A year ago tomorrow, the wonderful Dutch rock singer Floor Jansen took a new direction in her long career by releasing her first ever solo album, entitled Paragon. All her previous work was done as part of various bands so having an album with just her name on the cover was a new thing, celebrated joyously by us fans. The first track, and the last of the myriad singles from the album, is My Paragon.

The chorus "Look at me now, my paragon. My dream is now, my paragon." in this song is actually a response to another song she wrote called just "Paragon" where she asked, "And when shall I be my paragon?" That song was one of a bunch she wrote with Norwegian guitarist Jorn Viggo Lofstad for their one-off band and album Northward.

Good morning. Sunny but cold here. Snow seems to have stopped coming, though, and we might start losing it later today. Right now, though, it looks more like January or February should have.

25 years ago today, I was hanging out in a hospital waiting for my slacker Gen Z kid to get off his ass and be born. Except he turned out to be very much not a slacker and now makes big bucks designing computer chips.

Coffee is Kicking Horse 454 Horse Power. Teas are Assam and Earl Grey Cream. Cold drink pitchers are washed and refilled with lemonade and unsweet iced tea. Hot chocolate, other teas, and various condiments all stocked up, including the much loved marshmallows.

Sorry for the rant last night, but it does kind of reflect my current feelings so it is staying up.

Good evening. Thought I would pop by. I am writing again. Two stories on the go, both promising to be long and involved. And, to be honest, I'm not sure they're coming here. This place just does not seem to be the place for long, involved stories anymore. Other than Red's story (BTW, I have read the first two chapters and it is very good. It's just not my cuppa genre-wise so the going is a bit slow) and Verb's memoir, it's all micros and poems it seems. One of my stories is at 3300 words and counting. The other is lagging a bit behind but will definitely be a longer work as well.

Anyhow, that's where I am at. Will be around from time to time like this but probably less regular, at least for a while. Need to cut back the other place, too, really. Not going to be writing for there for a while.

And then some Can-con (Canadian content). Power metal band Unleash the Archers is based out of BC here in Canada and fronted by the powerhouse vocals of Brittany Hayes.

New songs from a couple artists I follow, both with new albums coming up later this spring.

We had Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's first vocalist, recently. Here's her successor Anette Olzon with the second release from her upcoming third solo album.

Quote by gillianleeza
I am pretty sick of getting sick with Covid.

I've had it twice, the second time only a month after getting my shot of the XBB vaccine in December 2023. I was on a cruise and got sick almost as soon as I got home so must have been exposed on the ship.

Good evening. Put on a pot of Vanilla Rooibos for evening drinking.

Not much happening here. Winter is trying for a last gasp after basically not happening in February.

pine - wine

Bald eagle soars through sky.

No snow here. They are calling for possible flurries early next week but it will be relatively warm and could be showers as well so not expecting anything to actually stick.

And it's Saturday so those of us who are workin' folks are taking it easy. Sunny here right now but supposed to be mostly cloudy. No water, liquid or frozen, falling from the sky today, though.

Coffee is Deathwish Dark. Teas are Original Earl Grey (mix of orange and bergamot instead of just bergamot) and English Breakfast. Washed and refilled the cold drinks (iced tea and lemonade). Hot chocolate, other teas, and the marshmallows for the former all stocked up.

Welcome to the weekend, folks!!

(and for JustAnotherSapphic, more Petty, this time with a few of his musical friends)

Sad that of this great supergroup, only Dylan and Lynne remain.

Lucassen & Soeterboek's Plan Nine began decades ago with guitarist/songwriter Arjen Lucassen and singer Robert Soeterboek recording demos on an old 8-track. They finally put together a band recently, mostly of regular members of Lucassen's other projects, and started recording them properly with an album due in May. This is the second release from Plan Nine.

Maple syrup. Not sure I have ever actually put honey on them but now I am wondering.

Fast car or comfortable car?

tint - pint

Highlights gleamed in her hair.

