Author: grasshopper

SGS: Galaxy Adventures!

Posted on by in About Queen Grasshopper, Geeky Sunday
Apollo 11 launch – Photo by NASA

Today’s prompt is near and dear to my heart. I have always been fascinated by space. Fifteen year old Queen Grasshopper’s room was plastered with Nasa posters, one of which, I still have to this day (I’ve been meaning to frame it after all these years). My ceiling was covered in glow in the dark stars, and I’d lay in bed just gazing at them.

Would I ever go to space?
Would there be a colony on the moon by the time I was 40?
Would we go to Mars?

July 19th – Galaxy Adventures

Tomorrow is National Moon Day, the anniversary of when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. It’s a day in our history when our world got that bit bigger and that means it’s time to talk about adventures in Galaxies Far Far Away.

What is your favourite sci-fi fandom?

Sci-Fi fandoms can be wonderful, and they can also be hard–I mean it is only natural that a group of passionate people have their differences! This is a tough question because I’ve made so many lifelong friends through the various sci-fi fandoms that I’ve been a part of over the years. 

I have traded gifts with friends (most of whom are on the other side of the pond 😉 ). I’m always on the look out for gifts to send to a select few during my travels, but 2020 has thrown a wrench into that for now. I look forward to the day I can peruse a gift shop in some far away state!

Through fandoms, I’ve laughed, I’ve created art, I’ve had arguments (I mean..who hasn’t?), and I’ve been introduced to new ways of thinking–opening up my mind to become the kind person that I am today. 

So in answer to this question, I’ll look back at the good times and name my top three.

1. High Castle
2. Star Trek 
3. Babylon 5 Psi Corps/Bester fandom

Runner up
Star Wars – many fond memories of my teens and early twenties of creating stories with my friends and doing group cosplays on Halloween. I still have the Jedi costume that was tailor made for me!

What is your favourite fictional planet?

The Martian Congressional Republic
Mars from The Expanse – I love how militaristic they are. I love how their society is one of do what’s best for everyone; in other words, Group Think. They are fascinating to me and I love any and every shot of Mars in that show! I look forward to seeing how the events of the show play out for them. I’m a little worried, ha ha!

Who is your favourite alien character?

This is impossible to pick just one, so I’ll name a few.

  • Weyoun from Star Trek: DS9
  • The alien queen from Alien
  • The predator from Predator
  • Kira from Star Trek: DS9
What is your favourite alien species?

This should come as no surprise to those who follow me: Vorta and Romulans. They’re sneaky, cunning, conniving, and attractive. 😉

What alien creature would you like to have as a pet?

Tribbles: they are cute, fluffy, and purr. Need I say more?

My family of tribbles
What is the most visually stunning alien landscape you’ve seen in a fandom?

I’ll have to go with any landscape involving the protomolecule from The Expanse. I love the glowing blue tones and the orbs; everything is so eerie yet beautiful. I love it!

SGS: Summer!

Posted on by in Geeky Sunday

Summer has always been my favorite season! I love the warm weather, the sunshine, and of course, beaches. It’s not like I paint them or anything 😉

July 12th – Summer Time

It’s summertime in the western hemisphere so this week we’re thinking about the warmer time of year and tropical climates.

What is your favourite summer movie?

Mad Max: Fury Road – Yes, it’s a summer movie in my book, the most badass summer movie ever created! I remember when I saw it in theatres. I felt like it was written specifically for me because it had everything I ever wanted in a post apocalyptic world: crazy warriors decked out in bizarre armor, check. Insane vehicles with metal armor and weapons, check. Fast paced sequences with an action packed soundtrack, check.

I mean, check out the Doof Wagon in all its glory complete with metal riffs that shoot flames. 

What is your favourite summer scene/moment from a fandom? This could be something specific to hot weather i.e. trip to the beach or a holiday/road trip, or something that happened during the summertime.

The entire Black Panther movie because there are too many amazing scenes (and beautiful sets) to choose from! It’s one of my favorite MCU films.

What is your favourite fictional tropical location?

This is like picking my favorite cake…can I have all of them? 

I truly enjoy the art of anime beaches. They’re always so beautiful, sparkling, and the animators know how to capture the essence of tropical paradise. It’s been a long time since I’ve watched anime, so I am racking my brain (and google) for specific scenes I remember, but I’m coming up short. 

I just love the way water looks in animation, and this has inspired me to attempt to do some digital beaches in the near future.

On a side note, searching “anime beach” brings up stuff that I don’t want to put on my blog, ha ha, so sadly, I don’t have a screencap. You can google anime beaches at your own peril. 😉

If you could go on holiday to any fictional place where would it be?

Risa in Star Trek Online, especially their summer event (I probably missed it this year). It’s so much fun to explore, and you can fly around in a jet pack!

Which fictional characters would you choose for a road trip?

Bester, The Smiths, Katniss & Peeta, and Loki!

Pick a fandom and create an ice cream flavour based on it!

My first instinct is Neapolitan for The Man in the High Castle, but since we get to create a flavor, let me break out my sketch book!

