All posts by J. A. Ludwig

Working hard to get my fill. Every day's a real big thrill. Writing anything to stay alive just one more time...But seriously, I work and then write when I can.
Random Update

Update Feb. 20th 2021

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In regards to my previous post: The smoke was most likely due to a manure fire many, many miles away from where I live…so that’s good.

I’ve been working on my second book in my fantasy series…and hopefully it will be coming out in March…hopefully.

My theater job is still closed (since March of last year so approaching 1 year anniversary of no theater…yay -_-). I’ve been doing a few odd jobs, but if things keep going this way…well, you all know (especially if you’re in the USA).

My anxiety, depression, and surprise paranoia are all getting along with each other…just not with me, but my kitten is keeping me grounded with nightly and morning cuddles.

That’s all for now…cause I can’t think of anything else interesting enough to mention. Just checking in.

Our House

Is that Smoke?

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So, yeah, it’s around 4 am and I have yet to go to sleep…not from lack of trying, I assure you.

Around 3:30 am (really a little bit before that but close enough), as I prepared to finally attempt to fall asleep, my nose was greeted with an interesting scent.

Smoke.

Now…I live in Southern California….you don’t really want to ever smell smoke in the middle of the night…but it isn’t an overwhelming smell…just…there.

I bounced from window to window to see if I could find the source, noticing the smell was definitely coming from outside since our house isn’t exactly airtight. I could smell it stronger when the wind blew outside and through the not airtight windows.

But I couldn’t see the source.

Though, there was a strange light across the street where there usually isn’t a light. So, that was weird. But it turned off about 5ish minutes ago.

Also, no fire trucks or any signs of first responders. Therefor, I can only conclude the smoke I’m smelling is from a fire a good distance away….and I hope it stays that way.

Of course, now I can’t sleep cause the smell is still here and my paranoia is kicking in and I think that’s it for sleeping tonight.

AND in all honesty…..it’s probably just somebody having a bonfire night or something….on a Wednesday evening/very early Thursday morning….sure. It could happen.

Adulting

As of 11:10 pm on January 26th

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Just checking in….

As my day of birth comes to an end…I really, truly, undoubtedly, not surprisingly….forgot how old I was.

Is this a common theme with everyone following their 30th birthday? I actually had to DO THE MATH to remember how old I am now today on this sunny California day…………..

Sorry, had to pause again to do the math AGAIN to remember that I turned 32 years old.

God, I hate math…

Random Pic

Random Pic

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I tested 2021 and it, in fact, brought it on…and now I regret everything. Therefore, to appease the 2021 gods, I present a wholesome picture to cease bringing it on…please.

Here’s a picture of our neighbor’s dog and his new best friend.

What were they looking at? Why, me and my good boy Lele.

They were just jealous they weren’t getting any cuddles.

Please, 2021 gods…cease the bringing it on. I will not mock you again…maybe.

31 Days of Holiday Memories!

That Didn’t Take Long

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Well……….that didn’t take long.

I said I’d attempt to post something every day and managed to last…two days?

High five to ME!

But I guess in order to make this post at least worth reading……

The holiday season can be a time of joy…but for some it can also be a dark time.

This time of year is notorious for raising anxiety and depression amongst many people. This particular year will probably be adding even more to that…cause it was this year.

Check in with friends and family. Even a short message or a simple “Happy Holidays” will suffice.

This year has been a rough and tough and just overall shitty year for everyone. But maybe the last couple of weeks could be the beginning of a more positive year…fingers crossed.

I probably won’t remember to post tomorrow or the next day…but I’ll try my best.

Happy Holidays.

31 Days of Holiday Memories!, Log

Whale of a Birthday

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My birthday is in January…I know, I know. That doesn’t really count as a “Holiday memory”…but I’m going to include this story because it was the end of an era.

When I left Indiana for college in California, my parents retired and moved to Maui, HI. When I could, I would visit for Christmas (the only times I didn’t when I had to work).

