Is it Monday? It feels like a Monday.

[stoney321]

Mostly because our school district was very smart and gave the kids a parent/teacher's conference day (translation: no school) on Monday, so we lazed about as a family jamming Snickers and such into our mouths. Good times. Some brief Halloween talk The costume turned out great, but the make up... Man. I need a prosthetic. I even went to a theater supply shop and sat with a guy and tried to get the makeup just right. We almost got it to look like the movie, but then when I got home, the latex kept bubbling up on me and I looked rotten, not scarred. BOO. I was super pissed about it because someone thought a great comment to leave me when I posted was "yeah, you'll never be able to do that, have fun!" <-- PROTIP: That's an assholish thing to do, and you caused me undo stress. Cut that negative shit out, please. :)

Anyhoo, I realized that I shouldn't give two thoughts to any negative Nancys and that I made a great looking costume, and I should have fun. AND I DID. And man, I don't know what it is about geishas, but the allure is still there. I got hit on all night long by men AND ladies. UH.... I had more clothes on than anyone at the party, so take that Sexy Cat, Sexy Mother Theresa, Slutty George Washington's Wooden Teeth, and Sexy Sex Sex. Oh, and I was super comfortable all night, too. YAY. (Um, and I made a punch that was redonk: equal parts rum, pineapple juice and OJ, half of that measure of coconut rum, and then ice cubes made of coconut milk with crushed pineapple in them. <-- my ice cube trays were skulls and bones, too. OM NOM! It packed a, wait for it, punch.

I apologize for that bad pun.

We had the total OH MY GOD NOOOO! sitcom moment Saturday night when I finished painting a shirt for the Mr. to wear - he went as Tony Horton all busted up and the shirt read P90Y? Lol. - and little Miss Smidgen leapt from her cat tree onto the fresh paint, she and the shirt slid off the table into a mess on the floor. She llooked like she'd been dipped in paint, the shirt was ruined, but the Mr. was smart and bought a 4 pack of Ts. Gah. Miss Emily was Waldo, and all night long she kept standing in groups of people looking shifty. Hahahaha.

I'll post pics later and a how to for the kimono for anyone interested. Anyway, Saturday night was awesome, trick or treating was just fine except for how I over heard people in the neighborhood saying how they still refuse to go to my house because I scarred their kid so badly as the Blink Angel. DUDE, YOU KEPT FORCING HER TO LOOK AT ME. And when I said that look, I'm just a geisha (I didn't do creepy scar makeup for trick or treating) and not scary, they laughed nervously. YEAH I HEARD YOU. Pfft. Just means I don't have to buy as much candy next year I suppose. :P

Sorry, I'm burned out already.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MY NEW FAVORITE THING. THE WALKING DEAD.

1. Let me be clear upfront: I DO NOT LIKE SPOILERS. I WILL NOT READ THE COMICS. Why? Because of the spoiler thing, and I know they're trying to stay faithful. I don't care if you feel I'm missing out, I have a system that has worked for me for years, so please respect that.

2. SPEAKING OF SPOILERS, HERE ARE SOME FOR THE PILOT.




Enough time to scroll or click? OK. How awesome was the crawling half-zombie?? Did you see the femur dragging along, barely attached to the meat of her torso? Freaking awesome F/X. I was incredibly impressed with the makeup. Think about that huge crowd in Atlanta. There were hundreds of people in zombie makeup, and it's not just a slap of paint on the face and off you go. That's impressive from a background building stand point.

Also, I was totally impressed with where they went, because man, did they not pull any punches! Little girl? BLAMMO IN THE THINK BOXER. Horse that is actually a smart idea and it's because the horse CLEARLY SENSED DANGER, and any cowboy worth his salt would know that (true, he's not a cowboy) and yet the horse became cheval for the undead in as gory a manner as possible? WOW.

Things that disturbed me, but that's the nature of the show and these were deliberately done by the director to get you uncomfortable: PUT ON SHOES AND CLOTHES IN CASE OF ZOMBIE ATTACK/HOSPITAL SHENANIGANS. But look, that was done so he looked completely vulnerable. He's a DEPUTY. If he put those clothes on immediately, we would automatically put him in a position of authority and capability. That's not how you create tension and passion for a protagonist.

