Starships Were Meant To Fly

Yes this is the real deal:)  From left to right.  King Tuzigoot, the Shat, and myself.

Dreams happen because of starships, battlestars or just plain ol' space shuttles.  Currently, I have some great music on, an opened bottle of wine(red of course) and have poured some of this fantastic liquid into my tiny green wine glass. Oh yeah....it going to be one of those posts:) This post was written on a pad of paper and it's one of a personal nature.  Sometimes it's good to know a little background behind the writer and his blog. So I thought I'd go a little more into the history about why Star Trek saved my life as a teenager growing up in a small town.

Shatner was wonderful. Mortality has really affected him.  He talks about it to a silent crowd of 5000+ people. However, after a truly deep moment, he gets the crowd laughing again with pranks to cast and crew on the original Star Trek set.

Last year I wrote Legends about how Star Trek began for me.  My Freshman year I escaped into the fantasy of the Next Generation and got hooked seriously into the universe of Star Trek.  Growing up is not easy to do and I had a difficult childhood in my early teens.  The 80's and early 90's were the strange years defining myself without having proper role models(beyond my parents, grandparents etc).  I feel like you need people outside your familiar circle to grow as a person. So I led a secretive life behind my parent's backs.  It wasn't bad but it was a safe place for me to escape.  The Big Ideas of Star Trek exposed me to the bigger world.  I'd come home from school dreaming of exploring the Amazon one day or climbing the highest pyramid in Guatemala.....or looking for the buried kings of Egypt. I read Ranger Rick and Arizona Highways(seriously folks!!! When I say I love Tucson, I mean it!). That's part of who I was. As much as I treasure Wisconsin now, I didn't always feel that way and from a very early age, I knew I wouldn't live there.  I didn't want to be trapped in a small town with a house, white picket fence, kids, a wife or dog working in a business office trapped in a cubicle.  Now I live in a small community, concrete walled area, no kids(but 5 cats!), spouse, and classroom that seems like a cubicle at times:) Thankfully I never went that route;) The more things change; the more they stay the same.

Brent Spiner played the character "Data"

I would tape all of my Star Trek shows on VHS and watch them over and over again in a small room away from everyone in my family.  I'd isolate myself and get lost in the space logic of the Next Generation.  Data was my hero because he wasn't human and he tried so hard to understand what it was like to be one.  He was very much as different as I was. These episodes every week had a message and it was universal for all.  Each episode spoke to different people in different ways.  But it was a safe place for me to be....protected and secure, I knew that their words were the right ones.  Embrace all ideas.  Embrace all cultures.  Learn as much as you can from them.  Make a difference in this world before you leave it.  Love whomever you want but be true to who you are. It was okay to standout. And always boldly go where no one had gone before:)

I look like a huge giant farmer in this pic.  He's English/American. Jamie Bamber(Apollo) is seriously tiny! It's like comparing the American Robin to the English Robin:)

For over 20 years, there was always a Star Trek show on TV.  And in 2005, the last episode aired ending this chapter of my life.  I don't watch much TV anymore.  Why should I?  There's so much to see in person with Mother Nature!  But if it's one thing I believe.....it's that all people should be treated equally.   I seem cruel and heartless at times with my students but it's what my mother and I both call "tough love".  I will NOT tolerate teenagers or adults using language like retarded, gay, or the many other not so nice words.  I make this well known the first day I enter the "Captain's Chair" in my classroom:) Hey, a podium works:) There's no place for any of that anymore. And I'm not a saint, but I always try and listen for better understanding.  The Star Trek philosophy is one that resonates with millions around the world.  

 I don't know many people who have such great facial expressions.  People always tell me that my face expresses a whole lot:)  It's nice to see someone else who does the same:)

Seeing these actors make me smile.  I could say thank you, but I already think the actors know why we visit with them......because they made a difference in our lives.  Shatner put it best. "You're not here to just see me.  You're here because of Star Trek. Something bigger."  Some have called it the "Cult of Trek".  I don't worship the actors, but they are an extended part of my imaginary family who protected me during a fragile time of my life.

I wish my Grandfather were here to meet William Shatner.  He would have loved to shake hands with him. This one is for you Grandpa.

