Beauty and the Beast and the "gay agenda?" WTF?

Okay, so I've been hearing all this controversy and uproar about the upcoming live action Beauty and the Beast movie. Comes out March 17. I, personally, am thrilled about it. The trailers look SO good. Emma Watson is the perfect Belle. But, let's get all up in arms because a minor character with maybe 10 minutes of screen time is gay.

Well, I'm about to unleash a rant of my own. Does it really have this much impact? LeFou will get 10 minutes screen time. This "gay moment" will maybe be him pining over Gaston. Someone on a YouTube video comment even said it is rumored to be 4 seconds of him dancing with another man. Really? So, I'm going to guess that every time I danced with my girl friends at a wedding or a party, we were making everyone around us gay? But, whatever it is, it won't be overly sexual because it is Disney. I highly doubt there will be a make-out scene or anything. Maybe they'll show him grieving over Gaston's end. (spoiler alert if you live on Pluto and never saw the animated original- Gaston dies in the end) And, yes, LeFou is the bumbling moron sidekick of the villain. Not the best representation. But, it's a start.

If a kid asks a question, don't have to go into a huge dissertation. Just say some boys like boys and girls like girls. Dunno why. That's just how God made them. Usually an acceptable answer. It's not some big gay agenda. It's a reflection of the world and all its beautiful diversity. You going to boycott Aladdin if they do a live version because the characters are Arab? ...wait, these people probably are.

And, I know what some people are thinking reading this. "You're a straight woman. How do you know the experiences of gay teens?" Yes, I am. But, I have friends in the LGBT community and they've told me of what they've gone through and dealt with at school, church, and from their own families. I watch the news and hear about the teens committing suicide because they feel they have no one to turn to for help and understanding. I see the stories about parents disowning their children, forcing them to go through horrid medical tortures to "remove the gay." It's disgusting.

If you truly want to "Make America Great Again" as Mr. 45 constantly claims, we need to remember that this country is a melting pot. People from all over the world, all different faiths, races, orientations, make up who we are as a nation. What message does it send to young people who are struggling to know who they are if they see hate? Not just from what they see online and in the media, but in their own homes? There are kids out there, if they aren't already, will struggle and question their sexuallity. And it's people's ignorance that contribute to the bullying and suicide rates among LGBT teens. They're raised to believe that the way they are is wrong and evil and something that should be ripped out of them.

I'm going to see Beauty and the Beast. Probably going to have a date night with my honey and go see it. I'll write up a review and let you know this whole issue is just ridiculous.

Keeping Father Dan's Memory Alive

So, yesterday was a sad but beautiful day. I had never seen the Church so full in my life. It was an incredible sight to see. I'd guess at least 800 people packed the space, not counting people who stood outside the doors to listen. Not just the number but the variety of people. Father Dan had been a part of several parishes over his years of ministry. Black, white, Asian, Middle Eastern, the very old to the very young. Priests, bishops, deacons, sisters. People who had grown up listening to Father preach on Sundays. People who had worked with him. People who had grown up with him. We gathered together to mourn his loss. But, more importantly, we gathered to celebrate a man who touched so many in so many ways. This was reflected in the music sang and the words spoken. Even after Mass, we gathered for lunch and shared more stories.

I didn't want to go up to the casket because I didn't want that image in my memory. I wanted to remember the man who always smiled and pulled you into a big hug when he saw you, even first meeting you. The man who's eyes lit up at the Christmas party when he played carols on his flute with the band. The man who talked and laughed at my sister's wedding and was bouncing with joy that he was able to make it and talked about it for months afterward.

But, it wasn't without issue. I won't go into specific but there were stories that were not so positive. And, it just made my family so upset. I know Father Dan wouldn't want people to act the way they did. It's not what he stood for. It's not the message he tried to convey and the fact that people never took that in is a disgrace to his memory.

Now, more than ever, is the time for the two communities he served most recently to come together. As one spirit, one mission to bring the love of Christ to the world. Not to turn people away. I said in my last post, Father accepted everyone. And, the people that gathered to honor him yesterday reflected that.

I know my dad and others will work to keep his memory alive there. And, I can only hope to follow his example in my own life. Only then will he be remembered always in the hearts of those who knew him.

"There's One More Angel In Heaven"

I don't know why I chose a lyric from Joseph's Technicolor Dreamcoat but I'm have a feeling he'd get a kick out of it because he had that kind of sense of humor.

I can't sleep. And, the best way for me to clear my head is to write. What better topic to write about than remembering a wonderful man, priest, and friend. Father Dan Begin. He was the pastor at my dad's church and I had the pleasure of getting to know him these past 2 years since my dad joined him as deacon. Never have I known anyone like him. And, I doubt I'll ever meet anyone that comes close in my life.

