Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (1932 - 2008)

I can remember first seeing Majel Barrett-Roddenberry only in a vague sense. The year was 1993 or 1994 and I was about 5 or 6 years old. My family and I sat down to watch the newest episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was during its final season, and I had very vague memories of previous series (we had a few VHS but nowhere near the complete set). Then Lwaxana Troi appeared.

I had absolutely no idea who she was. 

I asked my source of Star Trek knowledge in those days who she was, and Dad smiled at me and said "She's the computer." Naturally, this confused me even more, and it wasn't until a few years later that I realised he thought I was talking about Majel Barrett, not the character. 

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was known as the first lady of Star Trek, and for a very good reason. She was involved right from the very beginning, appearing in the pilot episode "The Cage" as the unnamed Number One, first officer of the USS Enterprise. Although the option for a second pilot was picked up, the network told Gene Roddenberry to drop the Devil alien and the woman from the bridge. Roddenberry kept Mr Spock and, after the series ended, married the woman.

This was far from Majel's role on Star Trek, however, as she later came back with dyed blonde hair as Nurse Chapel, a regular fixture opposite DeForest Kelley as Doctor Leonard H McCoy, appearing in 25 episodes of the series, 9 of the animated series and two movies. When The Next Generation came along. Majel protrayed the character of Lwaxana Troi, mother of regular Deanna Troi, in 6 episodes of the series, as well as 3 appearances on Deep Space 9. She also wrote the final episode in which Mrs Troi appeared. 

But this is was not the end of Majel Barrett-Roddenberry's involvement with Star Trek. As I said earlier, my father informed me that she was the Computer. What I didn't understand at the time was that Majel Barrett-Roddenberry also voiced the ship's computer. Thanks to voicing the Computer, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry has been a part of every single Star Trek series produced, as well as the last five films, as well as a voice role on Family Guy. In an episode of The Next Generation, there is a scene in which she acted alongside herself, protraying Lwaxana Troi interacting with the Enterprise's computer.

Thanks to her marriage to Gene Roddenberry, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry became known as "The First Lady of Star Trek".

After the death of her husband, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry helped two other series he had written be produced, Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda and Earth: Final Conflict. Her final role was, perhaps predictably, voicing the Computer on Star Trek, J.J. Abrams reboot of the Trek Universe. Her part in the film was announced just 8 days before her death.

Four years ago yesterday, the news broke that she had passed away following a short battle with Leukemia.  She was surrounded with friends and family, including her son Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry Jr. 

Rest in Peace
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry

A couple of quotes that I absolutely love

That's the thing about Faith. If you don't have it, you can't understand

it. And if you do have it, no explanation is necessary. 

Kira Nerys, Ascension

There is no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes.

The Doctor, Robot

I'll admit that the part of me that is leaving will very miss the part 

of you that is staying.

G'Kar, Objects in Motion

And of course,

Live Long and Prosper

Spock & others, various.

2012 updates

Right, it's coming up on Christmas, so I thought I would do a blog to update you all on wonderful "old" me. Here it is, so enjoy.

First off, health updates. Since being put on a new medication who's name alludes me, I've had a lot less migraines (save for a couple last week). This makes me happy, since it means that I've spent a lot less time in pain and more time running around the Internet, looking for adventure and amusing sites - also, LOLcats. 

In other health news, I was due to go to the hospital for my annual check-up on the 10th. Unfortunately, Snow prevented this. We got as far as the Eldwick Moors near where I leave before Dad decided to turn around and, after a brief stop at Burger King, we went home instead. Fortunately, I'd not developed any new symptoms, and the appointment was put off until January. Should be interesting, to say the least.

On the Job front, I attended a Recruitment pitch for Call Centre work. I had been told it was an interview, but it wasn't. It also turned out to be commission based work, which is not something I'm looking for. Ultimately, they didn't call me back so it didn't matter, but I would've have taken the job had I been offered. So I've decied to cease continue looking until the New Year.

My birthday came as well. It was a very good birthday. As was traditional, I went up to Scotland the weekend before hand, and enjoyed Scottish banter, food and drinks (even if I was overcharged for the drinks part of that equation). My birthday night out was spent in Bradford, followed by a hasty return to Alex's house. I woke up feeling a little bit rough to say the least. Fortunately, by around 2pm, I had improved enough to enjoy food and Doctor Who dvds. 

