[This could get messy.]
What is a love bug and do you have to vaseline the whole car? And the windshield?
Rossy is curious, not me....

Sandy et al, love bugs- UGH! You may be sorry you asked, but here goes...
They're these flying , rather large insects and they fly around in pairs, ahem , (they've hooked up, they have no shame!) and fly into and onto everything!
Sometimes, you have to swat at them just while you're walking! They're really gross!

So, naturally, as you're driving a car, SMUSH! They splatter all over the windshield (no problem, really) but also onto the front part of the car. If you don't get them off right away (and it's hard, believe me!) then their smushed bodies/juices take the paint right off your car. And, if you leave them on, they'll get baked right on forever, as I can prove with pics (however will spare) of our 10 year old car with fossilized love bug remains on it.

So....out comes the vaseline! Yup, smear it all over the front 1/3 of the car (not windshield, of course, ha) and at least you can then just wipe them right off. Of course, there's no way to avoid getting vaseline all over oneself while doing this, not to mention one forgets to NOT lean against the car for the next week !

ah, the price we pay for living down here...love bug season comes twice a year, thank you very much! annoying....yucko.

I wondered when you'd be able to clue folks in PJ. I went to google and quickly realized I don't want to trade places with you folks in Florida. In Minnesota we have a good number of mosquitoes. I am sure Becca can relate as well. However, we can simply apply some repellants which are generally quite effective. I'm not aware any problems with huge swarming bugs like the so-called love bugs.

Thanks for all the bugs!

Following on from Horace Silver ("Silva" - his dad was from Cape Verde, so much within Portuguese/Brazilian sphere), here's a tune from one of my favourite albums on the Portuguese/Brazilian axis: Getz/Gilberto (Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto). Back in 1965, it won several Grammys.



'Corcovado' refers to the mountain in Rio.

Today I'm mainly waxing and polishing the new floor... but also have to prepare a dinner for guests tonight. Butterfly mackerel with peppers and paprika, lamb tagine with dates, lime meringue pie. Will that be enough?

The weather, as we've come to expect this April, is miserable, with big black clouds and rain, rain, rain.

Well, in India, especially in West Bengal now, its the big bright Sun showering his scorching blessings upon us! No sign of black clouds and rain, as expected on April here: MISERABLE So, some cool music for all of you: 'Fireflies' (don't worry, these are not as horrifying as those 'loving bug-flies' )

Well, I woke up to a giant truck covered with bugs. EEEEEWWWWWW. It's my fault, I just had to ask what love bugs are.

Eglantine, I have a feeling I won't be able to make the trip to Another Country tonite. A shame, because that sounds like an elegant, delicious dinner. Maybe this song will brighten up the day for you.

Morning everyone! It's cloudy and rainy this morning in Minneapolis. We've had some sunny days too. I'm trying to take it easy today. That obnoxious cough is still with me. However, I'm hopeful it's starting to dissipate.

I love all of these wonderful postings. It sure helps lifts the spirits. Eglantine, I hadn't heard Horace Silvers in years. I certainly remember some of the great Brazillian music I started hearing in high school. Sandy, loved the Fifth Dimension. They were a big hit during my college years. Rupak, I really liked Firefles. I hadn't heard this before.

How about a little more Brazillian music. Here is Baden Powell with "Canto de Ossanha."

Rupak, is it time for the rainy season where you are?
I've been meaning to get a mirror-ball/disco ball (video) for a while, but haven't found the right one yet.

Griffin, Baden Powell is new to me. Thanks!

Sandy, Aquarius is one of those tunes that was always on the radio when I was very small. One of those very first music memories. Nice reminder!

Today's weather is described at 'strong winds and driving rain'. Humidity 97-98%. But apparently we'd need months of rain like this for the drought order/hosepipe ban to be lifted, as the groundwater is so low.

I was in the supermarket earlier today and heard this and, as a consequence, can't get it out of my head



Written by Rod Argent (keyboards) who also went on to his eponymous band.

I'm compiling my notes for the classical recordings. While I'm doing that I also forgot to mention the piano solos were fine on Thursday. I got through it without the coughing. I'll be back shortly.

