Jenni

Bay Area Girls, Who Wants to go to a Curve Party?

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:56:39 GMT

So, you know how sometimes you just enter contest online, because you never win anyway? Well, I won tickets for me and a guest to go to the following event:

http://curvemag.stores.yahoo.net/timedacaisre.html

Yes, I watched the horrible Tila Tequila show, and I thought Dani was really great, and Tila was an idiot for breaking her heart.

Anyway, free party! I have a plus-one on the guest list, and I don't the husband would have a good time. Anyone want to go with me?

"Love Dead. Hate Living."

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:50:01 GMT

Had two interviews this last week. One job I like more than the other, and is a much shorter commute, but we'll see who makes an offer first. I'm tired of interviewing, it's like going on a blind date.

Yesterday we took the train out to my mom's house and went to lunch at Mimi's. I met a nice pomeranian named TC outside of the restaurant. I'm never afraid of dogs, but I always ask permission before petting them. I love it when people are friendly and generous about their dogs, volunteering their names. I especially love it when they proudly tell me that their pet was adopted from a shelter or animal rescue.

Then I met a great mixed breed yellow dog after we got off of the train at home. (Yes, I measure the greatness of my weekends by how many dogs I met!) The dog was very friendly and bouncy. The owner was very friendly and kept trying to make the dog shake hands with us.

Then we went to the chitchat cafe again, and looked at the ocean for a while. I love going places with my hubby, he makes everyday fun and wonderful.

And Saturday night is CLASSIC MONSTER DVD night, something we started last weekend. I'm having some problems with modern horror lately, probably depression-related, I usually LOVE IT! (We watched Jeepers Creepers a few weeks ago and it really scared and upset me.) So we are journeying through some classics. Last weekend, we began with The Wolf Man (Universal, 1941) and Cat People (RKO, 1942). The Wolf Man was only so so. Cat People was excellent, and I highly recommend it. It was much more subtle than I expected, and had a lot to say about depression and relationships. Simone Simon is amazing as Irena. This weekend we had The Mummy (Universal, 1932) and Bride of Frankenstein (Universal, 1935). I had never seen The Mummy before, and I loved it! It has one of the great classic monster makeup jobs. And it was stylish and really beautiful. Bride of Frankenstein I've seen a couple of times, but the humor is always refreshing. The overall story is almost unenduringly sad, but beautiful.

Today we went to the library and to pick up some much-needed ambien.

I'm hoping to hear about a second interview at the preferred job tomorrow. They seemed to really like my qualifications.

Big Ole Face Full of Monster Nominated!!

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:24:54 GMT

This is pasted from my hubby's journal, and I am very proud of him and the magazine. Yayyyy!

Hey you crazy Cats and Kittens, Big Ole Face Full of Monster got nominated for TWO Rondo awards! The magazine as a whole was nominated for Best Magazine of 2007 and then I was nominated as an author for Best Article of 2007 for my piece 'Model Citizens' on the history of Aurora models.

These are our first nominations (and a big thank you to whoever nominated us!), so we doubt we'll win either category. For one thing, Video Watchdog wins best mag every year, and even if they don't, there are so many long running greats like Scary Monsters, Monster Bash, Rue Morgue and on and on. And in the best article category, I am up against people like Thomas Graham who was a primary contributor for my piece and some really heavy hitters like Tim Lucas, Tom Weaver, and artist/author Vincent Di Fate. These guys are great scholars, and I am honored to have my name mentioned among theirs.

Buuuuuut....it would still be nice to get some votes. So I am placing a link here to the ballot, which any monster fan can vote on. If you like our mag, please vote for us! There are also a lot of fun categories, from the usual Best Horror Film to the more geeky stuff like Best DVD Extra and Best Fan Event.

And if I may make a suggestion, I WAS A TV HORROR HOST, by my pal and yours John Stanley, is up for Best Book of 2007. Stanley is a mensch (and a "brick" according to Harlan Ellison) and a Bay Area treasure, so you might give him some consideration. And since write-ins are allowed, I highly recommend a write-in for Mr. Lobo for Best Horror Host of 2007. So Keep America Strong - Vote for Horror!

