MUSIC MAKES THE BLOGGING LESS TEDIOUS

Okay I know the saying is “absence makes the heart grow fonder.”, but in the case of my blogging journey, this isn’t the case.

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of blogs that talk about how boring and tedious writing a blog post is or has become .

There’s many reasons why but some of the reasons might be content, or lack there of, or you just don’t feel like writing a post and you need a break.

I’m one of those really rare bloggers who enjoy what I do and sharing my thoughts and all the places I go with all of you.

What’s my method to not getting bored by writing blog posts?

No, it’s not by writing posts when a game is on.

The Sports Diva would NEVER get a post done if I was watching a sporting event.

I’d be too busy yelling at the referees and players to concentrate on writing a post.

That’s where music comes in.

It can play a big or small part in writing your blog.

You can be listening to some soothing music as you’re writing a post about the sunsets in Hawaii or on Santorini , it’s up to you.

What you consider soothing music, might not be soothing music to another blogger.

You might even want it very quiet as you write or think about your post.

Personally , I hate a quiet room when I write a blog, but that’s just me.

I like music blaring all over the place.

The louder, the better.

No, not Heavy Metal music for me, that’s a little too loud for me .

I like it loud, but I’m crazy like that.

Or maybe I’ve been in too many sports arenas where it is very loud.

This is some of the music that makes writing my blog posts less tedious or even not at all.

You might not be surprised at some of my choices , but then again, yes you might.

1. Done For Me- Charlie Puth ft. Kehlani

2. The Fighter – Keith Urban ft. Carrie Underwood

3. Better Now – Post Malone

4. Girls Like You – Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B

5. G.D.F.R. (Going Down For Real) – Flo- Rida

6. Alone- Halsey ft. Big Sean and Stefflon Don

7. Havana – Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug

8. Feel It Still – Portugal . The Man

9. Thunder – Imagine Dragons

10. For The First Time – Darius Rucker

11. One Kiss – Dua Lipa ft Calvin Harris

12. Vegas Lights – Panic At The Disco

13. God’s Plan – Drake

14. Nice For What – Drake

15. Lucid Dreams – Juice Wrld

16. Ocean Drive – Duke Dumont

17. Mic Drop – BTS ft DJ Steve Aoki

18. The Middle – Maren Morris ft Zedd and Grey

19. Feels – Calvin Harris ft Pharrell , Katy Perry and Big Sean

20. Psycho – Post Malone ft Ty Dollar $

21. Trophies – Young Money ft Drake

22. Boo’d Up – Ella Mai

Not the music you expected from the Sports Diva , right?

I actually get my creative juices flowing with these songs believe it or not.

What about you?

Do you listen to music while you’re writing your blog posts?

If you do, just what songs or type of music do you listen to, if any?

Drop me a line in the comments section, and as usual, thank you for liking and following 30 Plus Teams , 30 Plus Dreams .

WALKING THROUGH THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO

There are many branches of the Hard Rock Hotel all over the world, and while I have never stayed in any of them, I have spent time at the one in Las Vegas, which I did this past June.

Last week, while I was in Atlantic City, I spent time at the Hard Rock Hotel there.

This branch opened this past June.

It has many of same things that the one in Las Vegas has.

There’s even a Sugar Factory Restaurant right inside, the very same one that sells those humongous drinks just like the one in Vegas does.

This hotel used to be the Trump Taj Mahal, but like most of Atlantic City casinos, it was forced to close due to bankruptcy.

The hotel reopened as the brand spanking new Hard Rock Hotel, and like the other Hard Rock branches, there is a huge guitar right outside.

The only thing this one shares with the one in Las Vegas is the name, although Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic fame has brought the one in Las Vegas so we really don’t know how that will change the hotel.

As much as I love the city of Las Vegas , sorry, not sorry, but the Hard Rock Hotel in Atlantic City makes the one in Las Vegas look like the baby sister that gets the hand me down clothes from big sis.

This place is BEAUTIFUL AND SPACIOUS !

It’s also very high tech.

If you want to get a drink while you’re at the slot machines, you don’t flag the waitress down as she walks by.

Oh no.

Look on your slot machine.

Right in the middle of your machine, there’s a drink icon.

Push it for whatever you want to drink, water, wine, beer, or hard beverages.

The waitress will bring it to you.

Just remember, tip your waitress when she brings your drink, no matter what it is.

Don’t be stingy with your tip either.

(However, when I ordered a Pina Colada, the waitress never brought me my drink. Maybe I didn’t order it correctly or something, I don’t know , but that’s another story for another day. I didn’t need that drink THAT badly.)

As for the casino floor, there are lots of tables and slots and you can move around freely.

As I mostly play the slots, I looked for the slot machines that I play a lot.

