Zombie Apocalypse: Survival Kit & Crew Bloghop!

The end is nigh! And Jackie @Bouquet of Books, Dani @Entertaining Interests, and I want to know how you're going to survive it!

To welcome back one of our fave TV shows, The Walking Dead (season premiere's this coming Sunday, October 12!), we're building our respective zombie apocalypse dream teams and survival kits. Below are the folks and items this Goth Mom (Lite) wants around her when the shit hits the existential fan:

Crew:

1 The Walking Dead character

Michonne, because GIRL POWAH!!!!! Also, I really admire her no-nonsense demeanor (and since I'm all-nonsense, I think we'd make great foils for one another, n'est-ce pas?).

1 book character
Molly Michon from several Chis Moore books because 1. I dig the symmetry of her last name and my first crew member's name and 2. she's an absolute nutter whose wackadoodle ideas always seem to turn out right, whether she's on her meds or not. Also, she's a BAMF with a broadsword (or is it a katana? I forget).

1 movie character

Shaun from Shaun of the Dead, for his already proven zombie-killing skillz.

1 TV character (other than TWD)

Piper Halliwell from Charmed, 'cause she could freeze hordes of the walkers so we could snuff 'em out en masse.

1 loved one

My Kid, Balthazar, so he could wiseass the zombies to death. (To their second, more final deaths. obviously.)

1 friend

My Dear Friend Karen, because she'd so totally organize our sleep/work/slay schedules.

1 freebie

Satellite radio DJ Madison, from Sirius XM's Alt Nation, 'cause slaying soundtrack.

Backpack:

1 comfort item

My copy of Georgette Heyer's "The Convenient Marriage" because it's hilarious and I find the hero wonderfully dreamy.

1 weapon

My rapier sharp wit.

No? OK, then; Max Brooks, author of "The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead," commends the machete for being the ultimate zombie-stopper, so that.

1 luxury item
Moisturizer. Though it's less a luxury than a necessity, as my skin's hella dry, and dry/cracked skin leaves one susceptible to all sorts of infection!

1 food item

Nutella. (Because YUM.)

1 medicine/first aid item

Rum. (What, ain'tcha never heard of medicinal alcohol?)

1 hygiene item

Since I'm suspending my disbelief anyway, a magically renewable supply of Always sanitary pads. ('Cause I can't imagine it being easy to pick these up when one's on the run for one's life.)

1 freebie

Matches. Fire good!

Background:

Outpost
Montuak, Long Island (Me likey the ocean!)

Outbreak
Los Angeles, CA (Probably.) (It totally makes sense.)

Cause of it

Reality TV

Cure (if applicable)

An intrinsic sense of self-worth which isn't dependent upon others' adulation. (Haha...that's a toughy.)

1 item you NEED to find

Sturdy, water-proof, comfortable walking shoes with good arch support that come in a wide width. Oh, and they should be red, 'cause that's my fave color.

1 item you WANT to find

The Lindt chocolate factory.

Method of travel

Fire-breathing dragon, so we can fly high above the hoary dead while roasting them into oblivion!

And if you've a brief moment of respite from dodging the dead, be sure to pop 'round the other bloghop participants' sites to see how they plan to survive!

Ten Books I'd Incorporate Into My Life...

Dani at Entertaining Interests (and my co-host for the upcoming Zombie Apocalypse: Survival Kit & Crew Bloghop) challenged me with her Book Life Tag. Essentially, one who's been tagged lists features/characters from ten books to fill various areas of/in life. So, to address the questions of the tag:

Who would be your father?

Victor Frankenstein, from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. Because weird science.

Who would be your mother?

Grendel's mother, from the epic poem Beowulf. Because when she goes medieval on someone's ass, she really goes medieval on someone's ass.

Who would be your sister?

Thursday Next, from Jasper Fforde's brilliant comedy-fantasy book series which began with The Eyre Affair. Because Thursday's a BAMF ex-military gal and Special Operations agent whose task is to detect and stop crimes against literature—of course we'd have to be related!

Who would be your brother?

Pelham, Viscount Winwood, from Georgette Heyer's Georgian romance novel The Convenient Marriage. Because he's largely an idiot, but a courageous, caring, and loyal one, and will do anything in his power to support his family, even if it means fighting a duel over a hat.

Who would be your pet?

Harold, the dog and narrator of Deborah and James Howe's wonderful book, Bunnicula. Because I can really relate to this laid-back, meditative mutt. And how I admire his remarkable vocabulary!

Where would you live?

In the fictional sea-side town of Pine Cove, which can be visited in three of Christopher Moore's books: Practical Demonkeeping, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, and The Stupidest Angel. Because A. I've already blogged about my love of the ocean, and B. the town's full of nutters who, despite their nuttiness, manage to defend themselves against a demon, a primordial sea creature, zombies, and evil land developers.

