Happy Birthday, Oliver!

So today is a very special day!  It's so special we even count down to this day.  But, this year it's even more special!  My dear friend Oliver is celebrating his 40th birthday today!  So, Happy Birthday, Oliver!

I have known Oliver since High School.  We shared Mrs. Pittman's Anatomy & Physiology class together.  How many friends do you have that you can say that you skinned a cat together?  LOL, I hope not many!  Anyway, as many friends do, we didn't see each other after High School.

But, then, My Space came along and I got his friend request.  This is when Oliver and I really got to be friends, without High School to get in the way.  I got to know Oliver and see what a truly interesting and awesome guy he is.  He shared his artwork and comic endeavors.  Oliver, you are truly talented!  I hope that one day you will get to show it to the world! :)

Then, Facebook came along and Oliver and I continued our friendship on there.  I got to know even more about him and even help to support him on some of his art contests and movie projects.  He made me wish that I could live in Jax again to be able to go to some of his premieres.  One day, work won't get in the way and I'll be able to go! ;)

So, then this thing called DragonCon 2011 came about.  I had never heard of such a thing.  But, my favorite Author was attending, so my Best Friend, Lacy and I just had to go.  But, we couldn't afford to just split the expenses 2 ways.  We needed a 3rd or 4th person to go.  Immediately, Oliver came to mind.  I knew he loved comics and superheroes.  But, we didn't really know each other THAT well.  I figured why not take a shot and ask him to go with us.  Oliver, being the awesome guy that he is, was up for the challenge of spending 4 days in Atlanta with 1 girl he had never met and another he hadn't seen since high school!

You can really get to know a person during an 8 hour car ride!  We sung along to our favorite rock songs, chatted about everything and nothing.  I learned from the many many many billboards we passed along the way, that Oliver loves Sushi as much as I do.  Or maybe it was just the subliminal messages from the many many many billboards we passed.  Did I mention there were many many many billboards?  LOL, sorry that was an inside joke I had to write. ;)

Support from friends is a beautiful thing.  I always appreciate the little signs of support as well as the big ones.  A like to my blog post or a comment does not go unnoticed.  I can always count on Oliver to be there supporting me in my writing and encouraging me to write more.  I really do appreciate that and thank you for your support, Oliver.  It means a lot!  So, today I dedicate my blog to an "awesome", amazing, talented guy! Happy Birthday, Oliver!!

Of Course She Said it!

So it seems the latest media target is Paula Deen.  One of her former employees is suing her & her brother for sexual & racial harassment. During a deposition for the charges, Paula admitted to using the N-Word in the past & years ago!  OH MY GOSH! I'm shocked! NOT!!  She grew up in the south in the 50s & 60s for crying out loud!  Anyone who thinks she has never ever used that word is seriously delusional.  But, she has apologized & says she hasn't used it in a long time!  So, get over it people!  It's ridiculous that she's losing her Food Network & QVC contracts over things she said years ago.

You can read the story here:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/19/showbiz/paula-deen-racial-slur

Now, I'm not going to mention anymore about the lawsuit. I don't want to make judgements about that. I just want to voice my opinion about this N-Word subject.

N-Word, Nigger!  Yes. I said it!  Well, wrote it anyway!  It's amazing how a single word can be so powerful. Even just typing it made me cringe. There's a lot of terrible & negative history behind what the word represents. I grew up in the south with my relatives (I won't be specific here) saying this word. Even as a kid, hearing it gave me the same taboo feeling that I feel now.  I'm sure I used it at least once in my life.  Certainly, not in the past 20 years and I don't feel I should feel guilty or have to apologize for using it so long ago.

It's a word that we rarely hear or see anymore. The old saying "Sticks & Stones Will Break My Bones, But, Words Will Never Hurt Me" just isn't true!  Words can hurt way more than fists.  People have learned & are learning this.  If we're to move forward, we can't continually punish people for being ignorant in the past as long as they realize their past ignorance & don't continue it.

I commend Paula for having the guts to admit what she has done/said in the past.  I dont even think she should have apologized for it.  She doesn't need to apologize to me or anyone else that may have heard her public apology.  If she needs to apologize to anyone, it'd only be the person she said it to.  But, I bet, if half the people in the media or The Food Network or QVC were to be just as honest, they'd have to admit to making some kind of racial slur in their past.  So, let he who is without sin cast the first stone!  Good luck finding anyone worthy of throwing!