Just found out about this event happening tomorrow night... if you got nothing on it could be a fun option! Tickets were originally 100 bucks but now it's free! So get on your party frock and dancin' shoes and come on out for some good times. There will be a new years eve countdown... dance party and performances from SuperChick, Ayiesha Woods and Shonlock. I'm being told by an 'insider' that there's gourmet foods, a sic DJ, possibly some NBA or NFL players (not that I would know any of them...) and its being held in the Delta Ballroom at the Opryland Hotel.
Make B.Haley's (drummer from Toby Mac's band) day and come to the party! He's going all out to make it a cool alternative! There's also a write up in the Tennessean.
Nashville New Years Eve party with B. Haley
I got an IPOD!!!
So I feel a little spoilt.. mum and dad sent me a PINK Ipod Nano for Christmas! It's my first piece of 'apple' technology. I will admit... I like it a lot! Still need to get some more music... I'm one of those lame persons that works in the 'music industry' that rarely listens to music. More out of not making the time for it rather then not enjoying it. I'm too A.D.D. to listen to music while I work and my car's CD player doesn't work and I've had two lots of CD's flogged - once someone actually broke into my car and just took all my 'Christian' Cd's. I'm sure that was a nice surprise!!!
So my question for you is, can you add some more suggestions to the list of music I MUST have? Oldies... newies... running tunes... (today I went for my first run with an Ipod!) Below are some my facebook buds have suggested. Let me know what you got playing! Ye-ah!
Christmas in Nashville
Christmas is the day we celebrate Jesus' birth with family. We give each other gifts and eat way too much food. So what do you do when you're family is on the other side of the world and there's a 16 hour time difference? This year I had Christmas in Nashville Tennessee! My friend, Sandy from Los Angeles (in the pic) came to celebrate with us. Both of her daughters are in Australia! Christmas Eve we went to my church where Michael W Smith lead us in some Carols and the preschoolers stole the show singing/giggling though 'Away in a manger'. We then went home and prepared some Lamingtons... trifle...
One of the most amazing things today is the ability to check in with family via skype (with the webcam) and feel like you're sitting in the lounge room with everyone. So my Christmas eve, their Christmas afternoon - I got to see my three nieces cram their heads in front of the computer screen to excitedly tell me they got a real pony for Christmas! And then see them all open gifts I'd sent them! So fun! Even my dad (who still doesn't know how to turn on a computer!) and my 93 year old grandma came on for a chat! One definitely can't really complain! Glad I wasn't just relying on Australia post and snail mail to keep in touch... still haven't got my Chrissy presents ;-)
So today... Christmas day, Brett and Naarah from Alabaster Box
and Sandy and I gave each other gifts and ate amazing roast lamb, ham, veges, sticky date pudding... Brett and Naarah's little boy enjoyed his first Christmas and definitely stole the show. He's such a cheeky little monkey. He refused to impress us by leaving on the Santa hat his grandma sent him! That was not gonna happen!
It's fun hearing stories how different people celebrate Christmas and how the traditions differ from country to country... family to family. I don't feel like my family had any super crazy traditions... just church 8am in the morning... come home and get the roast on then wait till the rest of the family arrives to open pressies! And of course you had to have your room clean... So painful... it's normally like after midday before any gifts are opened!
How bout you? What makes Christmas day special to you? Do you do anything special to honour Jesus seems it's 'officially' a day to remember HIS birthday?
Happy Christmas and may God bless you!
PS... it wasn't as hot as Australia in Tennessee today... but it sure wasn't anywhere near snowing :-(
Spider minus a leg sells for thousands
So crazy random! I stumbled across this crazy story on Australia's Nine MSN site... seriously had to share it.
A hand-drawn digital picture of a seven-legged spider which became the subject of a widespread viral email has reportedly sold for $15,000 on eBay.
The spider story begins with an email exchange between an Adelaide man and an unnamed utility company.
The man, David Thorne, owes the company $233.95.
