Meeting Tim Russ, Robert Picardo, Jonathan Frakes, and William Shatner.

Over the last year or so, I have had the opportunity to meet many of my favorite Star Trek actors and actresses - Michael Dorn, William Shatner, Robert Picardo, Tim Russ, Jonathan Frakes, Nana Visitor, Chase Masterson, Garrett Wang, and Ethan Phillips. Unfortunately, I only got pictures with three of them, and another picture with a cut-out at a show.

Tim Russ and I:

Both Tim Russ and Robert Picardo were very nice, and absolutely hilarious. As I mentioned briefly before,   Tim Russ is very knowledgable about Vulcan culture, and we had a fantastic chat about the language, fashion, and history. Hopefully I will see both of them again.

Robert Picardo and I:

In all of these pictures, I have this goofy trying-not-to-smile smile because I was incredibly self conscious about it. Now that I have braces, I feel like the metal-queen. I absolutely love having braces, and had wanted to get them from the time I was in grade three. I used to roll tin foil into tiny strips and put them in my mouth to see what having braces would look like. But I digress.

I didn't have enough money to get a photo with William Shatner at Comic Con, but I did get some pictures taken with his cut-out at his show a few days earlier:

Last, but certainly not least - I had the wonderful opportunity to have my picture taken with Jonathan Frakes and his wonderful, untameable hair. 

If you look closely, you will see my TNG combadge.

A few days ago, I found out who is going to be at the 2012 Central Canadian Comic Con in my city - Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner and... Walter Koenig! I am so excited that I can hardly breath. This year, I am going to make sure that I have enough money to pay for pictures with all of them.

Brent Spiner was supposed to be at least year's Con, but something came up and he couldn't make it. I am glad he had decided to come back this year.

A Long and Somewhat Pointless List of my Star Trek Books and Novels (Part One)

This week I have been going through all of my Star Trek novels and books - donating unnecessary doubles and putting them back on the shelf in pristine order. I also took pictures of my books as I found them and put them in order. If there is a book out of order, I didn't find it until after the appropriate picture was taken and it's group was put away.

My favorite novels have an * in front of the title. If you see doubles, it is either because one is in mint condition and the other is for reading, or because the two have different covers. HC stands for hardcover. This is part one of my list.

The Entropy Effect - Vonda N. McIntyre
The Entropy Effect - Vonda N. McIntyre
The Klingon Gambit - Robert E. Vardeman
*Black Fire - Sonni Cooper
Triangle - Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath
Web of the Romulans - M. S. Murdock
*Yesterday's Son - A. C. Crispin
Mutiny on the Enterprise - Robert E. Vardeman
The Trellisane Confrontation - David Dvorkin
Corona - Greg Bear
The Abode of Life - Lee Correy
The Tears of the Singers - Melinda M. Snodgrass
*The Vulcan Academy Murders - Jean Lorrah
*Uhura's Song - Janet Kagan
*Ishmael - Barbara Hambly
Ishmael - Barbara Hambly
Killing Time - Della Van Hise (Original)
Dwellers in the Crucible - Margaret W. Bonanno
Mindshadow - J.M. Dillard
Dreadnaught - Diane Carey
Demons - J.M. Dillard

The Abode of Life - Lee Correy
Shadow Lord - Laurence Yep
Pawns and Symbols - Majliss Larson
Battlestations - Diane Carey
Deep Domain - Howard Weinstein
Dreams of the Raven - Carmen Carter
*The Romulan Way - Diane Duane and Peter Morwood
How Much for Just the Planet? - John M. Ford
Bloodthirst - J.M. Dillard
*The IDIC Epidemic - Jean Lorrah
*Time for Yesterday - A. C. Crispin
Time Trap - David Dvorkin
The Three Minute Universe - Barbara Paul
Memory Prime - Gar Reeves-Stevens and Judith Reeves-Stevens
The Final Nexus - Gene DeWeese
*Vulcan's Glory - D. C. Fontana
Double Double - Michael Jan Friedman
The Cry of the Onlies - Judy Klass

