Christmas in Patagonia
Christmas Day, 1999. Twenty years ago. Was I at home in New York, a gentle snow falling outside, while inside blazed a warm fire in the fireplace, with presents under the Christmas tree that
A Merry Little Alternative Xmas
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Sure, that’s a given. People seem to enjoy the colored lights, the slowly dying tree in the living room, and the glitter. Oh, and the gifts.
My Favorite Things to Eat: A Former New Yorker Talks About Food
What are my favorite things to eat? Good question. Thanks for asking. Bagels. Mozzarella. And what are the two foods I loved most in New York that I can’t find now that I live
I Dislike Being Touched: The Mummy
The Mummy from 1932 is a classic. A flawed classic for sure, but a classic nonetheless. There are parts of this film that are truly brilliant and there are parts that are…well…not. To be honest
Reckoning Upon God: Frankenstein
Frankenstein is one of the few classic monster movies that I did not see on a Saturday afternoon on a UHF channel. No, this film was played in prime time. It was a special
Even the Moon is Frightened of Me: The Invisible Man (Monster Memories)
An invisible man must be one of the more bizarre choices for a monster. First of all it’s not really a monster, not in the classical sense anyway. He is, after all, just a
Blood Rush (A Short Story by Guest Author Tessa Lee Carr)
We shared our first kiss under the cherry blossom tree. It was perfect, like a scene from the movies. I stared into her eyes and brushed her soft hair from her delicate face. I saw
I Mistrust My Own Judgement: Dracula (Monster Memories)
Tod Browning’s 1931 adaptation of Dracula is the granddaddy of them all, the film the launched the Classic Monster films of Universal. The Universal cinematic universe if you will. I try not to judge
Halloween: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
October has arrived - the most wonderful time of the year. There is a nip in the air, the leaves are changing and the smell of pumpkin pie surrounds us. It’s time to wear flannel
Even a Man Who is Pure in Heart: The Wolf-Man (Monster Memories)
By 1941 Universal had been making monster movies for over a decade. It had now become a well-oiled machine and while not quite formulaic just yet was well on its way to becoming so.
The Blood Elevator: Its Meaning & Symbolism
The blood elevator scene, sometimes called the ‘river of blood," from Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a horrifying and disturbing image in a film full of horrifying and disturbing images. Upon watching it the scene
Illustrating Nightmares: Lounge Lizards by Ralph Steadman
To say that Ralph Steadman has a distinctive style is a bit of an understatement. Primarily an illustrator and cartoonist, Steadman started his career in the 1960s and soon established himself as a counter-culture icon.
Freedom by Ambrose Bierce
I'm going to post this with very little comment from me other than to welcome you to this month's theme: FREEDOM. The reason for posting this should be fairly obvious. And by way of
Olly, Olly All Come Free
When I was a boy we played games. We would gather at Mike’s house to decide what the game would be. Mike lived in the middle of the block so it was a centralized location
Painting Movement: Jackson Pollock: Autumn Rhythm (Number 30)
Back when I was in High school I took an art history class where we studied the life and works of artists from the Renaissance to the modern period. I had by this time
A Nothing Day: Comic Books, Video Games & Graveyards
I wheeled the bike from the garage and took a deep breath. It was the start of the lull week that happened every summer. The week when every kid I knew was off at camp
Rain In Summer (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
Keeping in April's theme being "Rainfall" and National Poetry Month, I'd like to share another rain-based poem. This time it's in the romantic tradition and one that is more just a celebration of the
Saying Goodbye in Paradise (Or Waiting for the Hurricane)
I’m not sure if this is going to work. Or if it will make any sense let alone be entertaining to read. I guess you can call this an experiment. I am going to write
On the Beach with Mars: NASA Image of the Day
Look at that. Look how beautiful. Such a majestic site to behold. It just fills one with wonder and awe. I mean seriously, what an amazing looking dog. Good boy! Oh, and that sky is
Routinely Creative
I seem to be moving from erratic to consistent in so many ways—how and when I drive, how and when I eat, how and when I prepare for my classes and grade essays, how
Halfway Through
Another article about my birthday that I published eight years ago. Update: Still working on telling that story. In a few days, I will turn 45 years old. A momentous occasion I have decided. It
Close Your Eyes & Make a Wish: Birthday Thoughts
It's my birthday today, so here's a little thing I wrote nearly 10 years ago about getting older. See? Even this post is aging. Still is relevant though. I’ve always enjoyed getting older. That may
Nearly 9 Hours of Rain On a Porch
In keeping with this month's theme of "When the Rain Comes" I decided to get completely literal with it and simply present to you a video of rain falling. Almost 9 full hours of rainfall.
Digging to China
We walked along the beach, my companion and I, on a cloud-filled morning in late autumn. The air was cold and filled with misty rain. It was the kind of weather that sticks to you;