So I have already somewhat snarked about the disc art from the triple feature The Lost Boys discs I got today. Really, mostly, I feel like they could’ve done a better job making the Frog brothers look good, if they were going to center them even on the first disc, as the recurring characters, in the series.
(This snarking occurred on Instagram, so no, you haven’t missed anything.)
I also noticed just yesterday that the hippie couple who appear to be sleeping on their feet, possibly stoned out of their minds, are standing behind the cash-wrap counter at the comic book store, and are therefore probably the “folks” the Frog brothers mention running the store for. So, likely, their parents.
Are you curious to see what the disc looks like? I suppose I could share that. The pic I took of the packaging for the whole set isn’t especially sexy visually. But then, it’s just a standard Blu-ray case.
Well, hey, I’ll share both. It was still exciting. I was jazzed when I stopped by the ‘rents house where I shipped it, and saw the mailer waiting, on the stoop.
There was one super cool thing about the set that I neglected to mention on Instagram. I haven’t peeked through the menus for the other two films yet, since I only watched the first one tonight. But the first disc comes with all sorts of bonus features, INCLUDING DELETED SCENES!!!
Because I have a spicy mind, I think I must admit my fave was the extended version of the love scene. Gosh, they’re pretty together. It’s no wonder they got cast as a couple in not just one but TWO movies, while they were dating.
But then, really, the filmmakers went all out casting beautiful people, generally.
I’m not sure what came first: my graduation to an interest in David, or the outset of Rock is Undead, when it began its life as a Wattpad project. I’ve since come to appreciate all the vamps, especially since getting into the fan content on tumblr. So many fun bits of fanfic, that really help bring those secondary characters to life.
Anyhow…
Here’s the cover of the three-film collection:
I’m frankly a little concerned about the “uncut” thing because I seem to recall reading a buyer review that one of the sequels got quite a bit gorier than the original (Eh, there was some gore in the 1987 one, but it’s over pretty quick in each scene? Or else I have just watched it so many times, I don’t really pay attention to it, anymore).
I no longer have an iron stomach for blood and guts in horror. Or for anything legitimately frightening, for that matter, either. It doesn’t literally make me queasy. I just don’t enjoy it. I used to be able to occasionally watch something slasher-y, but I had one especially terrifying mental health experience that rather soured the whole idea of getting scared on purpose.
But, we’ll see. I’ll watch it during the day. Probably for the best anyway since I’d have to have the volume up a tad louder than I did watching the first one, tonight, since I won’t have the dialogue nearly memorized, and who knows if it gets loud or screamy?
Here’s the first disc. I guess after my initial sense of betrayal that they didn’t go with the iconic art from the poster, I was willing to accept that yes, these are the characters who recur in the series. So that’s why they’re there. But they could have made them look better. Just to do the actors justice.
Even if you strongly preferred the vamps or Michael and Star, the Frog brothers had their own vibe, and provided a great undercurrent of comic relief. “Kill your brother. You’ll feel better.” And wondering how much they should charge for their services, after nearly bringing down the entire house, while dispatching vampires. And their connection to Sam, who wasn’t always on the same page as his older brother, brought more out of all three of them.
And it was fun to see them riding around Santa Carla on their bikes, trying to save the day. Brought back childhood memories.
And comic books are pretty cool.
Witness: there are Lost Boys comics, too. It comes full circle.
Here’s the front of the first disc in the set:
I dunno. The pic just doesn’t sell me on the movie. Facial expressions, tinting, lighting, etc. all feel a little off. They could have touched it up, or filtered, or gone with a different still from the film, altogether, with the Frogs looking a bit livelier.
But then, I don’t have a degree in design. I’ve never been a part of a big-budget movie, either creating or marketing one. I’m no celebrity. Who am I to say? Just my two cents, as a fan.
In other news… I had some fun today that DIDN’T involve vampires.
We had an after-hours all-staff meeting at work today. I wasn’t scheduled for anything apart from the meeting, but I discovered when I eventually woke up after my noon alarm went off, that I had a text that’d been sent to everyone, from our manager. Corporate was requiring an all-staff photo from the meetings.
Since it’s the opening of preseason football, and there was a game tonight, she’d said she wanted us all to wear team apparel or football-themed things.
I nearly replied that I had nothing, but then, an idea formed.
We had a top I had kinda liked when I first saw it, when someone else on staff had bought one. It’s a three-quarter-length-sleeve ringer tee with “GO SPORTS” in distressed lettering on it, all in shades of gray and white, heathered, with stripes on the sleeves.
It’s almost illegal where I live, but I don’t watch football.
In fact, if a guy isn’t a football fan, it’s a HUGE selling point in his favor with me, as a potential partner, because that means I won’t ever be expected to watch any games.
Back when I had live TV, there were some Olympic sports I would watch, if I was channel surfing, and they were on. Like figure skating, or later, some of the extreme sports.
