful to solidify my learning.

Dr. Seuss definitely had the right idea. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal with attribution to book בּובי בוא בובי לך by אמי רובינגר)

Learning Hebrew: One Book at a Time

Camel In Thought

Love this little camel.

My daughter got this is Israel and displays it in the living room. 

Sitting peacefully, looking upwards. 

Colorful mosaic. 

Jerusalem, its brand. 

Amazing animals. 

I wonder what he's thinking. 

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Camel In Thought

Baby Shower Centerpiece

What a cool centerpiece for a colleague's baby shower. 

All those rolled up and tiered diapers and baby toys. 

Creative and fun-looking and the couple having the baby gets to keep all the goodies and put them to good use hopefully.

Nice to celebrate even with smelly diapers to be. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Baby Shower Centerpiece

Innovation: Finding The 3rd Alternative

There are two quotes on innovation that I came across recently that I liked and wanted to share:

The first by David Ben-Gurion:

If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert. 

The second by Shimon Peres:

When you have two alternatives, the first thing you have to do is to look for the third that you didn't think about, that doesn't exist.

Both of these smart thinkers understood that solutions and innovation means breaking previous paradigms and thinking outside the box.

They got it absolutely right! ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Innovation: Finding The 3rd Alternative

Boom Boom Coffee Table

What an awesome living room coffee table. 

Superhero effects. 

Big BOOM!

With explosive rays and cloud formations.

This is a definite standout in Tel Aviv showroom. 

Very colorful, exciting design, and with all the intended impact. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Boom Boom Coffee Table

Shave And A Haircut

I remember as a kid people would sing a jingle:

Shave and a haircut, dum dum.

This statue of the guy in the chair getting the shave and haircut is sort of nostalgic to me. 

Always sort of relaxing to sit back and get cleaned up!

Especially the hot lather on your face in that reclining position. 

Then of course, all is well until the gunslinger barges in and ruins everything. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Shave And A Haircut

Hope You Had A Good "Veek"

So I was asked do you spell week with a "W" or a "V."

I guess sometimes it does sound like we say veek.

Someone else told me that they are divorced and that person is still a "dark force" in their life.

They said they have to pay child support but can't afford it. 

It's not like I still earn $55,000 like I used to.

But if they don't pay...

Well my ex will just refuse to let me see my son!

People have tough lives. 

So when you think about your week, hopefully in context, you can resolutely say that you had a good veek. 

Shabbat Shalom! ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Hope You Had A Good "Veek"

Street Art Wow

Some street art just makes you stop and say wow!

This mural on the side of a building in Philadelphia is just amazing. 

It takes a regular street (even next to an abandoned lot) and makes it eye-popping. 

Some people seem to walk by and not even notice. 

I'm not sure how. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Street Art Wow

Dunkin' Mugs

I love my new Dunkin' Coffee Mugs.

Got one in each color: blue and orange. 

Inside the mugs, there is a finger sign "V" (for victory) and it says "Be Awesome".

These oversized mugs are so happy and I can't wait to fill 'em up.

And they really do make me ready to "Wake Up" for a brand new day. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Dunkin' Mugs

Airplane Art

Why aren't airplanes really decorated like this?

It would be so much more fun to get on a plane that displayed some pizzaz!

All we hear about are plane delays, cancelled flights, mishandled baggage, and involuntary bumping.

Oh, and don't forget the ever more cramped seating and the entertainment system that is habitually broken.

How does this industry get away with all this crap? ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Airplane Art

I Say Upside Down You Turn Me

I liked this advertisement for WOOW eyewear. 

Like the faces, the colors, the upside down and right-side up orientations. 

Seems cool, hip, with it. 

Happy hippie times. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Michelle Blumenthal)

I Say Upside Down You Turn Me

Roosters or Homelessness?

So I had to drive into downtown Washington D.C. 

Along the way, I saw this colorful artistic rooster. 

I appreciate this quick pick-me-up from this. 

Yet, all around the streets were homeless people. 

One was literally collapsed on a narrow island between the opposing lanes of traffic.

Some horrible-looking food, rags of clothes, and two bottles of liquor lay next to him and one of his arm hang almost into the moving traffic. 

This was just one of many that I saw in abject poverty and desperation. 

So I really feel conflicted looking at this colorful rooster. 

What good is it when the people are homeless, sick, and starving? ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Roosters or Homelessness?

3D Printed Octopus: "Shabbat Shalom"

This is a 3D Printed Octopus.  

The bendable legs are cute. 

It's sitting on a camera and tripod. 

Soon 3D Printed Objects will even talk, and when they do, this one will say: 

Shabbat Shalom!

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

3D Printed Octopus: "Shabbat Shalom"

The Beauty of Tefillin

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "The Beauty of Tefillin."

Like the colorful coat that Jacob gave Joseph to wear, the mitzvah of tefillin that G-d gave us to wear is also filled with spiritual color and the love of Hashem. This is in no way intended as sacrilegious or as trying to change our holy mitzvot. Rather it is an artistic attempt to see the tefillin in a new way that perhaps excites and bring Jews back to this important mitzvah.

Over time, as I continued to learn and grow as a person and as a Jew, I found much of my way back to Yiddishkeit and to wearing my holy tefillin with love and Joy. To me they are forever colorful and full of spiritual energy that are uplifting to me as I pray with them on for Hashem’s everlasting mercy and blessings for all of us.

(Credit Image: Andy Blumenthal)

The Beauty of Tefillin