Father Dan was truly the embodiment of Christian faith and love. He always had a smile on his face and a waiting hug. He loved to laugh. He loved music. He loved family, enough to adopt children and raise them as his own and the grandchildren that followed. He loved his parishioners at the various churches he served in. And, he loved God. He had a tremendous faith that we can only dream to emulate. Even when he was ill, he talked about leaving it in God's hands and whatever happened would happen. He cherished every day he was remotely well. When he was able to attend my sister's wedding in October, he was practically giddy with excitement. The power of prayer bought him a few precious months before illness returned to finally claim his life on Saturday.

He welcomed everyone, regardless of background, race, orientation. You just felt good when you were around him. He'd tease and crack jokes at events. When he said Mass, there was a glow about him. When he played the flute or talked about his family, his eyes would light up and you couldn't help smile along with him.

I wish I had been able to know him better. But, I know he's at peace now. He's not suffering anymore.

I know that's a cliché thing to say. It's what everyone says when someone dies. Especially from illness like cancer. But, I've had a few family members with cancer. It's like they're being eaten alive from the inside out. Watching a loved one waste away is one of the hardest things in the world. And, as much as you want them to get better and be with you for many more years, you want just as much for it to stop and for them to know peace and be free of pain.

It could be that it's late and I'm sleepy. Or, it's that there really are no words to describe Father Dan beyond what I've already said. He will be missed so much and by so many. And, he will never be forgotten.

Lost Art of Civil Conversation

Okay, I know I made a promise not to post anything political on my public platforms. And, I intend to keep my promise. But, I have to vent. It's late so this may turn into a series of tangents with a point at the end. And, this isn't just about politics. It's about human behavior in general. There is a dying skill in this world. People are losing the ability to have civil conversations/debates about differences in belief. And, there's a strong urge to force the "I'm right, you're wrong" down the throat of whoever you're talking to by any means necessary. To the point that families are divided. Marriages and friendships are ending. What happened to giving your points, listening to the other, and then agreeing to disagree?

One of my closest friends just wrote an article for the Washington Examiner about all the recent boycotts. He is a diehard conservative Republican. While I am a liberal leaning Independent. We differ on a lot of views. But, we've been friends since we were 10 and not about to throw away a 20+ year friendship because we stand on "opposite sides of the aisle" so to speak. One thing we could agree on was how ridiculous the reaction to these boycotts are. Take the highly publicized Nordstrom boycott. Nordstrom announced that they are no longer carrying Ivanka Trump's brand in their stores due to lack of sales. But, people (including 45 himself) are enraged! Now, if Mr. Trump were as great a business man as he claimed, he would understand this and not take it personally. Why continue to stock something that doesn't sell? It's a loss on the business's part, especially in the price range of the items Nordstrom carries. (Far outside my budget, let me tell you.) But, it's common sense supply and demand. If the demand's not there, why take a financial hit with the supply? I see it all the time at my day job. A product doesn't sell, corporate says it has to go. Maybe they'll bring it back. Maybe they'll renegotiate and carry only a small portion of her line. That remains to be seen.

Another I keep seeing things about is the Starbucks debate. Starbucks announced that they will hire refugees that come to this country. Of course, people were up in arms about it. I saw a few of my own friends argue "why aren't they hiring veterans? What about our own people?" When, if you do some research, the coffee chain actually has a massive hiring program for vets. And, in terms of refugees, they said they'd begin by hiring those who worked as translators for our military.

I'm afraid to say something at work for fear of someone going off on me. I get that enough without bringing politics into it. When someone tries to goad me into a debate/discussion, I smile and say I have no political views on the clock, and keep working. Same with friends who share political differences. Smile and nod and change the subject. Partly because I don't want to debate. Partly because I am no expert and would probably lose by not having a comeback. I can't even share something on Facebook without friends launching into longwinded arguments. I don't even want to share a meme meant to be a joke because someone will take it the wrong way. And that's been going on for years. But, that may be another rant someday.

The protest at UC Berkley- the speaker, a self proclaimed sh*t starter, was scheduled to speak. So, students came to protest. It started out peaceful until a group began shooting and throwing things and it turned insane. That was uncalled for. I don't agree with that that person talks about, but he had a right to be there. Just like those protesters did, provided it remained peaceful. Violence doesn't get us anywhere.

I just don't see why things have to be so polarizing nowadays. It's not getting us anywhere. If anything, it's further making things worse. I've accepted the fact that Donald Trump is President. I don't like it. I don't like him. I think he's a horrid excuse for a human. But, there's nothing I can do about it. I will be among the voices who speak out when he does something I disagree with and I think will harm this country. I won't do it on my author platform (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr) with the exception of this blog post. If need be, I'll create a separate blog to share only on my personal Facebook page. I will do my best to live my life and be kind to others. I will be more informed and politely discuss the issues of today with others if I please. And, I will hope that this brutal divisiveness ends. We've had major views split this country several times in its history and we've come through each time. But, we never seem to learn. Or, we do for a while and quickly forget. What lesson is that for future generations? Having different views and beliefs is what makes the US the beautiful melting pot that it is. Why tarnish that now? If something's wrong, by all means speak out. But, you don't have to be violent about it. Discuss, debate (peacefully), and here's an idea. Compromise! Make things work so it's better for all.

