2024 Minnesota Twins Season in Review

 On August 17, the Minnesota Twins had a record of 70 wins and 53 losses. At the time, it seemed like the team was a lock to play postseason baseball. However, the Twins went on a 12-27 slide to end the season, and the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers overtook them in the race to the playoffs. The Twins finished in 4th place in the A.L. Central, still far ahead of the Chicago White Sox, who lost a record 121 games this season.

To say that this year's Twins team underperformed is putting it mildly. Sure, there were plenty of injuries, but mental and physical errors combined with a lack of quality pitching and some questionable managerial moves contributed to the team's late-season slide.

With that in mind, here's a closer look at the team, starting with the position players:

Byron Buxton: .279, 18 HR and 56 RBI in 102 games. It was good to see Buxton patrolling center field once again, and he topped 100 games in a season for only the second time in his career. It would be nice to see Buxton play an entire year without having to go on the injured list.

Jair Camargo: 0 for 6 in 5 games. Camargo spent most of the 2024 season with the AAA St. Paul Saints. He was called up a few times to be a third catcher and is a veteran backup behind the plate.

Diego Castillo: 2 for 6 in 4 games. Castillo also spent most of the year with the Saints and was called up when injuries decimated the bench infielder roles. He might be worth another look if the injury bug strikes again in 2025. 

Willi Castro: .247, 12 HRs, 60 RBI, and 14 SB in 158 games. Castro was the team's All-Star. He played 25 games or more at 5 different positions (2B, SS, 3B, LF, and CF) and was the only player on the team to reach double digits in stolen bases. A true asset to this lineup because of his durability and flexibility. 

Carlos Correa: .310, 14 HR, 54 RBI in 86 games. Plantar fascitis shelved this Gold Glove shortstop a few times this season. He's a clubhouse leader who was understandably frustrated by the team's collapse in August and September. 

Kyle Farmer: .214, 5 HR, 25 RBI in 107 games. Kyle had a terrible first half, hitting under .200 with no home runs. He rebounded after the All-Star break and got more playing time, including a few pitching performances. 

Michael Helman: 3 for 10 in 9 games. Helman added some outfield depth late in the year after being recalled from St. Paul. He will probably start 2025 with the Saints. 

Ryan Jeffers: .226, 21 HR, 64 RBI in 122 games. Jeffers slumped badly during the second half of the season. If he regains his form, he could be counted on to be a powerful bat in the lineup again next year.

Edouard Julien: .199, 8 HR, 21 RBI in 94 games. Julien had a great April, a month in which he hit 7 long balls. He suffered a sophomore slump and really seemed to get too much inside his own head, necessitating a demotion to AAA. Hopefully, he figures things out in 2025. 

DaShawn Keirsey Jr: 2 for 13, including a homer, in 6 games. Keirsey Jr. also spent most of 2024 with the Saints. Another outfielder that could be called upon as needed if injuries attack the big league roster.

Max Kepler: .253, 8 HR, 42 RBI in 105 games. I always enjoy watching Kepler play and saw him slug a homer against the Red Sox in a game at Target Field in May. Injuries marred his season, and he's an impending free agent. With Larnach, Wallner, and other young outfielders in the minors, I don't believe the Twins will re-sign him at this point.

Alex Kiriloff: .201, 5 HR, 20 RBI in 57 games. Another Twins player with great potential but also a long history of injuries. I really hope that this corner outfielder/first baseman stays healthy in 2025.

Trevor Larnach: .259, 15 HR, 52 RBI in 112 games. Larnach has great power potential. If he could become an everyday corner outfielder, he'd easily to 20 HR and 70 RBI or more every season. 

Brooks Lee: .221, 3 HR, 27 RBI in 50 games. A rookie who made an immediate impact after his initial call-up. He doesn't have a ton of power but can play second, third, or short and keep the team in close games. 