Anybut, in 2016, my parents moved back to the mainland. So, for the last time I’d visit before their move, we went whale watching. We’ve done it many times throughout the years, but this was special.

Not only was it the last whale watching we’d probably ever do in Maui, it was the last time I’d probably ever visit the island…it’s expensive to fly out there and stay in a hotel.

I really loved whale watching because even if you didn’t see a lot of whales, you always saw SOMETHING. We didn’t expect anything like what we witnessed.

The boat we were on easily found a whale and we followed it, thinking we’d lose track of it in no time.

Then we got SURROUNDED! I mean there were four or five whales that appeared from outta nowhere. The captain had to shut off the engine (humpbacks are an endangered species and large boats are required to turn their engines off when within a certain distance).

Long story short…I got a selfie with a whale.

My parents like to joke that this was Hawaii giving them a farewell gift.

Before I show video, I should preface with this: I’ve gone whale watching many times in Maui…but this was the first time this EVER happened to us. Even the captain of the boat stopped what he was doing to get some pictures.

Here are videos of how close these buggers got (I apologize for any weird sounds as I adjust my grip on my phone so it doesn’t fall into the ocean):

“What is happening?!” one of the guides on the boat.
This is the whale in my selfie checking out the boat.

Also, apologies if I’ve already posted about this…but it’s still one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced.

31 Days of Holiday Memories!, Log

Holiday Time!!

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It’s December and it’s time for some random Holiday-ness.

I’m not 100% sure what to do this year so I thought I’d attempt, keyword attempt, to do something every day until January 1st…I make no promises, but I will do my best.

And to make this something besides an announcement/introduction post…here’s a random fact:

Every year for the past 3 years I helped prepare and fix props for touring productions of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer the Musical.

That’s not the fun fact. The fun fact is that if you’ve ever seen this randomly touring show in the US, I want you to know that means you are one degree of separation from me…creepy, right?

Anybut, needless to say this year the touring shows have been cancelled and therefore I didn’t have the honor of repainting two dozen chairs, two large tables, so many ladders, toys, tools, repairing tinsel jumpropes (yes, really), a number of instruments, or re-wrapping HUNDREDS (okay, not hundreds…but a LOT) of presents.

I’m sad…but also a little relieved. Nothing makes you want to never see another piece of wrapping paper like wrapping over four dozen empty boxes every year before December.

I’m sad for the performers, technicians, and production personnel who look forward to this touring show and hopefully, it will be back next year…hopefully.

Random Thought, Random Update

What to Do…?

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Wondering what I should post about in the next few weeks…

Should I try doing more random lists? Should I post random true stories? Should I talk about my in progress second book in my fantasy series?

I just don’t know.

I’ll play around with some ideas and hopefully have an answer soon…

Until then, I hope everyone enjoyed my spooky ooky season lists. I had a lot of fun remembering some of the films and trying a new style of post…that other sites have probably been doing forever…but hey! It was still fun.

Anybut, this was sort of an update/random thought post. More for me than anyone else.

Halloween, Log

Top 10 Horror Movies I Watch Every Year

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I love horror movies. I really do.

I have a tradition every Halloween (whether I’m invited to parties or not) to watch the same horror movies.

I intersperse new horror movies every year, but there are always a few that I HAVE to watch every year.

So here are my TOP 10 Horror Movies I have to watch EVERY YEAR!!!
(In no particular order)

10. Children of the Corn
Consider this the necessary Stephen King entry. It could be ANY Stephen King film, but Children of the Corn has a special place in my heart. It’s the one I love watching over and over. I love the cheese, I love the effects, and I LOVE when Malachi yells “OUTLANDER! WE HAVE YOUR WOMAN!” Don’t go into this necessarily expecting scares, but it’s definitely a fun watch.

9. A Tale of Two Sisters
This film still terrifies me. It’s a Korean film from 2003 and it still holds up to horror films coming out now. There is an American remake of it….but we’re going to pretend that doesn’t exist. If you aren’t used to Asian films this may not be the one for you. There are terrifying images, frightening twists, and an ending that if you aren’t prepared for literally BLOWS your mind!

