‘The Americans’: A great series

Over a year late to the party I’ve finally finished watching the FX series: The Americans.

Federal Election 2019: The Hangover

Just a few thoughts and pictures to share of Federal Election 2019:

Saw this on FB: 

Equalization (one of the reasons Alberta is so upset with the Federal Government). We literally give billions to ‘have not’ provinces like Quebec, yet they refuse to allow a oil pipeline to be built through their province to allow Alberta oil to get to the eastern seaboard. They are literally biting the hand that feeds them because Alberta oil IS the backbone of our national economy: 

And a final thought on the whole thing (again saw this on Facebook): 

What to watch on TV

Make sure you go out and vote tomorrow my fellow Canadians 

This & That

Some pics I found and wanted to share:

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Gonna try to make it to this Pop Culture fair. I’ve gone before and picked up some cool stuff. 

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The ‘Star Trek’ series that could have been. 

Let’s do better Star Trek AND Trek fans!

Star Trek: Discovery: a lot of fans on both sides (for or against) tend to ignore the other sides arguments. In my mind there is many things not working for Discovery, otherwise the fan base would not be divided. If it were truly a resounding success Trek fans would be united in singing its praises, which is definitely not happening...much to my despair. I want Discovery to be good and successful more than anything...

To my fellow Star Trek fans: Trek taught us to accept our differences and work together towards a positive vision for the future. Let’s respect our differences. If you like or don’t like Discovery that’s just fine. But remember to be respectful to those who do not share in your opinion. Stop hating on one another, respect each other’s opinion. You may not agree with it nor should you have to but be accepting in the fact others may not like what you like. 

Let’s all do better. 

Some thoughts on the Canadian Leadership Debate

These are some comments I made on Facebook 

‘Star Trek: Andromeda’???

After watching the ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ third season trailer I cannot help but theorize the writers/executive producers stole Gene Roddenberry‘s plot for ‘Andromeda’ and are using it for ‘Discovery’. Much like they “borrowed” the tardigrade from that video game ‘Tardigrades’ in season one but then quickly threw that out when they got sued or had to settle (not sure which). Maybe I’m wrong but I’m thinking that ‘Discovery’ will be tasked with rebuilding the Federation when they arrive 1000 years after the events in the season 2 finale. Which is essentially the plot of Gene Roddenberry’s proposed series ‘Andromeda’, which was turned into a tv series starring Kevin Sorbo and produced by Gene’s widow Majel Barrett Roddenberry in the early 2000’s. 

If I am right then they need to get some new writers/producers on this show who can create something of their own. Stop lifting ideas and concepts from others and trying to pass them off as new and original. Season one had the tardigrades. Season two had the Enterprise, Spock, Captain Pike, Number One. Now maybe season 3 has the plot line from ‘Andromeda’ which was one surviving Commonwealth ship tasked with rebuilding the Commonwealth. If season 3 has the ‘Discovery’ having to rebuild the Federation then yes they (the writers/executives) stole ANOTHER plot because they have no clue and should not be making a show called ‘Star Trek’. 

They need to do better and true fans should expect better.

Star Trek: Disco Inferno

The problem I have with Star Trek: Discovery is that it is not “Star Trek” as far as I’m concerned. It does not obey or live up to the ideals that Trek creator Gene Roddenberry established; ideals that he made his writers and show runners follow. This new show feels more like ‘Star Wars’ than ‘Star Trek’. I’ve seen fan film productions better than this show that accurately portrays Gene Roddenberry’s vision for a ‘positive vision of the future’. Not to say it’s all bad: the casting of Anson Mount and Doug Jones were brilliant choices but the blatant disregard for established Trek canon pushed me away. However if people like it that’s fine too, hopefully it’ll get new people watching the previous Trek series, but for me it’s a missed opportunity to do something special... 

I had the pleasure of meeting Anson Mount at the Calgary Expo in April 2019. He does make an excellent 'Captain Pike'.

