Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 103
December 20, 2022
December 20, 2022: My Loooooooong Travel Day!
Finally arrived in Montreal after our 9 hour ordeal. It would have been faster to drive here!
Went out for dinner and am already fearing what tonight may bring. Or bring up.
In the meantime, just sitting here with mom, watching a Christmas movie clearly shot in July.
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December 19, 2022
December 19, 2022: Cautiously optimistic…
With my stomach seemingly recovered, I've started reintroducing certain foods back into my diet. Yesterday, it was sweet potatoes. Today, it was pizza and caramel budino.
— Joseph Mallozzi
(@BaronDestructo) December 19, 2022
That’s five night’s of restful sleep in a row. While I can’t say I’m feeling 100%, I am feeling well enough. That feeling of heaviness in the pit of my stomach has still not completely left me, and there’s always that hint of nausea. Can’t help but wonder how much of it is the meds and how much of it is me just getting over it. More to the point, I can’t help but wonder how I’ll feel once this prescription finishes. But I guess we’ll find that out in January. To be on the safe side, and at the behest of our medical professional friend, Dr. Blackjack, I have requested an endoscopy. Akemi insists it’s a breeze. Just swallow a camera, have them take photos of your insides for 5-10 minutes, and your done. Easy-peasy!
One of the people I had lunch with today mentioned a friend who went through something similar – weird stomach issues for weeks. They ended up undergoing a litany of tests – endoscopy, colonoscopy, CT scan – only to learn it was just a bug. A bug! Akemi vacillates between grave concern and being almost convinced I contracted E coli as a result of the improperly cooked flour in my pasta cheese sauce last month. But I dunno. Does E coli really stick around for weeks, disappear, and return weeks later?
To be on the safe side, I’m having the same thing for dinner I’ve had three nights in a row – three scrambled eggs with a touch of salt followed by some Greek yogurt with manuka honey.
Today’s Yes/No…
Almond Fish? Yes/No
Japan’s snack of almonds and whole fish might not be for everyone【Taste test】 https://t.co/p6ZlPrx2W1 via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
But almonds will still taste like fish!
— Joseph Mallozzi
Hmmmmmmm
— Joseph Mallozzi
— Joseph Mallozzi
Who is this stalker?
Tomorrow, we are Montreal-bound…which means a sleepless night, but for reasons wholly unrelated to stomach issues. We catch a 9:30 a.m. flight (which means a 6:00 a.m. wake-up), and we’ll be flying with Suji who will, hopefully, prove cooperative. It’s only about an hour’s flight time, the airport is a 20 minute walk from our place, and I hope we’re flying early enough in the holidays season that the airpot won’t be all that crowded. I’m hoping for smoooooooooth sailing!
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December 18, 2022
December 18, 2022: Suji Sunday!
Reindeer games
With new buddy, Quenton.
Tulip mania
Suji getting the pizza dough treatment….
Egg time!
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Yozo
I'm Suji
すじ子
(@newoldpugsuji)
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December 17, 2022
December 17, 2022: Questionable Christmas Ornaments!
With three days to go until we travel to Montreal, I am STILL no on the mend. The pill I was prescribed has helped address one of the symptoms – that feeling of indigestion an overwhelming night-time nausea that forces me to sleep propped up for most of the night. But that weird feeling of heaviness on my stomach lingers, as do the night sweats and an occasionally roiling stomach. Trying to address…whatever this is…by taking in plenty of liquids – water, ginger tea, gatorade – and eating light and clean. Tonight, it’ll be three scrambled eggs. As per Akemi’s suggestion, I’ve been keeping a diet and discomfort diary, listing everything I’m eating along with a litany of ever evolving symptoms. I do not look forward to potentially riding this out on my childhood twin bed, wedged in with Akemi and Suji for eight nights.
So, hopefully not being too sick is my holiday plan. And yours? Going somewhere? Having people over? Do tell.
If you celebrate Christmas and are planning on decorating your tree, here are the Top 10 Questionable Christmas Tree Ornaments I discovered on Amazon
The post appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
December 16, 2022
December 16, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues!
