Getting My Inner Nerd On

I have been looking forward to the end of July.  Not because I love summer (which I do).  Not because we were taking a vacation.  I was excited because the next Star Trek movie would be coming out. I saw it last week, and it was awesome.

I admit it.  I am a nerd at heart.

I love sci-fi and horror films.  I read all of the Harry Potter and Hunger Games books and saw the movies in the theaters.  I am working on the Divergent series.

I loved The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies.  We have the extended versions of all of them.

I am a Science Channel junkie, especially anything that has to do with space.  Neil Degrasse Tyson is my hero.

I would sign up for the program to go to Mars if I did not have a family.  On days they were driving me completely insane, I had to restrain myself from putting in an application.

I was a huge sci-fi fan when I was young and religiously watched all of the Star Trek reruns and movies.  I saw all of the Star Wars films in the theaters.  But as I got older, I thought sci-fi was, well, not cool.  And the most important thing in any teen's life is to try to fit in.  So I diligently suppressed my science fiction urges.

Then in the 1990's a new Star Trek series was launched.  My husband and I loved Star Trek: The Next Generation and watched it faithfully.  It was then I realized that I was a grown-up  and did not have to answer to anyone for my likes or dislikes.

The point is we are all adults.  None of has to hide our inner geek urges any longer.  It it time to embrace them, people.

I invite all of you to confess your deepest dweeb secrets right here and now.  Let go of those inhibitions.  Embrace your inner nerd.

Do it now.  Let your geek flag fly, my friends.

The Trump Card

There is a phenomenon sweeping the U.S. right now.  It has bad hair, bad manners and a bad fake tan that resembles that of an Oompa Loompa.  And it's name is Donald Trump.

I have to say I just don't get the Trump appeal.  People say they support him because he is not a politician.  He is also a racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic,  misogynistic narcissist, but apparently they are able to overlook that.

Let me say that I am not pro-Hilary Clinton.  I have many issues with her as well.  And Bernie Sanders has apparently taken a break from reality.  If Donald Trump has a list of vice presidential candidates, Bernie Sanders' name should be at the top as he is doing wonders to insure that Trump will be our next president.

Common sense and reality have taken a back seat in this country in the last couple of years.  Apparently it has now opened the door and jumped out of the car.

There is a reason he began dropping out of the debates as the Republican field narrowed.  There is a reason he backed out of debating Bernie Sanders.  It is because he is all talk with no real plan of action behind it.

Trump claims he will go into the Middle East and take on ISIS.  Exactly how he is planning to do that is a complete guess, but if he intends to do a Rambo and send U.S. troops in alone, the consequences will be a disaster.

The Middle East has been a notoriously unstable region throughout history, yet for any foreign country to go in unprovoked, regardless of their intentions, will be seen as an invasion by not only the Middle East, but likely by the rest of the free world as well.  All this will succeed in doing is turn the entire region against the U.S., including friendly nations such as Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.  And if you think that any of our allies like Great Britain, Canada and Australia will back a U.S invasion of the Middle East, you are off in LaLa Land with Bernie.

Secondly, if we learned any lessons from the Vietnam War, there is something to be said about winning the hearts and minds of the people in a oppressed region.   The people of the Middle East are exposed to the violence that ISIS perpetrates far more than anyone in the West.  But to come into their homelands unprovoked and uninvited, destroying their villages and killing civilians in an attempt to weed out terrorists will do nothing more than turn their contempt for ISIS into support, as it did with the Viet Cong in Vietnam.  We will be only be proving ISIS' claims that the West is determined to destroy Islam and its people if Trump gets his way.

I find it amusing that Trump has gone after Bill Clinton for his extra-marital affairs.  Not that I am defending Bill Clinton--I find what he did repulsive.  But for Trump to go after Clinton when he himself was fooling around with the second Mrs. Trump while married to the first Mrs. Trump, and then cheat on the second Mrs. Trump, is the ultimate example of the pot calling the kettle black.  And as for Hilary Clinton being an "enabler" in her husband's affairs, Trump should know.  He was apparently married to a couple of enablers himself.

And Donald's going to build a wall.  To keep out all of those Mexican rapists.  And he will get Mexico to pay for it and they will be happy about it.

This is a country where 42 percent of its citizens live below the poverty line.  There biggest export is the illegal drug trade.  And Trump believes they will happily hand over an estimated $2.4 billion (and this is a conservative estimate) to build a wall.  That figure does not include the cost of maintaining said wall, nor does it cover patrolling and monitoring all 2,000 miles of it, which will be virtually impossible to do.

Trump makes me nervous.  And if I am nervous, the rest of the free world is outright terrified about what would happen if Trump makes it to the White House.  I read an article recently with quotes from various world leaders about Donald Trump.  All of them questioned his character, stability and qualifications.  The Swedish prime minister actually said that if Trump is elected, we should all head for the bunkers.

