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!
Christmas movie 24: “Christmas Comes To Willow Creek”

Christmas movie 24: “Christmas Comes To Willow Creek”

by MichelleMcHatton

Who would have ever thought that John Schneider and Tom Wopat would trade in their General Lee for an 18-wheeler? Well in this 1987 made-for-TV Christmas movie that’s exactly what they do. For a good cause, of course.

As it turns out, Al (played by Hoyt Axton) used to live in Willow Creek, Alaska, a town that has fallen on hard times since the cannery closed down. Most of the townspeople worked there and now have no jobs. Just as Al is ready to leave California for Willow Creek to deliver a truck full of needed goodies, he has a heart attack. Enter his pals Pete (Wopat) and Ray (Schneider), two truck-driving brothers who have been feuding over a woman (Ray’s pregnant wife Jessie–played by Kim Delaney). Apparently she used to have a relationship with Pete before she married Ray. To add to the complications, we have Pete’s ornery teen son Michael (played by Zachary Ansley) who is angry at his father for being on the road so much. Ray, Pete and Michael take off from California for Willow Creek . Along the way they pick up Jessie as well.

So now you have two feuding brothers, a bratty teen and a very pregnant lady in an 18-wheeler on its way to Alaska. Then a blizzard hits. And Jessie gives birth. Ray and Pete make up and all is well when they arrive in Willow Creek.

This movie was a favorite of mine as a teen. I’ve seen it many times and even own the DVD. I won’t give away the ending because if you haven’t seen this film, you really should. But I will tell you it is a happy ending for everyone. And it has to do with Ray and chili.

Christmas Movie 25: “The Christmas Tree”

Christmas Movie 25: “The Christmas Tree”

by MichelleMcHatton

“The Christmas Tree” is a movie I discovered on YouTube several years ago. I was mainly attracted to it because (1) it is a Christmas movie and (2) it stars Andrew McCarthy.

The movie also stars Julie Harris and Trini Alvarado and it’s directed by Sally Field. That alone should make you want to watch it.

It was a made-for-TV movie released on December 22, 1996. It’s about Rockefeller Center’s head gardener Richard Reilly (McCarthy) who befriends an elderly nun Sister Anthony (Harris)–mainly because he wants her tree as the star of the show at Rockefeller Center.

The film is very touching and emotional at times, reflecting upon Sister Anthony’s past and how she came to arrive at the convent and her love of the tree that Richard so dearly wants for Rockefeller Center. It also mixes in Richard’s relationship problems and job issues (such as having a tree lined up and it falling through and the continuous trying to convince Sister Anthony to let go of her tree).

The movie is interesting for anyone who may have wondered about what goes into choosing the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. It doesn’t show/tell you everything, but you can get the idea.

I won’t spoil the ending, in case you wish to see it. It’s still on YouTube. In fact, I have recently started re-watching it and once again, enjoying it so much.

25 Days of Christmas Movies

25 Days of Christmas Movies

by MichelleMcHatton

It’s that time of year again. Time to make a list and check it twice. Or more.

This year I’m doing a list of Christmas movies. Not necessarily the best ones nor ones that everyone raves about. Some may be classics. Some may be new. Some may be obscure. But they are all films I have seen and enjoyed in some way. I must have enjoyed them, right? Otherwise I wouldn’t mention them on here. I will go in order from 25 to 1, with 1 being my absolute favorite Christmas movie.

Starts tomorrow. So stay tuned. Maybe you’ll find a new Christmas movie to check out.

If It Makes You Happy

If It Makes You Happy

by MichelleMcHatton

Now that Halloween is over, there seems to be a question among many as to whether it’s okay to put up Christmas decorations. My question is, why the hell wouldn’t it be okay?

People, there is no law or rule that says you can’t decorate for Christmas or put your Christmas tree up before a certain time. Just as there is no law or rule that says you can only listen to Christmas music starting on a certain date or that you can only watch holiday movies during the month of December.

So why are you wasting your time asking all over social media if it’s okay? If it makes you happy, do it. Shit, even if it doesn’t make you happy, do it. Who gives a flying fuck what the hell others think? Even if it’s someone you have to live with.

I listen to Christmas music 365 days a year. Seriously. Every single day I make sure I listen to some kind of Christmas music. All. Year. Long. And I’ve been known to watch “White Christmas” in the middle of July, or any other time of the year, for that matter. Along with numerous other holiday films.

For the record, my house has been decorated for Christmas since before Halloween. And the tree will remain up well into February. And I had my Halloween decorations up at the end of August. Because there’s no rules or laws that say I couldn’t.

So what are you waiting for? Get off your asses and get decorating!

Photo by Olena Bohovyk on Pexels.com
Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry

by MichelleMcHatton

If it weren’t for my 18-year-old daughter, I would never have known who Matthew Perry was.

Although “Friends” ended a year before she was born, my daughter “discovered” “Friends” six years ago when it was on Netflix. She came to me and asked if she could watch it. I had never seen an episode of “Friends” myself, although during the 90’s I did watch plenty of shows of its genre such as “Mad About You” and “Seinfeld”. For whatever reason, I never had thought about “Friends”. I knew of its popularity. Everyone everywhere talked about it. I don’t know why I didn’t watch it. Then.

So here was my barely-a-teen daughter asking me to watch it. I reminded myself that at her age I had watched adult-style shows as well so I of course said yes, and then proceeded to watch “Friends”. We were both hooked. Especially my daughter.

She became so hooked she binged an entire season in a day (and still talks about it). A co-worker of my husband’s got word of our daughter’s love for the show and gifted us her DVD compilation of the entire series. She told my husband the story of how the series got her and her husband through the early years of living together when they didn’t have cable.

Over the years my daughter’s love for the show grew. Her 13th birthday party was “Friends” themed. She owns countless pieces of memorabilia: t-shirts, posters, cups, a game. To this day she still will occasionally watch episodes. In fact, she recently re-started watching the series again starting at season one. Yesterday, prior to learning of Matthew Perry’s death, she had been watching various YouTube clips featuring Perry’s character Chandler Bing. Chandler is her favorite character. So when we learned of the news last night, my daughter took it very hard.

Being on the autism spectrum, my daughter doesn’t handle the subject or even idea of death very well. And it’s even more difficult for her when an artist she really cares for passes away. Today has been better for her. I reminded her that although last night she told me to get rid of the DVDs, it’s important to keep the DVDs because she will always be able to remember Matthew Perry by watching “Friends”. That’s the beauty of people who are in the arts. Their work is preserved forever for everyone to always enjoy it. Today she helped put up the Christmas tree. When it came time to hang her “Central Perk” coffee cup ornament on the tree, she said she wanted it front and center to honor Matthew. Which I thought was sweet.

I know Matthew Perry indicated that “Friends” was the last thing he wanted to be remembered for. And I realize he did so much more than “Friends”, from movies to directing. And we can remember him for those works as well. But “Friends” and his character of Chandler Bing will be the one my daughter will remember him for.