8. Delicatessen
French films in horror are masterclasses. They basically invented the torture porn genre…this film isn’t that. But it IS a fun blend of Sci-fi, horror, and comedy. It takes place in an apocalyptic future where meat is rare and a former clown takes a job in an apartment complex above a Delicatessen (a butcher shop). I mean that description alone should be enough. I love this film, but be prepared for subtitles and a bit of violence.

7. Rec
ANOTHER movie from outside of America?! You bet your ass! This time we’re heading to Spain (Barcelona in fact) for a found footage style film that also had an American remake…..and again we’re going to pretend it doesn’t exist. This one offers an English dub over the original Spanish actors so if subtitles scare you away, now there’s no excuse. The premise is a news team is following a group of fire men on night calls when they get trapped inside a building with a rare disease that turns people into zombies. Highly recommended.

6. Evil Dead
All right, I’m cheating a little bit. This entry is for all of the Evil Dead movies (not including the 2013 remake though that IS a good movie, too). I can’t get through Halloween without some Ash Williams. It’s campy, it’s gory, it’s all around FUN!! I love these movies!!

5. The Thing
This movie terrified me as a child. But now it holds a special place in my heart since I got to see John Carpenter talk about the making of this film at my college. The practical effects are still some of the best ever put to film and still hold up against modern day CGI…BETTER even! I love this film and it’s always a must-watch every season.

4. Friday the 13th
The first one. I love the fun kills from the entire series, but the original Friday the 13th still, in my opinion, is the best one. See where it all began with a series that will NEVER die.

3. Splinter
This film is definitely one of those, ‘you either love it or hate it’, deals. I love it. The “creature” is never explained, but it is VERY cool, in my opinion. The effects are gross and the story is meh, but it grows on you and it’s become a definite must watch for me.

2. Halloween
What’s a Halloween horror movie list without Halloween, eh? Like Friday the 13th, I’m sticking with the original all the way. Others in the series and a number of remakes have added a lot to this story, but the simplicity of the original is close to perfection.

1. Hellraiser
Another master of horror graces this list. Clive Barker is another filmmaker who knows what he’s doing. Hellraiser is another classic with amazing effects. Who else would think of rebuilding a human body one meaty, boney bit at a time? Seriously the scene where a man starts as a little bloody splotch and regrows into a skinless body is so gruesomely beautiful.

This is the part of the list where I mention some Honorable Mentions. These films are modern classics that have been added to my must-watch list. I have five for you:

1. Cabin in the Woods
I mean it’s like Scream. It takes all the cliches and tropes of horror films and puts them all through a comedic, yet still terrifying, lens.

2. Paranormal Activity
Okay, hear me out. Sometimes you just want to watch ghosts messing around with people. Did it go a little crazy as more came out in the series? Yes, but I still think the ghost in the sheet in the second film was the scariest part of the entire franchise.

3. The Ritual
A British film that I understand can drag a little. But I love the idea of it and the monster at the center of the terror is so cool!!

4. The Autopsy of Jane Doe
It all takes place in a coroner’s office. And there’s a mystery to be solved!! Such a fantastic film that will definitely be a classic.

5. Shudder & Crypt TV
All right, all right, this is 100% a cheat and a little bit of a, not paid, promotion. Shudder is a streaming service that is ALL about horror. From the classics (Cannibal Holocaust, Fall of the House of Usher, etc.) to original movies and TV shows (Cursed Films, Host, etc.), Shudder has a large collection of horror to get anyone through Halloween. Crypt TV is free and you can check out their stuff on YouTube as well as their website. They are masters of creating new monsters and horrors including The Birch and The Look-See. Definitely one to check out!!

Again, not paid to promote, I just really enjoy Shudder and Crypt TV.

There it is. My Must Watch Horror Movies for Halloween. If there were movies missing that are must-watches for you every year make sure to comment!!!