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10/02/2004 Entry: "Glowing. Balloon. Monsters."

A real quick one for a lazy Saturday night: Glowing Balloon Monsters, created from a "recipe" found in this crafts magazine I picked up that was probably more intended for people who have to make two trays of name-tagged cupcakes by 8 AM sharp. Also note the new addition to the bottom of the main page -- a very grainy but mostly watchable commercial for the McDonald's McBoo pails.

Survey: A friend of mine who's home with nothing to do tonight was telling me of his grand plan to down some Johnny Walker on the rocks and slap on his Batman Returns DVD before drifting into a coma, an idea that made me somehow very envious. So the survey: what's your poison when it comes to being home alone on a weekend night with plenty of energy left in the tank but no real ambition to find something to do? Pretzels and Simpsons reruns? Booze and books? How do you lull yourself into that pleasant ambiance of Absolute Blah? I'm not sure if I'm explaining what I mean correctly, but you should be used to that by now.

REPLIES: 73 comments

That monster is damn sexy.

My poison of choice? Baking and a movie. Nothing rocks me more than figuring out some cookies or a cake and watching Return of the Jedi.

Chestnuts roasted by Lauren @ 10/02/2004 11:43 PM EST

I'll usually kick back on my couch, have a Coke and a cigarette and watch a movie on IFC.

Chestnuts roasted by mushroom @ 10/02/2004 11:54 PM EST

My posion is definitely a movie, a soda, and some junk food, like maybe a box of crunch and munch, or even some Mrs. Fields cookies.

Chestnuts roasted by Number 5 @ 10/02/2004 11:55 PM EST

Doritos and Nascar >_>

Chestnuts roasted by Bifflog @ 10/03/2004 12:14 AM EST

Whatever Coors is left in the fridge and metal mania on vh1 classic

Chestnuts roasted by bob genghis khan @ 10/03/2004 12:16 AM EST

Mountain Dew and Josie and the Pussycats.

Enough sugar to make the room spin, Rachael Leigh Cook and Alan Cumming....ahhhhhhh.

"well that would explain why you aren't wearing any...hats"

"you can hire all the 15 yr old girls you want to scream at you but your party will not be the same without Rachael Leigh Cook's leopard pattern hairdo lighting the way"

I feel free to misquote that slightly; as I corrected the spelling error Matt made in the original article =)

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 10/03/2004 12:29 AM EST

Ebay window shopping. I put all the things I want but have no intention of bidding on on my watch list. Then sadly watch as they get bid on by people who actually have money. A bottle of Mamertino completes this pretty picture.

Chestnuts roasted by CryptKitty @ 10/03/2004 12:42 AM EST

White Russians, mmmm
I drink those and watch some good, relaxing 80s movie, preferrably something of the John Hughes variety. Or any 80s movie really. Just recently I was watching The Neverending Story on the Spanish language channel, nothing beats that.

Chestnuts roasted by DJ @ 10/03/2004 12:59 AM EST

I tend to just kick back and play video games. If it's Saturday, I watch anime.

Chestnuts roasted by Zoghade @ 10/03/2004 01:10 AM EST

Here's two of my favorite time-wasters.

Method 1: Get yerself GBA SP with Wario Ware Inc. and some MST3K DVD box sets. Fire 'em both up and alternate between playing the microgames and watching the DVDs.

Method 2: Go to the following web sites:

http://www.jigsawsgalore.com/
http://hn.iodized.net/

Download and install the program. Save the comics and import them into the program to make puzzles. Set the pieces and shape however you like.

Chestnuts roasted by TB Tabby @ 10/03/2004 01:12 AM EST

smokin pot, surfin' the net, and trying to keep a good TV show on in the background.

Good surfin' shows be: The Golden Girls, Cosby and Rosanne, Iron Chef, and Mad About You. Stuff on E! makes me keep looking at the TV too much.

I'd be drinking whiskey, but I can't cause...well, I have my reasons.

Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 10/03/2004 01:15 AM EST

wait, right now I am smokin pot and watching uncensored Jay and Silent Bob on Comedy Central!! OOooohhhh yeah!!

Chestnuts roasted by kidneyboy @ 10/03/2004 01:19 AM EST

Sailor Moon and ramen. ^_^ Or if I'm feeling moody I write or draw something.

Chestnuts roasted by pikachulover @ 10/03/2004 01:59 AM EST

Wow. I never thought the day would come when shoving glo-sticks up a balloon's ass would classify as an art project...

Hmmm. What's my poison? Well, last Saturday when my apartment was empty except for three of us (three out of nine), we watched Singin in the Rain, sat around for two hours tossing around variations on the old "What do you wanna do?" "I dunno, what do you wanna do?" theme, we decided to bake cookies. At midnight. Under normal circumstances? Video games, films I can quote in my sleep (favorites include Fight Club, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and anything written by Quentin Tarantino), and munchies. Under college dorm circumstances? Finding Nemo and a bottle of Bacardi. Oh, the stories I could tell...

