Bill and I watched this beautifully bittersweet movie last night. We knew nothing about this 2023 film except for the brief description below; we were sold after watching the trailer. Paul Giamatti is an excellent actor and his performance was impeccable. There were some award-winning insults and one-liners delivered with great aplomb. If you’re looking for a lighthearted romcom, this is not for you. We enjoyed this one a lot and highly recommend it.
The Holdovers follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them …. adamaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa) …. and with the school’s head cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who has just lost a son in Vietnam.
Written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt #394 incorporating the word “berate” in exactly 90 words. I have also used one of the awesome images by Kevin at No Theme Thursday. In 90 words, this is my story.
Bill and I have agreed (for research purposes) to watch more movies with a holiday theme. This is our first one and, boy, it’s an oldie but a goodie …. a true classic with one of my favorite actors …. Jack Lemmon. It’s not exactly a holiday movie, but most of the drama unfolds during the Christmas season, which earns it a spot on my list. The Apartment, which won five Oscars (including Best Picture), follows a lonely insurance worker named C.C. Baxter (Lemmon). To climb up the corporate ladder, he starts to lend his Upper West Side apartment to company bosses who are having romantic affairs. However, things get complicated when Baxter learns that his own manager is hooking up with the woman he has feelings for. They don’t make them like this anymore. Here’s the trailer:
Written for Friday Fictioneers. Our host Rochelle asks us to use the photo below as inspiration to write creatively in 100 words or less while making every word count. This is my flash.
Things were easier then, life was different. Kids felt safe in their little bubbles. I’d cycle to my piano lessons, cutting through the empty lot without a shred of fear.
I’d ring the bell for my lesson; if my teacher didn’t answer immediately, I’d wait on the bench. One time I waited so long, I was about to leave when the door flew open and a girl came running out, sobbing, her clothes a disheveled mess. My teacher called out after her. My only reason for ever feeling fear was the way my piano teacher looked at me that day.
A tribute to John Lennon who was taken from us on this date in 1980. Many of you have read this; many of you who are new to my site have not. Please indulge me one more time.Roughly four years ago I had the great pleasure and honorof narrating a few of my stories on the BBC Radio program called “Upload”.I also submitted my story, “The Eighth of December”, never expecting to receive an emailfrom the program manager of the radio station asking meif I’d like to read my storyand do a live interview.To us here in The States, The BBC is a pretty big dealso I was rather blown away and, despite my nerves, I agreed to the interview.The format of the radio station has since changed and “Upload” was replaced by another show; it’s now impossible to find my interview.All I have is my story; every word is true.This is “The Eighth of December”.
Written for Friday Fictioneers where our host Rochelle asks us to use the photo below as inspiration to write creatively in 100 words or less while making every word count. This is my flash.
Written for The New, Unofficial, On-Line Writer’s Guild. The three prompts this week from TN at OLWG #393 are 1) night will end; 2) look, over there, did you see that?; and 3) sittin’ on a rainbow. This is my story, based on true events experienced by my son and his wife. Believe or not; it’s all true.
Written for Friday Fictioneers where our host Rochelle asks us to use the photo below as inspiration to write creatively in 100 words or less while making every word count. This is my flash.
Written for Fandango’s Story Starter #176. Our prompt is “Meet me behind the water tower at midnight. Come alone and don’t tell anyone.” This is my highly confidential story!
Today is November 11th, Veteran’s Day in the United States. For much of the rest of the world and especially in Europe, it is Armistice Day, the day that marks the end of World War I. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when the armistice was signed, over 20million people hadlost their lives. I am honored to present to you a guest post by my friend, Paul Griffiths – The Birkenhead Poet. Dedicated to the young boys who lost their lives, Paul calls it “Shot At Dawn”; I call it perfection.
Last week the three prompts from aooga at OLWG #390 were 1) I can’t touch the ground; 2) a bar that’ll give me credit and 3) haunted wind chimes. Using two of Kevin’s fabulous images from No Theme Thursday for further inspiration, this is my story.
Written for d’Verse Prosery where the challenge is to write a piece of flash fiction of no more than 144 words that includes the following quotation from “Out Of The Cradle” by Walt Whitman: “Out of the Ninth-month midnight”. This is my flash.
Written for Kevin’s No Theme Thursday 10.31.24. We’re offered incredibly creative images to inspire and get our writing juices flowing. This is my story.
Written for dVerse Poets Quadrille Monday where we are asked to write a 44 word poem in the format of our choice incorporating the word ‘promise’. Here is my promise quadrille.
Written for No Theme Thursday where Kevin has offered us some incredible images to inspire and get our creative juices flowing. Revamping of a 2020 tale, this is my story.
Written for Kevin’s No Theme Thursday 10.24.24. We’re offered incredibly creative images to inspire and get our writing juices flowing. This is my story.