movie: The Grinch
starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones
genre: Comedy, Cartoon
year: 2018
format: Crave
plot: When the holiday hits the town of Whoville, everyone gets a little bit crazy, as the mayor has informed them to make everything three times larger than previous years. This is bad news for the Grinch, who just wants a quiet holiday. Deciding he must stop the festival, he hatches a plan to steal everyone's xmas related things. Meanwhile, a local group of kids decide to stay up late and capture Santa. Unknown to them, they accidentally trap the Grinch instead.
Okay, so if you've been following me for any amount of time, you know I don't celebrate winter holidays, so for me to sit down and watch an xmas movie something is going on. In this case I was looking for something for the upcoming Foodn'Flix. I actually ended up liking this new version of the story.
The characters in this new version of The Grinch have more depth and they are fleshed out a lot more than previous versions. You get to know the kids in the neighbourhood as characters this time around with personalities which is something previous versions didn't really do. And the addition of the reindeer buddy was cute. I found myself giggling at the scenes of the Grinch, his dog and the reindeer thinking they'd make a great buddy comedy. Which, is basically what this boils down to be. An animated buddy comedy with some over the top slapstick gags. Which, are actually funny.
I think this version is smart, witty and likeable. Though, ironically, I decided not to go with this for Foodn'Flix, it's got a ton of food scenes.
The moral of the story hasn't really changed, the Grinch unwittingly reminds everyone the lesson that having tons of stuff isn't the point of the holidays, or the point of anything really. The rest of the town seem to bounce back from their "loss" easily as if it never happened.
I will say this about the film though, you almost get a sense that the producers/directors wanted to give the Grinch a romance because they point out more than a few times that the lady down the road is a single mom. That would have been an interesting twist I think.
Showing posts with label 2018. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2018. Show all posts
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Random Movie: Slaughterhouse Rulez
movie: Slaughterhouse Rulez
starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
genre: Comedy, Horror, Action
year: 2018
format: Crave
plot: When a group of students at a boarding school discover that the Headmaster has sold off half the property to a drilling company, they put their differences aside in order to fight off a herd of giant subterranean slugs.
You've got three distinct groups here, represented by the three big names, Simon Pegg's character representing the school/students, the Headmaster played by Michael Sheen who represents the government/corporation, and the Nick Frost character who represents a group of environmentalist activists. Pegg's character is the buffering link between the extreme points of view of the other two. And that's about all you can say about the big names in the film, as they disappointingly, are not the lead characters.
As nice as it is to know that the name plates in the film have bowed down to the younger generation of actors, passing the torch, I was disappointed to learn this fact. Pegg, Frost and Sheen were the reasons I wanted to see this film. At times, you almost feel like they are a set up to a different story altogether.
I felt the comedic elements in this one were too shallow, and the main plot just a little light. The overall subject matter of this film is darker in nature, as a massive sub-plot (which I think should have been the main plot) deals with a few students who are bullied so badly that one commits suicide. Which we the viewer don't even learn until about midway into the film, and then the topic just seems to be forgotten.
The horror elements were handled well enough with a decent balance of gore and humour. Like Pegg/Frost's previous Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy, (which I've talked about in the past) the genre mash-up actually works well for the ever present theme of not being able to let go of something once it's run it's course. In this case, Pegg's character not being able to admit his girlfriend has dumped him; and Frost's character still grieving over his brother's death 20plus years later as if it had just happened.
starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
genre: Comedy, Horror, Action
year: 2018
format: Crave
You've got three distinct groups here, represented by the three big names, Simon Pegg's character representing the school/students, the Headmaster played by Michael Sheen who represents the government/corporation, and the Nick Frost character who represents a group of environmentalist activists. Pegg's character is the buffering link between the extreme points of view of the other two. And that's about all you can say about the big names in the film, as they disappointingly, are not the lead characters.
As nice as it is to know that the name plates in the film have bowed down to the younger generation of actors, passing the torch, I was disappointed to learn this fact. Pegg, Frost and Sheen were the reasons I wanted to see this film. At times, you almost feel like they are a set up to a different story altogether.
I felt the comedic elements in this one were too shallow, and the main plot just a little light. The overall subject matter of this film is darker in nature, as a massive sub-plot (which I think should have been the main plot) deals with a few students who are bullied so badly that one commits suicide. Which we the viewer don't even learn until about midway into the film, and then the topic just seems to be forgotten.
The horror elements were handled well enough with a decent balance of gore and humour. Like Pegg/Frost's previous Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy, (which I've talked about in the past) the genre mash-up actually works well for the ever present theme of not being able to let go of something once it's run it's course. In this case, Pegg's character not being able to admit his girlfriend has dumped him; and Frost's character still grieving over his brother's death 20plus years later as if it had just happened.
Friday, August 2, 2019
Random movie- Holmes and Watson
Spudguns!, it's just after 9am EST where I am, and I should have posted this last week. I saw the movie Holmes and Watson last weekend, but the week really got in the way of me sitting down and doing this post. In a way, I'm sort of glad it did.
movie: Holmes and Watson
starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly
genre: Comedy, Crime,
year: 2018
format: Crave
plot: Holmes and Watson are hired to solve a string of murders after Queen Victoria's life has been threatened. Watson, who's not yet a detective, has a lot to prove if he's ever going to get the promotion he's looking for. Meanwhile, the emotionally frozen Holmes has fallen in love for the first time. This clouds his judgment as he lets Watson be sent to jail.
Okay. So, I love anything related to Sherlock Holmes, but this was just crap. John C. Reilly normally spins pure gold, but this movie left me scratching my head as to why he decided to be in it? Hugh Laurie plays the part of Mycroft Holmes but even that couldn't save this movie. (Stephen Fry who is Laurie's comedy partner played the character in the Robert Downey Jr movies)
I need to rant about Will Ferrell for a moment. His last few movies Zoolander 2, The House, Daddy's Home 2, Holmes and Watson; have just been terrible. I have to say, if he's writing his own stuff then he should get someone else to write for him for a few films. If he has someone writing for him then he should take back control and write his own stuff. Either way, he's just been down hill the last couple of years. I really think he needs to step out of that buddy comedy comfort zone for a bit and do a serious drama or horror or something.
There's just nothing nice to say about this movie.
movie: Holmes and Watson
starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly
genre: Comedy, Crime,
year: 2018
format: Crave
plot: Holmes and Watson are hired to solve a string of murders after Queen Victoria's life has been threatened. Watson, who's not yet a detective, has a lot to prove if he's ever going to get the promotion he's looking for. Meanwhile, the emotionally frozen Holmes has fallen in love for the first time. This clouds his judgment as he lets Watson be sent to jail.
Okay. So, I love anything related to Sherlock Holmes, but this was just crap. John C. Reilly normally spins pure gold, but this movie left me scratching my head as to why he decided to be in it? Hugh Laurie plays the part of Mycroft Holmes but even that couldn't save this movie. (Stephen Fry who is Laurie's comedy partner played the character in the Robert Downey Jr movies)
I need to rant about Will Ferrell for a moment. His last few movies Zoolander 2, The House, Daddy's Home 2, Holmes and Watson; have just been terrible. I have to say, if he's writing his own stuff then he should get someone else to write for him for a few films. If he has someone writing for him then he should take back control and write his own stuff. Either way, he's just been down hill the last couple of years. I really think he needs to step out of that buddy comedy comfort zone for a bit and do a serious drama or horror or something.
There's just nothing nice to say about this movie.
Monday, July 22, 2019
Foodn'Flix July 2019
Spudguns!, it's that time of the time again, when I offer you up something for Foodn'Flix. This month's selection is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and it's being hosted by Culinary Adventures with Camilla.
plot: A young writer looking to switch genres, is asked by her publishers to write about how literature is affecting people. At the same time, a strange letter arrives for her from a man who has inherited one of her old childhood books. He explains his situation, that he's started a book club, and is in need of more books asking if she'd mail him something. Not only does she mail him a few titles, she decides to travel there herself to do her essay on the book club. The night before she's set to leave, her boyfriend asks her to marry him. Unsure if that's really what she wants, she ends up staying more than a month with the book club finding out more and more about the people of the small community.
This is based on the novel, and stars Lily James and Michiel Huisman.
Notes: pork, gin, potato peel pie, tea, beer, water, alcohol, bread, lamb (someone's name) roast pig, potato, soup/broth, carrots, asparagus, gravy, candy, tomatoes, scones, cake, chicken, butter, toast, lobster, onion, fish, parsnips, lettuce, nectarines, dried herbs, clams/mussels, cow, whiskey, milk, stew, cookies, olives, celery, cabbage, flour, corn, petit four, hors d'oeuvres,
So I saw this a few months back, and loved it. But when watching it a second time around for the FnF group, I had little idea how to do anything out of the ordinary for it. I ended up going with a fairly basic idea.
A potato bread. My inspiration was both the main food of potatoes, which is about all the people in the community have left to eat after the German soldiers pretty much take all the supplies; and a scene where one of the characters asks for the last slice of bread to help prove a point.
I decided to use a can of potatoes for this, simply because I had them on hand. I drained them, and boiled them in salt water for about 15 minutes, then mashed them. This I set aside to cool.
While that was cooling, I got the rest of my ingredients together. 1 and a half cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 Tablespoon sugar, 1 Tablespoon oil, 1 teaspoon butter softened, 1/2 cup water.
Add this to the mashed potato, and then kneed the dough as you would a normal bread.
Bake at 350degrees for about an hour depending on your oven.
I have to admit, this didn't turn out as I had expected. And I think that has to do with the fact I used a canned potato instead of a bakers potato. The canned potatoes were mushier to begin with. If you are going to use a canned potato, then you should cut the water called for in half.
That's about all I have for you this time around, don't forget to join in next month when we are covering the Star Wars franchise and it's being hosted by Simply Inspired Meals.
plot: A young writer looking to switch genres, is asked by her publishers to write about how literature is affecting people. At the same time, a strange letter arrives for her from a man who has inherited one of her old childhood books. He explains his situation, that he's started a book club, and is in need of more books asking if she'd mail him something. Not only does she mail him a few titles, she decides to travel there herself to do her essay on the book club. The night before she's set to leave, her boyfriend asks her to marry him. Unsure if that's really what she wants, she ends up staying more than a month with the book club finding out more and more about the people of the small community.
This is based on the novel, and stars Lily James and Michiel Huisman.
Notes: pork, gin, potato peel pie, tea, beer, water, alcohol, bread, lamb (someone's name) roast pig, potato, soup/broth, carrots, asparagus, gravy, candy, tomatoes, scones, cake, chicken, butter, toast, lobster, onion, fish, parsnips, lettuce, nectarines, dried herbs, clams/mussels, cow, whiskey, milk, stew, cookies, olives, celery, cabbage, flour, corn, petit four, hors d'oeuvres,
So I saw this a few months back, and loved it. But when watching it a second time around for the FnF group, I had little idea how to do anything out of the ordinary for it. I ended up going with a fairly basic idea.
A potato bread. My inspiration was both the main food of potatoes, which is about all the people in the community have left to eat after the German soldiers pretty much take all the supplies; and a scene where one of the characters asks for the last slice of bread to help prove a point.
That's about all I have for you this time around, don't forget to join in next month when we are covering the Star Wars franchise and it's being hosted by Simply Inspired Meals.
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Random movie - Happytime Murders
Movie: Happytime Murders
starring: Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph
genre: comedy, crime,
year: 2018
format: Netflix Canada
plot: When the former members of a beloved sitcom start to turn up dead, an ex-cop turned detective is forced to team up with his old partner to solve them and figure out who's framing him.
This is a buddy-cop movie plain and simple. The classic odd-couple styling slapstick this time between a human and a puppet. It plays as expected as far as the crime-story goes. As far as the storyline goes, there's nothing new to it.