Royce Lewis: .233, 16 HR, 47 RBI in 82 games. I would love to see Lewis play a full season because of his home run pop. Questions have been raised about his throwing ability, which led to him seeing some time at second base late in the year. 

Manuel Margot: .238, 4 HR, 31 RBI in 129 games. The Twins acquired Margot from the Los Angeles Dodgers not long after they made a trade with Tampa Bay for the veteran outfielder. Margot is a good defensive outfielder, but you're not going to get much offense from him. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with another team next year.

Austin Martin: .253, 1 HR, 16 RBI in 93 games. Martin proved to be a valuable utility man as injuries struck the roster. He rode the AAA/big league shuttle several times throughout the season, and proved to be someone that the team can depend on. Just wish manager Rocco Baldelli would have played him more. 

Jose Miranda: .284, 9 HR, 49 RBI in 121 games. Miranda wasn't on the Opening Day roster but proved his worth during a summer hot streak. Now the questions are if he can stay healthy and where he fits in the lineup (3B, 1B or DH). 

Carlos Santana: .238, 23 HR, 71 RBI in 150 games. The 15 year veteran could potentially win his first Gold Glove award after his stellar play at first base this year. He signed a 1-year deal with the Twins, and it's possible that he might be re-signed. 

Matt Wallner: .259, 13 HR, 37 RBI in 75 games. Wallner slumped badly early on, leading to a demotion to St. Paul. He found his swing with the Saints, and came back a reinvigorated player. Injuries kept him out toward the end of the year, but I could see him taking over Kepler's spot in right field. 

Christian Vazquez: .221, 7 HR, 27 RBI in 93 games. Vazquez hasn't been much of an offensive powerhouse during his time with the Twins, but proved his worth, even filling in at third base for a game in San Francisco. He still has one year left on his  deal, and should be the Twins' second catcher unless they sign or trade for someone else in the offseason.

Pitching:

Jorge Alcala: 4-3, 3.24 ERA, 16 holds. Alcala was up and down once again with the Twins. He still doesn't have an established role within Rocco Baldelli's bullpen. 

Scott Blewett: 1-1, 1.77 ERA in 20.1 IP. While he doesn't have the type of name that you'd expect a reliever, Blewett was one of the Twins' most consistent arms after his recall from AAA.

Caleb Boushley: 0-0, 4.50 ERA in 4 IP. Boushley spent most of the 2024 season with the St. Paul Saints, He could be a feasible bullpen option in 2025. 

Matt Bowman: 0-0, 2.35 ERA in 7.2 IP. Bowman started the year with the Twins, and also pitched for the Diamondbacks, Mariners and Orioles in 2024 along with several minor league affiliates of those organizations.

Diego Castillo: 0-0, 2.70 ERA in 10 IP. Not to be confused with infielder Diego Castillo, this veteran pitcher also split time between the majors and minors. I doubt that he'd be resigned to anything more than a minor league contract at the most next year. 

Randy Dobnak: 0-0, 5.59 ERA in 9.2 IP. Dobnak resurfaced in the major leagues for the first time in several years this season. He's been a real innings eater for St. Paul, and I sincerely doubt that he'll ever become a big league starter again. A nice bullpen option to have if he's pitching well. 

Daniel Duarte: 1-0, 2.25 ERA in 4 IP. The Twins picked Duarte up from the Reds, but he spent most of the season on the injured list. I don't see him as a long-term solution. 

Jhoan Duran: 6-9, 3.64 ERA and 23 saves in 54.1 IP. Duran can be lights out. He can also be a bit erratic, especially when his pitches are out of the strike zone. He can easily throw 100 MPH-plus. I'd like Baldelli to make him the closer on a permanent basis. 

David Festa: 2-6, 4.90 ERA in 14 games (13 starts). Festa was one of several rookies who made the Twins this year. His first couple of starts were nothing to write home about, but he improved as the season went on. 

