First round of snow shoveling is done. We got several inches of heavy, wet snow yesterday. Now awaiting the snowplow so I can clean up the mess it leaves.

I've put on a pot of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. Teas are Earl Grey and Scottish Breakfast. The kettle is boiled for other hot beverages.

New story in draft, might need another editing pass before I hit Submit. This one was supposed to wait until I had a follow-up completed (it is a first part) but finally decided that maybe having part one out will motivate me to focus more on part two.

Quote by AnnaMayZing
I would love to be able to listen to anything in the car right now. Damn modern technology! The Infotainment system has failed and Mitsubishi are blaming the Chip shortage as the reason they can't replace it right away. 😠

Oh man, I'd go nuts without my Android Auto. I have an Amazon Music Unlimited sub so mostly use it in the car now rather than radio.

I have been listening to The Hu, a wonderful Mongolian folk metal band, on and off for a while but this is new track features them teaming up with William Duvall of Alice in Chains. Sounds like it's actually for a soundtrack.

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

Don’t laugh but…The Vogues.

Wow. Blast from the past, eh. I do like some of those old vocal groups.

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic
That moment when you discover an amazing band only to find out they’re severely underrated.

Who? Now I am curious (and always up for a new band).

Good afternoon. Sorry I am kind of neglecting this place. Lots happening. I'll put on a pot of coffee and a couple pots of tea (Red Rose and Japanese green) then scoot off. Kettle is boiled, too, for those needing hot water for other stuff.

Later

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

I’ve been waiting for dark mode. So much nicer on my eyes.

If you click on your avatar in the top right, click Settings on the menu, and scroll down, there's a section called Experimental where you can turn it on. As Molly said, it's in beta right now so there could be problems, but at least you can get a look at where they are headed with it.

Some goodies to celebrate. A king cake, natch. Good theme and good comp. Just wish I could have broken out of my slump and produced something for it.

Summer on the beach. Warmer and no ice except in my drink. 😊

Relax in the sun or enjoy some water fun (swimming, surfing, whatever)?

Had Sacrificium by Xandria on in the car this morning.

Woo hoo! Good list. Congrats to the podium winners, the top ten, and all who entered. Some terrific takes on the theme in there.

looks to make sure no cops are around, then throws beads at the podium

Quote by verbal
late 80s through early 90s

Baseball players I have heard of, in other words.😅 Even watched it the odd time back then. These days I only know what I pick up from listening to you and Sara gab about the sport.

(Ignoring off-topic post)

Mostly familiar, but I do delve into new things from time to time.

What's worse, snow or ice?

Good morning, one and all!!

We gather here for new members, Drew looking his finest, misunderstood Disney villains, and more.

There's some dark roast Nicaraguan in the coffee pot. Teas are Assam Tarajulie (my current Assam), and Cream of Earl Grey. Hot water is on for those what need it. Hot chocolate mix, assorted teas, and various add-ons and condiments all are replenished.

I lost blood and pee'd in a bottle.😨 Yep, medical tests.😊

Quote by sprite
I'm in a band - I play guitar and write songs.

Just when I thought you couldn't get any cooler. Rock on!🤘

Quote by Susie_de_Vil

It’s a beautiful sunny frosty day here in Ireland. Just been for a walk with the dogs and I’d love a cup of coffee to warm me up. I recognise a few faces from other places but hi, I’m Susie. New to here and hoping to publish a story or two soon

Hi, Susie. Welcome to SS and Inspirations. Nice to see you.

Quote by AnnaMayZing

Aww, you guessed! I can't imagine how. 😜 Anyway, here it is, soon to be available through Viking Bay Books.

I think it looks great. It is thanks to all the wonderful comments posted here that gave me the confidence to run with it. Thank you all! ❤️

A book! I figured that's why you were taking them down, but nice to actually see it. Congratulations, Anna!

Good morning, fellow beings of the planet Earth!

Sunny here, though "warm" would be a stretch. Still, it is above 0C so we might be able to get rid of some more ice before, sigh, more freezing rain falls tomorrow.

Coffee du jour is some Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Teas are English Breakfast and Russian Caravan. Hot water is ready for other teas and hot chocolate.

Two stories on the go and both stalling right now. Mostly just mood. Didn't sleep well the other night and that sometimes takes a day before it hits me.

Yay for cookie fairies!

And since no one else has been in since Brad, I will throw on a pot of coffee and some Red Rose tea. Put the kettle on so there's hot water for hot chocolate and such.

Nice picture. I think I might just use DALL-E (or there's another one someone on another site recommended to me) to create my next avatar. Though I am fond of this ape since it is a photo that I took.

Quote by Brad_Naylor

I've just seen a Polar Bear driving a car. I need a drink...

Meh. Just James out on an errand, probably. 😊

Scraped a ton of ice off my drive this morning to make it passable. Temps are well below freezing so it might be around for a bit. So far today, just snow flurries.

Getting late in the day so I'll put on some green tea and peppermint herbal.

Wow. The latest (and possibly final given that the album drops in a month) single from Floor Jansen's debut solo album Paragon came out today. It's a beauty, really showing off her well-honed voice from more delicate singing at the beginning to her powerful belts towards the end.

In some ways, you wonder why Floor is only releasing material under her own name after 25 years as a professional musician. OTOH, 25 years in 4 different bands has really polished her voice and performance skills.

Quote by SeaJay
Earl grey if you have it.

There's always some Earl around. Multiple variants in fact. 😊

Quote by SeaJay
Ireland was the only country to object to the standard on the grounds that it didn't include warming the teapot first.

Assuming you use a teapot. I generally use a steeper or tea strainer right in the mug. But of course, the Irish would probably object to me using a mug, too.

Quote by verbal
the cats took an Uber to the cat toy store before I woke up

You might want to check your wallet. If they took your credit card along, things could get crazy. 😜

Headachy today but still survived two meetings, one of which could put a dead person to sleep. 🙄

Scarlet - Teresa

Smearing

24 hours from now, it will be the new single from this lady. For now, here's an older track of hers, a cover from 2021, that I had on to celebrate her birthday on Tuesday.

Quote by DenimAngel
Whoever in the heck sent snow to Arizona... I DON'T WANT IT

I'll take snow over what we got, freezing rain and ice pellets. Cops are still asking people to stay off the roads this morning (there is still a chance of freezing drizzle until midday) and schools are all closed. Took me 10 or 15 min. to get enough ice off the car that I could drive it home yesterday. Supposed to warm up this afternoon so that should take care of it, though.

Anyhow, I have put on a bit pot of coffee to help folks warm up. There's also Assam and English Breakfast teas. Hot chocolate, other teas, and various sweeteners and add-ins (including mini-marshmallows, Sara) are stocked up and hot water is available for making them.

Later.

I had to scape several mm of ice off my car

Quote by KatarinaTechgoddess

The beginning of Lent. Was so pleased to discover that Methodists celebrate Lent. Hubby and I are making the switch from the Catholic Church to the Methodist Church. We needed a place of worship that felt more inclusive.

I think most Christians, at least in the West, celebrate Lent to some degree. Most Protestants don't fast the way Catholics traditionally did, though. Not even sure if most Catholics do anymore.

Not sure I am celebrating anything right now. Making it home in one piece, I guess. We are getting an ice storm.

Quote by verbal

I am having THE BEST DAY!!!

Because sprite called you a fascist?? 😕

🤣

Good evening. Just swinging by. I'll put on some herbal tea for those needing something to relax.