 

They really should have done an Anson Mount 'Captain Pike' series...

 

However I am hopeful that ‘Star Trek: Picard’ will do right because of the involvement of Patrick Stewart and other Trek alumni. I really don’t think they would sign on for a mediocre show. Because in all honesty I’d call ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ mediocre Trek. If you took away all the Trek references on the show it would make an alright science fiction show but when compared to Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine it is very mediocre. 

 

Season 3 trailer that dropped at NYCC: Meh. Still not hopeful.

 

 

Hopefully 'Star Trek: Picard' will bring the franchise back to its glory days.

 

My Baby Girl Sheba

As you may or may not know my family recently lost a valued member of our family, our beloved shitzu ‘Sheba’, whom I often refer to as my baby girl. I write this in remembrance of this amazing little dog whom stole my heart and who I miss dearly. Sheba was born in 2010 and was raised by another family for her first year. They were a nice middle aged couple who both worked away as cooks at work camps. In 2011 my wife Crystal ran a dog grooming business out of our home and Sheba became one of her dog grooming clients. Sheba’s owners jobs changed and they were no longer able to take Sheba with them when they went to camp for work for two weeks at a time. So they asked Crystal if Sheba could stay with us on the weeks they worked and we were happy to agree. We loved when Sheba came over for her grooming as she was such a sweet and obedient little puppy. After a couple months of this arrangement her owners came to us with a problem: You see when they were home they only lived a few blocks away and when they would take her for walks she would always pull them towards our home. It seemed she had grown attached to Crystal and I and the kids, so her owners asked us if we would be interested in adopting her. We readily agreed and in 2011 she became an official member of our family until her death on Sept 22^nd 2019.

She started getting sick a week before her death. At first we thought she was getting better but she really didn’t and eventually we had to take her to the vet where they diagnosed her with pancreatitis. She spent a night with the vet and she came home on the Friday with medications and an expected recovery. Saturday she did seem better and was more mobile than she had been in days, but sadly that was short lived. Saturday night she seemed to be in more pain but it seemed her pain meds started working again and she went to sleep around 9:30 pm. At 5 am Sunday morning we were awakened by her yelps of pain from her bed in the living room. Shortly after Crystal gave her the pain meds she went stiff and fell onto her side. Her breathing became erratic and we called the on call Veterinarian. But before we made it to the vet clinic she died in my arms; my baby girl Sheba was gone. Our family’s hearts were collectively broken and we all cried over the loss of our family member. She was cremated and we set up a memorial on a shelf in our living room. Sheba was probably the best dog I have ever owned. She will always be with me in my heart until the end of my days.

She was a simply puppy and never asked for anything except for the occasional milk bone. She loved the dog bed I bought her. She loved to nap on top of the love seat in our living room beside the large window. At night she would sleep with Crystal and I. She loved kids and guests to the house; she particularly loved her Nana Darcy and Grandma Yvonne, and Grandma Joan and Grandpa Harry. I would take her for long walks at the Barrhead and Fairview outdoor walking paths, and she would never complain or refuse to walk; she loved the outdoors and spending time with her family.

Although I spent a lot of time with her I still feel like I didn’t spend enough; I can’t help but feel like I didn’t appreciate her enough. But such is life that we never know when a loved one will leave us and I took for granted that she would be with us for years to come as she was only 9 years old (in human years…but I guess she was 63 in dog years…).

Spend time with your puppies, enjoy every moment with them as they may be called up to heaven suddenly without warning.

Sheba: you will be in our hearts always. I miss you more than words can say my baby girl. I’m sure you are with Grandma Yvonne in heaven and getting spoiled. We all love you and miss you.

-         With love,

Dad and your family.