Having said that, can I just state for the record that if I woke up from a coma (do we know how long he was out, by the way?) and saw that everything was dead around me and - oh, here's something that I do want to call bullshit on, he would have an infection in those IVs and most DEFINITELY from the catheter, which I'm grateful they didn't show, but that's par for the course for an unconscious patient. I would like for a zombie movie to address that shit once and REALLY go realistic. /end mini-rant - that there was no power, I WOULD PUT ON MY SHOES. And also some track pants or scrubs or fashion a toga because being naked in the apocalypse would get uncomfortable fast.

I found his freak out in his house to be incredibly believable, and then after getting smacked in the face with a shovel (lol) the day of waking up for a coma - you're gonna be adlepated for a bit. You're not going to be able to talk properly, think clearly, or take in that while your body healed from a gunshot wound THE WHOLE WORLD WENT WONKY. I mean, I would, because I've been preparing for this since I was 12 years old, but we can't all be survivalist survivors. LOL.

ALSO: my husband and I, as Fallout enthusiasts, kept shouting out - maintain and repair your weapons! Ammo! Hydration! Check those crates for supplies! You know, if he had some surgical tubing he could siphon off gas from any of those cars and not have to go into the middle of a zombie horde... If any of you think you can manage the End of Times and haven't played Fallout, you're missing out on some vital life skills. Ha ha ha. But seriously.

In conclusion, TWO THUMBS WAY UP. Good job, AMC.

I am so far behind on so much in my life it's not even funny. GAH. I need to quit preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse (playing Fallout) and clean my house, write, reply to emails (sorry ladies, I'll get with you later today!) mop my floors, etc. etc. I think you can see why I'm looking forward to fighting off the undead - there is no delicate cycle laundry when you're trying to keep your brains from becoming brunch. I AM PREPARED.

(Oh, and seriously, if there are zombies on your porch, you should be sleeping upstairs with the staircase barricaded, I'm just saying. Extra level of defense.)

OH AND I NEED TO VOTE. (And so do you, right? Unless you did early voting, in which case I salute you!)

Comments

[ahestele.livejournal.com]

DUDE how awesome was Walking Dead? And there really were NO punches pulled at all. That was pretty ballsy.

I am so excite for more! And I HAVE read the comic books!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

IT WAS SO AWESOME. I just realized that Darabont was responsible for the storming the beach at Normandy scene in Saving Private Ryan. The man knows his cinematic horror/gore/pushing humanity to the limits.

Cannot wait for next week, although I'm sad there are only 6 eps in this season.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

Miss Emily was Waldo, and all night long she kept standing in groups of people looking shifty.

The idea of this costume makes me so happy that I CANNOT EVEN TELL YOU.

(p.s. Did you get my e-mail? Totally okay if you have and haven't had time/wanted to reply or are waiting to do when you are past wanting to stab me with a fork, but apparently some of my e-mails are getting abducted on the way to their destination. No ransom notes yet. Perhaps the notes were abducted by other e-mail kidnappers. We may never know.)

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

The costume turned out so great! And she sometimes would just walk into an open space and say, "I'm here. Here I am." LOL!!!

(I did, I've just not replied to ANY ONE. I'm off to vote, then I'll reply back to you, promise! There is no need for a ransom note at this end! *G*)

[pluckygirl.livejournal.com]

Absentee ballot BB!!!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

That's how my husband votes, too because of travel! I like the sensation of pulling the trigger. Or pushing the button, you get me. :D

[killerweasel.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you've seen this, but here's a video showing how they did the make-up on the 'bicycle' zombie.

I thought it was really neat.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

OUT-FREAKING-STANDING.

I love F/X.

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

I thought you looked amazing. I didn't see Emily in any of the pics, but maybe that was the point...now I get Mr. Stoney's costume. Hahahahaha. I'm slow and lame.

I was sick all weekend and combined with the Halloween hullabaloo, allowed my house to explode. I'm now cleaning up the detritus. And doing laundry.

Your kimono was stunning and your wig looked exactly like the pics! I was impressed. I don't understand negative nellies, especially when it isn't, say, their best friend and they know the limits of that friend's skills. Someone on LJ? They should shut it.

Speaking of sewing (cause we were) Braden has that toddler OCD and he picks at things. He picked a bald spat on one of Jonah's monkeys and I discovered the other day that he'd picked at the hand stitching on Jonah's quilt and almost pulled off the zebra's nose. So I had to hand sew it back. My stitches are not tiny or even, but the zebra has a nose (that's our new five by five -- the zebra has a nose.)

