What would Jesus do? I have a hard time believing THIS tactic would be HIS method

Here's the link, and the video at the top is Pastor Worley in all his reverent candor. Enjoy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/north-carolina-pastor-gay-rant-starvation_n_1533463.html  

 

I can't say what is in this Baptist pastor's heart, but it sure doesn't look like love and generosity and kindness to me. As a matter of fact if you read some of what the other pastors had to say you may be like me, wondering just what they're putting in the water in North Carolina that's making its way into the Baptist churches in that state. I say 'Baptist' since all the pastors quoted were from that denomination.

 

You have probably read about my adventures over the years when I was taken to a church like this until I was 17 or 18 and just refused to go anymore. Well, this pastor, Charles Worley, has the same style as I often heard, but I have to say I do not recall ever hearing the hatred come out of any pastor's mouth in a church I attended, like that which flowed from Mr. Worley.

 

Since I'm always looking for a humorous note, I love the part in the video where Worley says that after you lock lesbians and gays in an electrified (holding pen, I suppose) area, after a while they will all be gone since they can't procreate and will just die away.  Am I the only one who sees the idiocy of that statement? Think about it - how many gay people do you know who were born of gay parents? Any? No, me neither. If he had thought about that statement for just a moment he'd realize that heterosexual parents have gay children all the time. If he really wants to get rid of gays in the world he's going to need a much larger holding area than he's anticipating, don't ya think?

 

All kidding aside, does anyone else suppose that all this hatred being screamed from the pulpits just might be the reason many churches are losing members? I'm not gay but this kind of hateful rant called preaching would offend me greatly. These days when people are struggling just to get through day to day living, hold on to jobs and homes and keep the kids fed and clothed, why would they want to go sit and listen to that kind of sermon? Members already know the Pastor's opinion on homosexuality. Wouldn't it stand to reason that a little calm, gentleness might be in order to sooth the hearts and minds of people who have made the effort to get there?

 

We hear the question and see it asked all the time on billboards and bumper stickers: What would Jesus Do? Well, I can't say I know how HE would minister to gay people, or any people for that matter; but, nothing I have read about HIS time on earth would lead me to believe HE would spread any kind of hateful gospel like I see on these videos. HE was about loving our brothers and sisters not about electrified holding pens.

 

I don't know what to think or say about these videos other than they're much more disturbing to me than the thought of two men or two women.

 

/Golf, Politics and Beyond

The USPS made me a happy, happy, happy woman, today!

As is often the case, today's USPS's Mail-Person left something special in the mail box that made me smile. Big time! An EXTRA sweet little piece of joy, along with the more traditional card for Mother's Day.

 

Ahhhh. Just what I needed to brighten this slightly dreary day in eastern Virginia - a note from that entire family in a way, way too far away state. OK - maybe Grandma's being just a tad over-the-top dramatic - it's really not all THAT far, far away, but it's far enough that I can't just run over and give everyone a big hug and kiss every time I want to . . .

 

... which is a lot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes the distance between me and THEM feels more like a Spielberg measurement of time and place - you know the one - A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY.  And, yeah, the time between the last time I held those dear folks in my arms, and now, also feels Spielbergish - as in . . .  'it's been LIGHT YEARS' . . .  (Sorry - more drama, huh?)

 

Such is life and there is surely much to be happy about since they're all well and doing fine. So, as Jake & Rocket would say . . .

 

. . .   Life is good!  . . .

 

/Golf, Politics and Beyond

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good for Tamron Hall. "You're not gonna come on and insult me,"

Here's the short video of what happened with MSNBC talk show (news) host, Tamron Hall and her guest, conservative columnist Tim Carney:

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/11/tamron-hall-tim-carney-mic-msnbc_n_1510311.html

 

I've said it before and I continue to say it, 'any discussion that occurs with Republicans about politics will result in them nsulting you in less than 3 minutes if you don't believe as they do.' I use to say 'less than 5 minutes', but since 2008 the time-frame of Republicans being civil has shrunk by 120 seconds, and it appears that this year it could go lower - considering comments and emails I've received thus far in this election cycle.

