Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 101
January 8, 2023
January 8, 2022: Suji Sunday!
Suji and new pal, Quenton.
She’s all ears. Or one at least…
If you’re not tuning into her meal-time Lives, THIS is what you’re missing…
Sweet dreams…
Daddy’s girl.
The post January 8, 2022: Suji Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
January 7, 2023
A visit to Curryish Tavern!
Getting back on the eating horse! The other day, we joined our friend Dr. Blackjack for a visit to Curryish Tavern.
The starters –
Yellowfin Tuna Tartare Pani Puri: Pudina jal jeera, chaat masala peachesMirch Maple Glazed Pork Belly + Uttapam: Rice and lentil pancake, mint chutney, pickled red onions
The mains:Smashed Lamb Bhuna Burger: Masala cheese, potato bun, bib lettuce, masala friesCoconut Vatan Stuffed Whole Branzino: Turmeric lemon butter sauce, curry leaves, mustard seedsMolasses Braised Beef Cheeks Curry: Caramelized onion, deggi mirch, buttermilk onion rings
The dessert –Screech Rum Soaked Stuffed Gulab Jamun: Whipped mascarpone cream, pistachio crumble (I feel we should have ordered two but my dietitian, aka Akemi, is being very strict).This meal was unreal – inventive and utterly delicious. Best of all, only a 15 minute walk from our place!The post A visit to Curryish Tavern! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
January 6, 2023
January 6, 2022: What? You thought it was over? NO! The Horror Marathon continues with 5 more bullet reviews!
Jaula/The Chalk Line (2022)
A couple temporarily adopts a young girl that they found wandering around alone in the high road.
My thoughts: More thriller than horror; more exasperating than thrilling. The big reveal hinges on an implausible coincidence.
2.5/5
Nocebo (2022)
A fashion designer is suffering from a mysterious illness that puzzles her doctors and frustrates her husband, until help arrives in the form of a Filipino carer, who uses traditional folk healing to reveal a horrifying truth.
My thoughts: You’ll be required to squint at some of the fuzzy logic but, overall, an engaging little movie that sticks the landing.
3.5/5
The Apology (2022)
20 years after the disappearance of her daughter, a recovering alcoholic is preparing her family’s Christmas celebration when her estranged ex-bother-in-law arrives unannounced, bearing nostalgic gifts and a big secret.
My thoughts: A highly predictable mostly two-hander.
3/5
Nanny (2022)
Immigrant nanny Aisha, piecing together a new life in New York City while caring for the child of an Upper East Side family, is forced to confront a concealed truth that threatens to shatter her precarious American Dream.
My thoughts: Technically accomplished and strong performances with a compelling dramatic narrative, but the horror elements feel superfluous and detract from the whole.
3.5/5
Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022)
It’s Christmas Eve and Tori just wants to get drunk and party, but when a robotic Santa Claus goes haywire and begins a killing spree through her small town, she’s forced into a battle for survival.
My thoughts: Futurama already did it. And better. But perfectly fine if you’re looking for a cheesy holiday diversion.
3/5
Today’s Yes/No…
Matcha Marshmallow Shake? Yes/No https://t.co/WPr1djHwpd
— Joseph Mallozzi
(@BaronDestructo) January 6, 2023
The post January 6, 2022: What? You thought it was over? NO! The Horror Marathon continues with 5 more bullet reviews! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
January 5, 2023
January 5, 2022: Classic Stargate Concept Art (from SG-1’s second season)!
The Tok’ra Part 1
Spirits
Touchstone
The Fifth Race
A Matter of Time
Holiday
Serpent’s Song
One False Step
Show and Tell
The post January 5, 2022: Classic Stargate Concept Art (from SG-1’s second season)! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
January 4, 2023
January 4, 2022: Amazing Covers! And endoscopy!
I woke up at 8:45 a.m. with a start, horrified that I had overslept and missed by 8:15 a.m. endoscopy appointment. Only to realize I was in the clinic, waking up from the sedation. After a short wait, the doctor came by and informed me I had GERD after all, giving me a new prescription and handing me a print-out of things to avoid for the next couple of weeks: Alcohol (no problem). Coffee (no problem). Chocolate and spicy foods (problem! problem!). They would have the biopsy results in a few weeks but things looked fine.
Now I’ll have to deal with Akemi admonishing me every time I go for the sriracha.
Anyway….
A few covers that caught my eye this week…
Fantastic Four #3 – cover art by Alex Ross
Spider-Man: The Lost Hunt #1 – cover at by Ryan Brown
Batman #131 – cover art by Jorge Jimenez
Batman #131 – cover art by Joe Quesada
Vampirella vs Red Sonja #3 – cover art by Lucio Parrillo
2000 A.D. July 22 Prog Pack – cover art by Cliff Robinson
Trojan #1 – cover art by Jeff Dekal
So, which were YOUR favorites?
The post January 4, 2022: Amazing Covers! And endoscopy! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
January 3, 2023
January 3, 2022: So what’s it gonna be?
