This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Friday, March 8, 2019

Luck o' the Irish ( #BOTB Results )



When I think of March I start thinking of corned beef and cabbage.  Guess I'll be putting a brisket in my basket at the grocery store next week.  Hey Aldi, be sure to save me one...



Battle of the Bands Results




     The previous Battle featured Irish artist Daniel O'Donnell against punkish band The Dollyrots both performing contrasting versions of the Bobby Darin song "Dream Lover".  The Battle was dedicated to longtime A to Z blogger Yvonne Lewis.

     Those of you who know Yvonne might recall that she is a fervent fan of O'Donnell.  Looks like most of the voters including me agreed with Yvonne which gave Danny Boy a resounding win.  Thanks to Lisa and Susan for saving this Battle from being a shut out.

        Luck of the Irish?  Or are we getting too old for Dollyrots?


Final Vote Tally

Daniel O'Donnell     21

The Dollyrots            2        



Next Battle on Friday March 15

         I'll probably take the week off until that Battle day.  Unless I think of something about which I become compelled to write.


        Anybody shop at Aldi?   Do you usually eat corned beef and cabbage in celebration of St. Patrick's Day?    Who was the old comic strip character who liked corn beef and cabbage? 












32 comments:

  1. Thank you Arlee, had no doubt who would win. A real lovely Irish man.
    Also thanks for this being dedicated to me.

    Yvonne.

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    1. Yvonne, I would have felt kind of bad if he didn't win, but I was pretty confident that he would.

      Lee

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  2. I always shop at Aldis as that's where I get the most bang for my buck. If I'd tried to buy the exact same things at a regular chain store (we have 4 in my town, plus WalMart and Target), I would spend at least 30-40% more on my groceries.

    Not a big fan of cooked cabbage. My speed is more coleslaw and corned beef is usually just this time of year.

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    1. GB, there are things I used to buy at Costco that are cheaper at Aldi and it's right across the street from my house (I can literally look out my back windows and see it).

      We would frequently have cooked cabbage when I was a kid so I'm pretty used to it. Cabbage is a very versatile food.

      Lee

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  3. I guess everyone else thought a girl singing the lines was odd as well.

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    1. Alex, I could have used a similar arrangement by the Misfits but that sounder even weirder to me.

      Lee

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  4. LEE ~
    You and I came dangerously close to shutouts this time. You've never had a BOTB shutout, have you? I don't recall you ever having one.

    Had Springsteen been shut out in my Battle, I could have lived with it (even with a smug look on my face). Because, today I dislike him every bit as much as I used to love him back in the very early 1980s.

    But truth be told, I'm glad to still be able to say I've not felt what it's like to put up a BOTB contest in which one competitor couldn't muster so much as one supporter.

    I'll see ya on the 15th or thereabouts.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

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    1. STMcC, I kind of tried to stack the deck so that Danny would win and looks like I called the outcome correctly. But I can never tell sometimes because these Battles can sometimes surprise me.

      At the moment I can't recall a shutout, but there might have been one or two even. But I'm not sure.

      Lee

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  5. Thanks for this month's contest, Lee.

    Enjoy your Ides of March.

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  6. I've never had corned beef and cabbage. Not a fan of the boiled dinner. My hubby's gonna get a brisket this weekend. I'm not a fan of red meat so it's all him! haha

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    1. JoJo, I'd heard of corned beef and cabbage all my life but mostly in the Bring Up Father comic strip. I never knew anyone who fixed it or at least to my recollection. I don't like meat as much as I used to and don't eat much of it.

      Lee

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  7. Yes, I hit up Aldi's all the time...it's a quarter mile from my house...try their Clancy's brand chips.

    Corned beef and cabbage is my favorite...technically, I guess I do more of a "New England Boiled Dinner"...potatoes, carrots, corned beef, cabbage. I wait all year for my chance to have it on St. Patrick's Day (when naysayers are overruled).

    And I have no idea about the cartoon character. :-/

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    1. Cherdo, I can see Aldi's from my kitchen window so I can literally walk fairly easily. But I drive just so I won't be carrying bags home on foot.