 

But, I heartily agree with Ms. Hall's 'shutting down' of this guy who, as she said, knew exactly what kind of questions he was likely to be asked, then came into 'her house' on 'her show's network' and immediately went into side-tracking-mode when asked the first question. 

 

We've all known people who butt into our private conversations, either in person to vent their own political hate-filled stupidity, or who 'send Forwarded, regurgitated 3, 4, 10 year-old nonsense by way of  our 'in-boxes'. I no longer take it. I used to slink away, but these days, not so much. You come on my blog or into my 'in box' and insult me by calling me ... 'you liberals' and 'you elites' and 'you Democraps, or any other uncalled for names, and sometimes, just like Tamron Hall, I will shut you down as in call you out on what you've said.

 

So, please, stop it. Already it's begun - the emails that have been around the world 200 times since their creation and deemed true and factual. They're hardly even written well enough to make good sense, much less being true and factual.

 

My suggestion - do your own research BEFORE re-sending out total BS to everyone in your email's CONTACT LIST. There's many easy-to- find (and use) research tools on the internet. I often go to 'Snopes.com' and it often leads to me articles and news releases that quickly debunk or verify a 'Forwarded, forwarded, forwarded' email.

 

If you're my friend who I interact with in some social way, it's NOT friendly to send me hate-filled emails just because you think I 'need to know.'  I don't do it to you and I truly don't understand you even considering doing it to me, knowing I'm a liberal and a Democrat, and you're not.

 

Thanks, Tamron, for showing us how that 'shutting down' process works.

 

/Golf, Politics and Beyond

A reply, a question, another question and another reply. But, sorry - no pass, here.

My last blog, dated 4/27 (http://hamptonroads.com/2012/04/thank-you-gop-pretty-cool-ad-actually) garnered a reply from someone with the online handle of 'frank in VA.bch'. After reading it a couple times I thought I'd respond with a blog, rather than a reply-to-a-reply.

 

This is frank in VA.bch's unedited comment:

"---here's a loaded question for all you people out there!---would H.CLINTON be president if ---Obama----was---white.---please don't misunderstand me because i think this country needed a black president and we probably will have more in the future,but ---not--- this one. --for three years he told the republican party to shut up,i don't need you and i don't want anything to do with you.instead of uniting the country together to help everyone,he divided the country into two groups,his and everyone else.--a true leader would have gotten everyone to work together.--so i ask would he be president?---frank in VA.bch."

 

Wow, Frank; that's a lot of stuff, there, but let's begin with this concept of 'celebrity' in the White House, since that's what the GOP/AmericanCrossroads ad actually dealt with, in their negative way when talking about 'this' president. Unless I dreamed the bright aura of Camelot which surrounded the Kennedy presidency, and the 'Hollywood comes to 1600 Penn. Ave.'  years of the Reagan presidency, I'd say Obama is at least the 3rd celeb-in-chief America has had. Were there ever two more sought after people to talk to, photograph and watch than Jackie and Jack? I don't think so. And, Nancy and Ron ran a very close 2nd for many reasons, not the least being that they were Hollywood people to begin with, and were for-real celebrities, actors and cinema-folk.The fact that Barack Obama is cool as a cucumber when he's called upon to be 'cool', do self-deprecating humorous things and has impeccable comedic timing makes him sought after at many events. Millions of us like that. Sorry, we just do.

 

But, back to your comment. I read your question, "would H.CLINTON be president if ---Obama----was---white...?" and I immediately felt the need to answer your question with my own question . . .

 

Would John McCain be president if Sarah Palin had been a man without mean-spirited, hate-filled snark oozing from his every orifice?" 

 

Would John McCain be president if he hadn't shown the American people what leadership we could expect if he happened to keel over, dead, while he was president? He mangled his very first task of leadership by giving us Sarah. Think about that.

 

You seem to be saying that we elected Barack Obama because we just had to have a smart, cool, smooth, black dude in the White House. That's NOT so. We could have also been thrilled with a smart, cool, smooth, white GAL inhabiting the oval office. I'm pretty sure if we were now led by President Hillary Clinton, you would still be offering a ridiculous question along the lines of . . . "Would J. McCain be president if ---Clinton... was... a... man?"

