Author: grasshopper

You Discover a New Star: it Needs a Name.

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The nights grow longer as November rears its sleepy head.

Both star studded images used in this graphic are amazing photographs by hubble/Nasa

Let’s say you own a telescope, and one chilly November evening, you are gazing at the night sky. As you shift to adjust your hoodie, you accidentally bump your telescope. It swings slightly downward. Shrugging, you lean forward and peer through it only to discover a celestial wonder previously unknown to humanity.
Heart pounding with excitement, you document and record your findings. You can’t feel Fall’s nippy grip anymore because your blood is pumping with the thrill of this discovery. Your hoodie suddenly feels stuffy, but you don’t care. You found a new star!
What kind of star is it? Is it a sun to another solar system? Could Vulcan lay just beyond its white glare? 
What are you going to name it? Why?
How old do you think it is? Was it with the universe at the very beginning of it all?
What does it look like?
My imaginary star is going to be named Mishiarendil–I won’t be the first person to name something after herself! I am a huge sucker for The Silmarillion and all things Tolkien, so I had to pay homage the elves’ most beloved star, Earendil! 

I want to know what you would name your star! 
Post your star’s name on Facebook or Twitter

I made a blank New Star Fun sheet for those who want to go into more detail!
Click the image to view full size.

Spook Yourself. Halloween is Coming.

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In just 7 days we will get to wear costumes in public without being judged for it. Want to be a badass Jedi? Do it. Craving to channel your inner witch, vampire, ghoul, or goblin? Do it. Beam us up, Scotty, because we are ready!

What are you going to be for Halloween? 
Share your awesome costume ideas on Facebook or Twitter!

The rules have changed at my work. I was told I could wear something as long as I am still in my uniform. You better believe I am going to push this to the limit! 😉 I haven’t made my final decision yet because, let’s face it, pushing the limit takes some serious brainstorming. I’m leaning towards some kind of steampunk cat (cat ears, a tiny top hat, and one of my gothic/western vests).

As for my characters, they don’t need to follow any rules!

From left to right: 
Jadelynn Jackson, Elly Reynolds, Major Pierson, and Aaron Winters*

Jadelynn: I found these adorable cat ears for only 5 credits! I don’t care what everyone at the office thinks! I’m still 12 years old at heart! *Takes selfie* 
Elly: I am the queen, and nobody can tell me otherwise. I wanted to be a witch again, but being the same thing two years in a row is lazy…Darn it. I love my witch hat!
Major Pierson: I hate you, Elly. I hate you. I hate you. This outfit is stupid. Why did I agree to this!? A jailbird!?  *Grabs a glass of whiskey* 
Aaron: … 
*Yes, that is Aaron as Thranduil. 

Selfies on Mars. What’s Next, Pluto?

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I’ve watched a lot of NASA and space exploration centric films lately (Apollo 13, Interstellar, and The Martian).

Original photo courtesy of Curiosity, the Mars rover

 Like every other person who probably saw The Martian, I immediately went to NASA’s website (well…I go there every day anyway to check out New Horizons, so this really isn’t altering my Internet habits any) and flooded myself with images of Mars and selfie obsessed robots.

Photo courtesy of NASA. 
Find all the images of Pluto you want here!

We live in an exciting era. We are on what I hope is a brink of a new age for humanity. I mean, we sent New Horizons to Pluto, and there is talk of a manned mission to Mars. Right now the possibilities of what we may discover are endless. I just hope we don’t mess it up before we can even cross the bridge of a new age…We humans tend to be greedy and warlike.

Until we know every last inch of our solar system and have sent a person to every viable planet, I will be daydreaming my own futuristic societies and writing science fiction. Until then, I will also devour every decent sci-fi book I can get my hands on!

If you could go to any planet, which one would it be?
My answer is obvious: Pluto!

In other news, I’ve finally gotten myself a smartphone. Yes, ladies and gents, I am just now jumping into the 21st century as far as telecommunications is concerned. A combination of my hard-headed defiance, “They are too big!” and realistic “I don’t have the money.” were the factors in my tardiness for joining the rest of the world.

