Las Aventuras took a break this year from international travel. Why? I discovered Southern Arizona with new eyes.
So while I stayed home, we had such an amazing time here in Arizona. However, we did get a chance to meet some amazing people, visit Wisconsin and bird in nearby Mexico along the Pacific Ocean.
One our favorite spots was in Wisconsin Dells over the summer. Wonderful weather along with beautiful forests made for a very special day.
And in my hometown along the shores of Lake Michigan, we were able to hang out with the family.
We even found time to visit Madison, the Capital of Wisconsin during the Scott Walker vote!
My brother and SIL took us to the Green Bay botanical gardens which was a real thrill.
Sometimes. Just sometimes. I wish I could grow some of these amazing green and colorful plants.
We did get out to Mexico though and had an amazing birding trip along the Sea of Cortez to go to the Bird Islands!
This next year, several epic outings have been planned. Some are in the works right now and I'll keep you updated. I am plotting our courses for next year as are my travel buddies.
Life is full of good people and experiences. I believe in kharma. Throwing bad cause out into the world is not good. But when you send out the positive vibes.......
.......they come roaring back to you loudly full of incredible energy. And I'm loving life. Each day is a new adventure whether it be close to home or elsewhere. All we have to do is step out that door:)
From Starship Troopers at the Phoenix Comicon 2012 with Casper Van Dien and Dina Meyer
Ever run into movie stars and not realize right away that they were standing next to you the entire time? That happened several times during our stay in Phoenix. Sometimes the actors are shorter than you imagined, older than you imagined, or not as attractive as you imagined......but there is something that you pick up on that separates them from the rest of the crowd. My brother caught both these stars in the elevator alone and felt as if something wasn't right with the force:)
Dina Meyer
As a photographer, I try to capture interesting and different looks. Some actors (un)surprisingly don't show much emotion and it makes the shoot difficult.
Casper Van Dien from Starship Troopers
Ed Asner is seen below talking about his life experiences as an actor. Love this guy! Very funny and says it like it is.
Ed Asner
Some actors don't always turn out to be like their TV characters. This actress plays Deanna Troi on Star Trek the Next Generation. She's a bit sassy and demanding. Some audience members were put off by her. When we met her in person, Marina was a bit bossy, but I don't mind:) I come from a family of strong women.
Marina Sirtis 2012
And then there is Jamie Bamber.......from Battlestar Galactica. I encountered him early in the morning getting ready for a workout. My brother and I were heading for breakfast and the elevator door opened up and there was this shorter guy. We said, "Hey." and when I noticed who it was I laughed and said, "Hello." properly. Well, Mr. Bamber is afterall half English/half American. He played Apollo from the new Battlestar Galactica series.
Jamie Bamber
And of course, several of the actors were witty and a lot of fun. For example, Wil Wheaton and Brent Spiner had the crowd going several times during their panel.
Brent Spiner and Wil Wheaton
Movie stars are people like everyone else. They live their lives similiar to our own....some with money; some without.....and the struggles may be different.....but no matter how you look at it....it's still kinda fun to see them in person and chat.
Jamie Bamber is from one of my ultimate favorite TV shows. I don't watch much TV but BSG is about technology and our advancement in robotics. The robots(or cylons) become intelligent and kill most of the human race. The humans flee their planet in search of a new home and it's some of the best storytelling you'll ever see on TV. You can watch Battlestar Galactica on Netflix TV.
Micheal Dorn
And look at this guy! Michael Dorn(or Worf) playing around with his camera. He's so skinny and unlike his Worf character in real life! At the end of it all, it was sad because we had such a great time. But that's my life with this blog. I look forward to the shoots and interviews and ultimately know that it will all end. So this is the final post on the Phoenix comicon. I hope you enjoyed my take on this major event for Phoenix. I've got so much more in store for you all. Stay tuned for more....
Have you ever wondered why Super Heroes are so cool? Well, I started thinking about how nature and super beings are fused together in fascinating ways. Some of my favorite heroes include Storm, Spiderman, and Batman.....all related to nature in some way. Many of you may not know this but in the comics, people today are introduced to many of these elements everyday. My focus today is on Batman. My brother brought his costume to Phoenix Comicon and made lots of people smile. But it got me thinking.....
Batman...the World's Greatest Detective. No super powers, but lots of great gadgets in a cool costume made to resemble a bat. Stealth, darkness, and shadows are all things that make Batman stand out in the Super Hero universe. But did you know? Currently in the DC Comics universe Batman, Robin and gang are facing some of the biggest villains in Gotham City. Most of us think that the Joker is the worst of the worst, but there are bigger batties out there. In a major event, DC comics has introduced the Court of Owls....a mafia group set out to destroy Batman and crew once and for all. The thugs are creatively known as the Talons. How clever! Two night creatures fighting one another. Two night creatures fighting for control of Gotham! And guess what? In nature, one of the bat's enemies is the......owl!!
But for now, Batman has decided to stop for a drink. No owls here!! From left to right, we see King Tuzigoot, Phoenix's really WHITE knight, and of course Batman. In the comics, this is a major event. And very soon(in July) we will have the 3rd and final movie to the Batman trilogy...the Dark Knight Rises. Hoo will win? The Court of the Owls? Or the Bat? Stay tuned for more.....
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:)
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.....
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