Further Adventures of the Still Unemployed

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 23:53:20 GMT

This week, I received a letter stating that I was not selected for a job at a community college that I thought I would get. I had an interview at an art school in Emeryville that I think went well, I should hear about that next week. And I applied for a new bunch of jobs.

The holiday season has been over for a couple of weeks, I'm really surprised I'm not working yet. I just have to keep going.

In other news, a hot bowl of Pho with lots of jalapenos and thai basil is a cheap lunch that is nourishing and comforting.

Today we went by our favorite (and only independent) coffee shop in the area, and saw lots of happy dogs going to the beach. Gave and received lots of love from three different collies. Dogs are outstanding!

All Books, All the Time!!

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:21:05 GMT

I can't believe I didn't know about goodreads.com! I'm so happy that someone on my friend's list posted about it! If you want to friend me, my profile is here: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/776622

Hongshao Doufu Recipe from Please Don't Feed The Bears

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:52:59 GMT

I love this freaky little cookbook. Last night I made Hongshao Doufu (picture in link) and it was really tasty. The author is very clear that his recipes can all be shared, so I will post it below. (I added broccoli at the end, and left out the scallions.)

Hongshao Doufu: Red Cooked Bean Curd Family Style
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/vampira93/HongshaoDoufu002.jpg

Author's note: There are very few people I know who would not sacrifice their lives (or at least pay 6 bucks) for a plate of family-style tofu.

1 lb extra-firm bean curd
9 whole scallions
1/3 cup peanut oil
1 1/2 TBSP coarsely chopped garlic
2 TBSP rice wine
2 TBSP hoisin sauce
2 TBSP soy sauce
1 tsp turbinado sugar
1 cup vegetable stock
1/2 TBSP sesame oil

Pat the bean curd dry with paper towels. Cut the bean curd into 1" by 3" triangles and lay the pieces on a towel to drain. Cut the scallions at a diagonal into 3" long pieces and set aside.

Heat a wok or large skillet on high heat. Heat the peanut oil. Add the bean curd pieces and fry until both sides are golden brown. Make sure it's extra crispy or Robyn will send it back if you try to serve it to her. Remove the bean curd and place on paper towels to drain. Drain the oil and set the wok aside. Wipe and dry the wok and return 2 TBSP of the oil to the wok. Heat the oil and add the scallions and garlic and stir fry for 30 seconds. Add the rice wine, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sugar and stock and bring it to a boil. Add the fried bean curd pieces. Cook over high heat for 10 minutes or until the bean curd absorbs most of the sauce. Add in the sesame oil and give a final stir. Serve immediately.

Finished Xmas Objects

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:56:15 GMT

Here are some pictures of the stocking I made for my husband this year. My mom had a set of four xmas stockings that she made for me, my sister, my dad and for herself when I was a very small kid. My dad and sister are gone now. I felt like making a stocking for my hubby, and felt like someone should make one for my mom too. (Which I failed to photograph, but it was cute.)

The "Vampire's Lunch" is a strange-looking german candy I found to stuff his stocking. The actual candies are shaped like skulls, and they are black cherry colored. Vampires love to eat skulls!

I also included a couple of chocolates, a tangerine (also a childhood tradition), some hand-brewed coffee I bought on Etsy, and a button.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v47/vampira93/?action=view¤t=VampiresLunch.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/vampira93/XmasStocking02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/vampira93/XmasStocking01.jpg

I hope that everyone enjoyed their holidays, in whatever way they celebrated, or didn't celebrate!

Domestic Day

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:51:36 GMT

I made wheat bread in the new (handmedown from mom) bread maker, and Porcini Mushroom Wild Rice Soup from Veganomicon. Then I took a picture of the soup because, hey, all the cool kids are doing it. I plan on doing a lot of healthy eating/recipe related posts with pics, because I feel like it. I'll share recipes when they're either on the author's website or non-copyright. (I'll make something soon from "Don't Feed The Bears", which is the single weirdest cookbook ever. More on that later.)