The theme is clear that it's about prejudice. You can switch out the puppets for any minority and the basic theme would still play the same.
I have to admit, when I first heard about this last year, I was looking forward to it, but this felt like such a let down. The characters are a bit thin and one dimensional. (The tv show Angel did a puppet episode back in it's 5th season called Smile Time that was more thought out.)
Here's hoping the company have a few more films in the works, because the idea was there, with this new sub-genre of puppetry, it just wasn't fleshed out as well as it should have been.
starring: Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph
genre: comedy, crime,
year: 2018
format: Netflix Canada
plot: When the former members of a beloved sitcom start to turn up dead, an ex-cop turned detective is forced to team up with his old partner to solve them and figure out who's framing him.
This is a buddy-cop movie plain and simple. The classic odd-couple styling slapstick this time between a human and a puppet. It plays as expected as far as the crime-story goes. As far as the storyline goes, there's nothing new to it.
The theme is clear that it's about prejudice. You can switch out the puppets for any minority and the basic theme would still play the same.
I have to admit, when I first heard about this last year, I was looking forward to it, but this felt like such a let down. The characters are a bit thin and one dimensional. (The tv show Angel did a puppet episode back in it's 5th season called Smile Time that was more thought out.)
Here's hoping the company have a few more films in the works, because the idea was there, with this new sub-genre of puppetry, it just wasn't fleshed out as well as it should have been.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Random movie - Overboard Remake
movie: Overboard
starring: Anna Faris, Eugenio Derbez
genre: Comedy
year: 2018
format: Crave
plot: After getting into a fight on a yacht, a single mother ends up conning a rich man who has amnesia into thinking he's her husband. Over the course of the next month, she gets him to become the house husband she's needed while she advances her own career.
This is a remake of the 1987 Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell film.
I wasn't overly thrilled with this remake. The original had Hawn's character as the rich person with amnesia, whereas this has a role reversal with Derbez's character in that role. Since the movie has half the cast speaking Spanish, unless you speak it, be prepared to read subtitles for more than half the film. I like subtitled films, but I like to know ahead of time that's what I'm getting into.
What the remake did well, was the role reversal. Here, you've got a widowed single mother, who is feeling pressure from all sides. She ends up being hired for a job by someone who dismisses her before she's had a chance to even do her job, then refuses to acknowledge the fact she isn't being allowed to actually do her job. He treats her like she isn't important enough to have common dignity, then he himself ends up in her position. Everything that happens to him from the point of their argument onward, is because of his own ego in the beginning.
He throws her overboard from his yacht, then he himself falls overboard. While he's in hospital, his own family refuse to acknowledge him, getting revenge for his past behaviour. While the Faris character cons him into believing she's his wife thus getting revenge for how he treated her, she accidentally teaches him humility.
I know this is suppose to be a romantic comedy, but it's more in line with those Hallmark made for tv movies about finding the good in everyone.
starring: Anna Faris, Eugenio Derbez
genre: Comedy
year: 2018
format: Crave
plot: After getting into a fight on a yacht, a single mother ends up conning a rich man who has amnesia into thinking he's her husband. Over the course of the next month, she gets him to become the house husband she's needed while she advances her own career.
This is a remake of the 1987 Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell film.
I wasn't overly thrilled with this remake. The original had Hawn's character as the rich person with amnesia, whereas this has a role reversal with Derbez's character in that role. Since the movie has half the cast speaking Spanish, unless you speak it, be prepared to read subtitles for more than half the film. I like subtitled films, but I like to know ahead of time that's what I'm getting into.
What the remake did well, was the role reversal. Here, you've got a widowed single mother, who is feeling pressure from all sides. She ends up being hired for a job by someone who dismisses her before she's had a chance to even do her job, then refuses to acknowledge the fact she isn't being allowed to actually do her job. He treats her like she isn't important enough to have common dignity, then he himself ends up in her position. Everything that happens to him from the point of their argument onward, is because of his own ego in the beginning.
He throws her overboard from his yacht, then he himself falls overboard. While he's in hospital, his own family refuse to acknowledge him, getting revenge for his past behaviour. While the Faris character cons him into believing she's his wife thus getting revenge for how he treated her, she accidentally teaches him humility.
I know this is suppose to be a romantic comedy, but it's more in line with those Hallmark made for tv movies about finding the good in everyone.
Friday, December 28, 2018
Coffee Talk Dec 28th 2018
Spudguns!, it's been a snowy week here where I am, hope it's better where you are.
Food n' Flix. Might as well get it out of the way. I said earlier in the month, that I was going to be doing a recipe for it and had planned to have it by Boxing Day. Well, I missed the deadline. I know, I suck. I had sat down, watched the movie, took my notes and...nothing. Couldn't come up with a damned idea. I just didn't get anything from the film. Horrible, I know, but true.
I'm finding it harder and harder lately to do things that don't excite me. I'm just getting old I suppose.
Okay, just feeling a bit of blogging guilt so that was about all I was coming in today for. I'll be back in a few days with the weekly serials.
Food n' Flix. Might as well get it out of the way. I said earlier in the month, that I was going to be doing a recipe for it and had planned to have it by Boxing Day. Well, I missed the deadline. I know, I suck. I had sat down, watched the movie, took my notes and...nothing. Couldn't come up with a damned idea. I just didn't get anything from the film. Horrible, I know, but true.
I'm finding it harder and harder lately to do things that don't excite me. I'm just getting old I suppose.
Okay, just feeling a bit of blogging guilt so that was about all I was coming in today for. I'll be back in a few days with the weekly serials.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
The Nosferatu Adventures s13 p15
The Nosferatu Adventures
page 345, chapter 345
2012
Our heroine dropped her purse down on the kitchen table as she went to hang her coat up in the hall closet. The movie had not been as good as she'd hoped, as she mumbled to herself about a cup of coffee. Actually, she'd hoped to see the guy she'd met in line again. Bach. But, sadly for her, he'd disappeared before the movie had started. The phone rang as she decided to let the machine get it. "Hello. Hey, sorry I missed the movie. I'll make it up to you I promise. I've got to cancel for tomorrow too, but I'll make that up to you too. Promise promise. Okay. Later." the male voice sounded hollow as the line went dead and the machine made a small beep.
"Sure Qunn. Not like I haven't heard that one before." she let out a deep sigh as the tears forced their way down her cheeks. Her maybe-realationship with Quincey had fallen so far down the trail of importance that it was clear to everyone that it was not working out. It just took our heroine longer than everyone else to admit it. Leaning over, she deleted the message resolving to never speak to him again.
Present Day...
"Mrs. Frankenstein. A word." the voice was over our heroine's shoulder before she realized. Her senses were off. Turning she saw The Seer.
"Edward?" the shock of seeing him nearly floored the female banshee.
"Now!" the dark haired male sidhe grabbed her arm guiding her around the corner. "You can't be here."
"You? The mirror is yours?"
"Nosferatu I'm not kidding. You can not be here in this reality." he seemed to be actually worried as he shifted to look down both directions of the hall. "You, your fledgling and your human buddy need to leave now." The familiar soothing of the Seer's seduction spell was already weaving it's way through her as he continued to hold her arm. Nosferatu shook her head, trying to clear her mind of his magick, but found it no use. His abilities had been strong naturally, but he seemed to be ten times more so since having what was left of Pan's energy. How long had it been since she'd last seen him? For her just over three years had past while she'd been with Rolf and Reuben in Rolf's Kingdom. For The Seer, who knew? "What?" he squinted at her, his blue eyes both sparkling and reflecting a void at the same time.
"How long have you been here? What year is it here in this reality?" her words were a mere breath. She felt dizzy, the seduction spell deep under her skin. Her mind was foggy as she found it difficult to focus on anything but his eyes.
"Oh, Umm..." he cleared his throat rolling his eyes to the ceiling for a half second before closing them again. "It's 2037." Edward less then gently started to guide her back towards the others and towards the props room where the portal was. "If you don't leave right now, you're going to really shack things up." He ran his hand then through his hair. Finally he let go of her, allowing her to catch her breath.
"So sort out this timeline for me then. How long since that last time we saw you? I mean, on your end here." she dug her heels in, moving from him just enough to keep her ground.
"It's been a long time. I lost track. Maybe fifteen years, I don't know." the Seer licked his lips in fret. "I'm asking you please go before something horrible happens." he gestured towards Seward noticing the canvas bag he was holding. "That's extremely valuable. Be very very careful with it. I will want it back someday." he pointed then to the spellbook.
"No. I want answers. I'm not going anywhere." our heroine said demanding the Seer's full attention.
"Fine!" he growled as he bent at the knees in frustration. "What do you want to know?"
"How are you here? How are they here?" she gestured then to Bryon and Finn. "Why do they not smell or taste like they should? Why do you want me to leave?"
"A. I don't want you to leave, I need you to leave. All of you. B. I'm here because I need to feed. Remember? Which I can't do back in our old reality. It's why way way back when in the Darkest Forest, we opened that portal and tried to leave. So when you made the deal with Odin to send Dagan and the others back there, I made a deal with Odin to not go back there. And so here I am. Here, in the one reality you're not suppose to ever be in. And C. These two Finn and Bryon, are not your Finn and Bryon. They belong to this reality. Doppelgangers if you will."
"Why am I not suppose to ever be in this reality?" the female asked tilting her head to the side, her arms now stretched out on either side as she blocked the doorway to the props room. Both Seward and Edric hovering inches away.
"Because this...this was your reality. This was the reality you were part of before Bacchus and Loki found you."
Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story. Sometimes the past just doesn't wanna stay dead)
page 345, chapter 345
2012
Our heroine dropped her purse down on the kitchen table as she went to hang her coat up in the hall closet. The movie had not been as good as she'd hoped, as she mumbled to herself about a cup of coffee. Actually, she'd hoped to see the guy she'd met in line again. Bach. But, sadly for her, he'd disappeared before the movie had started. The phone rang as she decided to let the machine get it. "Hello. Hey, sorry I missed the movie. I'll make it up to you I promise. I've got to cancel for tomorrow too, but I'll make that up to you too. Promise promise. Okay. Later." the male voice sounded hollow as the line went dead and the machine made a small beep.
"Sure Qunn. Not like I haven't heard that one before." she let out a deep sigh as the tears forced their way down her cheeks. Her maybe-realationship with Quincey had fallen so far down the trail of importance that it was clear to everyone that it was not working out. It just took our heroine longer than everyone else to admit it. Leaning over, she deleted the message resolving to never speak to him again.
Present Day...
"Mrs. Frankenstein. A word." the voice was over our heroine's shoulder before she realized. Her senses were off. Turning she saw The Seer.
"Edward?" the shock of seeing him nearly floored the female banshee.
"Now!" the dark haired male sidhe grabbed her arm guiding her around the corner. "You can't be here."
"You? The mirror is yours?"
"Nosferatu I'm not kidding. You can not be here in this reality." he seemed to be actually worried as he shifted to look down both directions of the hall. "You, your fledgling and your human buddy need to leave now." The familiar soothing of the Seer's seduction spell was already weaving it's way through her as he continued to hold her arm. Nosferatu shook her head, trying to clear her mind of his magick, but found it no use. His abilities had been strong naturally, but he seemed to be ten times more so since having what was left of Pan's energy. How long had it been since she'd last seen him? For her just over three years had past while she'd been with Rolf and Reuben in Rolf's Kingdom. For The Seer, who knew? "What?" he squinted at her, his blue eyes both sparkling and reflecting a void at the same time.
"How long have you been here? What year is it here in this reality?" her words were a mere breath. She felt dizzy, the seduction spell deep under her skin. Her mind was foggy as she found it difficult to focus on anything but his eyes.