While writing a great story can be its own reward, there's no harm in making a bit of dough off the fruits of our labours, right? So here's some markets of varying sizes that will pay you for your work. It ranges from big names like Analog and Asimov's (both major sf and fantasy markets) or The New Yorker (more general fiction) to regional ones like The Malahat Review and The Fiddlehead (both, like me, Canadian) to smaller markets. Have a look and see if there's something of interest to you.

https://authorspublish.com/56-literary-journals-that-pay-their-authors/

Good evening, folks. Posting a new Author's Publish in a bit. Hope all had a good week and have something to look forward to this weekend.

I'll put on some Cranberry Rooibos from my local tea shop. Rooibos comes from South Africa and is caffeine free so perfect for evening drinking.

With Tom Petty being a hot topic around here, how's about some classic Petty to entertain us this evening. This one has Tom with his band The Heartbreakers in a rather freaky video inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

And from his 1989 solo album Full Moon Fever, one of those songs that's probably going to live for the ages.

Life populates all the Earth.

Hill - Till

Quote by AnnaMayZing

Minniva has worked extensively with Orion's Reign. Here is Nostos, from their 2019 album, Scores of War.

I know. I think I found them because of her. 😊

The official release of "Left on Mars" by Marko Hietala and Tarja Turunen is out and it's great. I posted a fan vid of them doing it in concert but the sound is obviously much better here. Song was written by Marko and Tuomas Wainola, his guitarist and producer. Not the symphonic metal the two were known for in their Nightwish days (and Tarja still is to some degree), but solid rock nonetheless.

takes an oatmeal raising and a maple walnut from Snoopy

Good evening. Lovely here today but the rain starts tomorrow apparently. Not sure I can blames that on verbs, either.

Putting on some Canadian Blueberry herbal tea for evening caffeine-free sipping.

Renewed all my cars tonight. It's kind of pointless now since Ontario no longer charges for plate renewals. It's really just a way to get you to confirm your current address. Not that I'm complaining. With three cars on my account, it would have got expensive with what they used to charge. Next renewal is two years and by then maybe I'll have transferred one to Ape, Jr.

Cull - call

Good afternoon. Sunny here and getting warm again after a one day return to winter yesterday. Snow is almost all gone so it is almost like yesterday never happened, at least weather-wise.

Putting on some green tea and Lime Fizz herbal for evening drinking.

Violent sports cause many injuries.

Quote by verbal
We are the embodiment of laziness today.

I wish. Helped Mrs. Ape with some computer problems, did my part of the cleaning (wash hard floors, clean toilet bowls if needed, vacuum carpets), cooked breakfast and helped with lunch. I've actually been pretty ambitious for a Spring Ahead Day. Now it's tea time, I think.

One thing I don't think I saw coming a year ago was a reunion of Marko Hietala and Tarja Turunen, who performed together in Nightwish from 2001 until Tarja's parting of ways with the band in 2005. In 2023, the duo came together at a festival for one song. Now they are touring Latin America together and not only have they revisited material from their time together in Nightwish but they are debuting a new song. Apparently the studio version is coming later this week but this is fan video of them performing it in Brazil.

And in a recent interview, Marko even mused about them forming a band.

With new Nightwish due in the Fall and these two ex-members back together, Nightwish fans have plenty to enjoy and celebrate this year.

"Dust in the Wind" by American prog band Kansas has to be one of the greatest songs written in my lifetime. And Violet Orlandi brings just the right emotions and skill to bear on it in this cover just released this morning. The family videos are in tribute to her mother, I believe.

Bagel. Preferably with some cream cheese.

Plain pancakes or add some fruit?

Rain yesterday, snow today, tomorrow. A season a day seems to be rule here right now, but the general thrust is still towards spring.

We've got a medium roast Jamaican Blue Mountain in the coffee pot. Teas are Irish Breakfast and Raspberry Royale. Lookin' good on other beverages.

I was slingin' flapjacks this morning so here's some for the rest of you.

Trash talk can start fights.

Quote by verbal
What the heck is a yorkiepoo?

Yorkshire Terrier crossed with a poodle.

https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/yorkipoo