Zombies

Stay The Fuck Home Zombies Edition

Zombies!

Come ON! You knew this one was coming!

So many people ask me why I love zombies. Why? Have you noticed that even in their undead state, they still work together as a community. Well, they do. Yes, it sucks that their limbs will fall off and they stink of rotting flesh and they need to eat the living to keep going, but yeah for community! We could all take a lesson out of the zombie book!

My love of zombies started when I was quite young. One would think it was when I was introduced to George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968), but in fact, it was much earlier than that. My first taste of zombies, was much more of a traditional zombie. Movies such as Nosferatu ()King of the Zombies (1941), I Walked With Zombie (1943) and White Zombie (1932), were often played on TV. I recall watching them over and over, being fascinated with what a zombie really was. Then came along a completely different type of undead being.

Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Return of the Living Dead, Zombi, Night of the Comet and 28 Days Later, Shaun of the Dead showed us a variety of possible zombie types. Slow, fast, rabid and ones who could become friends. To this day Shaun of the Dead is still my go to movie when I feel depression creeping in.

There are also a large number of books and comic books that tell fantastic zombie stories. I have a stack of books but my favourites are World War Z, The Zombie Survival Guide, Patient Zero, and for a little bit of fun Pride and Prejudice and the Zombies! I’m also a huge fan of The Walking Dead graphic novels (not a fan of the TV series).

And of course my all time favourite zombie genre, b-movies! Here are a bunch that are available on YouTube!

Teenage Zombies (1959)

Voodoo Island (1957)

Zombies of Mora Tau (1957)

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)

And some more of the classics!

Nosferatu (1922)

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

King of the Zombies (1941)

Revenge of the Zombies (1943)

White Zombie (1932)

Day 17

Day 17! Let your weird show. Seriously, never be afraid to be weird, which leads me to my photo for today.

I’ve always had a fascination with Zombies. My first introduction wasn’t actually Night of the Living Dead. It was in fact, White Zombie. Being a kid who grew up watching silent and pre-code movies, it was the first Zombie movie I recall watching. Next would be I Walk With A Zombie. I have a poster of that movie in my Hall of Horror!

Fast forward to the early 2000s and I am introduced to the Toronto Zombie Walk. Eventually, I became part of the group that ran it and in turn met and became good friends with the ghoulish and creeptacular Thea Faulds. Because of this, I got to meet George Romero twice.

Always, always let your weird shine through!

Redheads Writing in Cafes Except When It’s the Backyard

A heaviness hangs in the air. It’s been there for the last few weeks and it’s stifling. There has been a lot of shitty things happen in the last few weeks, including our provincial election, the deaths of two well-loved celebrities and a thickness in the air that leaves us all feeling worried, scared, uncertain. This disillusion has us unsettled. I don’t like it. I’m certain no one else does as well. This has opened a dark rift for many of us.

During my darkest moments, I do my best writing. I have been harnessing the darkness these last few weeks, the things I write require it. However, I need to harness it so it doesn’t take hold of me, rip away at my soul and push me into the mire. It’s a battle that is always hard fought by me and so many others and doesn’t always end in a fairytale ending. I’ve seen too many taken by the evil demon. With all of the negativity in the air right now, politically, life, life ending, channels are opening up again to talk, try to understand, heal. My heart breaks for those who could not cast out the darkness.  You will have noticed that I haven’t blogged in a while, only posted about my events. A huge part of it was I honestly felt the only things I could write out would include a demonic presence and a world falling apart. So… I avoided it.

Blogging to me meant writing poignant, clever and sometimes funny pieces, whether it be sharing the things I enjoy or waxing poetic about life. Several months ago, two friends began journalling their daily observations and I, for a short period of time, also joined in, until I realized by observations became repetitive and melancholy. I don’t think that was what the exercise was meant to be. Last Friday, a group of us sat around the table in my backyard, gossiped, wrote and talked about life. It felt good, I felt energized afterward and it opened something up. Some of us see the sunshine, some of us drink in melancholy and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

A blogging project I am now beginning is talking about the women who have inspired me during my life, kicked my ass when I thought I was failing and have lifted me up out of the darkness. The first person I want to talk about is Thea Munster.

