Here's an interesting musical pair-up. Patty Gurdy (a stage name, obviously) is a German artist who sings and plays hurdy-gurdy. Tavern, released yesterday, is her second full-length studio album (there's also an EP in between). She has a number of guest artists but this is the one that caught my eye when she released an album trailer a while back.

Finn Marko Hietala is best known for his 20 years as bassist/vocalist in Nightwish, but has been in the music scene since his teens (he's getting close to 60). Marko has been solo since leaving Nightwish in 2021 and does a lot of collaborations, as he does here with Patty. One of my favourite songs on the album, even if it is a bit different in tone from the others (most are more folk-y than this).

Quote by gillianleeza
It will be a relatively small group (twelve) this year, but it will be nice to feel something close to having a normal life.

That's good to hear after the rough ride you've had recently. Have a good Thanksgiving. Glad the German branch of the family was able to make it over for the holiday.

And good morning world!! Weather is a bit blah around here, but I've seen worse. At least no bomb cyclones or hurricanes are involved as I've been hearing about from various online friends on other sites.

For coffee, let's keep it basic. A nice dark roast Colombian.

Teas? English Breakfast and Raspberry Royale.

Hot water is available if you want other teas or are craving a hot chocolate fix.

Sodas are in the fridge if you need something cold.

Later, alligators! Have a great weekend!

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic
I don't get his love for Bruce Springsteen

Baby, he was born to run. 😊

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic
Tommy is still my number one though - don't worry.

He was just being ... 😎 ... petty.

flees giggling

Quote by verbal
It never snowed yesterday! There is a bomb cyclone, whatever the f that is, in Cali, so snow is expected to come soon.

Not just Cali. It nailed the whole West Coast right up to BC. I know someone on Vancouver Island dealing with it. Ten thousand households without power in BC alone earlier this morning though BC Hydro seems to be getting things back online from what I am hearing.

Thanks, Bear, for getting things going. Good morning. Foggy day here, making for a (not) fun drive in. But I arrived intact and am settling down to work.

I have realized that two stories I keep plugging away at are basically the same story with different settings and details. A person in some form of exile get into a relationship/friendship only to have the past they were fleeing show up and the new friend/partner gets sucked into their struggle. One is more of a fantasy tale, the other is a modern drama/romance with maybe a light fantasy trim. One gets a bit dark (the exile was fleeing some pretty nasty persecution), the other less so. So now I have to decide whether to continue both, choose one, or see if there's a way to do a third that is kind of a hybrid of the two.

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

No, he won't cause I'm keeping Tommy...but...Jon Bon Jovi.

Couldn't tell you why - just that my heart likes him.

Guess you're just ... 😎... Living on a Prayer.

Jon must now feel like he's ... 😎... Wanted Dead or Alive

I could continue but will stop before the tomatoes start flying. 😊

I do like Bon Jovi, even if they kind of peaked right at the start with Slippery When Wet. That was a dang hard album to follow up.

No, we are not talking about some bizarre crossbreeding of humans and animals from a bad s-f story nor are we talking about cars with blended gas and electrical drive trains. We are talking hybrid writing. That is, writing that cuts across traditional genre lines. Here's 25 markets that focus on or accept hybrids. Maybe you have something that is "hybrid" looking for a place?

https://authorspublish.com/25-magazines-accepting-hybrid-writing/

Young Guns

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

Me: I'm not going to fall for any more classic rockers, I swear.

Also me: ...oh...oh no. What have I done?

Okay, who is it this time? Petty will be getting jealous. 😉

I've never had sweet potato pie, so that (much as I love pumpkin pie, I'm always up to try new foods).

Watch TV while exercising or listen to music?

Straight black. Pumpkin spice belongs in desserts, not drinks.

Apple pie or Apple strudel?

Sea rages in a hurricane.

Quote by verbal
Good news! I just got nominated for a Pushcart Prize for my memoir in Split Lip Magazine. It’s a small press award, and since every small press gets to nominate up to six stories, there are a lot of nominees. Still, it’s very cool - never happened to me before.

Woo hoo! Split Lip clearly saw something in your story if they made you one of their six. Crossing fingers.

Still above 0C here, cloudy with showers. Or that was the forecast. I just went out to pick up some lunch and it was so bright, I almost put on my suns.

A recent favourite of mine is Vancouver band Spiritbox. With two Juno awards and two Grammy noms under their belt, they are becoming the face of an eclectic school of metal that pulls in elements from many genres, even from outside metal, to a metalcore base. This is the second single from their upcoming second album, Tsunami Sea.

X-rays at (yawn) 8am this morning so no perky singing today 😊. Got this weird thing on my foot so doc wants a closer look. Seems to be a growth on the bone.

Good morning, folks. How's things?

