My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2025 the theme is a random assemblage of things that are on my mind--or that just pop into my mind. Whatever! Let's just say I'll be "Tossing It Out" for your entertainment or however it is you perceive these things.
I can be pretty darn fast when my world ain't so slow...
Battle of the Bands Results
A slow computer compounded with lots of vacation things to do means I'm not getting too much done in the realm of blogging. Sorry for not making rounds to other blogs like I usually am able to do when I'm at home with my faster computer and not as many distractions. Most would probably agree that my time with my daughters, my family, and four beautiful grandkids here in New Jersey take precedent to blogging for now.
One consequence of not being able to make more blogging rounds is fewer reciprocated visits to my own blog. Of course, as many of you have noted, summertime is a time when blogging activity is down so like everyone else the voting on this Battle dropped considerably in comparison with my usual turn out. Oh well--it is summer after all and we probably shouldn't be spending all our time indoors on the computer.
That being said, I'll keep it short and just stick to my Battle results.
My long familiarity with the group Clear Light and many years of enjoying their great album leaves me with a big bias for the pairing of Cliff De Young, lead singer of my favored group, and Rob Zabrecky, lead singer of Possum Dixon. And I prefer the musical style of Clear Light though I thoroughly have enjoyed the music of the newer group. Therefore my vote goes to Clear Light and Cliff De Young.
It was a close one with my guy coming in second.
Final Vote Tally:
Cliff De Young 8 Rob Zabrecky 9
Next Battle Tuesday August 15th
I won't have many posts until that time. I'll try to put up one post for Insecure Writer's Support Group on August 2nd, but other than that this blog will be pretty quiet. Ah, peace and quiet on lazy summer days. Or maybe not so lazy. Either way I hope you are all having wonderful summer days.
More than what might typically considered career changes, my work experience has mostly been a matter of job changes or temporary spans of working to pay bills. Few of those latter jobs were occupations that I would ever have strongly considered as a career choice though I'd have likely been willing to have continued working at some of those jobs had the money and circumstances been right.
We often work at jobs that come our way while others of us might pursue the passion which we burn for the most. A dear friend of mine started working during his high school years at a factory where his parents worked. That friend recently retired after nearly fifty years working at that same factory--rather unusual in our time. I don't think he ever seriously considered a career change during his working years. Now that he is retired, he seems content to sit on his deck drinking coffee on summer mornings and watch the sunset while nursing a tall beer. He piddles about the house during the day or just relaxes listening to the radio. For him life is just fine and after fifty years working at the same place I guess he deserves to do whatever provides his happiness.
Having a restless spirit, I sometimes think about moving from retirement into a new career. Fortunately those thoughts don't last too long or become overly obsessive for me. There is an option to retirement, but the money and circumstances would have to be right as has always been the case for me. Money and circumstances likely plays the biggest role in a good many career changes. I'm probably not going to rush out of retirement any time soon. A career change could be heading my way, but I'm not making a serious effort at job hunting either. If something did happen then it would likely fall into my life like so many things have.
If any, what big career adjustments have you made in your life? Would you ever want to completely retire into a quiet sedentary life staying mostly at home? What drives you most when it comes to taking a job: money or circumstances?
Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bandsisthe blogging event started byFar Away Seriesand now hosted byStMcC 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.
Artists Who Changed Careers
Recently I watched an episode of Penn and Teller's Fool Us TV show and my attention was particularly drawn to one rather eccentric magician who had previously had a career as a singer in a moderately successful rock band. Though this factoid was mentioned in the show, Penn Jillette failed to explain who the artist had been in his previous life when he sang vocals on a minor hit that eventually charted at 58 on the Billboard Pop chart.
With my music interests such as they are I had to Google the magician to discover his previous career incarnation--a band and song completely new to me. However, reading about this artist made me think of another artist that I enjoyed in his short career as a rock star before he went on to a different career. This in turn inspired my current round of Battle of the Bands.
Clear Light was an album I used to listen to frequently after it came out in 1966. I still have my vinyl copy of this album. Lead singer Cliff De Young later went on to an acting career, not a far cry from singing. For the Battle I offer up this song from Clear Light's only album.
Possum Dixon is a new band to me. Lead singer Rob Zabrecky has multifaceted interests including his current career as a magician.
Time to Vote! Do you have a preference between these two choices? Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind. Which version do you like the 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 ‘YOURDAILYDOSE’ 'MIKE'SRAMBLINGS' 'Curious as a Cathy' Sound of One Hand Typing The Doglady's Den Angel's Bark Jingle, Jangle, Jungle Winner of this Battle Announced on Friday July 21st I might be struggling to make it through Battles this week, but hoping I make it through and making it to my next winner announcement next Friday. Still truckin'.