Kody Funderburk: 1-0, 6.49 ERA in 34.2 IP. Injuries and ineffectiveness marred Funderburk's 2024 season. I don't expect him to make next year's Opening Day roster.

Brett Headrick: 3.00 ERA in 3 IP. Headrick spent most of the year on the injured list. Hopefully he can return to form and be a vital cog in the Twins' bullpen. 

Ronny Henriquez: 1-1, 3.26 ERA in 19.1 IP. Henriquez was mostly overlooked when he was in the majors. He even made a start. He could be a relief specialist or a back end of the rotation option. 

Cole Irvin: 0-1, 12.27 ERA in 4.1 IP. Irvin was a September pick-up from Baltimore. He was quickly given up on after his less than stellar outings. Expect to see him elsewhere in the league in 2025. 

Jay Jackson: 1-2, 7.52 ERA in 26.1 IP. This veteran made his first Opening Day roster, but pitched progressively worse the more that he was used. Another possible candidate for a minor league contract with another team, or he might pitch overseas.

Griffin Jax: 5-5, 2.03 ERA and 10 saves in 71 IP. Jax was the most consistent reliever on the Twins staff this season. He's said that he wants to start again, but I think he's a great set-up man. 

Pablo Lopez: 15-10, 4.08 ERA and 198 K's in 32 starts. Lopez anchored the starting staff that was decimated by injuries. He can be a bit erratic, but most of the time he can be counted on to keep his team in ballgames. 

Zebby Matthews: 1-4, 6.69 ERA in 9 starts. Considering that Matthews began the year in Single A ball, I'm impressed with his progress. He's not quite ready to be in a major league rotation for an entire season yet, but some more time in AAA might help him make some adjustments. 

Bailey Ober: 12-9, 3.98 ERA in 31 starts. Ober emerged as the Twins #2 starter this year. i'm glad that he can be counted on every fifth day. 

Steven Okert: 3-2, 5.09 ERA in 35.1 IP. Another reliever who started off okay, but faded down the stretch. The Twins picked him up from the Marlins, but I don't think he'll be on the roster next year. 

Chris Paddack: 5-3, 4.99 ERA in 17 starts. Paddack is still on the mend after 2 Tommy John surgeries. He was placed on the IL a couple of times in 2024, and was planning to return in time for the playoffs. Now he has more time to rest and fine-tune things. 

Trevor Richards: 0-1, 4.15 ERA in 13 IP. Richards was the one player the Twins traded for before the July trade deadline, but didn't play that much for his new team. We should have pursued starting pitchers instead. 

Simeon Wood Richardson: 5-5, 4.17 ERA in 28 starts. Woods Richardson proved that he can be a major league starter this year. I just wish Baldelli wouldn't limit his innings. 

Joe Ryan: 7-7, 3.60 ERA in 23 starts. Ryan was very reliable before going on the IL. Ryan reminds me of Bert Blyleven. They're both dependable starters who strike out a lot of batters and also give up a fair amount of home runs. 

Cole Sands: 9-1, 3.28 ERA in 71.1 IP. Sands was the Twins' second most reliable reliever, behind Griffin Jax. Once a rotation option, I think he's a better middle inning or 7th inning specialist. 

Josh Staumont: 1-0, 3.70 ERA in 24.1 IP. Staumont was a Twins killer until the team signed him. He was outstanding early on, but showed a few cracks in his armor before being let go. 

Brock Stewart: 0-0, 5.17 ERA in 15.2 IP. Like Headrick, Stewart also spent most of the season on the injured list. If healthy, he could be a dependable bullpen arm in 2025. 

Caleb Thielbar: 2-4, 5.32 ERA. I root for Thielbar because he's a fellow Minnesota native, but he has reminded me of Ron Davis this year. I wish he could be more consistent. 

Michael Tonkin: 0-0, 3.86 ERA in 16.1 IP. Tonkin also spent time with the Yankees and Mets in 2024. He's one of those guys who's a good AAAA player: he dominates the minors but is never quite good enough to stay on a major league roster. 

