The Boys of Summer

Well the time has finally come. I am making my valiant return to blogging. Sadly not feeling too introspective lately. Life has been pretty busy for me. I just wrapped up six great weeks at Camp Panawok in White Plains.

Camp was a welcome vacation from the daily grind of the restaurant. I met lots of great new people who I will continue to talk to throughout the year, and tons of great campers. Its amazing how impressionable young minds are. I totally convinced the group of kindergarten boys that the second floor of the school was inhabited by a mob of dragons. And they were not allowed up there because the dragons loved to eat small children. To make matters worse, I told them my grilled chicken wrap was actually dragon that I had slayed and cooked. They proudly called me "Dragon Slayer" all summer long. Pretty sweet if you ask me!

So Dam Hot is really doing fantastic lately. The new apparel has been in for some time and sales have been steady. Fortunately we have had a pretty mild summer, so we haven't been suffering too greatly like we had the past two years. We have been enjoying the return of Joe, who we sadly will be losing again to go back to school. He got mad at me today because I forgot where he went. So I will say have fun in Oneonta Guy!! See? I remember now!

How has every one's summers been going? Anyone do anything interesting? Write some comments to let me know whats going on with you guys. Especially you Jimmy, since you are my biggest fan!

I started training tonight with Mikey. I'm hoping that I did well enough on the written portion of the fire exam, that I will be asked to take the physical test in October. So I am forcing myself back into a fitness regiment, to give myself an adequate chance of placing well on the list. So if the warm weather wasn't enough to make me cranky, this surely will. So be forewarned!!

One last thing before I leave. At every point in life you are surrounded by different groups of people. Some people transcend time, others don't. When I was in high school, I was greatly influenced by some friends I made at Iona Prep. I just need to take a second to mention them here, since their lives have been pretty productive lately. First, my good friend Chris. Congratulations on the new house, and baby Carter. I am truly sorry to have missed the Christening, but my disgustingly infected eye, would not have been to exciting to see. Pete, who is enjoying his pre-wedding wedding/honeymoon in Bora Bora currently, congratulations on your upcoming marriage. I am sincerely blessed to be a part of it. And I can't wait to party with you like old times. Lastly, Jon Jon. You show up at SDH today to tell me you are moving to Miami on Friday to attend culinary school. Wow! Good luck with that. All I can say is follow your passion and hopefully everything will fall into place.

All that said, I love having some free time now to reconnect with you all. I want to try to keep this updated as much as possible. Check back to see whats new. I will attempt to keep it fresh and fun, and sometimes informative. Hope you all are having a great summer so far. Talk to you guys again soon.

With Great Love
~Joshua

Congratulations

Whats up guys? Anyone still reading this? I wish I had more time to write, but as always, life is extremely hectic. Just wanted to take a quick moment to tie up some loose ends.

First off, the most important of all, a huge congratulations to Joe and Nancy. They finally got engaged, and I wish them all the best. They are an amazing couple. Unfortunately life does not allow us to cross paths as often as I would like. Nonetheless, I hope they have an amazing wedding, congratulations guys!!!

Second, the apparel is coming, for real! The order is in the works, and we should have the items in store within a week or so. So come by to pick up the new goods. As soon as I find some time to get with Yuhei, we will get the new items on the website. Until then, you'll just have to come into SDH. I apologize, but I do not have prices yet. Also, we decided to not do beaters, as it would be an issue printing on the ribbed surface. They have been replaced with a cutoff shirt, still excellent for Summer.

Third, I finally took the fire fighter test last weekend. So that is a pressure off my shoulders. Now I just cross my fingers and hope for a call. I feel confident that I did well, but it is out of my hands now. Gotta start training soon for the physical, in hopes that they do call. Every goal has its own steps, and I am climbing quickly.

Fourth, camp is starting on Monday. I am very excited to meet the campers, and enjoy some time outside of the restaurant for awhile. Everyone I have met so far seems great. Orientation was great, and I'm doing my best to fit in. I look forward to telling you more about it in the weeks to come.

Lastly, I want to wish you all a happy and safe 4th of July. Party hard, but be safe. Enjoy your time off and let the Summer truly begin.

~Joshua

P.S. - On the daily calender at SDH I came across this saying, "If you're coasting, you're going down hill." So step up your game everyone. Do not settle for average. You set your own path, and only you can take you there. Reach high and expect the best.

Appreciation

As I lay here in bed, with the air conditioner blaring, writing you my inner most thoughts, I can't help but to think that I, myself, am a perfect example of what I want to write about tonight. I am an ungrateful spoiled brat. Don't get me wrong, I certainly work hard for everything that I get, but what does that really mean?

Jimmy asked me to write a blog today, so that he could have something to distract him from work. When I asked him for an idea, he said, "What was the longest day of your life?" Jimmy has been working overtime all weekend, so I am taking that idea and going in a different direction.

Unfortunately for Jimmy, I am going to speak briefly about his job. I don't know his official title, but Jimmy basically oversees all safety issues for the trains and rails department of the DOT in the Midwest region of the US.

This weekend there was a train derailment in Rockford, Illinois and Jimmy has been on site since the start of it, supervising the whole scene. Fortunately there was only one casualty. But needless to say, that one person will certainly be missed by all the people in her life.

This evening in Washington D.C., two Metro cars crashed head on. Currently there have been four casualties reported, with a multitude of injuries to other passengers. Once again, a tragic loss of life.

But I am not here to dwell on life and death. Death is inevitable and will come to us all when our time is up. I want to write about life, and appreciating all that we have.