Even if you point this out, his supporters will not care.  They do not care that he supported Hilary Clinton's senatorial runs. They will not care that he went from being pro-choice to advocating criminal charges against women who have abortions.  They will not care that there is no substance to what he says, no clear plan or agenda for this country, that has made it fashionable to once again be a racist, or that he changes his mind faster than you can apply to Trump University. Don't get your hopes up waiting for that acceptance letter.

The man could fly to Italy and assassinate the Pope in front of thousands of people in the middle of St. Peter's Square, and his supporters would not only get him off of the murder charges but would also still vote for him as president.  They would also start a campaign for his canonization to sainthood.  Never mind that he is not Catholic.  And still alive.

The bottom line is that, even though I am not a fan of Hilary Clinton, I refuse to vote for a man who believes that all blacks are criminals, all Mexicans are rapists, all Muslims are terrorists, and women are nothing more than pigs, dogs and objects to be judged by their appearance alone.  Making America "great" again should not involve stepping back 50 years to a time where violence, bigotry an out and out contempt for others based solely on race, religion or gender are part of what is considered a great society.

United we stand, divided we fall.  His only clear plan for this country is playing on the fear, ignorance, stereotypes and innuendos of those citizens who are angry or misinformed to attain another "asset." And the White House would be the ultimate feather in Donald Trump's cap.  We should not be electing a president whose only agenda seems to divide us further and lead us stumbling blindly, and alone, into a world that is rapidly and unpredictably changing.

Many people believe that he is the "Trump Card" that will fix what ails this country.  As for me, this is one hand that I will not play.

Throwing Shade at the Queen B

I have a confession to make.  It is one I do not let many people know.  It is not one that I am necessarily proud to admit.

The only way to get through something this difficult is to just blurt it out.  So here goes. . .

I am not a fan of Beyonce.  In fact, I think she is overrated.

I have tried to like her music.  And I have to admit that "Single Ladies" is a pretty catchy song.  But is it enough of a reason for me to bow down before her like the rest of the world?  Frankly, no.

She has an okay voice.  She is a good dancer.  She is a beautiful woman.  But there are thousands of other women who are equally good in all of these categories, and many are better.

I realize that being a non-Beyonce fan is an anomaly.  Saturday Night Live even devoted a skit to this very topic.  It's like non-Beyonce fans are some kind of social outcasts or deviants.

Al Roker recently mispronounced the name of her collective fans, the "Beyhive," on the Today Show. He referred to them as the"bay-hive" rather than the correct pronunciation, which is "bee-hive." He received hundreds of angry tweets and emails, including one from his own daughter. He probably does not receive anywhere near that reaction when he incorrectly predicts the weather or makes a slightly off-color comment. But God forbid he insults the Queen B.

So go ahead and hurl your insults and degrade me on social media. I am standing my ground.

Just don't sick the Beyhive on me.

The Healing Power of Water

I walk my dog, Chloe, almost every morning.  The morning air is a wonderful way to clear your head and sharpen your senses early in the day.

One of our favorite routes takes us past the Shiawasee River.  Not only is it enjoyable to watch the seasons change along the riverbank and look for the neighborhood geese that call it home, but there is something restorative about the sound of water.

Nearly every morning, we stop for at least a few moments and enjoy the seasons along the river banks.  We listen to the sound of the water rushing under the bridge, or marvel at how beautiful the trees look covered in fresh snow. We anticipate the buds on the trees and the sprouting plants in the spring, or watch as the colors emerge in the cool fall weather. We breathe in the air and take a moment just to be. Rather, I breathe in the air.  Chloe munches on the grass.

If you allow it, the sound of the water flowing by can take your worries and cares with it, even if it is just for a moment.  No matter how busy the day ahead, I always allow a few moment for the water to wash all the stress from my life before heading back home to face the day.

At home I have two ornamental ponds, one in the front and one in the back of my house, that I try to spend a few moments enjoying every day during warm weather.  I have two small tabletop fountains inside my house that run every day.  Obviously I have a lot of stress in my life.

There is a reason that, throughout history, settlements have always sprung up around water.  It is essential for life, but also restorative for the soul.

So the next time you find yourself overwhelmed with work deadlines, family obligations and the day to day annoyances of life, seek out the sound of running water.  You will be surprised at what it can wash away.

Battle of the Bulbs

The holiday season is upon us.  And that means holiday decorations are going up all around.

Here in the Moore household we tend to go for a more subtle approach.  White lights and a candle in each window.  Most of our neighbors seem to fall into this category as well.

Some people, however, use the holidays as an excuse to go all out in the decorating department.  There was  house in the neighboring small town that used to follow this approach.  The house and every window, eave and piece of siding was bordered in lights.  The roof was completely covered in lights as well.  We are talking probably tens of thousands of lights on this house. Frankly it reminded me of the Griswold house in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

I have to admit I admire the hard work that goes into decking the entire house for the holidays.  I would not, however, want that electric bill.  Nor would I want to be their neighbors.  Never mind all of the gawkers and onlookers crowding your street.  You would probably need blackout curtains to sleep at night.

