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.
Remembering Apollo Creed
I was saddened to learn about the passing of Carl Weathers last week. The ex-football player-turned actor died “peacefully,” according to his family, in his sleep at the age of 76.
Throwback Thursday: Report From The Quarantine Cave 5.0
So glad NOT to be in the cave anymore, although we remain cautious. This post first ran in 2020, during the heart of the pandemic.
Words Of The Wizard: Part Two
A wizard of the Istari order, Gandalf the Grey—later, after his death during a battle with a Balrog, Gandalf the White—is a dominant figure in the two remarkable screen trilogies, THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Admirably portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen, he also provides some memorable lines. Here are a few from the second trilogy.
Throwback Thursday: “Mrs. Peel, We’re Needed”
Can’t believe that the awesome Diana Rigg has been gone for four years already. I first presented this post in 2020.
Words Of The Wizard: Part One
A wizard of the Istari order, Gandalf the Grey—later, after his death during a battle with a Balrog, Gandalf the White—is a dominant figure in the two remarkable screen trilogies, THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Admirably portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen, he also provides some memorable lines.
Throwback Thursday: Alligators In The Crawl Space—Bad Idea
The 2019 creature feature/disaster flick, CRAWL, is an anomaly. It did well at the box office, which is not that odd for the genre. But it also garnered its share of excellent reviews, compiling 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, and that doesn’t usually happen for creature features.
My Oldest Book
This hardcover copy of the Jules Verne classic, TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, has been in my life for as long as I can remember. A “Rainbow Classic,” this edition was published in 1946, the year of this “young fart’s” birth.
Throwback Thursday: Myths And Legends—Icelandic Trolls
When my bride and I returned from an amazing trip to Iceland over a decade ago, we brought home the studious troll you see pictured here. Icelanders love their trolls (and elves, too) and are happy to point some of them out to visitors—the ones that have been turned to stone, of course. More on that shortly.
I Won’t Tie One On
Being retired means never having to wear a tie. But I was a long way from retirement the last time I actually put on one of the damn things. How long? Let me share this story.
Throwback Thursday: Report From The Quarantine Cave 4.0
I didn’t have all that much to do during the pandemic, other than write blog posts—and an entire novel! This post first ran in—when else, 2020.
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