Star Trekkin'!

Here we are, Star Trekkin' across the universe!!!

Wormhole

I put this picture up on Rural Ramblings as a "Gateway into another dimension". . .

Then I did a little work in Photoshop.

Actually, I didn't really do much but change the hue & saturation, and get rid of the tree branches. I didn't even notice the lighter areas to the left of the "wormhole" until I did that. Is it an alien being? A spaceship? Something in a parallel universe?

I don't know, but it's fun and it looks cool.

Drama and Adventures in Outer Space

That’s what I put in the mailbox this morning, drama and adventure. The last episode of the seventh and last season of Star Trek: Deep Space 9. Watching that last episode was like reading the last page of a really good book. One you really hate to put down, and somewhere down the road, you just know you’re going to have to read it again, it was that good.

To tell the truth, when Jonathan suggested we try watching DS9, I wasn’t too sure I was going to like it. I’m a long time Star Trek fan, so long I remember watching the original series – not reruns! - on tv. (Does that date me, or what?) I loved Star Trek then, and I love it now, but I wasn't too sure about this newer series.

We'd already went through the Star Trek: Voyager series though. (We make good use of our Netflix account!) It was pretty good, and I enjoyed watching it, so figured might as well give DS9 at try.

Well, Deep Space 9 was not only good, it was better.

Forget the fact it’s science fiction and set on a space station. For sci-fi fans that’s a plus, but what it really had going for it was drama and adventure! It had an on-going story, with lots of twists and turns, and lots of character development. People liked and disliked other people and things. People loved and fought and did all the things people do in real life.

People were real. Bad guys occasionally did good things, and the good guys occasionally did bad things. These weren't cookie-cutter characters, but complex individuals.

There were not only some excellent family relationships, there were lots of well-developed friendships. Guys who were best buddies and would occasionally even admit they loved each other. Men and women who were good friends without the erotic overtones, but valued their friendship instead. And yes, since it’s science fiction, not only were there friendships between different races and genders, but between different species.

Wikipedia notes, “The show is noted for its well-developed characters and its original, complex plots. The series also depended on darker themes, less physical exploration of space, and an emphasis (in later seasons) on many aspects of war.”

Yeah, there was a huge war going on the last couple of seasons that did indeed become quite dark. A time or two I wavered, thinking this was getting too much like the new version of Battlestar Galactica, and too dark and “real” for my tastes. But they dealt with those aspects well, and didn’t dwell in the darkness always. Light peeped through in unexpected places sometimes.

Bottom line: I was sorry to watch this last episode. I cried at the sundering of so many long-standing loves and friendships, as people were pulled in different directions, killed in the final battle, or for whatever reason, moving on. It was, by and large, a good show with few so-so episodes.

I’m going to miss all those people from Deep Space 9 and their drama and adventures.

Word Play

Most of the people in this family like word play. Any sort will do, but we’re especially fond of:…

malapropisms (noun) Ludicrous misuse of words, especially by confusion with one of similar sound.

and

puns (noun).Play on words: a humorous use of words that involves a word or phrase that has more than one possible meaning

For instance, coming back from the grocery store this week, Jonathan and I passed a little cemetery. A sheriff’s car was parked there with the accompanying sheriff inside.

I said, “Wonder what the sheriff is doing parked there?” closely followed by, “He must have the graveyard shift.”

Jonathan picked right up with, “Yeah, he’s rounding up all the deadbeats.”

Come on, quit rolling your eyes; you know it’s funny.

Jess was talking to someone earlier this week who for the purposes of this blog shall remain anonymous. She has a daughter, let’s say late teens. They were talking about what she was doing these days, and “Anonymous” said, “Well, she’s not really interested in going to college. She just wants to get her ‘M’-‘R’-‘S’.

Now, you have an unfair advantage, You’re reading this, so it’s immediately apparent what she was saying. But hearing it, well, it takes a second for it to sink in and catch on that M-R-S means she wants her ‘Mrs.’ - she wants to get married!

I thought that was a good one.

Jess frequently mangles words on purpose to make crazy malapropisms. Another member of the family does it quite often too, but doesn’t have a clue they’ve done it, which makes it all the funnier, except you can’t laugh! Don’t want to hurt their feelings.

I reckon if there’s no time for any other play, word play will do.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there that have taken time to care and nurture their offspring. Too bad not all biological fathers are the real deal, men who are responsible and care for their family and worthy of the name "Dad."

I'm sitting here watching a program about Alaska on the Travel Channel, and remembering what a great time I had with MY dad in Alaska last year. We'd never spent so much time together, just the two of us, and it was great we got to go together to fulfill both our dreams of seeing Alaska. Here we are in Glacier Bay. Cold and totally awe inspring!

It was certainly a special trip for many reasons!

Jess got home early this afternoon from his trip to Kentucky. He went with some of the guys he used to work with at Shelby to see the NASCAR race at the Kentucky Speedway Saturday night. Since he got back I've felt like a switchboard operator fielding his "Happy Father's Day" calls!

While Jess was away, Jonathan and I also played and went to a movie Saturday. I make it to about one movie a year, and this year it was "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

AWESOME! Two action-packed hours, tied up some loose ends from earlier movies, a little far out with super adventure and fantasy, and all around a great movie. (Hey, if I wanted reality, I'd watch the news!)

We went to the Rave, which has the plushest seats, but even so, by the end of two hours I was fidgeting in my seat. Of course, it didn't help I had a few cuts and bruises from my fall Friday night. I expected them on my leg, but didn't realize I'd bruised my arm too. At least it wasn't bad enough I needed stitches anywhere!

It's been a fairly lazy weekend with some special treats. Tomorrow I need to get back in the groove and back to work. Playtime is over!