And just 10 minutes after I posted about being super beardy, I trimmed it back down to a reasonable length. It really was getting too unruly and was starting to bug me.
The aftermath …
The plan is to grow it back out when I can actually go get it trimmed and shaped by a professional.
Side Note: It’s kinda sad when you can grow way more hair on your face than you can on the top of your head. Damn you, male pattern baldness!
Bah! It seems I am posting more infrequently now. Is it my mood? Probably. Is it also that nothing super exciting is going on since we are still not really able to go about as freely and hang out with friends like the old days. Yep. And, it’s sad to think that the “old days” of normal life were just six months ago. It feels like 60 years ago.
Events of the past few weeks:
– Have gotten totally obsessed with collecting all the official recordings of Sunset Boulevard.
– Finally got a copy of Cocteau Twins’ Four Calendar Cafe on vinyl.
– Been crushing hard on the new Róisín Murphy album, Róisín Machine.
– Helped Michelle (no longer a refugee) set up various items for her new house here.
– Ate too much pizza.
– Binge watched The Haunting of Bly Manor and didn’t really like it.
– Got shat on by a pigeon.
– Turned 49.
I stopped trimming my beard quite a few months ago. So, now it’s the longest it has ever been … and it’s so unruly. I really need a professional trim/shaping but I am too paranoid to go to a barber and sit there unmasked while doing their work. I have been thinking about trimming it back down to a reasonable length but just haven’t worked up the nerve.
Here’s a Then (July) and Now (October) …
I *might* also have been on a jockstrap kick for the past few days. They are just so damn wonderful. So, now I am toying with the idea of making the jockstrap my daily underwear of choice. In aid of this, I might have purchased a cheap-ish 3-pack (in grey and black because those are the best colors). It would be nice to be able to afford a full complement of PUMP, Diesel, or Cellblock 13 (of which I want all the colors!) jocks. I guess I will see how this works out. Ha, ha.
And what would be an update without talking about an expensive movie purchase? I am super excited that Haunt (a great little horror movie from last year) is FINALLY getting a Blu-ray release from Ronin Flix. And, of course, I ordered the stupidly expensive Collector’s Edition. Just look at all the cool features and swag!
Includes the Original CD Soundtrack by tomandandy, four 16” x 20” movie poster reproductions, a 16” x 20” reproduction of the haunt map, six enamel pins featuring costume masks featured in the film, four 2” x 3 ½” replica VHS box-style magnets, and over 5 hours of special features.
DISC 1 – Haunt (2019) Feature Presentation
– NEW To Escape the Haunt: The Making of HAUNT featurette including interviews with writers/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, actors Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Andrew Lewis Caldwell, Lauryn Alisa McClain, Schuyler Helford, Justin Marxen, Chaney Morrow, Special Makeup Effects artist Chris Bridges and co-composer Andy Milburn (tomandandy)
– NEW Audio Commentary with actors Justin Marxen (Clown), Chaney Morrow (Ghost), and Damian Maffei (Devil)
– Audio Commentary with writers/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
– Behind the Haunt
– The Sound of Haunt
– Deleted Scenes with an introduction by Scott and Bryan
– Popcorn Frights Q & A with Scott, Bryan, and some of the cast
– Egyptian Theatre Premiere Q & A with Scott and Bryan, moderated by Eli Roth
– Short Film: The Sleepover – Scott and Bryan’s first film
– Director’s Diary
– Theatrical Trailer
DISC 2: Haunt (2019) Soundtrack
GIMMIE!!! GIMMIE!!! GIMMIE!!!
I received my replacement copy of Prince’s Sign ‘o the Times (Super Deluxe Edition) over the weekend and I couldn’t be happier. It’s pristine! AND, as a bonus, the replacement copy came in some sort of official Sign ‘o the Times branded packing box. Cool! The damaged copy I received didn’t, so this was a nice bonus.
We went over to Asheville on Saturday and hung out with A&A all day. The highlight was getting to carve pumpkins! I have not done this since I was a kid and I finally got to create a jack-o-lantern based on the one that appears during the opening credits of John Carpenter’s Halloween. So much fun!