Where would you go to school?

I have to admit, this one stumped me a little. Had to go digging on the Interwebz to find a fictional school that wasn't Hogwarts and eventually came across Wayside School, from Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories From Wayside School. I remembered reading this to my Kid, Balthazar, and really enjoying the surreality of it all. (Naturally.)

What would be your fictional job?

I think I wouldn't mind being the Vampire Queen in MaryJanice Davidson's Undead and Unwed series. Because, hey—royalty!

Who would be your best friend?

Nora Charles from detective novel The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett. Because the gal's got a sharp wit and knows her way around a cocktail.

Who would be your significant other?

Mr. George Knightley from Jane Austen's Emma. Because he's a man of sense, compassion, and honor. And not at all because actor Jeremy Northam portrayed him, heavens no... (But seriously; W00F.)

Right, so; my work here is done. It took me a while to come up with answers for all of these, though it was a labor of love, if you will. That said, I'm not going to tag anyone, but invite all interested parties either to leave their choices for these categories here in the comments or to write up blog posts of their own. If you opt for the latter, please comment here to let me know to pop 'round your blog and have a look!

Announcing the Zombie Apocalypse: Survival Kit & Crew Bloghop!

Bodacious babes Jackie (Bouquet of Books) and Dani (Entertaining Interests) kindly invited moi to co-host their upcoming Zombie Apocalypse: Survival Kit & Crew Bloghop and, being the hip GothMom(Lite) that I am, I graciously accepted the honor. (Modestly, too.)

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you're fighting the good fight!

Dani and Jackie's excitement for The Walking Dead premiere on October 12 reanimated another blogfest idea for these groovy gals. I have to admit to being totally stoked myself (about the show and their invitation to co-host). (W00000T!) And I have a feeling, Dear Reader, that you may be stoked as well. Read on for deets...

Zombie Apocalypse: Survival Kit & Crew Bloghop

Post date: Friday, October 10, 2014 ('cause who wants to post on show day?) (Not I!)

Hosts: Jackie @Bouquet of Books, Dani @Entertaining Interests, and Mina @ Some Dark Romantic.

To help build your zombie apocalypse dream team and survival kit, you'll need to pick ONE person and/or ONE item for each of the topics listed in the below categories.

(Items you already have on your person: undergarments, shirt, bottoms, socks, tennis shoes & a backpack. If you want special shoes and/or boots, jackets, belt, etc., those are extra and will need to be listed for one of your items below.)

And since this bloghop is all about having fun, if you have kiddos and/or pets, we can assume they are safely tucked away in a safe haven while we’re out in the world fighting off zombies, so do not worry.

With the characters below, please include the book, movie, & TV show they stem from.

The Walking Dead character (crew member #1) is the only one that needs to be from a zombie themed entertainment outlet, but please feel free to choose characters from your other favorite books/movies/tv. They may or may not be zombie related. It's all up to you. Just let your imagination flow!

Crew:

1. 1 The Walking Dead character
2. 1 book character
3. 1 movie character
4. 1 TV character (other than TWD)
5. 1 loved one
6. 1 friend
7. 1 freebie

Backpack:

1. 1 comfort item
2. 1 weapon
3. 1 luxury item
4. 1 food item
5. 1 medicine/first aid item
6. 1 hygiene item
7. 1 freebie

Background:

1. Outpost
2. Outbreak
3. Cause of it
4. Cure (if applicable)
5. 1 item you NEED to find
6. 1 item you WANT to find
7. Method of travel

• Please display the above badge on your blog.
• Join us on Friday, October 10, to build your zombie apocalypse dream team and survival kit.
• Spread the word via twitter, facebook, your blog, etc.
• Sign up in the linky, below, so that we can visit you and your crew on October 10.
• Most of all HAVE FUN and BE AS CREATIVE as you want!

My Seven Deadly Sins...

Being that I'm a Goth Mom (Lite), you might imagine me to be full of the swirling darkness that compels a soul to all sorts of depravity. If so, you'd be correct; in my heart, I harbor countless sins, yearning to break free. Dani of Entertaining Interests wants me to confess seven of them. (Well, strictly speaking, this meme seems to demand seven specific sins per each Deadly Sin which, if my mathematical skills—such as they are—serve me, makes for 49 sins. But as you may have already heard, I'm lazy as...well, sin. So you'll get one per category and like it, soldier.)

Pride
I've been told (by two different people) that I'm the possessor of a "smoldering sexuality" and "swagger." So, *W00F* is me.

Envy
I envy the hell outta chicks with preternaturally speedy metabolisms who can consume mass quantities of pizza, beer, and ice cream and never gain an ounce in the wrong place(s). Damn their svelte hides.