Chestnuts roasted by Pirate7L @ 10/03/2004 02:10 AM EST

I pull something from my vast library of video games and DVDs; my collection kills hours or entire days if you're not careful. I'm always in the mood for one of these things I own, and there's always one I haven't played/watched yet because like any American consumer I'm constantly getting newer things.

Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 10/03/2004 02:21 AM EST

These are one of those simple things that make me go, "Why didn't I think of that?!"

My "poison" is making a nice veggie pizza, talking to my bestest friend online while having either anime or hockey on the TV in the background.

*sigh* Hockey... :'(

Chestnuts roasted by Ryane @ 10/03/2004 02:47 AM EST

If college football is on, it becomes my poison by defualt. Otherwise, it boils down to the presence of friends.

Without friends, pretzels and pepsi plus a selection from my ever-growing DVD library.

With friends, enough places for everyone to sit and a couple bottles of vodka.

Good times all around.

Chestnuts roasted by trance- @ 10/03/2004 02:52 AM EST

beer and movies or video games. totally vege out....so yeah has anyone heard of Robosapien? like i said before it looks interesting....

www.robosapienonline.com

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 10/03/2004 03:06 AM EST

A rum-based concoction and a low budget Italian horror movie -- the more ridiculous, the better. Another great combination I keep coming back to -- gin and old school British Hitchcock.

MST3K also makes for a fun, easy 2 AM intoxicated viewing experience.

Chestnuts roasted by Phen @ 10/03/2004 03:13 AM EST

Bacardi 151, bud light, and a season of something sci-fi on DVD, oh and of course X-E.

Chestnuts roasted by Jonas @ 10/03/2004 03:34 AM EST

Matt! The balloon ghosts are brilliant!

As for my choice...

Hot cocoa (homemade, not that powdered add-water crap) and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Keeps me busy for a good 2 hours crying my eyes out. smile

Oh, and Matt, the server stopped attacking me the following day. Go figure. smile

Chestnuts roasted by Cuddles @ 10/03/2004 04:24 AM EST

Hey, Cuddles, I just finished watchig Breakfast at Tiffany's! No, seriously! It was on Bravo or some such thing. Mr. Trajeal wanted to know what the song was all about. I can't believe George "Hannibal from A-Team" Peppard used to be so good looking.

Saturday nights are good for stupid "American's Funniest Home Videos" type of shows. Nothing beats watching some other idiots fall down while sitting comfortably on my couch w/ a Dunkin' Donuts Latte steaming right next to me.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 10/03/2004 09:19 AM EST

Watching my 'Sliders' DVDs and eating Flinstones Push-Ups and Kellogg's Fruit Twistables.
That's the perfect weekend.

Chestnuts roasted by AngeFaitore @ 10/03/2004 09:43 AM EST

I'll play with the kids, then, once they fall asleep, I'll put on some music and lay in bed with a good book.

No, I'm not a girl, fuck you very much.

Chestnuts roasted by Whirred @ 10/03/2004 09:49 AM EST

Some killer kind bud, a bong, an orange slice or maybe a root beer float, and a on-demand movie if the girlfriend is home, or internet porn if she's not.

Chestnuts roasted by naturekid @ 10/03/2004 10:31 AM EST

Yes, I wish I had a robosapien. That would cure my boredom until I was a lonely old hermit living in the caves of Montana.

I usually get drunk or high, be it on mushrooms or pot depending on the boredom rate. And then I'll listen to some really soft music like Opeth's Damnation album or A Perfect Circle. I'll definitely throw some techno in there if my ears have grown the tolerance to it. Sometimes I'll watch one of my friends make music on Fruityloops.

A pretty program, but not cheap.
http://www.fruityloops.com/
try it for free.

Chestnuts roasted by Miltqn @ 10/03/2004 11:13 AM EST

My poison is definitely smoking some pot and watching a Pearl Jam DVD. Best way to waste a night!

Chestnuts roasted by Megan @ 10/03/2004 11:31 AM EST

About the Balloon Monsters, awesome. And, after thinking about your recent articles, they all maybe have some little freudian slips in there...maybe it's just me, but I thought you had a girlfriend...that you know, would kinda keep these freudian slips at bay...unless she's like me, visiting aunt 'flo.

and the survey. It's what I do every weekend...wooo party. Sometimes it's video games and diet coke, sometimes it's HBO/Stand up Comedy and playing "make my kittenish cat go apeshit and obsess over chasing after a rubberband that I thwap in various directions for her"...or maybe it'll be reading X-E and other sites like his. Most likely the latter. You know what they say....Variety is the spice of...ahem...life.

