Category Archives: Blogs

Life boxed up, or I am not a fan of all aspects of moving…

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After an exhaustive frenzy of online applications with careful resume and cover letter review to make sure any software searching for certain keywords doesn’t delete my information before a human can accept or reject me, zoom and other video interviews, I accepted a new catalog librarian position in Vermont.

I left Connecticut for Texas seven years ago. I’ll head back to New England at the end of the month.

I arranged a truck and movers, and will have to fiddle with internet and other utilities as well as DMV nonsense. I have done an extensive amount of packing as well as donated or sold stuff I won’t need for the trip. Seeing the stack of boxes and empty cabinets and closets give a sense of accomplishment with an emptiness. So much reduced to boxes and cling wrap. In addition to the tedious pain in the ass, it’s a reminder that I am leaving a place that was home for seven years. A wacky, loud home with too many flags and signs in favor of Mango Menace among other GOP (s)elected officials that need to be shit canned if not jailed, but home still.

I was spoiled as I was by the weather and wildlife, winged or otherwise. As such, I know I’ll visit when I get a chance. Speaking of weather, I really hope to hell it holds up. I know how to drive in snow, but would rather not.

Fantasy B-Fest Picks

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Things I didn’t expect on my middle aged Gen-X 2024 bingo card happened and hit like a pile of bricks.

I handle it as it comes, best I can. I resolve that the next time I go to B-Fest, I will sponsor a movie. As I understand it, I will need to list five candidates.

I really, really, really want to sponsor Cocaine Bear. Nevertheless, I need more prospects and could touch upon a few themes, for instance, attacking animals after fucking with habitats or mutations as a result of pollution.

  1. Cocaine Bear
  2. Night of the Lepus
  3. Alligator
  4. Grizzly
  5. Piranha

Failing that, I can always submit “The Room” or subject people to “Spellcaster.”

Perpetually Under Construction

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As I had a little extra time on my hands, I took the opportunity to merge this page with my podcast host, podbean as well as back date previous episodes to this blog. I may even add a photo comic, both as a still or slideshow format.

In the future, any time I update the podcast, that episode will end up here. I don’t know the ins and outs of woo commerce just yet, but I want to set up shop here, have one website on my business card. Linktree can only do so much, and I’d much rather consolidate everything than jump from platform to platform.

As it is, the links and names to favorite sites and podcasts are very out of date.

Is there any such thing as Too Many Horror Movies?

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The answer, of course, is no.

That being said, I found that multitasking was going to be required this holiday season.

I participated in the Horror Gives Back challenge created by Erica and Lance of the Unsung Horrors podcast where participants choose a movie based on a daily theme. For every movie watched during the month of October, a dollar or more was donated to the Trevor Project.

I opt to podcast about my picks as well as post on Twitter. I had taken time off from it in September due to personal life reasons to resume recording in October. Also, I noticed that with my participation in Junesploitation, episodes with a lightning round style where I do a short review of a group of movies as opposed to a focus on one film sound better to me. Why, I don’ t know, but I like those bonus episodes more.

As I’m recording solo, I have to script all of this. I wish I were able to just watch a movie and go off the cuff, but I can’t. I stumble over my words as is.

Stumbling aside, I was accepted into the Prescribed Films Podcast Network. I was also asked to do a guest spot on Attack of the Killer Podcast at the end of the month. I had three movies to watch for discussion. I say discussion. I’ll have notes, but no script. I have to watch my stuttering. You know how sometimes you say the same descriptor twice in a sentence or short paragraph? Caught that a few times in my speech too.

I accept, start taking notes on my movies and then, it hits me. I have three more movies on top of my bonus episode.

Oh, shit.

Friday was a couch evening. I wanted to free up my weekend, or at least Sunday to research my topics. I cheated a little with Horror Gives Back watching ahead of schedule, and writing up my thoughts accordingly.

Spending Sunday and Monday night on my guest spot, I watch. I write. I hoped to hell that Tuesday wasn’t a stressful workday. Well….

I get home and mentally prep. I had a mild panic attack during the day, lasting through lunch. I had purchased a handmade mug at the Texas Clay Fest and needless to say, herbal tea was in order. I set up my microphone and headphones. I tested my speed and waited.

I think I sounded okay. I never think that I do, but there are others who don’t like the way their voices record. Either way, the Attack of the Killer Podcast crew were great and very easy to talk to. I did feel a lot more relaxed once everything started rolling, and I knew my equipment worked. Words cannot properly express how grateful I am that everyone had me on the show.

Throughout everything, an idea formed. Firstly, a vacation if I can swing it. I am thinking of a movie challenge of my own based on the craft items I’ve made while watching movies. I would schedule this in December with themed movies and ask participants for not only picks, but what you would make or work on while watching. The tentative title is based on Festivus, but Craftivus…maybe a week challenge in the beginning of the month.

It’s a holiday break, anyway ….

In Flight Gold: Extra Ordinary

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For the first time in over a year, I travelled by plane to visit family.

With the pandemic overall, plus my home state easing up on mask restrictions and businesses opening earlier than they probably should have, I was nervous. I even speculated to my mom about my hazmat options. I didn’t go that route, but I followed mask mandates to the letter and they were strict about it, especially on the plane.

I flew Delta, and they had in flight movies. I selected Extra Ordinary. It was a comedy set in Ireland about a driving instructor, Rose, with paranormal talents she does not want. Needless to say, she still gets calls from neighbors thanks to her late father’s TV show, which Rose was a part of as a kid until an accident killed dad.

One such call came from a handsome dad named Martin, haunted by the ghost of his pushy late wife, and later targeted by a washed up musician who made a pact with Satan for a best selling comeback album.

I liked this a lot. I think I will put this on the to podcast list. Will Forte is a great villain and the performances were hilarious all around. The score was eerie, but very sweet.

When Fandoms Collide: Yes, I heard The Mission UK on Miami Vice

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Whenever the band, The Mission UK, comes up in conversation the first thing that I think of, or bring up, is Wayne Hussey’s autobiography, “Salad Daze,” which I highly recommend. The second thing I think of is weirder, a little more niche, if you will.

I was posting one of my favorite Mission tracks, ‘Wasteland,’ to an online deathrock discussion group one day. In addition to thumbs up and other approbation, there were a few comments expressing love for the band, and certain albums or tracks.

I respond with another little fun factoid, one that seems a little absurd, and whether I write or speak it, it just feels like I’m making it up.

‘Wasteland’ was featured in an episode of, “Miami Vice.” Season 3, episode 16 “Theresa” to be precise.

It sometimes feels like people don’t believe me when I say this. I barely believed it when I first saw it, but there it was, the familiar opening chords and vocals playing over a car chase, our heroes played by Philip Michael Thomas, Michael Talbott and Don Johnson in hot pursuit of the suspect played by Tim Capello, the saxophone guy from The Lost Boys in a neon more 80’s than 80’s backdrop suggesting nightlife, parties, fast cars and faster drugs.

Given that this was a very stylized police procedural set in 1980’s Miami, Wasteland, or the chorus, seems appropriate. It is a drug wasteland however prettied up. It is a little weird given how it was gussied up to a pastel and neon landscape to show off those 80’s sports cars and beach wear. You’d never quite picture listening to a dark song against such a back drop.

Then again, maybe it’s too perfect. I still feel that others don’t quite believe me. Good thing we have YouTube…..

As you enjoy the clip proving my ramblings, wrap your head around the following. “Vet for the Insane” by Fields of the Nephlim was in the opening sequence (involving an arty ‘snuff film’ screening) of Season 4 episode 3 “Death and the Lady.”