5 Fandom Friday Photo Challenge

As many of you guys know, there are always some wonderfully geeky blog topics every week that are always tagged “5 Fandom Friday.” The prompts are always created by  The Nerdiest Girlie and Super Space Chick and are awesome when you’re banging your head against the wall, thinking about possible blog posts.

Well, this month, those awesome ladies introduced a photo challenge of Instagram, and my Instagram account (@meshellyv) will now have photos of these 31 prompts by the time the month is over! 

 The prompts are a fun blend of Fall favorites and geeky loves. Seeing what others snap is pretty amazing. Suddenly, a total stranger is taking a picture that completely speaks to you. Plus, it’s so fun to constantly be on the lookout for a picture that can be that perfect photo or to plan a shot that captures the prompt. Right now, I’m already planning my picture for the Pumpkin Spice prompt, and I’m hoping my total disdain for this flavor ends up creating a great photo! 

If you’re looking for a fun way to express your creativity, give this challenge a try. And don’t forget to tag your photos with #5FFPhoto to share with us! 

5 Fandom Friday-Favorite Fandom Quotes

To be honest, I slacked it quite a bit this summer when it came to blogging.  But this week’s 5 Fandom Friday prompt was too good to ignore. 

I’m a bit of a collector of things, but my favorite things to collect are quotes. And being the fangirl of almost too many fandoms, this was a challenge. I could have easily picked five (or fifty) quotes from Doctor Who alone, but I managed to narrow it down to the quotes that I love the most.

1. “ You know nothing, Jon Snow.” 

You know what? Jon Snow knew a few more things than Ygritte gave him credit for, but I still love this phrase and use it constantly.   

2. “ You’re the one, Buffy.”

In one of the last episodes of the series, Spike tells Buffy exactly why he loves her. And I swoon every time. 

 
3. “ I’m the one who gripped you tight and raised you from perdition.”

There have been many Castiels on Supernatural: crazy Cas, vaguely evil Cas, human Cas, confused while watching porn Cas… and each different Castiel has had some awesome lines. But I decided to go with the quote that introduced us to angel in the trench coat in the first place. And it’s one hell of a quote.  

 
4. “ Raggedy Man…goodnight.”

What was more heartbreaking? Seeing Amy say goodbye to her Raggedy Man or realizing she wasn’t even there??  

  

5. “ I love you.” “ I know.”

Arrogant? Maybe. Sexy? Oh, yeah. Fandom perfection? Duh.  

  
This list could have been so much longer. As it is, I’m kicking myself for leaving out a few Spike favorites. What are some of your favorite fandom quotes? I’d love to hear them!

San Diego Comic Con 2015

It was one week ago today that I said goodbye to San Diego Comic Con. This was my fourth year attending SDCC, and I feel like every year tops the previous one. There are really no words to describe those five days in San Diego- it truly is a very surreal experience. Yes, it is crowded and you wait in lines for pretty much everything, but it is such a phenomenal time. Here are the top five things that I did this year:

1. Camping Overnight in Hall H-

Hall H is famous to con goers. It’s a room that holds 6,500 people, but it’s so much more than that. It’s where movies stars and directors preview their work. A seat in this room is so coveted that people will spend the night outside the Convention Center for a chance. I have never camped out in Hall H, as I really feel like a warm bed and time on the floor and outside the convention center is usually more exciting than a panel I can see later online. But this year I decided to camp out for a chance to see Peter Capaldi and the writers of Doctor Who.  I got in line around 8 pm on Wednesday night. Sleeping on the hard concrete wasn’t the greatest feeling, even though I did have a fluffy blanket. Eventually, we were moved to the tents, where I slept on soft, wet grass. “Sleep” is a bit of an exaggeration. I mostly stayed away, trying to keep warm and reading Twitter. But once we were in Hall H, there was a definite energy. I saw panels with Bill Murray, the cast of Mockingjay, Part 2, Doctor Who, and Con Man (which was one of the best panels I’ve ever seen). Throughout the day, it appeared that people could just walk into Hall H without having camped overnight, but I’m glad I had a chance to experience it. I feel like I earned my con cred.

  
  
2. Offsite Activities-

You hear it from everyone who attends SDCC, but it’s true that even without a badge, there’s so much to do in the Gaslamp District. This year, I did more offsite events than ever. I attended the annual Star Wars breakfast, where fans bonded over their love for the movies and bacon. They also had cute swag bags for all in attendance.  