Justin Topa: 0-0, 0.00 ERA in 3 IP. Topa was acquired from Seattle in the Jorge Polanco trade, but wasn't activated from the IL until late September. Another reliever that might be beneficial in 2025 if he's healthy. 

Louie Varland: 0-6, 7.61 ERA in 16 games (7 starts). An 0-4 record with an ERA over 9 led to a demotion early in the season. I don't think he's a quality starter. He's better as a long man/spot starter. 

Josh Winder: 0-0, 3.00 ERA in 9 IP. Winder was also hurt most of the year. He is another of those bullpen/rotation options that shuttle between St. Paul and Minneapolis. 

Castro, Wallner and Farmer also pitched for the Twins, but I'm not including those stats in this section, for obvious reasons. 

I often struggle with Baldelli's managerial decisions, like his lineups and his unwillingness to define specific bullpen roles. The fact that all of his hitting coaches were dismissed after the season signifies the need for offensive upgrades next year.

Twins' general manager Thad Levine recently stepped down. Last year, after breaking long playoff game and playoff series losing streaks, fans were understandably upset with the team's decision to cut payroll. The reason given for that was the need to secure a television deal. Now they need to do it all over again, as Diamond Sports Group (Bally Sports' parent company) announced that they are dropping 11 teams, including the Twins, in 2025.

Besides a new television deal, the team will need to invest in starting pitcher. This has been a weakness of the Twins for many years. I know that many veteran starters don't want to pitch in Minnesota, but there have been some exceptions, of course. A trade may be necessary to obtain the arms that can pitch deep into games as #3 or #4 starters. 

The team also needs to stay healthy. Too many injuries disrupted the lineup throughout the course of the season. It would be nice if Buxton, Correa, Lewis and other key pieces of the lineup could stay on the field for most of 2025. Unless the team addresses those issues, they might be closer to the White Sox than the Guardians in the standings next season.

Well, that's all I have for now. Time to catch the end of the Vikings/Jets game from London. Until my next post, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

The Search is Over

 I decided months ago that the title for this blog post would be the name of a popular hit from the 80's pop/rock band Survivor that I listened to in junior high (and also saw perform live once in concert a few years ago) once I finally found a new full-time job. I start that job tomorrow, so today's as good a time as any to write this.

This job market is definitely the worst that I've ever seen. It's taking people much longer to find employment than ever before. There seem to be more hurdles and frustrations for job seekers, much of which is none of their fault. With all that I've experienced over the last 8+ months, here are a few words of wisdom for both candidates and employers:

Employers:

1. Don't ghost people that you interviewed. I've interviewed people for different roles in the past, so I understand how difficult it can be at times to find quality candidates. When I posted openings, I made sure to personally reply to each applicant, whether I interviewed or hired them or not, with a phone call or email. To me, that just seems like the right thing to do. I can't tell you how many times over the last several years that I had good in-person, phone, or virtual interviews only to never hear from that particular company again. 

Ghosting people is just bad behavior, period. It reflects poorly both on you and the organization that you represent. If an applicant is ghosted by someone from a certain company, it can foster negative sentiment toward that business and make them less likely to apply again for other jobs there or refer friends or relatives to that company. Keep that in mind.

2. Simplify the application process. In our modern information age, attention spans are shorter than ever. Applicants don't want to submit a resume, only to be asked to fill out most (if not all) of those details on a company's application on their website. Also, there's really no need for details that don't pertain to the job duties itself. No more silly questions about what kind of vegetable would you be, asking candidates to "sell this pen" or figuring out how many tennis balls would fit inside a limousine.

