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.

(had to Google. I didn't know any animals starting with X. Now I do.)

Xerus - African ground squirrel and rather cute

Cane - Came

Pains sometimes require some painkillers.

Good morning! Sunny when I came in but going downhill from there with a chance of shower or thunderstorms in the evening.

In keeping with my forecast, we have Mountain Thunder coffee from the Kona region of Hawaii. Teas are Raspberry Royale and Red Rose Orange Pekoe. Hot water is ready for other goodies, though hot chocolate season seems to be coming to a close.

No celestial weirdness today, so we'll have to make our own excitement. Later, alligators.

Solar eclipse

6525 (Which sums to 18, which then sums to 9, which means 9 is the digital root of 6525. Math trivia to make your day.)

Cuke - Cake

Fatal disease must be cured.

Wow, that was something else. We had 99% partial eclipse here and it was so freaky having it get dark and cool in the mid-afternoon like that. Wonder how Verbal's eclipse watching went.

Here's some coffee, though it's a bit late. Appropriately, I am using a dark roast. For teas, I'll put out sencha (japanese green) and Canadian blueberry (herbal).

And some eclipse music to celebrate today's events. "Sleeping Sun" was written by Nightwish keyboardist-songwriter Tuomas Holopainen for a total eclipse that was visible in their native Finland in 1999.

Marcela Bovio is mostly known for her work in metal bands like Stream of Passion, Ayreon, and Mayan. However, she is a classically trained singer and uses that to great effect in her solo work (e.g. her album Through Your Eyes has her backed by a classical trio). And, occasionally, she does make forays into classical repertoire, like this performance of an aria by English Baroque composer Henry Purcell.

Georgia