Well, dear readers, I do believe that yesterday we had the Invasion of the Annoyingly Annoying Ants. The first time I went into the bathroom upon arising I saw one, then two, then a few more. It wasn’t a full-on invasion at that point – more like an inva. Assessing the ant attack, there were a few near the toilet, some in the middle of the floor, a couple near the tub, and a couple near the sink. I was happy to note that none were in the shower. I thought I’d have to immediately run and get some Raid, but I checked in the kitchen and I happily had some there, so back to the bathroom I went and killed every one of those suckers, and this I did with some glee (eelg, spelled backwards). I took those ants OUT. I was liberal with the dosage anywhere where I thought they might be coming from, although I couldn’t actually SEE where they were coming from. As a precaution, I also sprayed the drain in the shower. I checked everywhere else in the house and the inva seemed to be only in the master bathroom. I kept my eye on things all throughout the day and evening, and for now the Raid seems to have done the trick. Grant is in Italy and won’t be back for another week – once he’s back, he’ll have his bug people come and spray properly.
Oh, and may I just point out that it is Halloween? Oh, and may I just point out that it is the last day of October? How in tarnation did THAT happen? Oh, and may I just point out that tomorrow it will be November? And, of course, it is my fervent hope and prayer that November will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.
Other than that, I got a little over seven hours of sleep, did my usual morning things – answered e-mails, had telephonic calls, including a really interesting one, and then I went and picked up some packages, stopped at Gelson’s and got the ingrediants – sorry, ingredients not ants – for my faux chicken stroganoff, then came home and made it and put it over rice and ate it all up. I got about six ounces of chicken for it, but only used four, saving the other little filet for later.
I did some work at the piano and on the computer, had another long telephonic conversation, listened to some interesting music, and then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Night of the Living Dead, the Criterion disc. I’ve only seen pieces of the film, never the entire thing. I know everyone considers it a game changing horror film, and I suppose in certain ways it is, as it spawned a humungous number of imitators and still is, just as Psycho did eight years earlier. The film has lived in public domain hell since forever and has had hundreds of home video releases that look like absolute junk. There were a couple of okay releases in the late and early DVD and Blu-ray era, but this 2018 Criterion Blu-ray gets it perfect. The film, I can guarantee you, did not look this good in its release prints – it looks phenomenal, with great contrast, not a mark on the film, sharp as a tack, and for once sound that isn’t shrill and ugly. For fans of the film, it really is never going to get better than this. As to the film itself, it’s really not my cup of banana juice, but it’s easy to see why it’s revered by horror aficionados. I do like it lots better than The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. And the shots of the undead eating human flesh, which must have been vomit-inducing in 1968, are still pretty much vomit-inducing now. There’s a whole second disc of nothing but extras, so I’ll watch some of those today for Halloween.
After that, I was almost out of Diet Coke, so I went to Ralph’s and stocked up, got some peanuts in the shell, some pistachios, some egg and onion matzoh, and stuff to make tuna sandwiches for today’s meal. And I got another bag of candy, just in case I run out, which, given last year’s low turnout, is doubtful.
I came home, sautéed the other little two-ounce chicken filet and put it on a small bun with a slice of cheese and some onion and that was my little snack for the evening, and it was surprisingly good, I must say, and therefore did say. I also had some peanuts, but only after removing them from their little shell. And then it was time to write these here notes.
Today, I can sleep in, then I’ll do the usual morning things, hopefully pick up some packages, eat tuna sandwiches, do work at the piano and computer, and then await the arrival of whatever trick-or-treaters happen to knock upon the door. And, of course, we hope we have no recurrence of the invasion of the annoyingly annoying ants.
Tomorrow is more of the same, and then a dinner meeting. Saturday, we have a ten to two rehearsal and finally have our leading man, which will energize everyone even more than they already are. After that, I can relax. Sunday will hopefully be a ME day, and then we’re into a solid week of rehearsals and my hope is that come Friday next, the show will be blocked, and then I can start finessing everything and working on the performances and timing.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, sleep in, hopefully pick up some packages, eat, work at the piano and computer, and then give out the Halloween candy to whatever trick or treaters show up. I’m sure I’ll watch a motion picture, too, just because I can. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite horror movies and what were the game changers for you personally? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, hoping that there is no repeat of the Invasion of the Annoyingly Annoying Ants.