I’m a Hulk fan

Slightly Mad

The following is a short story I wrote for a writing course I am taking:

Slightly Mad

By C.L.G. Lockhart

 

I fell to the ground harder than anytime I have ever had. The bullet punched me so hard in the shoulder and the pain was immense and it felt as though someone was pulling me to the ground as if I were connected to a pulley. The fall combined with the pain and shock had the effect of knocking me out. When I came to it was all over and the paramedics and police were there doing their jobs. They had already bandaged my shoulder and when the medic noticed me awake they yelled for more assistance.

‘Where am I?’ was my initial thought. Then as my sight began to function properly I came to realize I was at my bank. Then I remembered:

“Where is my wife?” I asked the medic. I could tell by her reaction that it was not good…

My wife was killed by one of the many bullets that were sent at the people standing in line at the bank by individuals whom decided that day to rob the bank. Those fine gentlemen planned to rob a bank with automatic guns they acquired. Unfortunately they did not learn to use their guns and when one of them accidentally went off the others decided to open fire as well. These guys tried to make a run for it but they were quickly apprehended.

The story of what went down that day became headline news around the world and all eyes were on all of us affected by the events of that day. As I recovered from my wounds and made arrangements to bury my wife I was hounded by reporters and frequently asked to comment on it. As I stood at the graveyard with my three young children and our friends and family the reporters stood at the fence taking pictures of our misery for their newspapers and websites.

 

It took nearly two years for the trial to begin and it ended with a hung jury. The defence lawyers for the gunmen spun the story that they were in over their heads. They were nice and good people whom just made a mistake and we should always feel sorry for them. We the victims laughed at their defense but apparently some of the jurors bought into it and they were hung on making a decision. Another couple years go by and another hung jury. It was after that second trial that the crown decided not to pursue a third trial as they deemed it too much of a risk. The families of the victims were left heartbroken and the criminals walked free.

The press dubbed them the “Free Four” on the front pages as they all smiled for the cameras. It was the moment I saw that front page then looked at my youngest daughter with the realization that she is growing up without a mother that I decided to right this wrong. I went from becoming sane to slightly mad.

I followed the four of them all over the next year and learned all I could about what made them tick. Their favorite places to eat, their extracurricular activities, and the places they liked to frequent…I knew them better than I knew most of my friends. I became the shadow that never left their side, the shadow they never knew they had. When my wife was killed her life insurance left me with enough money I no longer needed to work and following them became my full time job.

My parents took on the role of primary caregivers for my kids. They did this believing I was depressed and just needed some time to find myself; they had no way of knowing what I really was up to.

I’m going slightly mad.

My plan is to take them out all in one night. I will carry out my mission in such a way that they will all be gone before anyone knows what is happening until it has already happened; this way no one will be able to stop me.  The first one I will take out as he is leaving his local watering hole. He likes to park in the back alley so the cops do not see him driving drunk. As he gets into his unlocked car I will be in the back seat and sit up as he fumbles drunkenly to get his keys in the ignition; he will have a red smile from ear to ear when I’m done with him. The second and third ones always meet up for a game of pickle ball once a week in these summer months. I’ll be utilizing the first ones car as I run them down as they walk to their cars parked in a parking lot fifty yards away. First ones car is actually a slightly high centered SUV and I will make good use of the drive and reverse functions of this particular automobile to ensure they do not get up again to play pickle ball. The fourth one lives alone and likes to spend his evenings trolling porn sites on the internet. He is also the one who pulled the trigger that fired the bullets that killed my wife and went through my shoulder. I was able to procure the exact same automatic gun he used on us and I in turn intend to use it on him, karma is a bitch (sometimes).

I’m going slightly mad.

I am prepared for my mission and the date has finally arrived. I tell my mother I am going out to attend my support group for survivors of violence. God bless her as she believes me as always.  As I am about to walk out the door my youngest daughter Shelby walks up to me. She smiles at me as I put my coat on and gives me a hug.

“I love you Daddy” she tells me. Instantly I burst into tears and cry like I haven’t cried before. My mother and older children hear me and come to the door and they all hug me and remind me that I am loved.

That day I decided to not seek revenge but rather be the father my children need me to be.

I’m going slightly mad?