Mar 24, 2014 |
I have a new favorite band. At least they’re in my Top 3.
You may not have heard of them before this, but you will.
They’re The Strumbellas. Simon Ward, Jon Hembrey, Darryl James, Jeremy Drury, David Ritter and Isabel Ritchie.
I’ve known of them for a while now. They hail from Toronto, Canada. That alone makes them worthwhile in my book. Pretty much all good things (sans mayor) come out of Toronto.
Okay, it doesn’t hurt that I know a family member of the drummer.
So yeah. There’s that.
But even without that connection, I really like this music.
The lead singer has a voice reminiscent of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. The folksy rhythm still offers a driving beat. And let’s face it . . . any band that usually performs in their bare feet has got to be amazing, right?
The Strumbellas
Widely recognized throughout Canada, you’ll want to join their bandwagon pretty quick so you can say “I knew about them when . . . ”
Look, I’m not a music critic. I don’t know how to tell you what makes them great. I just know they are!
I watch American Idol and I certainly wish these guys were from NOLA or LA or some place south of the Canadian Border so they could perform as a Judge’s guest. They really are that good.
Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself:
This song, Sailing, has been featured all over Canada. Hockey Night. Television. And countless replays on Facebook thanks to their fans.
I’m thankful for my friend who introduced me to The Strumbellas. Without her, I might have missed it. Their musical contributions might have sailed right on by, unnoticed (see what I did there?)
Do yourself a favor: find them. Listen to them. Like them.
You’ll be oh-so-glad you did.
I promise.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
The Strumbellas:
website
on Facebook
on Twitter
on YouTube
Mar 24, 2014 |
It’s been over a month ~ a month! ~ since I last posted. And before that, it was quite a while too. That’s a far cry from the NaBloPoMo I used to do, posting every day for nearly two years.
I can’t believe we’re at the end of March, and I’ve so few posts this year.
But rest assured, I’m still writing!
My “new” workspace ~ a real desk!
The desk, chair and glider behind the desk are all birthday gifts from my mother. We found the glider and desk at our local Salvation Army. I can’t believe how inexpensive they were to begin with, and we happened to be there on a day when everything was 50% off. I guess the writing gods were smiling that day! The two-tone desk chair was picked up at a discount furniture store. Since it was one of only two left and slightly dinged, yup, you got it . . . 20% off. I know, right?!
The piece de resistance, however, is this wonderfully personal gift from Dot.
Ernest Hemingway Pen Box
Of course, prior to these wonderful investments in my future, Megan and I have been busily adding to The Grenalia Chronicles. We locked up the prologue and Chapter One, and added not less than twenty pages of new material for the next few chapters. I also drafted the next two sections of NOLA, as well as started indexing the two compilations I’m working on.
This Girl is very busy.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m healthiest when I write. The last few months were painful and distracting. Being unable to write ~ really write ~ added insult to injury. But trudge through the muck, I did. Look down into the dark holes and find the glimmer light, I did. Come through it, get through it, thrive because of it . . . I have, I did, I am.
This Girl is empowered.
So while I may not have blogged much in 2014, the words I write ~ whether for the blog, the books, or the grocery list ~ are all sincere. Intentional. And valuable.
I cannot promise you I’ll post every day. But I can promise you, when I do post, it will be worth it.
Here’s to you. Thanks for reading.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Feb 18, 2014 |
I realize the title of this post may seem oxymoronic, given that my posts are few and far between lately. This is true, but it’s not true.
I’m not blogging as often as I used to, which means the posts I do write had better be of better quality. Notice the repetitive word, better? Flash back to my Word of the Year post. This is the year when I take what I already have and make it better.
Today’s post is going to be the start of a series on blogging. I’ve been honored to have several people ask for my advice in starting their own blog. There’s a plethora of information I can give, so before we both jump into the deep end, I’d like to ask: what are you asking me?
Check!
For today’s post, I’m asking you to let me know your questions, ideas, thoughts, concerns… What kind of blog are you looking to start? What is its purpose? Is it to educate, share a business, vent, or just be creative?
Who will your audience be? Are you hoping to make money through your blog? Do you want to save the world or entertain your corner of it?
Do you have formatting and start-up questions? Are you interested in the behind-the-scenes work or just the up-front writing?
I’m more than willing to share the journey I’m going through with Frankly, My Dear… but I’d also love to know the journeys you plan to take.
Blank Pages are the World’s Canvas
So here’s your chance. What are your questions about blogging? Leave them in the comments and I’ll curate them together for a series on building a better blog.
Remember: There’s no such thing as a dumb question. When I started blogging, I found that many others had the same questions I did. The research can be tiring and seemingly endless. I’d like to help. Tell me your questions. I’ll find you the answers. Or at least do my best.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