Sometimes I am a bit confused as to the holiday theme to which our neighbors are striving.  There is a house near us that has kept the same lights up since Halloween.  The porch is outlined in orange lights with a bright green spiderweb on one of the bushes.  I cannot figure out if they are being lazy or if they are going for a Nightmare Before Christmas theme.

Another house has had a plastic alien peering out the front window, also since Halloween.  Last night I noticed he was sporting a Santa hat.  At least he is getting in the holiday spirit.

Some houses have no lights on the exterior.  I often wonder if they don't go all out in the Christmas decorating department, or if they simply choose to keep their celebrations more subtle and personal.

After all, Christmas is not about lights, gifts and all the external trappings.  It is about home and family.  The happiness we feel inside when we give, whether it is the perfect present or simply the gift of time to those we care about.

So whether you choose to deck the halls with a thousand glittering lights or put up a small tree on a table, may your Christmas be full of love, happiness and light.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Talkin' Turkey

Next week we will celebrate that all-American holiday of Thanksgiving.  And nothing says Thanksgiving like a good old, all-American turkey.

The turkey has become both the symbol of the holiday and the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving table.  You would be hard-pressed to think of a picture of the Thanksgiving celebration that does not showcase a juicy, golden-skinned bird presented on platter surrounded by seasonal garnishes while the family practically drools in anticipation.

But with that tradition comes a lot of pressure to present the perfect bird.  Produce an epic turkey fail and your Thanksgiving dinner does not have a drumstick to stand on, so to speak.

Both my mother and mother-in-law can produce a mean turkey.  My grandmother was also an expert at the art of turkey preparation.  That is a lot of pressure to live up to at the holiday table.

Fortunately I have had some turkey success stories over the years.  The worst scenario I have endured was underestimating the time a turkey would take to thaw or cook through.  I myself do not have any personal horror stories of birds gone wrong, but do know of a few.

I have a friend who cooked her first Thanksgiving dinner shortly after she was married.  She stressed about producing the perfect bird as she was anxious to impress her new mother-in-law.  When the big day arrived, her bird came out of the oven golden and juicy.  It seemed her first endeavor was a success, until they began to carve and un-stuff the turkey.  Unfortunately it was discovered she neglected to remove the little bag from the cavity containing the giblets.

My sister also had her own near turkey disaster one Thanksgiving early in her marriage.  Not wanting the turkey to soil her newly-cleaned oven, she lined the interior in aluminum foil.  This kept her oven from becoming splattered, but it also prevented the turkey from cooking as it greatly affected the oven temperature.  She could not figure out why her turkey was not browning after several hours in the oven until her mother-in-law decided to take a look.  The foil was promptly removed and her turkey eventually cooked through, several hours later than anticipated, in her now less-than-spotless oven.

I have come to understand, however, that a turkey fail can be as valuable to the holiday as a turkey success.  A dried-out turkey that no one could eat without smothering in gravy or the deep-fried bird that nearly set the garage on fire can become the stuff from which family stories grow and are passed on.

 I still remember the stories my Great Uncle Emil used to tell about his wife, my Great Aunt Tillie, who could not bake to save her life.  One of my favorites was the one he told about when she baked banana bread. It was so hard he wanted to use it as a brick, which he jokingly said he would put in front of the tires of his car to keep it from rolling down the hill.  Or the holiday when she produced a beautiful apple pie from the oven.  Unfortunately she had used the wrong kind of apples, which had apparently evaporated and left only a nice golden crust behind.

So whether your bird is Norman Rockwell picture-perfect or rivals the one on the Griswold table in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, remember that memories that you make with those around the Thanksgiving table matter much more than what is placed upon it.

Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.  And remember to baste that bird.

The Half-Century Mark

Next week I will mark one of those milestones in life. I will hit the half-century mark next Monday.

I had been feeling pretty good about my looming 50th birthday until this past weekend.  I was in a store when the woman at the register asked if I would qualify for a senior discount.  I asked at what age the discount started, and she replied "Sixty or older."

Talk about a blow to the ego.

Either I looked particularly bad that day, or I am starting to look much older than I think I do.

Granted there are days when I feel much older than fifty.  I have noticed that things are starting to ache for no apparent reason, it takes a little more time to get up in the morning, and I can no longer read anything without glasses.

However, I am still competing in 5K races and consistently place in the top three.  And I wear the same size clothing as I have for the last 25 years. Nevermind the fact that size 4 has become a little snug in a few spots. And the phenomenon of going into a room and not remembering why I walked in there in the first place is happening more often.

I am usually inclined to believe the saying often attributed to Mark Twain: "Age is a case of mind over matter.  If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."  Most days, I don't give my age a thought.

But the next time a sales clerk wonders if I a might be over 60, I may need to give that person a piece of my mind.  If I can find it at that particular moment.