During our June vacation month, my wife’s computer crashed. That was the only computer I was using at the moment other than my phone and doing post on my phone isn’t so great. Therefore I guess I’m going to be on hiatus during the month of July while I attend to various family events and resolve my computer issues. So have a happy Fourth of July and a good month of July and hope to see you soon.
This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme
Monday, July 1, 2024
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
A World of Potential ( #IWSG )
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 June 5 posting of the IWSG are Liza at Middle Passages, Shannon Lawrence, Melissa Maygrove, and Olga Godim.
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Cherry Picking Time ( #BOTB Results )
Still looking for my fix of cherry flavors. I've been having to settle for cherry coke, but that's fine. While I search for some cherry for me, here's some cherry results for you...
Battle of the Bands Results
My most recent Battle was a showdown between Tommy James and the Shondells (which most of you knew) and The Good Rats (which is a much lesser known band), each with their own "cherry" flavored song. I like TJ's "Sweet Cherry Wine" much better now than when it originally came out--especially knowing what the song is about. I always liked the song, but it struck me as light pop and not as edgy as what I was mostly listening to back then. And even though I like the James song better now, this was not my vote.
The Good Rats have long been a favorite band of mine and to me the song "Cherry River" is one of their best. I can remember so many late night drives when I'd have this song cranked up on my van stereo. Seems like the appropriate kind of song on occasions such as that. So, as I'm sure you can guess, my vote goes to The Good Rats, who in this case were good, but not good enough for the win.
Final Vote Tally
Tommy James 8 votes
Good Rats 4 votes
******************
Next Battle ????
Since I've got an especially busy schedule over the next few weeks I'm not going to commit to any Battle until July 1st. If I can manage, I'll try to visit everyone else's Battles. I'll probably have very little access to being on line for most of June. So, see you when things get back to normal. Or kind of normal...
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Cherry Wine vs Cherry River ( #BOTB )
Cherries! I love cherry flavor. Don't know about cherry wine or other cherry alcoholic drinks since I don't think I've had any. But it does sound good to me!
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.
Tommy James & the Shondells "Sweet Cherry Wine" (1969)
This song came out during my senior year of high school. I had enjoyed Tommy James and his band for several years, but in 1968 Tommy started turning out some Jesus related music that was excellent. He was like one of the earliest Christian rock artists I guess. It's not hard to figure out what this song is about. It was a pretty big hit back in it's day.
Come on and vote--please! If you don't then go jump in a river. But I don't want you to do that. Just take a listen to the songs then tell us which song version you like best? 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. I don't know if anyone else will be doing a Battle this time around, but you can still check out these sites.
Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:
StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Poppin' in for Results ( #BOTB Results )
Did I say Wednesday?
I guess today is that day--or whatever day I post this.
I'll try for Wednesday....
Battle of the Bands Results
Okay, I'll make this quick. I've got things to do. Never mind what.
My most recent Battle was the song "Under Paris Skies" as performed by Jane Morgan and Nicki Parrott. I've been a fan of Jane Morgan since I can't recall when so I'm giving her my vote. Loved the arrangement of NIcki's version with the accordion and mandolin and all, but Morgan's version had so much class. But here's how it all tallied up in the end...
Final Vote Tally
Jane Morgan 5 votes
NIcki Parrott 11 votes
See ya later! Maybe I'll do a midmonth Battle, but I'll decide that later. Bye..
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Under Paris Skies (#BOTB & #IWSG )
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 May 1 posting of the IWSG are Victoria Marie Lees, Kim Lajevardi, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine.
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.
Under Paris Skies
In November of 2015 my wife and I took a week-end respite to link up with one of our daughters and her family in Las Vegas. For them it was due to business, while for us it was just something to do--a distraction from everyday routine.
As we would typically do on a Las Vegas visit, we spent hours strolling through the casinos, playing an occasional slot or snacking or just looking. One of our favorite casinos for strolling is The Venetian which for its theme has canals with singing gondoliers taking folks through the maze of waterways that meander through recreated Venice style streets. There are jewelry shops and gelato stands. One can dine on fancy Italian fare or grab fast food in the food court. If you just stayed in this casino alone you might lose track of time because the fake sky is always daylight. The Venetian like most other casinos is a fantasyland of escapism.
At one point during our visit, I was distracted by a musical ensemble playing music that was reminiscent of what one might hear in Italy. What especially caught my ear was a song that I had grown up hearing on the radio and in my parents' record collection. What was the song? I was so puzzled by wondering the name of this familiar tune that I was compelled to go up to the edge of the stage when they had finished and ask the violinist what they had just played. He told me that the song was "Under Paris Skies" which I would have never guessed.
