Not a household name unless you're into symphonic metal, Dianne van Giersbergen packs a heckuva voice. This is her first solo effort after fronting bands like Ex Libris and Xandria.

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My husband got me the same gift he got me two years ago, COVID-19.

Ah, COVID, the gift that keeps on giving. My immunity seems to be holding up for now. Been on a cruise, a riverboat, two flights, eaten out, and even with all that managed to not get another dose. Oh, and we stopped masking at work some time ago. Today I went to an in person meeting at our parent company for the first time in three years. Still, I am planning to keep up on shots and was prepared to go back to masking had there been a winter wave (which hasn't materialized so far).

Good evening. Putting on some lemon ginger herbal tea since it is getting late for caffeine.

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Assuming, of course, you don't have reservations anywhere.

We're cheating and going out next weekend to avoid the lines. It's a long weekend here due to Family Day, which is a bit of a made-up holiday to give us a long weekend between New Year's and Easter.

Thanks for getting things going. Having a bit of a busy day here.

Taking a tea and Chiefs cookie.

An article looking at eight new literary journals, ie. possible markets for your writing. They are focused on different areas of writing including one for queer writing, one that is bilingual English and Spanish, one for young writers (11-25 years old), and such. Oh, and one is more suited to another site of our acquaintance😉. You'll know which one.

» Eight Exciting New Literary Journals – Winter 2023 (authorspublish.com)

Halocene is an (as yet) unsigned band from California that do a mix of covers and originals. This is an original with footage from their 2022 tours of the US and Europe as a backdrop. Vocalists are married couple Addie Nicole and Brad Amick (who also plays lead guitar).

Assuming "Berlin" means the band and not the city, I'll take Beethoven.

Do taxes by hand or use software?

Crazy people can be creative.

Yay, Chiefs! Fairly close game, too, at least going by the score. Three points isn't much in American football. I hear Rihanna's performance was good, too, but her music doesn't float my boat so even that didn't get me to watch.

Throwing on some coffee and tea to help wake folks up after the excitement. Teas are Irish Breakfast and Lemon. Hot water is on for those seeking hot chocolate or other teas.

Good morning! There is no truth to the rumour that the object shot down over Canada yesterday was a massive coffee urn.😀 Or beer keg.

But here, the coffee is a'perking. And there's pots of Earl Grey and English Breakfast tea, too. Plus hot water if you want other teas or hot chocolate.

Up to seven in the comp, now, so I guess things are picking up. Read one so far and it was terrific (Kat's).

There's also DALL-E from the same folks who created ChatGPT. I have played with it and used an image from it for another purpose.

Do be aware that some artists are girding up to go after these sites, arguing that in some cases they are violating IP rights by using elements from artists' work without permission or attribution.

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/07/1155185861/ai-generated-images-breach-copyright-law-artists-say

Quiet today. Everyone must be having a nice weekend or something.

I'll put on a pot of coffee and a teapot of English Breakfast. Otherwise, help yourself to hot water and the drink of your choice.

I am probably done with Mardi Gras. Can't get a story going that "sticks" even as ideas keep running through my head. My mood is in the tank, which does not help. I am often just sitting mindlessly swiping through YouTube Shorts in hopes something will make me laugh or spark something. Maybe if I perk up, there is still hope, but a week and a half for a story with no length limit is a tall order for me even in a good time.

Where do football players put their soup?

In a Super Bowl.😀

Yeah, that lame joke probably shows how interested I am in the weekend's proceedings. I'll find out the winner on the news on Monday. And watch the commercials when they get posted to YouTube.

What is happening this weekend that's exciting? Actually, not sure. I don't really have much planned beyond housework. Writing, maybe.

Music inspires and brings joy.

Quote by AnnaMayZing

I was listening to a little Rachmaninoff. Not a composer that I have really listened to, to be honest. Although I am very fond of his Variations on a theme of Paganini.

Did you hear about pianist Yuja Wang's recent feat? She did all of the Rachmaninoff concertos and the Variations in a single long concert.

Dutch band Delain are back with a new album after a couple years of rebuilding.

And while Arch Enemy's latest album has been out for a few months now, they dropped a video for one of my favorite songs from it yesterday.

Thanks for the setup, Bear. Looking forward to your story. I might start reading this weekend if I feel my story is going well enough (or if I give up🙄).

Red Rose and a couple cookies. I'll just pick some at random.

Both have their pluses, but I have always leaned to Fall for some reason.

Listen to an old favorite album or try something new?