 

Here's the fact, Frank. A GOP presidential candidate could have beat Barack Obama, even with all the excitement, enthusiasm and momentum that Obama brought on election day, 2008. Although I truly believe 2008 was Barack Obama's time to be president of the United States, it doesn't change the the fact that the GOP went with a man too old for the job with medical conditions that were serious. And, if that wasn't bad enough, he showed his lack of leadership ability long before the election by going with Sarah Palin as his VP.

 

Your question seems to point to some magical thing that happened with Barack Obama being elected #44. I say it wasn't magical at all, it was simply looking at and seeing a great option compared to the the mean-spirited, hateful twosome from the 'other' side.

 

Democrats didn't like having their elected representatives' patriotism questioned by the likes of Michele Bachmann or by some winky-dinky, Twinkie from Alaska. And, truth be told, people still remembered videos from Veterans Against McCain from early on the 2008 campaign.

 

As for the remaining opinions of your reply - get real. The president bent over backwards to work with the GOP/TParty senators and congressmen. It's pretty hard to work with people, don't-cha-think, when we now know that the GOP/TParty NEVER intended to work with HIM? Instead they decided from day one to stop him at ever turn, regardless of how big or small an issue was. Nope - you're just wrong. It was not the president who was divisive.

 

Didn't we just learn that the very night the Obamas were dancing their Inaugural night away, 'the dark side' was making their plans to object to and fight ANY and EVERY THING he and his party would put forth?

 

Do you think these people - Eric Cantor (Va.), Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), Paul Ryan (Wis.), Pete Sessions (Texas), Jeb Hensarling (Texas), Pete Hoekstra (Mich.), and Dan Lungren (Calif.), Jim DeMint (S.C.), Jon Kyl (Ariz.), Tom Coburn (Okla.), John Ensign (Nev.) and Bob Corker (Tenn.), Newt Gingrich and Frank Luntz - were simply working out the invitation list for Obama's first birthday party as president, that night in their little 'meeting of the coven'?

[ Names of those attending the GOP get-together on the 2009 Inaugural night came from the book by Robert Draper, "Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives." ]

 

So, Frank, Please, PLEASE, don't even think you'll come here to my blog and spew such lies and nonsense of this president being the divisive one or the one trying to rip the country in half. It might fly in your circles, but not here. Not when we've heard what we've heard from the very mouths of the GOP/TParty gang. You can think whatever you like, but you won't get a pass when you drag your bag of snark here.

 

And, on a lighter note -  anyone who wants to see the full, very funny video of President Obama on Jimmy Fallon's show that night, which is where AmericanCrossroads got their 'slow jam'  idea from (they can't even come up with their own 'cool' - ha) here it is. Enjoy, it's a hoot. And, if the GOP wants to call this president a 'celebrity', I say THANK YOU, because It's one hell of a lot better than anything else you folks have called him in four years.

 

 

 

Thanks for the reply, Frank. I was wondering what I'd use for a new blog. You are quite inspiring.

 

/Golf, Politics and Beyond

Thank you, GOP. This is a pretty 'cool' ad, actually ...

So, making President Obama look about as sharp and cool as a president has ever looked is a bad thing?

 

Showing President Obama on TV where people who don't watch the political news can see some of the interesting things he does, is a bad thing?

 

Seems to me the GOP operatives with the money (Karl)  has pulled together an ad that's only going to heighten the resolve of the Democrats to get this man reelected. You know why? Because we think he's done a great job considering he's fought from day one with the right wing radicals to get anything at all accomplished; AND, because we like him so damned much.

 

Sorry, ya'll - if this is what you got to beat the president with . . .  good luck. And, thanks.

 

 

 

/Golf, Politics and Beyond

'COUNTRY STRONG' - A big waste of my time.

Well, for what it's worth - I didn't like the movie, COUNTRY STRONG. Now, I don't post about every movie I don't like, but this was one I thought I would love.

 

I'm a big Gwyneth Paltrow fan, and I thought Tim McGraw was good in THE BLIND SIDE, even though he didn't have a large part or a role that stretched his acting abilities. Five minutes or so into the movie, I also realized I loved the voice and smile of the character, Beau Hutton, played by Garrett Hedlund. So, I settled in, ready to enjoy the show.