Shocking! Space and Buzz Aldrin on the moon? I surprise myself. 

Glory, Pride, and the Maiden Vain: Part 4

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DrĂĄiden’s love is missing! He’s tried everything to get her back, but it is as if she’s vanished into thin air. When she is dragged before him, beaten and bruised, he will stop at nothing to make the elves pay. Little does he know that not everything is as it seems.

Part I:  Luthandra Raikin
Part II:  DrĂĄiden Kaldor
Part III: Elven Tidings

Part IV: The Sham

Three days. It had been three days since Luthandra had gone missing. Dráiden folded his arms across his chest as he leaned forward in his throne. He had no idea what the master of the Blacksmith’s Guild was meandering on and on about. Her maid, Braynia, claimed innocence and ignorance of the disappearance, but he had her locked up anyway.
His groom was interrogating her in the dungeon below at this very moment. I cannot lose the only one who ever treated me with respect. I just…I can’t. He wanted the family that was his birthright. He wanted at least seven children, and he wanted to live to see–
“My lord?” The blacksmith asked, clearing his throat as though he had just repeated himself.
“Yes, yes,” he replied. DrĂĄiden rose and waved his hand. “Proceed.”
“The Blackmsith’s Guild thanks you.” Before the man could bow, Dráiden was already descending the steps of his dais and heading out the side door. The interrogation was more important. If anyone get get someone to talk, it was Preston.
The grey stone walls of his castle were a blur as he hurried down the dark steps that would take him to the place he was loathe to admit he had. The air felt cooler as he continued his descent. A shriek echoed against the stone walls when he snaked around a corner.
The warden posted at the dungeon’s black doors opened them when he saw his lord approaching.
“I saw an elf!” came a wild scream. “Before I went to bed! That’s the only-” Something wet thudded against something soft. Dráiden marched past the rows of cells leading to The Iron Door. The two prisoners locked inside cried out to him in desperation, groping at him with feeble arms.
He did not hear them.
Candlelight flickered through the tiny slit of a window in The Iron Door. No rose petals ever adorned the dreadful room which it guarded.
“I’d never hurt her! She’s my friend!” Dráiden pushed the heavy thing open. The woman was laying on a blood stained table. His groom was folding a soiled cloth with his back turned.
“Please. Help!” The woman arched her back, struggling against the iron bands that secured her limbs to the table. “I swear it. I would never hurt her! It wasn’t me! I SWEAR!” Bruises adorned her otherwise homely face. Splotches of blood marred her not-so-white chemise.
“She speaks the truth,” he hissed. “Release her.” He knew a lie when he heard one. No one could stand Preston’s games for long.
“I was just about to finish up with the same conclusion,” Preston purred, wiping his hands on his cloth. “The elf…that’s the bit that makes me nervous,”  he licked his lips with a twitchy frown.
“We live no where near Avanduil’s kingdom,” DrĂĄiden sighed. “King Ciallmhar of Alainn is many things, but,” he muttered and suppressed the urge to shiver. “I will send a bird.”  DrĂĄiden paced the space between the table and his groom. He wiggled his nose at the stale stench wafting throughout the room. “It would behoove him to look into the matter, as we are neighbors.”
“Yes, sir. I shall have one sent at once.” He flopped the rag onto the table as Braynia whimpered.
“Get that cleaned up and send her to my beloved quarters first,” Dráiden scowled.
…
Five days.
Five days had passed, and not a word, a sign, or a bird…Nothing.
Sleep had escaped him, and he was gripping Arrowheart’s hilt, tempted to slide her out and destroy the balcony in front of him. It’s as if she’s vanished by some wizard’s trick. It all screamed elf magic to him, but Ciallmhar was not the type to instigate trouble. The elves kept to themselves when they weren’t trading with the neighboring lands.
A door swung open behind him, slamming against something hard.
