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.
Throwback Thursday: Is It Still The Victorian Era For Women?
My bride and I just finished viewing the three seasons of the PBS Masterpiece mystery series, “Miss Scarlet and the Duke,” which we enjoyed. The stories are set in 1882 London, not the era in which you’d expect to find a strong-willed, independent woman like its main character, Eliza Scarlet.
R.I.P. Robert Redford
It seems that I’ve been doing a lot of R.I.P.s in recent years. Now, the great Robert Redford has departed this plane at the age of 89. He starred in many excellent movies too numerous to count, though I’ll mention a few favorites of mine in my post.
Throwback Thursday: An Icelandic Christmas Tradition
My bride and I visited Iceland during the summer many years ago. At that time of year there are more than twenty hours of sunshine each day. In December, not so much. Hardly any, in fact. Still, they have a Christmas tradition that rocks!
Did The Dinosaurs Really Experience A REBIRTH?
Last year, when I learned that the Jurassic Park/World franchise would continue with a seventh film, JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH, I broke into the Snoopy Dance. I’ve always been a sucker for dinosaur movies, although to be honest, I had to wonder where the series would go after a rather meh JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION (2022).
Throwback Thursday: Blowing Shit Up—Tornados Can Do That Too
Yes, in case you didn’t know, tornadoes are responsible for blowing lots of shit up. Mother Nature does get pissed upon occasion. And nowhere is this better illustrated than in the two disaster movies, TWISTER (1996) and INTO THE STORM (2014).
R.I.P. Graham Greene
It saddened me to learn of the passing of Graham Greene last week at the age of 73. He was, to put it simply, one of my absolute favorite actors, and he will be greatly missed.
Throwback Thursday: Christmas At Nakatomi Plaza
DIE HARD, a very merry Christmas movie? This post first ran in 2022
Joy? Or ENjoy?
It is nearing a year-and-a-half since I lost Jacqueline, my beloved bride, to insidious cancer. I swear, it seems as if it happened last week. My grief, while somewhat manageable at this point, will last until the Mother Ship comes to take me back to her.
Throwback Thursday: Guilty Pleasures—THE BLOB (1988)
THE BLOB: a real Guilty Pleasure, but a fun remake. This post first ran in 2022.
Who Played Hannibal First?
Most people think of Anthony Hopkins when they hear the name Hannibal Lecter, and rightfully so. Hopkins won an Academy Award for portraying the incarcerated psychiatrist/serial killer in the Best Picture of 1991, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, and two subsequent films. But he wasn’t the first.
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