The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, with those words we are taken into the darkness. I have been in love with Star Trek since I was four years old, the characters spoke to me, and the storylines held my interest and fired my imagination. There were times I wanted Spock to be my dad, I wanted to grow up and marry Captain Kirk and Scotty was like a loveable Uncle. Bones was the grumpy old neighbor and I wanted to be Lieutenant Uhura. She was on the bridge, confident, self assured and looked good doing it.
I have watched all of the incarnations of Star Trek, I have stuck with them even when it seemed that they had lost their way. I was not overly fond of Deep Space Nine towards the end; I loved Voyager and was hopeful during the reign of Captain Archer.
When the first “new” movie was announced, and I heard J.J. Abrams was at the helm, I was reserved, although I love him, this was my beloved Star Trek. I have to be honest, he has not disappointed, he has taken Gene Rodenberry’s vision and stayed the course. He has given us a whole new lease on the franchise, by rebooting it and taking it down a different timeline he has opened a slew of opportunity for new stories. New takes on old stories, he is staying true to the concepts of good Science Fiction, tell a good story, give us some gadgets and interweave a moral.
This latest installment did not disappoint me; I am not going to give anything away, no spoilers here. I am going to just say that the characters are true to themselves, the humor, the intensity, the loyalty are all there.
I am still in love with Kirk, I still want Spock as a dad, Scotty is looking less like an Uncle as Simon Pegg has done an outstanding job in adding layers to this character. I still want to be like Uhura, she is a force to be reckoned with, and I love the relationship between her and Spock with the new timeline.
All in all, J.J. Abrams has been respectful to the long time loyalist all the while bringing in a new generation to enjoy this amazing franchise.
I will not get into a debate regarding Star Trek vs. Star Wars, they each have their own merits, personally I enjoy both for what they are. Although, let’s be honest, Star Trek paved the way for Star Wars.
The television show opened avenues for other aspiring Science Fiction storytellers; Star Trek brought it to the mainstream like none other before it had. I feel very comfortable telling everyone, everywhere, I am a Trekker; I will be applying for my honorary status as a Star Fleet Officer.
Still Angry!
I’m still angry, Pat Robertson’s views on infidelity really have me going, this is a supposedly Christian man, so, I decided to go to the source to see what happens to men when they cheat. Let’s take David shall we, this was God’s favorite child, he was so favored he was taken from sheep herder to King. God loved David, then David saw Bathsheba, he wanted her, he decided to take her. It didn’t matter that she was married to his friend, his friend who was in his army. David watched her as she bathed, now, I am going to stop the story her to tell you one of my own.
I was in Sunday School, and the leader of the class was teaching on this subject, do you know who he blamed for David’s perfidy? Bathsheba. I was incensed, I said, hold the phone, she had no control over her own destiny, this man spied on her during her bathing time, this man arranged for her husband to be killed. She could not say no to her king, her sovereign, we here in America don’t fully understand the hierarchy that was in place at that time. Your King was your leader, your father figure, the one that was supposed to take care of you, he had absolute rule over you. God placed kings in those days, he was the ruler of the land, one did not say no to him. I pointed out this Sunday School teacher obvious lack of research, and no I wasn’t asked to leave that one, but it did embarrass him, rightfully so.
I now get back to the original programming, so, David has her husband killed, marry’s her, they have a child, of course she was already pregnant before her husband was killed. So now we have a progeny of their sin, God does not like this, the child dies. Once again we have the evidence of the sins of the father being visited on the child, God did not intend for men to “wander”. We see it time and time again, you do not take what belongs to you, no coveting, not stealing, a hand for a hand, an eye for an eye. Old Testament vengeance, I am not suggesting we take vengeance, God will do that, I am suggesting that if a man really wants to be a man, he read the bible, he follow its teachings and stop this.
It’s not only men who were subjected to God’s wrath, Sarah, instead of waiting for God’s promise that she would have a son, told Abraham to lie with her maid to get a child. Then Sarah became jealous of the child, this child was her fault, she didn’t trust God. When Sarah did have a child, a son, as God promised, she made Abraham send his first-born away, with his mother, her jealousy did this.
Her jealousy has caused a lot of issues throughout history and continues to, I am not going to get into that here, but people, read a history book, do some research, especially if you are a Sunday School teacher. Because I am going to tell you something if you have me in your class you better come prepared, I was raised by people who not only read the bible but studied it, read commentaries, did research, I read those books as well. I had discussions with my dad and grandpa, these men were students of God. They raised me to know the material and come prepared, so you had better do the same.
As for Pat Robertson, well, I will leave him to God, I know he has a lot to answer for, telling a woman to forgive because her husband might be handsome and well men wander.
Adultery Rant
I am so shocked that I am almost speechless, almost; I feel a fine, old-fashioned Angie rant bubbling to the surface.