But now I know the name of this song and present it in Battle format with one singer I've heard throughout my life, Jane Morgan, and a singer I'd never heard of before, Nicki Parrott. I'm going to pick my own favorite later on, but for now I invite you to listen for yourself and tell us which version you like best.
Jane Morgan "Under Paris Skies" ( 1964 )
Nicki Parrott "Under Paris Skies" ( 2013 )
Try not to get distracted before you vote. Take a moment to listen to each version. Then tell us which song version do you like best? 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. I don't know if anyone else will be doing a Battle this time around, but you can still check out these sites.
Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:
StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands
'Curious as a Cathy'
Sound of One Hand Typing
Jingle, Jangle, Jungle
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Zookeeper, Zoning Manager, Zzyzx Operator, ( #AtoZChallenge )
Monday, April 29, 2024
Yard Worker, Yacht Captain, Youth Director, Yo-yo Expert ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter Y](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUuza196xXqNshZfyfYKz7JrOi3uN3N9cvfFy3WmsZAXUmahOEctHExOV2DRsnTxt_PeBHR3lqXUDbcahfFvTVEJvuV1C6CY2_-FoBhyphenhyphenUa5xctWHppVNwflIcPdkfrNcUMobDsfj0RfVk6cFKPexSTEA42w62x7nU_mYs8cBA6W00cS_A310Xh6Kn5gxF/s320/y.jpg)
Since I don't know or care much about yarn, yeast, or yoga then I'll dismiss any occupations associated with those things. I've done plenty of yard work in my life including working outdoors in what they called the "construction yard" when I was working at the contracting company that my father worked for while I was in college. That's a young man's work and I wouldn't want to do much of that again.
Yacht Captain would never come about for me so I can easily dismiss that job. Youth director might be more related to my skillset, but I'm not sure I'd be the greatest youth director. At least not if it were an energetic thing or where I might have to deal with unruly youth. Fact is I don't know that I'd want to be a director of any amassed group of people or any other creatures.
Maybe I'm best at being a yo-yo expert. Not actual toy yo-yos, but metaphorical yo-yos that represent all the ups and downs and highs and lows of life. But haven't we all? Perhaps I should just go out and buy a toy yo-yo and start practicing. It's probably a dead end career. And once you reach the end of the string you just go back to where you've started. Yeah, I guess you could call me a yo-yo expert.
Do you or have you in the past maintained a large yard? Are you good when it comes to working with young people or just people in general? How proficient are your yo-yo skills?
Saturday, April 27, 2024
X-Ray Technician, X-tra in Movies, or just X ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter X](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhv5XYTRRO_FPV5mVXjl3efIeM4uEaRBsXEMG3jzk4d8lEa7aCK6Yt8QCgTrBQeh3X6txqWQb_jcvo5Rlmk_7_nd-0IHk-iFmkjSUrqwl01cVN37dta9hUACtLQu2rY_Y2cLGZ5rX5TXZal5u1MAkeiS9G-SJiKpW93MwcyMNnjxKTI5rT2VlxEgPrRfp/s320/x.jpg)
Friday, April 26, 2024
Weeder, Warehouse Worker, Writer, Walker ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter W](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBOgSps2USW8b3qF_MnfEenvWQNVK7Z7lQVX9c71Otbl8yucyADPOc6qeqjjrreZ_-UivNthcUAmLcSynMpbGUiPZtBnegc3ApihNv6Fp8vmlrBvhRlbDEDzeKzOcd_raxpfBKDzwQCzdO-Xr-uGPID-OwejMAtx7dEpZ9XPjJFjXeuBpSfkqmcwD2dJO/s320/w.jpg)
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Van Driver, Visitor Services, Videographer, Violinist (#AtoZChallenge)
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter V](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcZSVz0nRmquzb-U-CT0UKzT2_HALlBfrT1mUbIcuuSMsyC3a7rm04-Nmi-TH6Ia1jRzbVF3e4f243tygD-KUr2MwDeZZMU9cHtTToh5bQb33wT4VwhG6TR5igpXaNPkLHO-J7WbAN8jofoZYk6TXmsQtxqrr7K_PtWc5rbLtlXP-IgFtgC2J6ULjSU2D/s320/v.jpg)