Die Nebenwelt Swirl

Enjoy a refreshing vanilla treat with swirls of blueberry flavor! It is a must have while visiting Die Nebenweltland!

SGS: What’s Your Cup of Coffee?

Posted on by in #FanCastleSunday, Geeky Sunday, High Castle

Today’s prompt was a labyrinth of discovering scenes I enjoy in a genre that is not my cup of coffee. Thank you, Heather, for this exercise in critical thinking! I tend to forgo romance in fiction for something else (almost anything else, which shows you just how much it isn’t my flavor!). 

Seriously Geeky Sunday is brought to you by the creative Heather at geeking-by.net!

July 5th – Romance is in the air

July 6th is International Kissing Day so today we’re diving into the world romance this week.

Who is your favourite couple?

John/Helen from The Man in the High Castle

What is your favourite romantic scene?

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, romance is not my cup of coffee. When I know a long, drawn out romantic scene is coming, my first instinct is to skip it because I’d rather have 5 minutes of plot than 5 minutes of nothing (it’s just boring to me; there is no other way to put it 😉 ). 

However, there are rare times when I appreciate these sorts of scenes, and Ed/Jack in The Man in the High Castle is one of those times. I was happy Ed found someone and could be happy in that world. He was the nicest character (along with Thomas) and deserved nothing but the best and to live out the rest of his days with Jack in peace. 

What is the perfect fictional place for a romantic date?

Since Disneyland isn’t fictional, I’m going to have to put my thinking cap on. 

It would have to be exploring Westeros on the backs of dragons from Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin. Imagine the wind against your face as you laugh with your significant other, soaring through the air. You gaze down at Riverrun and Winterfell as the air grows colder, but your blood is fire, and you don’t feel it. You eventually make your way to The Wall and cross over beyond it. The pair of you find a forgotten field, blanketed with snow and let loose dragonfire. 

Soaring over the East coast during the Great Polar Vortex of 2018
Some romantic scenes are adorable, and then some are just plain awkward. What’s the most awkward scene you can recall?

99% of them are awkward. I’ll have to go with any time Gale tries to hit on Katniss in the Hunger Games trilogy. He is the stereotypical “nice guy,” and it’s just creepy. It is obvious she feels she has to kiss him because of it. I’m going to prove my point by this excerpt…I mean, look WHEN he decides to pull his creepy “nice guy” stunt.

What is your favourite wedding scene?

We skipped most of the Pam/Jim wedding episode in the Office if that provides a hint of things…none of them? 😉 Okay, okay, I’ll play nice! I have literally been sitting here for ten minutes trying to think of one. It’s time to write my own.

Pick a fandom and play kiss/marry/avoid!

Now this is a fun one! I feel like I’m young again! And thank you, Heather, for changing the last one to avoid. 

I’ll pick Babylon 5

  • Kiss – Psi Cop from that fun Psi Corps commercial
  • Marry – Bester (this should not surprise anyone)
  • Avoid – Sheridan

SGS: The World of Tomorrow!

Posted on by in Geeky Sunday

It’s time for another Seriously Geeky Sunday brought to you by the creative Heather at geeking-by.net!

Today’s prompt was so much fun to dig into because Retro Futurism is one of my all time favorite aesthetics. Kid me’s vision of 2020 would have looked like a mixture of this with flying cars:

June 28th – Technology

June 23rd is Alan Turing’s birthday, and Turing was a British computer scientist who developed the Enigma machine during World War II. His work in computer science was groundbreaking and he theorised about artificial intelligence. Today we’re thinking about technology in fictional worlds:

What is the weirdest fictional technology item you’ve seen?

The stove pipe reporter’s hat from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

What is the most disastrous technological innovation?

Single use plastics like packaging, beer pong cups, and shampoo containers. I feel like they’ve made us lazy, and when we’re done with them, we just throw them away without a second thought. They’re piling up with no end in sight.

I hope they come up with a biodegradable alternative soon, I mean the year is 2020, but then again the year is 2020

The other disastrous innovation(s) is weapons of mass destruction. I don’t need to go too deep into that one for obvious reasons. 

Who is your favourite robot/droid?

Data – Not only is he a walking computer with all the intelligence the universe has to offer, but he is kind, friendly, and has a deeply human side. It made me so happy when Q gave him the gift of laughter for saving his life. 

What fictional futuristic item do you think will become real one day?

Starships – SpaceX is developing one this very moment! 

What futuristic vehicle would you love to take for a ride?

A flying car.

I’ve been fascinated with them ever since I can remember. I used to hope that the year 2000 would bring us flying cars, but it’s 2020, and I don’t see it happening anytime soon. 

I am pleased that they are working on self driving cars! I’ll settle for that. 

If you could have any character/celebrity be the personality for a supercomputer, who would it be?

Data from TNG because he wouldn’t play pranks or get snarky (let’s just say that the supercomputer would be smashed to bits if it played pranks on me or got an attitude….lol).

