Club High Castle Pre-Pandemic

When I’m stuck for something to blog about, it means it’s time for a military story. I can only stretch “I liked 2013!” into so many cliché words that everyone else is chatting about right now. ‘Tis the season for reflection, and I can’t deny that. I just can’t stretch something that won’t stretch! Portraits It was 2004, and I was deployed to Iraq. Our base was once an Iraqi base, and it was still showing signs of the first Gulf War. The Iraqi military didn’t clean up a lot of the first mess. There was even a downed, Russian built helicopter near one of the buildings my shop supported. One afternoon I was tired of being cooped up in our windowless shop. The day had been a particularly long one so far. I excused myself with pretenses of using the porta potty (In all honestly, I really had to go, but there were no rules against taking your time). I walked to the abandoned shower/bathrooms on the other side of our building. The abandoned showers had been thoroughly gutted and n...

It has been snowing off and on during the week. The marvel of it has not worn off yet. I still think it’s amazing. I like watching it fall (if I can). ...And in the spirit of snowy tidings, I did a test drawing of Thranduil from The Hobbit . I was mostly playing with an ice king look. I may make a new and improved Thranduil drawing later on. It has been a busy few weeks for me: Solve for 10 points Retail + the holidays = brain - sanity Extra Credit If Sally gets angry because she spends $0.00 and is upset at about not buying anything, how much money did she potentially save?   The time flies, and I hardly notice it. Thank the universe that I normally work in the back!  Your pop quiz is over, and I have some good news! My short story, Lucius Sinclair , is now available at the iBookstore!

This year has flown by. It's still hard to think that it's already December. At any rate, I'm happy to say that I survived my first retail Thanksgiving and Black Friday. I'm normally in the back,but on those two days, everyone is pulled out of their comfy caves to ring people up. The number one thing that was said to me on Thanksgiving was: "I'm not sure if I want this. I don't think it's on sale enough. Hmm...I guess I can always return it if I don't like it!" No comment... [ Insert witty paragraph transition here ]  I can only stare at a document so long! I should make a list of paragraph transition catch phrases and rotate them. "And now for a sudden change in topics because the giant space kitten in my computer demands it..." The space kitten wears go-go boots, so it's all good. I've been drawing Disney/Babylon 5 crossovers lately, and it is time that I posted some fanart again. Princess Talia Winters B...

With Thanksgiving around the corner, it's time for most to curl up, relax, and enjoy a good book! While I'm saving up for an editor for my novel, I am writing short stories set in the same universe. They are all set five years before the events that take place in The Year is Now . Here is the debut of my first short story ebook! It is available for $2.75 and is suitable for e-readers, iPads, and other e-reading devices. Lucius Sinclair  Click here to purchase Lucius Sinclair. The year is Y.E. 0417, and Lucius Sinclair is finally free of his reckless, abusive twin. Where Remus was gifted with wit and brawn, Lucius was plagued with a nasty little trait that the empire exterminates—telepathy. Now that he is attending vocational school and is far away from his brother, Lucius is shocked to find that he is actually excelling at his trade. Just when he feels safe and starts fitting in with his peers, he stumbles into a disturbing truth. It turns out that he’s not the only o...

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I normally shy away from cliché “What am I thankful for” posts, but I feel that I need to make one this year. This is partly due to the fact that the retail trend of pushing Black Friday into Thanksgiving has gotten worse this year. If you’re not sure what I am talking about, go to google and do some quick research. Whatever happened to taking a break from the real world to enjoy the company of your loved ones? When I was a child, going out to buy things you didn’t need on Thanksgiving was unheard of. The grocery stores would open in the mornings for those last minute food items people forgot, but they were always closed by noon. Always. You simply didn’t go out shopping (that’s what Black Friday was for). You didn’t shop before eating and certainly not afterwards—The children would play with their siblings and cousins while the adults sat around the “adult” table, drinking their mysterious adult beverages. It was a day to enjoy yourself,...

