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.
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.
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.
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?
Bedknobs and Broomsticks is another one. I know it's basically a riff on the earlier Mary Poppins, but it has Angela Lansbury and the ending, where she raises a ghost army of empty armour to drive off Nazis, really captured my imagination as a kid and has kind of stuck with me (read The Healer's Secret and note the description of the ghost army at the end of it). And it has a witch casting spells, which is more my thing than magic nannies.
I have never really caught up on the newer ones, but Robin Hood (1973) has always been a favorite of mine. I think my parents took us to it on first release or an early re-release back in the pre-video days.
Yes, that's the wonderful Roger Miller singing. He wrote and sang the songs for the movie.
Quote by ladysharon
Hi, everyone. It's been a while since I've been here. My little one is in kindergarten, learning how to read and write. She's barred from reading my more mature stories. I have some downtime and began a fresh new story or an essay, whichever one I'll post first.
Hello! Nice to see you Sharon. Wow, kids grow up too fast. Mine is now finished university and works on the design end of the chip business.
And good morning all! Coffee is on some Ethiopian Yirgacheffe from Fire Roasted. Teas are Assam and Russian Caravan. Hot water is ready for other hot beverages like hot chocolate.
Later.
Quote by gillianleeza
It had been warm the day before, and I had left the sunroof open. At least it was freezing and wasn't raining, but I still had to spend the day trying to dry out the front seats.
We have a sunroof on our SUV and while my wife and I rarely even remember it is there, my son used to use it when he was still living with us and occasionally drove it. And one night he didn't close it. And it rained. 😠Ape was not amused. Mrs. Ape even less so since it was really her car.
One of my favorite bands after Nightwish these days is Visions of Atlantis. This performance is from an upcoming live album recorded at the big music festival in Wacken, Germany last year.
The band is currently on the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise, basically a floating music festival on a cruise ship. Other bands in attendance include Nightwish, Evergrey, Kamelot, and Feuerschwanz.
Quote by KatarinaTechgoddess
I barely blinked and my baby will be 27 in a month’s time.
Mine turns 24 next month but he's apparently the most senior person on his team at work aside from the manager (Mendalla Jr. has worked for them on and off since the beginning of 2020, at first as a co-op student) so you'd swear he was older.
Quote by verbal
Those two Mardi Gras comp entries are getting lonely, folks! Someone else enter!
Mine is probably going to end up last minute but we'll see what happens this weekend. No big plans and it's an off-week for cleaning (meaning less housework) so I might just have time to get this thing on track.
Good morning. Putting on some Jamaican Blue Mountain for the coffee set. Teas are Irish Breakfast and Cream of Earl Grey. Hot water is on, as always, for hot chocolate or other teas.
Things are all set up for my new car. Just need to confirm how much the insurance is going to cost and when my broker can get it added to the policy and then I can finalize my pickup time. Yay, no more juggling my schedule around my wife's.
Story is happening but slowly. I've got a glitch in it that I need to sort out before I get too much further.
My boss is having nasty side effects from his second shingles shot. And guess who else is due for that? 😲
Have a nice one, gang!
