We might have an idea where we think we are going, but the strangest things can set our journey awry landing us in places we never expected...
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| My last gig with Morris Costumes at the 2009 Halloween Trade Show in Las Vegas (that's me behind the "Doctor") |
The Insecure Writer's Support Group
Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog.
The co-hosts for the January 2 posting of the IWSG are Patricia Lynne, Lisa Buie-Collard, Kim Lajevardi, and Fundy Blue--be sure to stop by their blogs to express your appreciation.
A Spirit of Adventure
Rarely does anyone ask about my writing, nor do I give them much reason to ask. I still think of myself as a writer, yet my present ambitions would not declare this position to the world. To outside eyes I'm just another guy with little to distinguish me from any other guy. My day will come, I'd like to think, but the question is when.
Then again, maybe it's not coming. Maybe it's up to me to pursue that day. They say nothing worth having comes easy. For me that's not always been true, but that statement makes for an encouraging cliche about life, about attaining goals, about getting what we want in life.
We can wait for a knock on our door, but we might be waiting a long time. Our chances for success are increased by doing the door knocking ourselves. Plans are usually the best way to go, however there is something good to be said for wandering a bit, whether in our minds or from a geographical perspective.
I've got some wandering to do. Would anybody care to wander with me? I wonder.
Battle of the Bands
Come Wander With Me
To celebrate my current state of mental wanderlust I've chosen this beautiful song by Jeff Alexander. This song was written for the final taped Twilight Zone episode with the same title as the song featured in it.
Bonnie Beecher, who played the lead role as well as the one who sings the song heard throughout the episode, was the replacement for Liza Minnelli after the more famous actress was rejected because of her nervousness during the audition. Beecher had been a friend of Bob Dylan in his early career. Her singing and acting career never took off as expected though she secured a place in pop music history with this one appearance on the legendary television show. She has been married for over 50 years to hippiedom's own legendary Wavy Gravy.
This song has been recorded by a number of artists as well as having appeared in several films and television productions.
I'm always hesitant to use an original that's not part of the Battle, but in this case I thought some of you might be interested in listening to the source for my Battle. PLEASE DON'T VOTE ON THIS VERSION!!! IT IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY! If you don't care about listening to it then just scroll down to the versions I'm using for the Battle...
Bonnie Beecher "Come Wander With Me" (1964)
And remember--don't vote on this version...
Now for the Battle!!
Please vote for one of the following versions.
Émilie Satt "Come Wander With Me" (2009)
This French artist is one half of the duo known as Madame Monsieur. Her vocals are stylistically similar to Bonnie Beecher's original, but the instrumentation has been updated to have a more commercial modern appeal.
Jay Lamm "Come Wander With Me" (2013)
From Louisiana, Jay Lamm is the founder of the progressive metal band Cea Serin. Though this cover is soft and mellow, the metal influence can certainly be heard.
Time to Vote!
Before you wander off, please vote in my first Battle of 2019. What's your favorite between these two choices? Which song version do you like best? You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.
Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.
Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:
StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands
'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
Angel's Bark
Debbie Doglady's Den
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Cherdo on the Flipside
A I Love Music
Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday January 7th
Once you've voted, please don't forget to see if your choice won the Battle. In the meantime I'll be wandering about.
Has your life journey taken you to where you expected or have you been taken by surprise? After losing focus on a project, do you tend to see things more clearly after you've meandered a bit? Where do you see 2019 taking you?
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Happy New Year!
Have a great 2019!
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Happy New Year Lee and I hope all your wanderings of mind when writing is still as good as it's always has been. My mind of late have been in turmoil but hopefully will get back to normal......whatever normal is.
ReplyDeleteMy vote for the BOTB is Jay Lamm. look forward to the result.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, let's plunge valiantly ahead into whatever will be our norm.
DeleteFirst vote goes to Jay Lamm.
Lee
Yeah, it's always a struggle to get started. I try and keep my ambitions low when I'm not feeling the drive to write, because too ambitious a project is always a good excuse not to start.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go with the Émilie Satt version. It's close to the original, but wow, dark and haunting, isn't it?
Harry, I think it's wise to live with dreams in mind and with no expectations. But yeah, I'd tend to agree with what you say.
DeleteSecond vote goes to Emilie Satt.
Lee
My life journey definitely took a turn when I returned to where I grew up in 2011, although if my husband could've moved west I would've stayed in Washington. Now we have to move to my childhood home in June b/c it didn't sell so I'm dreading 2019.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, make the best of whatever you got. Just being alive with a modicum of good health is a reason to celebrate.
DeleteLee
I'm going with the Emilie Satt version, becaause I like her voice and the arrangement better. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteJohn, keep those years coming ever happier!
DeleteA vote for Emilie Satt.
Lee
I've taken a few adventures in my time. The adventure that I am on now is taking me to some pretty interesting places.