 

At the end of it I realized I'd been manipulated for nearly two hours by some writer or director who thought they needed to wring major emotion out its audience at every chance - which pretty much turned out to be every scene.

 

What a whiny, sad-looking bunch, and it only went from bad to worst. As in, THE WORST.

 

I'm sure THE MR. thought I would loved the movie since he knows I'm a fan of a good tear jerker, and especially one with music. The first thing I said to him after the end, was - "WHAT A WASTE OF MY TIME!"

 

All that whining, boo-hooing and failure from a bunch of characters who were hell-bent on not doing a darn thing to make themselves (or, the audience, either, evidently) feel good about anything, and I'm supposed to boo-hoo along with them. Which I'm ashamed to say I did waaaaay more than I should have.

 

I cannot remember a more contrived movie I've seen in a long time.

 

Some of the music was good and all those who had singing roles were great. But, good heavens, not more than one or two up-beat songs were to be found. Paltrow, not known for being a singer, did a terrific job of singing for her role as the country star. But, I wanted to slap the whole cast of majors into oblivion before the movie was a quarter done.

 

This could have been a much better movie. This is purely my opinion and if you loved it, I'm glad - because I'd hate for everyone to dislike Gwyneth's first big singing role as much as I did.

 

Just had to share my thoughts. I love country music and in the 70s I was heavily into it. I saw all the greats of the time and many from the past here and in Hampton; and, when I went to Nashville a couple times. I truly hope no one, not even George and Tammy, were ever as boring, dull and unbearable whiny in their real life as they cast of COUNTRY STRONG.

 

Did anyone reading this, see it? Let me know what you thought. I'm hoping someone loved it as much as I wanted to.

 

/Golf, Politics and Beyond

In answer to the question about the smell of MARIJUANA . . .

An article on the Pilot-Online site (Chesapeake police in patrol cars sniffing for marijuana) had a few on-line posters wondering just how Chesapeake Police can determine that marijuana is being smoked in vehicles around them. Several posters have wondered how officers could pin-point which vehicle the smoke would be coming from. Several also wondered in writing what marijuana smelled like. (More on that in a moment.)

 

To the people who say they have never smelled marijuana smoke while on the roads in their vehicles, I have to wonder if they never drive around with the windows down. Over the years there have been many occasions when a vehicle has been sitting next to me at a stop light and the aroma of marijuana was coming out of it. Was it actually marijuana that was being burned at the time, or was it simply a breeze blowing through the vehicle that picked up the smell where a lot of marijuana had previously been smoked? I can't say. But, to those who think it's impossible to smell marijuana from a nearby vehicle where it is being smoked, I'd say you need to get out and drive around town more. Every now and then, also, a car will drive me and a whiff of pot comes in the window, but I'd have to agree with those who say it seems a stretch to determine WHICH vehicle the odor came from, unless it was sitting right next to you or the only other vehicle on the road.

 

Now, about that smell that posters wondered about. Here's what I think it smells like . . .  bright dye from a piece of fabric that is smoldering. Why that specifically? Here's a story from my younger - much younger - days.

 

In the late 60's THE MR. and I lived in a wonderful brick apartment sitting right on the Chesapeake Bay in Ocean View. It was a glorious place for young marrieds to live and someone was always having a get-together or party on the beach or the private, cemented area that led down to the sand.  Actually, it was the Canterbury Apts, which are now the Canterbury Condos, I believe. We lived there 5 years and I still smile every time I drive by the two brick buildings that face each other.

 

Anyway, one night there was a party and late in the evening we all headed down to the beach to just sit around and chat. There was probably 15 or so 20-somethings sitting around. All of a sudden this acrid smell floated in the breeze by me.

 

"What's that?!?" I asked, rather loudly.

 

No one said a word and anyone who heard me just let it go, thinking (I assume) that I was being silly. The heavy smell got heavier, so, I started patting down my sharp-looking new, pheasant-style dress, which was made from a dark colored, orange-brown-tan fabric. Back in those days everyone (except me) smoked regular cigarettes, so I thought a burning ash from THE MR.'s cigarette had ignited my new dress.

