A Looong Month

I KNOW that I've been gone for a month, but this time I actually have an explanation! You see, when I changed schools all those months ago, it was as if I just started a new school year. So now, I have to make up an entire month or so of school. That's why I've been gone for so long, it's school!

But on a lighter note, I just changed my blog layout! As you can see, I'm going green for St. Patrick's Day. Just don't go green with envy *hee-hee-hee* when you look at my wonderful banner made by my Mom, Sharon Henry of Mana Moon Studios. So that's all for now, but I WILL be making sure to update my blog more!

Good day,

Josh

A Simple Poem

Today, I read a poem in school. It's a wonderful poem about love. I just wanted to share it because it's so close to Valentine's Day. I Hope You Enjoy!

The Choice
by Dorothy Parker

He'd have given me rolling lands,
Houses of marble, and billowing farms,
Pearls, to trickle between my hands,
Smoldering rubies, to circle my arms.
You- you'd only a lilting song,
Only a melody, happy and high,
You were sudden and swift and strong-
Never a thought for another had I.

He'd have given me laces rare,
Dresses that glimmered with frosty sheen,
Shining ribbons to wrap my hair,
Horses to draw me, as fine as a queen.
You- you'd only to whistle low,
Gaily I followed wherever you led.
I took you, and I let him go-

Somebody ought to examine my head!

Here It Is

Well, I guess I just couldn't help myself! So here's my secret! And guess what, I'm going to do this every month (or so)! So make sure to keep an I out every end of a month! Look at the time; I've gotta go! See you next time!

I've Got a Secret!

Something's Coming! But what could it be?! Well check back on the 28th and find out...

The Past Is Gone
Democracy Has Won
There's A New Dawn
And Change Has Come...

A Very Merry Christmas

This Christmas was amazing! It was happy, exciting, and just plain fun! I got everything I wanted, and I didn't even know what I wanted! So here are all my wonderful presents:

To start off, I'd like to talk about my pride and joy: My iPod! There it is, made especially for me! I uploaded all of favorite songs onto it, and I even bought some songs on iTunes. I also got my very own iHome. Unfortunately, it's way too big for the photo booth!


My next present was a "Make Your Own Auntie Anne's Pretzel" kit. It was fun making all the pretzels, but they mysteriously disappeared the next day. All that was left was this:

Hmmmmmm... I Wonder!


My last present was what I've been using this entire time: my new camera! It's sleek, black, and has 8.2 Mega Pixels! Unfortunately, I can't get a good picture of it because I have to use a mirror!


Even better than the presents was the love and joy that Christmas brought. This had to be the best Christmas ever!

The Violinist

Today, I found a story at the blog: The Magic Sleigh. Originally, I was going to post about my wonderful Christmas and all the presents, but this came up and I just had to post. It's very enlightening.

A Violinist in the Metro

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed the musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work. The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100. This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were, in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Amatum et Pacis (Love and Peace),

Josh