Also, reduce the amount of time it takes for a hiring decision to be made. For most positions (especially entry-level jobs), there shouldn't be more than an initial phone screen and one or two in-person or virtual interviews. Decisions should be made promptly because if an offer is made, that person will need to plan accordingly. There's really no need for more than 4 interviews for the vast majority of job openings, and it really shouldn't take months for a candidate to be selected for a role. Many interviewers usually know after a first or second interview who their top pick is.

One more thing: if you ask candidates to complete a project or task, and that task takes more than a half hour to complete, they should be paid adequately for their time and effort. Seasoned professionals NEVER work for free. Asking applicants to work for you before being hired (or even interviewed, in some cases) takes time away from other applications and responsibilities. 

A final point regarding interviews: one-way interviews are unacceptable. Many companies treat them with the same regard as cover letters (meaning they're ignored). They also allow companies to potentially discriminate against applicants based solely on physical characteristics, which is often illegal and just plain wrong. 

3. Don't make optional information mandatory. It's rather common for many job applications to include EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) questions. However, the law states that this information is strictly voluntary, and companies often include a disclaimer stating such data will not be used as part of the reasoning as to why a person is or is not selected for the role.

I lost count of the number of online applications just in the last couple of years that made these EEOC questions mandatory. I couldn't complete the application unless I filled out this information. It's usually quite easy to make those sections optional, so the businesses I've seen that have made them mandatory either don't know how to make that adjustment or simply don't care. 

Candidates:

1. Apply wisely. I know most of us tend to use the shotgun approach and apply to as many jobs as possible, thinking that this will yield more results. That's not necessarily the case. Instead, I'd suggest applying for the jobs that you're most interested in. Focus your efforts on quality, rather than quantity.

2. Be realistic. At first, I was applying for only remote jobs. After a few months, I realized that remote openings have a lot of competition. I was not only going against other applicants in my region but also in other states and countries. I eventually shifted my focus to local companies and jobs that I knew that I could do well and excel in those roles.

3. Don't give up. There will be days or weeks when you'll feel like giving up. I've felt like that more than I've wanted to lately. I had times when I wondered if I'd ever work again, or how I'd be able to continue to support myself. Thankfully, I don't spend much and I have sufficient reserves, but I know that isn't the case for everyone.

It's okay to take breaks too. I had a few instances where I was feeling burned out from the job search, so I forced myself to spend a few hours or even an entire weekend away from the computer. For my birthday a few weeks ago, I turned off emails and just celebrated myself. It was one of the best birthdays that I've had in a few years.

Oddly enough, the job that I'm starting tomorrow wasn't even something that I initially applied to. I went to an interview for another position at a company in the same building. The person who interviewed me for that role was impressed with me and insisted that I meet with other people in the facility at another organization for the role that I accepted. I'm eager to get started and do something different. If you've been job hunting, I wish you all the luck in the world. I hope you find a role that you enjoy and makes you happy.

Well, that's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Show Up For Those Who Show Up For You

 Good personal relationships are never easy. They often require regular communication, something that I've learned in recent years that many people are bad at. When I was younger, I was raised to respect my relatives. I still do, but I got tired of making an effort for those who don't.

There are many great people who make regular efforts to be in my life. They check in with me regularly, make an effort to spend time with me whenever possible and share in my good and bad moments. However, there are a large number of people that I've known over the years that make absolutely no effort to stay in touch. Some of them I haven't heard from in years. I wish them well, but I honestly don't know where they are or what or how they are doing.

I know that life can be very busy. However, if someone's important to you, you make time for them because they matter to you. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes, just a short text, email, phone call or voicemail message can be the one bright spark in someone's day. 

At times, I've had so many things on my plate that I've had to schedule interactions with people in my circle. That's perfectly okay. It forces me to drop the plates that I'm spinning (at least for a little while, anyway) and communicate with someone who has made a genuine impact on my life. It's well worth the effort in my book. I just wish that certain others felt the same way sometimes. What you get out of anything in life depends on the time and effort that you put in to the task at hand, including personal relationships.

