M.J. Compton's Blog, page 4

Musing: Hairbands

I started to let my hair grow before the pandemic hit.  It has gotten quite long. I keep spending money on things to keep it out of my face.  Pony tail holders, barrettes, etc.  The one thing I really want is a hairband that works as well as my glasses. Not one hairband stays in … Continue reading Musing: Hairbands

The Mommy Files: Names

When X-Chromo was very first learning to talk, we discovered something interesting. We played the standard game with her: point at something and ask her, “What’s that?” or at a person and ask, “Who’s that?” The latter was quite common at the dinner table every night. I would point at my husband. “Who’s that?” “Dada.” … Continue reading The Mommy Files: Names

Movie: God Bless America

This movie was written and directed by Central New York native Bobcat Goldthwait. The first part of the movie was filmed near my neighborhood. It was weird to see the local Dunkin’ on the screen. Fun, too. I loved this movie until the end, which IMHO was very Mel Brooks-ish. I don’t think Brooks does … Continue reading Movie: God Bless America

My Favorite Tropes

Writers, especially authors of genre fiction, love to discuss tropes. Tropes are those “commonly recurring literary and rhetorical devices, motifs or clichés in creative works.” One of my author friends is completely hooked on trapped in a cabin during a blizzard with a stranger. Here are some of my favorites: rain/thunderstorms first kisses in the … Continue reading My Favorite Tropes

Looking Out My Window

I love to sit on my living room sofa and look out the window. I live a block or two from a city park that is atop a hill. I can see only a sliver of the park through the trees and neighboring houses. The road wending through the park is no longer open to … Continue reading Looking Out My Window

The Mommy Files: Green Grandma

Green is TV Stevie’s least favorite color. I’ve always been partial to it, but after we married, I limited green to foodstuffs. TV is partial to vegetables, so he was content. Along came the children, who, being green deprived in the house and in their closets, both declared green to be their favorite color. X-Chromo, … Continue reading The Mommy Files: Green Grandma

Movie: Zero Hour!

My husband is a movie addict. He loves TCM. Every once in a while he finds a gem he knows I’ll like. Such was the case with Zero Hour! It turns out that Zero Hour! (1957, Dana Andrews, Linda Darnell and Sterling Hayden) is the original version of Airplane! While it is commonly assumed that Airplane! spoofs the disaster film genre, … Continue reading Movie: Zero Hour!

Lookin’ Out My Backdoor

I love sitting on my patio. So many things happen in my tiny urban backyard. There’s a rabbit (or a series of bunnies) who has visited for years. The variety of birds is astounding. I love when I catch a glimpse of cardinals. Of course there is a contingent of squirrels. One of my neighbors … Continue reading Lookin’ Out My Backdoor

The Mommy Files: Yum Yums

Friday nights at our house have always been pizza night. After a long work week, it is nice not to have to think about what I’m going to cook for supper.  When the Chromos were young, I did cook. Every night. Except Friday. We go through phases with our pizza toppings. TV likes green peppers … Continue reading The Mommy Files: Yum Yums

Movie: Moneyball

Let me begin by saying I am not a Brad Pitt fan. I mean, I don’t hate him or anything (I don’t know him). I’m merely indifferent to him.  That said, I did like him in Moneyball. Moneyball is a baseball movie. But there’s a great underlying message in the film. Baseball is a game of … Continue reading Movie: Moneyball