Category: Grasshopper Nation

A collection of my High Castle projects that don’t fall under fan art.

2021 Grasshopper Awards

Posted on by in Grasshopper Nation, High Castle

Hello everyone! I know it’s been about six months since I’ve posted here, and I am going to blame it on the prolonged-neverending-braintomush-pandemic because…well, it’s true! But this post isn’t about me ranting into the void; it’s about the annual grasshopper awards! Grab your popcorn and get ready for my favorites of 2021; I’ve added a few categories!

2021 Grasshopper Awards
2021 Grasshopper Awards

Best Discovery of 2021

This goes to a YouTuber I stumbled across who has provided me hours of vivid storytelling. He’s my go-to Thing In The Background As I Draw. If you like the strange, dark & mysterious, MrBallen has you covered. 

Thank you for keeping me company while I sketch, draw, and paint, MrBallen! 

Best Discovery of 2021: MrBallen YouTube Channel
Best Discovery of 2021: MrBallen YouTube Channel

Best Show of 2021

This award goes to my favorite show that aired this year (we all know what my all-time favorite is!). 

The Expanse. 

Admiral Suaveterre from The Expanse
Chrisjen_Avasarala
Bobbie Draper: The Expanse
MCRN Donnager: The Expanse

Season 5 (and now 6) keeps me on the edge of my seat, and if you follow me on various platforms–or have seen me in real life–chances are you know of a certain, growing obsession of the Mars variety. I love everything about this show except for the fact that we get fewer episodes this final season. I’ve talked about The Expanse before, so without further adieu, thank you to the cast & crew for hours of entertainment and sparking my imagination! 

BestShow of 2021: The Expanse
BestShow of 2021: The Expanse

Best Movie of 2021

This one goes to 1917 (with a huge thanks to Delta over the summer, lol! I take full advantage of catching up on films when I fly). This one did not disappoint. It is a thrilling ride from the moment it starts. The way it was filmed–a continuous shot–is part of what makes this movie so gripping. If you are a history buff or have an interest in WWI, 1917 is a must see. 

Best Movie of 2021: 1917
Best Movie of 2021: 1917

Best Wardrobe Find of 2021

As I mentioned earlier, The Expanse awakened a certain, dusty red obsession in me. I found this shirt when looking for something else, and I had to by it. I mean look at it. It captures everything badass about Mars and how much I want to go there. 

Summer 2021 in my Martian shirt
Martian Society TShirt
Everyday Astronaut's fun moon sample style packaging

Thank you to Everyday Astronaut for the hard work you do to bring us your live streams and videos. I’ve worn this shirt more times than I can count. 

Best Wardrobe Find 2021: Everyday Astronaut
Best Wardrobe Find 2021: Everyday Astronaut

Best Vintage Find of 2021

I’ll give you a moment to guess. It feels like eons since I bought the winner of this award, but it was, indeed, in 2021. 

Purses from the set of Man in the High Castle
Purses from the set of Man in the High Castle
Purses from the set of Man in the High Castle
Purses from the set of Man in the High Castle

…Time’s up! This one goes to the beautiful purses from the set of Man in the High Castle I got early in the year. 

Best Vintage Find of 2021: High Castle Purses
Best Vintage Find of 2021: High Castle Purses

Best of the Best 2021

This is for everyone who kept me company, laughed with me, or made me smile—both in person and online.

Thank you for making the pandemic a bit easier to handle. 

Best of the Best in 2021: You!
Best of the Best in 2021: You!

*There is no Best Book category this year as I have yet to finish reading any of the multitude of books I started.

Join the Resistance!

Posted on by in Grasshopper Nation, High Castle

It is finally here, and I am thrilled to own one of the Man in the High Castle promo packages from 2017 at long last!

Resistance Radio Promo from 2017
Resistance Radio Promo: Inside the paper record player

I remember when everyone was posting their photos of it on Twitter, and though I knew there was a 0% chance that I’d be surprised by one in the mail, I still checked every single day in hopes of mysteriously finding one inside my mailbox. In my, oh so fan, defense, they had my mailing address already. I won a signed promo poster for Season 2.

I’ve mentioned how much I wanted one before (and let’s just say how much = A. LOT. A hell of a lot.), and I still cannot believe I was able to get my hands on one. Yes, I really have longed for one over the past four years. 

I’m still blown away by the creativity behind it. It was such a clever way to slip Resistance Radio inside a fictitious GNR songbook, immersing you into the world of Philip K. Dick. It honestly feels like a traveler from their universe brought it to ours!

Let’s dive into the closeups
  • Record sleeve: On the surface it looks like it’s GNR propaganda…
  • Back of the record sleeve
  • Promo Package Record: Side A
    The Resistance slipped something inside!
  • Promo Package Record: Side B
    Yes, this is a real, playable 45.
  • The paper record player and needle
  • Back of the paper record player
  • Resistance Radio Promo from 2017
    Resistance Radio Promo: Inside the paper record player

Mine did not come with the fold-able leaflet with the convention details on it or the original box (you’ll see photos of them in the link below). I haven’t used the paper record player (I am terrified of damaging the record with the needle, ha ha!). I am looking at used record players as I write this.

As I poked around the Internet, reminiscing, I stumbled about on great blog post by Christy Dena. She gives a full (and detailed!) account of receiving hers, trying to play the record, and finding references to Resistance Radio in season 2. 

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!

