The "Good Gravy" Edition :: Issue #333, Rusty's Electric Dreams

“If you think you are enlightened, go and spend a week with your family.”

— Ram Dass

An inbox zine for positive deviants and the people who love them
Issue #333 :: The “Good gravy” Edition :: 11:23:2022

Good gravy…

I struggle with Thanksgiving, personally and culturally.

Over the years, I’ve made up new “Thursday” traditions for my daughter’s sake. Our longest standing one is heading to Oakland’s Chinatown for cute toys and jin deui. But this year she’s got other plans. She’s 18 now and has been invited to go on an adventure with a friend. I fully support her, of course, but I am getting my first real taste of “empty nest syndrome.” It hurts! I’m also sick, so my emotional guards are down.

Aside from this holiday hiccup, things are good. Better than they’ve ever been. And I only see things heading up.

And, for that, I definitely give thanks.

I hope whatever you’re up to this “Thursday,” it’s something good and that you’re surrounded by people who love and care about you.

— Rusty Blazenhoff

P.S. If you’re doing the Mastodon thing, you can find me at @blazenhoff@tribe.net (a server run by a friend and former Tribe.net admin).

As seen on the Internets

Long Live Jambi: Actor and comedian John Paragon, who passed in 2021, was laid to rest in a fitting urn, a Jambi Box—genie-ous!

photo: Mary Paragon Roberts

:: “Punk Rock Freaks in the Heart of Hollywood”
:: narratively.com/punk-rock-freaks-in-the-heart-of-hollywood Thanks, Ruby!

:: Old but gold: “Trust me on the sunscreen”
:: youtu.be/sTJ7AzBIJoI

:: Koyaanisqatsi but with gifs
:: monkeon.co.uk/gifaanisqatsi

:: “DRUNK”
:: boingboing.net/2015/06/08/drunk.html

:: The B-52’s “Roam” but only their sweet vocals
:: youtu.be/HI3nfY0SPjs

:: This website deteriorates every time its visited
:: crowd-jpeg.vercel.app via

:: David Bowie impersonating other singers
:: youtu.be/NrtXFTw2ico

:: Wild story: “Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?”
:: netflix.com/title/81446626

:: This is so lovely: The Appreciation Effect
:: theappreciationeffect.com Thanks, LeBrie!

:: “How to Support Indigenous People on Thanksgiving”
:: vice.com/en/article/zmdmb8/how-to-celebrate-thanksgiving-on-stolen-land

:: “100 Ways to Support—Not Appropriate From—Native People”
:: vice.com/en/article/pa5a3m/how-to-be-an-ally-to-native-americans-indigenous-people

Real man-bear you can actually buy: no way!

Bare bear: Welp, they’ve gone ahead and crossed a teddy bear with a man and inadvertently created the hybrid emotional support stuffy no one asked for: “He becomes part of the family and is always at home waiting for you. He doesn’t snore, he doesn’t sweat, and… 🙂 he doesn’t complain.” Yikes! (Loving Bear Puffy, $160)

Real mail art I actually got: yay!

PANICKED SCREAMS OF TERROR: Whoever is behind this, thank you! Mail art really is my love language. Want to send me some? My address is at the bottom of this email. But no pressure!

Real treats you can actually eat: yay!

Sweet: My friend Amani bakes absolutely delicious baclawa (the Egyptian way of spelling what we know as “baklava”). It was her family’s Christmastime recipe that they turned into a full-time business. She grew up making it alongside her Seattleite mom and Egyptian dad. They’re both gone now but she carries on the tradition seasonally and is now taking orders until at least mid-December. Get some while you can! P.S. It’s vegan!

Featured Events

[Alameda :: open soon!] Subpar Miniature Golf is back! Full circle moment: Ten years ago, I was a newly minted professional blogger and covered the opening of an indoor miniature golf course in Alameda. A lot has happened since then, for me and Subpar. So, it was really a thrill to see their new bigger and better space before it opened to the public *and* to cover it for (my new writing gig at) Alameda Post.

ARIZONA
[Scottsdale :: 4/27-4/30] Arizona Tiki Oasis

BAY AREA, CA+
[Point San Pablo, Richmond :: ongoing] Go get hot at good hot!

[San Francisco :: ongoing] Artists Television Access’ calendar

[Point Richmond :: now through 12/10] Amélie at Masquers Playhouse Thanks, Andie!

[San Francisco :: 12/1 to 3/2/23] Charlie Gadeken’s illuminated forest installation, Entwined Meadow, is coming back to Golden Gate Park’s Peacock Meadow. Free.

[Vallejo :: 12/3] Mad Hatter Christmas Parade [Facebook link], 4 p.m.

[San Francisco :: 12/3] Krampus Pageant at El Rio [Facebook event link]: San Francisco Krampus and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence “pay homage to the sinister and scary side of Christmas” 3 to 6 p.m. :: $10 to $20 donation

[San Francisco :: 12/3-12/8 and 12/12-12/24] The amazing Tree Twins are going on a world tour! Check all the cities they’ll be visiting—from London to San Francisco.

[San Francisco :: 12/6] Odd Salon: Oddments IX, “and end-of-year celebration of all things weird and wonderful” at Public Works SF, 6:30 p.m. 21+

[Alameda :: 12/8] Krampus Naught at Magpie & Thorn: get family photos with Krampus

[Berkeley :: through 12/11] East Bay Alternative Book & Zine Fest at Sports Basement Community Room

[San Francisco :: 1/7] Bowie & Elvis Birthday Bash 2023 Edition

[San Francisco :: 1/20 to 2/5] SF Sketchfest

LOS ANGELES, CA+
[Los Angeles :: through 12/11] Mark Ryden put his signature pop surrealism look on Barbie in a collab with Mattel! Kasmin Gallery is hosting Pink Pop, an exhibition of his new body of works. 8382 Melrose Avenue.

[Los Angeles :: now through 1/7/23] Todd Schorr’s Rattlebrain Melodrama at KP Projects

[San Luis Obispo :: 4/7-4/8] John Waters Easter & Pink Flamingos 50th Anniversary at Madonna Inn

TOURING
[2023] Attaboy’s Up Cycled Garden installation is going on tour

Replacing reality with representation, pumpkin style.

Thanks, Shawna!

Rusty’s Electric Dreams is an inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff for positive deviants and the people who love them. If this was forwarded to you, please consider subscribing yourself.

Described as, “One of the most inspiring, weird and off-kilter collections of curated kitschy ephemera for the big-brained.” People like it. Well, most people do.

My inbox zine is my gift to you. That being said, it’s not cheap to produce. If you have the means, please consider supporting me. Also, mail art is my love language, so feel free to send me some: 3104 Fernside Blvd, Alameda, CA 94501.

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Publisher & Baddie-in-Chief: Rusty Blazenhoff

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