Rules of Engagement - Peter Morwood
*The Pandora Principle - Carolyn Clowes
*Doctor's Orders - Diane Duane
Enemy Unseen - V.E. Mitchell
Renegade - Gene DeWeese
Legacy - Michael Jan Friedman
The Rift - Peter David
Faces of Fire - Michael Jan Friedman
The Disinherited - Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, Robert Greenberger
Ice Trap - L.A. Graf (Ecklar, Karen Rose Cercone, and Melissa Crandall)
Sanctuary - John Vornholt
Shell Game - Melissa Crandall
The Starship Trap - Mel Gilden
Windows on a Lost World - V.E. Mitchell
From the Depths - Victor Milan

Logs One, Two and Three - Adapted by Alan Dean Foster
Logs Four, Five, and Six - Adapted by Alan Dean Foster
Logs Seven, Eight, and Nine - Adapted by Alan Dean Foster
Traitor Winds - L.A. Graf (Ecklar, Karen Rose Cercone)
The Best of Trek - Misc Star Trek Fans
The Best of Trek 3 - Misc Star Trek Fans
Log One - Adapted by Alan Dean Foster
Log Two - Adapted by Alan Dean Foster
Log Four - Adapted by Alan Dean Foster
Log Five - Adapted by Alan Dean Foster
Log Six - Adapted by Alan Dean Foster
Log Ten - Adapted by Alan Dean Foster
Star Trek 1 - Adapted by James Blish
Star Trek 4 - Adapted by James Blish
Star Trek 5 - Adapted by James Blish
Star Trek 8 - Adapted by James Blish
Star Trek 10 - Adapted by James Blish
The Classic Episodes 2 - Adapted by James Blish

TNG Encounter at Farpoint - Adapted by David Gerrold
TNG The Captain's Honor - David and Daniel Dvorkin
TNG A Rock and a Hard Place - Peter David
TNG The Eyes of the Beholder - A.C. Crispin
TNG Exiles - Howard Weinstein
TNG Q-in-Law - Peter David
TNG Imbalance - V.E. Mitchell
TNG Rogue Saucer - John Vornholt
TNG Devil's Heart - Carmen Carter
TNG Imzadi - Peter David
TNG Q-Squared - Peter David
TNG Masks - John Vornholt
TNG Descent - Adapted by Diane Carey
*TNG Unification - Adapted by Jeri Taylor
*TNG Crossover - Michael Jan Friedman
TNG Relics - Adapted by Michael Jan Friedman
TNG X-Men Planet X - Michael Jan Friedman
TNG Preserver - William Shatner

New Earth One Wagon Train to the Stars - Diane Carey
New Earth Two Belle Terre - Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey
New Earth Three Rough Trails - L.A. Graf (Ecklar, Karen Rose Cercone)
New Earth Four The Flaming Arrow - Kathy Oltion and Jerry Oltion
New Earth Six Challenger - Diane Carey
Avenger - William Shatner
The Return - William Shatner
Dark Victory - William Shatner
Spectre - William Shatner
My Brother's Keeper Republic - Michael Jan Friedman
My Brother's Keeper Constitution - Michael Jan Friedman
*Strangers from the Sky - Margaret Wander Bonanno
Cast No Shadow - James Swallow
*Vulcan's Heart - Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz
*Star Trek: The New Voyages - Misc. including Star Trek stars
*Star Trek: The New Voyages 2 - Misc. including Star Trek stars
*Spock's World - Diane Duane
Mudd's Enterprise - Adapted by J.A. Lawrence
World Without End - Joe Haldeman
Planet of Judgment - Joe Haldeman
The Captain's Table War Dragons - L.A. Graf (Julia Ecklar, Karen Rose Cercone)

Invasion! - Diane Carey, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Dean Wesley Smith, L. A. Graf, Dafydd Ab Hugh
Enterprise The First Adventure - Vonda N. McIntyre
Terok Nor Dawn of the Eagles - S.D. Perry and Britta Dennison
Vanguard Precipice - David Mack
DS9 Trials and Tribble-ations - Adapted by Diance Carey
DS9 The Heart of the Warrior - John Gregory Betancourt
DS9 Fallen Heroes - Dafydd ab Hugh
Final Frontier - Diane Carey
The Brave and the Bold Book Two - Keith R.A. DeCandido
The Brave and the Bold Book One - Keith R.A. DeCandido
Enterprise By the Book - Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch
*ENT Surak's Soul - J.M. Dillard
Star Trek (2009 Movie) - Adapted by Alan dean Foster 