"Oh, Umm..." he cleared his throat rolling his eyes to the ceiling for a half second before closing them again. "It's 2037." Edward less then gently started to guide her back towards the others and towards the props room where the portal was. "If you don't leave right now, you're going to really shack things up." He ran his hand then through his hair. Finally he let go of her, allowing her to catch her breath.
"So sort out this timeline for me then. How long since that last time we saw you? I mean, on your end here." she dug her heels in, moving from him just enough to keep her ground.
"It's been a long time. I lost track. Maybe fifteen years, I don't know." the Seer licked his lips in fret. "I'm asking you please go before something horrible happens." he gestured towards Seward noticing the canvas bag he was holding. "That's extremely valuable. Be very very careful with it. I will want it back someday." he pointed then to the spellbook.
"No. I want answers. I'm not going anywhere." our heroine said demanding the Seer's full attention.
"Fine!" he growled as he bent at the knees in frustration. "What do you want to know?"
"How are you here? How are they here?" she gestured then to Bryon and Finn. "Why do they not smell or taste like they should? Why do you want me to leave?"
"A. I don't want you to leave, I need you to leave. All of you. B. I'm here because I need to feed. Remember? Which I can't do back in our old reality. It's why way way back when in the Darkest Forest, we opened that portal and tried to leave. So when you made the deal with Odin to send Dagan and the others back there, I made a deal with Odin to not go back there. And so here I am. Here, in the one reality you're not suppose to ever be in. And C. These two Finn and Bryon, are not your Finn and Bryon. They belong to this reality. Doppelgangers if you will."
"Why am I not suppose to ever be in this reality?" the female asked tilting her head to the side, her arms now stretched out on either side as she blocked the doorway to the props room. Both Seward and Edric hovering inches away.
"Because this...this was your reality. This was the reality you were part of before Bacchus and Loki found you."
Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story. Sometimes the past just doesn't wanna stay dead)
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Cinema Files s1 p14
The Cinema Files
page 14, chapter 14
Rancid Romance
The bed squeaked every time we moved. I'm sure the people in the next suite were jealous thinking we were hot and heavy for hours. I know that would have been my automatic thoughts with each creek and moan. Sadly, for me it wasn't the case.
"Hand me the page again about that CEO fellow." Detective Whitechapel said mindlessly as he wandered slowly across the room, having just ordered our second pot of coffee from room service. Leaning over, I plucked a bad photocopy of the report from it's position on the pillow, causing another round of squeaks and creeks. I followed this with a yawn. "You getting bored?" he asked.
"No just haven't slept much this week. I'm thinking I'm going to have to bail on you soon." I replied, daring to finally glance at the bedside clock. It was already after midnight.
"Oh? Should I be jealous?" he poured what would be my fourth cup of coffee handing it to me. "After all, you are my fake wife." he winked causing his blue-green eyes to shimmer in the lamp light.
"The only thing I'm cheating on is the box of identical files I have waiting for me at home." my cell phone started to ring suddenly causing my purse to vibrate slightly on the arm of the sofa.
"You sure about that? That's the fifth time in the last hour your phone's gone off." Getting up from my cozy corner of the bed, I finally checked my messages. Rudolph had called twice, there was a text from Blake and another two from Vincent. "Popular girl."
"You boys are all the same. Only want me when there is a crime wave happening." I snorted shaking my head fighting back a few tears my throat having tightened. I had to bite my lip to keep it together. Sighing, I made a decision. "Fine. Let's get this ganger banger over with shall we?" Another sigh as I sent off a group text telling them all to meet me at the video store before it opened in the morning. Ryan looking over my right shoulder the whole time. I felt the air change around me then as he seemed to process this information. His breath hitting the back of my neck, lighting up my flesh with steam.
"Huh." the detective tossed the pages he was holding onto the sofa. "Well in that case..." he scratched the edge of his thumb against the corner of his mouth licking his lips. "Since you're already here Desdemona, you might as well stay." There was a sudden awkwardness between us as I blushed beyond control. I felt so unsure of myself then, like I was fourteen again.
"For?" I closed my hazel eyes unable to control my stomach as butterflies took possession of it. I needed to hear him actually say it. So there was no mistaking his motive, no chance I misread the tension between us. Ryan Whitechapel flirted like most people breathed. It was so normal so part of his moment to moment dna that he'd accidentally led on so many; I could not risk ruining our friendship over my own one sided attraction.
"Ah for the love of Odin!" he swore under his breath running his left hand over his neck before proceeding to undo his belt and the buttons on his shirt cuffs. "Stay find out."
I was not dressed for work. It was 9am and I was still wearing the outfit, though more professional than my usual t-shirt and jeans; that I had been wearing the night before. I could not pass up the invitation, I had to stay. And to be honest, I don't think he was prepared for me to. I had agreed, tossing my purse back down on the sofa, sitting back down on the bed. Ryan stood in the dimly lit room frozen for a half heartbeat before removing his shirt and joining me on the bed. For a man who was normally as smooth as silk and in total control of every situation, he became quiet. One would almost say nervous. I had called his bluff and he was scattered by it. The awkwardness filled every pore around us. Every breathable molecule of air in the room. That clumsy embarrassing first time with someone you just met at a drunken bar moment. Only worse because neither of us were drunk and we'd known each other for the last four years. The uncomfortable weirdness didn't stop there though. The good detective Whitechapel, got called into the station around 2am, and asked me to go with him. "Just in case." he said as he struggled with his underwear. The man could dress faster than he could undress. It was painfully obvious he'd been in the situation many many times before.
I ended up waiting for almost an hour for him. Just pacing back and forth between his desk and the front lobby vending machines. I was about to call a taxi to go home when Ryan darted out of one of the little closed doors, his jacket clutched in hand the biggest grin in his face I think I'd ever seen. Startling me, he planted a kiss on the side of my mouth as he leaned around me to open the lobby door. "We've still got a few hours before we have to meet your friends." I was expecting the next sentence to be that he'd drop me off at home, but instead he just smiled at me kissing me again. "That means you're still my fake wife for another few hours at lest. I still owe you breakfast. Why don't we go work up a real appetite?"
Tune in again for another installment of the Cinema Files starring your heroine...me(straight up story. At some point, everyone has those awkward butterflies.)
page 14, chapter 14
Rancid Romance
The bed squeaked every time we moved. I'm sure the people in the next suite were jealous thinking we were hot and heavy for hours. I know that would have been my automatic thoughts with each creek and moan. Sadly, for me it wasn't the case.
"Hand me the page again about that CEO fellow." Detective Whitechapel said mindlessly as he wandered slowly across the room, having just ordered our second pot of coffee from room service. Leaning over, I plucked a bad photocopy of the report from it's position on the pillow, causing another round of squeaks and creeks. I followed this with a yawn. "You getting bored?" he asked.
"No just haven't slept much this week. I'm thinking I'm going to have to bail on you soon." I replied, daring to finally glance at the bedside clock. It was already after midnight.
"Oh? Should I be jealous?" he poured what would be my fourth cup of coffee handing it to me. "After all, you are my fake wife." he winked causing his blue-green eyes to shimmer in the lamp light.
"The only thing I'm cheating on is the box of identical files I have waiting for me at home." my cell phone started to ring suddenly causing my purse to vibrate slightly on the arm of the sofa.
"You sure about that? That's the fifth time in the last hour your phone's gone off." Getting up from my cozy corner of the bed, I finally checked my messages. Rudolph had called twice, there was a text from Blake and another two from Vincent. "Popular girl."
"You boys are all the same. Only want me when there is a crime wave happening." I snorted shaking my head fighting back a few tears my throat having tightened. I had to bite my lip to keep it together. Sighing, I made a decision. "Fine. Let's get this ganger banger over with shall we?" Another sigh as I sent off a group text telling them all to meet me at the video store before it opened in the morning. Ryan looking over my right shoulder the whole time. I felt the air change around me then as he seemed to process this information. His breath hitting the back of my neck, lighting up my flesh with steam.
"Huh." the detective tossed the pages he was holding onto the sofa. "Well in that case..." he scratched the edge of his thumb against the corner of his mouth licking his lips. "Since you're already here Desdemona, you might as well stay." There was a sudden awkwardness between us as I blushed beyond control. I felt so unsure of myself then, like I was fourteen again.
"For?" I closed my hazel eyes unable to control my stomach as butterflies took possession of it. I needed to hear him actually say it. So there was no mistaking his motive, no chance I misread the tension between us. Ryan Whitechapel flirted like most people breathed. It was so normal so part of his moment to moment dna that he'd accidentally led on so many; I could not risk ruining our friendship over my own one sided attraction.
"Ah for the love of Odin!" he swore under his breath running his left hand over his neck before proceeding to undo his belt and the buttons on his shirt cuffs. "Stay find out."
I was not dressed for work. It was 9am and I was still wearing the outfit, though more professional than my usual t-shirt and jeans; that I had been wearing the night before. I could not pass up the invitation, I had to stay. And to be honest, I don't think he was prepared for me to. I had agreed, tossing my purse back down on the sofa, sitting back down on the bed. Ryan stood in the dimly lit room frozen for a half heartbeat before removing his shirt and joining me on the bed. For a man who was normally as smooth as silk and in total control of every situation, he became quiet. One would almost say nervous. I had called his bluff and he was scattered by it. The awkwardness filled every pore around us. Every breathable molecule of air in the room. That clumsy embarrassing first time with someone you just met at a drunken bar moment. Only worse because neither of us were drunk and we'd known each other for the last four years. The uncomfortable weirdness didn't stop there though. The good detective Whitechapel, got called into the station around 2am, and asked me to go with him. "Just in case." he said as he struggled with his underwear. The man could dress faster than he could undress. It was painfully obvious he'd been in the situation many many times before.
I ended up waiting for almost an hour for him. Just pacing back and forth between his desk and the front lobby vending machines. I was about to call a taxi to go home when Ryan darted out of one of the little closed doors, his jacket clutched in hand the biggest grin in his face I think I'd ever seen. Startling me, he planted a kiss on the side of my mouth as he leaned around me to open the lobby door. "We've still got a few hours before we have to meet your friends." I was expecting the next sentence to be that he'd drop me off at home, but instead he just smiled at me kissing me again. "That means you're still my fake wife for another few hours at lest. I still owe you breakfast. Why don't we go work up a real appetite?"
Tune in again for another installment of the Cinema Files starring your heroine...me(straight up story. At some point, everyone has those awkward butterflies.)
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Coffee Talk Dec 2nd 2018
Spudguns!, how's it where you are? Spiffy sweetness. It's just after 5:30pm on a Sunday, and if you're keeping score, we are 333 Days till Hallowe'en. And tomorrow marks the fresh blogging year. Year 8.
I can't believe it's been that long? Craziness right? Righty-ho, righty-ho.
If you missed the post from the other week, I'm bringing back the book club for 2019. Details on that are on the Night Bleeds page.
Onward to The Nosferatu Adventures and The Cinema Files. I should have the next piece of each for you later in the week. And this month I'm planning on rejoining Foodn' Flix, so I should have a recipe for you before Boxing Day. Here's hoping this coming blogging year is better scheduled than last. I know, I wasn't the most reliable this past year.
I'll be back later in the week.
I can't believe it's been that long? Craziness right? Righty-ho, righty-ho.
If you missed the post from the other week, I'm bringing back the book club for 2019. Details on that are on the Night Bleeds page.
Onward to The Nosferatu Adventures and The Cinema Files. I should have the next piece of each for you later in the week. And this month I'm planning on rejoining Foodn' Flix, so I should have a recipe for you before Boxing Day. Here's hoping this coming blogging year is better scheduled than last. I know, I wasn't the most reliable this past year.
I'll be back later in the week.
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
The Cinema Files s1 p13
The Cinema Files
page 13 chapter 13
Drive-In Drama
I found myself checking my phone just after 7:30pm. I'd missed a text from Vincent. Hitting the forward button on the cd player, I had commandeered the music on the ride back as a Doors song blasted into the interior of the vehicle.
