Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 207

February 19, 2020: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

These were my favorites…

Captain Marvel #15 (cover art by Mark Brooks)

Wolverine #1 (cover art by Alex Ross)

DCeased: Unkillables #1 (cover art by Yasmine Putri)

DCeased: Unkillables #1 (cover art by Francesco Mattina)

The Legion of Super-Heroes #4 (cover art by Alex Garner)

The Red Mother #3 (cover art by Qistina Khalidah)

Skulldigger + Skeleton Boy #3 (cover art by Patrick Reynolds)

Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt, Vol. 13 (cover art by Yasuo Ohtagaki)

Blade Runner 2019 #6 (cover art by Syd Mead)

Fantastic Four #19 (cover art by John Tyler Christopher)

So, which were YOUR favorites?

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February 18, 2020: Montreal Day #6!

Going a little stir crazy here in Montreal.  But, at least, I’m getting stuff done.  I’ve read four books and two graphic novels, written twenty-five pages of the new TimEscape script, and just had a call regarding that horror script.  They asked me if I wanted to direct and, while interesting, it’s not something I’ve ever felt compelled to do.  On the other hand, it would afford me more creative control of the project and would also help diversify my career: writer, director, producer, craft service sampler.

I think I’m coming down with something.  I’m feeling tired, run down.  Have a bit of a cough.  Headache.  Sore throat.  As luck would have it, however, I have to get up at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow to accompany my mother to the hospital for her 8:15 a.m. appointment.  She’s having her cast removed.  On her last visit there, she waited six and a half hours.  And she had an appointment!

Having lived in three of Canada’s major cities, I can honestly say Montreal is the WORST city to get sick.  Waiting times are ridiculous.  Vancouver, on the other hand, is the opposite.  Now THAT is a city you want to get sick in!

Yesterday, I had lunch with this blog’s Chief Executive Officer in Charge of Tech Support, Fred, and his girlfriend Jennyfer.  Good times!

Meanwhile, back on the home front…

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February 17, 2020: Suji Monday!

I’ve lost all sense of time here in Montreal.  I completely missed Suji Sunday.  So here is Suji Monday!

How could I forget this face?

Pretty in pink.

What I’ve been missing…

What Akemi refers to as “the crispy tongue”!

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I knew instantly – it wasn’t a shrimp shell!

Last night, I attended a dinner party hosted by my old high school buddy, Lawrence, and his wife, Mel.  We were enjoying a nice take-out meal from a nearby restaurant.  Halfway through supper, Lawrence, seated beside me, suddenly pulled something out of his mouth and uttered a shocked: “What is THIS?!”.  A hush fell over the room.  As he presented his pink, plastic, gummy find, Sinead, one of the other dinner guests seated across from him suggested: “It’s a shrimp shell.”  But no.  I knew instantly – it wasn’t a shrimp shell.  “It’s a band-aid!”confirmed Lawrence.

“No, it’s a shrimp shell,”insisted Sinead, not wanting to believe.

“It’s a band-aid,”repeated Lawrence, holding it up for all to see.

There was not doubt.  It WAS a band-aid.  Sinead stared back, mortified.

“It was in the noodles,”said Lawrence.  Then, throwing a look to my plate.  “Did you finish them?”

I glanced down at my now empty plate, feeling the heat rise to my face as I weighed whether I should induce vomiting – or just wait for it to come naturally.

Horrified silence – and then Lawrence, no longer able to suppress himself, broke out into a wide grin.

IT WAS AS PRACTICAL JOKE!

The psychopath had gone through all the trouble of opening up a fresh band-aid, setting it aside for some twenty minutes and then, popping it in his mouth when I wasn’t looking.  In retrospect, I suppose I should have been suspicious.  What kind of idiot proceeds to suck the black bean sauce off some mystery object he just pulled out of his mouth so that everyone at the table could get a clearer look. More alarming than the initial discovery of the band-aid was, perhaps, the reaction of Sinead’s husband, Gabi, who seemed not at all bothered by the horrific find – despite not being in on the joke – continuing to eat his noodles as the conversation played out on the other side of the table.

Dessert was very had to fuck with chocolate covered almonds.

This morning, I set Lawrence the following text:

Good times indeed!

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February 15, 2020: Montreal Day #3!

My recent internet searches have included: “perfect murder”, “fake your own death”, and “how to get rid of a dead body”.  This morning, it was: “nuclear fusion”, “heavy water”, and “missile guidance systems”.  I wonder if whoever monitors online activity bothers to cross-reference search topics with a surfer’s profession.  It’s research for this new script.  Honest!

