Swords, Specters, & Stuff
Welcome to My World
I started this blog in January 2012 for one simple reason: I love to write. I named it “Swords, Specters, & Stuff” because I especially love to write about writing, about books and movies in my favorite genres, about authors that mean a great deal to me. But there’s more to it than that, which is why I included “Stuff” in the title. It is “Stuff” that gives me carte blanche to write about anything, which is why you’ll see stories about special trips to Cooperstown, Sedona, and other places; about getting older; about baseball; about the otherworldly way in which I met my soul mate; about the loss of good friends, and so much more. Enjoy! And feel free to leave a comment.
The Mystery Of The Ghost Blimp
I’ve written about ghost ships and ghost trains, but a GHOST BLIMP? This true story about an incident that took place during World War II ranks way up there on the Weird-O-Meter, I kid you not.
The Changing Face Of Baseball: A Woman Hired As A Manager!
Rachel Balkovec has broken through the domed ceiling of professional baseball in a big way. The New York Yankees had hired her in 2019 as their hitting coach, making her the first woman to hold that position full-time. And recently the Bronx Bombers promoted her as manager of their Low A affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons, making her the first woman to manage a team affiliated with MLB.
Myths And Legends: The Ghosts Of The Dakota
“Your girlfriend lives in the corner penthouse of spook central.” Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) delivers that line to fellow Ghostbuster Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) in the 1984 comedy/horror classic, one of my all-time favorite films. The building Ray is referencing happens to be one of New York City’s oldest and most renowned structures, The Dakota.
“I Ain’t Got Time To Bleed”—Memorable Lines From PREDATOR
The sci-fi/horror film, PREDATOR (1987), made a ton of money, got great reviews, and spawned a franchise that continues right up until today, with one or two more sequels apparently in the works. It didn’t hurt that its cast included Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura, two future governors, and one of the most iconic “villains” in the genre, a trophy hunter from another world that can render itself invisible with a cloaking device.
Guilty Pleasures: VERTICAL LIMIT
I was on the fence about presenting the 2000 survival thriller, VERTICAL LIMIT, as a Guilty Pleasure. No problem with the box office, and it did have some decent reviews, including one from Roger Ebert. But other reviewers were brutal, including one who called it “…ludicrously contrived and clichéd.”
“I Ate His Liver…”—More Horror Movie Quotes
Gather ’round the campfire, kiddies, and let’s see if we can gross one another out with some juicy lines from a few creepy movies. The first three sets are from films that feature cannibals. Yum!
This Soggy Sequel Should’ve Been Deep-Sixed
Like so many sequels before it, did the direct-to-video DEEP BLUE SEA 2 really need to be made? As a big fan of its predecessor, DEEP BLUE SEA, I of course had to watch it. Wow, what a downer. I should’ve taken its Rotten Tomatoes score of 0% (yes, zero!) as a warning.
I Knew The Time To Retire Had Come When…
To be honest, I had planned on working into my seventies—where I am now. As a writing coach, editor, and teacher I totally enjoyed what I did, especially when I saw so many of my students and clients find success as published authors. So what changed? I’ll get to that. First, the backstory.
My 2021 Halloween Playlist
I mentioned before that as an old guy living in a gated 55+ community, I no longer have to hand out Halloween candy at the front door, since no one does trick-or-treating. These days I spend Halloween enjoying a horror movie marathon…at least three or four shockers.
Myths And Legends: The Friendliest Ghost In San Francisco
The Queen Anne Hotel in the City by the Bay probably didn’t ask for the notoriety of being haunted. But then, it didn’t count on housing the spirit of a woman named Mary Lake.
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