FMyLife.com has become a pretty popular site around these parts. And I can't lie and say I don't read it. It is very amusing to read, but it just goes to show you how shallow and fickle we are as humans. We think minor inconveniences are the end of the world. We blow things out of proportion and expect sympathy. And to make matters worse, we get pleasure in reading about other's misfortunes.

We have all done it in our lives. We ask, "Why me? ", "What did I do to deserve this?", "Where is my good Karma?". All valid questions in there own right, but meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

Last night I was watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. If you don't know, the premise of the show, it is to rebuild someone's home (and sometimes other buildings as well) in an effort to help those who have been stricken with tough times and yet still remain positive.

The episode I watched featured a family of five, where the two youngest kids were both diagnosed Autistic. The family lived in what could be considered a small shack that was built on the site of a former garbage dump. They barely had the means to survive on their own, no car, no clean water, and minimal food. Yet they helped run a baseball league for disabled youths in the Pennsylvania area.

Could they not have questioned their own plight? What did they do to deserve the lives that they were living? But that was not the case. They were motivated by brightening the lives of these young children who were suffering. They said the only thing that held their house together was the strength of their love. Might sound a little cheesy to someone who doesn't have to deal with their situation, but very meaningful when you see just how hard they had it.

I work seven days a week, make minimal money, and live in my parents basement (no offense M&D). I could easily say that I deserve better than this. I am a good person, a hard worker, I should be enjoying a life of comfort.

In reality all that stuff is meaningless. We are much more than our possesions. I was left wondering last night, "Why do we ask for so much, yet give so little?" Where will that lead us? If everyone is looking to take, take, take, what will be left?

I know that I am the same way. I wish my life was easier. I don't want to work everyday, but I need to. Is that the worst thing in the world? I wake up tired and want to be lazy, how selfish is that? There are people right now that wish they could own there own business. Heck, there are people right now that just wish they could be working.

It is hard to appreciate all that we have, when it is so easy to want more. All I am asking is that we sometimes stop and appreciate all that we have. I should practice what I preech more often. I am very lucky to have everything I have.

Tomorrow I will likely wake up and hate the fact that I have to get into my car, and drive to my restaraunt to work all day. Poor me, how I suffer.

Next time you want to feel pity for yourself, think about what it would really mean to have a tough life. Don't dwell on the negatives, embrace the positives.

"My boyfriend dumped me."

"I have to study for a final."

"My boss is an ass."

Woah is you, and woah is me. Enjoy reading the blog on your computers at your nice desk in your comfortable room. And remember that there is always someone out there with less than you. Be thankful for all that you have.

"Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances."
Benjamin Franklin

I am not telling you what to do, or how to live your life. Just trying to enlighten you, and me, to the realities of our worlds, and the blessings that we all overlook.

Here is your mission, take one day of your week, and break down everything in your life that is good and everything that is bad. I think you will be dumbfounded by the results. If you care to share some thoughts, I would love to hear what you think.

~Joshua

P.S. - My deepest sympathies go out to all those who have suffered from these recent tragedies. Be thankful for all the good times that you were able to share.

Peanuts and Raisins

Hello again! I'm baaa-aaaack!! The swine flu cannot conquer me! But it can kinda cripple me for a day or two. Stupid @#!%$& flu.

So after my first full day of work in a few days, I was excited to come home and find that my drug dealer had delivered me some fresh goods. Don't get to excited, by drug dealer I mean my mom, and by goods I mean peanuts and raisins (Would you believe no one has created a Wikipedia page for this!!). They might as well be crack for me. As long as they are around they will be devoured.

By the way, yes I do still live at home (so lame, sorry guys 143) and yes my family does read the blog, so I have to be nice to them (again 143).

Anyway, all that aside, I always enjoy giving you insight into my life, so I have posted a video of me eating my peanuts and raisins. Be forewarned it gets kind of ugly. And yes, I do look different with my shirt off, I do savor every bight, and I do become kind of an animal when I eat.

But god am I freaking cute!! Look at those cheeks!

Love keeping in touch with you all. Make sure you eat your peanuts and raisins, they are good for you and they might attract a visit from me!

~Joshua

Kickball

Last post for the night. I really need to get some sleep because I think Sammy gave me Swine Flu.

The J-Bombs lost in the bottom of the seventh today to finish the season as runners up. It was a hard fought game that we deserved to win. I am looking forward to redemption next season. Stay classy J-Bombs.

~Joshua

Dave Matthews GPS

Well being that my one attempt at owning a GPS ended a day later with a shattered window, it probably wouldn't be smart for me to get another one. But if I was to get one, it would totally be this one:

Just a little humor for you on a Sunday night. Anyone see him in Hartford this weekend? SPAC is next Saturday and I can't wait. Upon James' recommendation I have listened to the new CD a few more times, and there really are some great songs on there. If you are a fan you should pick up the CD.

I really enjoy "Why I am" which they performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

While I was doing work researching this blog I learned that the artwork on the CD was all drawn by Dave himself.


Critics are saying this is the best work the band has ever done. A fitting tribute to a lost friend, and an amazing musician. R.I.P. LeRoi Moore.

"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die." -DMB

~Joshua

The Hangover

Ok, I usually leave the movie reviews to Yuhei, but I just can't resist on this one. Just got back from seeing "The Hangover" with some of the guys, and I have to tell you it is hilarious. I am sure most of you have not seen it yet, so I won't ruin anything. All I know is that when you leave a movie and you truely can't pick out the funniest part, you know it was good. It is up there with the likes of Superbad, Old School, and Wedding Crashers.

Enjoy...and popcorns on me!

~Joshua