Call me naïve. But, I'm still going to hold out a small bit of hope for the people in this country and the rest of the world. For the sake of future generations. If we ruin it now, what hope do they have?

The Naughty List Tag

Happy holidays, everyone! I thought I'd have a little fun and do Jenna Moreci's Naughty List writing tag. Thought of doing a video but I don't have time to edit it and get it up before Christmas. Maybe next year.

There are 3 rules for this tag.
1) You must use your current work in progress manuscript
2) Don't use a character more than twice
3) Provide a description of your story before the tag.

As I'm bouncing between 2 stories in the same series, I'm bending the rule slightly and using both if the questions apply. The first project is New Witch on Campus, the second book in my Witches of Coolersville series, currently editing. And I'm writing the 3rd book as yet untitled.
New Witch on Campus takes place at the start of a new school year. Tara and Marissa head off to Continental College for their freshman year. But, it's not all easy. People are going missing and, when one of those people is someone the girls care about, they have to get help from some unlikely allies otherwise the world is screwed.
My untitled story is right before Halloween and focuses on Marissa. Tara goes back home to visit her family. Marissa and Michael decide to take a bike ride in the park. When, suddenly, they're pulled into a fantasy realm that I haven't named yet. 😇 They have to find their way home. Marissa also has to hide the fact that she's a witch because magic is illegal and there's a kind of witch hunt hysteria going on.

So, let's get on with the tag!

1) Which character would get wasted and end up humping the Christmas tree?
This has to be Henry, Tara’s boyfriend. While he isn't of age yet, he is in a band and they make a point of seeking out the places that don't card very well or not at all. He thinks this is a great idea and he's so cool. But, he becomes a bumbling ass hole when he drinks, especially when he drinks bourbon which is his favorite.

2) Which character deserves to get the crap beaten out of them by Krampus?
This is an easy one. Abigail Tillman. She makes her first of many appearances in New Witch and I already hate her. She's the daughter of a really rich man who basically runs half the town, and is on the college board of directors. She’s had everything handed to her and has become an entitled little snot bag. She has grown up with Marissa and Henry and it's her life's mission to make Marissa’s life hell. She needs a swift kick in the ass.

3) Which character is the Grinch this year?
I'm gonna go with Lord Boris Fitzpatrick. He is a high ranking noble and the King's brother in the unnamed realm in book 3. He's the one implementing all the laws against magic. And, people are not happy about it. He'd ban all festivities in the Kingdom if he could.

4) Which character would try to get a little too friendly while sitting on Santa's lap?
Definitely Lilia Moon. While she and her husband have a very loving and loyal relationship, it hasn't always been this way. When you're together for almost 200 years, things tend to head south once in a while. And, there have been times in the past where they've separated. And, Lilia is a woman with strong passions and urges that need to be satisfied. And, she did. Although, not without some consequences by spurned lovers when she reconciled with Darien.

5) Who would your antagonist most like to tongue under the mistletoe?
Well, I haven't gotten that far into book 3 for an antagonist. And the one in book 2 is complicated and psycho, so I'll have to say Darien Moon. Now, again, he worships his wife. But, he's also a nut job and a bit of an ass hole. So, I think he'd get a little bit too frisky with either Tara or Marissa, hell maybe even Gran, just to get under their skin and freak them out a bit and then go back to Lilia and laugh at their expense.

6) Which character would accidentally tip the Menorah and light the house on fire?
Not gonna lie, Tara. Yes, she's my MC for a lot of this series. And, she's becoming a powerful witch. But, she's also human. And she's always been incredibly clumsy. The girl trips over her own feet... a lot.

7) Which character is most likely to bring magic brownies to the party?
Gonna have to say the lead singer in Henry’s band. He's a trouble maker. Doesn't have a huge role yet in the series but he is mentioned in New Witch. He's the one who seeks out all the clubs that allow under age drinking. He smokes, and not always cigarettes. He'd probably bring them just for himself but then, once good and buzzed, he'd offer them to people.

8) Which character is most likely to ring in the new year naked? And why the hell are they naked anyway?
My first reuse of this tag. And, that would be Lilia and Darien Moon. Why? Because they'd spend the night screwing like bunnies. It's how they celebrate New Years... and their anniversary... and birthdays... And... You get the point.

9) Which character is kidding themselves by insisting they belong on the nice list?
I have to go with Abigail again. Because I really can't think of anyone else who would fit it. Sorry. I know. Cop out answer. But, it's true.

10) Which character would your readers be shocked to find on the naught list?
Gran. Yeah, she's a sweet old lady and everyone loves her. But, she was a hell raiser at one point in her youth. I haven't developed that story yet and I really want to write a story about it one day. But, I want to get more into the stories with Tara and Marissa first.

So, that's the Naughty List Tag. I'm going to tag Sandy Windham to do this on her blog. And, anyone else who wants to do it either on their blog, social media, or YouTube channel.

Hope everyone has a very happy holiday, whatever it is you celebrate. Here's to a fantastic 2017 and I'll post again soon.

Bye!