Instead of paying up, Mr Thorne sends the company a picture of a seven-legged spider which he "values at $233.95".
“[I] trust that this settles the matter,” he writes.
Click here to see how the exchange ends.
Mr Thorne, contacted by email, told ninemsn the exchange was legitimate and that the bill remains unpaid.
"I have changed [the company's representative's] last name and not mentioned the actual business name but apart from that the email correspondence is verbatim," he said.
"And no, I have still not paid the bill.
"The part about me having no money is also true."
A domain search of Mr Thorne's website reveals it is based in South Australia.
Visit his website here.
After the exchange hit inboxes, the “original” drawing was put up for sale on eBay by a Swedish man.
"David Thorne was … kind enough to give the spider to me," eBay user “Andreas” says.
"However, this spider is driving me nuts. Also he's lacking a leg and thus is useless to me."
The listing shows there were 18 bids for the drawing, with a starting price of $233.95, and that it was sold for US$10,000 ($15,000).
The buyer is now obliged to pay because they have entered a legal contract, according to eBay spokeswoman Sian Kennedy.
"What people decide what they want to pay for items is up to them … it’s a binding contract, even if it’s a picture of a seven-legged spider," Ms Kennedy said.
"People can sell whatever they want on eBay and an email attachment is a physical product — it's not offence, or illegal, so if they can make $15,000 from it, good luck to them."
It would be highly unlikely the seller had registered separate accounts and bid on the item to increase its value, she said.
Have you heard of the seven legged spider before? How does this make international headlines! Again... so random... some people have more money then sense!
Money raised for wells in Sierra Leone...
Woohoo! I've found a moment to work out how much money was raised at my party... wait for it... $610! Thank you so much for your support of this incredible need in Sierra Leone. Every cent will go directly to Living Waters International. It's so humbling to think how far the 'American dollar' (at this point anyway) can go to aid a third world country. Even if this is possibly the toughest time financially some of us have ever faced... we still have so much to be thankful for and we still have the capacity to give. Whatever happens... don't let this economic crisis rob you from being able to give or serve others... however it may look.
Don't forget to check out Global Benefit's website. They are about partnering with YOU to transform culture. They want to provide the 'not-for-profit organisation' that enables you to raise finances or awareness for a need that you come across. So often our dreams can get shattered by how hard it is to set up these hugely challenging organisations. They partner with organisations such as Living Waters International who are already in countries making it all happen. They have the drilling rigs, relationships with countries and awareness of needs... they just need more exposure and support. Get it? I'm sure you'll get more info about these different organisation in the next couple of months as we prepare to work with on a whole new level in 09.
Thanks again!
DDA Technology in Australia to revolutionise the music industry
Follow this link to the ABC to find out about the new DDA Technology that's suppose to revolutionise the music industry? What do you reckon? Might be cool on merch tables... but I wonder if consumers would order them online when they can just download songs they want on Itunes. Below is a second youtube video about the DDA technology... guys got a cute accent anyway ;-P
Did you come to the party last night?
So last night was such a fun way to welcome in the big '3-0'! C-RAZY! Thanks to everyone who could actually make it to the physical address in Columbia TN... and THANKS to everyone that checked in from around the world via mogulus. I'm not sure what was going on when you checked in but I'd love to hear? I know some of my mates - Mandy and Murphy were having a bit of fun being 'TV hosts'... so I'd love to hear what they got up to when I had my back turned! :)
Some of the cupcakes...
So... leave a comment on what you saw on the party webcam! And thanks again for your love and support. Don't forget if you still want to help build wells in Sierra Leone you still can... click here... Still finalising numbers we've raised up over $500!
Easy link to donate to Sierra Leone
Easy link to donate to the party with a purpose. See more info in blog below.
Thanks so much to everyone that has already donated! Wow!
To all my friends...
Thanks for the birthday wishes friends! You guys rock my world! I'm so grateful for friends... those I see every day or two... those I see once a year... those I just manage to stay in contact with via email, facebook or phone calls... those who I haven't yet met but come and say g'day on twitter or on here. There's nothing more precious then rekindling a friendship with someone you haven't seen or heard from in so many years and it feeling like you'd never said goodbye.