Captors (2020)
Alys escaped her captor in the dead of night. Ten years later, a man lures her to a cabin in the woods, where he will test her sanity and force her to fight to survive.
My thoughts: As if an A.I. was tasked with writing and directing a 90’s era woman-in-peril MOW. The results are, at times unintentionally humorous. But mostly unwatchable.
1.5/5
A Wounded Fawn (2022)
A serial killer brings an unsuspecting new victim on a weekend getaway to add another body to his ever-growing count. She’s buying into his faux charms, and he’s eagerly lusting for blood. What could possibly go wrong?
My thoughts: Gets off to a promising start but ultimately sinks into a pretentious morass.
2/5
Something in the Dirt (2022)
Maverick filmmaking duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead offer up a twisted reflection of our paranoid times in this inventive mix of buddy comedy and sci-fi thriller.
My thoughts: Patience is required, but you’ll be rewarded with a thoughtful and thought-provoking film that is heartfelt and, at times, delightfully humorous.
3.5/5
Mad God (2022)
The Assassin travels thru a nightmare underworld of tortured souls, ruined cities and wretched monstrosities forged from the primordial horrors of the unconscious mind of Phil Tippett, the world’s preeminent stop-motion animator
My thoughts: Vivid and visceral, surreal and startling, Grand Guignolesque and grotesque. A hellishly creative stop-motion masterpiece.
4/5
Bones and All (2022)
Maren, a young woman, learns how to survive on the margins of society.
My thoughts: A cannibal romance road movie that proves too languid and artsy for horror fans, but too gruesome and run-of-the-mill genre for the arthouse crowd.
2.5/5
Today’s Yes/No…
Onion Ice Cream? Yes/No
‘Glass Onion’ Ice Cream Isn’t as Nasty as It Sounds https://t.co/ExJzBYhZZF via @thedailybeast
— Joseph Mallozzi
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December 15, 2022
December 15, 2022: More from the Stargate archives!
Visited the doctor yesterday. Following a perfunctory physical, he prescribed me three weeks worth of Pantoprazole – which may sound like an Italian dish but is actually a proton pump inhibitor that serves as a short term treatment for erosive esophagus due to GERD. If that turns out to be the underlying issue. I popped one a half an hour before dinner last night and instantly felt better. My stomach still feels full, even when I’m hungry, but I did sleep through the night – so that’s promising. We’ll circle back on this in three weeks once my prescription taps out.
Did a little brainstorming today, hopped on a zoom to discuss an upcoming sci-fi comic book project, and received a long overdue payment for services rendered. Also switched up my entertainment viewing from horror to television. I watched the first season of The White Lotus (Is it just me who thought Paula was biggest villain?) and am about halfway through season 2. If nothing else, the show really makes me want to vacation in Hawaii in Sicily. Anyway, I’ll probably finish up the show tomorrow, then switch gears an start into some Holiday Horror films. Recommendations?
Speaking of the holidays, Akemi, Suji and I will be heading to Montreal to spend Christmas with mom, sis, and their dogs. Hopefully my stomach issues will be settled by then as my sister has booked some terrific restaurants.
Today’s Yes/No…
Super Cheesy Ramen? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/UfdkGsqkCs
— Joseph Mallozzi
Now, where did we leave off with that Stargate concept art…
Brief Candle…
Thor’s Hammer…
The Torment of Tantalus…
Bloodlines….
Fire and Water…
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December 14, 2022
December 14, 2022: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Star Wars: The Mandalorian #6 – cover art by Rahzzah
Star Wars: The Mandalorian #6 – cover art by Patrick Gleason
Starhenge: The Dragon & The Board #6 – cover art by Liam Sharp
The Bone Orchard: Ten Thousand Black Feathers #4 – cover art by Martin Simmonds
Vicious Circle #1 – cover art by Lee Bermejo
Dawn Attack #1 – cover art by Frank Frazetta
Grimm Spotlight: Red Agent – Friendly Fire – cover art by Pierluigi Abbondanza
Nobody’s Girls #2 – cover art by Damian Connelly
Pop Star Assassin #2 – cover art by Marcelo Basile
So, which were YOUR favorites?
