Author: MichelleMcHatton

I'm a writer. I'm also a wife and a parent who works too much and lives too little. In addition to writing I also love to read, listen to music, travel, cook, I enjoy looking for bargains at flea markets or thrift stores, Christmas, football and of course writing! How did I come up with the title of my blog? Two things: 1. I live in New England (duh) and 2. Canadian singer Alan Frew once arrogantly told me to "get a New England life"--again--DUH! I already HAVE one!
“Angels and Demons”

“Angels and Demons”

by MichelleMcHatton

I figured since I’m planning to see the movie “Angels and Demons”, I’d better read the book.  All 700 pages of it.  Remarkably, it only took me three weeks.  Good thing Dan Brown is a fantastic author and his writing moves smoothly.  I have read many books in my time but I have to state right here that “Angels and Demons” is the best book I have ever read.  Better than “The DaVinci Code”.

I’m already expecting to be disappointed by the movie “Angels and Demons”.  That is only because the book was so damn good.  As great a director as Ron Howard is, it’s going to be interesting to see how he jams 700 pages into two hours.  I loved “The DaVinci Code” as well but came away disappointed by the movie.  So much from the book was missing in the movie and I’m afraid that’s going to happen with “Angels” also.  But I guess that’s Hollywood, right?

If you haven’t read the book, I suggest you do so before seeing the movie.  I will not do a review of the book here, as it is too long and detailed to give the kind of review it deserves.  All I will tell you is that it has to deal with the fight between science and religion.

Tom Hanks IS Robert Langdon

Tom Hanks IS Robert Langdon

by MichelleMcHatton

In honor of the latest Ron Howard/Tom Hanks release “Angels and Demons”, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss some of my favorite Hanks characters and movies from years past.

It was difficult to decide who my absolute fave character was.  After much pondering and reminiscing of all the Hanks’ films (I have seen almost every single film he has done), I had to go with Forrest Gump.

I realized a long time ago that the really great actors are those that begin in comedy (maybe even TV sitcoms), then prove themselves with a dramatic role–winning an Oscar in the process.  Tom Hanks is one of those actors.

I think the reason why Gump is my favorite Hanks character is because Hanks combines both his comedic and dramatic skills in his performance.  Of course sometimes when Gump is serious he actually ends up being funny without really meaning to.

As for my favorite Hanks movie, that was a tougher choice.  I enjoy the dramas as well as the comedies, right down to “Toy Story”.  I have to go with “Philadelphia” as my overall fave.

Broken down into dramatic fave, “Castaway” is my pick.  The comedies were a harder choice but I narrowed it down to “The Money Pit”.  As for “Sleepless In Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail”, once I get past Meg Ryan, I can really enjoy those cute romantic comedies as well.

And I’ve finally been able to watch the infamous “Bosom Buddies”.  I was a kid when that show was first on and was not allowed to watch it (although I wanted to!).  Some of it is stupid but a lot of the episodes really get me laughing.  I just have a hard time beliving that none of those women ever figured out Buffy and Hildegard’s real identities.  Couldn’t they see the resemblance to Kip and Henry?  Uh…how about those Adams apples, ladies?

Where have you gone Dom DiMaggio?

Where have you gone Dom DiMaggio?

by MichelleMcHatton

I’m not a big baseball fan. I’m not even a Boston Red Sox fan. But I knew of Dom DiMaggio. Not because he played outfield for the Sox, or that his brother was Joe, or that ironically his brother is the one who broke his hitting streak. I knew of him because of the story my husband told me about how he met Dom DiMaggio.

When my husband was 14 his father kept him out of school one day and told him he was going to take him to meet Dom DiMaggio. This was in 1978 or 1979. My husband’s father was a salesman, although at this point in time, I’m not quite sure what kind of job he had. Anyway, he was going to see Dom DiMaggio because he had done some job or project for him. I’m not quite sure and neither is my husband.  But he had some business with Dom.

My father-in-law introduced my husband to Dom by saying, “This is Dom DiMaggio, Joe’s brother”. My husband recalls shaking his hand and remembers Dom said “hello” to him, but that’s about it.

So naturally when my husband told me this morning that Dom DiMaggio died, I said to him, “The same one you met when you were 14?”

“The very same one.”

The thing is, the number of times my husband told me the Dom story, he never ONCE mentioned to me that Dom had played for the Sox. I just figured his claim to fame was being Joe’s brother!

How ironic is it that one DiMaggio would play for the Sox and the other for the Yankees? Weird…

What a read!

What a read!

by MichelleMcHatton

Need a good laugh?  Find yourself a copy of Jay Leno’s “Leading With My Chin” and sit back for a hilarious ride!

I’ve always admired Jay and his work; however, I admire him even more after reading this book.  “Leading With My Chin” was written in the 90’s and I’ve had the book since about the time it came out.  I’m just ashamed to say I never read it.  Until now.

Jay takes the reader from his humble beginnings in stand-up comedy (and the adventures he had along the way), to his rise to fame as host of The Tonight Show.  We also are exposed to the fascinating characters he met along the way (most notably Freddie Prinze and Andy Kaufman). 

A bonus for me is all the Massachusetts references, my favorite being the minor connection Jay had with legendary Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fielder.  Who would’ve known Fielder had such a love for fires?  I wonder if he was a closet pyro?  But Jay’s take on how he knew Fielder is hysterical!

“Leading With My Chin” is a long book but it’s a quick, laugh-till-you-cry read which will leave you wishing for more at the end.

Research shows and studies indicate…

Research shows and studies indicate…

by MichelleMcHatton

just two of the phrases that keep me from reading magazines such as Prevention and Reader’s Digest.  Maybe if they put more energy into writing decent articles for their magazines, they wouldn’t have to fill up the pages with nonsense crap about how a “recent study” revealed this or how “30 years of research” indicates that. 

I read magazines for entertainment and to be informed; if I want to read about science experiments, I’ll peruse a medical journal.