That's really about all with this update. Return to your regular lives and I will probably update at some point in the New Year. Enjoy yourselves,.

Live Long and Prosper

My first blog as a 24 year old.

And I know, you're hoping for some words of wisdom or maturity that's associated with that age. Instead, HAVE A FREAKING LOOK AT THE TWEET JERI RYAN SENT ME!!!!!

This made my already brilliant birthday perfect!!

My journey up to Glasgow

It's 01:27, and I can't get to sleep. You know what that means... story time. 

This one, surprisingly, is once again set on a train journey up to Scotland. This is unusual for several reasons. One, that I was travelling by train. Usually I go up to Scotland with my friend Jeremy and his Dad, who drives us up, but this time I went alone, so I went up by train. Two, its unusual because unlike journeys before and afterwards, it was very much a spur of the moment decision to go up.

It was Kerri's birthday, and she asked me up or I invited myself up. I forget which. It's irrelevant to the story which. The fact was that I was going up, and that it was spur of the moment. Well, I say spur of the moment. It was actually made about a week before the day I was due to set off. Dad agreed to loan me the money for the ticket, which we booked online, and we were all set.

Cut to a week later, and the morning arrived. I'd packed the night before, including Kerri's present, and got up early in order to enjoy breakfast with Dad before I set off. I got to the station with plenty of time to spare before the train was due, in order to get the ticket. I put my debt card in and...

and the machine asked for a booking number.

A tiny bit of background. Last time I booked tickets online (chronicled here in fact), it didn't ask for one (which dates it). You just put your card in and the tickets came out, just like at the cinema. I was flabbergasted. Fortunately, I had time so I called Dad... who didn't answer. I tried him twice more before giving up and calling Jeremy. Luckily, he was in and so I asked him to log into my hotmail account, gave him my password and told him to give me my booking number. 

He read it off and I tried to input it.... repeatedly. The damn machine wouldn't react to my touch in the slightest. I'd managed to get it to read two or three digits before it would decide that my time was up and clear my efforts. By this time, the train had come in, so I was a little panicky and between you and me, when I panic, I get angry. I was about to thump the machine when I heard it. my boarding call followed by the beeping of the doors and then...

The train was gone.

Panic transformed into blind panic, so I called Oma. Dad happened to be there, and he appeared by my side a few minutes later, put the code in successfully the first time (bastard) and got my tickets before announcing he would drive me up to Carlisle. That was all there was to it. We were racing my train. I rang Kerri to let her know about the delay before relaxing a little and chatting with Dad.

We made very good time. Dad dropped me off and I asked a guard where the train up to Glasgow was. He pointed to one and I climbed aboard, secure in my knowledge that soon, I would be meeting up with Kerri and beginning my holiday in earnest. 

Of course, it was the wrong bloody train.

The doors closed and the train set off... back the way I'd just come. A second or so later, the driver announced we were on our way to London just as the Conductor appeared. I sheepishly admitted that I was on the wrong train and he gave me one of the most withering looks I've ever received, and I've gotten looks off some of the best. This guy was simply not impressed, and to show it, he took my ticket off me (bastard).

Fortunately for me, the train wasn't an express, and I headed off to Lancashire. The driver said we'd be there in about 20 minutes, but did not take into account the fact a train ahead of us broke down. Once again, I rang Kerri to let her know I'd be even later. By this point, she had to go to work, and practically begged her mother to pick me up when I finally arrived.

About an hour after boarding the train to London (and telling Jeremy I'd given up on Scotland and was headed to the Capital for the weekend instead), I arrived in Lancashire. Of course, I did the smart thing and called Dad to let him know. He promised to put some more money into my account, so I'd actually have something to spend in Scotland, before telling me to just buy a ticket and go have fun.

Thus calmed, I followed his advice and finally arrived in Scotland without further incident, until Kerri rang and told me to get a train to Cumbernauld. I was in Glasgow Central, and the trip involved going to another station in Glasgow. Initially I had no clue where this 'Queen Street' was, until she said 'Do you know where Forbidden Planet is?'

