Battle of the Bands Results AND Monday Bullets (aka The Dirt)

First up, Battle of the Band Results. I've got my theories, but this was the least voted battled I've posted in a while. Don't know if you just didn't care for the contenders, the battle was overlooked in our never-ending quest to Get Things Done, or what... BUT, for a Brief Moment this was a very tight battle between Sir Mix A Lot and Richard Cheese. And then it wasn't. (BTW, the song was Baby Got Back) and I think both versions are hilarious and iconic in their own ways. In the end, Sir Mix A Lot ran away with it. Final tally:

Sir Mix A Lot: 11

Richard Cheese: 7

Anyone else notice that if you reverse them you get 7-11? There was a day when I loved 7-11 (as in the convenience store). Let's all say Big Gulp, because I know you want to. As for me and my vote, I'm sincerely torn in this battle. I think the original by SMA is hilarious. If you haven't seen a group of skinny white chicks karaoke this song, you haven't laughed nearly as hard as I have. Funny, funny stuff. On the other hand, the arrangement by Richard Cheese also seriously tickles my funny bone. I guess I 'll vote with the majority on this one for Sir Mix A Lot (my vote doesn't count for anything anyway), but it was a tough call for me.

In other news...

• Thank you, Bryan, for pointing out in my comments on the last post that if I were a terrible or "wanna be" writer he wouldn't bother CPing for me. Ironically, that little gem infused me with some much needed inspiration to tackle my WiP again.
• However, I think there is something to be said for taking a break from your novel when you're in the very unproductive state of writing and deleting. Maybe that is a good time for thinking. Or reading a book by someone else. Or both.
• I just finished Paper Towns by John Green. I'm not sure I can continue to read his books. I'm consistently awed and amazed by how good he is. I then go a through a period of self loathing, wherein I can never write anything even close to that good. Followed by a period of telling myself that we all write differently and no matter what "I will never be John Green" and "the world doesn't need two John Greens anyway."
• My blogging has just sucked. My blog reading has sucked. I wish I could explain this in a satisfactory way. Alas, I cannot.
• I'm strongly considering going back to camp this summer. It sounds innocuous and not a bit scary, right? Wrong. This is a camp I grew up at. Loved. Haven't been to since 1992. It terrifies me on so many levels that I'm not sure I can even list them all. I wanted to go back about five years ago, but didn't because of my migraines. I'm still very worried that the pace of camp will be too much for me and that my migraines will flare up and I will be DOWN. I also fear that it won't be the same magical place I remember. Heck, I know it's changed. I've been to their website. It's changed. Yet, it's still the same. If that makes any sense at all.
• So, I've been dreaming about camp (literally and figuratively), thinking about camp, and trying to work up a strategy to 1) get through camp, while 2) loving going through camp. I'll keep you posted on this one. If I do go, it will mean three weeks this summer of no cell phone, no computer, no internet, no TV, no nothing. Me. Nature. God. Kids. Fun. That's it. It sounds freakin' wonderful, doesn't it????
• I wanted C-Man and H-Girl to go to camp. For one week. They couldn't live without their cell phones that long. Sigh. I wanted to say, but didn't, that they both say they believe in God and Jesus, but they weren't willing to give up their phones. Yet Jesus gave up his life. However, if it takes guilt to get them there, I'm not willing to do it. Jesus wasn't guilted into dying for us. It was a gift. You can either accept it or not. Simple as that. However, it made me think about the things I've been (and not been) willing to give up in my own life. Which makes it tough to throw any stones at anyone else.
• However, the disappointment remains that they will never have the great life-changing camp experience I had. Not because they couldn't have it, but they didn't want it. 
• Last, but certainly not least, we are about to find out who is right about the man in my mother's life. Yes, I'm talking about the one she's been emailing with for the last six months or so. The one I'm sure is a scammer and she's sure is about to be her next husband. He's FINALLY saying he's leaving Australia (where he's been "trapped" by various and sundry issues that I only have vague notions regarding, because I wanted to stay out of that loop). Yesterday she tell me his flight is booked and he'll be here Wednesday night. This morning, she tells me that he said he went to pick up his boarding pass at the airline and was told that me might have some taxes to pay in order to leave. I was like "That is the biggest pile of bologna (thank you Oscar Meyer, or I'd never remember how to spell that word!) I've ever heard." Mom seemed to see the sense in my statement, but still has faith in the dude. Whatever. I'll eat a paper plate if he shows up. My money is on him needing money (from her) to "leave" the country.
• Alas, as you can see, there is disappointment aplenty to be had here. At our meals we pass the fried chicken and the disappointment. You don't get one without the other.