I go in for my endoscopy tomorrow. Wake up at 6:45 a.m., catch a 7:20 a.m. uber, arrive at the clinic for 8:00 a.m., then head in for the procedure at 8:15 a.m. Approximately 90 minutes later I should be good(ish) to go. But no alcohol, no greasy or spicy foods, and no piloting any commercial airplanes.
The sedation protocol isn’t exactly clear. The email states “If you will be sedated…” but doesn’t mention IF I will be sedated. According to the research Akemi has done, I may have the choice of either topical numbing spray that will allow me to be awake for the 20 minute procedure or a general anesthetic (I heard fentanyl, but that can’t be right) administered via I.V. that will briefly knock me out. Akemi showed me a video of an endoscopy from a clinic in the U.K. The tube is the size of a garden hose! She then showed me a video of a woman undergoing the procedure with a topical anesthetic at a Japanese clinic. At first, they tried putting it through her nose – and it did NOT go well. Then, they went in through her mouth and it did NOT go well. So, I guess fentanyl (?) it is.
Of course, my concern is two-fold. First, there’s the anxiety that comes with having two feet of tubing stuffed down your throat. The incidents of complications are extremely low, but you can’t help but wonder: Will they damage anything on the way down? Could I have a bad reaction to the anesthetic? And then, there’s the results of the endoscopy. What will they find? Will they let me know right away or will I have to wait to talk to my doctor?
The possibilities:
GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease): Everyone seems to be operating under this initial assumption and the meds I am taking are used to threat this very condition. And they are working, for the most part. I’ no longer suffer indigestion so bad that I can’t sleep through the night and I am no longer waking up drenched in sweat. That said, I can’t help but feel the nausea and indigestion aren’t so much being resolved as they are suppressed. My sister apparently suffers from GERD as well so that suggests a genetic predisposition, but I don’t eat late (not after 6:00 p.m.) and my dinners are rarely heavy (usually a protein shake with fruit).
H-pylori: This one is a bacteria that is very common in Japan (and often identified through gastroscopies that are actually equally common in Japan). The symptoms match, but the prescription I’ve been taking for a couple of weeks now would have cleared it up. And, like I said, I’m not feeling in the clear.
Giardia (or any other type of infection): Someone on the blog mentioned they had the exact same symptoms for the exact same length of time and it turned out they had giardia, a parasite they picked up from their dog. Of anything it could be, I’m kind of hoping it’s this as it would be instantly treatable instead of something I would have to manage. Could Suji be the culprit?
Celiac disease: This one has been suggested by several followers and while I certainly entertain the possibility, gluten intolerance feels a little…how shall I put it…bullshitty? I don’t know.
Salmonella: Akemi’s theory is that I made myself sick by eating improperly cooked flour. If this were the case, it’s been over a month and a half since the day in question. You’d think I’d be fully recovered by now.
Pregnancy: I think we can scratch this one off the list.
Food allergy: Do NOT like the prospect of developing a sudden allergy to, say, cheese or chocolate. At Akemi’s insistence, I’ve been keeping a food journal and, from what I can tell, specific foods don’t seem to trigger a response.
Gallbladder: It’s possible, but I’m not experiencing any pain, which is a symptom of an issue with my gallbladder.
Heart issue: The indigestion and night sweats might point to this. And a recurring abnormality in my annual EKG sent me in for a EKG ultrasound last year – that turned up nothing. Also, I do have an unusually low heart rate. But my annual physical (bloodwork, stress test, etc.) back in October didn’t flag anything.
Something more insidious: Can’t help but think of a relative who complained of trouble swallowing, went to the hospital to get it check out, and never returned. This is, of course, the last likely scenario – but, of course, the one that takes up the most space in my brain. That would definitely throw a wrench into my 2023 plans.
Or…it’s something else: Something I haven’t thought of like alien spores.
Not looking forward to finding out!
Today’s Yes/No…
Sticky Butter Mochi? Yes/No https://t.co/hg8TYnyEYd
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post January 3, 2022: So what’s it gonna be? appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
January 2, 2023
January 2, 2022: New Year’s Dinner! That stomach scan! Comics, cured egg yolks, and oversized fonts!
The New Year’s Day lunch…
Soba two-ways: with simple dash ad with bottarga.
Australian wagyu and crispy Brussels sprouts.
So, while it may seem as though I’m back to full strength, the truth is I’m still experiencing that slight, underlying nausea that is presumably being kept at bay by the meds I was prescribed before leaving for Montreal. I was given a new prescription since after informing my doctor that my overall condition had not significantly improved but, in the interim, it has moderately improved. And so, I’ll stick with the current pills, then switch over to the newbies once they’re done. In the meantime, I have an endoscopy appointment this Wednesday at 8:00 a.m.(!). Nothing to eat eight hours before the procedure (which is highly doable), and nothing to drink four hours before the procedure (which is a little tougher). Apparently, I’ll be sedated for the procedure and it should last all of 90 minutes. Akemi is accompanying me but, because of the covid restrictions, she won’t be able to wait for me there – so I suppose she’ll have to find some nearby coffee shop to while away the time.