I have a Forbidden Planet sense. Once I've been to one, I will NEVER forget where it is and always be able to find my way back to it. Fortunately, we'd gone on a previous visit, so I knew exactly where it was and how to get there. I told her so, and she pointed me in the right direction. To cut the rest of the story short, I arrived at the station, Kerri's mum was there to meet me and after a quick stop off at Kerri's work place to let her know I was alive, I finally began my holiday in Scotland.

To put a little perspective into this tale, my original estimated time of arrival was about 1-ish in the afternoon. I got there at about 18:10pm. But the most important thing - I had fun. Her birthday was fun, we made and I painted the Solar System. Good times were had and that's the important thing.

Well, that and having a laugh at my expense.

Live long and prosper

My favourite Sci Fi Series

Continuing the theme of favourites (my last blog was about my favourite Doctor), I decided to write this entry instead of doing something sensible, like sleeping.

I am a massive Science Fiction fan. I watch Science Fiction on TV. I read Science Fiction novels. I write Science Fiction stories. Science Fiction is very much a big part of my life. I am a Trekker, Gater, Whovian, Browncoat and because I can't think of any more fan names, I also love Battlestar Galactica, Babylon 5, Fringe, Warehouse 13 and countless other Science Fiction series. I blame my parents. Had I been exposed to something "normal" at a young age, instead of Star Trek: The Next Generation, my life might have turned out very differently (in a bad way, I mean).

And yes, people also ask me what my favourite Science Fiction series is. Most assume its Doctor Who, because of the sheer amount I talk and write about it. Others assume that its any of the Star Treks, again because of how much I talk and write about it. I have MASSIVE figure collections from both franchises, as well as almost the entire line of Babylon 5 figures, a few dozen Star Wars figures, and merchandise from half a dozen franchise. To judge me based solely on my collections, though, is wrong. A lot of Series don't get much in the way of merchandise, and what they do get is WAY out of my price range. 

The truth will disappoint you all, save those who actually know.

I don't have a favourite series. 

Don't get me wrong, I watch Doctor Who and Star Trek a LOT, probably more so than any other series. I'm a walking encyclopedia about both series, as well as a couple of others I listed above, but that doesn't mean I'll always watch them though. What I watch is all dependant on one very important thing:

My Mood.

If I am in the mood, I will watch hours and hours of Star Trek: Voyager. Likewise, Peter Davison's adventures as the Fifth Doctor might take up a significant amount of my TV viewings. However, you're just as likely to catch me watching Babylon 5, Firefly, Stargate or anything else on that list. Or something, maybe even something that ISN'T science fiction, like Gilmore Girls (on really low so no one else can hear me watching it - it'll be our secret, internet blog) or something animated like Family Guy or South. 

And don't point out that I usually end my blog posts with a Star Trek quote, because if you look back, I used to end it with one from Battlestar Galactica. Like I said, it all comes down to whatever I am in the mood to watch. The examples I named aren't the only ones I watch. They're just the first ones that came to mind when I thought "what do I watch?"

Anyways, its time for me to sleep now, so please leave, kay. 

Live Long and Prosper

My Favourite Doctor

As what some would call a "die hard" Whovian (Doctor Who Fan), I get asked one question more than any other. "Who is your favourite Doctor?" Well, loyal readers, I will now answer that question.

It is an impossible question to answer. The Doctor in every single of his regenerations have brought something new to the character, but they've also built on what their predecessors left behind. I for one do not think the Ninth Doctor would've been as angry had it not been for the Sixth Doctor, just like the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors wouldn't play the clown without the Second Doctor. 

And to be honest, it's not the story of eleven different people. The Doctor is one man. Eleven personalities, each with their own habits and quirks, but ultimately they are one and the same. So when someone askes me "Who is your favourite Doctor?", I just smile and answer "The Doctor." Occasionally I will explain, as I have here, but most of the time, I just walk off and start talking to someone else.

Eleven faces, but one legend

And yes, before someone tries to be clever and asks the obvious question, I give a virtually identical answer for "Who is your favourite Master?". 

Live Long and Prosper!