Hey, you know what my sister needs?  Blackout blinds for her bedroom.  Between sunrise and the dogs, it’s impossible to sleep in!

Following some early morning writing, lunch at mom’s place was comprised of baked trout, eggplant Parmesan, cannelloni, broccoli, brussel sprouts, beets, fried peppers, fried eggplant, crab mousse, and avocado.   This gave me the energy I needed to do some afternoon writing after which I dropped mom off at the hairdresser.  While she got her hair done, I grabbed a hot chocolate around the corner at one of my favorite hometown cafe’s, the Victor Rose Espresso Bar.   Or “expresso” as my mother calls it, even though she’s Italian and should know better.

At one point today, mom asked me to go downstairs and grab her a bottle of dish soap. Downstairs, I discovered this –

Approximately 20 bottles of the stuff!  If this coronavirus puts North America in lockdown, my mom will have the cleanest cutlery in quarantine!

 

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February 14, 2020: Like Bill Murray on his 30th Groundhog Day loop!

My sister’s dogs are bed hogs.  Kona likes to sprawl out in the middle of the mattress while Ralphie is given to pacing around at night and burrowing under the covers.  They must have awakened a good half dozen times between 5-7 a.m., anxiously looming over me in expectation of an early breakfast.  Every time I’d tell them “Go back to bed”, they’d lie down, wait until a respectful time had elapsed (10-15 minutes), then get up again and loom.  And when they’re not sprawling, pacing, burrowing or looming, they’re barking.  LOUDLY.

This morning, my sister sent a photo of the view outside the window of her Hawaiian hotel room –

This, meanwhile, was the view outside mom’s patio door –

Today, it was -21C/-6F, the perfect temperature for staying indoors and working on your scripts.  And that’s what I did.  In addition to continuing my deep dive research into this coronavirus.  Which, apparently, has now been renamed Covid-19 by The World Health Organization.  Great to see the W.H.O. finally being proactive on this front.  Meanwhile, I sleep well knowing that the experts continue to reassure the general public that this virus is no worse than the common flu.

Oh, that reminds me.  Have the hazmat-suited health workers been by to fumigate your offices yet?  I hear this year’s flu strain is a particularly nasty bug.

Don’t Worry, Everything is Fine..! #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/V0XPD1a0UC

— Corona virus news (@coronavirus_flu) February 13, 2020

Tomorrow, I expect more of the same – but slightly different.   Sort of like Bill Murray on his 30th Groundhog Day loop.  A fitful night’s sleep culminating in an early wake-up.  Some morning internet surfing and writing.  Lunch with mom.  More writing at mom’s how.  BUT for dinner, I’ll be visiting my old buddy Lawrence and his wife for Korean fried chicken!

Meanwhile, back home in Toronto…

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February 13, 2020: Montreal Day #1!

Well, Day #1 of my dogsitting stay in Montreal is almost complete.  And I am completely exhausted. I caught the second to last flight out of Toronto last night, got in a little after 9:00 p.m., woke up at 4:30 a.m. this morning to drive my sister to the airport, read for several hours, then headed over to mom’s for lunch – and an early afternoon of writing.  I am ready for bed – and it isn’t even 6:00 p..m. yet.

Behold part of of lunch!  Broccoli, rapini, crab mousse, beets, fried peppers, and eggplant.

So, in addition to the cat, Rapini, who stays downstairs most of the time and only comes up for the occasional pets, THESE TWO will be my roomies for the next little while…

Kona.  Very sweet if not a little needy.  Like nothing better than to sit by the window and incessantly bark at whoever, or whatever, happens by.  When I let her out in the backyard, she will take up position on the highest snowbank and sit vigil, ignoring my calls for her to come back inside.  She likes to sleep smack-dab in the middle of the bed.

Ralphie.  High-strung and anxious.  He also enjoys barking at passersby as well as bothering the cat.  He needs to be forced out to do his business.  At night, he’s a roamer, often circling the bed in search of the perfect cool spot.  Bonus: He peed on my sister’s bed last night, so there’s something else to watch out for!

Alright.  I’m off to watch old episodes of 30 Rock until I fall asleep.  Hopefully before 10:00.  Fingers crossed for a peaceful, urine-free night.