Really, really, REALLY not looking forward to this.
Today’s Yes/No…
Hot Sauce-Cured Egg Yolk? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/f1zFEkwy5b pic.twitter.com/zzeiQFroUQ
— Joseph Mallozzi
Is a giant YES from me!
Wading back into the world of comics. Checked out six titles. Four were not for me. But two were –
Looking forward to perusing a few more titles in the coming days as I build a reading list.
P.S. Switched over to Chrome for my blogging and notice the default font is: “Visually-Impaired Senior” size. It’s fine for posting, but wondering how it will show up in your feeds. Report back!
The post January 2, 2022: New Year’s Dinner! That stomach scan! Comics, cured egg yolks, and oversized fonts! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
January 1, 2023
January 1, 2023: Suji Sunday!
Suji ushers in the New Year!
It’s a Japanese tradition to do all sorts of housecleaning on the day before the New Year – so Akemi unlisted us as her assistants.
Seeing double.
Modeling her new stylish dress.
Senior pug workout….
The post January 1, 2023: Suji Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2022: Ushering in the New Year with a Big Bang!
Can’t believe another year has come and gone. How time flies as the expanding universe rapidly nears its critical flashpoint upon which it will abruptly collapse in on itself in a splendiferous anti-matter explosion of utter annihilation that will erase everything from existence. Hopefully, that will be sometime before Wednesday when I have my scheduled endoscopy.
My Top 5 Horror Films of 2022 –
My Top 5 Kpop Albums of 2022 –
My Top 12 Kpop Songs of 2022 –
Top 12 #Kpop Songs of 2022
11. Ring Ma Bell – #Billlie
The ladies absolutely rock out here. pic.twitter.com/9xYQ7Oe6Dw
— Joseph Mallozzi
Top 12 #Kpop Songs of 2022
9. Voltage – #Itzy
Their other releases got all the love, but this one is easily my favorite Itzy track of 2022. pic.twitter.com/8XAnD5U5Dt
— Joseph Mallozzi
Top 12 #Kpop Songs of 2022
7. Danger – #WOOAH
dangeo dangeoboda dangeo your love
ttangeo ttangeoboda dangeo your love
dangeo dangeoboda dangeo your love
dangeo your love dangeo your love pic.twitter.com/lcojn5vKJ3
— Joseph Mallozzi
Top 12 #Kpop Songs of 2022
5. We Heung – #YouJaePhil #Zuho
Who doesn't love a good zombie/kpop mash-up. And bonus points for Zuho's killer outfit. pic.twitter.com/PLC2KgBWsc
— Joseph Mallozzi
Top 12 #Kpop Songs of 2022
3. Turn Me Loose – #Bekah #TheBrewz
I missed this one in my monthly round-up but will make amends by putting it here. A song I listened to so many times that my wife asked me to wear my earphones. pic.twitter.com/PCqVGkzIIW
— Joseph Mallozzi
Top 12 #Kpop Songs of 2022
1. Venom – #BVNDIT
Came out of nowhere to take the #1 spot.
nae ireum deo deo deo deo keuge oechyeojwo deo keuge
You already know spit spit
Venom Venom yeah! pic.twitter.com/78DqEdhEm5
— Joseph Mallozzi
So, what are you big New Year’s Eve plans? It’s going to be a crazy night for Akemi and I. We’re going to hit the gym, take Suji out, then take our showers, get into bed and watch youtube food videos before lights out, somewhere between 10:00 – 11:00 pm. I should be fast asleep by the time the countdown concludes, blissfully unaware of texts or calls from any well-wishers or miss-dialers.
See you next year!
The post December 31, 2022: Ushering in the New Year with a Big Bang! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
December 30, 2022
Top 6 Kpop Songs of December, 2022!
Top 6 Kpop Songs of December, 2022
5. #Jet – #SMTown #Eunhyuk #Hyo #Taeyong #Jaemin #Sungchan #Winter #Giselle
Not a huge fan of the holiday-themed releases, but this track stood out on the seasonal album. pic.twitter.com/neL1P8UPoV
— Joseph Mallozzi
Top 6 Kpop Songs of December, 2022
3. #GirlInTheMirror – #HongJinYoung
Also new to me. Apparently, she's a trot song. I'm to a huge fan of trot, but I do like this sound. pic.twitter.com/feJVQJlFDu
— Joseph Mallozzi
Top 6 Kpop Songs of December, 2022
1. #DanceDance – #LexcieLiu
2022 marks the year I finally discovered Lexie Liu. Can I just say how much I love the repeated BG riff reminiscent of the 60's Batman theme. pic.twitter.com/tL9fQTCdYX
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post Top 6 Kpop Songs of December, 2022! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
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