Author: grasshopper

Geek Out Your Living Space

Posted on by in Geeky Sunday, Psi Corps

And it’s time for another fun filled prompt from Seriously Geeky Sundays! This week’s questions are near and dear to my heart. I have always filled my dwellings with posters, banners, and action figures of my favorite shows and movies.

31st January – Decorate

We’ve come to the final week of the Adorn, Decorate and Embellish three-month theme. It’s Inspire Your Heart With Art Day today which is the perfect day to explore the topic of decorating in relation to fandoms and being a geek.

Do you decorate your home with geeky products?

Oh yes. So much yes. I’ll focus on areas of the house that I don’t think I regularly post photos of. I mean, I’ve posted Club High Castle many times! I’m going to let other places share the spotlight today.

For starters, let me talk about the stairs and our hallway. We’ve got space posters along the stairwell. As you go up the stairs, you are greeted with banners from House Stark and Targaryen. House Lannister appears when you turn into the hallway itself. At the end of that same hallway, I have a signed High Castle poster from Season 2 that I won in 2016 and a Star Trek poster a friend gave me.  

  • Our mini Nasa corner in the living room
  • GOT in the hallway
  • Assortment of things near my desk
  • End of the hallway
Do you own any posters or fanart prints? If no, what ones would you like to buy?

Do your own fanart prints count? Because I have at least two posters that were made from my own drawings. It’s one of the advantages of being an artist. If you want it, you can draw it right then and there. 

A print of one of my own drawings hangs in the hallway.
‘Have you ever commissioned an artist?’ and/or ‘Which artist/s would you like to commission work from?’

No, but only because I am an artist. I have had people commission me in the past for digital art and paintings. It’s so much fun and a nice fall back for periods of office closures and whatnot. As much as I enjoy it, I always get nervous right before I send the piece. My mind automatically goes into full THEY WILL HATE IT AND TELL THE INTERNET mode. 

 If I were to commission an artist, it would be a carpenter to help me build an awesome, vintage meets High Castle home office. I want to commission a seamstress/tailor for a few things for my WWII French Resistance impression. I can make armbands, but clothes are another matter! 

What character’s home/room gives you DIY envy?

Every single room and set from the Man in the High Castle, but that goes without saying, so I’ll pick something different. 

This is technically not a character, but I would LOVE to build an add-on to my house that looks exactly like Walt Disney’s apartment in Disneyland. I love that turn of the century look, and to be able to just disappear for a while would be fun. 

The main character of the last fandom you enjoyed is giving your room a make-over; what does it now look like?

We’ve been watching a lot of serial killer and crime documentaries, so I’m going to go with our weekly Wednesday dose of The Expanse from Amazon, and HELL YES! I pick Draper and Alex to redecorate my room to look like a badass Martian war room/apartment in all of MCRN’s glory, complete with my very own uniform. If it was up to me, Mars would rule the galaxy. 

If you could decorate a room in the style of a fictional place what would it be?

Besides High Castle (because y’all know I’m going to pick that), I’ll go with Star Trek: The Original Series. I absolutely adore post-modern depictions of the future.

Mad Max: Love and Thunder

Posted on by in Geeky Sunday

It’s time for another fun filled adventure with Seriously Geeky Sundays! This time we are heading done under for a look at Australia!

24th January – Around the World in 8 Sundays [Australia]

The 26th January is Australia Day, the national day of Australia which marks the anniversary of the first fleet of British ships to land at Sydney Cove in 1788. Despite being a national day, it does reflect a controversial point of history and is also referred to as Invasion Day. I recommend learning more about it here.

I’ve chosen this day for this month’s Around the World in 8 Sundays topic because history isn’t simple. It is controversial, and contemporary celebrations for Australia Day have worked to encompass every aspect of Australian culture. This seemed the ideal way to introduce a discussion about the pop culture of the continent of Australia.

What is your favourite fandom set in Australia?

Mad Max: Fury Road is one of my all time favorite movies. I wrote a review which goes into detail: All Shiny and Chrome

Who is your favourite character from the continent of Australia?

Imperator Furiosa – She was jam packed with badassery, not to mention she was a great heroine! I am so glad they didn’t throw her into a pointless love plot (one of the MANY reasons I love that movie!).

Do you have any favourite authors/entertainers/celebrities from this continent?

Chris Hemsworth – The one and only THOR. On the topic of Thor, here’s my ranking of Thor movies (not Avengers):

  1. Thor
  2. Thor: Ragnarok
  3. Thor: The Dark World

If things ever get back to normal, I want to see Thor: Love and Thunder.

Thinking of Australia’s diverse history, which part would you like to see featured in a fandom?

I’d like to see (or read) something that covers the era leading up to British colonization.

Although there is a thriving Australian and New Zealand entertainment industry very few productions are picked up outside this continent. What are your thoughts on this?

I haven’t seen enough Australian shows to provide an educated answer for this. Would I like to see more movies? Hell yes. For starters, you’ve got the Lord of the Rings Trilogy filmed in New Zealand, and not to mention Mad Max!