Chestnuts roasted by Bitsy&Roary @ 10/03/2004 11:38 AM EST

LOVE the balloons. Think I'll fill my house with them regardless of whether I have a party.

Anyway, couldn't resist the poll because How to Spend a Saturday Night at Home is a specialty of mine.

When I was single: fix myself an elaborate dinner and settle in to watch Bill Kurtis true crime on A&E, Iron Chef, or whatever movie caught my eye.

Now that I'm married: husband & I get a stash of junk food and find a new drink recipe to try. Eat & get sloshed while watching a movie (last weekend? Star Wars Trilogy Marathon), and then finish with some of that cheapass funny softcore porn that's on cable late...which usually leads to the censored part of the evening.

(As an aside, I usually TiVo the Bill Kurtis just in case Cold Case Files looks particularly heinous.)

Chestnuts roasted by lurkernomore @ 10/03/2004 11:44 AM EST

Mini-donuts and the TV Guide channel.

In fact just woke up from one of those naps.

Chestnuts roasted by Walks @ 10/03/2004 12:13 PM EST

tequila and family guy dvd's. heh heh heh heh heh heh. freakin sweet.

Chestnuts roasted by big jerm @ 10/03/2004 01:31 PM EST

If we're not away on Saturday night, my husband and I just break out the cookies, chips and pop, sprawl on the couch and watch things like old ST:TNG reruns or Monster Garage or whatever's on, and flip to the hockey game every 2 minutes.

No, I have no control over the remote.

Or a Futurama marathon. That's what I watch when I do the ironing.

I think we'll indulge ourselves tonight with Galaxy Quest and Monty Python's The Holy Grail.

We were at friend's last night and someone had brought some Monty Python's Holy (Gr)Ail. Horrible pun, excellent beer. I wish I hadn't been driving. Cool bottle too.

Sigh. Hockey. :-(

Chestnuts roasted by Yzziefrog @ 10/03/2004 03:14 PM EST

Horizon Organic Chocolate Milk and the internet.

Chestnuts roasted by Goz @ 10/03/2004 04:43 PM EST

I'm a male...I think it's quite obvious...

Chestnuts roasted by Ant @ 10/03/2004 05:07 PM EST

I gotta watch a dumb comedy movie while eating some preztels. I saw Anger Management yesterday this way.

Chestnuts roasted by JG! @ 10/03/2004 05:48 PM EST

i think it would be an inspiring sight to see a dozen or so glowing ghosts floating away into the night sky...

i don't have fun. i am very dull.

Chestnuts roasted by clrs. @ 10/03/2004 06:20 PM EST

Just last night I watched "Twenty Bucks" (an interesting social comedy), a "Mighty Max" VHS I just bought (cool cartoon), and my "Freddy vs. Jason" DVD. During this movie mix, I was drinkin' Kilkenny and sipping Baileys thereafter.

I hadn't seen "Freddy vs. Jason" yet, and I gotta say, it rocked! I especially enjoyed sipping the Baileys while watching it. However, as much fun as I had, I must say that I wish I had gone to this one hockey game that night becasue this girl I'm kinda interested in was there. Oh well, you snooze you lose. Anyway, the bottom line is that what I like to do is watch B-movies (especially sci-fi and horror) and drink booze.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 10/03/2004 07:40 PM EST

Oh yes. I also forgot to mentioned Nintendo. NES is insanely fun when you're buzzed.

Damn, I think I join the ranks of those who are good at finding things to do by yourself on a Saturday night.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 10/03/2004 08:04 PM EST

Catch a buzz of some kind and pop in a movie (Seems to be a trend!) If it's a DVD, I'll throw on the audio commentary. If it's MST3K, I'll usually play it on the computer, then minimize the window and surf the web while I listen to the riffs. See, cause I've seen them so many times I don't have to actually watch the screen to crack up.
Recently, I got ahold of the first season of Pete and Pete and have been wearing that out as well. Hmmm, if I only knew somebody who had an in at Nick...I'd tell them that I'd jump at the chance to pay at least $20 for those 8 episodes on DVD. $30 if they included the original shorts/commentaries. Too bad I don't know anybody...*whistles innocently*

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 10/03/2004 10:14 PM EST

Import beer and the History Channel all the way.

Chestnuts roasted by blizack @ 10/03/2004 10:26 PM EST

Animal House or Chrono Cross. Or Aqua Teen Hunger Force. And tea.

Chestnuts roasted by blurr @ 10/03/2004 11:45 PM EST

I hang out with the husband, have a beer or ten, if it's baseball season, watch the Red Sox, if not, throw in some movies and break out the board games.