Well, that's all I have to say for now. I've been busy with the job search and other responsibilities. I did get an offer for one position and am waiting to hear back on a few more. I'll write more about the process in my next blog post. Until then, take care and have a great week, everyone!

Communication Matters.

 While I've been looking for a new full-time job recently, I've begun to realize how important quality, timely communication really is. As I've learned, some organizations are okay at it, and far more businesses are really lousy at two-way communication.

Several weeks ago, I had a pretty good Teams interview with a particular company for a job that I'd applied for. I hadn't heard back from them after about three weeks, so I followed up. I soon learned that the person I'd interviewed with is now on maternity leave until September. I decided to let the person who was handling correspondence in her absence know what happened. I stressed to them how bad communication not only soured the experience for me, but it also made the company look bad, even though I know that probably wasn't their intention.

A nonprofit that I'd also interviewed at recently admitted that they dropped the ball in not getting back to me about the job that I'd applied for. I understood that they were busy (and probably short-staffed), but I also made sure to point out the importance of good communication, because it sets a proper tone for employees and applicants.

I started today disappointed yet again. I'd had a phone interview and two very good in-person interviews with a local firm over the last month. The HR person told me initially that I'd hear their decision by Friday. They later followed up to let me know that I'd hear something by this Tuesday at the latest. Sure enough, Tuesday came and went without a word from them.

On that Tuesday, I noticed that the job I'd applied for and interviewed was reposted on the same job board that I first found it on. However, when I looked yesterday, all of that company's job postings were gone. This morning, I received a form rejection email from the HR person that I'd been in contact with. I was disappointed because this was one of the few businesses that I've interacted with recently that up until then was very good at providing transparent communication. The delay and impersonal rejection really made me feel like they dropped the ball, and I informed them as such. I did it in a tasteful, respectful manner, but it still left me with a bad impression. If I did something wrong or was missing certain skills, experience, or qualifications, it would have been nice to have known.

I think the lack of proper communication bothers me primarily because that's not how I've interacted with candidates whenever I've interviewed and/or hired people in the past. I made sure to personally call or email applicants to let them know either way and suggested ways to improve if the particular person wasn't selected. To me, that's just the ethical thing to do. I was talking with my mom about this the other day, and she gently reminded me that most of today's society doesn't follow the golden rule. We rarely hear about when someone does something nice for someone else or treats them kindly. It's become an exception rather than an expectation. Hearing that put things in perspective for me.

I don't take these rejections personally, because deep down I know that I did everything the best that I could. The shortcomings in communication weren't mine. I just have to move on to other opportunities, although it does make me less likely to want to apply or work for the companies that I just talked about in this blog post.

Well, that's all I have to say for now. Until next time, have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to one another.

May Music

 Hi everyone,

Sorry for not blogging more often lately, but I've been focused on my primary goal of finding a full-time job. Had some great interviews lately, and I feel like the right opportunity isn't too far away. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

I spent the last 2 Saturdays going to my first rock concerts of 2024. Incidentally, both of them were end of tour shows and both of them were sold out. On May 18th, I made the familiar drive to Maplewood for Sevendust's final stop on the Machine Killer tour. I got to the city a bit early for lunch and to see my uncle, who lives a couple of miles from the venue. We spent a couple of hours out on his patio catching up and watching the local wildlife before I had to leave for the meet and greet.

I noticed Lajon Witherspoon as soon as I parked near the Myth. Of course, I had to stop and chat with him for a bit. I also talked with other members of the Sevendust family while I was there. 

A few minutes later, drummer Morgan Rose stopped to say hello to everyone who had gathered. I got to talk sports with him for a while, and mentioned that I'd just seen his Yankees defeat my Twins at Target Field the Thursday before. 

I've never been to a rock and roll meet and greet that's ever been on time, but I didn't mind the delay. I'm quite used to it by now. Before too long, we were ushered into the Myth in time to see Sevendust play "Disgrace" and "Disease from the Seasons album. Neither of those tunes were in their set for the evening, so it was a nice treat to see them played live before the photo op.