A Trip Down 90s Lane

Posted on by in About Queen Grasshopper

I’d like to thank Heather of Just Geeking By and The Bizzaro Mage of Winst0lf Portal for tagging me in this challenge!

I am forever stuck in the 90s. I listen to the NuMetal of the late 90s and early 2000s like it was yesterday. I still have a few things I wore in high school. I was fully into the grunge, camouflage, and pseudo 60s fashion of that era. Come to think of it, I know I have my peace sign necklace and earrings somewhere.

Let’s get to it! 

Favourite TV Show

There were so many shows I loved back then, but I have to go with Sabrina the Teenage Witch. TGIF was something I looked forward to every week because it meant Sabrina was on. What is there not to love about a teenage girl with powers and a talking black cat?

Favourite ’90s Song

This is another tough one, and I get the feeling that this is going to be a theme for me because 90s = awesome. I’ll have to single out a song based on one that I was obsessed with and listened to all the time–more so than any other song. *Puts on thinking cap.*

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After much deliberation in the labyrinth that is my mind, I’ll have to go with The Macarena because of the amount of times I danced to it and how overly enthusiastic I was about teaching it to others. One of my best friends got a tape with every last remake, cover, and edition of it. We spent forever listening to it and doing that dance over and over again!

Favourite Commercial/Advert

I loved anything involving nerf guns and water guns!

Here is a great list of them. I had almost forgotten about Miss Cleo!

NSYNC or Backstreet Boys?

Backstreet Boys all the way. I collected all of those Teen Bop magazines with them in it, had posters, bought all of their CDs, and you name it! If it had to do with BSB, I probably had it.

Favourite Music Artist

There is no possible way I can pick just one! Instead, I’ll list my top 10:

  1. Backstreet Boys
  2. Destiny’s Child
  3. The Spice Girls
  4. Coolio
  5. Tupac
  6. Usher
  7. Brandy
  8. Britney Spears
  9. Alanis Morrisett
  10. Michael Jackson
Did You Collect Anything Back Then and What Did You Collect?
  • Pogs
  • Polly Pockets
  • Coins
  • Anything involving the Lion King
  • Anything with camouflage on it
  • Football and baseball cards
  • Keychains (I still have them!)
How Many Tamagotchis Did You Go Through?

I honestly can’t remember! I’d keep it in my lap at school and check it under my desk, ha ha! I remember this one kid was fascinated by it. He’d always ask how it was doing and wanted see me feed it (I’d also save a turd or two for him to ‘flush’).

Favourite Video Game and Console?

Golden Eye on Nintendo 64.
There were many afternoons spent at my friends’ house playing it and getting mad at her oldest brother for cheating. 😉

Favourite Cereal/Free Cereal Toy?

I’m going to have to go with Cracker Jack toys because we only ever had Cheerios or Raisin Bran, and they didn’t typically come with toys, which is why I loved Cracker Jack boxes.

Who Was Your ’90s Crush Growing Up?

Ace Ventura and Nick Carter were the main ones.

What Was Your Favourite Disney Channel Movie?

We never got the Disney Channel, but I loved ABC’s Wonderful World of Disney night (Sundays). There was no excitement like gathering around the TV and watching Tinker Bell spread her sparkling magic over the castle!
It was Disney time. 

Favourite Show? (Disney, Nick, Cartoon Network)?

We didn’t get any of those channels. If we’re picking cartoons, The Simpsons by far! I think every kid in the 90s wanted to be Bart Simpson.

Weirdest Fashion Trend

Platform sneakers or combat boots with baby doll dresses.  

Disney, Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network?

We did not get these channels, but if I had to pick, Disney.

What Early Morning/Weekend TV Shows Would You Watch?

Inspector Gadget was serious business. We’d get up super early before school to watch it and CHiPS (yes, CHiPS). We had to have our dose of Go Go Gadget Copter! and motorcycles.

Favourite McDonalds Happy Meal Toy?

Yet another hard question! I honestly don’t know! I’ve been racking my brain trying to remember any one toy that stood out from the rest.

 Going to McDonald’s was a treat. You went for the Happy Meal with its burger, fries, soda, and toy! Playing with the toys was of most importance to us kids, so much so that our mother would ensure we finished our burgers and fries first 😉

Favourite Book

The babysitter’s club series. We even made our own babysitting club and watched the younger neighborhood kids. 

What Would You Watch When You Got Home From School?
  • Out of This World
  • Square One (PBS). Our favorite sketch was Mathnet because we thought it was cool and wanted to be detectives. Come to think of it, we really liked cop/detective shows!
What Was Your Favourite Thing From the ’90s That’s No Longer Available Today?

Optimism – but I don’t want to end this post on a depressing note, so let me think of something good!

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  • Going to the music store and previewing music at their headphone stations and buying my favorite single
  • Flare jeans
  • Butterfly hair clips
  • Disney’s animated feature classics
  • Those narrow ankle length skirts & wearing combat boots/platform sneakers with them
Tagging

Anyone who’d like to take a trip down memory lane! What was your favorite thing from the 90s? Do you still have something from that era?