The problem with a cornfield as a setting for horror now is the existence of Children of the Corn, both King's short story and the mostly suckish movies allegedly based on it. Any horror using that backdrop is going to call that to mind, at least in boomer and Gen X horror fans like me.

I am trying again to write the story I came up with while in Iceland in 2023. Volcanoes, spirits, sorcery and other such fun in a faux Nordic secondary world. It's also the long intended, but never written, sequel to The Spirits of Tan Maldrin and picks up the story largely from the viewpoint of the character Nalia as she struggles with PTSD after nearly dying at the hands of a skeletal monster in that story.

Panda ambles through the forest.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

All The Lovers In The World - Lawrence Gowan

Quote by gillianleeza

I love the musical Wicked and have seen it three times, but I am always leery of movie adaptations. The movie version is streaming, so I'll probably watch it this weekend. I hope it isn't a repeat of the movie version of Cats. That wasn't very good.

Definitely been getting better reviews than Cats. I saw Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande perform at the Oscars and they handled the music pretty well (I have been a bit skeptical of Grande doing a big musical but her voice is actually up to it). And Erivo, who play Elphaba, is dripping in talent and accolades.

It's Fríiiiiiday!!! The weekend looms!!!!! And it is now officially Spring!!!!!

(I know, too many exclamation points 😁)

So there's some Fire Roasted Saint Drogo brewed and ready for your coffee fix.

In the teapots we have Yorkshire Gold and Raspberry Royale.

Kettle is full and ready for other hot beverages.

I see Bear has been keeping watch on the sodas

What's up in your world?

Clam chowder. One of my favourite soups. Vegetable beef is okay, but chowder for the win.

Baked potato or fries?

Contentment comes with living lightly.

New track from the upcoming album A Thousand Little Deaths by Dutch goth symphonic metal (or is symphonic goth metal?) band Blackbriar. Solid, if dark, metal punctuated by captivating, deceptively girlish voice of vocalist and lyricist Zora Cock.

Push

Yours is an Empty Hope - Nightwish

Quote by etairay
Hey there SS family

Hey back at ya'. After some Spring weather, we are back to chilly and snow. Not going to last long, though. Such is Spring in Southern Ontario. You get pretty much every form of weather known to mankind, sometimes all in the same week. 😲 Nice to see you around again. Hope all is well with you and yours.

Quote by gillianleeza
I will skip my visit tomorrow since the norovirus is making its way around my dad's unit. I do not need that.

Yeah, been there, done that, flushed the t-shirt down the toilet with everything else. God, I hate that bug.

I keep thinking I'll get back on track with being the coffee ape and somehow, life intervenes and I don't get here until well past coffee hour. Or even teatime. I'll put on some camomile and lemon ginger herbals for those needing something sans caffeine before bed.

Working on a new take on an idea I've had kicking around for a while. Volcanoes are involved and the first version came out of my tour of Iceland in 2023.

Cool. Are you sure their name is Bob, though? Looks like they could be a Robcat or maybe a Hobcat. 🤣

Good afternoon. Weather turned nice, if chilly, after a rather grey morning.

Hope all are well. Even after my attempt at humour above.🙄🤪

Just listened to The Way by Dorothy and it's a great album. The band (named for it's lead singer, also Dorothy) does nice blues-inflected hard rock with a bit of a heavy edge to it. Lead singer Dorothy Martin packs a powerful "shouter" voice and has the skills to use it to great effect. Here's a track from the album as a sample.

Ugh, neither is especially inviting but after two solid months of the latter, I'm ready for a bit of the former. 😊

Tea bag or loose leaf?

And if you're feeling a mite peckish, there's some leftovers from my morning turn at the stove:

As forecast, we are getting a soaker of a day so far. Even had thunder while I was cooking breakfast. This weather is not great for my mood or my migraines, but I'm not bad right now. We'll see how things go since this is basically what the weekend is going to be like, save for a break this afternoon.

Coffee is brewing. I have gone with Biker Blend from Fire-Roasted. It's a dark roast blend of beans from Guatemala, Honduras, and, of all places, India. Did not realize they grew coffee there even though the climate in parts is probably suitable.