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December 13, 2022
December 13, 2022: Feeling Under the Weather, Part II!
So about three week ago, I was feeling under the weather…
The next day, I was better. And the day after, better still. I recovered enough to resume my daily activities and dismiss the incident as an unsolved mystery. Was it the uncooked the flour? The farmer’s market cheese? Or was it just some bug going around? I assumed I’d never know. Although I still wasn’t feeling 100%, I was no longer nauseous – although the potential for nausea was always there.
Fastforward to this past weekend. I checked out a new smashburger place on Friday, had my usual protein shake for dinner, then woke up Saturday and headed to the farmer’s market, enjoyed some pork and onion dumplings for lunch….and then it me again, the very familiar symptoms: I was cold, tired, my muscles were sore. I had my protein shake for dinner – then spent the evening as I had weeks earlier, feeling as though some ball of undigested food was sitting in the pit of my stomach, refusing to be dislodged. The next morning, I asked my sister about any family stomach-related issues and she mentioned GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) that presents similar night-time symptoms, although the precipitating behaviors like eating late (I’m always done by 6 pm) or overeating weren’t factors in my case.
I felt somewhat better on Monday but limited myself to some congee for lunch and clear chicken broth for dinner. Bu Tuesday, I was famished. Akemi and I hit Chinatown where I enjoyed some barbecue duck and beef followed by a cup of hot chocolate. But by the time 2:00 p.m. rolled around, I was feeling unwell again. Dinner was comprised of half a taco and, yet again, I was up all night.
Feeling better today but taking no chances. I’ve been alternating between congee and greek yogurt with manuka honey for much of the day. I’ve made an appointment to see my doctor tomorrow and hopefully he’ll provide some answers. And until I get those answers, looks like I’ll be on an extended diet.
Today’s Yes/no…
11 Pound Strawberry Parfait? Yes/No
Bring a friend to eat Japan’s 5-kilogram (11-pound) strawberry parfait, or it will take you down https://t.co/WWLMzWfLIo via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
A month ago, it would have been a Yes.
Finally today, I leave you with this…
If you could have dinner with any animated character, living or dead, who would it be and why? pic.twitter.com/Ja2nISYQfR
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post December 13, 2022: Feeling Under the Weather, Part II! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
December 12, 2022
December 12, 2022: Five more horror movie bullet reviews!
Scream (2022)
25 years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, Calif., a new killer dons the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.
My thoughts: Lacks the charm and cleverness of the early installments. The slasher sequences stretch credulity. The meta elements grow tiresome while the final reveal is an excruciatingly long info dump.
2/5
Skinamarink (2022)
Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished.
My thoughts: An eerie, experimental film that eschews traditional narrative in favor of fever dream sequences, discombobulating camera angles, and hushed off-camera whispers. Alternately disturbing and tiresome.
3/5
You Won’t Be Alone (2022)
In an isolated mountain village in 19th century Macedonia, a young girl is kidnapped and then transformed into a witch by an ancient spirit.
My thoughts: A folk horror film that may appeal to the arthouse crowd. For my part, I found the same concept and themes better and more poignantly explored in the anime series To Your Eternity.
3/5
The Eternal Daughter (2022)
Returning to a hotel now haunted by its mysterious past, an artist and her elderly mother confront long-buried secrets in their former family home.
My thoughts: The curious casting tips the anti-climactic twist in this austere and lethargic high-brow horror entry. Swinton is fantastic, but the film is as dry as a biscuit from the back of your grandmother’s pantry.
2.5
x
Ash and Bone (2022)
Father Lucas decides to take daughter Cassie and his new wife Sarah out of the city for some bonding and quality time together. What they find instead is an urban legend more true and terrifying than their worst nightmare.
My thoughts: Script is terrible and the performances are even worse. A very bad movie.
1.5/5
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December 11, 2022
December 11, 2022: Suji Sunday!
Hey!
Christmas swag from Aunt Lory.
Hanging out with Pistachio.
Couch potato
Getting into the Christmas spirit.
Lights out.
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