You’ve been given a chance to set a scene for a fandom of your choice in Australia; do you pick the outback or an urban location?

I am going to be super cliche and pick the outback, ha ha! This is dreaming, but I’d like to see an episode of Babylon 5 set in the outback where Alfred Bester is tracking a powerful rogue telepath.

And can we get a Mad Max/Thor crossover set in the Outback? Because I’d totally pay to see that!

SGS Double Header

Posted on by in Geeky Sunday

Hello, everyone! It’s time for a Seriously Geeky Sunday double header! Let’s do this thing, here we go!

10th January – New year, new… fandoms?

Forget new year’s resolutions; new fandoms is what the new year is really all about! We all had high hopes for how 2021 was going to start out, and while we can’t control that we can look forward to what’s coming out in the entertainment world.

Let’s start big; what release are you most looking forward to this year?

I must confess that I have not been keeping up with upcoming releases. Most of the shows I’ve been looking forward to were affected by the pandemic. With that being said, future episodes of The Expanse. I am so glad they are airing them weekly! 

What new release this year are you not that hyped up about?

I honestly don’t know. There really isn’t anything coming out on a subscription service I have that I’m actively dreading (ha ha!). I don’t give shows I don’t enjoy the time of day.

A new year often means new characters, what upcoming character are you looking forward to meeting?

Soldier Boy from The Boys! the show is so damn good, I cannot wait to see how they write him. His costume, and everything about him!

Tell us about something that has been on your backlog/to-do list for a while that you’re going to try to get to this year.

I plan to read the airport book I got just before the pandemic hit, We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (I’d been holding off in hopes of a return to normalcy so that I could read it during my travels, but alas!).

Thinking of a fandom you follow regularly, what event or moment (big or small) do you hope happens this year?

Almost ANY event at this point! Another The Man in The High Castle Field Team 6 evening of zoom would be nice. I had so much fun during the last one.

In the spirit of resolutions, do you have any geeky ones?

I do! I hope to get back to drawing as much as I did in 2019, most of which featured fanart. 

17th January – The one with friends

To everyone who hoped this was going to be inspired by the TV show Friends, sorry! I just couldn’t resist the pun Tomorrow is known as Winnie the Pooh Day, celebrating author A.A. Milne and his stories. One of the core components of those stories was Winnie and his friends, so today is all about friendships in fandoms.

In the last fandom you enjoyed, what was your favourite friendship?

I’m currently watching serial killer documentaries (let’s just skip those, ha ha!) and also the latest season of The Expanse. One of the friendships I am loving this season is Draper and Alex. They make a great team while also being hilarious. I am always thrilled when it is one of their scenes. 

Which character/s would you like to be best friends with?

Now this is a tough one! *Glances up at Bester posters on wall* Maybe not. Alfred Bester would make a loyal friend (as long as you’re in the Psi Corps that is!). He’s got charisma, wit, and badass telepathic powers. He is one of the most well written and complex characters I’ve ever seen. He likes to talk (and I am quiet), so I feel like we’d make a great team. I am sure he has some crazy stories. He’s also got a unique perspective on the inner workings of various organizations, EarthForce, EarthGov, Mars, and etc. I’d love to listen his thoughts (no pun intended!) on current events. 

What fictional friendship has stood the test of time in your eyes?

Sam and Frodo <3 from The Lord of the Rings triology

Reimagine a group of fictional friends as Winnie and friends; who is Piglet, Tigger or Eyeore?

Winnie the Pooh: Deep Space Nine edition!

  • Winnie the Pooh – Morn
  • Piglet – Rom
  • Tigger – Dukat (I mean, he loves to show off…lol!)
  • Eyeore – Odo
Sometimes friendships don’t last; which fictional friendship do you miss?

Juliana and Joe from The Man in the High Castle. Prior to Season 3, they complemented each other, and I’d love to see more of that. 

Weyoun and Dukat’s frenemy relationship from Deep Space Nine. I mean Dukat is the most egotistical character ever, and Weyoun is stuck with him. 

Pick a fandom where the main cast is made up of teenagers/young adults and reimagine them in a Friends-esque sitcom. Who’s living together? Who dated who? Etc.

I’ll do the Hunger Games!

  • Roomates: 
    • Peeta and Heymitch
    • Prime and Rue
    • Katniss, Effie, and Tigris (this would be hilarious)
    • Snow and Gale 
  • Dated
    • Gale/Effie (This would entertaining to watch)
    • Gale/Mrs. Mellark (A match made in heaven)
    • Katniss/Peeta (I HAD to add them!)
    • Heymitch/Seneca Crane
  • That one weird friend who always shows up and instigates shenanigans:
    • Tigris

Welcome to 2021!

Posted on by in High Castle, News

I updated the look of a few things and hid some Easter eggs in Club High Castle for everyone 😉 Expect more Easter eggs and things in the future! http://blog.mlcartthings.me/ #HighCastle
– Originally tweeted by Ms. Luna (@MishiWan) on January 1, 2021.

