First: Check out my blog at 
Avon Romance this Valentine's day where I talk about POP, what's sexy to me, and wrap it all up by mentioning a nude Jude Law. :)
And yes -- note the seasonal nature of my greeting! There are indeed blossoms busting out all over here in San Francisco. What's it like in your neck of the woods?? The trees around here seem to think it's spring. I'm less certain, though it's definitely sunny, outrageously windy, and I'm sneezing a lot. A little bird was merrily and noisily splashing in the birdbath out in back of my house, too, and all of these things seem to be signs of spring.
Over there to the left is one of my readers, Bethany Hensel, who works for a hot new magazine in PA called Lux—here's their new blog. And that delicious man she's with is none other than Joshua Bell, violin
ist extraordinaire, who's on my hot guy list. :) She had an opportunity to meet him a few weeks ago and she shared these photos with me. His talent is superhuman—in his hands, a violin seems like a living thing, with a full range of emotions. And here's our theme song for the day, and my valentine to you: Ave Maria as played by him.
And yes...we're still working on the title thing!! LOL. I'll keep you posted! Meanwhile, hope you celebrate the day by doing a few of your favorite things with your favorite people. ;)...I had chocolate-covered strawberries to celebrate, in part, and mostly I'm celebrating today by writing something romantic. xo...julie
Thanks!!! That was so nice. It was a bright spot in an otherwise stinky day. :)
Posted by: Bethany | February 14, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Sorry you had a stinky day, Bethany!! But the weekend is almost here, and so is spring. :) And you got to take a cheek to cheek photo with Joshua bell...((((envious sig))). LOL. A memory to savor!
Posted by: Julie Anne Long | February 14, 2008 at 07:51 PM
Oh you are so right!!! The cheek to cheek action will be remembered forever! Haha.
I think I've told about oh, two million people about your post so far. I can't help it!!!
Good luck on the title! I have every faith that it'll be wonderful!
Posted by: bethany | February 15, 2008 at 06:18 AM
A belated Happy Valentine's day... I did stop by, but I didn't leave a message *smacks forehead*
One of those days, ya know! LOL
Hope the weather is cooperating... we finally, FINALLY have some sun today ~ it's been a long time. I know, we're spoiled here with the sun and blue sky.
Posted by: Kathy K | February 15, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Hey Kathy! Glad you're getting some sun and blue sky!! Are you going nuts with all the little ones?? Here...well, i can see the fog sitting way out there on the water...it rolled back this morning to give us mostly blue skies, but I really don't want it to roll back in -- which it might just do this afternoon -- because i'm trying to air-dry a big freshly washed wool rug out on the balcony. LOL. I lead a very, very glamorous life. :) I'll have to keep a sharp eye on the weather. LOL.
Posted by: Julie Anne Long | February 15, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Re: the little ones. Well, after a month and some having all three at least three days a week, usually I've got at least one around 4 or 5 days a week... anyway, we're finally adjusting. I'm not *as* wiped out at the end of the day and I'm *always* glad to see the weekend arrive. But it's fun, the kids are great, I really like their parents and I'm home but earning money doing something I love. Couldn't be better! LOL
And if you want to compare glamourous lives, well... I'm not sure it can be done, really. But it'd be fun to try! *grin*
Hope the fog stays out for the day... blue skies make such a difference!
Posted by: Kathy K | February 15, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Oooooh, I LOVE that "Ave Maria." I've been lucky to see him in concert once. Unbelievably talented (emotionally and technically).
Posted by: KeiraSoleore | February 15, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Kathy -- they're so cute, too, at that age, I bet!! Both energizing and exhausting. They say the most hilarious things. My nephew's birthday is in a few days -- he's getting so darn big!! He's going to be four. You'll be happy to know I got the rug in before the fog returned in earnest. LOL. It'll go back out on the balcony tomorrow to finish drying. Hope the birds don't deposit anything on it. :)
Lucky Keira!! I've missed Joshua Bell when he's guested with the SF Symphony, but I don't plan to miss him again!! I'm sure he'll be back. And that Ave Maria is so beautiful, but I love watching him play the wilder stuff, too. They have a pretty hot video of him doing Paganini on YouTube.
Posted by: Julie Anne Long | February 15, 2008 at 06:28 PM
"a pretty hot video of him doing Paganini on YouTube"
Perhaps only I read that a "certain" way... :)
I found a video of Bell playing a soprano aria O Mio Babbino Caro. Absolutely swoon-worthy.
Posted by: KeiraSoleore | February 15, 2008 at 10:19 PM
ROFL!! Oh, man, Keira. I totally laughed out loud. Everyone's probably going..."wait...if there's a hot video of Joshua Bell doing Paganini, won't I need my credit card to see it??"
Here are the videos we're talking about, in case anyone wants to check 'em out:
JB does (ha!) Paganinin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HY5Nn0XRAw
It's a wonder that violin doesn't burst into flames.
Joshua Bell - O Mio Babbino Caro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ja-c1fsZd0
It'll break your heart in the sweetest sort of way.
And here's a fun one -- the Washington Post did an experiment, and they planted Joshua Bell in a WAshington D.C. metro station during rush hour like any old busker, to see if anyone recognizes him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhw
Posted by: Julie Anne Long | February 16, 2008 at 02:14 AM
I’ve been opened to listen and understand what the bible says..god
Posted by: Office 2010 | January 18, 2012 at 05:36 PM