 

I jumped up and blurted out . . ."I think my dress is on fire," as I continued running my hands over the fabric searching for hot area.

 

Well, of course I found nothing burning except my cheeks with embarrassment once I realized how dumb I was. I don't think anyone has ever let me forget that moment. Anyone who has ever had one of those dark print garments know they have a nasty smell even NOT ignited; so, it wasn't a bad choice to think my new dress was smoking. (I did look pretty hot in it. ha) But, naaa, in reality it was some of the cool kids around me.

 

Hard to believe I was such a darned naive gal in the late 60's, no less. Along that same time I also got called out by a co-worker for singing a song while working . . .

 

"One toe over the line sweet Jesus, one toe over the line,

Sittin' downtown in a railway station, one toe over the line." 

 

I remember her turning me around by the shoulders and looking me straight in the eyes, as she asked me to sing it, again. So, I did . . .  "one TOE over the line sweet Jesus ..." She burst into laughter, telling me to "STOP, STOP". She asked me if that's what I REALLY thought the words to the song were. Well, yeah.

 

She explained it to me, quickly, between all the hilarity she was experiencing. THE MR., as I recall had a jolly good time with that, too, when I told him about it that evening. Silly me - I even had the gall to question him, asking . . .

 

" Well, doesn't a toe over the line sort of make sense?" 

"No." He answered. "Not on any day does a toe over line make sense."

 

[  Speaking of 'One Toke over the Line', here's an interesting take from years ago shared by Duncan20903:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye3ecDYxOkg  Enjoy.  ]

 

To this day, I hate the fact that I missed so much of the great times of the 60s and 70s that were there for the taking. These days you will often find me yammering on about ...'what a great time to be alive and young the 60s were.'  HA! Only years later did I realize just HOW GOOD they could have been.

 

Ignorance isn't always bliss. Darn it.

 

/Golf, Politics and Beyond

 

 

Rufus & Jet RIDE INSIDE

     WE  RIDE  INSIDE!

 

On our last trip to visit the kids and Grands earlier this month, Rufus and Jet-girl once again were part of the I RIDE INSIDE canine trekkers. They do very well with their human's routine. THE MR. and I trade off driving every two hours, stopping at rest stops and walking the dish-lickers. The dogs seem to really enjoy the rest stops, walking the pompass grass trails, canoodling with other dogs and happily getting back into their cozy haven for a couple more hours.

 

All the walking, canoodling, potty-ing and snacking makes the trip a little longer with these 15 - 30 minutes stops, but it does all four of us good to get out of the car and traffic, have a snack and walk around the very nice pet areas provided at the rest stops between VA and FL. All four of us are more or less retired - so we don't have to be anywhere too quickly. Relaxation is part of our trip requirements. Always.

 

As for THE MR. AND I, we love having 'da dogs' with us on the road. Once we settle into my son and daughter-in-law's home the dogs love being able to be off-leash on their daily walks around one of the lakes in the community. Jet runs ahead, stops and poses in full-alert, 'hound' fashion, then high-tails it back to us before doing a circle around us and taking off again. She seems to be saying, "This is so cool, y'all. Thanks so much for bringing us here."

 

Rufus is an ambler. He stays kinda close to us except for the occasional trips up a hill to sniff at a bush or tree ('bulletin boards' in dog lingo, I think.) He seems to enjoy the freedom from a leash in a much more relaxed state of mind than Jet. Miss Jet is constantly on the go, not wasting a moment of her unfettered cavorting.

 

More later on our little trek down south. The 'Grands', Megan, Dylan and Logan were all healthy and in great form. They kept us entertained for a week. It was heaven. Pure heaven.

 

 

/Golf, Politics and Beyond

 

BUBBA,! BUBBA! BUBBA! Masters' Playoff getting ready to start . . .

Louis (Oosthuize) has been a great player this week and I love his accent, demeanor, style and play - wow - he's got it all. . . but . . .