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Tarot reader, thereminist, hearst driver, writer, world traveller, ghoul, b-movie queen, zombie walk creator, fiend.

I was not in a great place in my life, I avoided going out and definitely didn’t want to be around groups of people. Somehow an acquaintance convinced me to come to a Zombie Walk Committee meeting. Previous to this, I had been to a few walks. I loved the idea of dressing up as a Zombie and then disappearing into a crowd of the undead. After some arm twisting, I relented and went with her. Believe it or not, I am an introvert. There are many times that I have to talk myself into going out to events and honestly did try to talk myself out of this one. I am so glad that I didn’t. Not only did I walk into a group of people who were working on that years walk, I had found my fiends. A table of like-minded people who didn’t judge me for my very dark, very creepy interests. I found my people.

The meeting concluded, Thea and I chatted for a while, she was on her way to the Bovine to watch friends in a Misfits cover band and asked if I wanted to come. Instead of immediately making excuses for having to go home I blurted out yes and didn’t regret it. There was no awkwardness, no uncomfortable silences, we talked non-stop. This was how I met Thea. We were friends from that moment on, even periods of time between not seeing each other made no difference. We always pick up where we left off.

Thea has always been my inspiration. Seeing how she goes after her dreams, makes them happen and radiates a green glow from them, I am driven to work harder at my own dreams. I get to be the dark little girl with the crooked smile fearlessly.  Thea, thank you for being a true and honest ghoulfiend.

Please follow Thea on her blog and other social media. I have listed them below. You will definitely want to follow her on Instagram, she is posting videos playing the Theremin and they are spooktacular.

Blog: My1000moons.com

Instagram: ghoulygal

Twitter: boneyardbetty

Blast off!

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“Love what you do and do what you love. Don’t listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life.” — Ray Bradbury.

So here we are. The final day of the countdown. Months of numerical vague book entries.  The day I’ve been dreaming about since the first time I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I was ten years old and wanted to be just like Francie Nolan…

Alright! Alright! Stop yelling at me. I have to give you the long version of the story to make this worth your while. Right? No?

Ok.
Here goes.

I quit my job yesterday. Why? Why would I quit a job that paid my bills and kept me in food, clothes and off the streets. Why would I give up benefits, a pension and security? Why?

Let me tell you.
Let me explain.

For as long as I can remember I’ve written. I’ve done it part-time, full-time, as a contractor and as a freelancer. For the last several years I’ve written and edited for other people. I have done poetry and spoken word. I’ve had my writing published in literary magazines and short stories in anthologies. I’ve been a theatre reviewer and a columnist. I’ve fixed dialogue for movie scripts, written copy, done PR writing and business writing. I’ve won awards and contests. I have not written in the capacity I will be.

Full-time.
Fiction.
My own writing.

I have worked hard to get here. To get published in magazines and anthologies.
Applying for grants.
Performing my work in public.

Part-time was never enough.  There was always an ache. It always felt like something wasn’t being fulfilled. If I ever went days without writing, my soul hurt. I knew I needed fix this.

Time to sit down.
Finish my novel.
Send my short stories and poems to be published.
Finally finish all my writing projects.
Write.

Don’t worry. I’m not all starry-eyed about something that’s impossible.  Over a ten year period I worked in publishing and know what to expect and what not to expect. I know how much a writer makes and how hard they work to earn it. I know the ins and outs of what needs to be done to be seen, heard, published.  I’m not walking into this with my head in the clouds. I know reality and how to manage it.

I have paid off my debt.
Put aside some money.
Continually apply for grants.
I’ve prepared for this day.

The reason for doing this full-time; is to make money from my writing. To survive from it. It’s what I am waking up for. It’s my living. I don’t have a sugar daddy. Someone else won’t be supporting me. I will be working myself hard.  This is my career. My life.

I’ve already had many ask me how I could possibly survive doing this. Isn’t it just a hobby? That I’m unrealistic. Well folks, many people are full-time writers and they are doing ok. Cough JK Rowling Cough. (yes, we all want to be JK Rowling — even secretly) I have many friends who are full-time writers, musicians, artists, performers and guess what, they are able to survive doing it full-time as well. So you can now stop worrying. I’ll be fine.