Or when you meet someone new and have the best time ever and you wonder how it is possible to feel so connected after just a matter of moments. I love people... I love seeing friends connect with other friends and insular groups have their barriers broken down by new fun people!
There's something to be said for those now somewhat cliche` lyrics we probably all sung at at our graduations - '...and friends are friends for ever if the Lord's the Lord of them...' I knew things would be different after high school... but I would never have imagined being where I am today or knowing the precious people I now know. My world revolved around my class of 60... all bar three people I think even rocked up to my 18th birthday at the barn out near out farm just weeks after our graduation. I think secretly we all hoped things would never change and that we would all be close buddy buddies forever. It was though, the birth of an intense love for people and a desire to get to know anyone and anybody.
I love that today our world today is so small. I'm amazed everyday at the mates who somehow find me on facebook... primary school buddies that I literally haven't seen in 20 years... students I taught when I was a teacher who now are teachers themselves or are pursuing other amazing careers and dreams of their own. It's such a privilege to live and to be part of other people's lives. I once heard a statement that will remain with me forever... 'every day whether you like it or not you are influencing someone!' What kind of influence are you having on your colleagues? Your neighbours kids? Sometimes we live in our own selfish little bubble thinking only of ourselves... doing what we want when we want...etc. Even if this is the case and we really don't care what other think... we are still being watched by someone and we are leaving a legacy. I pray you and I will leave a legacy that brings honour to the one who made us and who brought us to this earth! Thank YOU for your influence in my life!
6:30pm central time Dec 18 I'm gonna have a little fun and live stream my birthday party via Mogulus to this blog... so come and say g'day and meet some of my American buddies (maybe a few Aussie's too!). It is a party with a purpose... so if you would like... the most amazing gift you could give me would be to give some fresh water to Sierra Leone, Western Africa. You can donate to Global Benefit by going to www.firstgive.com/joyargow. Hundreds of wells were destroyed during recent civil wars... tens of thousands of people die each day because they have to drink crap water. $2500 will restore one of these wells! We can do it!
Thank you friends and family!!! I am so blessed by YOU!
Christmas Party at Brock Gill's... an illusion that will have you squeamish!
Last night I accidentally worked out how easy it is to make butter... whilst preparing cream to top off my berry and cream pavolva for the Christmas Party at Brock Gills. Turned my back for all but a second and she'd curled! Dang! Thankfully a new Kroger opened just up the road and I could easily buy some more cream to start the process again!
The party went off... Brock and one of his mates did illusions... this one freaked me out... check out the pic below... the kid hammered a 3-4 inch nail into his head through his nose!
Can you see the nails head???
Pulling out the nail...
Think I'll be leaving that trick up to the experts!
Brock then left us with something we should all look more seriously at becoming experts at.
From his blog...
this is the most thought provoking video i have seen in a while.
what you are about to watch is something that i believe will challenge you. let me set this up for you. this video is from a fellow magician named penn from penn & teller. you should know that he is an atheist. you should also know that he is someone that i have been praying for for a few years. i met penn briefly a few years ago and i am a big fan of his show. he is very controversial but i promise you he will make you think. we need more thinking, dont ya think? watch this video and tell me what you think about it. then tell people to come here and watch it.
I'd love to hear your thoughts?
A wipe out show
On Wednesday we headed for Chipley Fl - 7 hours south of Nashville in country Florida - to play a Christmas youth benefit concert. The day before I found out via twitter one out one of my good friends, Mandy was actually playing in Chipley the night before we were. So random! So on our way down and their way home our paths crossed in Troy AL and we all ate lunch together. Love when things like that happens!