It was pretty good, I thought it called for a little bit too much olive oil. I much prefer the mushroom soup in Vegan on a Shoestring. I used leeks instead of onions, which I usually do in soup, because I do hate onions. My dried mushrooms were a mix, because that's what I had, and the fresh mushrooms were white buttons, not crimini. I don't know if I'd make it again, but I'll eat the rest of it for lunches this week, it's definitely hearty, with all of the wild rice.

Bye Bye Butchie, We Love You

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:45:28 GMT

Feeling Wanty

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:20:46 GMT

Dear Santa,

I have been very good this year, and I really want this so much! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8103350

I'll leave cookies!

XOXO
Jenni

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:31:03 GMT

Man, I don't like that icon. I like my hair, but I look so morose.

Went to have lunch with my mom (it's an hour and a half train ride away, so I don't do it often enough). She was nice enough to help me order two interview outfits. It's harder to find nice affordable interview clothes at my size, that's just the way it is.

I missed out on a free tattoo dammit! A person advertised on the local Craigs List that she needed to enhance her portfolio and was offering free tattoos. (Nothing intricate, but I've been wanting to get a tattoo of my hubby's name, on a heart, between my shoulder blades, just for him and me.) I should have jumped sooner.

I have a phone interview with an employer tomorrow that looks promising.

Still waiting for previous employer to get back to me regarding paperwork and final paycheck. Tomorrow I'll begin calling them hourly.

Reading a great library book called "It's So You", edited my Michelle Tea. It's all sorts of interesting writers, from Ali Gottlieb (who I've had a wordcrush on since her novel about being an IHOP waitress) to Mary Woronov (of Rock and Roll High School fame).

RIP Kevin Dubrow. Metal health will drive you mad.

Shark Week, My Ass

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:01:59 GMT

"You know, Jacques Cousteau didn't have to put fish on his c0ck and make a shark fellate him to make a documentary entertaining!" (These are my insightful views on Shark Week, after we turned it off. The dude totally made a shark bite his cameraman on purpose.)

What's new, Jenni? I'm leaving my current job, hooray! (They were going to toss me out at the end of September.) I'm going to work at New College again, which is not without its challenges. But here are some good things: There are no tourists in the Mission, I get to work with students, it puts me more in touch with writers and poets, lots of good places to eat, my new boss was wearing chords and flip flops when he interviewed me. Very tattoo and weirdo friendly.

My hubby is the best and I love him.

We're going to visit C. and her new baby in August, yay!

I went back to weight watchers, and I'm glad.

I still love being curvy, and will never be skinny.

I'm drinking an iced soy matcha latte, and it's great. The color is hideous, but the caffeine ride is smoooooth.

Monster #3 Has Broken Out!

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:42:45 GMT

Issue #3 is out. We will be sending copies out to contributors and subscribers over the next two weeks. You can purchase copies using paypal on our website: GoMonsterGo.com. Or you can pay by check or money order to 101 A Hickey Blvd, Suite 464, South San Francisco, CA 94080. We are also interested in trades.

Features include:
Model Citizens: Aurora Monster Figures
Origin of the Species: The groundbreaking lenticular poster art from Species II
Fetish Fatales: The Photography of Kathleen Elizabeth
Trunko: The Most Spectacular Monster That Actually Lived
Horror Host Interview: Crematia Mortem
Bride of the Monster: The Queen of Trash (This is our first monster pinup pictorial, and the Queen is amazing in it)
Fiction: The Eternal Riders by Robert Crandall
Author Interview: Ramsey Campbell

Yay for Captain Sensible!

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 22:10:15 GMT

Going to Austin for a week, not happy about that, so here is something that I am happy about! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCZLHhDH4lA

Lordy Loo

Thu, 10 May 2007 22:34:01 GMT

Strange week here, lots of weirdness at work. And I'm going to Austin again for a week in June. Great, that shouldn't be like WALKING ON THE SURFACE OF THE SUN!! A friend has been going through lots of crap, and reading her journal makes me want to get on a plane to Detroit to go hug her and make her enemies drink the black sperm of my vengeance. Metaphorically speaking.

Made good shepherd's pie (vegan) for dinner last night. Will post recipe if anyone wants it.