Haven't watched Walking Dead, Eddie cheated on me and watched it while I was in a Nyquil haze.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I got your email yesterday, I was just chin-deep in ennui and babies, you feel me. I've got an email headed your way at lunch time, btw.

You HAVE to watch the show. I had nightmares, it was awesome. :D

[evamagick.livejournal.com]

AH! I just saw the Blink episode of Doctor Who and almost peed myself! Can I see pictures of your Blink costume? I'll go to the bathroom first, I promise.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

They're posted, you're just going to need to go to the calendar setting on my lj and go back to 2008 for the tutorial/pics.

[fishwithfeet.livejournal.com]

Hah! Yay Waldo!

I found about 5 of them at the Rally in DC this weekend, and 2 Carmen San Diegos. It was spectacular.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

That's awesome!

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

We didn't see The Walking Dead until last night and I was really, really impressed. Yay! Zombies! I *have* read the comics, a bit, but I will be very careful not to spoil anyone because getting spoiled sucks.

In conclusion: ZOMBIES.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I love that people who liked the comic are also enjoying the show, that bodes well!

ZOMBIES. Get your weapons and survival skills on, yo!

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

I had to miss The Walking Dead because of baseball, so I haven't seen it yet. I can't wait for it to be re-aired.

That's disappointing about the makeup fail. Oh, well, now you have a cool new kimono you can lounge about the pool in!

Rum and pineapple juice is one of my favorite combinations. Maybe I'll mix one up after I vote!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I think the reason the Rangers lost is because we weren't watching them. BUT ZOMBIES. When you watch it, I wanna know what you think if you're up to it!

It was. I was super upset that I couldn't duplicate it and just put a lame scar from the fright shop on my face. BOO. But everything else looked pretty grand, I must say.

Just got back from voting, only had to be in line for 3 minutes! Let's hear it for all of the early voters making my day easier, lol.

[poshcat.livejournal.com]

This time of year is brutal, with Halloween, Thanksgiving, Back to School, Christmas, and New Years coming one after the other after the other. Exhausting, baby.

I would totally come to your house twice on Halloween just to see you twice, let me get that straight. Love your Waldo story, too. :0)

The Walking Dead! I loved it so much, and can't wait until next week. I have no idea how I'd actually respond to a zombie invasion, but I'd damn well have shoes on for whatever happened. LOL! I forgot how the menfolk complained about how the womenfolk wanted to pack photos instead of water. Maybe *their* dumb TV womenfolk, but *I'd* be packing batteries, booze, and ammo. However, I wouldn't be able to shoot my family either, even if they were zombies now. SAD.

PS Did you see the drunk post by Hyperbole and a Half, and how some jerk left a mean comment and made her feel bad (and then she wouldn't give them any blue to punish them) My guess is it's the same jerk who commented on your costume. This person travels the internet spreading misery like Johnny Badappleseed. :0P

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Normally I love this time of year because of all of that stuff, but I have work coming up, the kids to wrangle, etc, etc and I'm just plain tired.


I LOVED THE WALKING DEAD. And yeah, shoes. Didn't you cringe seeing how filthy the hospital floor was? And he was all barefoot?! AND IN BOXERS. A zombie cold bite your bidness, bubba. I'd be packing my roll up solar panels and generators and uncovering my hidden food storage and getting the decapitating tools out. But hey, that's just me. :D

I DID SEE THAT and it made me lol. Some people just don't realize how negative they are, I think. They're pessimistic in life and don't realize that not all of us care that your glass is half full, that just means YOU STILL HAVE SOMETHING TO DRINK, A-HOLE. :)

[strtmyorange.livejournal.com]

Skipped your Walking Dead spoiler section because I haven't watched the one I recorded. I can't wait to see it. Speaking of zombie apocalypse: IFC had a really great mini series on this weekend, "Dead Set". Watch it if you can. It was awesomely gory zombie time with British accents!!!

Can't wait for your costume photos!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

EXCELLENT SPOILER AVOIDANCE, I HEARTILY APPROVE.

Oooh, i'll go check it out, thank you! (For now, though, it is pouring rain and I cannot do the outdoor things I had planned so I must enter the world of Fallout and shoot creatures in the face.)