YARRRG! I had myself a buccaneeringly good time yesterday! What is a pirate's favorite letter? The sea, of course! The pirate costume was a hit. I enjoyed the number of pirate jokes people told me last night. ...And now for a not so creative subject transition, because I will sit here all morning trying to come up with a way to meld Halloween and pirate talk into personalized mouse pads and writing. I only have so much time before I need to be at work, Harrrr! There are many things you can do with digital art. I figured it was high time I turned one of my pictures into something tangible and useful. Take this picture I drew a few weeks ago, for example! Taken as soon as I got home from working a late shift.  I was that excited when I saw that it had come in the mail! Here is the bright daytime version!  The key chain is glossy, so the camera's flash sort of made it look glittery. I am pleased with how these two things turned out! There are many pla...

Let’s kick today off with another spook-tastic post! Happy Halloween! I am excited for tomorrow. We can wear costumes at my new job, so of course I am going to join in the fun. Anyone who knows me knows that I cannot resist an opportunity to dress up. I doubt I will ever grow out of costuming. Tomorrow’s festivities will start off with a tedious errand, but since the errand is (quite literally) right by my work, I will be adding a yarrrrggg! to my adventure…Because walking around dressed as a pirate adds a dash of awesomeness to even the most mundane of tasks. Here’s to hoping everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!

  A spooky tale for a spooky month! I was stationed in Turkey ten years ago (don’t get me started on the fact that it was TEN years ago). I will never forget one of the times I was working a 12 hour rotation on the graveyard shift. My coworker had gone to lunch (more like midnight chow), so I was left alone until it was my turn for chow. This particular night had been quiet, dragging along like a kid procrastinating an annoying chore. About ten minutes after my coworker was gone, I heard a distinct thumping in the ceiling. There was enough room between the tiles that made up the ceiling and the roof for someone to crawl—I knew this because they had been working on the A/C all month long, and some of the tiles had been taken out. Thump, thump… It was the clumsy pitter patter of feet. Thump, thump. I stood very still. My eyes roamed the room for anything that might be used as a weapon. Spotting the electrical safety kit (of which included a wooden cane *), I crept towards it . ...

If you will excuse me, my action figures and I have been very busy lately. Psi Corps business, you know. Psi Corps grocery shopping is serious business. I've been working a lot lately. My dear blog and Internet shenanigans have been neglected. My new job is very active. Because it is a lot of hands on, the time zips by. I appreciate it when time does that while I'm at work. It's such a nice gesture. I am looking forward to later this week! Even though I enjoy my new job, I do need days off.  I very much appreciate next week's schedule. I think Time called Schedule up, and the two decided to treat me. How nice of them! I've added a link to my commissions section at the bottom this blog, complete with a spiffy new graphic! Stay tuned for a more thought out post!

We are finally into October, and you know what that means! Autumn, delicious apple flavored things, Halloween, and after that, the holiday season! I am happy to report that I can now offer commissions and have finally entered the modern world as far as payment options go. See this post for details: Commission Corner I've been learning the ins and outs of my new job, and when I have a few days off, I'm editing or writing. I am almost done with the 4th round of revisions for *drum roll* The Year is Now. Look, a title! Here is my latest: My Star Trek Online character is initiating First Contact with an unknown species. Wait...There's something familiar here... If I ever get around to getting batteries, I am going to park my Furby next to Siri and have the two titans meet.

Sometimes it’s hard to think of a subject to blog about. I follow a few fandoms, but I don’t exactly keep up with their latest books and news. Trying to provide an up-to-date commentary when you don’t follow all the ins and outs of something is difficult! …Then there is the regular news. I don’t think anyone reading this wants to click on my blog to see a political rant, so that’s automatically out. There is a time and place for politics, and long ago, I decided that this blog was not it. I’ve seen a lot of witty DIY (Do It Yourself) blogs. DIY bloggers excel at cutesy metaphors to keep their readers entertained by their instructions. Anything DIY makes for a good prompt! Too bad I haven’t done anything lately that isn’t self-explanatory! With all that being said, this blog isn’t going anywhere! I felt like rambling about the whims of trying to figure out what to blog about. Now…let’s top this post off with something different. I’m going to find a random object and tell its story in on...