Myspace Page

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:12:41 GMT

Hi everyone, I don't seem to ever be around here anymore, for a number of reasons. If you would like to be a myspace friend, I'm at http://www.myspace.com/glowytarantulagirl

It's personal and twelve-steppy, FYI :)

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:53:19 GMT

Our third issue of Big Ole Face Full of Monster will be out soon. We're doing final layout now and will get it off to the printer soon. The content list has been finalized - after some last-minute juggling - so I will post it here:

Features
Model Citizens: Aurora Monster Figures
Origin of the Species: The groundbreaking lenticular poster art from Species II
Fetish Fatales: The Photography of Kathleen Elizabeth
Trunko: The Most Spectacular Monster That Actually Lived
Horror Host Interview: Crematia Mortem
Bride of the Monster: The Queen of Trash (This is our first monster pinup pictorial, and the Queen is amazing in it)
Fiction: The Eternal Riders by Robert Crandall
Author Interview: Ramsey Campbell

And then we have our usual collection of brilliant, amazing, insightful reviews of books, movies, and music.

Whew! What a lineup! No wonder so many great horror writers like (insert name here) and (insert name here) call it the best monster magazine around. And our foolish detractors said it couldn't be done. Many such Shubs and Zuuls know what it is to be roasted in the depths of a Sloar this day, I can tell you!

In about a week I am going to put up a pre-order button on our paypal site, so you can order issue 3. For more info, go to our website at www.GoMonsterGo.com or email me at monsterzine@aol.com.

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:32:33 GMT

Ok kids! Last post before we leave for the wilds of Las Vegas. If you want to try to watch our wedding (Like any of you will be home at 9:30 p.m. on Halloween night!) you can go to vivalasvegasweddings.com, click on the webcam, and the "little chapel" and you should be able to see thw Smith-Morrison Wedding. I am sooooo excited, but I have so much work to finish right now before I leave the office. Have a spooky and safe Halloween!!!!!

Registry Info

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 22:06:32 GMT

I am posting this because a few people emailed me to ask for it. I do NOT expect gifts from anyone, but if you want to view our wedding registry, it is here:

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/gr/guest/viewRegistry.aspx?grid=9762493

Only 16 Days Left!

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 20:57:08 GMT

16 Days until I legally become Missus Monster! In case you're just tuning in, we're having a tiny wedding (just the two of us) at Viva Las Vegas chapel (vivalasvegas.com). We will be married on 10/31/06 by the Grim Reaper, yayyyy!

List of Accomplished Tasks

Wedding and Limo reservations
My Dress
His outfit
My makeup
My boots
Flowers
Hotel
Wedding Bands
Family Reception at Mom's
My Tiara
My purse

List of Tasks to be Accomplished

Pet Sitter
Car Rental
My hair (getting done next Saturday)
Extra chip for the camera
Trail makeup runs at home
Live Happily Ever After
Decoration of my purse

Animalogic's Review of Charles Band Road Show

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:04:58 GMT

Review of Charles Band Full Moon Horror Roadshow (from Animalogic's LJ)

Last night Mrs. Monster and I attended the first performance of Charles Band Full Moon Horror Roadshow at San Francisco's Rickshaw Stop. We went both as fans and to review it for Big Ole Face Full of Monster magazine. For those few not in the know, Band is the independent filmmaker behind Full Moon Pictures, and the producer, writer, and/or director of well over 200 low budget horror films.

The Roadshow, now in its second year, is a way for Band to adapt his work to a live stage setting. Last year's tour stuck to the East Coast, so I was excited to see that he would have a performance in the Bay Area. The Rickshaw Stop is a standard small club in downtown SF. With a very reasonable $12 admission price, the 100 capacity club looked to be nearly sold-out.

The show opened with a montage of Band's film, focusing mostly on the puppets, creatures, special effects, and explosive climaxes of films like Trancers, Puppet Masters, Troll, Demonic Toys, Subspecies, etc, all at top volume. As Band said later in the show, he is no fan of CGI (right on!), calling it "cartoonish" and prefers the hands-on tactile quality of latex masks and animatronic puppets. Being a fan first of Tom Savini and later Rick Baker, with their squishy, sloshy, spurting monster effects, I couldn't agree more.