For teas, I'll also go to the subcontinent, with some Organic Assam and Earl Grey (which is usually Ceylonese, but that's close).

Kettle is ready if you're craving some other variety of hot beverage.

Sodas are stocked up and I've busted out the pitchers to make the first lemonade and iced tea of 2025.

Quote by WriterGirl
Gonna rain rest of the weekend.

That's the forecast here, too. Mixed blessing. Might get rid of the last of the snow but the ground is pretty sodden already around here so could also lead to some flooding if we get too much.

Quote by gillianleeza
I've set up therapy appointments.

Sounds like a good plan from what you describe. Sending good vibes and hoping therapist can help.

Not really much of a swimmer, but I'd feel safer in a lake. Smaller and usually calmer (unless you're talking the Great Lakes or similar large ones).

Camp/bonfire outdoors or fireplace indoors?

Rustic cabin. My tent days are over (not that I was ever fond of them to start with).

Board game or card game?

Should be starting soon here, too. Warm, sunny week and the snow and ice are receding. Yee haw.

My knees are still being bitchy. Last time I saw the doc about them, he ordered x-rays which found basically nothing actionable. I'm going to replace my shoes and look at getting orthotics to see getting my feet properly supported and levelled helps. Then it's off to physio I guess.

That sounds fun!! Hope you have/had a good hike. My knee is a bit wonky after my first walk of the season yesterday so no hiking for me.

Two Grammy nominations. Four Juno nominations including two for this year's awards coming up in 3 weeks. Spiritbox are rising stars in the international metal scene. While the face of the band is vocalist Courtney Laplante (who can go from melting your heart with her soft, sultry clean vocals to melting your brain with her magnificent screams and growls), the guys behind her are excellent musicians, too, esp. Courtney's hubby Mike Stringer on guitar. They dropped their second LP yesterday and if this doesn't land them some more award nominations (and maybe finally some wins) I'll be surprised and sad. This is one of the best of a bunch of great tracks.

LOL at the alligators. Always love seeing those prehistoric looking beasts when I have a chance (crocodilians evolved alongside the dinosaurs and, unlike the non-avian dinos, made it through the end-Cretaceous extinction). Didn't really spend much time in Florida on my last visit so didn't see any but when we were in Tampa in January 2024 we went hiking at a conservation area and saw one.

Good morning and happy weekend!! I'll put on some Fire Roasted Saint Drogo for anyone who happens to be around seeing roasted bean beverages. For teas, there's Assam Organic and Earl Grey. Kettle is filled for those seeing other teas or hot chocolate. Whatcha drinkin' this fine weekend?

Kind of flailing with the writing at the moment. Lots of ideas dancing around but having a hard time just grabbing onto one and pursuing it. We shall see.

I don't seem to have the attention span for features anymore, so TV drama.

Crime/Mystery or Romance?

Beignets! Yay!

And that's a great list of stories. If you haven't partaken, do.

I will grind some dark roast Nicaraguan beans for coffee. For teas, there's Yorkshire Gold and Raspberry in the pots and other selections available along with hot chocolate. Kettle is boiled.

Later, alligators.

Congratulations to all! Great competition and the top 3 aren't far off what I would have picked. It was a terrific bunch of stories.

Quote by verbal
Weather was AWESOME this weekend - false summer. Sadly, it starts snowing again tonight. Still, I got several walks in.

Apparently the weather is done with freezing us. Now it wants to drown us. Heavy rain, which will then melt the foot or so of snow that we still have even after the warmer weather last week.

Quote by WriterGirl

Wonder if they wear suits and ties at his office? Most here are business casual now.

I haven't worn a suit to work other than for interviews in forever. Even at the library, we were business casual and that was 30 years ago. I've done presentations to the board in business casual (and they were all dressed that way, too, even the executive chair). Which suits me fine. I hate suits and ties, especially the latter. It's like garroting yourself. At least if an assassin garrots you, you die quickly and painlessly instead of suffering a choking feeling for hours on end.🙄😒

Good morning! In case anyone is feeling a mite peckish, I was flipping out the morning.😳

Sorry, I meant flipping pancakes this morning. 😊