"So, you got what you need?" I asked noticing a chipped nail. Detective Whitechapel said no as his eyes darted back and forth from the rear view mirror to the windows and back again.
"The detectives running the case found nothing in the warehouse. They think someone tipped the Hosts off." he cleared his throat as he turned the corner. "I need to get invited to another event."
"A lot of work for a decoy. Come on, tell me the truth. This is your case isn't it? Not just a decoy but full on your case."
"I owe you dinner." he said trying to change the topic. I leaned back in the seat shaking my head.
"Huh. I don't understand why you can't admit when I'm right?"
"At lest I know that anything I tell you won't end up in the morning edition."
"That why you're so..." I gestured towards him. "You? My aunt's job.?"
"I was serious Desdemona, when I said the other day about not wanting to start with you now she's gone. The less I have to ban you from my crime scene coattails, the better for us both." he punctuated his point by changing the song on the cd player, letting Johnny Cash slither around us.
"Talk about your mixed messages."
"What's that suppose to mean?" he never took his eyes off the road.
"You ask me to join you on a case and scold me in the same second about not hanging around your cases."
"Totally different situations." He looked at me in the sideways way again in the rear view; his eyes sparkling under the passing streetlights. He pulled into the parking lot of the Ruthven causing me to have to catch my breath. Unbuckling his seat belt, Ryan moved in his seat just enough to have to reach over my lap for the glove compartment. The heat of his breath on my knee made me jump. Not finding what he was searching for within it's depths, he slammed it closed again. "There a keycard in the pocket there?" he nodded towards the cup holder in the door. I held up the plastic rectangle just as the driver side door slammed and I found myself in an otherwise empty car. Detective Whitechapel already standing in the parking lot. "Come on then." he gestured in that slow way of his that ironically made you feel rushed. I got out of the car as the sound of the lock beeped in my wake. "I do believe I still owe you breakfast."
"Uh dinner. It's dinner time."
"That's what I said." his eyebrows rose double time as he took the keycard from me, his free arm at my elbow. Just as we entered the hotel lobby his phone started to ring. "Oh it's the station I've got to take it." Ryan moved a few feet talking into the contraption before turning right back handing me the room key mouthing the words room 333. I found myself shaking slightly as I got off the elevator my breathing ragged knowing I was blushing. "Sorry." I felt more than heard Whitechapel as he arrived a moment later behind me from the second elevator. "Well Mrs Whitechapel." he said barely holding the smirk as he tapped the fake wedding rings we'd worn for the undercover job. "Any thoughts to what you'd like for breakfast?"
"Dinner." I said without thinking.
"Yeah, what I said."
"You do realize the restaurant is back downstairs. Yonder." the sarcasm was the only thing holding me in check keeping me from just throwing myself at him as I hooked my thumb over my shoulder.
"Haven't we had enough crowds tonight?" he replied unlocking the door to his room hitting the light switch. I watched as the room began to glow in the semi spotlights that began to flood the space in the delayed seconds. The sofa was in the middle of the room dividing it, the bed to the front of us and a table and dresser behind the sofa; the bathroom beyond that. A small styrofoam board was sitting on the sofa covered in notes and photos, two large case files beside it in place of the throw pillows. "I said I can't have you at my crime scenes. I didn't say I wouldn't let you into my briefs." Whitechapel stood between myself and the sofa hands now in his pockets. "Your instincts as good as your aunt's?" My turn to raise an eyebrow. "Officially, your aunt Jackie was the biggest pain in my arse. Unofficially my best partner." I felt the deflation of my ego as a woman at the same time an excitement traveled down my spine. I should have known better. The good detective only wanted me for my mind.
Tune in again for another installment of the Cinema Files starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Well, that's one way to get into a man's briefs.)
page 13 chapter 13
Drive-In Drama
I found myself checking my phone just after 7:30pm. I'd missed a text from Vincent. Hitting the forward button on the cd player, I had commandeered the music on the ride back as a Doors song blasted into the interior of the vehicle.
"So, you got what you need?" I asked noticing a chipped nail. Detective Whitechapel said no as his eyes darted back and forth from the rear view mirror to the windows and back again.
"The detectives running the case found nothing in the warehouse. They think someone tipped the Hosts off." he cleared his throat as he turned the corner. "I need to get invited to another event."
"A lot of work for a decoy. Come on, tell me the truth. This is your case isn't it? Not just a decoy but full on your case."
"I owe you dinner." he said trying to change the topic. I leaned back in the seat shaking my head.
"Huh. I don't understand why you can't admit when I'm right?"
"At lest I know that anything I tell you won't end up in the morning edition."
"That why you're so..." I gestured towards him. "You? My aunt's job.?"
"I was serious Desdemona, when I said the other day about not wanting to start with you now she's gone. The less I have to ban you from my crime scene coattails, the better for us both." he punctuated his point by changing the song on the cd player, letting Johnny Cash slither around us.
"Talk about your mixed messages."
"What's that suppose to mean?" he never took his eyes off the road.
"You ask me to join you on a case and scold me in the same second about not hanging around your cases."
"Totally different situations." He looked at me in the sideways way again in the rear view; his eyes sparkling under the passing streetlights. He pulled into the parking lot of the Ruthven causing me to have to catch my breath. Unbuckling his seat belt, Ryan moved in his seat just enough to have to reach over my lap for the glove compartment. The heat of his breath on my knee made me jump. Not finding what he was searching for within it's depths, he slammed it closed again. "There a keycard in the pocket there?" he nodded towards the cup holder in the door. I held up the plastic rectangle just as the driver side door slammed and I found myself in an otherwise empty car. Detective Whitechapel already standing in the parking lot. "Come on then." he gestured in that slow way of his that ironically made you feel rushed. I got out of the car as the sound of the lock beeped in my wake. "I do believe I still owe you breakfast."
"Uh dinner. It's dinner time."
"That's what I said." his eyebrows rose double time as he took the keycard from me, his free arm at my elbow. Just as we entered the hotel lobby his phone started to ring. "Oh it's the station I've got to take it." Ryan moved a few feet talking into the contraption before turning right back handing me the room key mouthing the words room 333. I found myself shaking slightly as I got off the elevator my breathing ragged knowing I was blushing. "Sorry." I felt more than heard Whitechapel as he arrived a moment later behind me from the second elevator. "Well Mrs Whitechapel." he said barely holding the smirk as he tapped the fake wedding rings we'd worn for the undercover job. "Any thoughts to what you'd like for breakfast?"
"Dinner." I said without thinking.
"Yeah, what I said."
"You do realize the restaurant is back downstairs. Yonder." the sarcasm was the only thing holding me in check keeping me from just throwing myself at him as I hooked my thumb over my shoulder.
"Haven't we had enough crowds tonight?" he replied unlocking the door to his room hitting the light switch. I watched as the room began to glow in the semi spotlights that began to flood the space in the delayed seconds. The sofa was in the middle of the room dividing it, the bed to the front of us and a table and dresser behind the sofa; the bathroom beyond that. A small styrofoam board was sitting on the sofa covered in notes and photos, two large case files beside it in place of the throw pillows. "I said I can't have you at my crime scenes. I didn't say I wouldn't let you into my briefs." Whitechapel stood between myself and the sofa hands now in his pockets. "Your instincts as good as your aunt's?" My turn to raise an eyebrow. "Officially, your aunt Jackie was the biggest pain in my arse. Unofficially my best partner." I felt the deflation of my ego as a woman at the same time an excitement traveled down my spine. I should have known better. The good detective only wanted me for my mind.
Tune in again for another installment of the Cinema Files starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Well, that's one way to get into a man's briefs.)
Sunday, November 4, 2018
The Nosferatu Adventures s13 p14
The Nosferatu Adventures
page 344, chapter 344
Instability on Stage 5
"Okay, what do you want?" Finn asked dipping his shoulder towards our heroine. "Cause he doesn't have any money, and he can't get you anything. He's really not that important." he licked his lips slapping a hand suddenly on Bryon's shoulder. Before he knew what was going on, Finn found himself in pain, trying to pull his arm away. Our heroine had sunk her teeth into his wrist as quick as a cat with a mouse.
"You're not you either. You taste wrong." she huffed as she moved past them back into the props room. Grabbing the mirror she licked it. "Mmm. Metallic."
"You're gross. And insane." Finn said holding his arm, a welt and deep pink bruise starting.
"And you are way too calm for someone who just got a chunk taken out of him." Edric retorted as he slammed his shoulder into Finn, moving past him. "Anything?"
"It's not meant to be a portal. It's meant to be just a magick mirror. That's all." our heroine said leaning one pale arm on the large mirror. Her fingernails rapping the edge of it.
"How can you tell?" Edric asked "Why aren't you panicking?" he said over his shoulder towards the taller male.
"I've had worse trust me." Finn remarked blowing on the bite.
"Aha!" our heroine's hazel eyes brightened as she pointed to the small smudges of blood. "Someone keyed it." she mumbled then as she sniffed the mirror's frame. "Bryon, you keyed it. Why did you key it?" Turning our heroine pointed at the shorter goth before hooking her thumb over her shoulder again towards the mirror.
"What?" Bryon shook his head still trying to wrap his mind around what was going on. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he gave in to the fact he was beyond clueless suddenly. Our heroine gestured towards the blood.
"The doorway. You unlocked it with your dna. Which, means, you're not you." she reached for Finn's arm again. "Oh for shacks sake." her tongue darted out over his pale flesh once more as she whispered something. The wound dried up and healed instantly.
"You keep saying that! What the hell does that mean? I'm not me? What does that even...You acted as if you knew me, but I have no idea who you are?" Bryon was starting to feel light headed all of a sudden.
"Okay, so what does this mean?" Edric asked gesturing towards the room in general. "Can we go back now?"
"Um no. If I knew what this meant, I wouldn't still be standing here looking semi confused. I'd be fixing the situation. I can't fix it if I still don't know what the problem really is." the female banshee said crossing her arms now under her chest.
"Not like there's a book of all knowing." Finn commented.
"What if there is?" our heroine's tone was soft. "Why did you say that? That's a very odd thing for you to say. You who is not you." she gestured wildly towards Finn.
"What? The Seer's spellbook?" Edric asked suddenly alert, his eyebrows raised as he shook his head in disbelief. "The one you have been panicking over because Dax wants it? The one you had us make a fake one for to switch out?"
"Um yeah."
"Who's Dax?" Finn asked.
"What's a Seer?" Bryon asked.
"So you're just going to run back home and get it?" Edric ignored them both.
"Um no."
"What then? Have them read it to you via the mirror like a phone chat?" Edric continued.
"I'm going to have it delivered like a pizza. It's going to deliver itself to be precise. If I can remember the Seer's spell." she added with less confidence. "I mean, that was so long ago. Nearly twenty years ago depending on the reality..." she started to look around the room. Moving a few feet she stood behind the large prop coffin, grabbing a handful of the fake spiderwebbing, tossing it back and forth between her hands. "Okay, Edward how'd it go? Talk to me hon, tell me all about it."
"Who she talking to?" Bryon asked.
"Herself I hope." Edric shrugged.
"So not working. New plan we stay. Okay, in the meantime, we just need to lower our profiles. Yeah, that's it." Nosferatu said in frustration.
"Or we can just go home." Edric gestured towards the mirror. He found himself on the floor suddenly laying across Bryon's feet having knocked Finn over in the process, as a bin of hats landed on them both.
"Sorry sorry. Dude, Oh shack my bad. It was glowing and started to float." Seward said as he stood there having just stumbled through the mirror. The dark haired human was holding a large canvas shopping bag in his hands, the handles drooping over them.
"See, delivered. Just not how I was expecting." our heroine smiled tilting her head to the side as she snatched the treasure from her friend.
Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures, starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Yes yes, I'm three weeks late with the story, but then again I've been running three weeks late in every area of my life lately)
page 344, chapter 344
Instability on Stage 5
"Okay, what do you want?" Finn asked dipping his shoulder towards our heroine. "Cause he doesn't have any money, and he can't get you anything. He's really not that important." he licked his lips slapping a hand suddenly on Bryon's shoulder. Before he knew what was going on, Finn found himself in pain, trying to pull his arm away. Our heroine had sunk her teeth into his wrist as quick as a cat with a mouse.
"You're not you either. You taste wrong." she huffed as she moved past them back into the props room. Grabbing the mirror she licked it. "Mmm. Metallic."
"You're gross. And insane." Finn said holding his arm, a welt and deep pink bruise starting.
"And you are way too calm for someone who just got a chunk taken out of him." Edric retorted as he slammed his shoulder into Finn, moving past him. "Anything?"
"It's not meant to be a portal. It's meant to be just a magick mirror. That's all." our heroine said leaning one pale arm on the large mirror. Her fingernails rapping the edge of it.
"How can you tell?" Edric asked "Why aren't you panicking?" he said over his shoulder towards the taller male.
"I've had worse trust me." Finn remarked blowing on the bite.
"Aha!" our heroine's hazel eyes brightened as she pointed to the small smudges of blood. "Someone keyed it." she mumbled then as she sniffed the mirror's frame. "Bryon, you keyed it. Why did you key it?" Turning our heroine pointed at the shorter goth before hooking her thumb over her shoulder again towards the mirror.
"What?" Bryon shook his head still trying to wrap his mind around what was going on. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he gave in to the fact he was beyond clueless suddenly. Our heroine gestured towards the blood.
"The doorway. You unlocked it with your dna. Which, means, you're not you." she reached for Finn's arm again. "Oh for shacks sake." her tongue darted out over his pale flesh once more as she whispered something. The wound dried up and healed instantly.
"You keep saying that! What the hell does that mean? I'm not me? What does that even...You acted as if you knew me, but I have no idea who you are?" Bryon was starting to feel light headed all of a sudden.
"Okay, so what does this mean?" Edric asked gesturing towards the room in general. "Can we go back now?"
"Um no. If I knew what this meant, I wouldn't still be standing here looking semi confused. I'd be fixing the situation. I can't fix it if I still don't know what the problem really is." the female banshee said crossing her arms now under her chest.
"Not like there's a book of all knowing." Finn commented.
"What if there is?" our heroine's tone was soft. "Why did you say that? That's a very odd thing for you to say. You who is not you." she gestured wildly towards Finn.
"What? The Seer's spellbook?" Edric asked suddenly alert, his eyebrows raised as he shook his head in disbelief. "The one you have been panicking over because Dax wants it? The one you had us make a fake one for to switch out?"
"Um yeah."
"Who's Dax?" Finn asked.
"What's a Seer?" Bryon asked.
"So you're just going to run back home and get it?" Edric ignored them both.
"Um no."
"What then? Have them read it to you via the mirror like a phone chat?" Edric continued.
"I'm going to have it delivered like a pizza. It's going to deliver itself to be precise. If I can remember the Seer's spell." she added with less confidence. "I mean, that was so long ago. Nearly twenty years ago depending on the reality..." she started to look around the room. Moving a few feet she stood behind the large prop coffin, grabbing a handful of the fake spiderwebbing, tossing it back and forth between her hands. "Okay, Edward how'd it go? Talk to me hon, tell me all about it."
"Who she talking to?" Bryon asked.
"Herself I hope." Edric shrugged.
"So not working. New plan we stay. Okay, in the meantime, we just need to lower our profiles. Yeah, that's it." Nosferatu said in frustration.
"Or we can just go home." Edric gestured towards the mirror. He found himself on the floor suddenly laying across Bryon's feet having knocked Finn over in the process, as a bin of hats landed on them both.
"Sorry sorry. Dude, Oh shack my bad. It was glowing and started to float." Seward said as he stood there having just stumbled through the mirror. The dark haired human was holding a large canvas shopping bag in his hands, the handles drooping over them.
"See, delivered. Just not how I was expecting." our heroine smiled tilting her head to the side as she snatched the treasure from her friend.
Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures, starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Yes yes, I'm three weeks late with the story, but then again I've been running three weeks late in every area of my life lately)
Sunday, October 28, 2018
2018 October Foodn'Flix
Spudguns!, it's time again for another Foodn'Flix recipe. This month's selection was hosted by our fearless leader Heather at All Roads Lead to the Kitchen; and her pick was Princess and the Frog. Now, if you've been following this blog much at all, you might remember I talked about this back in Year One of the blog. (Day 292)
plot: A young woman -Tiana, has a dream of opening her own restaurant in the heart of New Orleans in the 1920's. But it seems, every time she gets a step closer, something gets in her way. When a young prince comes to the area, her best friend's dad throws a grand ball for him, in hopes the prince will marry his daughter. Unknown to anyone, the prince has become cursed and turned into a frog. Tiana who has borrowed her friends clothes, is mistaken for a princess, and the frog prince talks her into kissing him. Only, instead of saving him, it turns her into a frog as well. The two then end up going to the local Hoodoo Priestess to help reverse the spell originally cast by the Voudon Bokor. When nothing seems to work, the two admit they have fallen in love and are willing to stay frogs as long as they can stay together. As frogs, they get married and are suddenly transformed back to humans.
notes: tea, gumbo, apples, salt, ground black pepper, hush puppies, cake, rum, eggs, bacon, ketchup, fruit, waffles, rice, coffee, honey, toast, bagels, pancakes, hot sauce, donuts, sugar, wine, soup, carrots, red peppers, mushrooms, chicken, pumpkin, crawfish, bananas foster, okra, strawberries, jelly beans, candy, garlic, herbs, flour, walnuts.
I ended up pulling my inspiration from a short scene midway through the film. The main characters are in the middle of a swamp and decide to make a gumbo from the ingredients they can forage for, which included a pumpkin. I ended up making my Pumpkin Sludge Cake.
Ingredients
2 1/2 c flour
1/2 c butter softened
1/2 c white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 c water
1/3 c spice mix (cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice)
2 c pumpkin shredded or pureed
Mix butter, sugar and salt
then add in flour, baking powder and eggs
add spice mix and water mix well
add the pumpkin
Bake at 325 degrees depending on your oven for 75 to 90 minutes
The name came from the colour the batter took on. I also topped it with a few pumpkin seeds I had roasted in salt and pumpkin spice mix.
And that's about all I've got for you today. Don't forget, you can join in next month with Foodn'Flix for A Man Called Ove, which will be hosted by Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm.
plot: A young woman -Tiana, has a dream of opening her own restaurant in the heart of New Orleans in the 1920's. But it seems, every time she gets a step closer, something gets in her way. When a young prince comes to the area, her best friend's dad throws a grand ball for him, in hopes the prince will marry his daughter. Unknown to anyone, the prince has become cursed and turned into a frog. Tiana who has borrowed her friends clothes, is mistaken for a princess, and the frog prince talks her into kissing him. Only, instead of saving him, it turns her into a frog as well. The two then end up going to the local Hoodoo Priestess to help reverse the spell originally cast by the Voudon Bokor. When nothing seems to work, the two admit they have fallen in love and are willing to stay frogs as long as they can stay together. As frogs, they get married and are suddenly transformed back to humans.
notes: tea, gumbo, apples, salt, ground black pepper, hush puppies, cake, rum, eggs, bacon, ketchup, fruit, waffles, rice, coffee, honey, toast, bagels, pancakes, hot sauce, donuts, sugar, wine, soup, carrots, red peppers, mushrooms, chicken, pumpkin, crawfish, bananas foster, okra, strawberries, jelly beans, candy, garlic, herbs, flour, walnuts.
I ended up pulling my inspiration from a short scene midway through the film. The main characters are in the middle of a swamp and decide to make a gumbo from the ingredients they can forage for, which included a pumpkin. I ended up making my Pumpkin Sludge Cake.
Ingredients2 1/2 c flour
1/2 c butter softened
1/2 c white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 c water
1/3 c spice mix (cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice)2 c pumpkin shredded or pureed
Mix butter, sugar and salt
then add in flour, baking powder and eggs
add spice mix and water mix well
add the pumpkin
Bake at 325 degrees depending on your oven for 75 to 90 minutes
The name came from the colour the batter took on. I also topped it with a few pumpkin seeds I had roasted in salt and pumpkin spice mix.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
What that Movie Inspired #78
Spudguns!, I mentioned back nearly two months ago, I had done a recipe inspired by a vampire movie. I had decided to hold off on posting because I really wanted to add it to the Hallowe'en stuff. That and I was trying to turn it into a video. Sadly for me, the video end of it just didn't come together.
The movie in question is Underworld 2 Evolution. The scene where Michael goes into the tavern and orders food, refusing to believe he's been turned into a hybrid vampire. The tavern owner puts a plate of boiled potatoes and cabbage down in front of him.
Since I had already done potatoes and cabbage for a Foodn'Flix back few years ago, I went with another potato combination. Perogies and onions.
Sort of. I stumbled across a few recipes on the Kraft Canada website for variations of perogi lasagna.
Ingredients
Mashed potatoes
Cheddar chesse
Green onion
Herb cream chesse
lasagna noodles
Cook noodles to package instructions, drain.
Mix the cheese, onion, herb cream cheese into the mashed potatoes.
Layer it like you would a normal lasagna.
Bake for about an hour at 350 degrees
depending on your oven.
The original recipe called for bacon, but I left that out given I'm vegetarian. If you do that, you should add a little butter or milk to your potatoes, because this will become extremely dry without the bacon.
The movie in question is Underworld 2 Evolution. The scene where Michael goes into the tavern and orders food, refusing to believe he's been turned into a hybrid vampire. The tavern owner puts a plate of boiled potatoes and cabbage down in front of him.
Sort of. I stumbled across a few recipes on the Kraft Canada website for variations of perogi lasagna.
IngredientsMashed potatoes
Cheddar chesse
Green onion
Herb cream chesse
lasagna noodles
Cook noodles to package instructions, drain.
Mix the cheese, onion, herb cream cheese into the mashed potatoes.
Layer it like you would a normal lasagna.
Bake for about an hour at 350 degrees
depending on your oven.
The original recipe called for bacon, but I left that out given I'm vegetarian. If you do that, you should add a little butter or milk to your potatoes, because this will become extremely dry without the bacon.
Monday, October 22, 2018
What that Movie Inspired Oct 2018
Spudguns!, I've got one of the very long awaited recipes for the season. Inspired by the Munsters, I give you "Lily's Black Widow Tea".
This is inspired mostly by the 1996 movie Munster's Scary Little Christmas and the scene where Lily is offering Santa a cup of tea; which to his horror is made from the venom of black widow spiders. But, throughout the series Lily Munster was often heard talking about a nice cup of black widow's tea. This has been brewing in the back of my mind for months, and to be honest, it took me awhile to get the flavours right.
Ingredients
Silken Pu'erh
Organic Rooibos
Cinnamon sticks
Whole cloves
Dried blueberries
Black peppercorns ground and whole
I was making enough for 1 cup, so I only put a teaspoon of the Pu'erh and Rooibos each, 1 cinnamon stick crushed, about 1 teaspoon cloves, 5 large dried blueberries, and roughly a teaspoon of the black peppercorns.
Let it steep for 8 minutes. That will allow it to get a nice dark colour to it.
What you end up with is a rich spicy tea, that leaves a bit of a kick in your throat from the peppercorns; much in the flavour of a gingerbread.
As I said, it took me a long while to get the flavour combination right, as there were a few failed attempts with other loose leaf teas as the base note. Some were too bitter, some too sweet, others overpowered the rest of the ingredients.