Today is the beginning.
A new chapter.
I look outside. Low in the sky sits the Hunter’s Moon. Bright. Friday the 13th.
The perfect day.
The horror stories begin. Will the next chapter be werewolves, zombies or ghosts?

Actually, I really do need to get that next chapter written. Off I go. Laptop on my lap. Off to write the words.

Blast off!

 

RockTober!

October is just a few days away!  Everyone who knows me, knows it’s my favourite month AND the month of Halloween.  A month that is chock-full of AWESOME and a whole lotta spooktacular events!

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I’m especially looking forward to October 15 and I HATE TODD‘s release of Zombie Love AND the premiere of the music video.
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My poem “Freedom and Choice” was accepted in The Quilliad magazine! They are having their launch on October 16th at Tequila Bookworm. I hope to see many of your beautiful faces there! Come out to support the arts, buy a magazine and see me read!  https://www.facebook.com/events/165885766948879/

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October 20th is Lizzie Violet’s Cabaret Noir, featuring Monica S. Kuebler, Pandora La Glamme and Supertash!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1417045665182340/

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October 21st, I am featuring at Loose Leaf Poets and Writers.
https://www.facebook.com/events/624464360927258/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

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October 31st, I am hosting The Beautiful & The Damned for our Scream Queen’s Halloween Spooktacular!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1419484514930255/

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Other rockable events that my favourite people are putting on.

Big Name Actors at Horseshoe – Oct 3 – https://www.facebook.com/events/212312635601645/

Circle of Jerks – Oct 10 – https://www.facebook.com/events/172738849582922/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

I Hate Todd at Amsterdam Bicycle Club – Oct 14

Big Name Actors annivesary – Oct 25 @ Measure  https://www.facebook.com/events/658753184137502/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

I Hate Todd at Amsterdam Bicycle Club – Oct 31

August will be sizzling with amazing!

Hello all you beautiful people!  August is going to sizzle with so much amazing stuff I can hardly wait!  There are a couple amazing shows, I’m featuring in or hosting and we are gearing up to shoot a music video for a little ole script I wrote.

Anyone interested in being part of the crew OR being a Zombie contact me at lizzieviolet13 [at] gmail [dot] com.  The music video is for the the killer song ‘Zombie Love’ by Toronto’s most hated band I Hate Todd!  Check out their page or message me for more info.  We also have an invite set up on Facebook if you would like to be notified.
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Now onto the Shows!

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On August 8th I will be hosting:

The Beautiful and The Damned
Q Space 7 pm
382 College Street

https://www.facebook.com/events/172515529594916/?ref=2

Featuring Brenda Clews, Adam Abbas, Andrea Machette!

lvcnaug2013
August 11 I will be hosting Lizzie Violet’s Cabaret Noir:

Q Space 7 pm
382 College Street

Featuring sol knots, andraya and Tania Joy!

https://www.facebook.com/events/549748458405723/

plasticineI will be featuring:

Plasticine Poetry
Paupers Pub – 2nd Floor

https://www.facebook.com/events/209248939199191/

A little obession of mine

I have a couple things I am passionately obsessed about, silent movies, classic horror, zombies, everything 1920’s, vintage cookbooks and vegan online cooking sites.  I was perusing my friend Lara Christine Mansfield’s Facebook yesterday.  She has become the queen of finding amazing recipes (both vegan and raw) and had The Messy Cook posted as her most recent find.

I LOVE THIS SITE!

It has recipes, articles, info about restaurants and travel (please note it is a UK based Ezine), and a tab for the creators personal blog.

And you can sign up for the newsletter either requesting Vegetarian recipes or Vegan recipes.  Even if you aren’t a Veghead, you will love this site!

A few other of my favourite links:

http://www.theppk.com/
http://vegweb.com/
http://fatfreevegan.com/
http://veganplanet.blogspot.com/
http://shmooedfood.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/VeganBlackMetalChef

I have a bajillion more and will add them as I find them again…

 

The truth will set you free…

It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. ~ Mark Twain

This quote says it all and reverbs loud in my head today.  It really, truly does.

Human nature.  It’s a funny thing ain’t it.

