If music be the food of love sing on!

    As most of you probably know, I am an awful expressive writer. It seems I have many excellent thoughts and emotions, but when I sit down to write them words fail me and I never manage to get anything out on paper. This is one of the many reasons for starting a blog, to improve my writing. It is my hope that you continue to read my blog, despite my constant ramblings and misuse of the wonderful English language. (I actually prefer Latin. Not that I speak it or anything.) 

I have decided to dedicate this post to music, as it is a huge portion of my life (as I imagine it is in many of yours).

  Victor Hugo said, "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." How often is there a yearning, wanting, or emotion stirring within our soul; and we find it impossible truly express that feeling without the aid of beautiful, wonderfully arranged notes, that flow from our very being? 

  Often I find myself marveling at the complexity of music; not only in music theory, but in the effects it has on the lives of human beings. Somehow it has a profound effect on everyone in hearing range of its overwhelming power. How is it that music moves my heart when singing beautiful songs in church and church choir? Why do I feel better when listening to music? What is it that makes us love music? I wish I new.

   I suppose music is much like the English language. One letter in the alphabet is almost meaningless. Combine a few of these otherwise meaningless symbols, and you can produce words that people can relate to; Love, Hate, Forgiveness, and Revenge. If one continues on to combine words with infinite number of words in the English Language, they succeed in producing powerful emotions from people.

   Les Miserables is, perhaps, the best musical ever. It's music and message are the most powerful I've ever heard. So yeah. It's really good.

What I love about music I suppose is the way it affects our emotions consciously, and subconsciously. Slaves used to sing spirituals to lift their spirits when working in the fields. Music does not apply only ot one group. It can apply and relate to ANYONE, regardless of their age, ethnicity, or gender. It is the universal language. It brings together a world that would otherwise be apart. It speaks to all men.

"The song of the righteous is a prayer unto the lord." - Doctrine and Covenants 25: 12

Madeleine

For those of you who don't know Madeleine, you are missing out. She is one of the smartest and funniest people I know. When I picture Madeline I think of someone sitting by the fire, holding a book, for hours every day. So is always ...willing... to drive me anywhere I need to go (When she's around), and is full of unconditional (mostly) love.

For some reason, the kids beneath Madeleine (all the kids except Maddie) have always considered her to be the ultimate source. We all know three things.
1. Madeleine is always right.
2. Madeline's opinion is law
3. Madeleine is a sucker (Remember: There is a difference between someone who "sucks" and a sucker. Pretty much, a sucker does whatever you want with enough begging.

Something commonly said my go something like this, "Madeleine doesn't like ----, so obviously you shouldn't like it either." Don't ask me why. That's just the way it's always been. Another thing is that it is important to have Madeleine on your side. We are not the only ones who believe Maddie is always right. Mom thinks so too, and if there is a problem, whichever side Madeleine is on, wins.

She is always willing to help out and she used to be a great help around the house (before she went to college). When she did go away to college, the house never seemed to be clean. Even on Saturdays. This is because Madeleine never made messes, and yet, she always did the most Saturday jobs. I recall the time when mom had this great new chores plan. We all got large jobs, but Madeleine got stuck doing ALL the dishes for a month. Did she complain? Not once (To my recollection).

Madeleine has some really great taste in music (Except Jane Eyre. I don't know what happened there. Hey! That rhymed). She likes classical, show tunes, movie soundtracks, and choir. Basically I get my love of music from her, although I enjoy less... shall we say, genius-ical  music also known as pop.

Madeleine is a really excellent writer and has a blog that  I can never remember the name of. (Hey, she picked a name that is impossible to spell without a dictionary. Something like, "Mumbojumbuckiquiescence")

So yeah, I have a pretty awesome sister.
-Josh

Random

This is a response to all of the posting Ideas I got on Facebook.

1. Pants - Delaney Moghanian has a black shirt that simply says, "pants.". I have always found this shirt rather humorous for some unknown reason. I will now proceed to tell about my opinion of pants. I really like pants. They do the world a great favor, keeping us warm, and giving us yet another way to express ourselves. This does not mean, however, that just because we CAN express ourselves, doesn't mean we SHOULD; just look at Picasso. On this note, I would like to discuss skinny jeans. This is pretty much the worst fashion since... forever (No offense to anyone who wears skinny jeans). One of the many problems with skinny jeans is that they are very hard to keep up. I don't understand the appeal of "sagging". Why would anyone want to walk around looking like they "had an accident" in their pants. Once I noticed a guy wearing three belts. THREE!!! And guess what? His pants were still sagging. I just have to ask... what is this world coming to? As most of you know, I have never cared much for what is "in". I only have unknown brands of jeans, purchased from wal-mart or Target. I find these pants to be quite fitting. Who needs a good fashion sense when you're as attractive as me?

2. Planets (Kristen) - I think planets were one of Gods greatest inventions. Without ours we wouldn't have a place to live. This Earth is so wonderful, and we need to enjoy it. Other than Earth my favorite planet would probably have to be Krypton. 


3. Planets by Gustav Holst (Madeleine) - I'm pretty sure I listed this in my "Excellent Music" post, but I will go into more depth. For a Boy Scout choir we sang a song called "Homeland" This is pretty much the best song ever. It is written to the main theme of Holst's "Jupiter" which is really wonderful. Music is truly amazing, and i don't feel worthy d to discuss how great it really is.


4. Beethoven - I also mentioned him in "Excellent Music". His ninth and fifth symphonies are just awesome. 


5. Cannibalism - I don't know much about this topic, as  I have never tried human meat. However I have two words for you. "Donner" and "Party".


6. Britta Henry - Britta is one of the most... interesting people I know. I really like Kristen's comment, "For every word you say, Britta says thirty." This is most definitely true. Britta just doesn't know how to close her mouth. This is not a bad thing. I don't either. If you don't know Britta, you should make an earnest effort to meet her. She is really friendly, and doesn't bite (As far as I know). She is always cheerful and has a cheery disposition. Sometimes you may see Britta making a duck or fish face, which is always a good laugh. It has been reported that she looks like a lizard, llama, lion, fish, duck, lion, seal, and a whole slew of others. Her most remembered quote is "Guys! I do not sound like that!"


7. Maggie - The best dog ever other than Isis. She tears everything up and chases lazer lights. Recently we have been training her to jump, and today she jumped up on the counter. I guess we have to put all the food away now. 


Well this has been fun. Keep reading. Can't promise it will be good though. 
-Josh


7.

Some Really Excellent Music

Handel:
   -Hallelujah Chorus
Chopin:
   -Funeral March
   -Raindrop Prelude
Mormon Tabernacle Choir:
   -Peace Like a River
   -You Raise Me Up
   -Wayfaring Stranger
   -Homeward Bound
My Chemical Romance:
    -Sing
San Fransisco University Singers:
     -Loch Lomond
Beethoven:
   -5th Symphony
   -9th Symphony (Ode to Joy) (this one is one of the best)
Claude-Michel Schonberg:

   -Les Miserables
Stephen Schwartz and Hanz Zimmer:
    -Many soundtracks and musicals (Prince of Egypt)
Holst:
   -Planets (Jupiter and Mars especially)
Stravinsky:
-Fire Bird Suite