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 Lord Of The…Dust Bunnies?
Report from the Sirota Quarantine Cave: Jacqueline and I are doing fine. We’ve both been “sheltering in place” since she got back from a trip to Utah in mid-March. I suppose we’re more cautious than most, but hey, when they refer to “high-risk groups” they’re talking seniors (check) and people with underlying health conditions (double check).
The Dragon That Ate Alaska
Okay, I’m embellishing here. But in the 2009 creature feature, WYVERN, a mythical dragon chows down on the quirky residents of a small town in northern Alaska in order to feed itself, as well as to bring some tasty morsels to its soon-to-be-hatched young.
A Few Laughs…Why Not?
Not much to laugh about these days, so for a break from all of the bad news, here is a rather outrageous scene from THE 22nd GEAR, the third book in my “Bicycling” trilogy. The setup: my protagonist, Jack Miller, has ridden his mountain bike onto a world where lesser gravity is making it difficult to keep his feet—and his bike tires—on the ground. As he seeks help, he encounters three, uh, rather unique life forms on the road.
“Goonies Never Say Die!”
Never has that iconic line from the 1985 comedy/adventure, THE GOONIES, been more true than last week. Stage and screen star Josh Gad (THE BOOK OF MORMON, FROZEN), a huge fan of the film, succeeded in facilitating, via Zoom, a virtual reunion on YouTube with just about all of the original cast members.
Is Anyone Watching Pandemic Movies?
Given the current state of affairs, you’d think people would be avoiding pandemic films like the plague. Curiously, my research revealed the opposite to be true. Folks just can’t seem to get enough of them…
A March Miracle: The Texas Western Basketball Team
I believe it is significant that I’m writing this post on April 15th, which happens to be Jackie Robinson Day. The great baseball player—and even greater human being—broke the color barrier in what up until then had been a racially segregated sport, when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Myths And Legends: The Vanishing Riverboat
The SS IRON MOUNTAIN, a stern-wheel paddle steamer, proudly sailed the waters of the mighty Mississippi River following its launch in 1872. Its owners foresaw a long and prosperous run for the vessel. How could they know that its run would end in barely a decade under mysterious circumstances, to become the stuff of legend?
James Bond Meets Han Solo?
Well, not exactly, but we do have Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford co-starring in the 2011 sci-fi/western film, Cowboys & Aliens. With that kind of star power, and some decent reviews, you’d think this movie was a blockbuster hit, but not so fast. It did poorly at...
Safe At Home
I’m writing this on what should have been Opening Day for Major League Baseball in general, and my San Diego Padres in particular. (Not to mention the start of the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA basketball tournament. Crap!)
They Had To Start Somewhere
One of the things I love about THE TWILIGHT ZONE was watching actors and actresses that were either famous at the time or were little known but would achieve fame in the future. The list is amazing.
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