A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my love of Rocky. That newsletter led me to think about a lot of movies I enjoyed as a kid and the memories that go along with them: Convoy, Star Wars, Hooper, Grease, and many more. Some of my favorite movie memories from my childhood occurred with my grandmother.
Read MoreHoopfest is the largest three-on-three basketball tournament in the world. You read that right. Spokane, Washington, the heart of my 509 Crime Stories, turns into the center of the basketball universe the last weekend of every June.
Read MoreWhen I was a boy, crying was discouraged, especially around your friends. It was the 1970s, and we weren’t as progressive as we are today.
Read MoreLast week, I shared my experience with a music AI tool I used as research for an upcoming book about a rock and roll band. Many folks wrote back and said how much they liked the music, for which I’m grateful. I enjoyed these conversations since many of them led down the rabbit hole of 1980s hair metal bands.
Read MoreArtificial Intelligence continues to be a hot topic. I learn something new about it daily, whether it is at my day job or in the writing field.
Read MoreI love playfully teasing my girlfriend in hopes of getting a reaction. It’s like the grade school antics of little boys who desperately want little girls to notice them. Negative attention (“Stop it, Billy!”) is better than no attention (“Billy who?”).
Read MoreIn the late 1990s, a former boss said to me, “We go forward by backing up.” This was in response to my losing a document because I did not save it. This was back in the day when Auto-Save wasn’t a possibility.
Read MoreIn 2020, when COVID forced us all into lockdown, my girlfriend and I embraced the opportunity to spend extra time together. During this period, we discovered a new game (Catan) and bought many puzzles. Luckily, we could order these items through Amazon and have them delivered to our home.
Read MoreIf you’ve ever wondered why some courtroom stories hinge on a murder trial while others revolve around money or contracts, it comes down to the type of case and the standard of proof that applies.
Read MoreChuck Norris passed away recently (03/19/2026). As a friend put it, he was a symbol of our youth.
When my dad was a kid, he had western heroes like Roy Rogers, Gene Autrey, William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy), and Richard Boone (Paladin from Have Gun - Will Travel)
I grew up in the seventies and eighties, so I had action movie heroes. My favorites were Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Chuck Norris, but it was Chuck who set the action standard.
Read MoreToday is when we celebrate the patron saint of Ireland by drinking green beer and barfing in an alley. Just kidding, but I’ve had plenty of hangovers on March 18th that were earned at O’Doherty’s Irish Grille (John Cutler’s favorite bar, btw).
Read MoreA couple of weeks ago, I mentioned Lawrence Block in my newsletter. A friend responded and included a picture of him with LB which made me slightly jealous. You see I met Block before but didn’t get a picture either time.
Read MoreWhen my daughter, Sarah, was in middle school she asked for a pair of red Converse shoes. I got excited and said, “Eddie Van Halen wears those, too!” *
She asked, “Who’s Eddie Van Halen?”
I realized right then that I had failed her.
Read MoreOver the past month and a half, five friends have reminded me of shared moments that occurred fifteen or more years ago. Unfortunately, I had completely forgotten them.
Read MoreI have a friend who writes in his journal daily, right before he goes to bed. It’s an admirable habit and one I’ve tried unsuccessfully to start many times. I would journal right before bed or first thing in the morning. I’d jot down some thoughts or concerns, then put the journal away.
Read MoreI just finished reading Carrie, Stephen King’s first novel. I’ve only read a few books by King, none of them were horror—Different Seasons, The Green Mile, and The Running Man (writing as Richard Bachman). I read a horror short story of his called “The Raft” which I mentioned in my blog post, A Weird Bit of History.
Read MoreMy 57th birthday happened recently, and my girlfriend gave me the John Wick soundtrack on vinyl. Her goal was to find something cool, and she scored when she found the album at a local curiosity shop. She knows how much I love the John Wick movies. They are all action-packed good times. I was extremely excited by the gift for a couple of reasons (besides that it came from her).
Read MoreI promised an update on the concert and the night out with my girlfriend so let's get right to it.
First, what a great night! The Offspring put on an amazing show. It might be the best concert as far as stage production. It might even be better than a KISS concert.
Read MoreThe Offspring has been at the top of “must see someday” list. A couple of years ago, I saw Suicidal Tendencies at a rock festival in Louisville (KY) who were at the top of my list. Then I saw Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, a couple others near the top. That left the Offspring alone at the number one spot
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