I’m “old school” so it’s machines like Wild Cherry, Double and Triple Diamonds for me.

Always the penny machines by the way .

(My machines didn’t let me down. I hit for $78 and $46 on the same machine. Thank God for the bonus play. Instead of putting in the usual $20 that I play with, I only put in $6.50 to start with.)

The Hard Rock does have the cafe inside and yes, there are pictures of past and present musicians lining the walls of the restaurant, not to mention the rest of the hotel.

While the first floor is a sight to see , it pales in comparison to what’s happening on the second floor.

You can take the escalator as you watch the screen all around you showing different artists in the concert series known as “Hard Rock Calling.”

As I rode the escalator up to the second floor, the screen showed the rock group The Killers in concert followed by the Country and Western group, Lady Antebellum.

I could have watched the screen change all day, not to mention how mesmerized I was watching the stairs in between the two escalators changing colors.

The stairs were too beautiful to walk on.

I took the escalators to the second floor and checked out the food court as well as check out some of the stores.

(You don’t have to ask. Yes, I did buy some stuff to take back to New York City . )

Besides the pictures of muscians on the walls, there is an area known as “The Rock Vault”, which celebrates artists and venues in New Jersey .

I left the Hard Rock amazed at how dazzling this hotel really is.

It’s a Las Vegas style hotel with a party atmosphere and it’s right in my backyard .

I don’t need to fly across the United States to party like a rock star or like it’s 1999 (sorry but I just had to go there.)

A two to three hour bus ride from New York City to Atlantic City is all I need to get lit at the Hard Rock .

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MUSIC – NASHVILLE , TENNESSEE . THE GRAND OLE OPRY .

You  can’t  believe  that  you  and  your  sister  are  really  in  Nashville ,  Tennessee  for your  30  Plus  Teams  Tour .

You  and  your  sister  didn’t  want  to  see  the  Country  Music  Hall  of  Fame ,  but  you  all  were  told  by  the  front  desk  clerks  of the  hostel  where  you’re  staying  at  to see  the  Grand  Ole  Opry .

So here  you both  are .

The  coming  attractions  board  tells  you  what concerts  are   coming   and  who’s  performing .

This  place  is  different  from  the  Country  Music  Hall  of  Fame .

They  don’t  have  concerts  there .

There’s  a  big  guitar  in   back  of  you  and it lets    you know  where  you  are ,  the  home  of  Country  Music .

You  JUST  have  to  get  a  picture  of  this  guitar .

It’s  HUGE  to put  it  mildly .

Your  sister  can’t  stop  laughing  at  how  funny  you  look  next  to  it .

You  look  really  small  and at four  feet  eleven  inches ,  you’re  small  enough .

When  you  finally  get the right  picture ,  the two  of  you  go in  for  your  tour .

Judging  by   the   number  of  people  waiting  in  line  to get in ,  this  is  one  of  the  city’s  most  popular  tours .

You  both  take  a  seat  to watch  a video  about  the  Opry  House .

This  tour  might  not  be  that  boring  after  all .

When  they finally  take  everyone  inside  the  building ,  the  tour  guide   shows  you  some  of  the  mail boxes  of  the  singers .

She  tells  you  that they  do  answer  their  mail ,  by the  way .

The tour  guide  then points  to  a wall  full  of  plaques .

These  plaques  go  on  the  wall  when  someone  is  elected  to  the  Grand  Ole  Opry  Hall  of  Fame .

The  two  of  you  are  so  excited  when  you  see  some  of  the  names  that  you  both  recognize  that  you  almost  get  left  behind  on  the  tour .

You’re  too  busy  snapping  pictures  of  the  plaques  and mailboxes .

Much  to your  surprise ,  you  are  liking  this  tour .

 

When you  look  inside    the seats  remind  you  of  church  pews .

That’s  because  this  was  a  church  at  one  time .

The  highlight  of  the  tour  comes  near  the  end  of  the  tour .

You’ve  gone  backstage ,  seen  dressing  rooms ,  plaques ,  pictures  and  mailboxes .

It’s  now  time  to  stand  up  on  that  famous  stage .

The ”  circle  ”  where  so  many  country  stars  have  performed .

The  two  of  you  wait  your  turn  to  take  a  picture  on the stage .

The  tour  is now  over  and the two  of  you  head  to  the  gift shop  for  your  momento  of the  tour .

It’s  the  picture  of  the  two  of  you  on  the  stage .

You  want  to  go  back  to  the  Opry  Mills  Shopping  Mall  and  do  more  shopping ,  but instead  the two  of  you  just  take  the  bus  back  to  the  hostel .

This  is  a  30  Plus  Teams  Tour  and  you  have  a  Tennessee  Titans  football  game  to go to  tonight .