Over the next couple of days, will be changing the design of this site a bit.  The new scheme will be cleaner, and easier to navigate.

After years of either designing or modifying existing themes to fit my needs, I have decided that I would go and buy a theme that will be SEO friendly AND look good at the same time.

I have decided to go with Thesis 1.7 from DIYThemes.

This will allow me to customize the theme to fit my needs, AND have a theme that is bullet-proof and functioning.

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Over the weekend I shared with you here that my financial situation had taken a serious turn for the worst.  I find myself temporarily “between jobs” which is something that I knew was probably going to be the case and had even planned for it.  However, what I never expected was  a series of HUGE bills coming due right at the time when I could least afford to pay for them.

Because of the situation, we sat down here and tried to find ways that we could keep afloat and identify the areas where we could afford to “cut the fat” from our budget.  We looked for bills that could be deferred, and things that just weren’t essential.

One of those things we identified happens to be this site.

As painful as the thought of having to shut the doors here, the reality is that this site is not essential to our survival.  I figured that if there was any way to keep it running, it would be up to those of you who use this site.  So I figured that instead of just turning off the lights here and telling everyone that this was it, I would give you all the chance to pay my monthly bill for this month — until I move on to my next gig in mid-March.

Well, I am happy to report that thanks to the generosity of several of you, I will be able to keep things going here for the next TWO months!  Hot diggity!

I hate having to sit here like one of those guys on the freeway off-ramp holding a cardboard sign.  It just isn’t me.  This is my hobby, not a necessity.  People shouldn’t have to pay for MY hobby, for crying out loud.

I want to thank those of you who sent me money, even though I am thoroughly embarrassed for asking.  it is a warm feeling indeed to know that there are people out there willing to step up and help out when someone has a problem.

THANK YOU ALL!

I have reached the amount that I need to keep this site up and running until my next gig starts.  That was the sole reason for soliciting funds here.  I am pretty sure I can cut out my boxed wine and other things for the next six weeks.  I am certainly not trying to get any of you to help me out in my non-essential spending.

I am a firm believer of being able to live within my means.  I might be a Liberal in most things, but I am also a fiscal Conservative when it comes to my finances.  If I can’t afford something, I just don’t have it  — pretty simple.

Because I now have what I need to keep this site up, I am shutting down my little fund drive here. Like I said, I am not trying to be greedy or anything.

The good news is that I will be back to normal in Mid-March.  I am contracted for work for the next eighteen months.

Once again, I thank you for your support.  It is very much appreciated.

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I decided to make a change on how feeds are handled here at the site.  Now, all feeds will be handled by  Google’s Feedburner.

This will allow you, the reader the chance of being able to get regular updates in your email.

A lot of people have emailed me asking that I provide some kind of email service so they can be notified of any new content I post here.  Usually, I’ve replied to tell them that the header above mentions something about (almost) daily posts, and that most of my posts are scheduled to occur right after midnight Pacific Time.  (the world does actually revolve around me, ya know, and since I am over here in the Pacific time zone, I get to decide when midnight is….)  Besides, shouldn’t everyone instictively know that they are supposed to be checking back here on a daily basis to see what I have posted?  C’mon, what am I paying you for?

So if you have been keeping track through the old feed, you will still get the new post.  But I would strongly suggest you change the feed address.  I would also suggest that you sign up for my new and nifty email notifications.

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I am pleased to announce a new feature here at The Soundtrack for my Life.

Since this site is a conglomeration of things that have made up and influenced my life over the decades, it wouldn’t be complete without the Old Time Radio plays of my youth.

I grew up in a time when television was just getting its start, but not everyone had one, or was able to reliably pick up a signal.  But we had radio, which was still more popular than television.  So as a young child, I grew up listening to the radio plays.  Television was neat — we had one — but I couldn’t lay awake at night listening to the TV in my room when I was supposed to be sleeping.

The stories were exciting, and they allowed me to learn to use my imagination to “see” the things that I couldn’t actually lay my eyes on.  Although I never actually saw the characters of the stories, I could easily “see” them in my mind.

So I thought it would be a neat thing to post a radio play once or twice a week for people to enjoy.  Each show runs for about a half hour and most still contain the old original commercials.

I would suggest setting aside enough time to just sit, close your eyes, and listen to the story.  They may be old, the actors who played the characters are long gone, but the stories are still just as good as they were when they were first broadcast.

It isn’t American Idol, or Big Brother, or any of the other “reality shows” or mindless sit-coms on TV now.  But I think that after listening to a few of these shows, you will gain an appreciation for them.

I have posted the first one this morning.  It is from “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar”.  I hope you enjoy it.

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