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

Best Wishes For A Friend

Today, my thoughts are with my friend Angie, who lost her mother-in-law in the fight against cancer. I didn't know her, but I know she was a kind, caring person. Visit Angie's blog for more information.

I'd just like to say that life is a fragile, delicate thing. It can bring you happiness, but it can also be ruined in an instant. So I'd like to show you all my poem commemorating life, and grieving death:

Life

Why does it come so fast,
And give you happiness
Why is taken in just an instant,
And make you grieve
Why are there so many ups,
But still so many downs
Will it ever just stay,
So you can be happy and content

Life is a roaring sea,
That will never be steady
You never know when you get,
Or when you lose
So be grateful for what you have,
And follow these words
Cherish the love
Remember the life
And always live

Gettin' Into The Spirit!

Hmmmmm! Something about my blog seems different, but what could it be? Well, while I'm thinking, check out my new format for the holidays! Although I like it so much I might keep it! And sorry to anyway who was getting used my format if I do keep this.

To really get into the holiday spirit, I'd like to introduce two early Christmas that the entire family received. Here's a guess; one's blue like my blog! Here they are:









I Know, They're Beautiful Aren't They... I Think I'm Going To Cry! Unfortunately I can't actually show you what Blu-Ray picture looks like. You don't even know what you're missing! Oh and in case you didn't know, it's the glorious black one on the top!

This Just In: "It's Yummy"

I'm putting off my poem to tomorrow because there's a bigger and more important story, and it's scrumptious! Laura of Any Occasion Boutique has just opened up an Etsy shop called: Laura Lee's Tasty Treats. This new shop is filled with many chocolaty, peanuty, and delicious-y treats and desserts. I would recommend the scrumptious "black-tie cookie bars". They're chocolatastic! If you're a cinnamon sugar lover, try the "Grammy's Snickerdoodle". And if you like something classic but still unique, get the "Nutty PBJ Bars". I guarantee that anyone who eats will love this shop. So go out into the Etsy world aaaand... Buy The Treats! They're Tasty!

Update: So I decided to go back to the shop for the first time since Sunday. I thought that things couldn't have changed too much, but that I should check just in case. Wrong! It turns out that the list gets longer and tastier every day! So if you visited it once, for your sake, visit it again!

Amatum et Pacis (Love and Peace),

Josh

Awarded!

It's finally happened! I have an award, and it's from one of my very best blogging friends, Laura of Any Occasion Boutique! I'm so, very excited! But as with any award, there's the rules and the passing and the linking, Uuuuuuhh!

Here are the rules:
1. Post a copy on your blog (check)

2. Mention who gave you the award (check)

3. Pass the award on to 10 others

4. Leave a message on their blog letting them know the honor has been bestowed upon them.


So here are as many people as I can find:

Laurie B. of Looking Glass
Rocki of Rocki's Rockin' Blog
Sharon of Mana Moon Studios
Angie of Angie Kelly Designs
AGoodWitchToo of The Copper Cauldron
Scarlet Fields of well... Scarlet Fields

Well, that's everyone I could find that would appreciate a beautiful butterfly as an award!

See ya next time around,

Josh

The Looooong Road

FI Have Returned! That had to be the biggest gap ever! But now I will return to my adoring fans. Fans... faaaans? Where did everybody go?! Hello... helloooooo!!! Maybe I should've posted more?

OK so I can explain. I was going on Washington D.C. but I took a wrong turn and ended up in Canada. Then I got lost in the Canadian wilderness, and I was being hunted by the mounties. I was finally able to make it to Niagara Falls, but I got swept away and ended up in the Atlantic Ocean. I was discovered on the shores of Ireland, but unfortunately, I had amnesia. Luckily, I had ID with me, and I was able to remember who I am after several months of searching.

I then took a boat to New York, but I ended up on the Titanic because I fell into a wormhole. I was lucky enough to find the last lifeboat, and I slowly drifted back to America. After I ended up in Massachusetts, I made my way back to PA, only to realize I was still back in time. Confused, I decided to live the rest of my life in California.

After 50 years of being a rock and roll legend and eating many PB and Banana sandwiches, I began to grow tired of it all. I took a plane to Florida to do my next show. I hadn't been in Florida for a while so I celebrated by going to the Everglades. Unfortunately, I fell of the tour boat. I suddenly found myself in the Fountain of Youth! I drank some magical water, but it tasted dreadful! It turns out swamp muck makes you younger! After returning to my original age, I fell into the Nexus of All Realities.

I then ended up in England. I found a castle with a nice old man who cared for me, but one day I found a mysterious old wardrobe which transported me to a magicical other realm. After years of being a king and saving the world, I tried to go through the wardrobe, but I found myself in a galaxy far, far away. I became an amazing laser sword-wielding hero. But when I blew up the Death Orb, I went through a wormhole back to the day I left for D.C. and I made sure we went the right way this time. And if you're wondering why I haven't been posting, I've been lazy ever since. By the way, the Smithsonian is awesome; I loved it!