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February 12, 2020: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

These were my favorites…

Animal Man by Grant Morrison vol. 1 (cover art by Greg Land)

Catwoman #20 (cover art by Ian MacDonald)

DC Poster Portfolio: Joshua Middleton (cover art by Joshua Middleton)

Dr. Strange #3 (cover art by Kev Walker)

Green Lantern, Season 2 #1 (cover art by Gerald Parel)

Green Lantern: Rebirth #1 (cover art by Ethan Van Sciver)

Marvels X #2 (cover art by Alex Ross)

Nebula #1 (cover art by Jen Bartel)

RWBY #5 (cover art by Sarah Stone)

Spider-Man: The Black Cat Strikes #2 (cover art by David Nakayama)

Symbiote Spider-Man: Alien Reality #3 (cover art by Greg Land)

The Batman’s Grave #5 (cover art by Jeehyung Lee)

X-Men #6 (cover art by Mark Brooks)

X-Men #6 (cover art by Matteo Buffagni)

So, which were your favorites?

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February 11, 2020: Gatecon 2020!

Hey, Stargate fans – “Tickets are still available for Gatecon Full Circle, the big 20th anniversary Stargate celebration being held in Vancouver August 27-30, 2020. Head on over to www.gatecon.com to grab your ticket while you still can.”

Check it out!  Guests will include beloved cast members, fan favorites, and Gary Jones!

I don’t usually do cons but I’m making an exception for this one given the momentous occasion, my connection to Gatecons of yore, and the fact that I was actually invited.  So I do intend to be there this year, schedule and wife permitting.

MORE #AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked:

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
I worked with the ever affable Ross Hull (@Ross_Hull) on my first live-action production, #StudentBodies, then again on #Stargate and on #DarkMatter. Actor, meteorologist, and an all-around stand-up guy. pic.twitter.com/eLR4Lnaa3J

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 8, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Given its staggered production schedule, #Stargate made use of multiple Directors of Photography. Jim Menard – who worked on #SG1, #SGA, and #SGU, about 150 episodes all told – was one of my favorites. pic.twitter.com/TO84CPc9Kq

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 9, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked#DarkMatter's confident and colorful Commander Truffault differed greatly from #Stargate's cautious and compassionate Elizabeth Weir, yet the amazing Torri Higginson (@torri_higginson) nailed both roles. She's terrific in everything she does. pic.twitter.com/bqSpC1u8fr

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 10, 2020

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February 10, 2020: I’m Team Habanero!

Reaper Taco? Yes/No https://t.co/bJpcX5yqZP

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 10, 2020

I love spicy.  Always have.  The heat, obviously, but also the flavors of the varied peppers simmering beneath that deep fire kick.  The bottom shelf of my refrigerator is occupied by my hot sauce collection (much to Akemi’s chagrin) with names like Brain Damage, Memento Muerte, and Howler Monkey.  Although I have a high tolerance for heat (I always opt for Thai Spicy whenever we got out for Thai), I avoid the ultra-hot sauces that are pure burn and taste of vulcanized rubber.  I prefer the fruit-based hot sauces, more sweet than vinegared, something with a thick body like a Caribbean scotch bonnet pepper sauce or a habanero sauce with a chunky consistency.  Whenever I eat at home, I’ll pull out three random bottles and sample with my meal, narrowing down my list of favorites.

Sriracha is a popular go-to (that pairs surprisingly well with maple syrup if you’re looking for a sweet and spicy combo).  The cayenne-based sauces like Tabasco and Frank’s Red Hot are fine, but a little too dilute.  The jalapeno-based sauces are also fine, but my color preferences run to the reds and golds.  I do like the Marie Sharp line as well as the selection offered by Montreal-based La Pimenterie.  I’m a big fan of Dawson’s Cremini Habanero and was recently surprised by Big Fat’s 7o8 Optimus Primo.  Hot One’s The Last Dab (featured on First We Feast, a series that sees its host interview celebrities while they dine on increasingly spicier wings, culminating in the aforementioned sauce) is crazy-hot, and at the very edge of my endurance…but tasty!  There used to be a place on the San Francisco pier that sold one of my favorite hot sauces of all time, Besos De Fuego (Kiss of Fire), a fiery mix of fruit mustard, and, I suspect, habanero.  Sadly, it no longer exists.

When I go to the farmer’s market, I’ll often pick up fresh peppers, everything from bird’s eyes to fatalis, then oven dry them before either grinding them to a fine power or using them as the base for varied oils.   The powders I seal in tiny plastic containers and carry them around with me – in case of emergency.  I know double seal these containers in a tiny plastic bag, this after a painful and unfortunate mishap taught me a valuable lesson about the need to be extra careful with what you put in your pocket.

My favorite pepper in terms of kick and flavor is, without a doubt, the habanero.  My sister grows scorpions, ghost peppers, and Carolina reapers and while I have enjoyed the two former, I have to draw the line at the latter which has the distinction of being unbearably hot – AND also possessed of an unpleasant, almost acrid undertone.  But maybe that’s just me.

Behold the Scoville scale!  How high can you go?

 

 

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