Quote by verbal
The cats and I will be constructing a balloon-assisted surveillance device, to float above the neighborhood and keep an eye out for any suspicious activities.

Until a neighbour's F22 Raptor puts a missile through it. 😜

I've put on a pot of oolong. For those not in the know, oolong mostly comes from Fujian, China and Taiwan and is kind of midway between green and black tea. And is the only tea I know that goes well with cream instead of milk.

Got the monthly list of themed calls for submissions. As usual, the themes are all over the map. Due dates vary and some are, sadly, due already. Many are end of the month or March, though.

Hawk and Cleaver, which is a fantasy-themed podcast, has dates out to May for various themes.

And Consequence Magazine sounds interesting. Looking for writing, both fiction and non, on the consequences of war and other geopolitical violence.

» 37 Themed Calls for Submissions for February 2023 (authorspublish.com)

Interesting how an old Irish folk song has become a classic rock hit. Metallica even won a Grammy with that performance and, of course, it's one of Thin Lizzy's best known songs.

Floor Jansen's solo career continues to blossom. With her first album now less than two months away, she's been nominated for The Netherlands' Edison music award in the Rock category. My Dutch is a bit rough. Okay, it's non-existent. However, from their site, it appears that the nomination is not for one song but cites all three of the solo singles from 2022 (the fourth came out in this year). "Storm" was the second and remains my personal favorite, though I like all of them.

Coffee makes the world awaken.

Depends on what I am in the mood for. National is better for news and some kinds of music, but things like classic rock are better on local.

Rainy day: Wear a raincoat or carry an umbrella?

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooood Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooorning!

Rainy day here. Let's just say I could just take my shower by stripping down and stepping out the door (though it's still cold enough that hypothermia would be a risk). There are flood warnings out in a season where we are usually more worried about snow squalls and clearing the white stuff off our roads.

Got some Nicaraguan dark roast from Las Chicas brewing for the coffee crowd.

Teas are Red Rose and Russian Caravan.

Hot water is ready for other teas and hot chocolate.

Good news! I have not given up on the comp. Still trying to wrestle the story into shape so I can maybe, hopefully write it this weekend.

For now, though, work needs my attention.

Later, alligators.

Good morning! Up to four stories in the comp with two weeks to go. Things are starting to heat up.

I have some Jamaican Blue Mountain in the coffee pot. Teas are Assam and Earl Grey. Hot water is ready for other drinks. Mini marshmallows are restocked as are other add-ons and condiments.

Later.

Quote by verbal
I hope someone else enters the comp.

I think Kat mentioned having something on the go. And someone else, maybe Rachel (oh, to have her back on here). Not sure where they are at, though. I have an idea still but too busy during the week to spend much time on writing.

New car is here (which generated some busy-ness of its own) and I like so far. Some quibbles, but also some things I like better than our other car. Usual tradeoff, in other words. And the insurance premium to add it wasn't too onerous, though I am more than halfway through the current policy so maybe the sticker shock will come when I renew in June. Helps that I am the only driver on it and am the most experienced driver in the family (Mrs. M didn't learn until the year we got married while I, like most Canadians, got licensed in high school).

Thanks for the setup, James. Been busy with work so not getting a chance to post early. On my lunch break right now before plunging into another meeting (had a three-hour one this morning).

Making an oolong tea and adding a shot of cream. I discovered creamy oolong as a blend last year and then realized I could get the same thing by just buying plain oolong and adding a bit of cream myself.

I See Fire is probably the only Ed Sheeran song I like and even then, there are several covers I prefer to his version. Including Feuerschwanz.

And just for fun, a Feuerschwanz original.

Came across this on the weekend. German power metal band Powerwolf covering Alice Cooper's eighties hit Poison in celebration of Cooper's 75th b-day.

Quote by Molly

Of course, since they are the same celebrations.

Thanks. Never even thought of it. Probably because I was just back from NOLA when the comp was announced.

I hope others have stories coming because I am flailing. Went back to working on a completely unrelated story last night just to keep myself writing.

Joni Mitchell. Huge fan since I first heard "Both Sides Now" as a kid. Not to knock Bob, though, I do like him as well even if I find him a bit overrated at times.

Sing along to a favorite song or just listen?

Quote by Molly

Hello. The story has to be about Mardi Gras. You don't necessarily have to be in New Orleans, just as long as it's during Mardi Gras.

So, Carnival in Rio and some other Latin and Caribbean countries would be on point, since those are Mardi Gras festivals?