That's it for the moment. I've got a few other recipes coming at you in a few days.
Ingredients
Silken Pu'erh
Organic Rooibos
Cinnamon sticks
Whole cloves
Dried blueberries
Black peppercorns ground and whole
Let it steep for 8 minutes. That will allow it to get a nice dark colour to it.
What you end up with is a rich spicy tea, that leaves a bit of a kick in your throat from the peppercorns; much in the flavour of a gingerbread.
As I said, it took me a long while to get the flavour combination right, as there were a few failed attempts with other loose leaf teas as the base note. Some were too bitter, some too sweet, others overpowered the rest of the ingredients.
That's it for the moment. I've got a few other recipes coming at you in a few days.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
coffee talk oct 7th 2018
Spudguns!, we're 24 Days till Hallowe'en, and I'm feeling like my To Do List, is never going to reach any sort of end. Things just keep piling up more and more.
If you've been following me for any amount of time, you know I'm a big fan of Charmed. I'm actually looking forward to the new reboot next week. In fact, I spent the last few months re-watching the original series ready to compare notes. And realized that I missed an opportunity to have done a big review of the series. That shows you where my zombie eaten brains have been lately.
There will be no serial this week. I'll do my best to have both up next week for you though. (weekend of October 14th 2018)
That's about it for the moment. I hope to be back middle of the week with some of the Hallowe'en posts.
If you've been following me for any amount of time, you know I'm a big fan of Charmed. I'm actually looking forward to the new reboot next week. In fact, I spent the last few months re-watching the original series ready to compare notes. And realized that I missed an opportunity to have done a big review of the series. That shows you where my zombie eaten brains have been lately.
There will be no serial this week. I'll do my best to have both up next week for you though. (weekend of October 14th 2018)
That's about it for the moment. I hope to be back middle of the week with some of the Hallowe'en posts.
Monday, October 1, 2018
The Nosferatu Adventures s13 p13
The Nosferatu Adventures
page 343, chapter 343
Instability on Stage 5
Finn reached out and slapped the little silver box hard with his palm, causing the high pitched beeping to finally stop. Rolling over in the bed, the male yawned as he threw the covers off. He really hated mornings. Swearing, his left hand then slammed hard into the door frame as he nearly tripped over one of the cats. The large tabby hissed as it jumped up from it's spot on the floor, racing out into the hallway. Closing his own emerald coloured eyes, Finn rotated his shoulders trying to get the kinks out. Walking past the bathroom he told the locked door to hurry up as he continued on towards the kitchen. "Ah you little shacking..." he shook his head as he spotted the trash knocked over and two of the black cats guarding their treasure. The two felines were batting around a large piece of watermelon rind like a couple of hockey players. "If I go into the other room and see the jar of catnip empty you're both in big trouble." Peeking into the dimly lit living room, Finn swore once again as he saw not only the jar of catnip knocked off the shelf, but tiny paw prints having left a trail of spilled oils leading around the window seat.
"By the way, your cats got into my stuff again." Bryon said too casually as he walked out of the bathroom and into the living room; which looked like it belonged on the set of a late night B-movie. Grabbing a silver skull shaped lighter off the coffee table which itself was coffin shaped, the dark haired goth lit a cigarette.
"And you didn't bother to clean any of it up?" Finn asked crossing his arms over his chest. The shorter male shrugged as he backed out of the room, moving his hands in circles.
"They're your cats." Bryon tossed the sentence over his shoulder, his teeth clenched tight around the stem of the cigarette. Smoke rippled from his nose as he did, putting Finn in mind of a dragon. Letting out a sigh himself, Finn dropped his arms before following his friend back into the kitchen. Leaning on the edge of the counter, the taller male changed the topic.
"Your groupies were by again last night." his short hair was the colour of wet sand streaked with grey and sun-bleached blonde. "You really need to take care of that. I can't keep covering for you." Finn commented as he tore a few paper towels off the roll and began cleaning up the trash.
"Just keep the doors locked. No big deal." Bryon replied as he stumped out the end of the cigarette pouring himself a glass of juice.
"It's a funeral home. Not really an option." he stretched his arm around one of the black cats as it purred contentedly licking it's whiskers. Finn rested his forehead against the top of the cat's head, making a soft purring sound himself.
"Sure you can. After 7pm, you lock the doors. No one needs to be there after that."
"Um...whatever man." Finn mumbled as he stood back up shooing the cats out of the way. "Look, my car's in the shop. I need to grab a ride to work with you."
"Okay. We just need to stop by the television studio on the way. I left my script there and I need to learn my lines before tonight."
Forty-Five minutes later...
The hearse: the one with the company logo, pulled up into the parking lot of the television studio; as Bryon checked his hair in the rear view once more before climbing out. Finn was nearly on his heels as he followed.
"I'm coming with you. Make sure you don't get sidetracked anymore than you already have." he pointed at the shorter goth as they crossed the threshold of the lobby. Tilting his chin, Finn pulled the little round sunglasses down his nose as he gazed around the place. The studio was empty and lent itself to a creepy feeling. "Any idea where you left it?"
"I must have dropped it in the props room." Bryon commented as he turned towards the hallway leading to it. Finn nearly slammed into his friend as he turned the corner to find Bryon hesitating at the doorway of the props room.
"We going in or what?"
"Yeah, just waiting for you." the tone was suppose to be sarcastic but came across with more queasiness than it should. He spotted the script about a foot from the edge of the mirror, but didn't move to collect it. The dark haired goth gulped a large amount of air rubbing his palms over his jeans.
"Are you alright?" Finn asked as he walked around the props room playing with rubber swords and feeling up the crushed velvet curtains that hung over a chair. "For the love of...lazy." Finn mumbled as he scooped up the script handing it to his friend. "Here you go my Highness." Snatching it from him, Bryon screwed up his nose before turning on his heels desperate to leave the room. "What is with you today?" Finn asked as they stepped out of the props room and back into the hallway; promptly slamming into someone.
"Bryon." Our heroine said smiling.
"See, groupies." Finn gestured towards our heroine and Edric.
"Oh my god, Finn." our heroine reached over hugging the taller male.
Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story. Yeah, I know I'm over a week late with it.)
page 343, chapter 343
Instability on Stage 5
Finn reached out and slapped the little silver box hard with his palm, causing the high pitched beeping to finally stop. Rolling over in the bed, the male yawned as he threw the covers off. He really hated mornings. Swearing, his left hand then slammed hard into the door frame as he nearly tripped over one of the cats. The large tabby hissed as it jumped up from it's spot on the floor, racing out into the hallway. Closing his own emerald coloured eyes, Finn rotated his shoulders trying to get the kinks out. Walking past the bathroom he told the locked door to hurry up as he continued on towards the kitchen. "Ah you little shacking..." he shook his head as he spotted the trash knocked over and two of the black cats guarding their treasure. The two felines were batting around a large piece of watermelon rind like a couple of hockey players. "If I go into the other room and see the jar of catnip empty you're both in big trouble." Peeking into the dimly lit living room, Finn swore once again as he saw not only the jar of catnip knocked off the shelf, but tiny paw prints having left a trail of spilled oils leading around the window seat.
"By the way, your cats got into my stuff again." Bryon said too casually as he walked out of the bathroom and into the living room; which looked like it belonged on the set of a late night B-movie. Grabbing a silver skull shaped lighter off the coffee table which itself was coffin shaped, the dark haired goth lit a cigarette.
"And you didn't bother to clean any of it up?" Finn asked crossing his arms over his chest. The shorter male shrugged as he backed out of the room, moving his hands in circles.
"They're your cats." Bryon tossed the sentence over his shoulder, his teeth clenched tight around the stem of the cigarette. Smoke rippled from his nose as he did, putting Finn in mind of a dragon. Letting out a sigh himself, Finn dropped his arms before following his friend back into the kitchen. Leaning on the edge of the counter, the taller male changed the topic.
"Your groupies were by again last night." his short hair was the colour of wet sand streaked with grey and sun-bleached blonde. "You really need to take care of that. I can't keep covering for you." Finn commented as he tore a few paper towels off the roll and began cleaning up the trash.
"Just keep the doors locked. No big deal." Bryon replied as he stumped out the end of the cigarette pouring himself a glass of juice.
"It's a funeral home. Not really an option." he stretched his arm around one of the black cats as it purred contentedly licking it's whiskers. Finn rested his forehead against the top of the cat's head, making a soft purring sound himself.
"Sure you can. After 7pm, you lock the doors. No one needs to be there after that."
"Um...whatever man." Finn mumbled as he stood back up shooing the cats out of the way. "Look, my car's in the shop. I need to grab a ride to work with you."
"Okay. We just need to stop by the television studio on the way. I left my script there and I need to learn my lines before tonight."
Forty-Five minutes later...
The hearse: the one with the company logo, pulled up into the parking lot of the television studio; as Bryon checked his hair in the rear view once more before climbing out. Finn was nearly on his heels as he followed.
"I'm coming with you. Make sure you don't get sidetracked anymore than you already have." he pointed at the shorter goth as they crossed the threshold of the lobby. Tilting his chin, Finn pulled the little round sunglasses down his nose as he gazed around the place. The studio was empty and lent itself to a creepy feeling. "Any idea where you left it?"
"I must have dropped it in the props room." Bryon commented as he turned towards the hallway leading to it. Finn nearly slammed into his friend as he turned the corner to find Bryon hesitating at the doorway of the props room.
"We going in or what?"
"Yeah, just waiting for you." the tone was suppose to be sarcastic but came across with more queasiness than it should. He spotted the script about a foot from the edge of the mirror, but didn't move to collect it. The dark haired goth gulped a large amount of air rubbing his palms over his jeans.
"Are you alright?" Finn asked as he walked around the props room playing with rubber swords and feeling up the crushed velvet curtains that hung over a chair. "For the love of...lazy." Finn mumbled as he scooped up the script handing it to his friend. "Here you go my Highness." Snatching it from him, Bryon screwed up his nose before turning on his heels desperate to leave the room. "What is with you today?" Finn asked as they stepped out of the props room and back into the hallway; promptly slamming into someone.
"Bryon." Our heroine said smiling.
"See, groupies." Finn gestured towards our heroine and Edric.
"Oh my god, Finn." our heroine reached over hugging the taller male.
Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story. Yeah, I know I'm over a week late with it.)
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Sept 2018 Food n Flix
This is going to be the most informal Food n'Flix post I've ever done.
I've had a crappy week my lovely Spudguns!. I really hope your's has been decent. September 2018 marks the 8th anniversary of Foodn'Flix. The first year I joined in; which was 2015, when September rolled around we were allowed to do a viewer's choice. And at that point, I did a 4 movie combo with a common theme. I also went with 4 different recipes. So of course, the second our fearless leader Heather said that this month would once again be a viewer's choice month and hosted by the official Food n'Flix blog, allowing us to pick any of the previously viewed months' movies; I knew I wanted to do something like that again. So I quickly picked my four dvds Eat Pray Love, Under the Tuscan Sun, Ramen Girl and Julie/Julia. I had a common theme - starting over. In Julie/Julia, the characters move for their husband's jobs. In Under the Tuscan Sun and Eat Pray Love, the characters move because of a divorce. In Ramen Girl, she moves for her boyfriend's job only to end up getting dumped and stranded. I even had a common food link this time...eggs. What I didn't really have was the recipe.
I knew that the movie Eat Pray Love, had a scene where the lead character is shown making herself a simple plate of food on a lazy Sunday morning, that included olives, cheese, bread with olive oil, grapes, prosciutto, asparagus and a hard boiled egg. The movie Ramen Girl, has a quick shot of a bowl of ramen containing noodles, broth, greens, pork and a soft boiled egg being placed in front of the Master for his approval. The movie Julie/Julia has a scene where our lead character is hovering over a large pot trying to get one perfect poached egg while arguing with her best friend. And the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, has an egg shaped blue vase that the lead character clings to for her sanity. Each scene represented a major turning point for the characters involved.