And I’ve gone to hockey games. Those are kinda fun. But a lot of the appeal there may be the constant guys-slamming-into-other-guys. Not sure how football doesn’t do it for me, for the same reasons? But it doesn’t.
I will admit I once checked out a guy as he was walking to his car, while I was waiting in the backseat of a friend’s ride. We were at Red Lobster. I thought he had a great ass, then later learned he was our then-quarterback. Accidental fan-girling.
But yes… not a football fan. Less my stint of pride when I lived in Illinois, growing up, and the “Super Bowl Shuffle” was all the rage. Dressed as one of the Bears for Halloween that year. Later became very disenchanted when I learned how many of them were arrested for DUIs and the like.
So… I was not about to buy anything overtly advertising football. Definitely didn’t have a way to snag last minute team merch, and moreover, I’d have no use for it afterward.
But “GO SPORTS?” That’s just snarky enough that I kinda love it.
Checked the site, and brought up our “look for it in store” feature.
Supposedly, we still had a size that seemed good.
So, I headed to work early, to shop, and try it on.
Only found smaller sizes on the display table, and was so disappointed. Then, I started browsing for things in the team’s colors, even if that hadn’t been what I’d been hoping for. Went back to try one of those tops on, and discovered the size I’d wanted in my first choice tee. Someone had just tried it on, and it hadn’t been put away yet.
Victory!
Put it on. Walked out to the floor in it. Waited for one of my coworkers to finish with a customer. Got a second opinion on the fit. Yeah, this season’s tees fit small. At least, the graphic ones do. So, it worked. Asked them to snip off the tags and ring me up. Swept my hair aside, and they tugged the back collar down a bit to get to the tag.
“Oh yeah, you have a tattoo.” LOL… everyone always forgets I have ink. Or else they’re surprised to find out I do. But yeah, I have kind of a lot of it. It’s just not usually visible. Because I wasn’t sure where I was headed career-wise, so I kept it in areas that aren’t always out in the open.
That coworker, the one who snipped my tag, and sold me the shirt, was so nice to me today. I offered them feedback on ideas for dressing the mannequin they felt was presently clashing, since I guess we’d sold the top she’d had on her to start, and she was wearing olive green jeans.
And as the meeting was winding down, they were stretched out on the floor, not having wanted to sit in a chair. They’d been looking through the sheets of my packet that only the other leaders got, because they seemed curious, and I didn’t mind sharing. More specific stuff about store-wide sales metrics that we in particular have to be conscious of, especially when filling out morning paperwork, for our performance, the day before. Which really means it’s stuff we should be aware of, all the time.
Anyway, our manager had said something along the lines of how much we all are invested in continuing to do our best to promote the brand and help our customers, because that’s how we can all continue to hang out together “and we like hanging out together, right?” And this kid (I can say that, because they’re still in high school) scooted up like a human inchworm and hugged my ankle.
And they’ve told me before I’m their favorite person to work with.
And when they learned we’d be working together the day after tomorrow (technically tomorrow because it is WAY past midnight here), they got super excited, wanting to tell me all about a class they’d just started at school.
We also share stuff about our ongoing creative writing projects. I feel like I may have already said something about this, but I had summarized the wrap-up of Mystery Train for them, and they were SO impressed and SO enthusiastic, it made me feel amazing.
Yeah, I think I talked about that? They’re the one whose name may have unconsciously inspired a plot twist that will pop up in “Build Me a Woman.” They’d shouted out, all smiles, “Yay! I’m a vampire!”
So yeah, the work meeting was actually a good time.
I still had even moar bonus time after shopping and just hung out in the office for a bit, reading over the packet the leaders were given in advance at the management-only meeting. Had some string cheese, and one of the sodas I’d left in the office fridge. Some of it, anyway. Drank the rest during the meeting.
And I accidentally ate one of the manager’s sausage slices. Didn’t see her name on the package until I reached in for another one LOL. Because we’d put sausage on the snack request list, so I figured it was communal? I apologized later, and she laughed, and said it was fine.
Then, from work, I headed to the grocery store, to replace the stuff I’d had in the freezer that had thawed when the door popped open, while I was out. And from the store, I stopped by to see my parents, and the other cat, and pick up my package (the movies).
Showed my parents the shirt, too. I’d layered a hoodie over it, since it was pretty chilly here, at that point. But they liked it. It’s cheeky!
In other news, I’ve been talking to a new dude. A local. Shockingly. Most of the dating app people are far away. I’m leery because his “looking for” was hookups and short-term dating.
Which is like dinner followed by hooking up followed by them dropping you, from my experience… like maybe a couple icebreaking dates, with the expectation of sex, then nada…not that I have done the short-term dating thing, per se, but I’ve had it attempted with me, and didn’t like it…
I don’t know. To me, if you’re going to have something meaningless, then be upfront about it, and don’t dress it up with connection that isn’t going to go anywhere. I like things more black and white than that I guess. None of that murky gray area stuff. That’s where I get hurt.