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Underground Worker, Upholsterer, Undertaker, U.S. Government Worker ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter U](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz3DzWKfJy1sac5lYzr0-CodTVSUfrukZvcK-NEhOsjbqC0ssshbmkA3f6ji4_k6zVLhrPbsjvqxV2r2YpG2WuVPvyLKnClopCEacqC9xdSajlrLE2dgVYhABtbhzIJk9gRsLJxM0pBIcjEYOu7ylKOTPWKClHG-Q8uzkr84kXAjobMw-tguw3RbClRj7/s320/u.jpg)
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Telephone Worker, Teacher, Tour Guide, Theater Manager ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter T](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgba_3qAyhsA7c8aD65qiofM8BHeoHYRLTUF1oN0g5iQMae7u8Gt-U_1q0tbffhmhIhbvQwBPgXfh8Btw8frl2K7WkY0sJrKuD-kuw0MCDtxGPFAdYTt17f1nN2M10n_ifD05HvKDIxzH7YCsiOxDw7ZeFeKlpVWc9dq-ND_XMVQpeyjRJXhv6p3BadEUHO/s320/t.jpg)
Monday, April 22, 2024
Sales, Security, Stage Manager, Showman, Silly Fellow ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter S](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7RO02W9cqkZSGSLGqqiKTP7eDxtb26U8UILfXeJA9iiJ5cEnU3hhaovsocCvEroFP9L6OsxocCdUPZyPmSNlQEFOjDiLUocuMBnUD3XLqg7h0-M_qocLn-o17HysqO-n3UDzxyoA-xQULjtmVh0PDUqpdqBwxcWKSjglijlCy1-1Va6ZUjheG80z91bf/w250-h250/s.jpg)
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Railroad Worker, Retailer, Radio DJ, Roustabout, Roadie, Road Warrior ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter R](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCevUMjnz8npaa590Fy3_CGfSQCD748mpZ3PNWUe2vkCXx8rMZ5smHKSctWvTaq0OEroYs5Tgdcw_fCmyQSX3DjEI5fu6CSGhZZNb_DE5LAM6GtV6LHbFjdf8uvbv3v7kQnYk_q6r6p9xPhCGmfzU3D4wljRp06TrwxSkX30s_b7Xgbo2iiBMMvUpqy_T/s320/r.jpg)
Friday, April 19, 2024
Questioner, Quality Controller, Quoter, Quibbler ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter Q](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNu1rALwUQeID2QwC-tT9BoJG2c2RV0dqKumYG9FtlwO2bYh1K6pROVF8lgjcbA4aQnc2lDZNLmlLLumpPDzUrz2K1LNDMNg2rmJEmCXY8ELaHH8wL570A6jSoweQCw1qXRA5UExbPg7kWkuxtALzqPtG9yb5ImhjIWQKwR4OJh1Hsg_-UvGdhyphenhyphen7hjKTr/s320/q.jpg)
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Printer, Publisher, Packer, Painter, Psychologist ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter P](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVrabSKeIO2Bu1D_P-BlJYLSKODv1LscC04GGSBA2pzCshWisGCCzOrYXUpqyzPHbnJJ5Hss5VVnjp3jcMLLD3dk2wCZRyf6glu5I1qFUK73TAiuZtMgt1dDJWUB2tjDA5TAP-aeq8p3AZEz3mSFi6Yqjwpvda2JoG6rIRNdgdI2ceSbP2lH8B8GglPBF/s320/p.jpg)
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Operator, Office Worker, Order Taker, or Outdoorsman ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter O](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7FdaImM4I2P02n9IWEPXIld6otsxryiV9YNJndnxdO7ARkAc7RCV8kwnMDjwuyOxsjN1XBZGdKexFcnXCdcpheJM3IPe6VudsJvQz8CLnVHM5SZEBqLdWJwpLTmzPaeYixtOljZ3Awa0aRamK9RzFY0QLdATvLHsGAOH2o5QhYScuvfJJschVD3pPQDx/s320/o.jpg)
Operator is a job title that could mean a lot of things, but when I think of the term I think of a telephone operator. Some of you probably remember the days when you could call "Operator" and get a real person instead of an automated system. They could connect you to numbers you needed to reach or find the numbers for you if you couldn't find them. An operator years ago was an actual human who could answer your questions and hopefully help you do whatever it was you needed to do on the telephone. My maternal grandmother was a telephone operator back in 1919. I never asked her about it because I never heard about this until after she died. Operator sounds potentially interesting in its time, but now it is an anomaly for the most part. Many jobs have become obsolete due to mechanization.
A few times over the years I have been an office worker to a certain extent. I've rarely been confined to a desk all day doing clerical work, but I have worked in an office environment mostly answering phones and filling out paperwork. But that is part of a manager job which was why I was doing office work. And much of that office work entailed being an order taker. Customers would call in to my office to place orders and I would enter those orders into the system to be shipped to the customers. Order taking was one of my favorite office related jobs because I enjoyed interacting with customers.