After the VIP session, we were ushered back outside the front door. I don't know why we had to go through the metal detector once again, but it didn't take as long as expected. I found a good spot to stand front and center for Lines of Loyalty's sound check. I'd seen them before during a tour stop in Iowa last fall, and they didn't disappoint.

Dope's set was also good, but I was eagerly anticipating Sevendust's set. They performed a nice mix of hits from the past, as well as three songs from their latest release, Truth Killer. I didn't anticipate so many crowd surfers during their set. That was the only downside, but I was still happy to see my favorite band once again.

I retreated from my front row perch after Sevendust's performance, and found a good place to sit along the left side of the building with some friends for Static-X's set. This was the first time I can remember that I've seen their entire set, and it was just as good as advertised. I also bought a pair of Sevendust pick tins from my buddy at the merch table and left the show with a smile on my face (as usual).

Last Saturday, I made my way mid-afternoon to the Turf Club in St. Paul. I was looking forward to seeing my friends in Cold once again. I stood outside the venue for a few minutes when I heard someone come up behind me. It was Cold bassist Lyndsay Manfredi, who made a point to tuck in the tag of my T-shirt that had gotten loose in the day's wind. It was nice to see her again, as well as other fellow Cold fans that I'd seen at previous shows.

Before the evening began, us VIP attendees were rounded up and led to the Clown Lounge downstairs. I had the band sign a poster and my copy of their latest release, The Things We Can't Stop, before getting another picture with them. I was also given a Cold drawstring bag that had a guitar pick, laminate and sticker inside. 

I stayed in the lounge afterward and ordered dinner. While I was waiting for my food to arrive, I struck up a good conversation with singer Sierra Swan, who sang on a few of Cold's classic songs. She usually shows up at Cold shows in Minnesota. It was nice catching up with her, and by the time I'd finished with my cheeseburger and onion rings, the first act, I Ya Toyah, was about to begin.

I didn't know anything about this solo performer, but she definitely gave off some major Eighties vibes during her set. The next act, Horizon Theory, was pretty good. They'll be touring with Sevendust for their Seasons shows this fall.

Finally, it was time for Cold! The group played 14 songs across their entire career. Swan got onstage with the band to sing "Suffocate" and "No One" with them. The final song was the Year of the Spider tune "Wasted Years," a song that has a lot of personal meaning to me. Frontman Scooter Ward went into the front of the crowd to sing that song surrounded by others who had also been personally affected by it.

I didn't stay for too much of Orgy's set, because I'd already heard most of it during their sound check that occurred at the same time as the Cold meet and greet. I ran into Ward outside the Turf Club before I left and I got to thank him for a great show. He insisted on a friendly hug before I made my trek back home. 

I don't know as of yet what my next concert will be. I'm just glad that I'm able to attend the shows that I can. I always have a good time, and live music itself is very therapeutic. I strongly recommend that you make an effort to attend a show or more of your choosing when you can. You'll definitely be glad you did!

Well, that's all for now. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.

Animals Matter.

 I was thoroughly disgusted this weekend when I read an excerpt from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's upcoming book where she talked about putting down a 14-month-old puppy. Noem was apparently upset at it because it wouldn't be a good hunting dog, so she put it down. The dog could have been surrendered to a shelter or given to another family as a pet, but instead, she chose cruelty.

This is a sore subject for me because I've always believed in being kind to animals (and to all living beings, for that matter). I grew up with a black lab, a goldfish, a pair of rabbits, and dozens of cats living in the country in Central Minnesota. Having animals around regularly taught me a lot about caring and compassion for others. 

It made me think back to when we rescued a cat that had wandered into our garage. The poor thing had its legs and tail duct taped to its torso by a cruel farm kid. We coaxed the scared feline cat out from under one of the cars and my dad carefully cut the tape from its body. The black cat (which we later named Schwarz, which means "black" in German) ran away for a bit but soon came back and was a faithful family pet for many years.

