This blog spot is the home to my ramblings. I am a free lance writer. Most of my work goes on Associated Content. Sometimes I write what is on my mind, sometimes I plug some of my writing, and sometimes a combination of the two. So, sit back read, enjoy, and we will see where it goes.
Being a successful billionaire, a sports team owner and sometimes controversial has given Mark Cuban celebrity status. Today he celebrates his 58yth birthday.
How he became a billionaire...
Ten rules for success...
If any of these help you remember me! I wish him a happy birthday!
The last four years I have celebrated Buddy Guy's birthday with a blogpost. I guess it is no surprise I am going for five in a row as he turns 80. I'll try not to repeat videos but I make no promises.
Buddy Guy is a living legend and even at 80 could be the best guitarist on the planet. He is among the eldest Statesmen of the Blues.
He still has the blues...
He was "Born to Play the Guitar"
Now...
What is your favorite Buddy Guy song or memory? Feel free to share in the comments. I'll be back soon with a new post.
Sometimes kids play and dream of the great things they will be when they grow up. Things like being a War Hero, appearing on the silver screen in a hit movie, maybe a cowboy in a rodeo or an Indian Chief. (Native American Chief, kids weren't always politically correct.)
Then most kids grow up and live far more ordinary lives. However, I found out Chief David Beautiful Bald Eagle Jr passed away after 97 years of a Beautiful Life. I'm sure he had his struggles after all he was human.
In World War II he fought in Normandy where he was injured. I think that covers the War Hero part. He appeared in "Dances with Wolves." The movie won an Oscar and was pretty successful.
He was a Rodeo Cowboy and he became Chief. I guess you could say he lived a life of dreams.
I think after 97 years he deserves to rest in peace!
Youree Dell Harris was better known as Miss Cleo, the famous pyschic. If you watched TV in the 90s I am sure you watched her commercials.
Here is one to refresh your memory...
Did she see her death coming? I know too soon. But she probably did since she passed away from cancer. 53 is way too early to pass away, especially the older I become.
Do you remember her commercials? Did you ever call her?
I haven't blogged about the violence in this world since the Orlando shooting on June 13th. At 12:30AM in Fort Myers, Florida two young people died and 19 were injured. The victims ranged between 12 and 27 year olds.
Security was tight in the club. It was supposed to be a safe place for teens on a summer Sunday night. When the party ended and folks were leaving the shots rang out. Speculations and rumors are ruling out a terrorist attack or a hate crime. The odds are the shooting was gang or drug related. Doesn't matter to the parents of the 14-year old and 18-year old who were shot down. Doesn't matter to the injured. You can read about it in the New York Times.
Terrorist attacks since the Orlando shooting yes we have them. France was hit by a truck on Bastille Day. 80 people dead. Here's a link. Don't forget the 15 injured in a bombing in Germany. We could dig deeper in war torn countries and what we considered third world and find a bunch more. That's just in July.
When will it end? How do we heal? How do we put the hatred down? What if it was your child?
Today is the birthday of award winning author S.E. Hinton. She is most famous for classic Young Adult novel The Outsiders. The book has sold over 14 million copies and continues to sell about a half million copies a year.
I was stunned to find out she wrote this novel as a teenager. I guess if you have a great story to share age doesn't matter. Her teenage perspective may have helped her create something so successful in the Young Adult genre.
Her book was turned into a movie...
Several of her works were made into film. Probably the most popular being Rumble Fish.
Have you read any of her other works beside The Outsiders? What did you think? I have only read her most famous novel. Well, I will be back soon with a new post.
Well the New Riders of the Purple Sage won my Battle of the Bands again. They won last year and if you dig their music you can revisit that post here. They beat the Cowboy Junkies 5 to 3.
The first time NRPS won was with this song..
"I Don't Know You"
"Henry"...
Thanks for playing and I will have a new battle on August 1st! Thanks for dropping in!
Some how June slipped away without me getting any fishing in. July I went to a couple of house parties on the bay. It was the Holiday weekend. I brought my fishing pole with me. Is that poor party adequate?
It was very cool. Swimming, jet skis, cooking out during the day. Then wandering down the pier about sunset. The sunsets were amazing! A great place to watch fireworks as well. Nice breeze felt good after sizzling July days.