I know a lot of things that ain’t so and won’t be so.  I’ve come to realize this. But, the reasoning behind the choices, make no sense at all.  You can’t force people to do the things you want or to make them change.  You can’t help them see the light or make them understand what is good for them, what will make their lives awesome or truly happy.    You just can’t.  You can be patient till the ends of time, but it’s up to you to make a final choice.  You can look at this patience a few ways, time wasted, lessons learned or hope.  Myself, I’m the patient hopeful one.  Most of the time.  Where is that getting me?

I’ve spent a lot of time inside my own head this last week, way too much time, time I needed to spend.  Due to depression and no money, I’ve imposed a house arrest on myself.  Yes that sounds a little harsh, but I really can’t be around people right now.  I’ve decided to focus on me, get writing done, look for freelance work and other types of work to help ensure I can pay rent, bills and eat.

I know I’m not, nor will be anyone elses priority and in the fight on my own.  I guess I always have been.  As with most things, it all comes back to Zombies.  In the event of a Zombie outbreak, you actually have a larger chance of surviving if you go out on your own.  No one slowing you down, no one else to worry about.  That’s the survival instinct I keep fighting.  I tell everyone else to go with their gut, when in fact I keep trying to force another conclusion.  Time to practice what I preach.

Because I can… {responses below}

There really should be a special section of Craigslist for people like me… am in one of those moods (as in I may start drinking soon) and couldn’t help myself. Like my Zombie Girl dating ad I placed over a year ago, I’m taking bets on how many serious responses I get. Trust me… there will be someone out there who actually thinks this is for reals…

… At least I made myself laugh for two minutes.

Here it is. I placed it in Missed Connections…

Wanna team up? – w4m
Date: 2011-08-17, 11:08AM EDT
Reply to:

You: 5’8″, handsome. Dark curly hair, haunting dark brown eyes. A smile that could end a million year war. You were wearing a white t-shirt, jeans, carrying a machete and a sawed off shot gun. You were covered in blood and Zombie bits.

Me: 5’8″, curvy. Red hair, part hair dye, part Zombie brain remnants. I was wearing a Smith’s t-shirt, rolled up jeans and boots, carrying a AK47 and a satchel of food.

Last seen: Bloor line, underground tunnel – somewhere between Spadina and Bathurst. I went east, you went west.

Let’s team up and fight these Zombies together. I’m almost out of bullets and have food. You look hungry and seem handy with that machete.

PostingID: 2551408975

/ps here is the link. Not sure how long it will stay live. Am sure it will get flagged soon as not being a real ad…

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/mis/2551408975.html

Responses Below

Thought i’d never hear from you again…food is scarce in these parts..
I might have grown a few inches since the last time we met, but i’m sure you’ll be able to recognize me.
I’m holed up in the west, in Etobicoke, have enough food for a few days more and then I must venture out or be too weak to keep up.

My machete stinks of rotting flesh and coupled with the cries and moans of the dead, it really is hard getting any rest at all. I can grab an AK off a dead soldier on my way to you, if he hasn’t ‘woken up’
already but I fear it might only slow me down. The machete is, after all, my weapon of choice.

next response

First of all; best post ever! Secondly, get out.of the tunnel quick. You can get quickly surrounded and outnumbered.

All I want to do is play hooky…

Welcome to day two of my newest bout of insomnia. Now before you start offering solutions, names of drugs or advice, I will save you time. I’ve tried it all. Nothing works, it’s a bit more complicated than that. I’m a chronic insomniac and have been since I was a child.

My current state of non-sleep is due to me once again not being able to turn my brain off. This involuntary solitary confinement I seem to have been placed in isn’t helping either. I’m feeling like a caged animal who doesn’t understand why she’s being punished. I’m frustrated, angry and exhausted.

I am sitting here looking at my list of freelance tasks and just want to be wandering around the island, or through High Park, or the beach. Hell just sitting by the water doing nothing would be better than this. I have an itch to play hooky, but what fun is that when you do it alone.

Today is the day I promised myself I’d write. It feels like forever since I have and I’ve decided I will no longer break promises to myself. Funny, I will be the only one keeping them.

I figure after a day of writing on my balcony, I’ll crack open a bottle of wine and have a Zombie-movie-a-thon, at least when it comes to Zombies, I know what to do. Real life… Not so much.

“I think that most people would rather face the light of a real enemy than the darkness of their imagined fears.”
— Max Brooks (World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War)