I've always been more of a cat person than a dog person (mainly because of the sheer number of cats that we had in my youth and because cats are typically more self-reliant), but I usually make time for other people's pets whenever I visit them. Most animals are pretty tame. I remember a few times when stray cats and cats that belonged to other neighbors would come to visit out of the blue and find their way to me asking for attention. I didn't mind that at all.

I understand having to put an animal down if it's sick or injured. We had to put one of our cats down after it had been hit by a car. One of its ribs had punctured its skin and we knew that it didn't have long to live. The feline was breathing poorly and could barely move on its own. It wasn't an easy decision, but a necessary one to put it out of its misery, unfortunately. She left behind a new litter of kittens, which with the local veterinarian's advice we learned how to take care of. They grew up to be very happy, healthy cats. However, this situation is quite different than that.

I just can't see cruelty as something that would make me like the particular person who was cruel. I know that Noem's trying to appeal to the MAGA base, but it's not surprisingly turned a lot of conservatives against her. She tried to justify the horrific act by explaining that she also put down a goat that same day and that she's also had to put horses down from time to time, but it seems like she just keeps making things worse for herself with every explanation that she tries to make. 

It's very interesting that both Republicans and Democrats are actually agreeing on this issue. Animal cruelty never has been and never will be acceptable. Now if we could just get them to agree on other important aspects...

Well, that's all for now. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.

Job Hunting Blues

 Hi everyone,

it's been a while since I've made a blog post. Been busy trying to find a good, stable full-time job with decent compensation. I have a few freelance gigs lined up, but job-seeking is different from what it used to be. In fact, it's gotten considerably harder for most of us. I'm fortunate to have only gone about 5 months since my last full-time job, but I know others who've been without a full-time job for twice that long, if not longer.

The process itself is much more complicated than it used to be. Long gone are the days when you could simply stop in a business with your resume. Almost everything is now online. You have to fill out an online application, and often take an assessment or other additional steps as well. Also, you now have to compete with other applicants worldwide in many instances.

It's pretty common nowadays for companies to require applicants to create new accounts just to apply for jobs on their website. The problem is that after enough time, you have too many user names and passwords for those sites to keep up with. That's why I try to keep such experiences like that to a minimum.

There are also a lot of scams out there. I've seen more than my fair share of them. If I receive a message saying that I'm automatically approved, am asked to download an app to communicate with the company or if I can't find the actual company website, it's usually a scam. 

Some employers ask candidates to complete a task. Common examples that I've seen are writing samples, case studies, and so forth. My general rule of thumb is that if a task takes more than a half hour to complete, the applicant should be fairly compensated for their time and effort. If a company isn't willing to accept that or other previous samples in the candidate's portfolio, then they're an organization that you're probably better off not working for. NEVER, ever work for free. 

The puzzling thing to me is the amount of ghosting. It seems to have accelerated after COVID-19 began. I've had some very good interviews recently and made attempts to follow up with the employers, only to never hear from them again. I was stunned a few weeks ago when I stumbled across one such interviewer's social media page and discovered that they filled the job that I'd applied for a week after my interview. They went radio silent after what I knew was a very positive job interview for both me and them. I know it isn't anything personal, but that doesn't always make the rejection any less difficult to swallow.

I'm still doing well enough to keep myself afloat, and I'm confident that I'll find something good before too long. I just wish that the process was easier. If it were up to me, I'd ensure that things were transparent and simple. There's no reason to keep people in limbo. After all, people's livelihoods often hang in the balance. Do the right thing, companies. 

Well, that's all I have for now. This is the last quiet weekend I have until June. Got lots more writing, job hunting, and a few fun things planned for May. Until next time, have a great weekend, and don't forget to be kind to one another.