M.J. Compton's Blog, page 8

MJ Monday-Movies: The Ref

The Ref, a 1994 flick (Dennis Leary, Kevin Spacey, and Judy Davis)has become one of my favorite Christmas movies. This is not a movie for children. A thief whose heist goes awry takes a bickering couple hostage on Christmas Eve. Much comedy ensues as we see the underside of family holiday gatherings. The visiting in-laws … Continue reading MJ Monday-Movies: The Ref

Book Review-Karen Robards: Obsession

Imagine waking up, going to brush your teeth, and not recognizing the face in the mirror. Your hair is auburn, not the blond now adorning your head. What happened to the gap between your teeth? There’s an expensive ring on your finger you “know” you bought with an inheritance, but it’s not your taste. And … Continue reading Book Review-Karen Robards: Obsession

MJ Monday-Meals: Lunch Hour

Warning: Self-serving 1st World Whining Ahead! Pre COVID, I had a whole hour for lunch breaking up my work day. I didn’t have to think about lunch, because I could run out and grab something. I could run home and grab something. I had 60 minutes to deal with food. When COVID hit, my employer … Continue reading MJ Monday-Meals: Lunch Hour

Thursday Though-Self Help: The Organized Mind

The Organized Mind is another book that came highly recommended  but I could not finish. I may have read it years ago. Everything I read as I delved into it sounded familiar. On the other hand, so many of these books aimed at executives rehash the same processes, the same systems, and the same theories. … Continue reading Thursday Though-Self Help: The Organized Mind

MJ Monday-Motivation: Solitaire as a Plotting Device

I know I’ve written about my habit of playing solitaire while thinking about my books, but I’ve recently learned this practice is instinctive use of how my brain is wired. This year I was unable to participate in writing retreats due to COVID-19. I found another way to work on my professional development. Now some … Continue reading MJ Monday-Motivation: Solitaire as a Plotting Device

Thursday Thought: Dishware

I periodically browse on line looking for new dishes: plates, cereal bowls, small plates. I don’t particularly like the ones we use. My husband is very fond of them. I want something bright and pretty. I live in a city where there isn’t much sunshine, so my soul craves something other than mud brown and … Continue reading Thursday Thought: Dishware

MJ Monday-Manuscript: Finding Nuggets

As I type this, I’m “between” projects. I’ve turned in the last book I have contracted with my publisher and have gone through a couple of rounds of revisions. All good. My editor makes my book better. I’ve been noodling around with an idea I first had back in 2010. I have the notes to … Continue reading MJ Monday-Manuscript: Finding Nuggets

Thursday Thought-The Ultimate Custodian

People rarely think about facility managers, or as we used to call them, custodians. I had the privilège to meet and work with a man who set the standard for the best of the best when it came to caring for the building that housed the TV station for which I worked. Tom was a … Continue reading Thursday Thought-The Ultimate Custodian

MJ Monday-Music: Suzanne Teng

I don’t recall exactly how I discovered Suzanne Teng’s Enchanted Wind  CD on my library’s website.  I might have been searching for New Age music. The license for Enchanted Wind allowed me to download and keep the CD onto multiple devices. I was stunned. After listening to the CD, I told all my friends to … Continue reading MJ Monday-Music: Suzanne Teng

Book Review-Linda Howard: Kill and Tell

Kill and Tell by Linda Howard was a little difficult to get into. The first time I read the book I didn’t much care for the heroine–I thought she was unfeeling. She so unlike me, I had a difficult time relating. The hero, IMHO, was a jerk. Let’s just say the characters improved the second … Continue reading Book Review-Linda Howard: Kill and Tell