Saving the world with High Castle and Field Team 6

Posted on by in Grasshopper Nation, High Castle, News

Tuesday I had the awesome pleasure of joining the Axis of Good (Joel de la Fuente, Rufus Sewell, Chelah Horsdal, Stephen Root, Jason O’Mara, Frances Turner, Michael Gaston, Sebastian Roché, and Isa Hacket) with Field Team 6 for an evening of textbanking. 

Let me tell you about the absolute blast I had! I didn’t know what to expect–was I nervous going in? You bet I was! I am probably the shyest person you’ll ever meet…until you get to know me, that is! 

The week started off with absolute chaos, as 2020 weeks often do. I spent that day doing a bunch of house projects which involved a lot of nit and grit. I scrambled to get my laptop ready in time without bothering to fix my hair and without any attempt at looking presentable. Normally fans are muted and shuffled to the back of these things.

Well….I clicked the link and HELLO WORLD! Hello Joel in particular because I know you saw me fumbling around and flustered! 😉 

After a minute or so, I managed to turn my camera off (like I said, I am SHY, plus I was also grimy from house projects). 

The event officially started when the rest of the High Castle participants logged on. I cannot express what a joy it was seeing them happy, relaxed, and catching up with each other as we all stumbled our way through the textbanking system those first few moments.

As we began the textbank, I felt at ease because we were all just hanging out and enjoying the company as we did our task. We chatted with them via Zoom’s chat feature, and they responded, read our chats, and laughed away.

I had so much fun that I volunteered for two Field Team 6 text banks next week, and an official Biden/Harris textbank!

Saving the world with High Castle and Field Team 6

Some highlights of the evening:

  • Sebastian letting his dog out (or in…I can’t remember!)
  • Isa showed everyone a prop she had held onto–a picture frame with a photo of the Smiths at the lake. <3
  • Rufus laughed about all the STOPs he kept getting (requests to unsubscribed) and was worried about accidentally unsubscribing an actual reply because of all the button mashing (lol)
  • Sebastian had a hilarious conversation with someone involving playing a scientist on TV (don’t ask, ha ha!)
  • Francis reading some of her replies (oh my goodness, I thought I was going to fall out of my chair!)
  • Jason muting himself and Rufus laughing at him
  • Someone commenting on how they would always switch Rufus’s and Rupert’s names on their chairs (I can’t remember who mentioned this, but I thought it was hilarious they did this on set!)
  • Seeing the Resistance Rises posters in the background of Joel’s and Isa’s home offices
  • Chelah telling us about Canadian political parties
  • Hearing all the mouse clicking as everyone button mashed, ha ha!

Wanted Poster

Posted on by in #FanCastleSunday, Grasshopper Nation, High Castle
And now for something different, a #HighCastle tale from another perspective.

Disclaimer: I am just a dedicated fan. I am not affiliated with Amazon Studios

Club High Castle

The Truth is Never What it Seems

I watched the amber liquid splash into my patron’s glass as I poured him a shot. The chatter hummed in the background; it was quieter than usual tonight, but I wasn’t about to complain. The cover charge was working. I had one rule in my bar: don’t cause trouble…also no weapons. Just because this was the Neutral Zone, didn’t mean we had to act like animals. 

I glanced at my patron and set the bottle of whiskey down. 

“Did you hear about what happened at Moe’s?” he asked. I turned and sighed. 

“There’s always something going on there,” I muttered. “Someone shot up that place last week over a girl.”

“Rumor has it he’s in bed with the Yakuza.” 

“He’s not.” 

But I was. 

They kept the peace and offered protection in exchange for drinks. I wish I didn’t have to rely on them, but it was the only way. 

There were times I missed the civility in the Reich. A shudder ran through me. I could never go back; not after the illusion was shattered and reality stared me in the face.

They had ripped my father from his desk and shot him in the head. I remember their black uniforms, shiny boots, and the cold indifference as the one in the leather coat pulled the trigger. 

All over what? Unknowingly giving a blonde haired, blue eyed member of the resistance a ride in the rain. 

Or so I was told. 

I frowned and went to put the whiskey on the shelf. My patron tapped his thick finger on the counter. His handsome brown eyes met mine. 

“More?” I asked. He nodded and slid his glass towards me. 

“Five Marks just to get in is pretty steep,” came a hearty drawl. I glanced up to see a man with shaggy brown hair and a 5 O’clock shadow sliding into the empty stool beside my patron. “A cold one, Lovely,” he winked. I stiffened as I shot him a fierce glare. 

“Well, that’s a no,” he smirked. “Message received. Say, how ’bout helping a man out?” He shifted and produced a wanted poster from his jacket. I recoiled. 

“This bar is for peaceful patrons only. You’re better off hanging that up at the bar on Main Street. I don’t want any trouble.” 

“But you didn’t even look at it.” 

“Fine,” I muttered. If it would get him the hell out of my face, I’d read it. I snatched it off the counter. 

I should have cried.

I should have been angry, but all I could do was erupt into laughter. 

“Hang this up,” I ordered, shoving it into his chest. “Your first beer is on me.”

“This is most unwise,” my patron whispered. “He has eyes and ears everywhere.” 

“Ha! He’s not going to bother with a tiny bar all the way out here,” The newcomer laughed. “What’s he going to do? Come all the way from his fancy office in that high tower of his to this dingy little bar?”

“The rabbit would be wise not to-”

“It stays,” I said. I looked them both in the eyes. “This is the man who murdered my father.”