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!

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Riding Off Into the Sunset ( #BOTB Results )

       My horse needs some feed, my gun needs some bullets, and maybe I need a shot of whiskey or somethin' or other.  Think I'll hole up in town for a while.  This old world is looking crazy.  Everyone looks like a bandit and stealin' seems to be the norm of late...

 

Battle of the Bands Results


        My previous Battle was a western showdown between David Crosby and the group Mountain with their takes on the cowboy movie genre.  This was a tight race until Mountain took the lead in the final stretch.  Though I do like David Crosby's song a lot, especially the extended jam sessions, I've always thought the song was a bit weak from the standpoint of lyrics.  But it's a good song.  Still, my preference goes with Jack Bruce's "Theme from an Imaginary Western".   Always loved the majestic sound of Mountain.  Their music lives up the group's name.

Final Vote Tally

David Crosby       7 votes

Mountain             10 votes


What Next?

        I'm likely going to be lying low in the next few weeks.  Christmas season usually seems to be kind of slow in the blogging world anyway, though things have been slowing down as it is.  Like some of you, I think I need a rest and recharge as far as blogging goes.  Probably I will show up with an Insecure Writer's Support Group post in January, but I won't even guarantee that.

       Of course, as always in my cantankerous blogging ways, I could pop in any time with some kind of rant or revelation or whatever might illuminate a light bulb in my brain.  If that happens, then that's what happens.

       In the meantime...

Have a very Merry Christmas...

and dare I say "A Happy New Year"?

 









Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Western Movies ( #BOTB & #IWSG )

         Just tossed this post together quickly so I could toss it out to you...


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 December 2 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Sylvia Ney, Liesbet @ Roaming About Cathrina Constantine, and Natalie Aguirre



December 2 question - Are there months or times of the year that you are more productive with your writing than other months, and why?

       
         Presently this question is rather moot for me since I haven't been doing much writing other than my blog posts.  Same as last year and the year before.  

       Thinking to past times of my life, my writing times were circumstantial.  For several years running, in the span after Christmas and before New Year's Eve,  I would write an epic poem about the previous year of my life.  Spring time of some years seemed to inspire certain fluxes of writing. 

          The influence of certain environmental factors usually prods me to take up the pen--or these days get on my computer.  Maybe it's a period of writing inspired by rain, not so much since I've been in California, but years ago when I lived in Tennessee.

         Or like when I was still in high school.  For some reason I started watching westerns on television.  In the sixties my selection was extremely limited and yet there seemed to be a number of westerns that I watched.  I found these western movies very compelling and apparently something kicked in my writing mind.

         My imagination fueled I started writing not westerns, but stories and songs that somehow were inspired by western movies. I could have watched those shows at any time of the year I suppose and it would have been what I was doing and not where I was in time or even place.

         And like I said, the question is moot for me.  I'm retired and I'm in California. I should be writing more but I'm not.  It could be any time of year for me I suppose.


Battle of the Bands


        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for                                                            more Battle action.

Western Movies

        This Battle is between two different artists performing two different songs with a western movie theme.  Please take a listen to discern your favorite of the two.


David Crosby   "Cowboy Movie" (1971)






Mountain   "Theme from an Imaginary Western"  (1970)





Time to Vote!
        
          You've witnessed the showdown so now you be the judge.  The boys are waiting for your answer.  You've got til sundown, but why not vote now?    Which version do you prefer?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  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

 ‘Storms and Stardust’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 


Cherdo on the Flipside 

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Tuesday December 8th
       
          What more can I say?  And I might not say that much on that post other than who won.  I feel like I'm in a waiting room with Marley's Ghosts of Christmases.  Actually, this year has been like going through a series of waiting rooms and I've been waiting so long that I've forgotten what I'm supposed to be waiting on.