ReplyDeleteI'm voting for Emilie Satt, her arrangement was a bit more pleasing to my ears.
Happy New Year, Lee!
~Mary
#BattleOfTheBands : World Changing Edition
Mary, anything can be an adventure depending on how we look at it. I am sometimes perplexed when I hear people with a ho-hum attitude about their lives or complain about their lives not being as amazing as other people's lives. Any life is a unique and interesting experience when we have the right attitude.
DeleteA vote for Emilie Satt.
Lee
Happy New Year! Here's to having more adventures in 2019!
ReplyDeletewww.ficklemillennial.blogspot.com
Gina, I'm always open to new adventures even when they are quiet seeming uneventful adventures. Our dreams enrich our lives.
DeleteLee
I'm with you Lee. My journey has taken an unexpected twist. Things that used to consume me - writing, blogging, reading - has lost a lot of its interest for me over the last five years or so. I'm not always sure change is good, lol. I still call myself a writer also - I site and write for hours sometimes. But the publication drive has fizzled. Perhaps it will return someday.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great battle. Love all the versions of this song. Its a hard choice though; I like both versions equally. Lam sure knows how to manipulate the acustics; the guitar sounds a lot like an accompanying singer. Haunting, ethereal. Nicely done.
But Emilie has a more, continuous?, sound. It stick to my senses, draws in the emotions. I'll give her my vote.
Happy new year Lee. Enjoy the wanderings this year.
Dolorah, change is not always good, but it is inevitable. I think we all deserve a bit of a slump now and then, just so it doesn't take hold and keep us down.
DeleteThanks for your vote for Emilie Satt.
Lee
Make mine Émilie Satt. I liked the instr. on the second, but never warmed to the vocals.
ReplyDeleteCW, I get what you're saying...
DeleteA vote for Emilie Satt.
Lee
Happy New Year! I almost made it without getting sick but I got hit a week before Christmas but I still had a nice Christmas. The guy sounds dull as dirt to me. I give my vote to Emilie who gives it the right amount of dream like sadness. I know this Twilight Zone episode well and this song is quite sad and fitting. I want to accomplish more this year than I did in the last which means making more cards, scrapbooks and cleaning things up.....fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, glad your Christmas was nice despite the sickness.
DeleteMore accomplishments is a worthy goal--one that I share.
Emilie Satt.
Lee
Happy 2019 to ya, LEE!
ReplyDeleteI'm getting a late start today on BOTB because I had a couple Margaritas to go out and get today, and I incorporated them into a bicycle ride. Just got back.
Interestingly, I'm currently in the process of watching all the old Twilight Zone episodes.
To be entirely honest, this song doesn't do a whole lot for me, to begin with. Yes, I definitely hear and like the haunted sense of it. But it's just a little too slow. I can think of other ballads that contain this same "haunted" sound but which hold my interest better.
I'm going to cast my vote for Jay Lamm. Mostly because he needs the help here, and because Satt's vocals rubbed me the wrong way. I rarely find that "little girl semi-whispering" vocal effect appealing. It always comes across to me as too much of an affectation. In fact (for whatever un-analyzed reason), the only singers I can think of who can get away with that style and still entertain me are Astrud Gilberto and Rickie Lee Jones.
Cheers to another year of Battle Of The Bands, my friend! I hope 2019 is good to ya!
~ D-FensDogG @ STMcC Presents 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
STMcC, Margaritas? I thought you'd quit drinking. That's okay--a Margarita now and then is just fine as far as I'm concerned. Heck, I'd be okay with one a day.
DeleteSince ME TV started showing the old Twilight Zone episodes, I've been catching up with some that I don't remember having seen before like this "Come Wander" episode. My first impressions of this song were much like yours, but I must say after listening to numerous covers the song has grown on me considerably.
A vote for Jay Lamm.
Lee
I really like the Jay Lamm version. Wander where you will. I enjoy reading your blog posts.
ReplyDeleteMary at Play off the Page
Mary A, I have always been a wanderer and I guess I always will be.
DeleteA vote for Jay Lamm.
Lee
I remember that episode of of the Twilight Zone. A few years back I watched them all in sequence, and bought a book, The Twilight Zone Companion to go with the project. It was a great show.
ReplyDeleteCome Wander, however, was not a fav episode, in part because the song rubbed me the wrong way. Oh well. Tough toenails, huh?
I'm going to vote for the second one because there is just an element I hear occasionally of that metal sound that you mentioned. It is different.
Life has certainly taken me in directions I'd not planned, as with us all, I'm sure. Heck, I originally thought I'd homestead 160 acres in Alaska and live like the unibomber. Instead, I had a life of normal jobs, normal social interactions, and normal family and I appear at least semi-normal. Who woulda thunk it?