Let’s dive right in, shall we? My one goal for 2020 was to start writing again, and considering I could barely force a sentence out between 2018 and 2019, mission accomplished. It took me a few months to write more than just a few words, but I did it! Next step is to actually finish a novel. 

2021 goals

Drawing – 2020 put a damper on my art. Ask me one year ago today how I thought 2020 would go, and COVID-19 was not it. I made 90 posts on Instagram (which means roughly 90 pieces of art) compared to over 200 in 2019. It’s time to change that.

I have some awesome ideas for this year! Grasshoppers, keep your eyes peeled because I have AN EPIC HIGH CASTLE project in the works. 

Work Out – Hear me out! Don’t roll your eyes just yet! I’ll have you know that this is the first time I’ve ever listed this as a goal. I’m not going to kid myself with this one because there is a slim chance I’ll do it, but I want to at least try. Little did I realize that I got 90% of my physical activity done at work …and I type this as I feel like I’m coming down with a cold (physical activity is the last thing I want to do right now). 

WWII French Resistance –  I’ve wanted to get into reenacting for some time, and a friend on Instagram suggested I do the French resistance. This idea is PERFECT for me. It leaves a lot of room for creativity and ingenuity, and besides, I might do a few in a certain, alt world 😉

Homemade armband! More to come.

Finish Alice (or Metropolis) – Now that I’ve finally been able to crack open my creative mind again, I want to finish something. However, writing a story in recent years has become a trip through a proverbial minefield, lest someone rake you through the coals for an excerpt taken out of context (that was part of my problem in 2018 and 2019). You can write all the disclaimers in the world, but it can still happen (and why do we even have to write them now? It used to be a given: Bad things happen in fiction, and we know the author obviously doesn’t support them.). As long as I put that out of my mind, the creativity will flow.

2020 Grasshopper Awards

Posted on by in Grasshopper Nation, News

I decided to do something fun to celebrate the end of the year. Despite the train wreck that has been 2020, there were a few good things to come out of it, and so I wanted to host my own award show–blog post! 

I will add more categories in 2021. If there is a category you’d like to see, let me know! This is the first of hopefully many.

Welcome to the Inaugural Grasshopper Awards!

Best Discovery – Awarded to a show, blog, podcast, or other media that I came upon and enjoyed.

Best Book – Awarded to my favorite read of the year.

Best Vintage Find – Because of High Castle, I am a huge fan of things from the 40s and 50s. This award goes out to my favorite vintage find of the year.

Best Wardrobe Find – Awarded to a company or person that exceeded expectations, including being budget friendly.

Best Discovery

I am forever grateful to @Mr_Picard on Twitter for spreading the word about this one. The moment I saw that these two gents were dedicated to talking about WWII through film (they just wrapped up 1939!), I was hooked.  

Best Discovery of 2020 goes out to Dan and Simon from FOXHOLE COMPANION! 

Thank you for hours of entertainment! Here’s to 20201!

Best Book

There are a lot of angles to consider for this category. Books are highly subjective, and I didn’t read as much as I do in normal years. I am an avid fan of picking up books at airports. You find some gems hidden among the key chains, snacks, and toiletries. I picked up one airport book days before this started, yes, days. I have yet to crack that one open. Shame on me, I know. Here’s to reading it in 2021!

I decided to give this award to the book I’ve read multiple times this year (I mean, that in itself tells you how much I liked it!). It is not an airport gem, but one I pre-ordered two days before its release in the spur of the moment. I am glad I gave in to my rashness, for the winner of Best Book is The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Thank you, Suzanne Collins! This book got me through this insane year. 

Best Vintage Find

I have a tiny collection of antiques I’ve acquired since being captivated by the best show ever made. I’ll give you one guess as to which show that is ;).

I discovered a new way to acquire beautiful things. I am decades late to the Ebay party, but here I am. Through it, I’ve snagged some amazing props from High Castle that I will forever cherish. If you follow me on Instagram and Twitter, you know all about Club High Castle.

The winner of Best Vintage Find technically isn’t vintage, but I’m counting it regardless. Props count. And choosing a winner was difficult, but in the end, I chose The Man In the High Castle: SDCC promo Premiere Ticket.

  • High Castle SDCC Front
  • High Castle SDCC Back

I got it for a great price (I could not pass it up), and I continue to be captivated by it. It really makes one feel like they are about to enter another world. I love the creative lengths the promo team went to make it look vintage. 

Best Wardrobe Find

This goes out to a talented shop on Esty. They make custom vintage style dresses in a multitude of colors and styles. I ordered one this year, and they found the exact color I wanted, not to mention that their pricing is great for the quality, custom fitted dress you get in return!

Best Wardrobe Find goes to heartmycloset!

Pictures don’t do it justice

That’s a wrap! Thank you for joining me! Remember, If you want to see a new category for next year, please let me know!