Catching a dozen saltwater hardhead catfish each night. Always fun to catch consistently. Though they got in a few good slices.
Then last night I went fishing at night on a pier close to the beach. A hot summer night with a refreshing sea breeze. Interesting mix of people throughout the night. Someone appeared to get busted on the road by the pier. Watching the strobe lights of the sirens, watching as the tow truck towed the card, and everyone on the pier appeared relieved it wasn't them.
I wasn't fishing for anything big. Ended up catching a half dozen fish including catfish, croaker and ground mullets. Just a good way to spend a night for an insomnia suffering person.
Somewhere between last night and early this morning my blog went over the 100,000 pageview mark.
Neat how that follows a celebration of two years of participating in the Battle of the Bands bloghop thing. Constants are getting harder to find in my writing life.
I don't know where this blog is going. At this point the blog has outlived whatever purpose or design it had. I thank my viewers for stopping in.
This post is becoming more of a eulogy. The blog is not coming to an end. It is just starting another chapter. I hope you stick around and come discover what's next as the blog moves forward.
Perhaps my anniversary post is a fitting time to tip my hat to Far Away Eyes (FAE). She started this with Stephen and is credited for having the first Battle of the Bands. She's moved on, she's missed, and the Battles continue. Interestingly, she left the first comment on my first Battle of the Bands. However, as I reflect back to where I started with the Battle of the Bands she deserves at least a Thank You!
My first Battle of the Bands was two year ago, you can see it here. Jeffrey Scott started my wheels turning on what to do to mark my two year anniversary with one of his questions he adds to his Battles. I think only one of my contenders got a vote and the rest went for the original.
I started with "Dead Flowers"by the Rolling Stones. My original thought was to just redo the Battle. But that Battle had it's season. I'm looking back but moving forward as well. So the contenders have changed but the song remains the same.
Contender One: The Cowboy Junkies
Contender Two: The New Riders of the Purple Sage
Not putting the original on this one. Vote in the comments and I'll announce the winner around the 21st. Also please visit the other Battles a list can be found here! Tune in again on the 1st and I will have a brand new battle!
Lauren O'Connell ran away with my Battle of the Bands battle for July 1, 2016. She bested Jen Titus 8 to 1. Titus had her version used on the show Supernatural.
Here is Lauren O'Connell with an original song "The Daylight Here"...
Here she is with Ryan Lerman with another original song..."I Belong to You"
I'll leave with a cover..
If you want to find out more about Lauren O'Connell you can visit her website.
I'll be back on the 15th with another battle. It will be a Battle of the Bands Anniversary, so in some ways it will be just like starting over.
Rob Wasserman passed away on Jun 29, 2016. The bassist was 64. The Grammy Award winning worked with a bunch of musicians including Bob Weir, Lou Reed and David Grisman to highlight a few.
Here is his Grammy Award winning song with Bobby McFerrin...
"Easy Answers" Bob Weir, Neil Young, and Rob Wasserman..
Here is an all bass version of "Satisfaction"..
Ratdog with "Lucky Enough"...
Rob Wasserman was an incredible talent on the bass, his music will be missed. May he rest in peace.
Picking songs and ideas for the Battle of the Bands can get tough when you get distracted by other songs you find.
Here are the rules: You pick the one you like best by casting your vote in the comments. I tally them up and I will announce the winner on the 7th. I encourage you to check out the other mighty Battles and if you want to join up details can be found here!
Ralph Stanley a bluegrass legend passed away on June 23. He is the inspiration for this Battle. Bluegrass and Americana make appearances on my Battles once in a while. I'll try to keep the twang to a minimum.
The song I choose is "O Death." A traditional song dating back to the 1920's. Perhaps penned by Lloyd Chandler. Where ever the roots of this song come from Dr. Stanley turned it into a Grammy. I think the song s fitting..
Ralph singing it...
Vote for one of the contenders. Not Ralph Stanley. He already won a Grammy.
Contender One: Lauren O'Connell
Contender Two: Jen Titus
It should be an interesting battle. I look forward to seeing who wins. The winner is decided by your votes in the comments so vote away!
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