JOSH CAM in Chipley, FL
As we drove... the weather just got worse. Chipley was inundated with water. We got to the venue to find out it had flooded and the decision was made to move to a local church down the road. As we were unloading we got word that they were shutting down the city due to flash flooding! It was hard not to be bummed! They guys had put so much work into the show and were expecting 400+ kids. Hundreds of these kids had already started fundraising by filling up baby bottles with coins to go towards the restoring wells project in Sierra Leone.
We decided to stay the night and postpone the show till Thurs night. Although numbers were dramatically reduced we had an awesome time and saw a tonne of bottles full of coins brought in. Still counting :-0
After the show we drove through the night home and arrived in snowy Spring Hill Tennessee at 4am. What a pretty site. It's funny the different reactions people have to snow... all us Aussie's were so excited and just wanted to throw snowballs and take pictures to send back home to our sweltering families! Our mate, Jase just had no comment... he'd spent the last five or six years living in Northern Michigan where I'm sure more snow falls then rain! I think its just such a beautiful site... transforms even the ugliest of places into sheer beauty. I'm sure the novelty of having to scrap snow off my car would wear off though eventually! But for now... seems I have to be in America away from family and a sunny hot Christmas I hope we get another DUMP of snow Christmas morning! Bring it on!
Toilet Humour - American Public toilets... please explain
So you might think I'm crazy blogging about this but it's one of the conversations that inevitably comes up every time I speak about America to an Aussie or a Britt who has also been here... What's the deal with the massive gaps PUBLIC toilet doors have (like up to an inch wide) when they are shut? Maybe we colonialists are more private then others... I'm sure this is semi illegal... but I couldn't resist taking the above photo through a closed 'loo' door of my friend peering out!
Blogging and social networking - why's it important?
Today I went to a full on blogging and social networking seminar that was run by blogging extraordinaire's Randy Elrod and Spence Smith. When I first got to Nashville I met up with Spence and he back then began talking to me about the importance of blogging and how we as a band couldn't place all our eggs into the myspace basket. Lots of artist's at the time were just directing all their fans to their myspace page. Today - myspace is being taken over by other social networking sites like twitter and facebook. He was right! Today, the trend of having static websites is moving towards blog hosting sites. Check out this artists page - Brock Gill for an amazing site that has been created using a 'blog' friendly hosting platform called wordpress. From what I can gather - the main reason blogging websites are becoming so popular is because of how easy and quick it is to maintain and upload information. You can even update information from your phone in seconds! And also how all this information is picked by the amazing 'GOOGLE' search engine. People want their site to come up first when something is typed in about something contained in their site.
BooMama has a fascinating blog. She was a stay at home mum who wanted to write about the progress of her son. This chick's fascination for blogging and writing continued and she now has like 10 000+ readers per day reading what she has to say! Boomama is a mum… she doesn’t have a stage to perform to 5,000 people from each night... but she gets more people reading what she has to say then a mega church preacher does in a week! How amazing hey!?
It's really hard to sum up such a day in one little blog... but you might ask some of the questions I have asked...
- Why would I bother?
- I don't have anything interesting to write about?
- Who cares about what I write about anyway?
- I don't have time...
For me personally, it is to feel connected to friends, family and people I hope to meet one day. Networking is very important to me and possibly is a gift left out of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the bible :-) I love meeting new people... and not only that but connecting them with ministry opportunities, business opportunities or just new friends to hang out with. I have had the amazing opportunity to travel and meet people all over the world and I love the thought of using my blog, facebook and twitter to possibly keep in touch with friends you once-upon-a-time would have never kept up with. We each have a story. We all go through tough times and then joyous ones. This is a way we connect even though we might live on different continents! Statistics state that more people will buy a product that has been recommended on a blog then by a company spending millions advertising on TV. People trust bloggers!!! Business are starting to see this... this company Blendtec made this crazy handycam video - no marketing money - just blended an Iphone (as you do!) and put it on youtube! There sales went up 40% and didn't cost them a dime in advertising!
Try it out... ask me questions... I'm still a new kid on the block but I highly recommend checking out Spence's and Randy's blog. Their blogs actually generate income!
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