This post is best viewed on Monday, but you can view it today. ;) I have to get up extremely early tomorrow, so I’m posting this early! Here is a snippet of last week’s “Monday.” When the power goes out, you’d be amazed at the strange things you entertain yourself with. In other news, I’ve been revisiting my anime drawing roots. Sometimes you need to go back to where you started and see how far you’ve come! An ancient anime drawing…I think it’s almost 10 years old: Reviving past art styles: Taking it one step further: Eyes front! There’s something to be said about anime eyes: they are energetic.  And yes, all of these new pictures are Babylon 5 fan art. I couldn't think of anything else to draw at the time. 

I still don't have a regular routine yet (I'm still in training), and for the past few days I've been trying to figure out what to write here...Considering that I keep coming up blank, I'm going to do something a little different today! My miniature, peg doll self has graciously decided to say hello! She is also going to read a tiny excerpt from my novel. The dolls in the background are fan art of Babylon 5. Babylon 5 was created by J. Michael Straczynski. I had the dishwasher on the first time I filmed this. It's normally quiet, but when it reaches a certain point in its cycle, it makes a deafening MMMERRRRRWOOOSH sound. Needless to say, it wanted to say hello too... I couldn't stop laughing at it, so I had to turn it off and start over. Maybe I should write about routines next time... It's something to think about!

I start my new job tomorrow! I am excited, and I’m also happy that I’ll be able to establish a regular routine again. When I don’t have a solid routine, I tend to forget what day it is…Mr. Burple Berry, I’m looking at you. He’ll be back in the swing of things once I get my routine going! What have I been doing for the past several days? I’ve been working on my novel, designing a cover for it, drawing, and knitting. Let me just state that revision is more work than actually writing the thing. Once you open that manuscript and correct the first wrong “wear,” you are committed! Here is the knitting project I thought I would finish by today. As you can see, that is clearly not the case! The doll on the right is going to be for my niece. Z.Z. Talltree at your service! And now for a special sneak peak….   This may or may not change a lot or a little when I finalize and finish the cover.

I can appreciate it when a cashier markets his or her store’s latest mailing list, sale, or offer. I understand that there is a push for numbers, and hidden behind those friendly smiles is an immense pressure to get those numbers.  I also understand that retail isn’t always a walk in the park. Tales of inconsiderate people screaming at cashiers, discarding their fast food cups and wrappings on shelves, and demanding discounts because they failed to read the price tag fill the Internet these days with colorful imagery that is sometimes hilarious.  However, it works both ways.  I bought some clothes the other day. I took them to the register and already had my wallet out by the time it was my turn (I hate holding up lines, and shopping takes away from “me” time, so I like to be as quick about it as possible).   Before the cashier even touched my items, she asked for my telephone number and email address. She barely cast me a passing glance as she told me abo...

As those who know me in real life already know, I am an enthusiastic MMOer (MMO stands for massively multiplayer online).  Most articles I read on the subject focus on the players who fall into the “hardcore” category. They are the ones who find the time to play several hours each day. They are the ones with the best armor, weapons, and equipment. They are the ones who run the guilds, fleets, and kinships, so it’s no wonder that they get most of the attention. * Screenshots from Lord of the Rings Online I consider myself to be a casual gamer, and this post is going to be all about those of us who log in for as little as ten minutes at a time! Let’s step into the spotlight for just a second. Every player is different, so I can’t say what is true for me is true for every other casual gamer out there. Star Trek Online Fanart External factors play a huge role in my casual MMOing.  Hobbies and obligations seem to be the most prominent ones—Time to call that relative ...

Get your mouse, dust off your keyboard, and gather around the monitor! It's time for a fan art picture spam fest! I was very busy when I didn't have Internet. It's amazing, the things one gets done without access to 1s and 0s that can traverse long distances. Elrond from Lord of the Rings Elven king Thranduil from The Hobbit Elrond and his wife Celebrian Awe! It's mini Elrond. He's ready for a hug. An original design by me. She's some sort of Sci-Fi space mage. I have a new profile picture! This is a self portrait.