Now, normally, when I do a Food n'Flix post, I give you a detailed account of the food throughout the entire film. I can't this time. Even had I chosen one of the movies and not the whole lot, there is just too much food to keep up with in each. From chocolate cake, wine, grapes, garlic, cheese, fish, noodles, bruschetta, onions, duck, stew, breads, leeks, pizza, tea, olives, ice cream, to tomatoes, peppers, pork, rice, and of course the eggs; these films were jam packed. And that's just naming a few.
But it was the eggs that stood out in my mind. Each egg scene -seen, came with a lesson for the character.
"Eat Pray Love"- The egg is seen as part of the basic meal our lead character makes for herself. It represents her accepting solitude. The character had been looking at a fancy nightgown while out with friends, and when her friend tells her to buy it, she as "For whom?" her friend replies "For you." We then see the lead character sitting on the floor in the fancy nightgown with her egg plate, having for the first time accepted that she's going to be okay single. She's finally accepted the company of herself as being enough. Up to this point, she's never been without a relationship. It's also the first time in the film we see her cook. Up till then, all her meals have been out at restaurants or at other people's houses.
"Ramen Girl" - The egg is delivered here two separate ways. The physical egg is shown in a bowl of ramen but not by our lead. Instead, it's a minor male character whom serves the Grand Master Chef in order to get his approval. When it's the lead character's turn to serve her bowl of ramen, she's gone off recipe. The Master then tells her she's yet to learn what she needs to know. The lead character's struggle throughout the film is learning to make order out of chaos. It isn't until the day she leaves town, and is handed a large red egg shaped lantern, that she finally gets the approval she's been waiting for. And has discovered the balance within the design/plating of the ramen bowl. Up to that point, she managed to learn technique but without soul. For her, it was representing restraint and balance.
"Under the Tuscan Sun" - Still hurting from her divorce, our lead character grabs an egg shaped blue glass vase as she moves out. She chooses to let her ex husband have everything else, but for some odd reason of defiance, she dumps out the contents of the vase and takes it with her. She keeps it for the first few years as she moves from a rundown apartment to her villa in Italy. Later on, she grabs it throwing it against the wall shattering it. Releasing herself from her hate, desperation and pain. The egg vase in this case represents the cycles of relationships. She first takes it when depressed at the end of her marriage, and breaks it at the beginning of her neighbours' marriage. The egg lesson here is healing and love.
Eggs have always represented beginnings and endings, fertility and protection.
So after all that what did I make? I had made deviled eggs, (basic egg yolk, mayo, salt, pepper and paprika) but they were just so ugly. Then I remembered the line from Julie/Julia, where the character is taking about how she decided to tackle the poached eggs on a day when nothing in her life seemed to be going well.
So, I ended up making poached eggs. Which, were far far less than perfect. And paired it with a quick instant ramen and green veggies. So, not really a recipe this time around, but just what the day needed. Ugly eggs to comfort at the end of a bad week.
That's all I've got for you this time. Yes, I know, not the usual way I like to do Food n'Flix, but it's what I have to offer this time around. Don't forget to join us next month, when once again, Heather from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen, will be hosting. The selection will be the Disney movie Princess and the Frog.
I've had a crappy week my lovely Spudguns!. I really hope your's has been decent. September 2018 marks the 8th anniversary of Foodn'Flix. The first year I joined in; which was 2015, when September rolled around we were allowed to do a viewer's choice. And at that point, I did a 4 movie combo with a common theme. I also went with 4 different recipes. So of course, the second our fearless leader Heather said that this month would once again be a viewer's choice month and hosted by the official Food n'Flix blog, allowing us to pick any of the previously viewed months' movies; I knew I wanted to do something like that again. So I quickly picked my four dvds Eat Pray Love, Under the Tuscan Sun, Ramen Girl and Julie/Julia. I had a common theme - starting over. In Julie/Julia, the characters move for their husband's jobs. In Under the Tuscan Sun and Eat Pray Love, the characters move because of a divorce. In Ramen Girl, she moves for her boyfriend's job only to end up getting dumped and stranded. I even had a common food link this time...eggs. What I didn't really have was the recipe.
I knew that the movie Eat Pray Love, had a scene where the lead character is shown making herself a simple plate of food on a lazy Sunday morning, that included olives, cheese, bread with olive oil, grapes, prosciutto, asparagus and a hard boiled egg. The movie Ramen Girl, has a quick shot of a bowl of ramen containing noodles, broth, greens, pork and a soft boiled egg being placed in front of the Master for his approval. The movie Julie/Julia has a scene where our lead character is hovering over a large pot trying to get one perfect poached egg while arguing with her best friend. And the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, has an egg shaped blue vase that the lead character clings to for her sanity. Each scene represented a major turning point for the characters involved.
Now, normally, when I do a Food n'Flix post, I give you a detailed account of the food throughout the entire film. I can't this time. Even had I chosen one of the movies and not the whole lot, there is just too much food to keep up with in each. From chocolate cake, wine, grapes, garlic, cheese, fish, noodles, bruschetta, onions, duck, stew, breads, leeks, pizza, tea, olives, ice cream, to tomatoes, peppers, pork, rice, and of course the eggs; these films were jam packed. And that's just naming a few.
But it was the eggs that stood out in my mind. Each egg scene -seen, came with a lesson for the character.
"Eat Pray Love"- The egg is seen as part of the basic meal our lead character makes for herself. It represents her accepting solitude. The character had been looking at a fancy nightgown while out with friends, and when her friend tells her to buy it, she as "For whom?" her friend replies "For you." We then see the lead character sitting on the floor in the fancy nightgown with her egg plate, having for the first time accepted that she's going to be okay single. She's finally accepted the company of herself as being enough. Up to this point, she's never been without a relationship. It's also the first time in the film we see her cook. Up till then, all her meals have been out at restaurants or at other people's houses.
"Julie/Julia" - The character of Julie has stated near the beginning of the film, that she's never eaten an egg as is. The eggs are done as a bit of a group effort. We see her, her husband and best friend standing in their tiny kitchen, sweating over the idea of making the perfect poached eggs. Which they seem to do. This is the big learning curve moment of truth for our lead as she admits to her desires and envies. It's the first moment she has any real confidence. It's also the first meal she's cooked we see her share with her friends, as well as the first time we see her really being taught by the cookbook. It represents her confidence and what would end up being her celebrity.
"Ramen Girl" - The egg is delivered here two separate ways. The physical egg is shown in a bowl of ramen but not by our lead. Instead, it's a minor male character whom serves the Grand Master Chef in order to get his approval. When it's the lead character's turn to serve her bowl of ramen, she's gone off recipe. The Master then tells her she's yet to learn what she needs to know. The lead character's struggle throughout the film is learning to make order out of chaos. It isn't until the day she leaves town, and is handed a large red egg shaped lantern, that she finally gets the approval she's been waiting for. And has discovered the balance within the design/plating of the ramen bowl. Up to that point, she managed to learn technique but without soul. For her, it was representing restraint and balance.
"Under the Tuscan Sun" - Still hurting from her divorce, our lead character grabs an egg shaped blue glass vase as she moves out. She chooses to let her ex husband have everything else, but for some odd reason of defiance, she dumps out the contents of the vase and takes it with her. She keeps it for the first few years as she moves from a rundown apartment to her villa in Italy. Later on, she grabs it throwing it against the wall shattering it. Releasing herself from her hate, desperation and pain. The egg vase in this case represents the cycles of relationships. She first takes it when depressed at the end of her marriage, and breaks it at the beginning of her neighbours' marriage. The egg lesson here is healing and love.
Eggs have always represented beginnings and endings, fertility and protection.
So after all that what did I make? I had made deviled eggs, (basic egg yolk, mayo, salt, pepper and paprika) but they were just so ugly. Then I remembered the line from Julie/Julia, where the character is taking about how she decided to tackle the poached eggs on a day when nothing in her life seemed to be going well.
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Cinema Files s1 p 12
Cinema Files
page 12, chapter 12
Drive-In Drama
I stood on the middle of the parking lot just before 4pm, smoothing down the edge of the grey trenchcoat nervously. Honestly, I don't know what was causing the butterflies more; the fact I was on an official case or that I didn't want Ryan to bump into Rudolph. Or Rudolph to bump into Ryan for that matter. It was becoming very clear, that none of the men in my life really seemed to want me hanging around any of the others. All for different reasons of course, but still. My jitters were intensified when the sleek black car drove up; letting the sounds of the overly motorized window fill the air as it was opened. Detective Whitechapel smiled his too wicked smirk as he nodded for me to get in.
"You look nice." the words were spoken without a hint of sarcasm. "So our cover story is really basic. We've been together four years, we met when I came into your video store."
"We did meet when you came into the video store." I commented without thinking. Ryan winked at me. I swear, even his facial ticks had a British accent. "And what do you do for a living? Should anyone ask. As I'm assuming you're undercover."
"I am a lowly office worker who pushes paperclips and counts copy ink." he said turning off the cd player. He'd been listening to a jazz cd when he'd pulled up. "You assume right. The team has been trying to get these guys for awhile now. A couple of embezzlers. No one's been able to get close enough to them yet." he guided the car onto the freeway.
"Wait. You said we were just the decoy." I replied as I squinted trying to see the scenery and cars zipping past us, but the tinted windows were too dark.
"We are." he went quiet again for a moment, unsure if he should be telling me much more of the actual case. "Look, Desdemona, all I need is for you to play the part of the doting wife. The main guy is all about family values and the whole suburban lifestyle. Smile, keep it simple like what your book club is reading..."
"I'm not in a book club."
"...talk about your favourite meatloaf recipe..."
"I'm vegetarian."
"...and whatever else wives find interesting."
"I'm not married."
"Tonight my dear, you are." Ryan winked at me again. "Since when?"
"Since when what?" I asked flipping now through the few cds he had sitting between us on the seat.
"Vegetarian?" Ryan shifted in his seat before looking at me in the rear view.
"Since college many many moons ago." I stopped flipping through the cds nearly laughing suddenly. "It's a bbq we're going to isn't it?" I watched as he blushed. "Don't worry I'm sure I won't die if I miss one meal."
I found myself staring at a painting just outside the hosts bathroom, a half glass of wine in hand as I waited for Detective Whitechapel to return. He'd been ushered into the company of half the husbands in the neighbourhood seconds after we had gotten there. I was left to awkwardly try to figure out how to fit in with the wives while Ryan traded tips on how to keep the car wax from smudging. It was like high school only with bank accounts. Not only did our hosts buy into the suburban ideal, it was like they were Stepfords. A total paint by numbers version of what suburban life looked like in movies. I immediately thought of that scene in Edward Scissorhands where they throw the big bbq and all the horny housewives are feeding him trying to get his attention. Each one of them trying to outdo the other while not appearing like they were. That's how these neighbourhood wives seemed to be. Each had a mommy and me group they were running, each seemed to be on the council for this or that at the school making it seem way more important than it should have been. Ryan's plan to fit in failed to account for the fact I could pass as a doting wife, but there was no way in hell I could pass as a soccer mom. I was politely snubbed the second I stepped foot over the threshold. The sliding door to the backyard opened up suddenly, allowing not only the host husband and Ryan back into the house, but the sounds of the party itself. Detective Whitechapel was beside me in a half a heartbeat, his arm snuggly around my waist. I had worn a basic black pants that draped in a mini flare from the knees down, and a black and white floral print sleeveless shirt. Of which I had just bought two hours before. All the other Stepford Mums were dressed in vintage style cocktail dresses. The kind that are all the rage with the rockabilly crowd.
"Did you learn anything new?" I asked still staring at the painting. It was of a goat standing in the middle of a fishing boat, the waters calm and reflective.