My first posting today is "Symphony in B flat Major Op. 3, No. 4" by Johann Christian Bach. I must admit I am not familiar with the works of J.C. Bach. I first heard this selection a few weeks ago while listening to an online channel. I've been wanting to do more research. However, you only have so much time. No matter, I enjoyed it and hope you do as well!

Ah, the Zombies!

It was Rod Argent's Argent that led me to Yamaha guitars. This is one of the first covers I did in the band back at the time.

If memory serves, Griffin, JCB was the first man to play the piano in London at the behest of violinist Salomon.

Thanks for that info Richard. I'm also starting to understand what a different instrument the piano was when it was first designed.

My next selection is the Adagio movement of the "Clarinet Concerto in A major K622" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The clarinet soloist is Sabine Meyer accompanied by the Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Claudio Abbado.

I often think of the beautiful and yet sad sounding organ selection "Adagio in G Minor" when I think of Italian composer Tomaso Albinoni. However, I recently came across this delightful Concerto for Organ (Allegro).
Enjoy!

Recently heard violinist Sarah Chang's online performance of "Chaconne in G Minor" by Tomasso Vitali. It was mesmerizing. See what you think.



This is my final classical posting for today. I'm looking forwarding hearing from others. Enjoy the rest of you Sunday!

Griffin, I enjoyed all of them—especially the organ concerto. Wish I could play the organ—I had one for awhile (in a 3rd floor apartment!!) but just never got the hang of it, I'm afraid.

Eglantine, how was dinner?

Captain, I was just thinking of the Zombies!

PPP — loved the Black Fly! We have 'em up here (I guess they're probably everywhere)—can make camping a challenge at times.

Griffin, that chaconne by Vitali is really a marvellous piece of music, and there is plenty of expressiveness in Sarah Chang’s rendition; I’ve loved it. I didn’t know this Vitali’s work, thanks so much for posting this gem, Griffin.

How wonderful it is to have YouTube!

When I was last playing piano actively there was no such facility. I played this piece a few times from the score (as in stumbled through it) and put it on my to-do list back in the nineties. I've never had a recording of this piece.

Tomorrow I start my first actual practise of it and lo and behold I find it on YouTube and by Howard Shelley, no less! I'm really looking forward to this.

Haven't heard it in a while. A good song.

Good morning everyone!

Love bugs, lol, they sound an aweful lot like ladybugs, but ladybugs seem less like a pain. And yes Mosiqutioes (it's morning, ignore my spelling LOL) are the Canadian national bird, along with Minnesota! ROFL Spruce bugs are a real treat too, they take chunks out.....

Awesome music everyone. Rupak I love that song Fireflies. It's just so relazxing....

Good morning! Becca, it is nice to be mosquito free for a bit longer, isn't it? I will be viewing your post a bit later when I get to the PC. In the meantime, Sandy's posting yesterday brought back some fond memories of the Fifth Dimension from my college years. Here is one that I'll share, "Stoned Soul Picnic"



BTW, Laura Nyro (R.I.P.) recorded this earlier.

'Morning, all!
Griffin, I loved the "Concerto for Organ" - I am not a huge organ fan (usually sounds too "churchy" for my taste) but that was very pleasing!

Richard, if it weren't for You Tube ,we'd all be staring at half-blank posts and wondering "what the heck?!" ha!
We may have love bugs, but it's plenty sunny and warm, and oh, do we need rain!!! Maybe I should just wash the car, that'll do it! Oh no, I can't yet...



I love the simplicity here...guitar and piano...

Dinner was fab, Sandy, but I felt trashed yesterday and mostly achieved nothing.

Richard, that's a beautiful piece. I'd not heard it before and have listened to it about 10 times today!

Becca, I think mosquitos are the national bird EVERYWHERE. I can't think of any place in North America that doesn't have them. If there is someplace without them, there's probably something equally as bad instead.

Here's a clip I stumbled across. I had a couple of albums and really liked these guys. Half of the band was tragically killed in a plane crash back in the 70's.

Sandy, what a tragic end, it’s really sad. They seemed to be very good musicians.