Adultery, that ugly word, has the power to do that to me, you can all blame my BBFF for this one, he sent me the link to the article. I think almost everyone on the planet is familiar with The 700 Club, it has been on the air for years, the host, Pat Robertson has always been controversial. However, this time there is no excuse for his blatant ignorant reaction to a woman who called in to ask for guidance on how to forgive her husband for cheating on her.
Pat Robertson’s reaction was to stop talking about it, that he’s a man, men wander, he went on to tell her to focus on why she married him in the first place. Ok, that one I will agree with, the next one, is he handsome. What??? Does that imply that it’s ok to cheat if one is handsome, or only handsome men cheat?
Let’s address what the bible says about adultery, the 10 commandments come to us from Exodus 20:1-17. Number 6 says, and I quote “You shall not commit adultery” hmmm pretty strong words, but is that all the top ten says. Let’s look shall we, oh look, number 10 says “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
God thought it was so important to stay faithful He said it twice, don’t commit adultery and do not covet your neighbor’s wife.
But Pat Robertson says it’s ok, men wander, God didn’t think this was ok, in fact it is a sure fire way to, well, get to the fire.
Of course Jesus is all about love and forgiveness, and if the wife chooses to forgive the husband, that is up to her.
If she had called into Conversations with Shanon J and Angie B, my advice would have been, this is hard, infidelity is hard to forgive, however, I understand wanting to keep your family intact. I would have urged her to seek counseling, to talk to an outside third party. If she cannot forgive and move past this, then she needs to decide what to do after that. The man has to be contrite and willing to put up with a lot of crazy, he caused the crazy; he has to live with it.
It seems everywhere we turn infidelity is being celebrated, the hit show Scandal has its basis in the lead character sleeping with a married man. I just saw a commercial for a summer show called Mistresses, this is not ok people.
Infidelity hurts, it hurts more than the wronged party, if it is within marriage, it hurts the children, it hurts the families. It has the ripple effect, it just keeps hurting.
I wonder what Pat Robertson would say to a husband who called in regarding a cheating wife. Would he have asked if she was pretty, would he have said get over it, move on, women wander. I don’t know how people can share the same stage as him; he does not represent all Christians.
You see this is how Christians get a bad rap, because people like him say it is ok to cheat, Haitians are responsible for the earthquake that hit there, suggesting that the United States should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
I am glad that Pat Robertson exists, I am glad that we have freedom of speech, that way we can hear the crazy before seeing them. Forewarned is forearmed.
My Weekend
On Friday I went to pick up Tessa from school as it was our afternoon to have an adventure, first on the agenda, a stop at the school playground to swing and play. And play we did, Tessa decided we should play a game of zombies, in which I was the zombie, I gave it my best shot, however I believe the folks of The Walking Dead would not have hired me to be one of the walking dead.
As we were leaving the school, sitting at a stop light, the most horrible thing I have witnessed to date happened. I saw a little girl crossing the street, on the red light. I saw a car turning on the green light and thought I hope the driver sees the little girl, then it dawns on me that the driver does not see the girl.
Tess and I both see it at the same time and begin yelling no, the SUV hits the girl and knocks her off of the bicycle, I threw the car into park and told Tessa to stay in her car seat. I did not want her getting out until I saw if things were bad or if she could safely be exposed to the situation.
There was no blood on the ground, the girls bike was mangled and her cell phone destroyed, she was on the ground and her leg was hurt, but no blood. The driver of the SUV who hit her was already calling 911, I asked the little girl if she knew her mothers number as her phone was destroyed and incapable of making a call. She did, I dialed, no answer, I left a voicemail telling the mother that I would call her back. I called a second time, still no answer, I then sent a text message. A few minutes later I did receive a call from the little girls mother. I answered and asked if she was indeed the mother and she answered affirmatively. I handed my phone to a paramedic who, in theory would have been better equipped to tell a parent their child has been injured.
After giving my statement to the police officer, making sure the little girl was ok, Tessa and I left, I assured her the girl would be fine and her mother was coming. We then went off to McDonald’s to take her mind off of it, then on to her school carnival, she had so much fun at the carnival. Bouncing in houses, running in a giant round thing, eating junk and playing with her friends.
Later that evening the mother of the little girl called me and told me thank you for being so diligent in my effort to contact her, she said the little girl was fine. Banged and bruised and would be sore the next day, but other than that she would be 100% in a few days.
I was relieved to hear that, it was such a horrific event, I believe I witnessed a miracle, that child could have been hurt much worse or even killed. She was riding without her mother’s permission and without a helmet, people no matter what age your child is, please make sure they wear a helmet.
That was my eventful Friday, Saturday was much quieter, it was my dear friend Sandi’s birthday, I still can’t believe she is gone. I miss her so much, to this day when something good happens I can hear her voice. She was such an amazing woman, a great friend and an all around outstanding human.
