Quote by verbal
I hope someone else enters the comp.

I think Kat mentioned having something on the go. And someone else, maybe Rachel (oh, to have her back on here). Not sure where they are at, though. I have an idea still but too busy during the week to spend much time on writing.

New car is here (which generated some busy-ness of its own) and I like so far. Some quibbles, but also some things I like better than our other car. Usual tradeoff, in other words. And the insurance premium to add it wasn't too onerous, though I am more than halfway through the current policy so maybe the sticker shock will come when I renew in June. Helps that I am the only driver on it and am the most experienced driver in the family (Mrs. M didn't learn until the year we got married while I, like most Canadians, got licensed in high school).

Thanks for the setup, James. Been busy with work so not getting a chance to post early. On my lunch break right now before plunging into another meeting (had a three-hour one this morning).

Making an oolong tea and adding a shot of cream. I discovered creamy oolong as a blend last year and then realized I could get the same thing by just buying plain oolong and adding a bit of cream myself.

I See Fire is probably the only Ed Sheeran song I like and even then, there are several covers I prefer to his version. Including Feuerschwanz.

And just for fun, a Feuerschwanz original.

Came across this on the weekend. German power metal band Powerwolf covering Alice Cooper's eighties hit Poison in celebration of Cooper's 75th b-day.

Quote by Molly

Of course, since they are the same celebrations.

Thanks. Never even thought of it. Probably because I was just back from NOLA when the comp was announced.

I hope others have stories coming because I am flailing. Went back to working on a completely unrelated story last night just to keep myself writing.

Joni Mitchell. Huge fan since I first heard "Both Sides Now" as a kid. Not to knock Bob, though, I do like him as well even if I find him a bit overrated at times.

Sing along to a favorite song or just listen?

Quote by Molly

Hello. The story has to be about Mardi Gras. You don't necessarily have to be in New Orleans, just as long as it's during Mardi Gras.

So, Carnival in Rio and some other Latin and Caribbean countries would be on point, since those are Mardi Gras festivals?

Depends on mood, I think. Probably lean more to hard rock these days, but still enjoy something soothing at times.

Go to a concert or watch a livestream?

Joy can lighten heavy hearts.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is another one. I know it's basically a riff on the earlier Mary Poppins, but it has Angela Lansbury and the ending, where she raises a ghost army of empty armour to drive off Nazis, really captured my imagination as a kid and has kind of stuck with me (read The Healer's Secret and note the description of the ghost army at the end of it). And it has a witch casting spells, which is more my thing than magic nannies.

I have never really caught up on the newer ones, but Robin Hood (1973) has always been a favorite of mine. I think my parents took us to it on first release or an early re-release back in the pre-video days.

Yes, that's the wonderful Roger Miller singing. He wrote and sang the songs for the movie.

Quote by ladysharon

Hi, everyone. It's been a while since I've been here. My little one is in kindergarten, learning how to read and write. She's barred from reading my more mature stories. I have some downtime and began a fresh new story or an essay, whichever one I'll post first.

Hello! Nice to see you Sharon. Wow, kids grow up too fast. Mine is now finished university and works on the design end of the chip business.

And good morning all! Coffee is on some Ethiopian Yirgacheffe from Fire Roasted. Teas are Assam and Russian Caravan. Hot water is ready for other hot beverages like hot chocolate.

Later.

American singer-songwriter Malinda dropped a new original track today. She mostly does folk (Irish folk and sea shanties, for instance) but this is more folk-inflected pop.

Timely assistance can help greatly.

Barefoot around our house. Slippers or flip-flops if in a resort, hotel, cruise ship, etc. Floors in those places tend to be filthy.

Listen to music or listen to a podcast/radio show?

Quote by verbal
I’m blaming that Chinese spy balloon.

Guess that's the positive side of that balloon. A nice universal excuse for what ails ya. 🤣

Quote by gillianleeza
It had been warm the day before, and I had left the sunroof open. At least it was freezing and wasn't raining, but I still had to spend the day trying to dry out the front seats.

