The Casual Observer: "New Paltz in CHALK"

What's a dog to say about that?!

Meanwhile a band is adding delicious soundbites to the visual experience

 

Helio Chalk Pad

Hey YOU, how are you doing?

Splash it!

Lady and legs

Coming up

Don't you remember?

It's a beautiful day on planet earth.

And if you feel inspired pick up your colored pencils, crayons or chalk and let it draw without a care in the world :)

The Universe Is Smiling: "ILLUSION"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "Things are not what they appear to be..."

"Things are not what they appear to be: nor are they otherwise."

- Surangama Sutra

"When one does not understand death, life can be very confusing."

- Ajan Chah

"Time is our present breath."

- Ajan Chah     

The Casual Observer: "New Paltz Action"

New Paltz on a Tuesday morning on my way to the bookstore: a sunny summer day, my camera in hand, just in case I come across something "BLOGwhile". And - voila - I see huge lamps lining the street, obviously some filming is going on. New Paltz is a pretty town but film crews are not a regular sight. Who wouldn't be curious now?! I am :)

I turn the corner and it's all happening at BARNER BOOKS, the second hand book store. I ask the extras who are standing next to the store: "What's the movie about? Who is the director?"
"I don't know", one woman shrugs her shoulders. "It has something to do with kidneys", volunteers another woman. "I think, it's about a woman needing a kidney transplant and then she falls in love", says the third. LOL - now that sounds like a great plot :)

Coming up the street

 

On my way to the book store on Church Street

Things are happening here, but what is it exactly? :)

The actress in action, rushing down to the book store a few yards away

Asking other extras I get some more information: The director is Helmut Metzger and the movie is supposed to be a German/American production. The scene I am witnessing is a German actress driving in a red convertible to the bookstore, getting out in a huff and storming into the store.

"What's that scene about?" I ask someone. "I think she is upset, because she is losing her apartment." Ha! .... well that makes a lot of sense ... I have gotten lots of advice in book stores.

Next day, evening scene, director and camera man (on the left) are discussing the next steps

 A day later: The film crew is gone and the clean up begins:

Barner Books had turned into "Vivien's Book Shop" for a few days

On the way back to normal

The peace has returned

And what is the movie about? I'll let you know, if I'll ever find out.

The Universe Is Smiling: "Confidence"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: Confidence comes with dignity and vice versa. Be confident, you can do it :)

"Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence."

- Vince Lombardi

"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot."

- Eleanor Roosevelt 

The Universe Is Smiling: "Life"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "Take life into your own hands."

"Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you're alive, it isn't."

- Richard Bach

"All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on."

- Havelock Ellis    

Buzzing Energy in Philadelphia

Dear visitors from all over the world,

This BLOG has been the exclusive home for "The Universe Is Smiling", my weekly whimsical drawings, for a good two years now. It has been a very rewarding journey for me: First there is the fun of creating these drawings which, based on the Inner Voice Drawing® process, are always a surprise. Secondly, there is the joy of sharing the drawings and the amazement of seeing who comes to this site. The statistics show me that YOU are visiting from the US, Russia,  Germany, India, Canada, Netherlands, Denmark, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Peru, Philippines, France, China, Slovakia, Bosnia + Herzegovina, and more. I am grateful to all of you!

And here is the new idea: I want to broaden the scope of this BLOG by adding "cool stuff" from time to time that tickles your creative mind, adds some spice of thought to your day, makes you smile, and charges you with positive energy. I am not sure what those posts will look like, but I'll be on the prowl with my camera and let the inner voice journalist take over :) And, as always, I would love your comments.

Here is the first post from a Saturday buzz in Philadelphia:

 



Stop 1: Philadelphia Museum of Art: Mr. Significant and I spent most of the time in the Rockwell Kent collection. I fell in love with one of  Pissarro's "Apple Tree"s and I was impressed by the Calder Mobile, moving slowly in the continuous air flow of a big hall.

,

The bride is collecting herself

Stop 2: Driving from the museum to South Philadelphia, passing the town hall, people walking on  the sidewalks enjoying the sun, traffic everywhere and suddenly a roaring sound of 5 motorbikes zipping passed, doing a wheelie in high speed. I was too slow with my camera, so here is a sample photo. 

Sample of a wheelie

Meanwhile a little further down the road two newly weds were getting ready for the photo shoot.

Stop 3: Walk through South Philadelphia, East Passyunk, on our way to Stateside, a restaurant we wanted to try out. Impressions on the way:

Street Impression

 

The world's most famous No 1 ice cream :) A big claim, unfortunately I am not into ice cream, so I can't vouch for the accuracy of the statement.

Murals everywhere

Two people in the window :)

glass furniture and knickknacks, that make you stop and wonder

Stop 4: Enjoying the excellent cooking and creative food combinations at Stateside, the hip restaurant in South Philadelphia ... and, of course, no food can top good company :)

Mr. Significant and I enjoying:
House Made Goat Cheese Salad
farm greens, house pancetta, strawberries
Crispy Cauliflower
pine nuts, capers, mint
Marinated Broccolini
chili flake, breadcrumbs, leaving out the bacon for the vegetarian
with ice cold pinot grigio

Stop 5: Driving back home through South Street. Can you feel the buzzing energy?

The king in his castle :)

Waiting in line for the philly cheese steak

Jon's Bar & Grille, featuring Larry Fine, one of "The 3 Stooges"

The Universe Is Smiling: "The Elements on a Summit"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: The elements are discussing how to bring harmony to the world."

"All human beings are interconnected, one with all other elements in creation."

 - Henry Reed

"All the things that human beings suffer from are how their environments treats them, and how the elements of their planet affects their mind and body - like radiation, cancer, and all."

- Ornette Coleman

The Universe Is Smiling: "Going Ahead"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "Finding your balance between action and relaxation"

"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us."

 - Henry David Thoreau

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."

- Mark Twain  

The Universe Is Smiling: "Listening"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "The beauty of showing up."

"The first duty of love is to listen."

 - Paul Tillich

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

- Leo Buscaglia

The Universe Is Smiling: "Angel"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: You are an angel - at least most of the time :)

"We are each of us angels with only one wing. And we can only fly by embracing one another."

- Lucretius

"May God grant you always...A sun beam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And wherever you pray, Heaven to hear you.

- Irish Blessing