I hope your 2019 unfolds in UNexpectedly wonderful ways for you, Lee. You are a good guy, a good writer, and deserve the best.
6-Gun, sounds like you created a creditable course in "Twilight Zone". To my recollection I'd never seen this version until within the last couple years. It's not my favorite episode, but now that I've put up this Battle the song has become a not unpleasant earworm.
DeleteI'm looking forward to the best to all of us in 2019.
A vote for Jay Lamm.
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you this day and happy new year! 'Come Wander With Me' is an introduction. I needed to listen to both covers twice before I knew which artist I liked the best. They each have a special quality. Emilie's almost sounds like a lullabye with her whispery soft vocal and Jay's had an almost haunting tone with his hushed singing with only his guitar accompanying him. I'm givng my vote to Jay. I will be happy with whoever wins this battle because both were very good.
Now to answer your questions....
(1) Has your life journey taken you to where you expected or have you been taken by surprise? I'm not sure where I expected things to go in my life so there's been no surprises.
(2)After losing focus on a project, do you tend to see things more clearly after you've meandered a bit? Yeah, I do until I get off track again. lol
(3) Where do you see 2019 taking you? I can a lot of things but it actually happening is another story. My biggest goal is for us to find that house I keep talking about. The past couple of years have been filled with too many distractions for us to give it our full attention. I just hope we don't hit too many roadblocks to keep us from reaching our dream this year. Only time will tell. :)
Thanks for being a super duper good friend. I hope we'll continue this blogging journey together. I know it gets a bit old at times and you just don't feel like you have it in ya to keep it up but you do it anyhow because you love it. Stay low key and don't push yourself. You'll regain that sense of giving more of yourself to your writing projects. Have a pAwesome day!
☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ ★ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆
╔╗╔╦══╦═╦═╦╗╔╗ ★ ★ ★
║╚╝║══║═║═║╚╝║ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆
║╔╗║╔╗║╔╣╔╩╗╔╝ ★ NEW YEAR ☆
╚╝╚╩╝╚╩╝╚╝═╚╝ ♥￥☆★☆★☆￥♥ ★☆ ♥♥♥
Cathy, I don't know how you did the artwork, but it's pretty cool. Thanks for being a good blogging friend as well.
DeleteA vote for Jay Lamm.
Lee
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYes we need to do our own knocking at the door. Love that thought.
Teresa
Teresa, I'm not saying that out of the blue lucky breaks never occur, but our efforts can make the luck more probable.
DeleteLee
It probably wont surprise you that I'm voting for Jay Lamm.
ReplyDeleteThey say a ship never comes to you - you have to swim out to it.
Alex, I had you in mine when I listened to Jay for the first time and I figured you'd like his style better.
DeleteA vote for Jay Lamm.
Lee
Maybe your wandering is leading you toward interesting stories that you will write about later. You never know where life decides to take you.
ReplyDeletePatricia, the stories are there I'm sure--they always are. Life has been full of surprises so I'm sure the future won't disappoint--just slow down from younger days.
DeleteLee
I guess it's really hit me--my love of writing. Sure, being published again is important to me. Rejections have made it tough. But putting words down, I do that for me. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Anna, getting published would probably help me refocus. First I need to start writing and accept any rejections that might come my way.
DeleteLee
Happy New Year, Lee!
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific post! I vaguely remember the Twilight Zone episode now, but I do recall the song. Perfectly eerie, and somehow expectant. I really liked Jay Lamm's version best.
Thus far, my life has been one surprising adventure after another. Not at all as I'd assumed it would be. It's not so bad to learn to bend in the winds that might otherwise snap your heart in half, and who doesn't need fresh air sometimes? I think our best perspectives are gained from retrospection.
Wishing you a journey full of wonder!
Diedre, 50 years ago I don't think I would have accurately predicted my life path, but I would have been happy to know what was ahead for me. I've had a decent life and I'm hoping the best surprises are ahead of me.
DeleteA vote for Jay Lamm.
Lee
I get so busy with other writers' work that I forget about my own.
ReplyDeleteI like the last version best.
L.Diane, you are performing a very helpful and needed service.
DeleteAnother vote for Jay Lamm.
Lee
Jay Lamm ... A VOTE FOR ... JAY LAMM, please.
ReplyDeleteFirst time for me to hear these. The original is so good.
Happy New Year, Lee.
Michael, happy to accept your enthusiastic vote...
Deletefor Jay Lamm.
Lee
Jay Lamm, definitely. I'd never heard these before.
ReplyDelete2019? I'm not old enough for 2019.
Susan, I think I'll put off getting any older for the next 20 years or so.
DeleteJay Lamm.
Lee
Jay Lamm gets my vote. His version for some reason felt more haunting... Happy new Year Arlee!
ReplyDeleteLisa, all the best to you and all of us!
DeleteJay Lamm.