[redbrickrose.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen The Walking Dead yet, but raves are just all over my flist. I am excite!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

YOU SHOULD BE EXCITE! AND DELIGHT!!! it's a work and a wonder of undead glory,

[no-detective.livejournal.com]

Not reading the Walking Dead review because it's still sitting on my DVR *weeps* but OMG I AM EXCITED. Yay zombies!!!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

IT IS SO GOOOOOOOOOOD.

[anelith.livejournal.com]

I skipped the last half of your post because that episode is waiting for us on the DVR and we're really looking forward to it! I'll come back and read it later when we've watched.

Looking forward to your post with pictures of the costume(s)! I know they were awesome, especially the kimono.

We're having a day off school today, as it's voting day and they knew the turnout would be large. Most of the town polling places are in the schools so it's always a logistical nightmare during an election. So, a "professional" day for the teachers, and a holiday for the students. It's a lovely day to have off; the kids and I walked over to the school to vote and it's sunny and chilly, a perfect fall day.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oooh, how lovely to have today off!! Makes total sense.

I can't wait for you to watch it - there's a lot going on with these zombies, it's fabulous.

(I saw the pics of Halloween and you did a MARVELOUS job on those costumes!! <3)

[tabaqui]

Walking Dead *rocked*. I luff. It creeped me out hardcore. These zombies are *sentient* still. The mom was turning the door knob! She knew they were there!!
*flails*

And the ones looking under the tank - such *calculating* looks - such 'oh, there you are, nummy treat' looks.
*shudders*

Can't wait for part two!

I would never go upstairs unless i could get out without breaking a leg. Upstairs means less options to flee if you have to. Downstairs with a basement access to outside would be best.

*yes, i think about these things, too*
:)

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I loved that there was some semblance of humanity/something in them, too. How freaking creepy was that door handle just turning back and forth? So awesome.

PFFT, BASEMENTS ARE A DEAD END. Up up up because zombies can't climb stairs! Everyone knows this. ;)

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

You scarred kids last year? The dangerous of to well made costumes, I suppose... Or idiotic parents. :-) *shrug*

And now I can't wait for pics from your geisha costume! :-D

[elizardbits.livejournal.com]

I AM SO EXCITE FOR THIS RIDIC SHOW OMG. I did not remember to watch the pilot the other night but I am downloading it for tomorrow nite HOORAYS.


(speaking of all things zombie apocalypse I AM SO BEHIND ON MY DRAFT OMG SADFACE but lol you are busy anyway so hoorays: redux.)


Also I suspect you will enjoy this old favourite (http://hatsproductions.com/organtrail.html) redone with a z-day touch.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

OMG LIZ LIZ YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT AND COME TALK TO ME ABOUT IT AND TELL ME YOUR EXCITED RAMBLINGS.

dude, I have done NOTHING. I am going to be grounded. :(

I LOVE AND HUG THAT LINK TO MY BEWBS.

[dovil.livejournal.com]

If I ever get to go to a halloween party in the states I'm going to go as a vagina.

When I come over and invade your house you'll have to show me this 'fallout' game you speak of. And then under the influence of violent video games we can kill your neighbours. \o/

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

My friend and her husband went as Sarah Palin and Jesus, both carrying AK-47s. Hahahahahaha.

I LOVE THIS PLAN.

TWD spoilery stuff below!

[roonilwazlib6.livejournal.com]

Are you playing Fallout in hardcore mode?! (You mentioned the hydration thing, which I know is a requirement for hardcore.) If so, my hat off to you because F THAT IN THE A. PS: Cazadores? Run backward with a rebar club lol.

And The Walking Dead gave me zombie nightmares all night long, and I love me some zombies. There was only one other zombie film that gave me bad dreams and that was 28 Days Later (and they both wake up in the hospital... except TWD didn't have a naked Cillian Murphy, sob). But the mom was the one that hit me the hardest I think, and the fact that she remembered the house and kept trying to open the door. I don't think I've seen a zombie have recognition like that before. I loved Darabont for Shawshank but this has just made me want to have his lovechild. <3

Re: TWD spoilery stuff below!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Nah, I'm being all cheatery and playing it through once to get down where beds, food and water are and then will play it (but I'll make my girl evil so it will change it up enough..)