BUT he reassured me (which ya know you always take the things they say with a hefty bit of salt), that he was open to whatever came his way, not just hookups. I’m generally more than a little cynical about guys who say things like that, because it sounds a lot like I’m auditioning, and may or may not get the part. Maybe that’s always true of dating, but the mostly-hookups guys expect you to go a lot further, before they consider taking you seriously, and that seems unfair.
All that said, it’s nice to talk to someone new. It’s convenient that we could probably meet up with little to no fuss, living in the same area. Assuming we get that far. He’s paid me nice compliments, about my personality and interests, rather than my appearance. Complimenting my replies, and what they say about me as a human being. Flirting without being gross.
And while I haven’t always been pro-biker lately (at least in part over self-consciousness of my size throwing off someone’s balance, but then, that would be less of a concern now)… today, I had the thought that riding on the back (which I have done twice before) would be good research, in case I want to REALLY make Dwayne and Paul authentic, or at least, my adaptations of them. Have them biker vampire musicians.
Lately, everything is striking me that way. Grist for the series. I’m obsessed. But in a good way.
OH… I had also wanted to share this, but the day it happened, I went to bed earlyish (which really I should be sleeping NOW, but I’ll try to finish this up right quick)… I got to see The Black Crowes live. And because I was there relatively early, I was nearly right up against the barricade in front of the stage.
I even reflected in the moment about the sensations of the sound system echoing through my body, the way that when someone sound-checked the bass and had it cranked, it actually felt like the notes were coming from EVERYWHERE, not just in front of me. And they were almost felt more than heard, they were so low-pitched. Vibrations.
Because I had talked about concert-going sensations, and music, generally, in Rock is Undead. Now, I’ll have fresher material to draw from. And I added a Black Crowes song to the playlist.
I wondered if maybe I should rewrite a passage where Jared is thinking about the popularity of the “love light” idea in lyrics, and reflects that Dorian wouldn’t use something that cliche in his songs… because they played a song that included that, and that made me feel kinda bad.
Plus then I thought, if I’m the one writing the lyrics, that’s like subtly stating I’m a better lyricist than those professional musicians. Which I am not. I’ll think that over some more. The book won’t release until Halloween, so I have time for updates to the manuscript, yet.
But more generally, the concert brought back so many memories.
“Hard to Handle” is my go-to karaoke song. And I love Otis Redding.
I cheered when the lead singer said they perform this song every time, and he always dedicates it to Otis Redding, because I KNEW what song that meant they were about to play. Loved Otis Redding since discovering him on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack.
AND I nearly openly wept during “She Talks to Angels.”
There’s a story there.
My first job, which I started at age 16, there was a guy who often gave me rides home, before I started dating my girlie there, who would drive me, instead. He had a mixtape that had that song on it, that we would listen to on the way to my house. I loved that song, and he knew it. We’d sing along to all the songs, but that one always hit me hardest. He declared it my song, and if it hadn’t yet come up in the rotation by the time we got to our destination, we’d keep driving until it did.
He was a pretty cool guy. Southerner, and originally kinda homophobic. But I guess I changed his mind about that. He said that. That he hadn’t known anyone who wasn’t straight before (or at least not to his knowledge, or not openly), and knowing me made him see it differently.
The song stirred so many emotions. God, young teen me. I wish I could go back in time and just give her a hug. I wouldn’t lie and say it gets better, because there were definitely times it got way worse, too. But I think i would tell her you will grow up to have the most amazing daughter. And you will love her with everything in you, and she will be such a kind and thoughtful person. And that will be your legacy, beyond anything you write, or paint.
But I would also advise her to keep living for yourself, too. Not just for your kiddo, or for others. Keep that fire stoked, as best you can.
To that end, I present:
My Rock is Undead Pinterest board: (some content potentially NSFW, thematically, but no nudity… possibly limited profanity?)
Did I share it already? I see I had “Pinterest” as a tag, on here. Hm.
Well, it’s beefier now than before.
I wish it would let me embed the content so you would get image previews, but it wouldn’t. Alors. Lotsa cool stuff in there, though. I honestly don’t know if you need to be signed in to open the link, or have a Pinterest account, but there it be, for the curious.
OH and I discovered someone on tumblr asked me if I take thematic playlist suggestions, because they enjoyed my playlists so much! There was one I posted that I had only found, not made, but I clarified that, both in the post where I shared it, and in my reply to them. So, we’ll see what happens with that. Could be fun!
Kinda feel like maybe I’ve found my people, there.
AND I am going to try to figure out Draft2Digital again, and sell my writing on more places than just Amazon. Wish me luck!!!
Still feeling amusement park vibes from my last post, and the Boardwalk stuff in all the fanfic and the original material, from The Lost Boys. Had me thinking about cotton candy. So I leave you with this.
All the Bright and Sparkly Things 
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