In my young adult years I fancied myself as a bit of an outdoorsman--to a limited extent at least. I enjoyed hiking and camping, but I would never say I was enough of a pro to be acting in any professional capacity of outdoorsmanship. These days I don't go outside all that much. I'd have to drive a bit of a distance to escape the urban wilderness of Los Angeles and I don't care to be an outdoorsman in the city. I like to watch television shows about it, but that's about as much wilderness that I can stand these days.
What are your favorite outdoor activities? Do you enjoy working in an office environment? When's the last time you called an operator?
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Navy guy, Nurse, Newspaper Writer, Novelist ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter N](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsAlLRvUIWUHcJZQJC8Vp86Bq9qT1jaa7jDSAeyaO0jHUgIyaM5HZAvT18I2N2k4qnjSzvTw3wV-oyAW4AcJETVZ9wlF-HcUjA_iZiA6Kj55A_keo6FIaPE1JV2vrFsqKO3YoVqjlT7e_whF4or26y3EF_G9UE9fI5eCGuHofTfx-KiYzKQzPAaYoqsgA/s320/n.jpg)
Navy guy might have been a career route that I could have taken in my life. After I graduated from high school I could have looked into joining the Navy. It was 1969 and Vietnam was going full guns and other deadly devices. Since my father was in the Navy during World War II it might seem logical for me to follow the tradition--that is if I'd come from a military type family. But my father was mostly recruited to play basketball on the Navy team. He wasn't much of a sailor, but he was good enough of a basketball player to make the Navy want him on their team. Sounds like a nice way to serve military time.
My second wife became a nurse after our decade of being in show business together. I heard her stories and those of other nurses who told their stories and I'm pretty sure I would not be good at nursing. I guess a nurse gets used to the gross stuff and other weird stuff, but I don't know how I would be doing that occupation. Sure, I could have been a nurse, but not. No, not me. But don't let me knock the nursing profession. We need them and it's a great career move for young people looking for their life's work.
Though now maybe more dream than reality, being a newspaper writer was long a dream profession in my younger days. From the time I could read I was always fascinated with newspapers and the wonderful array of information and entertainment those pages contained. My paternal grandfather had worked for a newspaper, but he was mostly a printer, though he did write some pieces for the paper at times or so I heard. I never met him since he died several years before I was born.
Novelist is more like it for me. I've long aspired to be a novelist. I've done some work on a few novels but haven't actually followed any through to completion. Maybe someday I'll get a novel published. Or something published. Or maybe not. But never say never as they sometimes say.
Would you be good at a care job like nursing? Did you like to read newspapers in your younger days or even now? Have you achieved the dream of publishing your own novel?
Monday, April 15, 2024
-Marketing Researcher, Movie Star, Make-up Artist, Magician, Musician ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter M](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38W3_AC0zT2NgFYkhky7wy_TY2_hQCz_EveXrgP5AwbdAghRQozFl8hfR7e1OrVAvqZlcSeaSO_JuB_tUkltPnXYGhDhNWib8ojZjoNOeLjeUz3mpeTV1u46E2c4ZU0caK2d1kp2iQFxFEgmjY2LMzppD054GLG4KULJ57QLuDgAJCfGT1HoEaSfPTY_x/s320/m.jpg)
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Landscaper, Librarian, Lawyer, Lecturer ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter L](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAg40PLUah7kyOaWxDREc2_RZqu8PjFWhDcJzPuO1_heAnQOHs-MZz-PcmJBc3hOveM2tr-6yEn3RK1Gne5gtMhJGHqsdctUbBDe2qLeqfgfWZymgS4KW67nB_VXAQYBOmH8b0bvOJaUrVTBmOCpYkPdWviaHn5Iu2UTtCa7Yh5YI9RwRZadEv2xUigp9/s320/l.jpg)
Friday, April 12, 2024
Kitchen worker, Klutz, or King ( #AtoZChallenge )
![#AtoZChallenge 2024 letter K](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYx-MRTCr2FYDyjZp3rPVjK7390_467IA-mk9X5fwGzuWfJE4mBZrMr8NkfBNygI9Ze9e_NCkKFFQjupZXluZrTYFvfhEzUFm0SCq_qnTDkHz04PBSQ26Xr0deti5jtV3TpDcj-jGZujAjxFCUurEDfhKSBcqnKpgRCRVeeTo3oIxr0hjcZaH3oDoWHZ2B/s320/k.jpg)