Hello anybody and everybody...

So my friend Fred says, "You should write a blog. You know how to write. You're creative."

Well, we shall see.

Fred might also have added, "You have time on your hands," since, at the moment (and for the past several months), I am looking for a new job. Other terms for this phenomenon are "between jobs," "a victim of the bad economy" and "considering an encore career" but a rose (or thorn) by any other name and all that, know what I mean?

Of course, being at home is not without its little perks. I go to the same place for breakfast every morning and have the same kind of bagel and coffee and, if I time it right, sit in the same booth. [I prefer the middle one on the right as you come in the door but on cold mornings like the ones we've been having lately, I'll settle for the one in the corner because the heater runs under the seat.] Sometimes, my meal is ready before I even get up to the cashier to pay for it. Don't I feel important? Oh my, do I... baby, 'deed I do!

In this inaugural post, I had planned to provide some insight into what readers (yes, both of you) can expect in the future but I realize now that I should have thought the content thing through a little more. I have strong opinions about some things but pride myself on often trying to see all sides of an issue. Unfortunately, I am rarely able to tell where seeing all sides of an issue leaves off and wishy-washiness begins but I do what I can. My political leanings are best described as whatever makes sense at the moment.

While I am a pretty outgoing person, there are a lot of things that I don't talk about willingly so it will be interesting - even for me - to see what comes out here. What I do talk about willingly, ad nauseum, is music so I will probably try to post information about songs and artists after I learn a little more about how to do it, uh, legally. We certainly don't want to step on anyone's copyright toes, do we?

And, of course, you can write to me if you are so inclined. I will be interested in what you have to say although I do not guarantee a response.

So off we go. As a dear old colleague of mine used to say, "Stand by to stand by!"