Power Angel to the rescue

 Luis Gutierrez' story (above) pretty much tells it all.

The artist's Power Angel caught my eye in a building on the ASU campus. I love the blue background, the powerful fist thrust into the air, the wings.   It wasn't until I'd read Luis's story about feeling a little lost in Germany that I noticed the Power Angel walks with a cane.

I love how the wings helped Luis reframe how he felt in Berlin.  His imagined angel wings gave him purpose and confidence.

And the Power Angel he painted after he came home stands strong in this busy building in Phoenix, offering others a way to tell themselves and others they are there for a higher purpose.

Robin, Phoenix

Tyler Sharp: Respect, genuine interest and soulful moments in photography

I love photographs. Still photos let you savor a moment. The way a photo stops the action can sometimes say so much more than video ... and certainly more than 1,000 words.

One of my favorite photo sites is Pictory, which its founder Laura Brunow Miner calls a showcase of life through true photo stories.

Tyler Sharp, a photographer from Texas, has been published in Pictory more than any other person. The following is an excerpt from his profile page on Pictory. What he said about soulful moments (the underline is mine) makes me think of Perfect Moments.

What are your favorite things to photograph?

Serendipity. I am a very spiritual person, and I try to let that guide my photography and storytelling as much as possible. I have found that when you approach subjects or locations with a respect and a genuine interest in the culture, serendipitous, soulful moments find you. I crave adventure, and in some cases danger. I am hopelessly addicted to the wilds of Africa, and the uncertainty and raw beauty you find there every day. I prefer natural light, and love to shoot under a Comanche moon. Moon Shadows!

Perhaps there is more to these slices of life we call Perfect Moments than just noticing them. I don't think we create them, but maybe the way we live, the way we interact with others helps create a spirit that allows them to happen.

Tyler is a professional photographer. He gets paid for his work. I am going to sneak in a picture here to show you that it's very worth your while to go check out his work:

• Tyler Sharp: Published
• Tyler Sharp: Facebook
• Tyler Sharp: Flickr

Thanks, Tyler. You help me add a little clarity to this thing we call Perfect Moments.

Robin, Tempe

Times Square video and other things that make you go: Whoa!

This video ad in Times Square is really cool. Just turn your head.. you'll see.

When will I learn to hold my phone for the still camera the long way and the video camera sideways?



Went to New York for work last week. Spotted this huge multi-screen video ad on a long walk on Sunday morning. Yeah, yeah... I'll figure out the video issue soon enough.

Robin, Tempe

A couple of fast friends

You ever just meet one of those people where you feel like you have known them forever? Well, that's what happened to me this week in p-town. I was introduced to Suede, an amazing jazz singer and felt we were like long lost sisters. She has a big laugh, a big personality and a big smile. You can't help but want to spend time around her.

And don't even get me started on her music. Last night I heard her sing for the first time, and was blown away. She has been described as a cross between Ella Fitzgerald and Bette Midler, with a little Rosie Clooney and a dash of Louis Armstrong! Damn! I have to agree after hearing her belt out Sisters!

She is an amazing talent, and now I am also proud to say an amazing friend!

Sue, Tempe

Bonded by daylight and the prospect of winning

Daylight

A sliver of sun
Window of hope and promise
We begin again


The Denver Post has a haiku contest. While visiting my mom in Denver recently, I spotted it in her paper. She had never noticed the feature in which readers are asked to write a haiku-style poem that fits a weekly theme.

I wrote the haiku you see here. The theme was Daylight. I entered it into the Post's contest. My mom and I were a team.

I entered under her name and she kept an eye on the paper to see if we won. We didn't. We thought my haiku was just smashing. But some woman across town won for a poem that we both agreed was far inferior.

Oh well. My mom and I had lots of fun being bonded by the written word, the newspaper and the potential of being winners.


Robin, Tempe, Arizona


Photos by Flickr users: December Sunset by FictionalFuture, Spring Blossoms by Pink Sherbert, and Parallel Worlds by aloshbennett

Trust, support, guidance and art

Saw this storytelling artist at the street fair in Tempe today. I could listen to him all day.

Paul Nzalamba is a painter originally from Uganda. Lungala Rubadiri is a story teller and the two combine their creative forces as an inspirational team.

This next video is Lungala Rubadiri's story about a 'healthy disagreement.'



As he told this story today in the tent filled with Nzalamba's paintings, I was drawn in by his hands and the soft tone of his voice as much as the meaning of his words.

Robin, Tempe

All the Single Babies. Man that kid has soul

I can't believe this video only has a quarter of a MILLION views.
Since my Twitter friend @moorehn shared the link to this video two days ago, I must have watched it at least 40,000 times.

It is just soooo cute. I hope that kid can keep up the high expectations being set. All this before he or she can even walk.







Now this older girl has a more advance Beyonce style, but truly, this poor sleepy child needs to go lie down.


Robin, Tempe

Zero: How 'Upwake' woke up my Friday

My week has been full of Perfect Moments. As I zoom in to the final work day this week, I was stopped cold by this new video on TED, the site for "ideas worth spreading."



Now this is 15 minutes worth of Perfect Moments, but they are all very well worth it. As TED puts it:

Natasha Tsakos presents and performs her one-woman, multimedia show, "Upwake." As the character Zero, she blends dream and reality with an inventive virtual world projected around her in 3D animation and electric sound.

I'm so happy I have started my day with this mix of humor, simplicity, complexity and awe-inspiring talent.



More from TED. This is a site worth putting on your regular route around the Internet.


Robin, Tempe