 

It's gotta be Bubba Watson! I keep thinking he's gonna blow his lunch all over that white outfit at any time, now, but he's got it all going and he seems to be holding his nerves in check - so far. I bet the word 'playoff' is going to set the bile to bubbling, though. ha.

 

Good luck to both guys - they've been a joy to watch. . . but . . .

 

. . .  I'd like to see Bubba find that first major; and, The Masters is a great place to start his majors list - don't ya think?

 

OK - I must go now - they're teeing off . . .  yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

 

Golf, Politics and Beyond

Tiger, Tiger - you need to get a grip. Please. For us. The Millions of USes out here.

OK, I've said it before and I'll say it now - I want Tiger Woods to win every tournament he enters. Yep, that's my way of supporting him - I wish him well. I wish him long, straight drives and pure, sweet putts. Every day. Every tournament. Every time he tees it up. That's what fans do - we cross our fingers and shout at the TV and come straight out of our chairs for those we worship for the mastery they possess of whichever sport they play.

 

I'll admit it - when we're talking 'Tiger' I am all of the above.

 

Yesterday, however, I wanted to smack Tiger just one good, striking mother of a smack! I wanted my mini assault to say - 'Have I got your attention, now!??'

 

I don't care how many wives you may cheat on. None of my business. I don't care how many bimbos you ______________________ (fill in the blank.) None of my business.

 

I don't really care how much you cuss at a bad shot -  any of us who golf do the same thing, and often at that. And, we've had playing partners who do the same thing. It's simply something we let go because golf often makes us stupid!

 

But, I have also played with out-of-control nut cases who threw clubs, screamed at the top of their lungs and called the ball every thing except a sweet thing. It makes all those around them uncomfortable. It allows a feeling of uneasiness to creep into our stomachs. We are put off of our own games when someone else gets too far 'out there' for us to ignore.

 

So, yesterday, my dear Mr. Woods, you thoroughly ticked me off. Not enough for me to jump ship. Of course not. But, you touched a nerve with me when you kicked the club several feet. No one was in danger, but it was over the top rude to those playing with you. And, this has nothing to do with it being on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National.

 

When it's all said and done Augusta National is still just a golf course, and I tend to be among those who question a course that kept out black members until the early '90s, and still allows no females to become members. I can't say whether the people who run Augusta National's club are bigots or not; but what they condone does make the idea plausible. Please don't anyone try to tell me anything is right with that membership in this day and age. Those guys still live another era, even though they put on the best tournament for attendees that I've ever attended. At the end of the day their little acreage is just that - dirt, grass and pretty flowers - no more, no less.

 

So, Tiger, I'm no more upset with you over getting crazy yesterday at Augusta National than I would be if you did it at Ocean View, Bide-A-Wee or Kisciak - my 3 favorite local courses. I'm upset you let it go that far and jeopardized the mind-sets and the games of those playing with you. It puts those near you in a icky feeling place.

 

Please get a grip. Too damned many of us love you, love your game, and love your sense of excitement - for you to start ticking us off . . . little by little in ways we can't accept. We have hung in there, supported you, defended you and your personal choices (because it's all none of our business when you do something in your personal life. Heck, we wouldn't want you knowing of our horrible choices, either.)

 

Please, take this is in the spirit it's offered,  from a dear fan who doesn't want to have to find another person who I want to win every time he tees the ball up. I say that because there is no one else for me who can come even close to doing that. I like someone who is edgy, excitable, exciting and someone who goes for the miracle shot rather than the safe shot. You bring it all, and we really do appreciate that.

 

As Emeril Lagasse might suggest - please take it down a notch. We don't like the feeling it puts in our stomach when see you do what you did yesterday with that club. And, don't get me wrong. I have no problem with you screaming, cussing and spitting - it's what gives you the particular 'attitude' and release to win - I get it. It's your gift and it's your curse. But, the 'curse' must come down a notch. Not for the good old boys at Augusta National and not even for the glorious fairways and greens of that lovely place, but for all of us who would rather watch you play golf than eat when we're hungry. And, for those who play the game in twosomes, threesomes and foursomes with you. Don't forget them.

 

(Photo: Property of Golf, Politics and Beyond)

/Golf, Politics and Beyond.