Phoenix Comicon ... again!

Move over Evil Wil Wheaton! I am seriously geeking out over the guestlist for the upcoming Phoenix Comicon:

• William Shatner
• Patrick Stewart
• LeVar Burton
• Michael Dorn
• Marina Sirtis
• Brent Spiner

Shall I see you there?

Punxsutawney Addie

Members of the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle await Punxsutawney Phil.

If ever there was a holiday that a time-traveling doll could sink her two vinyl teeth into, it's Groundhog Day.

Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on Feb. 2 in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day then spring will come early. If it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks.

The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pa. The celebration began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries. An early American reference to Groundhog Day can be found in a diary entry dated Feb. 4, 1841, of Berks County, Pa., storekeeper James Morris:

Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.

Groundhog Day received widespread attention as a result of the 1993 film Groundhog Day, which was set in Punxsutawney and portrayed Punxsutawney Phil.

In the movie, TV weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is sent to Punxsutawney to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities. But on his way out of town, Phil is caught in a giant blizzard (which he failed to predict) and finds himself stuck in Punxsutawney. Just when things couldn't get worse, they do; Phil awakes the next morning to find it's Groundhog Day all over again... and again... and again....

I'm sure you can see the appeal to me.

And what is my prediction?

Since I am afraid of nothing, especially my shadow, spring will be here soon!

All I ask is a tall ship

I am now firmly convinced that Momma's friend Jen can crochet anything. Take a look at this beauty, which puts me in mind of the poem Sea-Fever.

http://justforfun2291.blogspot.com/

Sea-Fever is a poem by 20th century English Poet Laureate John Masefield which includes the line "all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by."

Captain James T. Kirk first quoted from Sea-Fever in TOS: The Ultimate Computer to Leonard McCoy.

Kirk quoted from the poem again in ST: The Final Frontier while aboard a shuttlecraft approaching the Enterprise-A in one of the best scenes from Star Trek movies: 

Kirk: All I ask is a tall ship, and a star to steer by. 
McCoy: Melville... 
Spock: ...John Masefield. 
McCoy: Are you sure about that?
Spock: I am well versed in the classics, Doctor. 
McCoy: Then how come you don't know "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"?

And finally, Quark paraphrased it in DS9: Little Green Men while aboard his ship Quark's Treasure, saying "all I ask is a tall ship...and a load of contraband to fill her with."

I agree with Quark and Jen's ship needs a tiny pirate flag.

Sea-Fever

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

http://craftyiscool.blogspot.com

Jokingly, I asked if she could crochet me a zeppelin. Then I found this.

Oh Jen....