Sunday was Mother’s Day and it was spent with my 4 favorite people, Jeffrey, Elizabeth, Alex and Tessa, I was very surprised by Tessa being able to join us. So it was a great surprise, I hope everyone had a great weekend and is having a great week.
Mother’s Day Advice
I would like to take today to give some modern mom advice:
1. Don’t put anything on the internet you will be embarrassed when your future children and grandchildren find.
2. Don’t text pictures of yourself that can be used against you later.
3. Don’t allow yourself to be videoed doing anything you don’t want grandma to see.
4. Do remember that the internet and video games are to be used in conjunction with life, not to become your life.
5. Put down the electronic devices and go outside, get some sun, play, run and enjoy life.
6. Read a real book, not just one you can download.
7. Talk to people, voice to voice, face to face, texting is great, however nothing beats old fashioned communication.
That is it, my advice for the modern world. I hope everyone has a great Mother’s Day!
Freedom to Sip Coffee
As I sit here sipping my coffee, thank you Irishman for that, I ponder my freedom to do so, my freedom to sit and browse the internet, read Dear Abby and scan the funnies. I thank God everyday that I was born in a country where I am free to not only sip coffee, but work any job I want to, freedom to vote, freedom to drive, freedom to go shopping without a male escort. Freedom from persecution simply because I am a woman, a Christian woman to boot.
Although that last freedom, freedom of religion, the primary reason the Pilgrims came here (thank you pilgrims) seems to be fading. Well, let’s be honest, freedom to be a Christian, we are asked time and time again to water down our belief system, it is only a matter of time before it becomes a mandate and not a request.
I read recently that the Duck Dynasty family, during contract negotiations, was asked to lessen the talk of God and guns, the head of the family, Phil, reportedly looked at the executives and said no. Power packed two letters, he said if you want us to water down our Christianity and not talk guns then we don’t need to be on television. You see Phil and his family don’t need the money, they have enough, so it wasn’t an issue for them to walk away. A&E backed down, rather quickly from what I read in the news, and signed the crew up for another season.
I am thinking I really need to watch this show, we need more Phil’s in this world, people who stand up for what they believe in, people who don’t care if they are famous. I admit, fame lures me, it teases me, I so would love to be on the radio every day. I have to warn you, I don’t water down my belief system either, God, family, career, that is the way it is supposed to be. If it is any other way, it doesn’t work, as we see with divorce rates, cheating spouses, killings. It is a sad world, it is a world that has forgotten who to put first, I am hopeful though. Hopeful that, we as a country, can not only recognize our freedom of religion roots, but go back to it. No one should have to water down what they think for fear of offending someone else. Yes, there are tactful ways of sharing ones faith without being belligerent, I don’t think that is the way to go either.
In this country, one that was founded by Christians, please don’t use the Thomas Jefferson reference, when one does my eyes glaze over, this is not a great example of a non christian, he fathered children with his slave and then kept them all slaves until he died. Yes, let’s tout him as a great non-christian founding father, seriously, brilliant man, questionable morales. Hmmmm, makes one think, doesn’t it.
I am Baptist, FreeWill Baptist, I am not provincial, nor backwater white trash, I am a simple woman from Owasso, Oklahoma, who loves Jesus, loves coffee, loves shoes and will not be watering down any of those loves.
Rain=Renewal
It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring, we all know that children’s’ song, I love singing it when it is raining, which it is right now. I love it, what a great way to spend my lunch hour, outside, sitting in the car, listening to amazing ‘70’s music while the rain comes down. I feel revived, renewed, ready to take on whatever this day brings.
Rain brings renewal, hope, cleansing, it brings us green grass, flowers and for a moment in time the earth is renewed. I love the rain almost as much as I love the snow.
There is so much going on in the world that has all at once disheartened me and given me hope all at the same time. Of course I am referring to the Cleveland horror show right now, those poor women and the child born in captivity. What gives me hope is these souls that were believed dead by many were found alive, and have their freedom. What also gives me hope, for human kind, is the neighbor that helped the screaming woman.
He heard a scream and responded, in today’s society I don’t hold out hope that many would do that, but he did. He even kicked in his neighbor’s door to find out what was wrong with this woman; once again I believe a lot of people would hesitate to do something of that nature. He has turned down monetary rewards, saying that the money needs to go be distributed between the victims of the crime. He even allowed his place of employment put his likeness on a t-shirt, where all of the proceeds go to the victims.
I have heard there are memes and even an auto tuned video of this man, making fun of his vernacular, I don’t even know how one can do that with a clear conscience. This situation is so horrendous, and his actions so honorable I don’t know how anyone can even make fun of this man. Sure he is a simple man, living a simple life, filled with poverty and struggles, does that give us the right to make fun of him? No, it does not, I don’t care what he did in his past, that he was arrested, even arrested for domestic violence. He paid his dues and even his ex-wife says he is a changed man and I do believe his actions prove that.