“My Lord!” Preston cried. “Your betrothed! She has returned!” DrĂĄiden spun around and ran past his groom. “Dark tidings…dark tidings are ahead.” Presten scurried in front of him, leading him to the throne room.
Luthandra trembled on her knees as two wardens struggled to grab her arms and stand her upright. Sobs escaped his beautiful bride’s face. When the wardens managed to get the woman to her feet, Dráiden froze.
The blood burning beneath his skin churned, and it was as if Winter had come screaming at him in a violent whirlwind of ice and snow. Purple bruises lined her skin. Dried blood caked her mouth and nose. Her chemise was nothing but brown rags, barely providing any modesty. DrĂĄiden tore his cloak off.
Preston grabbed it and wrapped it around her shoulders. She shrank away from him, whimpering like her maid.
“My love,” Dráiden croaked, shooing Preston away with a wave of his hand. He neared her in three gentle strides, cupping her chin. A grotesque bruise marred her left eye. “My love,” he rasped again.
“The…the…” she wheezed, lowering her face. Shame dripped from the sorrowful expression in her eyes. DrĂĄiden winced and scooped the light thing up in his arms.
“Get my healer!” he cried. “No one enters her quarters except Preston!”
…
Preston hovered over her with a mug of hot tea in his right hand. Dráiden had kicked the healer out as soon as Luthandra’s wounds had been tended to.
“My sweet,” he croaked, holding her weak hand. A bandage had been placed over her left eye. “Your wounds, as fate has blessed you, will heal. You will be beautiful in a few weeks time.”
His eyes washed over her face, and he leaned over her to stroke her cheek with his other hand. She shied away from him with a grunt, turning her face away.
“They…they,” she whispered. “I was taken. Raped,” she shuddered. “Beaten.” Preston arched an eyebrow and set the mug on the table beside her bed.
“Who?” Dráiden asked. “Who did this to you? How?”
“Elves. They took me with their magic in the night and…and.” The woman shuddered again and sat up. She buried her face into her hands. Sobs raked her form. Preston neared him.
“King Ciallmhar won’t know what hit him,” Draidon hissed, rising.
“My lord,” Preston whispered. “Perhaps we should wait a few days. Traumatic experiences warp one’s view-”
“CIALLMHAR’S ELVES DID THIS!” He clenched his fists. “And for that, the Kingdom of Alainn will know what it means to waken a Kaldor.” he thrust his arm out and pointed at the window. “Summon the wardens.”
“My lord if I may protest. We need more information. Perhaps her maid can question her about-”
“She is to be the Lady of Westridge! Undermine me again, Preston, and you’ll be the subject of one of your interrogations.”
The groom blanched, but he bowed. “I’ll summon them.”

“We ride tonight.”

Warning! Strange Glittertastic Content

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What’s on your warning label?

Are you made of blunt content? Does your warning sign scream creativity? Do you spiral out of control with awesomeness? Warning labels are everywhere. They live on cleaning supplies, construction sites, equipment…you name it. I once spotted a home-made one that said “Warning: Death will Occur!” Well, at least it wasn’t in comic sans.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if we each came with our own warning patch sewn on our sleeves?  You’d immediately know if someone is made of the same brand of awesome as you are.

Strange
I enjoy science fiction and all most things weird. I cosplay, collect action figures and memorabilia, and am not shy about my interests. Strange new worlds are things I like to theorize about and weave tales through.

Glittertastic
Cats, memes, and fabulous, oh my! I can’t help but enjoy a certain corner of the Internet. Who would have thought that it would evolve into the random entity of hilarity that it is today!

I’m pretty sure I should come with at least a dozen warning labels, but for brevity’s sake, I’m going with strange and glittertastic!

Create your own warning label and post it on Facebook or Twitter!
Click on the image for full size, right click, and then save. Use your favorite photo editing program to insert your brand of awesomeness!

Coming Soon
Star Trek TOS cosplay uniform review
Glory, Pride, and the Maiden Vain Part IV: The Sham