*Vulcan! - Kathleen Sky
Log Five - Adapted by Alan Dean Foster
Star Trek 6 - Adapted by James Blish
*Strange and Amazing Facts about Star Trek - Daniel Cohen
*I am Spock - Leonard Nimoy
*Star Trek Memories - William Shatner with Chris Kreski
Quotable Star Trek - Jill Sherwin
VOY Hologram Handbook - The Doctor and Robert Picardo
The Physics of Star Trek - Lawrence M. Krauss
*The World of Star Trek - David Gerrold
The Klingon Dictionary - Marc Okrand
Klingon Galactic Traveller - Marc Okrand
*The Star Trek Interview Book - Allan Asherman
TNG Customizable Card Game Official Player's Guide - Brady Games

Firestorm - L.A. Graf (Julia Ecklar, Karen Rose Cercone)
The Patrian Transgression - Simon Hawke
Crossroad - Barbara Hambly
The Better Man - Howard Weinstein
The Fearful Summons - Denny Martin Flinn
Twilight's End - Jerry Oltion
*The Motion Picture - Gene Roddenberry
The Wrath of Khan - Adapted by Vonda N. McIntyre
*The Search for Spock - Adapted by Vonda N. McIntyre
*The Voyage Home - Adapted by Vonda N. McIntyre
The Final Frontier - Adapted by J.M. Dillard
The Undiscovered Country - Adapted by J.M. Dillard
*Spock Must Die! - James Blish
*The Lost Years - J.M. Dillard
A Flag Full of Stars - Brad Ferguson
*Crucible: McCoy - David R. George III
*Crucible: Spock - David R. George III
Crucible: Kirk - David R. George III

The Prometheus Design - Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath
Perry's Planet - Jack C. Haldeman II
The Galactic Whirlpool - David Gerrold
Death's Angel - Kathleen Sky
World Without End - Joe Haldeman
The Fate of the Phoenix - Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath
*Spock, Messiah! - Theodore R. Cogswell, and Charles A Spano Jr.
Star Trek 3 - Adapted by James Blish
The Motion Picture the Photostory -  Richard J. Anobile
The Wrath of Khan the Photostory - Richard J. Anobile
Fotonovel 1 City on the Edge of Forever - Mandala Productions
Fotonovel 8 A Piece of the Action - Mandala Productions
Fotonovel 9 The Devil in the Dark - Mandala Productions
Fotonovel 12 Amok Time - Mandala Productions
VOY The Garden - Melissa Scott
VOY Ghost Dance Dark Matters - Christie Golden
VOY Her Klingon Soul - Michael Jan Friedman
New Frontier Book One - Peter David
New Frontier Book Three - Peter David
*NF Excalibur Renaissance - Peter David
Invasion! First Strike - Diane Carey

The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh Volume One (HC) - Greg Cox
Crisis on Centaurus (HC) - Brad Ferguson
The Wounded Sky (HC) - Diane Duane
*The Search for Spock (HC) - Vonda N. McIntyre
The Covenant of the Crown (HC) - Howard Weinstein
*The Vulcan Academy Murders (HC) - Jean Lorrah
The Ashes of Eden (HC) - William Shatner
The Final Reflection (HC) - John M. Ford
*My Enemy, My Ally (HC) - Diane Duane
Mission to Horatius (HC) - Mack Reynolds
*Vulcan's Forge (HC) - Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz
*Sarek (HC) - A.C. Crispin

My Own Little Corner of Heaven - A Salute to Greatness

Just about half of all my Star Trek and Doctor Who belongings take up a single corner of my (shared) bedroom. Basically, I have this kind of shrine made up of a desk with some shelves piled on top of it holding my books, magazines, figures, unlimited rice pudding, etcetera (bonus points to anyone who got that reference).

Anyways - while playing around with my new camera the other day, I took some photos of this cluttered contraption and the belongings which I hold so very dear (click to enlarge):

To those who have been following my blog up until this point, many of these items will look familiar. If you would direct your attention to the photos directly below:

You would see (especially if you enlarged the photo) many fantastic things such as: the Portal cake. Pictures of myself in Vulcan dress with Robert Picardo and Tim Russ. A paper model of the Enterprise. A portion of my Star Trek and Doctor Who novels. My kalimba and wooden harp. Random printed out pictures stuck to the wall. A newspaper clipping that reads "Crucifixion Draws Crowd". Every TOS episode on DVD, guarded by Daleks. A TARDIS. Metal Box (PiL). Some of my arts and crafts. My action figures. Tons of Manic Street Preachers and PiL CDs. A 3D holographic Dalek poster. An ant playing a trumpet, whom I named Adam Ant and is from Whoville. Star Trek movies. A newspaper cut-out of Sheldon and Leonard in their underwear. I could go on, but instead I will move on to the bottom...

