Baboon

Terminator 2 : Judgement Day

Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins

I do like some modern dance and find traditional ballet a bit dull anymore, so probably modern or maybe modern-influenced ballet.

Electric or acoustic instruments?

My in-laws couldn't come over for our wedding but we would have had the same issue. The family members who did come spoke enough English to manage.

Coffee is on. Went with a nice, basic Columbian dark roast. Yay, Juan Valdez!!

Teapots are filled up with English Breakfast and Russian Caravan.

I see the cold drinks are starting to get some use so I've mixed up fresh iced tea and lemonade along with restocking the sodas.

Hot water is available for teas or, if anyone still drinks it in April, hot chocolate.

So come on in! We're ready fer ya!

Quote by tinhatcat

I don't remember when I started writing exactly but it was before high school. Other than basic grammar and composition I haven't had any formal writing instruction, it was just something I always enjoyed. I had an awesome teacher who really encouraged me. When I was in Grade 11 I wrote a story in English class that used the word "F***", something that was absolutely unacceptable at the time. The teacher loved the story and asked me to read it in class including the f-word. I got a standing ovation from the class although I'm pretty sure it was because I got away with swearing in class rather than the story itself. I didn't think that at the time and I think the reaction was a big factor in continuing to write. It was the first time I ever shared anything I wrote publicly. (A variation of this class reading crops up in a story i am currently working on.)

Great story in and of itself. I did some writing through school but was too much of a nerdy "good kid" to have done that. Then in university I actually started toying with writing explicit sex and that sort of thing. Thanks for sharing your story and hope to see some writing from you on here.

Maybe if I really, really, really wanted it more than anything else on Earth, but I'm generally kind of cheap that way.

WYE take an otherwise uninteresting or problematic job just for the money?

Play music to bring joy.

Harp - Harm

You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones

(Ape now wonders if anyone has started a Stones cover band called "Gather No Moss" 😜)

Zebu

Vanessa was almost in a class by herself when she started. Now we've got plenty of violinists and other instrumentalists combining classical training and pop/rock backgrounds. Some don't even do much classical (e.g. Mia Asano).

Chinese-American cellist Tina Guo has spent a lot of her recent career working with film composer Hans Zimmer, playing on some of his soundtracks and also appearing live with his touring orchestra. She also does everything from metal to classical. Here she gives a nice performance of Elgar's "Salut d'Amour".

And a piece she co-wrote with Zimmer for the DC movies, Wonder Woman's theme. Since Tina is a bit of a wonder woman herself, it fits nicely.

I have decent a USB headphone at work and decent wired buds for home/mobile. Prefer headphones but not by a long stretch. And it's mostly that I'm not always comfortable having stuff in my ear given my right ear has issues already.

Ballet or opera?

Remains of the Day

Actually, I followed that up with Red (1974, the band's 7th album) and I think I actually like that one better. The band was officially a trio at that point, just Fripp on guitar and mellotron, John Wetton on vocals and bass, and Bill Bruford on drums. Session players, mostly former members, filled other spots. Very very good prog on this one.

If you are a budding new poet

And want the world to know it

Here's some places out there

For your verse, if you dare,

So go on, you must want to show it.

Yeah, that ain't getting published anywhere. But this week's Author's Publish really is some literary journals that accept poetry. So if you're of a poetic inclination, have a boo.

» 45 Literary Journals Accepting Poetry (authorspublish.com)

Camp - Carp

Would probably find someone more knowledgeable of these things than I.

WYE go up to a total stranger and start talking to them?

Ill people sometimes need doctors.

Nah, just a nice weekend, I think. And not sure if Verbs is home yet. Maybe the eclipse monster ate them. 😜

Meanwhile, I've whipped up some nice Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, Assam and Scottish Breakfast teas, and refilled the cold drinks. And for no reason other than I'm in a good mood, here's a pecan pie.

Quote by DenimAngel

Took a little vacation to St George utah

Went through there on my trip to Utah in 2018 (man, has it been that long?). Nice place.

Good afternoon, since Sara's done all the setup work, I'll just enjoy a raspberry tea and some playing cards (cookies, that is, not actual ones).

Contemplating a break from writing. I know I'll still write stuff compulsively but a break from actively, seriously trying to write. And try to read more. My creative batteries seem to need a recharge and re-engaging with reading might be the ticket.

Quote by verbal
but minutes before totality the clouds parted

Just in time, eh.

Yeah, I may not like the politics down there but love the food. Need to get back down there someday. I was in Houston many years ago for a conference and haven't been since.

Got some nice hot Nicaraguan medium in the coffee pot. Teas du jour are English Breakfast and Raspberry Royale. Fresh lemonade and iced tea are in the fridge and hot water is ready for other teas or hot chocolate.

Have a great weekend, y'all!!

It certainly stared into my soul. Give it a read, folks.

After a couple nice days, we're into spring rains here. Looking forward to the May flowers, I guess.

Coffee is a Costa Rican dark roast. Teas are Se Chong Oolong and Earl Grey. There's hot water available for other teas and hot chocolate.

Later...

While "Valhalla Calling" has been around for a while and is all the rage in some circles on TikTok and Youtube, a new cover by German metal band Feuerschwanz came out and, wow, what a performance. These guys go all in on their medieval-themed power-folk metal, even dressing as knights and such, and it really shines here. And now I think I have a theme song for Jadek Prynn. 😊

(Actually, I believe I had another version of the song in my head when I was writing that piece)

Nope. Falling from a plane ain't for me.

WYE teach a class in something you knew well?

Dali. Warhol has never clicked with me. Dali amuses me if nothing else.

Cash or card?

So apparently a new bio of Ian Fleming claims the idea of a female Bond was floated in the early days before Sean Connery was ultimately cast. Susan Hayward was the actress put forward by Gregory Ratoff, a producer involved in an early attempt at filming Casino Royale as the first Bond film. Apparently, and interestingly, longtime Bond star (7 films) Roger Moore was also on the short list for that one. Would have been interesting to see a younger Moore in the role for sure. Of course, Fleming famously did not like the choice of Sean Connery, who ultimately was the first actor to play the character.

Ouch. Take care of yourself, Cora. Sounds nasty. Sending hugs and good vibes.

So ever had a band that you've known about forever, knew was very much one you would like, and just never got around to listening to? Much to my embarassment as a fan of prog, that band for me is King Crimson. Yeah, I've heard them now and then over the years but never actually gave them a good tryout. So this morning I had their classic debut album "In the Court of the Crimson King" on in the car. And was not disappointed. This was also an early album for vocalist Greg Lake who later went on to fame as part of Emerson, Lake, & Palmer.