      I fix my corned beef in a crockpot with potatoes, onions, carrots, and cabbage. We only have that dinner once a year on or about St Pat's though we always say that we should have it more often. I guess we don't because the meat is usually more expensive the rest of the year.

      The character was Jiggs from Bringing Up Father.

      Lee

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  8. I have my brisket already but still need to buy a head of cabbage. I always fix mine with potatoes and carrots as a New England Boiled Dinner.

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    1. Patricia, hopefully they'll still have some briskets at one of the stores. Sometimes they don't have that many and are out when I go. I fix my brisket like you except I also add an onion or two.

      Lee

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  9. Lee,

    I like making reuben sandwiches and potato soup for our St. Patty's Day dinner. I tried fixing a corned beef brisket but it doesn't turn out well for me. I guess I'm doing it wrong. What kind of Irish gal am I if I can't make a good brisket, huh? I just noticed Patricia's response above mine and I may have to try the way she does it. It sounds yummy! :)

    Yippee, my favorite artist wins but he did so by a landslide, didn't he? These battles tip one side quite heavy at times, don't they? Well...I'm off here for now. Have a good afternoon!

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    1. Cathy, I cook our brisket in a crock pot all day and it turns out so flavorful. I usually can't slice it because it falls about like pulled pork. So good!

      Lee

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  10. Hi, Arlee! Been a long time since I've dropped by. I've been gone for a long time and posting once a month is challenging for me right now. (What with homeschooling kids, I rarely have a quite moment). Aaaach!

    I really don't observe St. Patrick's Day. I know, I'm bad!! x(

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    1. Elizabeth, I'm sure home schooling adds a whole new dimension to parenting, which can be demanding on its own.

      I don't actually do anything on St Pat's other than cook the corn beef dinner (which I've heard is not even an actual Irish tradition). Worse yet I'm Irish on my father's side of the family and I didn't even know that until well into my adult years.

      Lee

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  11. I love Aldi and yes, we bought our corned beef there this year. It's sitting in the fridge just waiting. We are also going to make a Pistachio Irish Soda bread recipe a fellow blogger posted.

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    1. Alana, so far the meat I've tried from Aldi has been good so it's likely that I'll get my corned beef there as well.

      Lee

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    2. Lee.......It's like the "Holidays;" time for the A-Z! I don't get all the time I want to check in on you during the year, but looking forward to your blog this April! Zulu Delta https://zuludelta45.net/

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    3. Zulu, it's hard for me to keep up I know so I've no doubt others are similarly fixed. Good to hear from you again.

      Lee

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  12. Haha! I knew Danny boy would win! I love corn beef and cabbage! And I love Aldi's. We have one right around the corner and I love their return and replace policy. Very generous and makes me feel easier about trying new things.

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    1. Lisa, I confess to kind of rigging this Battle based on my knowledge of my audience's tastes in music. Though I did think a couple more voters might have gone for that Dollyrots version. Still I figured Daniel would have this contest in the bag.

      I wasn't aware of any return and replace policy. I don't like dealing with returns so it's unlikely that I'll ever take them up on it, but you never know.

      Lee

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  13. I'm late, I'm late! Sorry Lee, too much going on in my little life lately.

    I don't think I've ever eaten corned beef and cabbage - and I'm Irish-German. I suppose I need to :)

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    1. Dolorah, that's okay--I've been late most of my life.

      I don't know about "need" to eat the corned beef, but if you like meat and especially things like pastrami then you might enjoy the meal. You should maybe go to a restaurant that serves it (or has a seasonal special on St Pat's) and try it there.

      Lee

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  14. That battle wasn't close! Maybe next time!

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    1. Mike, I really didn't expect it to have been that far off but I figured Daniel would win it.

      Lee

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  15. Oh dang. Now I'm hungry for corned beef and cabbage.

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    1. LD, I think we are going to have ours on Sunday (St Pat's day!).

      Lee

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Lee