EH MEH GHED, Cazadores. The one thing I know that's working is to snipe them (or use the hunting rifle and mod the hell out of that summbitch) in the wings. The first time I did that and it crawled all creepy to me to finish me off? GAH!

I'm in the grass vault right now, and blasting the Seymours in the mouth is the greatest thing ever. FEED. ME. How about a 20 gauge slug? BLAM. Lol.

I HAD NIGHTMARES, TOO!! But awesome nightmares where I wasn't being destroyed, so that was good. I looooooved 20 Days Later (and have heard that the opener was stolen from the Walking Dead comic) and think that the first 10 minutes to its sequel, 28 Weeks Later is the most intense experience I've ever had in a movie EVER. Yow.

Darabont is responsible for the storming the beach at Normandy scene in Saving Private Ryan, too! He's AWESOME.

[adamolupin.livejournal.com]

OMG! Walking Dead! I was like DUDE! In the first five minutes before the first commercial and BAM! *splatter* to an 8 year old! In slippers! Holding a teddy bear! That's not even pulling punches, that's going straight for the groin.

But yes! I was like, "SHOES! WHERE ARE YOUR SHOES MAN!" I mean, Jim in 28 Days Later didn't even leave the hospital without scrubs and shoes (and food!). I read a comment on some review of The Walking Dead about how the deputy (I'm blanking on his name) didn't get eaten when he was a tasty coma duck but I think it was because the fighting had already come and gone and the zeds were already locked up/pushed back. If he wasn't making any noise, then he wouldn't have been a target while the fighting was going on and the zombies aren't smart enough to think, "Hey, I wonder if there are any patients left in the hospital for dinner!". (They also compared that to 28 Days Later where Jim also wakes from a coma to a changed world but his room was at least locked, the key was shoved under the door. I kinda wish they'd done that or been more specific in The Walking Dead).

But oh god, the part where the deputy's walking down the stairwell with nothing but matches that keep going out. I SO expected something to show up behind him when he lit each match but then it didn't! Now that's building up tension. And the mother! (Trying to keep this spoiler free :P) and the dad's reaction later. GUH. Here's my heart, Frank Darabont! You've already ripped it out, now eat it already! (KALI MAAAHHH!) *ahem*

Anyway, I'm rambling. If there's ever a zombiepocolypse, I have my Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z in a "break glass for emergency" case with my shot gun. I'm on to them. *shifty eyes*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

You get bonus points for working in Kali Ma.

Also, I got the impression that they didn't get him because his door was barricaded with a gurney and some hospital gear - when he tried to open his door and then pushed that all away, it made him fall over? Maybe someone was sentient enough still to do that for him?

Oh man, the matches on the stairwell, yes!!! I totally expected a rotten face to have a gaping maw behind him. How awesome that we were terrified and nothing was there. WHEEEE!! I love that show, man.

[chrryblssmninja.livejournal.com]

have you heard of the other zombie TV show, Dead Set?

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Is that the British one? You're the second person to mention it. Hmm, seems like I need to go on a torrent hunt...

Big BAD Love

[comedyquiche.livejournal.com]

Ok, this is not related to your post, and I apologize for that, but I saw this on youtube and thought of you while I laughed my ass off.

Re: Big BAD Love

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. OMG, I love Second City. Oh, uh uh, I can't do the dishes, I just got my hair done.

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

Walking Dead was incredibly well done. (Despite being a comic fan, I have not read the books.) My only beef was that at one point, they mentioned the zombie-stuff had started a month ago & well, I don't think the main guy could've survived a month without help while healing. Granted, it looks like they tried containment before resorting to fleeing when the zombie population became out-of-control, so it could've been less time that he was alone. Otherwise, wow. That said, I'm not sure if I can keep watching because I am giant scaredy cat who's afraid of her shadow and it gave me nightmares.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

My guess is that it took a while for things to go offline, for the power to stop, so his drip went until it ran out, he wasn't on ventilators or dialysis, it was just his body healing itself while he slept. It would have been better if they could have made him more robust in the beginning and a little more gaunt (from no food) when he woke, but I suspect that's what the whole "hunched over, pale makeup" was supposed to tell us.

That show gave me nightmares, too, but I actually like that. Ha. I get it if it's too intense for some viewers. It really, really is.