Mae @ Rainydayinmay

Bieber gossip to dish, that makes my heart bleed…

Published on November 4, 2011 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay2 Comments

I don’t really listen to celebrity gossip. I don’t read the magazines, I don’t watch the shows. I’ll have friends telling me so and so cheated on their spouses, etc- and for the most part I’ll tune it out. Over the years that I worked more deeply in that industry, I just found it BEST to ignore the junk, and I still like to.

That being said, while listening to political radio on friday I learned about this Justin Bieber baby incident. As details of the story spilled out, my blood ran cold. Not because I totally love and adore him, (though I won’t lie- I do like him) but because the whole situation sits far too close to home for my comfort…

Let me explain…

On one hand you have the possibility that he is the baby daddy. While I’m not being naive about this, I will say that I am pretty sure he isn’t- BUT- whether he could or couldn’t be is not what this post is about. This post is about her, Mariah Yeater. While people all over the internet are going on and on about how she’s never held down a job, lives off of state assistance and is a high school drop out- i am not going to go there either… Let’s just say that hypothetically, she’s lying. Maybe she wants a bit of fame. Maybe she craves the attention. Maybe she thinks this will somehow make her rich, or at the very least- bring on a bit of cash. Possible motives aside, we are assuming- hypothetically- that she’s lying…

By defending this lie, Mariah Yeater risks imprisonment for statutory rape. IMPRISONMENT!

By defending this lie, Mariah Yeater risks losing her son permanently.

By defending this lie, Mariah Yeater risks labeling herself a registered sex offender.

Since we are taking the stance, hypothetically, that she’s lying- the DNA test she requested will prove she’s lying. There is no good outcome to this situation…

And yet, she swears she is telling the truth. She’s been caught, red handed, with her hand in the cookie jar and a whole mess of crumbs on her mouth- yet she insists she didn’t take them.

While, what likely happened is that maybe she’s not the brightest Oreo in the package and she assumed because Bieber is famous (and rich) that he messes around. She probably rented the movie and decided, upon watching it, that since her favorite color is purple too- that she should have half his money. She probably thought that he would be so ready to shut her up that he’d just pay her to be quiet. But that didn’t happen… And no matter how badly this ship’s going down- she is going to psychotically pretend it isn’t…

wondering where i’m going with this? Those of you who have seen my daily, non-blog life have likely already figured it out.

Mariah Yeater is a frightening 8 yr-glimpse-in the future of my Genny.

My Genny the pathological liar who, although insanely brilliant, doesn’t think through the consequences of her decisions and then pretends forever that she’s telling the truth when she denies her choice.

This girl scares me.

This idea of a girl scares me.

That my daughter could be that girl, terrifies me.

And to the newsanchor who actually asked “what does this girl have to gain by lying and causing such a big stir?” I answer- I don’t know…

But please, when someone (anyone) figures it out- let me know…

Theodora- Actress, Empress, whore… {A review}

Published on November 3, 2011 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay1 Comment

The most recent title in Blogher’s book club is Theodora by Stella Duffy. This is was a paid review for Blogher Book Club, but the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Literally raised to be a child prostitute, Theodora of Constantinople’s story takes her from those tragic beginnings to becoming the empress of Rome and achieving Sainthood. While it is quite the story, very little is actually known about the real life of Theodora. The things in which author Stella Duffy’s mind imagined being Theodora’s life left me disturbed. I really struggled with whether or not to start this post on that note, but here I am. I just couldn’t paint a deceitfully pretty image of a novel that left me a little scarred.

Throughout the course of her life, the loss of Theodora’s bear trainer father leaves a predominant hole within her. At age 5 though, when she is placed in the care of eunuch Menander, along with her sisters- she begins to reconcile that aching absence with Menander’s harsh abuses and disapproval. Menander’s purpose is to train the girls in his care to be actresses. Unfortunately, actresses bore little resemblance to what we know and were actually highly sexualized acrobatic dancers- (of sorts) who were used alluringly to entertain men visually until the ripe old age of 12 {TWELVE!!!} when they were ready to entertain them privately. You know, in their bedrooms…

And so her story goes from bad to worse. She neglects her own eventual child, experiences tragic losses, whores herself out to anyone (including minors) to further her own desires. She steals, she lies, she manipulates, she has a freakish amount of overly detailed sex and all for the glory of what- religious advancement politically? I don’t know… Every time I sat down to this book I felt ill. Maybe the incidents overly adjective consumed, are mirror images of a past culture. If they are, I don’t want to know. Call me naïve, but as the mom of a young girl- and as a woman who was sexually abused as a child- this book deeply offended me. The idea that Theodora would be connected to Menander for the whole of her life, and seeking still for his in life AND beyond the grave approval just ate at me. Although I do empathize with her upbringing and the strong will she seemed to develop as a result- I felt nothing about her character to be relatable or more than one dimension-ally corrupt.