Ape has some dark roast Nicaraguan coffee brewed. For teas, we have Cream of Earl Grey and Red Rose. Hot water is on if you desire one of our other fine teas or maybe some hot chocolate.

Actually got in walks the past two days. Weather is pretty good for November, just a bit chilly. Now we're into showers for the rest of the week so no more walking. Gets dark too early anyhow to do walks on days when I'm in the office.

No real writing happening, just toying with ideas that seem to fizzle out rather than develop. Part of that is lots of distractions and part is just me being in a slump.

Later, alligators.

singing

Dance and spin and swing and twirl

Welcome to the new week, world!

stops singing

Good morning, everyone!

How about a spot of tea? We have Assam Organic and Peach White.

What? You're a coffee drinker? Hmm. Well, we have a pot of Jamaican Blue Mountain for you.

Something cold? Well, there's a wonderful assortment of juices and sodas in the fridge.

None of the above? There's always hot water ready so you can pick a bag from our assortment of fine teas or make some hot chocolate.

So welcome to Inspirations. Hope you find some, well, Inspiration! 😊

(So was that too perky or what?)

Quote by verbal
I have a good friend who is moving to Ireland. She can’t live here any more. Makes me sad.

I am hearing more and more stories about Americans wanting to "get out". It is sad. I love your country even if I love mine more and if I ever was to live in a country other than Canada, it would be the USA*. I've come close a couple times, too, due to my wife's career.

*Well, some parts thereof. I would not, for instance, be a very good fit for the Deep South, much as I enjoy visiting parts of it.

Quote by AndyMonroe

Been listening to Bryson Tiller's album 'TRAPSOUL' and trying to navigate this site lol.

Welcome, Andy. You can ask questions in the Site Announcements/Member Feedback forum or pop into the "Inspirations" thread, which is our friendly cafe for casual chat. Just be warned, a bear has been sighted in there. He's mostly friendly, though.

And, yeah, it was love (for her voice) at first listen when I heard Emily on Emptiness Machine. I've been listening to Dead Sara, her own band, recently, too. Different from Linkin Park but also quite enjoyable.

At the dawn of 2024, I don't think anyone except maybe the band themselves had "new Linkin Park LP" on their bingo card. But here it is and it is wonderful. No one is going to ever forget the late Chester Bennington, but new lead singer Emily Armstrong steps up with some magnificent vocal work on the album. This visualizer came out today with the album.

Good morning, O Inspired Ones!!

Bit grey here but not totally terrible. How's things out your way?

For coffee, let's see. Dark roast from Colombia should be good.

Tea? Hmm. Canadian Breakfast and Vinyl Cafe, both original Canuck blends from my local shop.

Hot water is there for those wanting some other teas or hot chocolate.

And here's some snacks, both healthy and less so.

Quote by gillianleeza
Cool dreary day here, but hopefully the predicted rain will materialize. We haven't had any rain in over a month.

We had a fairly dry October but have had wet weather this past Sunday and again today. Drove almost 3 hours in rain and mist on Sunday.

"Cardinal Fang, bring the comfy chair!"

looks around Inspirations

"Which one? There's so many."

Anyhow, good morning, folks. We have some Tobermory Flowerpot Island in the coffee pot. For teas, there's English Breakfast and Sencha. Hot water, sodas, ya da ya da.

How's your day going?

War of the Worlds (pick a version)

Down the river we float.

Quote by verbal
I will walk today too, even though it won’t get above 50 degrees.

Pfft. Wimp. 😊 Any temp above 32 (0 in the real system) is warm.

Two terrific German metal bands team up and rock out. Sounds like fun and, behold, it is. Not only have they released this joint single, but they are touring together for a few German dates next year.

Woo hoo, it's Hump Day! (No camels were harmed in the making of this post. Or ridden for that matter.)

For coffee, let's go with good old Deathwish Dark Roast.

Teas? Hmmm. Assam Organic and Coconut Cream White.

Hot water is on for those wanting other teas or a cup of hot chocolate (marshmallows provided).

And there's a magical assortment of sodas for those needing something cold and fizzy. ("magical" meaning whatever soda you want just happens to be there).

Writing is kind of on pause. Too much else happening in my life right now. Might have time going forward. We shall see.

My earworm du jour, and a song that might hit my favourite songs of 2024 list, is "Something Whispered Follow Me" by Nightwish. It's a smooth, light piece by their standards, with a catchy, melodic chorus. The song could probably find a place on rock radio here with some judicious editing (at 6:40, it's a bit long for radio play except maybe AOR). The centerpiece is a killer vocal performance from the band's marvelous lead singer Floor Jansen but drummer Kai Hahto and guitarist Emppu Vuorinen get their due in this one, too. Not typical Nightwish, but terrific Nighwish.

Quote by verbal

A dumb story about fairies, since I don't know crap about fairies.

Research, my friend. Brian Froud's Faeries would be a good start. 😊