I say we celebrate this man’s selflessness, honor it, and replicate it, not that all of us can rescue people held in captivity. However, showing kindness to our neighbors, respond when we hear a young woman’s plaintive cries for help. Most of us, in our lifetime, will not be faced with the decision that Mr. Ramsey was faced with. However, we can live the kind of life that is open and honest and helpful, if we all just do one nice thing for someone this week, I believe that will honor the spirit in which Mr. Ramsey lives.
Surprise
A few weeks back I bought an armoire, I ordered it online so when it arrived it had to be put together, I waited and waited. Three weeks, the Irishman never put it together, well he had Friday off, I asked him to do it then since he wasn’t doing anything else. I called on my way home and asked if he had put it together he said “well I moved it from the front entryway”. Needless to say I was not happy, all the way home I fumed, I thought “seriously, three weeks, he can’t find time in 3 weeks.”
I got home and sure enough it was out of the front entryway, he then said come here I want to show you something. I thought uh huh. I walked into the bedroom and there it was, my armoire! He had put it together!! I was so happy!
And he is alive, I believe that says it all.
Today I have done nothing but hung out in my bedroom, organizing the new armoire and watching Gilmore Girls. I love that show, I think I always will. I think anyone who watches it wishes they had a mother/daughter relationship like Lorelai and Rory had. The quick wits, the coffee addictions, the ability to eat whatever they wanted. A perfect relationship. But real life isn’t like the Gilmore Girls, teen pregnancy usually doesn’t end so well, with the daughter going to a private high school and then off to Yale.
Single parenting period isn’t like it was portrayed on the show, it is way harder, with financial struggles and emotional turmoil. Am I doing a good enough job? Am I doing the right thing?
You have to be able to discipline your children, to make sure they are under control and not screaming like wild animals when they don’t get their own way. Of course you must have the ability to be an adult and put your own needs on the back-burner and the needs of your children first. You have to make sure all the laundry is done and children have clean clothes to wear. You have to be able to get up on time and make sure your children are at school on time. Those are the simple things that have to be done. If one cannot do those things, then how do they handle the bigger things? These are things that people should be pondering, should be considering when deciding the become a parent.
On the upside of the weekend, I have an armoire and am enjoying it.
Quick Thoughts
So, next month, The Real Housewives of New Jersey starts back up, which is what has me thinking. Teresa Guidice troubles me, last season we saw her life disintegrating, her friends finally tired of her manipulations and sometimes outright lies left her side. She alienated her family by being nasty to her sister in law and trying to start trouble in their marriage.
But the thing that bothers me the most is her husband’s treatment of her; he called her the C word on national television. He was caught, on the phone, with what can only be another woman, calling his wife the most heinous word in the male vocabulary. She then goes on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, who asks her about the incident, she tells him that her husband bought her jewelry to make it up to her.
Even Andy Cohen looked at her like she was insane, really Teresa, jewelry, to make up for calling you a name that is so vulgar, so hurtful, setting women back 100 years. I can see wanting to stay with your husband, I mean she has 4 daughters with him. Daughters. So years from now, when they see this episode, will they hate their father or their mother? Will they grow up to be with men who treat them the same as their father treats their mother? These are questions Teresa really needs to ask herself, I could see if she had gone on television and said, yes, it was horrible, but for me, marriage is for life, so we went to counseling, we worked it out. But no, she said he bought her presents to make up for that.
This infuriates me as a woman, as a mother of a daughter; this whole episode makes me angry, angry with Teresa Guidice for not doing the right thing. She did a stupid thing, she sold her dignity for jewelry, at least that is what she told the world. I wonder how they could afford jewelry, with Joe not having a job, having legal issues and with Teresa being the only one bringing in money. She was probably not being honest about that either, she didn’t look like she was being honest in telling that to Andy Cohen.
I hope this season is a better one for all of the ladies, I hope Teresa and her husband sought some much needed help in resolving their issues. Like I said they have four daughters to consider, and I do hope Teresa considers them, that she has to be an example to them and their father has to be an example of how they are to be treated all of their lives.
No Sleep Angie
Today will be No Sleep Angie, Nocona kept me awake all night, she wanted out to eat grass, apparently her tummy was not feeling that great. I suppose that is what happens when one knocks the trash over and eats it. Let that be a lesson to all, do not eat garbage.
On an up note today is Thursday which means tomorrow is Friday, which means I can sleep Saturday, whew, did you follow all of that?
Wednesday is recording day, then after that a date with an Irishman to see an Ironman, so excited!
That’s all I have for now, I foresee a ton of coffee in my immediate future! Happy Coffee Day!