We have a sunroof on our SUV and while my wife and I rarely even remember it is there, my son used to use it when he was still living with us and occasionally drove it. And one night he didn't close it. And it rained. 😠 Ape was not amused. Mrs. Ape even less so since it was really her car.

Suit and tie are required.

Quote by DenimAngel
I swear my to do list for today mutipled when I wasn't looking

A to-do list is like a room full of rabbits. Turn your back and the to-dos start breeding. 😕

One of my favorite bands after Nightwish these days is Visions of Atlantis. This performance is from an upcoming live album recorded at the big music festival in Wacken, Germany last year.

The band is currently on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise, basically a floating music festival on a cruise ship. Other bands in attendance include Nightwish, Evergrey, Kamelot, and Feuerschwanz.

Jest is not always funny.

Quote by KatarinaTechgoddess
I barely blinked and my baby will be 27 in a month’s time.

Mine turns 24 next month but he's apparently the most senior person on his team at work aside from the manager (Mendalla Jr. has worked for them on and off since the beginning of 2020, at first as a co-op student) so you'd swear he was older.

Quote by verbal
Those two Mardi Gras comp entries are getting lonely, folks! Someone else enter!

Mine is probably going to end up last minute but we'll see what happens this weekend. No big plans and it's an off-week for cleaning (meaning less housework) so I might just have time to get this thing on track.

Good morning. Putting on some Jamaican Blue Mountain for the coffee set. Teas are Irish Breakfast and Cream of Earl Grey. Hot water is on, as always, for hot chocolate or other teas.

Things are all set up for my new car. Just need to confirm how much the insurance is going to cost and when my broker can get it added to the policy and then I can finalize my pickup time. Yay, no more juggling my schedule around my wife's.

Story is happening but slowly. I've got a glitch in it that I need to sort out before I get too much further.

My boss is having nasty side effects from his second shingles shot. And guess who else is due for that? 😲

Have a nice one, gang!

Quote by verbal
Talia's arm is kinda achy.

That tends to be my reaction to shots, too. Just a sore arm for a couple days.

Speaking of sore, my head and upper back tension is back which means headache is not far behind. Still have not figured out the trigger for these. I would like to think it is posture but my posture sucks just as bad on days when I don't have them so that does not feel quite right.

Quote by KatarinaTechgoddess
I managed to snag a top author and a top story badge overnight. M

Quote by KatarinaTechgoddess
You forgot to mention you snagged #2 and a top author badge as well. Congratulations to the prolific polar bear!

Congratulations to both Kat and Bear!

Hey, good morning, happy day!

It is twosday so we have to do everything in twos. So I am making two pots of yummy coffee, one medium and one dark roast. And two pots of yummy tea, a Russian Caravan and a Red Rose. And there's double the usual amount of hot water so Sara can make two mugs of yummy hot chocolate.

But there is only one ape and he is outta here. Later, alligators.

Quote by AnnaMayZing
I notice that Pearl Harbour isn't included in this list.

Hawaii is, though, which is the state. 😊

And I see that verbal has joined OpheliaTusk in the competition. Love that his is based on his real life. Will read it later. My idea is coming into shape. Might start writing tonight if I have time and energy (the latter often being the bigger issue).

Quote by elizabethblack
All Creatures Great and Small

I watched the first TV series version of Herriot's books back in the day, starring Christopher Timothy, Robert Hardy, and Peter Davison. It was mid-late 70s, I think? Also on PBS. Mom and I were fans of the books and enjoyed the series as well.

Good morning all you lucky, happy people!

If that sounds too perky for a working dude on a Monday, it is. I am just trying keep my spirits up.

I've put on some Nicaraguan coffee from Las Chica del Cafe. Teas du jour are English Breakfast and Duke of Earl (Earl Grey with vanilla), but there's always some bags and looseleaf of other varieties around. Hot water is ready for those or for hot chocolate.

I have an idea for the comp. It's a bit of a different direction from what one might expect. In fact, it might be too different, but I am probably going to run with it now that I have it.

Have a nice day/week, y'all!

It would be more fun if I could figure out where my story wants to go. I have a beginning but not sure where to go from there.