October 24, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues with movies, weird Pop-Tarts, and my annual physical!

Racing to get 100 horror movies under my belt before Halloween! Let Us Prey (2014) Held in a remote police station, a mysterious stranger takes over the minds and souls of everyone inside. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBDXIG5Pde4 Thoughts: Flashes of a pretty good movie here but, ultimately, contrived and silly. 3/5 Swallow (2019) Hunter, a newly pregnant housewife,…

October 22, 2022: The Saturday Report!

WUT is THIS? https://soranews24.com/2022/10/22/live-action-attack-on-titan-musical-reveals-in-costume-photos-of-full-cast【photos】/ https://www.shingeki-musical.com I am IN!  Who wants to join me in Osaka for the January 2023 premiere? Today's farmer's market haul: fish and monkey face peppers, and smoked chicken fat... Finished the first draft of that android murder mystery.  Switching gears to generate a few episode springboards for that sci-fi action-comedy.  Watched…

October 21, 2022: Your Handy Guide to Weird Yokay – and Dr. Pepper Bourbon!

Every so often, the Shitanaga Uba will venture out for a nice dinner with the demonic Shunobon. But instead of going to Olive Garden, they'll feast on humans - he, scaring them senseless; she, licking the flesh and blood off their bones with her impossibly long tongue. Art by @matthewmeyerart If you're hosting and notice…

October 20, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues with 3 more horrors (or 4, depending on whether or not you like peanut butter on your burger)!

The Last Shift (2014) A rookie cop's 1st shift alone in the last night of a closing police station turns into a living nightmare. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p0KIrh8hyM My thoughts: A great premise and some solid (if not altogether original) scares, but this one suffers from some shaky performances, a weak script, and dubious horror movie logic. 3.5/5…

October 18, 2022: Your Handy Guide to Weird Yokai!

The Hitotsume-kozō look like bald one-eyed boys dressed as monks. Every December, they will put together a list of naughty households that they'll deliver, not to Santa, but to the god of disease and misfortune who will curse the offending homes.  Art by Masayoshi Kitao The Addam's Family Cousin Itt, the Keukegen is an adorably…

October 17, 2022: The Birthday Debrief!

Saturday's Wings & Beer night was a rousing success.  We sampled 9 different wings and 17 different beers (before tapping out). The homemade wings were far and away better than the take-out wings.  Emily, Kayla, and Akemi's were my faves, as were my own lemon-thyme contribution. As for the beer - while I was pleasantly…

October 15, 2022: Wings & Beer Night!

Tonight, Akemi and I are joining some of the neighbors of a beer and wing night.  Unlike SOME, we will not be buying our wings from the local Caribbean restaurant or fast food place but will, instead, make three different home versions (from top left clockwise: Gochujuang [Akemi], spicy slated egg yolk [Akemi],  honey-lemon thyme…

October 14, 2022: The Horror Marathon returns!

Impetigore (2019) A woman inherits a house in her ancestral village, but she is unaware that members of the community have been trying to locate her, holding her responsible for a curse that has plagued them for years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrPt_t3wTgU Thoughts: A solid supernatural thriller that gets a little convoluted but is bookmarked by two diabolically disturbing…

October 11, 2022: Homeward Bound!

Morning stop-over at St.-Viateur Bagel. I picked up a sesame seed and poppy seed mix for Akemi and our neighbor, Kevin (by special request). Final lunch: sweet cannelloni. Homeward bound! Akemi and Suji surprised me at the airport upon my arrival (I believe it was Suji's idea).  I think I may have dislocated my shoulder…

October 10, 2022: The Thanksgiving Wrap-up!

Last full day in Montreal, then it's back to Toronto tomorrow where some major writing awaits.  In the meantime... Mom's taralli are ready - and headed for Akemi! Mom's treadmill makes me nervous. Sis brought cheese biscuits. Cousin Carolyn and the garlic cheerleader. The truffle spaghettini The octopus with burrata and croccantini More peppers! The…