Also:
LOVE the crafts articles! I think should be a regular feature!

Chestnuts roasted by B-Dawg @ 10/04/2004 09:30 AM EST

Your friend has good taste. There have been a few nights Ive killed a fifth of JW red. Mostly though, I drink Natty Ice and Hurricane. Hurray for college and cheap booze.

Chestnuts roasted by gougeaway1026 @ 10/04/2004 11:20 AM EST

I love humanity, but just wish that it didn't involve so many people. Not anti-social, just anti-throng. So most times, I am by myself. So, drink of choice, real strong tea or coffee, and random programming on the TV. MXC, ST:NG, MST on the VCR, an old tape I have with MTV from the days when there was M on MTV. Or, in the time building up to the We'en, getting my Arts 'n' Crafts on and making new decorations for 31. Just a normal day at Malfunction Junction.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 10/04/2004 11:45 AM EST

Horror movies and Smirnoff Twisted (Green Apple). If I get tired of or can't find a good horror movie to pop in then I'll just go with whatever I can come up with. Usually something by Mr. Tarantino or anything 80s related.

Sometimes I can catch something good on tv, like I spotted Goodfellas on the other night. For some unknown reason I must watch whenever that movie comes on television. It puts a spell on you.

Also, I never get tired of that Thanksgiving Aqua Teen episode. "Those socks are all laser-guided and I get crazzzy if you touch them!"

Chestnuts roasted by Matt (#2?) @ 10/04/2004 01:58 PM EST

Twilight Zone marathon and lime Tostitos.

/X-E should have regional parties the way fark.com does. I tentatively offer my place and vast NES collection for the maiden shindig in the Chicago area.

Chestnuts roasted by spiderbites @ 10/04/2004 02:57 PM EST

As far as X-E parties go, I still stand by my idea of paper dolls. Quick, cheap, and provides Matt with targets for Nerf guns.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 10/04/2004 03:55 PM EST

420 and watch the discovery channel with my cats.

Chestnuts roasted by Angela @ 10/04/2004 04:36 PM EST

To be honest I wasn�t too impressed with the balloon monster.

But�. I�d love to combine that idea with the tissue ghost (reviewed last year?). Use the glowstick balloon for the head then cover it with clear or white trash bags. Oooo you could put some fake blood between the layers of the trash bags and the balloon. Humm I think I have the beginnings of a plan for the Village Halloween parade.

On another crafty note. Thanks for the sunken head apple project (in the archive) I carved a few last week and they are starting to look real good.

Chestnuts roasted by Angela @ 10/04/2004 04:44 PM EST

Bond movies or MST3K or O Brother Where Art Thou?

We though you wuz a toad.

Chestnuts roasted by Jason @ 10/04/2004 05:47 PM EST

i like to waste a night by looking at a wall or lisning to music

Chestnuts roasted by joe joe @ 10/04/2004 10:26 PM EST

Horror movies and liquid H.

Chestnuts roasted by Slacker @ 10/05/2004 03:25 PM EST

glowing balloon monster are for real.

Chestnuts roasted by crewsr @ 10/05/2004 08:53 PM EST

i like to take pcp and watch old episodes of the nanny starring fran drescher as well, some of the first season of Sister Sister. classics.

Chestnuts roasted by miguelito @ 10/06/2004 12:13 AM EST

Southern Comfort and a little bit of X-E. Just kidding, actually, I'll drink some Southern Comfort and just do work until I pretty much pass out. I use to smoke pot which pretty much always put me to sleep, but not really at all any more...just can't get back into it.

Chestnuts roasted by Well @ 10/06/2004 06:28 AM EST

smoke somthing or drink somthing and watch adult swim Family guy is the shit when your messed up oh and surf the internet for like 6 hours and not rember a damn thing i looked at the next day

Chestnuts roasted by joe nuts @ 10/06/2004 09:26 AM EST

I am going to make both a Kerry and Bush glowing monster for the debate on friday.
ooooooohhh spooky.

Chestnuts roasted by Sweetie @ 10/06/2004 03:08 PM EST

Hot chocolate and movies from the 70's on the lifetime channel. It also helps if I have cookies.

Chestnuts roasted by Molly @ 10/07/2004 01:35 PM EST

Excellent idea! Thanks smile

Chestnuts roasted by Red @ 10/09/2004 11:44 AM EST

Sad to say but, My Crafts, a nice cold beer and whatever movie I'm in the mood for.

Chestnuts roasted by shugga @ 10/09/2004 01:11 PM EST

Books, yes. Booze, no. Liquor and I do not get on. I usually hang around online, just clicking around, read, or watch something weird I haven't watched in a long time. I might draw or write bake if my brain's up to it, too.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 10/11/2004 09:46 PM EST