I have a ticket to the 1:00 showing of The Two Towers. I hadn’t planned on going today–I’m not someone who really has to see a film on opening day. But, today happens to be my only day off this week, my Christmas shopping is finished, my mental energy is waning under the Christmas onslaught,Continue reading “Writer's Notebook”
Author Archives: Allyn
Mr. St. Nick
I don’t often watch television these days–there’s so little time as it is, and so little I really want to watch–but this evening I saw a made-for-television film on ABC Family entitled Mr. St. Nick and starring Kelsey Grammer. The premise was simple–Grammer was Nick St. Nicholas, eligible bachelor and millionairre fundraiser. He was alsoContinue reading “Mr. St. Nick”
Christmas shopping
Ten days left, and I’m essentially done. Two years ago I started my Christmas shopping on December 23rd. It wasn’t intentional; I simply hadn’t had the time to do my shopping until I was up against that wall. My store had a staff of five that holiday season, and it seemed like all my timeContinue reading “Christmas shopping”
Stalking the wild Harry Potter book
Yesterday brought two surprises. The first, and potentially the most important, was that I got my power back after five days. Raleigh, North Carolina was hit by a massive ice storm on last Wednesday, leaving upwards of 70 percent of the Raleigh/Durham area without electricity, and without electricity I had neither heat nor water. AfterContinue reading “Stalking the wild Harry Potter book”
Remembering John
John Lennon, one of the Beatles, some would say the important one but I’d disagree with that, was killed twenty-two years ago today. 🙁 One of my favorite Lennon tunes is “Jealous Guy” from John’s Imagine album. It once had different words. Once it was a song called “Child of Nature”… On the road toContinue reading “Remembering John”
Free as a Bird: The Dakota Beatles Demos
Monday a package arrived in the mailbox. On Thanksgiving Day I had placed a bid on a bootleg John Lennon CD entitled Free as a Bird: The Dakota Beatles Demos, won it that day, and made a nearly immediate payment through PayPal. And Monday it was mine. It had been a tiring few days atContinue reading “Free as a Bird: The Dakota Beatles Demos”
I am Spartacus!
I am writing a book. There’s a scene in That Thing You Do when the Wonders are about to perform on television, and Lenny asks Skitch, “How did we get here?” And Skitch Patterson, with his Spartacus fixation, says, “I have brought you here, sir, for I am Spartacus.” It’s that sense of unreality thatContinue reading “I am Spartacus!”
An offense to the ears
I heard today Madonna’s theme song to the new James Bond film, Die Another Day. It’s utter crap. I’m not sure where to begin in describing how truly terrible a song this is. It’s not even a song. It’s just some sort of electronic syncopated rhythm with Madonna chanting over and over again, her voiceContinue reading “An offense to the ears”
The Friday Five – Highday, 19 Blotmath
Before we begin with this week’s edition of The Friday Five I would like to say that I would really like to be able to buy and play Hellboy for the PlayStation. It has been released in Europe, two years ago if memory serves, and while there’s long been a rumor of a North AmericanContinue reading “The Friday Five – Highday, 19 Blotmath”
I held it in my hands
The Fellowship of the Ring extended edition. In the super-sized box. With the Pillars of the Argonath bookends. And the bonus fifth-disc featuring a National Geographic documentary. It arrived at work today. I held the box. Turned it over. Felt its weight in my hands. Heady moments, let me assure you. The boxset does notContinue reading “I held it in my hands”