I FINALLY received the part to repair my busted mower. It’s kinda ridiculous that it took well over a month for it to arrive. At least it’s now installed and regular mowing can commence for what is left of the mow season. So exciting.
So … I was super excited to finally receive my copy of Prince’s Sign ‘o the Times (Super Deluxe Edition) yesterday. Yay! This beast is massive with eight CD’s and one DVD.
BUT … when I opened it up, I discovered an imperfection on the back of the hardbound book. It looks like there is a staple (or something similar) under the paper which it’s bulging up and seems like it could eventually rip through and damage the book. Ugh.
I have a bit of OCD about packaging being pristine. And I been working on not freaking out about small dings, etc on things I buy. But, considering the cost of this set ($160!), I want it to be immaculate. The exchange process has been initiated.
Yeah, I know. First world problems.
Yeah. Not having a good mental health month. The continued pandemic induced social isolation, increasing worries about the upcoming election, and the anniversary of my dad’s death have all been contributing factors. And as much as I don’t miss doing graphic design for the theater, I do miss being busy and having something constructive to focus on. I know … get a new hobby! That’s easy to say but even harder to do when you have no real motivation. That, friends, is me. Old. Fat. Totally Unmotivated. Depressed.
On Wednesday, I got my flu shot and a prescription refilled and I felt like I had really accomplished something for the week. How sad is that?
Hopefully, October (my favorite month of the year) will be much better!
The arrival of The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection 4K Blu-ray has been the best thing that has happened in the past few weeks. Seriously. Psycho and Vertigo look insanely beautiful in 4K (Rear Window and The Birds aren’t too bad either).
And to balance out all that cinematic awesomeness, I grabbed a copy of the Rob Zombie Trilogy. Trash-tastic! (Plus, you can’t beat three movies for $13.)
One of the other things I have done recently has been to separate my regular Twitter from my porn Twitter. Now my regular followers won’t see when I like or comment on some really hot porn tweet. Ha, ha.
Meanwhile, I am obsessing over remixes of Madonna’s Erotica.
Ugh. I have lots of ennui. 2020 just keeps up its endless grind. I feel VERY unmotivated. Hence the lack of updates here.
Some non-exciting things that have happened:
– Went on a short hike.
– Bought even more movies.
– Bought a book. (I might know the author.)
– Been obsessing over Madonna’s Erotica album.
Against my better judgement, I took on a freelance job as a favor to a friend. Now I wish I hadn’t because clients suck and don’t appreciate your nearly 30 years of experience. I think I need to learn a new skill set and get out of graphic design all together.
Cookie Monster pretty much sums up the way I feel right now …
Even being down in income, I still bought all these movies over the course of the summer. Priorities, right?
What the fuck is up with lawn mowers and me?! This mower has only been in use a little over a year. *grump*grump*
Finally finishing up Dark on Netflix and I gotta give a shout out to the main title designers (ARRI Media VFX and Lutz Lemke). I am a sucker for a great title sequence and I gotta say that Dark has one of my favorites. And, yes. I quietly judge people who skip title sequences.
Ben Frost has composed some wonderfully ominous music for the show … which you can sample below and purchase here.
Dark also has an insanely great music supervisor (Lynn Fainchtein). I know I am not alone in wanting an official of a complete series soundtrack of songs used in the show.
Here’s the full version of Apparat‘s “Goodbye” which is used for the main titles.
Every time I go to the Biltmore Estate I absolutely have to listen to Cocteau Twins when driving onto the estate. I think it’s because I was listening to them when I first visited the place back in 1989. Something about the Cocteau Twins’ sound just seems to fit the place … especially their albums Treasure and Victorialand.
This past Sunday, I visited and just walked around the grounds and gardens as all the time slots for admittance into the house were full. It was a lovely day but the reminders of COVID-19 were everywhere with socially distanced lines, mandatory mask usage, and reduced capacity. That was a bit of a bummer since it’s one of my favorite places to go to try and relax and reset my brain.
Will the Puppy Play hood really doesn’t do anything for me … the rest of this photo is perfectly fine. Ha, ha.
