56 Words

I do my thing and you do your thing.

I am not in this world to live up to your expectations,
And you are not in this world to live up to mine.
You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it’s beautiful.
If not, it can’t be helped.

(Fritz Perls, 1969)

The 56-word statement above, the Gestalt Prayer stated by Fritz Perls, was sent to me by a dearest friend this morning. Now that you’ve read it, you have the whole day to think about independence, self-autonomy and relationships as well.

Say it out loud every so often. Remember, words are worlds.

Got Music?

Forgot your ipod? Bored in the office? Too lazy to set up a playlist? Not sure what you want to listen to? Or simply want to listen to a different tune? There could be many reasons why you might like stereomood.

Stereomood.com is an emotional internet radio. Go to the site, pick one of the words that represent different feelings, and you’ll be greeted with a playlist of tracks that go with that mood. Click lost in thought and you’ll hear some Radiohead.. try make love and some Sebastien Tellier tunes will come up.. hit dreamy and you’ll meet The Cinematic Orchestra.

If your melancholy is deeper than theirs, if you’re sleepier than they are, or if asleeping on your feet is not as sweet, you can also create your own library, personalize the existing playlists, shuffle, tag and even buy the ones you like. 

Enjoy.

… and we’re back!

Weeks of thoughts, decisions, indecisions, question marks, self-criticism, missing and longing..  now leading to rather progress, serenity, self encouragement and contentment. Bin There is back again!

Les Amants de Louis Malle

Once in a while, even for someone like me who’s not a fan of love stories, it feels good to spend a few hours watching an oldie. Les Amants (The Lovers) by Louis Malle is a black and white French film made in 1958.  It was only Malle’s third feature film as a director, and his second work of fiction.

The movie, which is inspired by an 18th-century short story, is the story of Jeanne (Jeanne Moreau), an unhappy upper-class wife married to a newspaper owner in Dijon, Henri (Alain Cuny), who goes to Paris quote often to visit her amie intime Maggy (Judith Magre) and her polo player lover Raoul (José Luis de Villalonga). Curious about these two people “who seem to entertain Jeanne so much”, Henri obliges her wife, much to her annoyance, to invite Maggy and Raoul for a weekend in their provencial home.  Just when you start imagining a scene with all three and begin to feel disturbed, the movie changes its route…

It’s Friday . Maggy and Raoul will arrive at 8:00pm for dinner. Jeanne is on her way home, and her Peugeot 203  breakes down. She is rescued and driven down by a passing stranger: Bernard Dubois-Lambert (Jean-Marc Bory), a young archaeologist. Pretty distant at first, the chemistry between the two warms up as they near Dijon. Once there, Jeanne gets out of the car burst into laughters. Bernard meets with Jeanne’s husband and the guests from Paris, and is invited to join them for the night.  Bernard’s initial indifference and even “mépris” toward Jeanne and her world turns into a tale of passion within minutes.

Throughout the movie, you share a journey with Malle that is once real and imaginative. The early Bourgeois image of Jeanne slowly transforms into one of a sincere lover.  She often looks into a mirror during the movie; and that is when you see her change. Later that night, she puts down her hair, takes off her couture evening dress, and with a touch of Brahms’ sound in the background, goes in the garden in a white night-gown and pearls. There she runs into Bernard; they walk in the park under the moonlight, holding hands. Suddenly, he is the one.

In the morning, to Jeanne’s – and to our – surprise, Jeanne leaves with the stranger while her husband and lover look on. You can’t stop asking yourself where they’re going and where they can go. With the sunrise, you first feel like the dream will be dispelled momentarily and it will all end with “The End”. But to your suprise,  the car keeps going.

This is one of those movies where each and every scene is a like a picture. Every smile, every gaze in the mirror, every thought is like a shot. And you don’t need any colors. Watch the movie without the dialogues but only with Brahms’ sound, and you will figure out the script yourself…

Chasing the Sunset

It’s Saturday. Your alarm goes off at 8:00am. A friend comes to pick you up from Chrystie Street at 8:45. You go downstairs, get in the car. Together you guys go pick up two other friends. First stop is at 26^th and 7^th, then you’re off to 6^th and 38^th. Grab a few lattes and toasted bagels with cream cheese from Starbucks on your way to the Midtown Tunnel. Turn on some groovy house vibes. You’re now ready for an amazing weekend getaway…

Once you’re out of the tunnel, turn up the volume just a little more, open your window. It’s beautiful outside. It’s nothing like the city. There’s a rather old house tune playing… with a soft touch of violin in the background. Keep following 495 until Exit 70, then get ready to make your first stop in Riverhead. It’s early but who can say no to wine? As you go on Sound Avenue, pick a vineyard to go into. The one that we picked this weekend was Roanoke Vineyards, one that we’ve visited before.

From outside, except from the tiny vineyard sign on the main road, it looks nothing like it. Wait till you open the door and step inside. There lie the beautiful bottles with a taste of the North Fork. Take a wine flight – either red or white – then grab a bottle, a few wine glasses and go outside. Look at the endless green around you. Sit on a chaise-longue and have a few sips from your wine while you enjoy the small cheese platter in front of you.  Then take a walk around the vineyard…

For your next stop, switch to 27 and go across the town of Bridgehampton, pass by Sag Harbor and you will arrive at the South Ferry. Get your ticket, park your car. Shelter Island is right in front of you…

As a first time visitor, accompanied by friends who already knew the island, our first stop was Sunset Beach. It’s there that you feel you’re not in the city anymore.  Go into the restaurant, grab a bite under the yellow tent, order some wine or a coctail of your choice then walk around the beach… It’s getting late, and if you want to make it to the sunset in Montauk, you better move.

Start driving towards the ferry again – and don’t get lost on your way, like we did! By making your way through East Hampton, keep going towards Montauk. That’s the final stop. Surrounded by a laidback nature, you will pass by cute motels, possible street art fairs then will see the Surf Lodge. It’s one of the key locations in town. There will most likely be a crowded happy hour going on on the deck. Keep going straight, and you will arrive at our favorite spot: Duryea’s Lobster Shack. You better be hungry now. Keep in mind it’s a BYOB, so if you have a cool bottle of wine with you, don’t leave it in the car. Order some food, take a seat on the wooden deck and enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets you can see on this side of the world…