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: The Man Of A Thousand Screen Roles
Before Samuel L. Jackson began acting in seemingly every movie made since the 1980s, there was Whit Bissell. This post first ran in 2017.
“A Wild And Sick Imagination”
I thought you might get a hoot out of the first few pages of my latest literary gem, BACK ON THE BIKE PATH. Since I hadn’t written anything for a while, it surprised me that I managed to ease into the story so easily. But when my character, Jack Miller, is a barely disguised me, it wasn’t all that hard.
Throwback Thursday: Who Is The Real Monster?
Yes, there is an actual monster in the gripping 2016 horror film, THE MONSTER, the kind you once thought hid under your bed, or in your closet. But there is also a metaphorical monster in the person of Kathy, a Mother From Hell to ten-year-old Lizzy, who can’t wait to have her mom out of her life for good.
Final Report From The Quarantine Cave…I Hope
When 2020 began, I had no idea that I’d be writing a whole lot of posts over the course of thirteen months while hiding out at home to avoid the nasty coronavirus. (Age and underlying health issues gave Jacqueline and me no choice.) Things are finally looking up, and I truly hope this will be the last mention of it. But as Yogi Berra famously said, “It ain’t over till it’s over,” and guess what, folks—it ain’t over!
Throwback Thursday: The Cat Will Always Be In The Cradle
In last week’s post we left Jack Miller sitting in the waiting area outside the Rock-and-Roll Afterward, wondering who could have summoned him there. I suppose, from the title of this post, that you might have figured it out.
Roger Dorn Had It Right
Rich guy Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen) is the third baseman for the Cleveland Indians in the outrageous 1989 sports comedy, MAJOR LEAGUE. Dorn is also a philanderer, which prompts his wife, Suzanne, to enact revenge by seducing the team’s star pitcher, Ricky Vaughn (Charlie Sheen).
Throwback Thursday: The Rock-And-Roll Afterward
Imagine having a chance to visit any deceased rock star! I first presented this post in 2017.
THE CHANGELING: Horror At Its Best
The 1980 Canadian-produced psychological horror film, THE CHANGELING, offers little violence. And forget about buckets of blood—there is maybe a thimble full. That said, it is truly one of the most chilling tales ever told.
Throwback Thursday: “I Love The Smell Of Napalm In The Morning”…War Movie Quotes
I don’t know why—maybe it’s the militancy and negativity that pervades our world these days—but I’ve been watching quite a few war movies of late. Here are some of the most memorable quotes from a few of them.
Play Ball—Once Again!
Last week my bride and I were among the 10,000+ fans (20% of capacity at Petco Park, thanks to Covid-19) to attend Opening Day for the San Diego Padres, my favorite team. Padres baseball being my religion, I could not have been happier. Here is a post that I’ve run at the start of previous baseball seasons.
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