Apropos of Nothing: The Reboot

When this blog began a little over 13 years ago, it was called "Apropos of Nothing."  Within a month of opening up shop, I realized there was another blog with that name, so it became "Stuff Running 'Round My Head," after the Bruce Springsteen song of that name ("I got stuff running 'round my head/That I just can't live down").  Truth be told, I was afraid that having a blog name that someone else was already using might drive down traffic to my own site.  I'm not sure how many people I expected to read my stuff, but it became pretty clear, fairly quickly, that it was not going to be a huge number and that I was not going to be plucked from the relative obscurity of working for (at the time) a statewide education association.  At this point I know longer care about either of those things.

In the early years, I was a posting fool.  There were pieces about music, movies, sports, politics (which died down over time, particularly when I went back into the lobbying business), and any other thing that inspired, perplexed, or annoyed me.  Over the years, the number of posts dropped precipitously, to the point where they've almost become non-existent.  Most of my quick thoughts can now be found on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.  That seems to be the case for a lot of other folks, since the number of blogs I read on a regular basis has dwindled down to a handful.  Through pieces I've written, I've made connections with some really cool and talented people, and that's always been the point, right?

Nearly all of my writing these days is related to my work.  But my guess is that most people aren't that interested in the bang-up job I did on letters to Governor Newsom requesting a signature on AB 48 or a veto of AB 218 and SB 328.  Or on the amazing issue-oriented memorandums I prepare on a regular basis.  Now, you may not be interested in what shows up here, either - but this is going to be an outlet for my own sanity, if nothing else.  It's a self-commitment to take a break every now and then and write about something, as noted above, that moves me in one particular direction or another.

Having done so too many times, I'm leery of over-committing, but let's just say that there absolutely will be at least one new piece posted here each week.  Tomorrow, look for the first one.

One of These Days, I'll Learn: Billie Eilish

When she first hit the airwaves, I was mystified - I just didn't get it.  And then she was everywhere, including the cover of Rolling Stone.

That's OK, I thought - hell, at 59 years old, old enough to be her grandfather; this music wasn't meant for me.  You can't like everything, right?

And then this, from last night's season premiere of Saturday Night Live.  I was pretty tired and struggling to stay awake, but made it through the entire show.  It's fair to say this (and her other performance) is the only thing that stuck in my memory.   This is the kind of song that has a direct line into my psyche.  It's difficult to explain why; it's a much about the sound as it is what the singer is singing about.  But now it's probably just a matter of time before I pick up the entire album.