Music inspires and brings joy.

Quote by AnnaMayZing

I was listening to a little Rachmaninoff. Not a composer that I have really listened to, to be honest. Although I am very fond of his Variations on a theme of Paganini.

Did you hear about pianist Yuja Wang's recent feat? She did all of the Rachmaninoff concertos and the Variations in a single long concert.

Dutch band Delain are back with a new album after a couple years of rebuilding.

And while Arch Enemy's latest album has been out for a few months now, they dropped a video for one of my favorite songs from it yesterday.

Thanks for the setup, Bear. Looking forward to your story. I might start reading this weekend if I feel my story is going well enough (or if I give up🙄).

Red Rose and a couple cookies. I'll just pick some at random.

Both have their pluses, but I have always leaned to Fall for some reason.

Listen to an old favorite album or try something new?

Quote by verbal
The cats and I will be constructing a balloon-assisted surveillance device, to float above the neighborhood and keep an eye out for any suspicious activities.

Until a neighbour's F22 Raptor puts a missile through it. 😜

I've put on a pot of oolong. For those not in the know, oolong mostly comes from Fujian, China and Taiwan and is kind of midway between green and black tea. And is the only tea I know that goes well with cream instead of milk.

Got the monthly list of themed calls for submissions. As usual, the themes are all over the map. Due dates vary and some are, sadly, due already. Many are end of the month or March, though.

Hawk and Cleaver, which is a fantasy-themed podcast, has dates out to May for various themes.

And Consequence Magazine sounds interesting. Looking for writing, both fiction and non, on the consequences of war and other geopolitical violence.

» 37 Themed Calls for Submissions for February 2023 (authorspublish.com)

Interesting how an old Irish folk song has become a classic rock hit. Metallica even won a Grammy with that performance and, of course, it's one of Thin Lizzy's best known songs.

Floor Jansen's solo career continues to blossom. With her first album now less than two months away, she's been nominated for The Netherlands' Edison music award in the Rock category. My Dutch is a bit rough. Okay, it's non-existent. However, from their site, it appears that the nomination is not for one song but cites all three of the solo singles from 2022 (the fourth came out in this year). "Storm" was the second and remains my personal favorite, though I like all of them.

Coffee makes the world awaken.

Depends on what I am in the mood for. National is better for news and some kinds of music, but things like classic rock are better on local.

Rainy day: Wear a raincoat or carry an umbrella?

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooood Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooorning!

Rainy day here. Let's just say I could just take my shower by stripping down and stepping out the door (though it's still cold enough that hypothermia would be a risk). There are flood warnings out in a season where we are usually more worried about snow squalls and clearing the white stuff off our roads.

Got some Nicaraguan dark roast from Las Chicas brewing for the coffee crowd.

Teas are Red Rose and Russian Caravan.

Hot water is ready for other teas and hot chocolate.

Good news! I have not given up on the comp. Still trying to wrestle the story into shape so I can maybe, hopefully write it this weekend.

For now, though, work needs my attention.

Later, alligators.

Good morning! Up to four stories in the comp with two weeks to go. Things are starting to heat up.

I have some Jamaican Blue Mountain in the coffee pot. Teas are Assam and Earl Grey. Hot water is ready for other drinks. Mini marshmallows are restocked as are other add-ons and condiments.

Later.

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. 😕