Wrath
Oh, where to begin, where to begin?! Lord, if it's not grammatical errors getting my goat, it's folks who saunter three or four-abreast on the sidewalk and don't get the fuck out of my way when I'm running late for work!!!!!!!!!!

*Ahem.* Where was I? Oh, yes; I was being sinful.

Sloth
Ha. Ha ha ha. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

Greed
Right now, my hot little hands want to wrap around the entire Brighton catalog.

Gluttony
I'd consume mass quantities of pizza, beer, and Häagen-Dazs Rocky Road ice cream if I had a preternaturally speedy metabolism. (The problem is, I've consumed these things without one.)

Lust
Well, similar to Greed, parts of me ache to wrap around something, only it's not my hands, nor do they long to go around jewelry. I feel I'd be at it like the proverbial rabbit if I had a partner who was ready, willing, and able to accommodate me. Say, it's gotten a bit hot in here, hasn't it? ::fans self::

And that's about as self-revealing as I'm prepared to be (while sober). (Which I am.) (Alas.)

OK, so I reckon I should tag seven other bloggers, perhaps some new-ish friends I've made, so I can become better acquainted with their dark sides. To that end, I tag (in alpha order, by first name or initials):

Beverly Fox

DRC

Mac Perry

Melissa Maygrove

Nana Prah

Narrator

Vanessa Morgan

OK, folks, your mission is clear: spill it.

After all, confession is good for the soul...

"Conjured" for Spooktoberfest!

Right, so; here's my entry for fellow blogging buddies/writers Dani and Jackie's boogety-boo blog hop...
Spooktoberfest!

Participants were challenged to compose flash fiction between 300-500 words which:

1. had to be set in the location depicted in one of the four pictures provided; and
2. had to use three out of six words listed (the three I used are in purple).

To see all the pics, possible word choices, and check out links to other participants' entries, click here or there.

This is the pic.

October was a busy month of work travel for me and though I'd decided on the pic, no story emerged in my mind. Then just this past weekend, as I settled in for the night at the B&B I stayed at while visiting my Kid for Family Weekend at his college, one of the other images demanded my attention. A weird and, frankly, rather disturbing story unfolded in rhyme, much darker than is my wont...I think. It turned out to be the sequel to my first Spooktoberfest entry, though it's told from a different point of view and it's nowhere near as lighthearted. Anyway, er...hope you enjoy?





Conjured by Mina Lobo
(300 words)

I'm the wretch that lurks at the bottom of the stairs
with the long, sharp beak and the coarse dark hairs,
whom you summoned to your home in the middle of the night,
whom you called when quite alone; now I have you in my sights.

You thought yourself so lonely and you felt yourself to ache
for some pleasures yet unknown, thus this action you did take:
you dug out that old spellbook that you'd hidden long ago,
when your last attempt went sour; yes, you stashed it down below

In the basement of your duplex, just behind your ancient dryer.
(You'd have been better off if you'd tossed it in the fire.)
Skimming quickly through its pages, soon you saw the thing you craved,
little knowing it was you who would find herself enslaved.

As others' children left to go begging for some sweets,
you sought to entertain yourself with one especial treat.
You went into your room and bubbled up a potion,
then mixed it with some cream to concoct this haunting lotion.

The scent so arousing, the sentiment inspired,
by all your burning hopes, and your dreams, and desires.
And with the aid of beings you believed safe to enlist,
you crafted what a thing like me can't possibly resist.

It called me from the deep, and up your dirty steps,
I wake you from your sleep, your eyes go wide and next,
your throat prepares a scream; I keep it from this task
by covering your lips and sliding off my mask.

You moan as though it's tragic that what appeared is me,
well knowing that your magic is what caused this beast to be.
I lean into your body and whisper what I'll do,
then on your moonlit bedding, I lay right into you.

She rocked us...

Pic courtesy de moi.

...like a damn hurricane.

Tuesday, October 30
I'll not bore you with the minutiae of the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Sandy in my neck of the woods, as I imagine you've either heard stories aplenty or lived your own personal nightmare. But I will note that I've been without Internet, electricity, or hot water since just before 8pm on Monday, October 29. Commuter rails into Manhattan have been suspended since Sunday night, so I've also not been in to work.

I hand wrote this post on Tuesday, having spent two fairly quiet days at home with the 'rents. Monday was ok, as I'd had power for most of the day, but going without light has been rather surreal. I never knew how very dark one's home can feel. Add to that the fact that I've been passing the time re-reading the very gothic Lasher by Anne Rice (sequel to The Witching Hour, which I scribbled about here), and the gloom only deepens.

Strange as this enforced quiet feels, it's served as a much needed respite. Midway through October, I came down with bronchitis. Due to an inordinately full and heavy plate at work, I couldn't take any time off to recover (indeed, I've worked at least two hours past my normal quitting time, every day, for the past couple of weeks). Now, I've no choice but to relax. I hesitate to say I'm glad of it...perhaps it's best to note simply that my body and mind needed this break.