Band himself then came out and began chatting with the audience. Having had no idea what to expect of the show, I was a bit let down by the informal quality. I had hoped for something more formal like a stage show or a gross-out play like SF's own Primitive Screwheads put on with their stagings of things like Evil Dead: Live! Instead it was a show-film-clips-then-chat format.

But Band is an engaging guy with a lot of good stories to tell. He talked a bit about his new film Evil Bong and showed the trailer for it. He also talked a bit about actors he had worked with who later went on to bigger fame (Helen Hunt, Demi Moore, Viggo Mortenson) and showed another montage of clips. He told some good anecdotes about working with known crazy-man Gary Busey in Gingerdead man. Band stated that he had an hour of footage of Busey doing wild tangents on the script - but then proceeded to show none of it, only the trailer for GM. That was a disappointment.

The stated theme for the evening was "hot chicks" (i.e. skinny girls with no curves) and Band got some of them from the audience to come on stage and perform a Full Moon type scene of bondage, monsters, and lesbian titillation. He even managed to get one young Girl With Low Self-Esteem to take off her top and show her post-pubescent little breasts. It was nice to see a politically incorrect show in San Francisco where the PC can get a little suffocating. Mrs. Monster pointed out that the “chicks” could not, however, scream worth a damn. She waits undiscovered until a director unveils her glorious, ear-shattering sound.

Both that scene and the beheading were fun, but without the over-the-top theatrics and wet-work one gets in Full Moon films. Many of us are accustomed to Alice Cooper, GWAR and other such shows where the lighting, sound, costumes, and special effects come together for a powerful impact.

But the show did have special guest Phil Fondacaro who has acted in many of Band's films. At 3'6" Phil is a little person with a very big voice whose shout "Play Number 4!" became a catch-phrase for the evening. He and Band talked about some drunken work on a film together. And Phil made the point that no filmmaker other than Band has provided so many roles for a little person like him, especially roles that revolve so little around his size - such as playing Count Dracula (a role for which he had a really great evil look).

The show also had an auction of dolls and figures from Full Moon productions like Puppet Master and Demonic Toys. The six figures sold at prices ranging from $140 to somewhere over $600. I was quickly outbid beyond my means on the Pinhead figure, but oh well. Band also had a deal for everyone that he had first tried in last year's tour: everyone who bought $100 or more of merchandise (there were tables full of DVDs, action figures, etc) would get an executive producer credit on the next Full Moon film. A real one. Something you can look up on IMDB and put on your resume. Because the deal worked so well last year and so many names were listed on the film, it also resulted in a listing in the Guinness Book of World Records as the film with the most producers. Band is hoping to break last year's record and get another listing.

So it is a unique show. Maybe it doesn't have the small club pyrotechnics of, say, a Great White show, but it does have a lot of Full Moon features you can't get anywhere else. Afterwards, Band came out to sign DVD covers or whatever people brought him. In future shows, other guests will join Charles, such as Tim Thomerson (watch it, squids!). And who knows, maybe in a future show Adrienne Barbeau will show up to show the "hot chicks" how it's really done.

Wedding Earrings!

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:37:15 GMT

We have wedding earrings!!!! Hair will be purple and black, so I wanted earrings to be Halloweeny, but now orange. And not just "spooky", but specifically Halloweeny. Here they are!

Hilarious!

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:54:41 GMT

This just slays me: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=670073046&n=2

Play with sound!

Size Positive Dance Event!!

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 05:14:13 GMT

New monthly club at El Rio!
HEAVY ROTATION -- a new club for fat women and trans folk, size
rebels, BBWs, size activists, and our friends and lovers -- is
starting THIS FRIDAY, September 15th at El Rio. A monthly club
benefiting different size positive organizations and activists, the
first HEAVY ROTATION will benefit NoLose with just $5 at the door!

Heavy Rotation at El Rio, 3128 Mission/26th
$5, 10pm until you can't shake it anymore

-- put some wiggle back in your jiggle --

www.myspace.com/heavy_rotation

Interests Collage!

Thu, 07 Sep 2006 04:32:22 GMT

I do not know what some of these represent, and the image tag is down, so it's anyone's guess:

Create your own! Originally Written By ga_woo, Hosted and ReWritten by darkman424