"Only that I could use another beer." Ryan said nodding to the host husband. We watched as he went back out to the patio getting one from the cooler nearest the pool. "I might need you to play the loving wife a bit longer. I need to get invited to another get together."
Tune in again for another installment of the Cinema Files starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Stuck in an unfriendly group at dinner time. Talk about fresh hell.)
page 12, chapter 12
Drive-In Drama
I stood on the middle of the parking lot just before 4pm, smoothing down the edge of the grey trenchcoat nervously. Honestly, I don't know what was causing the butterflies more; the fact I was on an official case or that I didn't want Ryan to bump into Rudolph. Or Rudolph to bump into Ryan for that matter. It was becoming very clear, that none of the men in my life really seemed to want me hanging around any of the others. All for different reasons of course, but still. My jitters were intensified when the sleek black car drove up; letting the sounds of the overly motorized window fill the air as it was opened. Detective Whitechapel smiled his too wicked smirk as he nodded for me to get in.
"You look nice." the words were spoken without a hint of sarcasm. "So our cover story is really basic. We've been together four years, we met when I came into your video store."
"We did meet when you came into the video store." I commented without thinking. Ryan winked at me. I swear, even his facial ticks had a British accent. "And what do you do for a living? Should anyone ask. As I'm assuming you're undercover."
"I am a lowly office worker who pushes paperclips and counts copy ink." he said turning off the cd player. He'd been listening to a jazz cd when he'd pulled up. "You assume right. The team has been trying to get these guys for awhile now. A couple of embezzlers. No one's been able to get close enough to them yet." he guided the car onto the freeway.
"Wait. You said we were just the decoy." I replied as I squinted trying to see the scenery and cars zipping past us, but the tinted windows were too dark.
"We are." he went quiet again for a moment, unsure if he should be telling me much more of the actual case. "Look, Desdemona, all I need is for you to play the part of the doting wife. The main guy is all about family values and the whole suburban lifestyle. Smile, keep it simple like what your book club is reading..."
"I'm not in a book club."
"...talk about your favourite meatloaf recipe..."
"I'm vegetarian."
"...and whatever else wives find interesting."
"I'm not married."
"Tonight my dear, you are." Ryan winked at me again. "Since when?"
"Since when what?" I asked flipping now through the few cds he had sitting between us on the seat.
"Vegetarian?" Ryan shifted in his seat before looking at me in the rear view.
"Since college many many moons ago." I stopped flipping through the cds nearly laughing suddenly. "It's a bbq we're going to isn't it?" I watched as he blushed. "Don't worry I'm sure I won't die if I miss one meal."
I found myself staring at a painting just outside the hosts bathroom, a half glass of wine in hand as I waited for Detective Whitechapel to return. He'd been ushered into the company of half the husbands in the neighbourhood seconds after we had gotten there. I was left to awkwardly try to figure out how to fit in with the wives while Ryan traded tips on how to keep the car wax from smudging. It was like high school only with bank accounts. Not only did our hosts buy into the suburban ideal, it was like they were Stepfords. A total paint by numbers version of what suburban life looked like in movies. I immediately thought of that scene in Edward Scissorhands where they throw the big bbq and all the horny housewives are feeding him trying to get his attention. Each one of them trying to outdo the other while not appearing like they were. That's how these neighbourhood wives seemed to be. Each had a mommy and me group they were running, each seemed to be on the council for this or that at the school making it seem way more important than it should have been. Ryan's plan to fit in failed to account for the fact I could pass as a doting wife, but there was no way in hell I could pass as a soccer mom. I was politely snubbed the second I stepped foot over the threshold. The sliding door to the backyard opened up suddenly, allowing not only the host husband and Ryan back into the house, but the sounds of the party itself. Detective Whitechapel was beside me in a half a heartbeat, his arm snuggly around my waist. I had worn a basic black pants that draped in a mini flare from the knees down, and a black and white floral print sleeveless shirt. Of which I had just bought two hours before. All the other Stepford Mums were dressed in vintage style cocktail dresses. The kind that are all the rage with the rockabilly crowd.
"Did you learn anything new?" I asked still staring at the painting. It was of a goat standing in the middle of a fishing boat, the waters calm and reflective.
"Only that I could use another beer." Ryan said nodding to the host husband. We watched as he went back out to the patio getting one from the cooler nearest the pool. "I might need you to play the loving wife a bit longer. I need to get invited to another get together."
Tune in again for another installment of the Cinema Files starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Stuck in an unfriendly group at dinner time. Talk about fresh hell.)
Sunday, September 9, 2018
The Nosferatu Adventures s13 p12
The Nosferatu Adventures
page 342, chapter 342
Instability on Stage 5
Bryon cracked his neck as he let out a deep breath wringing his hands as he turned to look over his shoulder at the mirror.
Out of Time
An hour ago...
Our heroine, Edric and Vlad arrived back at Quentin's warehouse, Vlad refusing to even look at Nosferatu. The scene at the corner store had been stupid of her, and she knew it. The three stopped nearly in unison as they got closer to the building. For Edric it had only been a few weeks since he had last been there, but for our heroine years had past. She'd forgotten just how small the building actually was. But it was the smells hot in the air that caused the trio to stop cold. The female banshee snarled as she took a step forward, her top fangs suddenly exposed. Edric had no idea what was going on as he watched Vlad grab her by the waist pulling her back. The door opened suddenly but only a crack as the hellhound mix came bounding out of the doorway, Arthur behind. He turned locking the door, while the little furball strained against the leash.
"Keeping secrets are we?" Nosferatu snorted nodding her head in the direction of the building. She could smell the creature still inside. "Get off me." she shrugged off Vlad's embrace. Her stride was solid as she moved then towards Arthur. Sniffing our heroine spat at his feet, causing Twilight to yelp as the beast got out of the way; cowering behind Arthur's legs. "Unlock the door before I break it." her tone was just on the edge of becoming a roar. She sniffed again, this time because the hot smell of dog urine was now in the air. Twilight had decided the nearest edge of the wall was a good enough place as any to go since it seemed there would be no walk now. The little hellhound mix started jumping up and down his front paws treading air as he barked feverishly. He had so much to tell the female caretaker. "Why is that mutt still even here?" our heroine snorted in frustration gesturing mindlessly at Twilight. "Shouldn't it have gone back to hell or something when I lost that baby? Huh? Or when Odin returned the others to their reality?"
"Loki created it here in this reality. You know this." Vlad's own voice held a scolding to it. The hellhound stopped yelping and turned to look at the male as it sneezed then shivered. Twilight didn't understand the rest of what was said, but he did know it was said silently between Vlad and Nosferatu without them moving their lips. Our heroine had ripped the key chain out of Arthur's hand and was already inside. Stomping across the room like an angry child set on destruction, our heroine threw back the curtains to expose the large portable tub.
"So this is what bit you." she sighed in disgust, her eyes flashing the pure white of the banshee. "A water sprite. How in the hell did a water sprite even get here to this reality?" the words were barely out of her mouth as she spotted the books and pages scattered across the dinning table and the rippling energy of the not fully closed portal. Her spine seemed to fuse together as a cold sweat broke out over her flesh. They needed to close the portal completely before Dax realized it was open. Our heroine could not risk the familiar discovering it and using it to cross into this reality.
"I was trying to bring you back." Arthur's words were barely a breath. Our heroine let out another deep sigh as she pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger.
"You could have gotten yourself killed. Like no coming back dead. Had a mermaid come through your little portal here and not just some mire sprite...stupid." she swore under her breath in a language that made the sprite giggle. "And what do you have to say for yourself?" she was now addressing the sprite. "Huh?" our heroine let her hand slap her thigh as she gestured towards the portal. "Why come through? What it was shinny so you had to touch?"
"It opened before me. I fell into it by accident." she said in the same language that had just made her giggle, her voice echoing like forgotten windchimes.
"Well, you're going back so don't get too comfortable. Do you have a name?" The sprite just shook her head. "No of course not cause that would make sense and why would we want to do that?" another deep sigh of frustration from our heroine as she crossed back to the others. But before she could say anything else, the group found themselves starring in silent shock as a man dressed in all black fell out of the portal.
Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Water, mirrors, glass, blood...)
page 342, chapter 342
Instability on Stage 5
Bryon cracked his neck as he let out a deep breath wringing his hands as he turned to look over his shoulder at the mirror.
Out of Time
An hour ago...
Our heroine, Edric and Vlad arrived back at Quentin's warehouse, Vlad refusing to even look at Nosferatu. The scene at the corner store had been stupid of her, and she knew it. The three stopped nearly in unison as they got closer to the building. For Edric it had only been a few weeks since he had last been there, but for our heroine years had past. She'd forgotten just how small the building actually was. But it was the smells hot in the air that caused the trio to stop cold. The female banshee snarled as she took a step forward, her top fangs suddenly exposed. Edric had no idea what was going on as he watched Vlad grab her by the waist pulling her back. The door opened suddenly but only a crack as the hellhound mix came bounding out of the doorway, Arthur behind. He turned locking the door, while the little furball strained against the leash.
"Keeping secrets are we?" Nosferatu snorted nodding her head in the direction of the building. She could smell the creature still inside. "Get off me." she shrugged off Vlad's embrace. Her stride was solid as she moved then towards Arthur. Sniffing our heroine spat at his feet, causing Twilight to yelp as the beast got out of the way; cowering behind Arthur's legs. "Unlock the door before I break it." her tone was just on the edge of becoming a roar. She sniffed again, this time because the hot smell of dog urine was now in the air. Twilight had decided the nearest edge of the wall was a good enough place as any to go since it seemed there would be no walk now. The little hellhound mix started jumping up and down his front paws treading air as he barked feverishly. He had so much to tell the female caretaker. "Why is that mutt still even here?" our heroine snorted in frustration gesturing mindlessly at Twilight. "Shouldn't it have gone back to hell or something when I lost that baby? Huh? Or when Odin returned the others to their reality?"
"Loki created it here in this reality. You know this." Vlad's own voice held a scolding to it. The hellhound stopped yelping and turned to look at the male as it sneezed then shivered. Twilight didn't understand the rest of what was said, but he did know it was said silently between Vlad and Nosferatu without them moving their lips. Our heroine had ripped the key chain out of Arthur's hand and was already inside. Stomping across the room like an angry child set on destruction, our heroine threw back the curtains to expose the large portable tub.
"So this is what bit you." she sighed in disgust, her eyes flashing the pure white of the banshee. "A water sprite. How in the hell did a water sprite even get here to this reality?" the words were barely out of her mouth as she spotted the books and pages scattered across the dinning table and the rippling energy of the not fully closed portal. Her spine seemed to fuse together as a cold sweat broke out over her flesh. They needed to close the portal completely before Dax realized it was open. Our heroine could not risk the familiar discovering it and using it to cross into this reality.
"I was trying to bring you back." Arthur's words were barely a breath. Our heroine let out another deep sigh as she pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger.
"You could have gotten yourself killed. Like no coming back dead. Had a mermaid come through your little portal here and not just some mire sprite...stupid." she swore under her breath in a language that made the sprite giggle. "And what do you have to say for yourself?" she was now addressing the sprite. "Huh?" our heroine let her hand slap her thigh as she gestured towards the portal. "Why come through? What it was shinny so you had to touch?"
"It opened before me. I fell into it by accident." she said in the same language that had just made her giggle, her voice echoing like forgotten windchimes.
"Well, you're going back so don't get too comfortable. Do you have a name?" The sprite just shook her head. "No of course not cause that would make sense and why would we want to do that?" another deep sigh of frustration from our heroine as she crossed back to the others. But before she could say anything else, the group found themselves starring in silent shock as a man dressed in all black fell out of the portal.
Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Water, mirrors, glass, blood...)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)