Critically, here is where I am at with this book- in Duffy’s attempt to write a work of historical fiction, I feel she fell incredibly short. Her dialogue and descriptions are more infused with modern dialect of an American era than anything historically based. Vulgarities and profanities are offensively stuffed throughout the pages of this novel in ways far more crass and vulgar than I would expect in any historical book- even one with content such as this. Which leads me to my next criticism in regards to the writing in/of this novel- the story. Though based more out of Duffy’s imagination than anything fully concrete- as a writer I can’t help wonder why anyone would want to tell this story at all. Obviously I am not the author, or any of the people quoted with their acclaim for this work of hers. I am however a woman, in an era where I thought we were trying to become better examples for future generations of women- proving that they do not have to whore themselves out to be successful. Spottlighting successful and strong women for others, as well as the growing generations of girls would take me far from Theodora’s direction…

The fictional character of Theodora, (inspired by the real Theodora of Constantinople) is a non-redemptive and horrible person. I turned page after page, truly expecting every ugly detail to be stepping blocks for some major moment and some incredible redemption. One never came- and as for the big, life changing moment Theodora experiences- it somehow only served to offend me more.

I am not a prude in life, in film or in the books I read. That being said though, this book was too much and I could never recommend another soul sit through it.

Little Angels… {A giveaway…}

Published on November 2, 2011January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay16 Comments

Some time ago I learned about this new educational Christian DVD series that is being geared towards preschoolers, called Little Angels. The premise of the show is that preschool twins Zoe and Alex have 8 little angels who live with them and guide them throughout their days as they learn and grow. It is very cute, and very smart. Honestly, I felt the dialogue of the preschool twins was a little large. As they spoke, the first time I watched, I was certain they must have been 6 or 7 instead of preschool aged. This was an element that I decided I really liked though, because it allowed children the opportunity to grow with the characters.

I was given the chance to sample it and I decided, what better way to do that then with a varying age range of kids? My sweet little test audience consisted of a two year old, a five year old, a six year old, a seven year old and my twelve year old, a bit begrudgingly.

The two year old LOVED it. Granted, she understood very little of what was going on within the developing story but I believe the simplicity of the animation attracted her. Every time one of the Little Angels would appear, she would clap and say Angel!
The five, six and seven year-olds did not grow bored, as I feared they might. They were engaged in the story and laughed, which was good. We talked about it afterwards and they each were able to communicate moments and things the episode had talked about.
My twelve year old was obviously beyond the video intellectually- HOWEVER, it held her attention, which surprised me.

Roma Downey (of Touched By An Angel fame) is the executive producer, and I loved watching the commentary about why she felt this product was important and the responsibilities we (as parents) have towards helping our children learn. {Even in something as simply as a DVD, I believe it’s important for the creators and parents to come from the same place- what is best for the child.} Also, this series is written by Phil Lollar, who is the co-creator of Adventures in Odessey, which is one of Genny’s absolute favorite things. Having been something special in my youth as well as my kids’, this was an added bonus.

Over all, i LOVED it. In comparison to other Christian shows geared towards this age range- I found it fresh. The songs are catchy in a smart and non-annoying way. Just really a great series for your preschool to kindergartners!

Releasing yesterday, the first two DVDs and CDs are now available to purchase, HOWEVER- Grace Hill Media very generously offered to host a Little Angels giveaway for my readers! To enter, simply leave a comment with either an email address and a link back so I can get in touch with you if you win. If you post about this giveaway on facebook, google + or twitter, leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH, with the time stamp, for extra entries.

This giveaway will run until 12:01 a.m. on Monday November 7th, so be sure to enter…

Last friday night…

Published on October 31, 2011January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay6 Comments

Last Friday night was not as epic as Katie Perry would have one believe.

Well, it was pretty epic, but certainly not in a good way. Several of you eagerly awaited details of Genny’s seventh grade romance and their adventure at the Halloween dance, and I appreciate it. The notes I received, over the weekend, following up on her excitement should have made me smile. Conversing with a friend (and my husband) on Friday, I pointed out how strangely similar Genny’s life was panning out to that in the plot of a John Hughes film. The nontraditional girl is pursued by the popular boy and suddenly all of her dreams come true. As of late, Gen’s stories depicted her with characteristics of boldness and confidence that aren’t usually synonymous with her behavior, or the Genny we know for that matter. While it seems like instances of mean girls and dreamy boys would do the opposite of making someone react more strongly- I had no choice to believe her tales…

The truth is though, none of what she has said is true.

School has been one giant illusion and though that is only the tip of the iceberg, in regards to our situation, that is as far as I’ll delve on this blog. There is no boy friend. There was no romance.

Pretty much, it’s complicated… And let me clarify, by it, i do NOT mean their relationship. There is, nor was there ever, any relationship. This boy was not even in attendance- though she truly believes he was. She can tell you what he said to her, what his hand felt like in hers and what he wore- in GREAT detail.

*sigh*

Last Friday night was not a great night, but it was a good one. Not great in that it was hard, and sad and composed of the stuff real life is. But good in the way in which real life is- raw and relevant and earthy. We love Genny and even the ugly, scary stuff is the stuff we need to know. We need it know it all so that we can love her through it… She certainly won’t blossom into a whole and healthy person if we bail on her too and God knows this RAD-venture has taught us a lot about people who bail.

So, here’s to next Friday night- and the one after that… Epic fun… Laughter. And even when there isn’t, even when life gets in the way- may there ALWAYS be love…