Readers, if you and/or your loved ones have been similarly stricken by Sandy, I hope things soon turn around for you and yours.

And to Sandy, I cordially extend an invitation to self-procreate. Self-procreate into a stupor, you heartless cow.

:-)

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

Wednesday, October 31
Happy Halloween, all youse ghouls and goblins out there! Still no power/hot water, Internet access is being paid for at a local Kinko's type place (where the fella on the PC to my left is talking to someone on his cell phone in fluently sexy French - Le swoon!). Commuter rails to start up again on a limited basis this afternoon, so it looks like I'm bound for work tomorrow morning.

I'm bummed about the continued lack of electricity, especially since it means I may possibly miss American Horror Story: Asylum tonight, but I'll cross my fingers and maybe leave an offering out for The Great Pumpkin, you know, to cover all my bases.

I did get some amazingly excellent news today, though...

I'M JACKIE FELGER'S WINNING PICK FOR SPOOKTOBERFEST!!!!!

W00T, W00T, and a thousand times W00T!!!!!!!!!!

It's the first time my writing's been publicly recognized since I started scribbilng (lo, so many moons ago), so W00000T!!!!! Thanks again to Jackie of Bouquet of Books and Dani of Entertaining Interests for hosting this blogfest and for the honor!

If you've not yet read my flash-fic submission, you can check it out here*. To read my co-winner's piece, Randomness by Von L Cid, click here. He was also a runner up for Dani, so kudos, Dude! Your story freaked me out!

Runners up are:

Carving by L.G. Keltner (Truly chilling!)

Veil Hill by Tamara (Raised the hairs on my arms, for realz!)

The Dare by Tiffany Price (Haunting! Literally!)

(*Hmmm...maybe y'all had better read these other cats' stories first and then read mine for a giggle.)

So yay, yay, and yay again, verily! I reckon sometimes good things do come to those who wait in the dark...

Edited on Thursday, Nov. 1 to add: We got electricity/hot water back Wednesday night, I WAS able to catch AHS:Asylum, and I made it in to the office today. Baby steps to normalcy, y'all! ;-)

Spooktoberfest Blog Hop!

Click here to learn more!

Welcome to...

Spooktoberfest!

This blog hop is hosted by Jackie at Bouquet of Books and Dani of Entertaining Interests. The challenge? Compose a 300-word piece of flash fiction in which you use the following five words (singular or plural):

1. cobweb
2. cauldron
3. jack-o-lantern
4. ghost
5. razor

There are no restrictions on genre; the tale can be scary, funny, or all romantical-like, so long as it follows the above guidelines. SO, here's my entry. Hope y'all enjoy!

Crocked

by Mina Lobo

(293 Words)

    “Stupid, not-working spell.”

    “Sophia, how can you say that when the happy result sits before you?” Hecate asked, elegantly waving a hand over herself.

    My eyes shot razors at the Witch Goddess. “I wouldn’t say ‘happy.’”

    “Well, if you’re unsatisfied, you’ve only yourself to blame. Perhaps if you’d used an actual cauldron instead of that…that…what was it?”

    “A crock pot.”

    “Yes, that.” The platinum-blonde deity from ancient Greece sniffed her disdain. “Proper technique is the key to successful spell-casting, my dear.”

    “Keep your voice down, unless you want everyone at this Halloween shindig to know who you are,” I snarled.

    “I’ve nothing to hide, nor did I ask to be summoned.”

    “I didn’t summon you, I invoked the ‘Beauty of Hecate.’”

    “And here I am!” Hecate did the hand waving thing again.

    I downed my fourth (fifth?) vodka shot. If only she hadn’t been so gorgeous. The diaphanous gown Hecate wore made her look all Sexy-Ghost-Going-To-A-Very-Adult-Party, whereas my jack-o-lantern ensemble miserably failed to highlight my (dubious) assets. Damn that costume shop clerk; I’d said pumpkin colored, not—

    “Who’s that toothsome terror?”

    I took another shot, then looked. My heart sank. “That’s Troy. The reason I cast the spell.”

    Alerted by some sixth/sex sense, the muscular “werewolf” turned and locked eyes with Hecate, then goggled as she rose sinuously to her feet.

    “Well, sack my walled city,” Hecate purred, beckoning Troy with a crook of her finger.

    “Oh, no…you’re not going to—”

    “—clear the cobwebs from my cave? Oh, yes.” She gave me a lurid wink as the wolf man panted his way over to her. “Leave a torch lit for me, would you?”

    “Woof!” said Troy, proffering an arm.

    “Indeed,” said Hecate, taking it.

    And then they left me there.

    Crocked.