And that is the all the news that is fit (and unfit) to print.

Is It Ever Gonna End?

I can't believe we're in March. This is the first Wednesday of the month and that means IWSG, an insecurity party hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

What am I insecure about with my writing? This question feels like it should be followed by a bullet point list. Ironically, when I started this writing thing, I thought I had a pretty good idea of how I wanted this story to roll out. I (mostly) wrote it consecutively. I wrote The Beginning, The End, and then started back where the beginning left off and wrote until I reached The End. It was really rough, but the plot points were good. The writing... needed lots of work. So, I spent a great deal of time figuring out to show, not tell, and other important writing stuff.

I thought I was close to done.

Turns out, I wasn't close to done. The first six chapters required a major rewrite that will ignite weaves of revision through the rest. I think I've already talked here about my process of write one day, delete it all the next day. I've stopped that. Felt very unproductive. Now, I'm just thinking. That sounds lazy. However, I think I might be gaining on a solution.

Once I have a more cohesive idea, I plan to run it by Bryan over at A Beer For The Shower (who's been invaluable to me on this writing journey!) and see if it works, or I need to spend more time thinking.

So, I'm insecure that it won't work. That I'll never be able to come up with the idea to make this novel a really good story. Bottom line: What if I'm just a lousy wanna-be writer? Isn't that the secret (or not so secret) fear that keeps us up late at night in a cold sweat?

If you have any other ideas to help me with this story snafu, I'm all ears.

Also, I posted a really fun battle for Battle of the Bands on my previous post. If you haven't voted, I encourage you to run over there, give it a quick listen, and post your vote. I think it'll make you smile:) 

Battle of the Bands ~ Baby Got Back

I'm going to be honest. I remembered Battle of the Bands was Sunday (when I was out of town) and thought, "Oh dear, I hope I remember to do this Saturday when I get home." I didn't. I recalled it again this morning on the way to church. I promptly forgot when I got home and only remembered (again) on the way to Bible Study this evening. Can we say "Not on top of things" in unison? Oh good. Now that we're clear....

I actually had two sets of songs in my Favorites as possibilities for today. I listened to them and just wasn't feeling it. I think I needed something more fun. That's when I recalled a fairly recent battle in which Stephen T. McCarthy used a Richard Cheese cover. I'd considered this song before, and discarded it because of the Cheese Factor, but when Stephen did it, I thought "So Can I!"

And I am:)

I'm not sure if your vote in this one will actually be FOR one version or simply a vote AGAINST the other version. So, be sure to elaborate on the Whys of your voting. Yep, I really want to know!!!

The song: Baby Got Back

The original is by Sir Mix A Lot and sounds nothing like Richard Cheese's cover, which is what makes this so much fun!

So, let's begin at the beginning (with the original).

Sir Mix A Lot with Baby Got Back:


I suspect that some of you (not naming any names) want to reach through your computer to give me a good throttling. Ah well. That's the way it rolls around here sometimes... hahahaha. If you're feeling all wonky and out of sorts, maybe Richard Cheese will hit your happier notes. Of course, you will only appreciate the genius of his cover if you listened fully to Sir Mix A Lot.

Richard Cheese with Baby Got Back:


For more Battle of the Bands fun, check out the other BOTB bloggers to vote on their battles:

• Far Away Series
• Stephen T. McCarthy's Battle of the Bands Blog
• Tossing it Out
• DiscConnected 
• This Belle Rocks
• Mike's Ramblings
• Curious as a Cathy 
• Book Lover
• The Sound of One Hand Typing
• dcrelief ~ Battle of the Bands
• Alex J. Cavanaugh (sometimes)

If you are participating in Battle of the Bands, and you are not listed here, leave me a note in the comments. Thanks!

Now, is the critical moment. It is time to vote for your favorite version of this song. I even encourage you to leave me long comment explaining all the ins and outs of why you voted as you did!