Let's Face the Music and Dance ( #BOTB & #IWSG )

    Time to cue the music, put on your dancing shoes, take out your pens and paper and start writing!  If that seems like a mixed metaphor maybe it's because it's a mixed post.  Yes!  Another two posts in one!

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 June 1 posting of the IWSG are SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!

June 1 question - When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?

When the Music Starts, Keep on Dancing

         Speaking for myself I'd attribute a situation like this mostly to laziness.  And believe me, I've been lazy long enough to know this is what it's all about.  I'd say this is probably the case for most of us facing writer's block or whatever you want to call it, but I'll speak for myself and let you decide whether this is where you are in this issue.

        I've got so many unfinished (or unstarted) writing projects that are just lying around waiting for my creative genius to prod them into fruition that I can come to few conclusions other than I'm just too lazy to get busy working on them.  Distractions are plentiful and many of those distractions are frivolous diversions, though some are legit.  Still, there is always a reason that can keep me from moving on with my stories or whatever other project is waiting for a swift kick of my action boot.

        Of course, some ideas just don't grab me enough to keep running with them.  When the inspiration dies I can reasonably accept not pouring energy into them.  And there are some ideas that seem good, but then I don't feel like I am the one to be telling those stories so why waste my time working on something that my heart is not into. 

         But then there are those ideas that stay in my mind and I work through them in my head over and over again.  I think about them and maybe scribble some notes for later before I go on to something else that seems more important, more fun, or just another notion for me to pursue.  Or I can just be Annie and sing "Tomorrow" as I fuddle through today.

          What I need to be singing is "Let's Face the Music and Dance"!

          And that sounds like a cue for another Battle of the Bands....

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.

Let's Face the Music and Dance

        This Irving Berlin composition first appeared in the Fred Astaire film Follow the Fleet.  It has been recorded by many artists since and used in a number of films and TV shows.  In this Battle I'm putting the Astaire original from the film up against pop singer Taco, a Dutch artist who launched his career in Germany in the eighties.   It's the old school guy against the popster from nearly fifty years later.  Take a listen and see whose camp you'd like to set up your tent in...

Fred Astaire    "Let's Face the Music and Dance"   (1936)

Taco  "Let's Face the Music and Dance"   (1984)

Time to Vote!
        
         Which of these song versions do you prefer?   Do you like the old school or updated disco version better?.    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

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 



Winner of this Battle Announced on Wednesday June 8th

  

              You've got time to vote but vote as soon as you can because you know how quickly time goes and how easily you forget.   Don't dally!  Face the music and vote!  And then come back to see if your choice won.  

Slipstream Songs (#BOTB)

          If we can achieve the momentum to attain our dreams by being pulled along in the slipstream of another's success, is that a bad thing?   None of us accomplishes anything without some help from others...

Another Wave of Motivation

         Another Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is now wrapped and reflected upon as all that remains is to be pulled into the slipstream of hundreds of motivated bloggers who plowed through the month with whatever they could muster.  I made it with them--as I should.  And as has been the case in every Challenge aftermath, I am riding a wave of motivation in reaching my own goals.

         As always the wave will dissipate in the coming days--I have felt it already in a slowing of the energy current around me, within me.  There is still the A to Z Road Trip (sign up opens May 20th) and the lure of the open road always catches my attention.  Of course, I have my real road trip to look forward to in summer.

         The open road is calling.  Riding in the slipstream provides an illusion of relaxation--no need to expend energy to keep moving forward.  The slipstream in the wake of a semi-truck can be dangerous.  The slipstream in which I wish to ride is a metaphorical one.  And I can't depend on riding the slipstream forever. 

          But I can have a "slipstream" Battle of the Bands post...



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 blogs there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle on the 1st of the month.   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.



Van Morrison  "Queen of the Slipstream"  (1987)

          I didn't start following Van Morrison's music until I heard his Poetic Champions Compose album in 1988.   His name first came to my attention back in 1965 when his group Them released the song "Gloria".   A few years later I was captivated by his solo release of "Brown-Eyed Girl" and though many of my friends who played in bands covered "Moon Dance" and "Tupelo Honey," I never got overly enthused about Morrison--until 1988.  One of my favorite songs from the PCC album is this one...






Richard Thompson  "I Ride in your Slipstream"  (1994)

        A contemporary of Van Morrison, Richard Thompson came onto the music scene in the respected folk-rock band Fairport Convention.  I'd long been interested in knowing more about Thompson's music since I had read so much about it over the years, yet I didn't hear any of his albums until I bought one of them in the 80's.  He's a great guitarist and he writes some excellent songs.  Here's his "slipstream" song...

     






Time to Vote!

     Two great artists with two great songs!  Decisions, decisions.  I like both of them, but I'm going to pick one as a favorite.  What about you?   Have some fun with us.  What's your favorite between these two choices?   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 Wednesday May 22nd

        That post will be likely my next post unless I feel an overpowering urge to put something up before that time.  No need to announce the A to Z Road Trip on the 20th since I already did it in this post.  I'll just be riding in this slipstream for now.

            Did you ever feel caught up in the slipstream of another person or some movement or event?  How long does the motivation of your completing a major accomplishment take to wear off?   What one thing would you like to accomplish in your life that would give you an ultimate sense of reward?

Why Do I Still Blog?

Evaluation is a part of the process of growth as well as abandonment.  It's a good idea to step back now and then to figure out why you're doing something and if the way you're currently doing it is still relevant.  Today I consider why I still blog.

 Relevant photograph. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

       No, I'm not considering stopping blogging--not yet.  I still have too many Battle of the Bands posts in the blog bank waiting to be played.  For now I'm going to put a hold on the Trump stuff or any other controversial opinion stuff.   I had a dilly scheduled for today that would have likely riled a few more folks, but maybe for now I best keep quiet.  Friday was going to be another topic that probably wouldn't have upset many folks, but maybe a few would have some disagreement.  I'll save that topic for later too if I do it at all.

       For now I just need to take a big breath and take it easy.  Do some chores around the house or watch TV.   Maybe even start reading a new book.  Anything but blogging.  Maybe read some of your blog posts, but not post any of my own.

        Oh yeah, big deal--I'll be back on Monday, or at least on Wednesday when I post for Battle of the Bands with maybe a word in for the Insecure Writer's Support Group.  And since Monday the 30th will be my birthday, maybe I just take the day off from blogging.

       Why do I still blog?   Because I can and because I can just do what I want.  There's not really any screwing up on my blog.  No one's going to fire me, though I guess in theory Blogger could shut down my blog or something, but I don't guess I ever do anything that would warrant that.

        One thing that I can see as I evaluate things is that the ways I approached blogging when I first started nearly eight years ago, as well as the motivations I've had over those years, have changed to a great extent.  How I blog will probably continue to change and same with what I blog.  Some things will stay the same sometimes and change at other times.

         But seriously, why do I still blog?

         Do you ever reevaluate your blogging?  Right now in your blogging life do you see blogging as a habit, a duty, a means of expression, a pleasant past time or what?    What has been inspiring you of late?