Lee
Jay Lamm for me, although I enjoyed both versions.
ReplyDeleteHappy 2019, Lee.
Roland, and a happy year to you as well!
DeleteJay Lamm.
Lee
Hi, Arlee! My vote for BOTB goes to Jay Lamm, although I enjoyed Émilie Satt's version as well. Thanks for introducing me to all three artists. I'm definitely a wanderer, but I'll knock on doors when I need to. I remember a scary time when I lost my job soon after being transferred from Calgary to Denver. Cold-calling on oil companies was one tough round of pavement pounding, but I found a new job and a new life that led to meeting my amazing husband. I'm all for knocking on doors to make things happen. btw, my life turned out unlike anything I could have imagined, but I've certainly enjoyed the ride so far! All the best to you ~ hope the writing bug bites you again!
ReplyDeleteBlue, sometimes we've got no choice but to knock on a door or two even if we are highly privileged. Hope you continue to have a good ride through life.
DeleteAnother vote for Jay Lamm.
Lee
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get through your wandering stage and land where your heart wants you to land.
As for Come Wander With Me, I liked the original version but I didn't vote for it because you said don't vote for the original. However, I felt the soul of the music, the cry of the soul. or the cry of a wandering soul and I based my vote on hearing this cry of a wandering soul. That came best through Jay Lamm. His voice has the blues tone plea of a searcher looking for something that he can't really define. So my vote is for Jay Lamm.
Wishing you all the best for 2019; that doors will open in whatever you're going to be tasked to do.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Pat, I hope for open doors except where it is better to leave them closed. Thank you for stopping by to vote and comment.
DeleteJay Lamm.
Lee
I like the idea of "mental wanderlust." It sounds like you're having one adventure after another. I love adventures.
ReplyDeleteI hope 2019 is a good year for you and yours and for the rest of this embattled world.
C.Lee, our adventures will take us as far as our minds are willing. I get more tired these days, but I still like a good adventure.
DeleteLee
Happy, New Year, Lee! I'm forever wandering mentally. Keeps life interesting. ☺ May your wandering take you to fascinating places! I don't remember this song, even though I watched The Twilight Zone regularly. I didn't like Emilie Satt's voice at all, but Jay Lamm hooked me from the first note and then, of course, there's the metal vibe. Love it! Jay gets a resounding vote from me.
ReplyDeleteDebbie D, "Come Wander With Me" is like a lost episode. AT least for me it is since I never saw it until recently and I've been watching Twilight Zone episodes for most of my life.
DeleteAgain it's Jay Lamm.
Lee
Lee -- I can definitely relate. There was a time when wanderlust meant hitting the road. Nowadays "mental wandering" suits me better. I let my late-life Geriatric Adolescence stories take me places I haven't visited in a very long time.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for 2019.
Gilguy, I'd still like the road life if I could afford it or figure a way to get paid for it. But I've always had a wandering mind.
DeleteLee
There is definitely much to be learned from wandering. But I'd always encourage the carpe diem method vs waiting around. Of course it doesn't mean we will succeed, but at least we'll know we tried. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteMelanie, if we live life in an easy chair then we can't experience much. Of course reading and watching TV will open things up for us, but still there nothing like real life.
DeleteFailure can be another form of a life lived with some measure of success in having tried.
Lee
Happy New Year, Lee!
ReplyDeleteThis is been a weird set of battles because I think I've liked every song on every battle. Yours is no exception. At 1st I thought I was gonna go with Satt... I really liked her breathy delivery and it seems so peaceful.
But then I listen to J Lamm and he stole that vote. Loved his vocals much more! The music arrangement was better, in my humble opinion. I need to hear more from him, methinks.
Thanks, Lee!
Cherdo, I think Jay Lamm has more music available on YouTube. Thanks for the vote!\
DeleteA vote for Jay Lamm.
Lee
Might I suggest following the IWSG's book club suggestion of "Big Magic"? It's actually a great book for writers. And, since you sound a bit stuck, maybe it'll help?
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a great New Year!
I know you know it, but I'm gonna "toss it out there" (punny...) anyway:
Sign-ups for the First Annual #AtoZChallenge Book Reviews, Tour, and Blog Hop are open. Check the A to Z blog for details.
~Celebrating our TENTH anniversary in April 2019~
I'm excited!!! Jeremy just did a couple of the graphics. Have you seen the blogger header? OMG!!! It's amazing.
That's part of who you are, you know. The guy who brought thousands of bloggers together from around the world. No small feat.
J, so glad you got Jeremy to provide some graphics. They look great! Green is one of my favorite colors so I do like that.
DeleteThank you for the kind words. I keep thinking that I need to send you another email and I guess I will eventually. Sorry. I've been engrossed in other things besides blogging these days. I still plan to participate in the A to Z in April, but I think I better start cranking up my motivation.
Lee