Down here we have fun things like Star Trek: The Game. A tricorder. Star Trek Magazines. More Star Trek and Doctor Who novels. Star Trek and Doctor Who hardcovers. The floor. And if you look in behind the books, you will see Richey Edwards poking his head out from under the desk.

The rest of my things are on (hyperbole time again!) a million other shelves in my room, and my comics are in boxes. I love my room - it is filled with everything I have ever loved, but in excess. I swear to you now, there is nothing better.

Woochie Space Ear Tips Vs. Rubies Classic Spock Ears

For the last Star Trek convention I went as a Vulcan Priestess (going by the name T'Laina) to meet Robert Picardo and Tim Russ (both very nice people, by the way!). Tim Russ and I had a wonderful conversation about Vulcan costuming and T'Lar, and I posed for pictures with my fellow convention-goers. (Getting to the point) During this time, I was wearing "Woochie Space Ear Tips" to complete my look:

It's like if Sarek had caterpillars for eyebrows.

To give you a quick idea of what they look like when they are on, I took a picture of myself wearing them without any additional makeup or blending (and they need a lot of that). The nice thing about the ear tips is that I can still wear my tunnels and random ear-jewelry:

Since then, I have gotten another pair of ears, these ones being more specific - Rubies Star Trek Classic Spock Ears. These ones cover the entire ear, and have more realistic coloring - they are darker and come with the shading already done. Unfortunately, this pair is fitted for slightly smaller ears than mine (as if only children run around the city with Spock ears!) and my ear lobes practically have to be folded in half to fit.

My camera was broken the other day, so I scanned these.

I actually like the full ears much better than the ear tips, if only they fit better. As you can (obviously) see, I had to hold the bottom down, because not even my spirit gun would keep the bottom in place. (Could my ears really be that big? I'm not a big person!)

In case anyone is wondering, yes - I do have a blond patch of hair near the back. This is what you get when you bleach your hair, and then dye it back dark using box dye when you have long hair and are in a hurry. You end up missing spots, at then when you cut it short again you look like a calico. Not that I mind.

They're not dolls, they're action figures!

I was at the Comic and Toy Expo a couple of months ago, dressed in a home-made Vulcan Priestess costume modeled after T'Lar. It was an amazing experience; I got to talk to Tim Russ and Robert Picardo and get my picture taken with them. They truly are two of the nicest people I have met - and such character!

Aside from striding up timidly (yes, I can stride timidly!) up to celebrities and getting my picture taken by strangers in costume, I had a great time browsing though comics, cards, and action figures.

I came home with bags of merchandise, but one of my favorites was the Star Trek: Amok Time: Kirk and Spock Two-Pack Action Figure Set. Now some people say that I am not much of a collector because I take the sets apart, but I really enjoy my figures - to the point of re-enacting scenes from Amok Time while humming the music loudly and dramatically.

I'll bet that music is playing in your head right now. It just has to be.

These figures are very well made, when compared to Playmates or any of the other Amok Time figures I have seen. And look, the carpeting in the pictures looks just as realistic as some of the backdrops in the unretouched original series! Now THAT is dedication on my part, right?

Now Spock, deep in the Plak Tow, grasps his lirpa menacingly...

Live action shot!

And then we see Jim Kirk, with a strange looking crotch and a slashed chest:

Because his shirt just had to get ripped somehow.

The pack also came with the ceremonial hammer and gong. The gong is great, because it actually breaks apart and can be put together again (these details make all the difference).

Strangely enough, these were actually my first Star Trek figures, along with Captain Spock (whom I will get around to later). I remember really being into Star Trek when I was very young, but then it faded as I grew older. I only really got obsessed again this year - and when I like something, I research it to no end. I read all of the novels. I search the internet. I watch everything remotely related.

It wouldn't have taken you long to realize that just by reading on, though.
I will leave you with this: