You know, Laufey has become one of those artists that I just can't stop talking about. If "From the Start" was the lure, "Lovesick" set the hook. Still my favourite song of hers.

I first discovered Laufey on a tour of Iceland about a year ago. I was booking our visit to the Blue Lagoon spa (now closed due to the ongoing volcanic activity nearby) and they had an interview with her on their blog. Intrigued by what I read, I looked her up on social media right about the time she was heavily promoting this song. It remains one of my favourite from Bewitched.

And a solo performance of the song from Laufey herself.

"Bewitched" was the title track from Laufey's 2023 second album. Here, the song is reimagined by her fellow Icelander, classical pianist Vikingur Olafsson. Noted for performances of music from Bach right down to modern composers like Philip Glass, Olafsson's rendition creates a very beautiful piano setting of Laufey's song.

Quote by AnnaMayZing

From the current album by Xandria, The Wonders Still Awaiting, with lead vocals from Ambre Vourvahis, this is the most excellent, Universal.

I love Ambre. The band has a history of great female singers and Ambre has fit right in.

Listened to a pile of new songs that came out while I was on vacation this morning. A couple highlights follow.

The second single from the upcoming solo album by Dutch singer Simone Simons of the band Epica.

And the latest from Lake Street Dive, a terrific band that blends a number of musical styles (pop, r&b, jazz) to create a rather unique sound for this day and age.

Quote by Mendalla

1177: The Year Civilization Collapsed, Eric Cline

Finally got back to this one. See post above.

Also read Marc Morris' The Anglo-Saxons. Nice, readable history of how the Germanic tribes settled in and shaped the development of England, beginning with the Roman departure from Britain in 410 CE and ending with the Norman Conquest of 1066 CE. There were some interesting characters in that era. Would probably be a good read for Bernard Cornwell fans since Morris covers a lot of historical figures who ended up as characters in the novels and TV show of Cornwell's Anglo-Saxon series.

As usual, the genre fiction markets list is heavy on SF, fantasy, and horror. There's some other genres salted in there, though, if you look. The first on the list has already been posted by Verbal in another thread, which is a call for new writers of horror. Other options include Christian sf and fantasy, long-term relationships (with an interest in queer relationships, polycules, and other less conventional ones), and stories about the "suitors" (Quincey, Dr. Seward, and Arthur Holmwood) from Dracula. Have a look. Maybe your next publisher is on the list.

https://authorspublish.com/45-magazines-paying-for-genre-fiction/

Interesting one. Think I have come across them before in the Author's Publish blogs and certainly in my wheelhouse. However, having been gone half the month, I doubt I could get something ready by June 30. Will still look at their eligibility requirements, though, in case something comes to mind.

In Canada that is. Was a bit of a long trip but saw some interesting stuff along the way. Favourite might be Gdansk, Poland, which kind of surprised me. We even visited the shipyard in Gdansk where Lech Walesa worked and Solidarity started. There's a big "European Solidarity Centre" there that traces the history and has some artifacts and recreations from the era. Gdansk also has a lovely medieval-Renaissance Old Town. And it is all in walking distance.

Talinn, Estonia and Lubeck, Germany (our shore trip when we docked in Kiel) are also nice, historic cities.

Anyhow, I am back. Putting on some Deathwish Dark Roast coffee. Teas are English Breakast and Twining Four Red Fruits (which I discovered at our hotel in Oslo after the cruise). Hot water is available for whatever other hot drinks you might wish. Washed the pitchers and made fresh iced tea and lemonade. Sodas are stocked up.

So how goes it?

Quote by Molly
it's vanilla with melted peanut butter poured over it and then stirred until it's mixed and soft

Noted for future ... experimentation. 😉 Never head of this but it sounds tres yummy.

When the Wind Blows

Running. Swimming for me is more like "not drowning" 😲🙄😁

Backpack around the world or do a "world cruise"?

I have had many over the decades. Chocolate Mint Chip was a family favourite for a while. Butter Pecan (which is what I chose) is a longtime favourite as is Maple Walnut. And the buffet we frequent at home has a nice "no sugar added" cappuccino flavour that I like (Ape weirdness: I dislike coffee to drink but enjoy a lot of coffee-flavoured desserts). And sometimes just a nice basic chocolate or vanilla goes down best.

Quote by verbal
I am planning on writing a horror story about a demon in the MRI machine, so I will be sucking up the details.

Dang, that sounds great on paper. Hope you get this out. And hope all turns well with your brain.😊

Hello from Norway. One more day in Europe and then we are off home. Hope all are well.

Later, alligators!

Ape sneaks in and takes a polar bear and a lion

Currently hanging out in Copenhagen. Less than a week until homecoming, though.

Hope you're all keeping well.

And good morning!! I am off soon, but will sling the black stuff one more time.

Got some Deathwish Dark Roast for coffee. Perfect to launch a Monday.

Teapots are filled to the tippy top with Assam and Earl Grey. Hot water on standby if you favour something else.

Fresh pitchers of iced tea and lemonade are in the fridge along with assorted pops.

See you later, folks! Might pop by now and then but expect me to be scarce the next couple weeks.

Sounds like a bit of an adventure.

Doves, eh. I hear them around but haven't seen any nests this year.

Day is bright and sunny.

Sire - Site

It's happened but certainly not my usual. Depends on the stranger and situation.

WYE go on a vacation trip alone?

I stick to one unless it's really soft or flat, then might need a second.

WYR use Uber/taxi or transit in a strange city?

Oo, I tough. I loves me some Impressionism. Probably Monet would get the edge.

Landscape paintings or still life?

Packing is under way. Airport bus is booked. We are gonna be outta here soon. But I am still around for the weekend.

Putting on some Finnish Juhla Mokka dark roast coffee (since I will be hitting Helsinki).

Teas are Earl Grey and Raspberry Royale. Hot water is ready for other teas or hot bevvies.

Washed the pitchers and made fresh iced tea and lemonade. Sodas are stocked up.

Later, alligators.

Quote by Cora
I liked that movie so I choose Gary Oldman.

He played Dracula in Bram Stokers' Dracula directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Painting.

Abstract or realist?

Bela Lugosi or Christopher Lee (oh, what the heck) or Gary Oldman?

Woo hoo!

Congrats to WriterGirl and TomEccleston! Two great stories.

And congrats and thanks to all who entered. Interesting theme and it produced some interesting work.

Quote by Cora
I think it's awesome you are visiting islands on this cruise, Mendalla. Hopefully you will be inspired to write a story. Hawaii is supposed to be beautiful. My childhood best friend lives on the Big Island.

Not this cruise, that's a planned future one. Current cruise will be the Baltic Sea. Not as warm.

And the results are in. Go over and have a look. Then you can come back for some dark roast Blue Mountain coffee or English Breakfast tea while you mull them over.

Annoucing The Winners Of The It's Not What It Looks Like Competition | Stories Space

Quote by verbal
I think days at a time on ship reading and wandering around and looking at the water and sky sounds awesome.

My wife wants to do Hawaii out of LA someday. 10-11 days at sea for 5-6 days actually visiting the islands. Let's just say my laptop is coming along on that one. Could probably get a story or two written.

Quote by JamesPBear
Most of those "10 cities in 11 days" cruises don't show you all that much since you're in each city for such a short time.

That's my thinking, too, and one of the stops is a city we have been to. However, my wife is a driven, type-A sort so staying on the ship will not be a welcome suggestion unless she's really beat, too. Why she married a laidback ape remains a mystery to some.😉

And good morning!!

It's a lovely, if a bit chilly (yes, chilly on May 30, it's that kind of Spring) day in my neck of the woods.

Putting on some Deathwish Dark Roast for the coffee set, Darjeeling and Original Earl Grey for the tea crowd, and there's hot water for whatever other hot bevvies might turn your crank. Checked the fridge and we are looking good for cold ones.

Later, alligator.