Their stories changed my life so profoundly that at one point in my early 20's during my first exploration of life and travel alone, I was able to snap into my real persona.  It was one of the singular most powerful moments in my life.  Mexico is to blame:)  How did it happen?  A bottle of tequila, some dancing, good friends and an exchange family:) Mexico really opened me up to the world!  I guess you could say it was my first away mission:) At 18, I found Mexico. At 19 I returned to my hometown community college to wrap up the old me.  This was the darkest time of my life.  I can't believe the things I thought about....so glad that at 20, I took control of my life and told people where to stick it.  The result?  A full and happy wonderful life. And I hope I can make that difference for others in my own work  Yes, it was an amazing day. 

These people rock! I also had a good laugh:) The Next Generation cast sans Patrick Stewart. Spiner is hilarious.

Star Trek inspires many of us to go beyond the realm of the known and take new steps everyday in each of our lives.  Make each day count.  "Be the change you wish to see in the world."  Fantastic words from the great Ghandi. And of course, "Boldly go where no one has gone before." 

This is a great song.  The original song is fantastic but not appropriate to put on the site.  I try to keep it PG rated:)  And on a side note, some posts go through lots of editing and rewrites.  This was one of them:)

The Future Tense

I gotta say that I never know what's coming on a daily basis with this blog.  But this time, I know that I have a special week long post on pics and writing based around the 2012 Phoenix Comicon.  Everyday I'll take you through our extremely fun journey at the Con.  One of the posts is rather personal, but I hope it sheds some light on why I value this event every year in Phoenix.  But let's get you ready for some things that you need to know about any SyFy con.  It's a bit different from birding and yet it still requires a lot of patience.  Why?  Come on, I'll tell you everything you need to know:)

The pic above is an example of what you'll see.  I don't know what the gas masks are for but I can only imagine.  I went with 3 other people....2 were newbies.  There was one man going down an escalator sweating!  He was a larger man and barely able to walk.....and smelled as if he had never taken a shower.  My not-so-savvy brother's friend inappropriately asks a question on this forever moving escalator, "Dude!  What's that nasty smell?!"  The larger man turns around and smiles.  He says, "It's Con Sweat!"  Gross.  Nasty.  I don't know.  I plug my nose and keep my mouth shut.  My brother and friend have a good laugh with the other guy.  Afterall I do bird at the Sweetwater Treatment plant and there are days that I don't always smell the best after that little hike:) It's a little different though....it's not my sweat that makes me smell but the sewage:)  But it still smells the same.  So perhaps this man wears a gas mask because of the "Con Sweat."

But check out some of these outfits people put together!!!  It's called "Cosplay".  They act like the character they portray all day long.  Thousands of people ask for their pictures and leave satisfied by the excellent costumes. People dress up for attention, but they also do it because it entertains crowds.  You should see the little kids faces as Batman takes a pic with them.  It makes me smile.  Little geeks in the making.  I also discovered that you have to create your own outfits for Cosplay or they won't count.  So you can't purchase an outfit from a retailer.  But I suspect that there are people who do;)  Look closely and you'll see that this Iron Man outfit was put together with cardboard.   Really well done.

And of course there are the long lines to get into the halls and presentations.  Here is a pic of The Big Bang Theory's Wil Wheaton.  Rooms are full to the max.....usually pretty warm from all the body heat.  Again like waiting for the Lazuli Bunting or Elegant Trogon, this famous bird was worth the wait:)

But there are days that you feel like this "thing" above.  Thousands of people who are socially awkward and a little....um....strange can get to you after 4 days.  I took this shot from the floor exhausted after the constant walking through the heavy traffic.  Bring good walking shoes.

But then you get to meet people like Reading Rainbow's LeVar Burton who inspired many of us to read at an early age.  You know that song....."Butterfly in the skyyyyyy!  I can fly twice as hiiiigh.  Just take a look.  It's in a book.  On Reading Rainbow....." And it was moving to see what an affect this actor had on so many people.  Some were in tears thanking him for such a beautiful childhood memory. 

And then there is me....HUGE Star Trek fan.  Here are some amazing Romulans from the original series.  Incredible outfits.  Yeah it's pretty exciting.  These Romulans were nice people.

But at the end of the day, especially for newbies like my younger brother, Comicons can be exhausting.  We let him sleep and snuck off at 6 AM to get our days going.  Schedule schedule schedule.....especially at the San Diego Comicon in July!!!  It's not for the weak of heart.  

And look at who else I invited to the party.....King Tuzigoot!!!  He's walking with his friend Slimer.  I have some treats for you all coming up in about a week.  But I thought I'd give you a taste of what's to come.  I hope I don't disappoint. Don't know the Reading Rainbow song? I have it for you below. More tomorrow.....