It took a little longer than I anticipated to get Internet connectivity, but I am here now, surfing to my heart’s content! I think I’ll state the cliché and obvious: we made it through the road trip safe and sound. The wonderful world of DC: At one point, I could see the top of the Capitol Building, but it was too far away to get a good picture of from my phone.  I got to have a quick, highway look at the Pentagon (no joke!). I later pulled it up on google maps to make sure that it was exactly what I saw, and it was! It looks odd and unremarkable from street level, like a long, pale and ominous institution with many tiny windows (okay, so it actually is an institution with many tiny windows…). I wouldn't have known to look at it if it weren't for the signs. We passed several toll roads, and here is this gem: Granted, we were in a huge moving truck towing a car…but I have never seen a toll that costly! Stay tuned for some fanart that I did when I didn’t have Interne...

I have some huge news! I am moving out of state, off to seek adventures in new places. I am going where no MLC has gone before. I don’t think I’ll get a chance to update this blog before the big day, so this is a heads up that I will be gone from the Internet for a while (hopefully a very short while, as I love surfing). Mouse clicking is such a therapeutic sport. Before any move, there are always misadventures to be had in the labyrinth that is packing…Voldemort taking a bubble bath being one of them. I don’t know why he of all my action figures ended up getting an unknown substance on him, but he did. The bubble bath worked wonders, though he wasn’t too happy about it. Here we can see Alfred Bester and Loki exploring a stack of boxes. They escaped the newspaper wrapping and box stuffing frenzy. Don’t worry: they will be shoved into my purse. What’s a road trip without action figures? A geek must have her priorities straight.  I love wearing necklaces and rings, so I ...

I’ve always danced with subliminal—and sometimes flamboyant—messages, slinking, twirling and sliding my made-up propaganda across the ballroom floor. Coming up with fictional catch phrases and cheeky, dystopian propaganda is a fun pastime for me! When I was in grade school, my best friend and I would perform little plays in our driveways for the neighborhood kids. What’s a good play without some commercials? To this day, the jingle she and I came up with for our “wonderful shrinking machine” still rings strong, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. I suppose The Year is E0422 has a bit of dystopian flair to it. A chapter I was editing was begging for a little bit of tender loving care. The cure? I added a new scene involving a television series. The series is nothing but shameless propaganda in its purest form. Too bad my character only got to see a clip of it. The world needs to indulge in retro costumes, cheesy dialogue, and go-go boot clad cops every now and then. Here is a lit...

I hope everyone is having a fantastic Independence Day Eve! I have hot wings, French fries, and Coca Cola waiting and ready for tomorrow. Odds are that it will rain, but that won’t stop me from enjoying a good meal! I’ve been steadily making progress in reading through, editing, and making changes to my NaNo novel (the one I wrote in November). It now has a working title, and I decided to take a break from drawing fan art and do something original for a change. This is a part that doesn’t show up in the book. Aren’t I a big meanie for drawing something behind the scenes? ;) Gaming is serious business, especially when you’re sick, and there is a silly summer event going on.  Collecting items and adding unique accents to your outfits is THE business.  After all, one must look fashionable if she is fighting crime and trying to save the galaxy. The efforts of Saturday are displayed below! My character is proud of her flowers and awesome jet pack. Soaring through the ni...

When your day-to-day muse refuses to cooperate, but you desperately want to share your Friday's adventure, write a poem. I stared long and hard at the exhausted pile of "I-can't-think" drivel on my word document before I gave up and started playing around. It's a good thing I never grew up, for here is Burgers and Breweries: ‘Twas a grand olde Friday, brewing with adventure. A hearty steed with a coat of red Brought us to the coveted Terrapin Hall. Bracelets of blue were bestowed upon us To give us entry and to reveal The flavor of the hall’s most precious wares. Tree Hugger, Monk’s Revenge, Hopsecutioner, and Maggie’s Farmhouse too. Delicious they were, and not a drop was wasted. When our thirst was well quenched And our hunger gnawed, We embarked on a quest In search of the best. We wanted a choice meal. Nothing serves better than burgers and fries. Amidst the music downtown, Nestled in a tiny nook, Lay a l...