 
I also went to the amazing SherlokedCC party on the top floor of the San Diego Public Library. The party had it all: killer views, great swag, a fun photo booth, delicious food, and a surprise visit by Sherlock writer Steven Moffat.  I even met the awesome Elle, creator of the Your Friend Elle blog.

 
I also went the Game of Thones Experience the Realm offsite, the Nerdist’s Conival (they had Lego velociraptors!), and the Agents of Shield Wrap Party.

3. Friend Time-

I was able to spend time with great friends who don’t live close to me and met many friends I have on Twitter and Instagram. It’s always so incredible to find that people you talk to on social media are just as amazing, if not more so, IRL. You make friends with people in lines, who become your friends online, who then become your friends in real life. I love it. This year, my Twitter friend Robert (he has a great blog called Legion of Sand) hooked me up with a VIP entrance to the Game of Thrones experience. His wife Stacey had an extra ticket, so I went with her. We geeked over Doctor Who, Supernatural, and obviously Game of Thrones. This is why I love San Diego Comic Con: you really do make friendships based on fandoms.

4. Photo Ops-

No, not the kind with celebrities. But I love taking photos, and SDCC Photo Hunt created by The Nerdy Girlie really had me on the lookout for cool photo ops. I didn’t complete all of them, but I love the ones I did.

  
  
5. Shopping and Swag

I love shopping for my friends who can’t make it to SDCC more than I love shopping for myself. That being said, I found great things for both my friends and me!  

 
I also scored some great free swag on the exhibit floor, including a great Supernatural hoodie, a Game of Thrones t-shirt, novels, and posters.

I absolutely love San Diego Comic Con. The city is beautiful, the energy is palpable, and an unforgettable moment is always to be had. I’m already making plans for next year, and I can’t wait for July 2016.

How about you? Is SDCC on your Con bucket list? 

 

May the Fourth…

My love for the Star Wars universe came at an early, early age. I saw it when A New Hope first came out in theaters, and at the ripe old age of five, I knew I found something amazing. With Empire, I fell in love with Han Solo. Hard. In the sixth grade, spurred on by our love of Return of the Jedi, my best friend and I created a Jedi Club. We “trained” at a local park using the monkey bars and declared our love in writing for Harrison Ford or Mark Hamill. I chose Ford;  she chose Hamill, a decision that still haunts her. 

Fast forward a whole lot of years to this April, when I was able to attend Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim. It was like a mini Comic Con solely for Star Wars. There’s something incredibly cool about being surrounded with thousands of people who love something  as much as you do, maybe even more.

  
 The cosplay was amazing, the fan-made props were incredible, and the amount of really awesome and necessary merchandise was extensive. I unfortunately missed the world premiere trailer of The Force Awakens at the J.J. Abrahams panel, and I only made it to one other panel. Too much time was spent just taking it all in. 

 

Just another day at Celebration

  

Roxy the Rancor

  

Admiral Ackbar Sushi Set!

 

I have a weakness for Stormtroopers

Good times in the Rancor Pit

  
Next year, Celebration will be in London, and I’m so glad I went this year. California is a bit closer than England.

May the Fourth be with you. Now go watch The Force Awakens trailer again. You know you want to. I know I do. 

Pros and Cons

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to score badges to San Diego Comic Con after being shut out at the Pre-Registration sale in November. My best friend and I left nothing to chance and situated ourselves in a computer lab at her school. We had Comic Con IDs that we created plus some that our friends created for us to use. I had friends also trying for me in Arizona and California. I got in at the  same time my friend in Arizona did, within the first few minutes of the sale! I even managed to score badges for a friend who was not having any luck. I can’t wait for July because SDCC is always an incredible experience.



We weren’t messing around this time!



But before SDCC, I’m going to dabble my feet in the con pool by attending Star Wars Celebration in April. I’ll be doing this con by myself, but I’m so excited! As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I cannot wait to see what they have in store, especially with the release of the newest film in December. Another draw of this con? Disneyland is right there. 

Scruffy-looking nerf herder

I can’t wait to see what’s in store at these cons. As a very popular kickstarter project is proving on Indiegogo, cons are truly unique events where anything can and usually does happen. (And totally check out that Con Man project- anything with Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion is going to be awesome).

What about you? Any conventions in your future? 

5 Fandom Friday: Fictional Boyfriends



Leave it to The Nerdy Girlie to come up with a 5 Fandom Friday that would make me remember my little neglected blog. In truth, the topic should be top 5 fictional BFF’s, but the boyfriend topic is just a lot more fun! My list of fictional boyfriends is quite extensive, but here are my Top 5:

1. Ben Wyatt– A handsome nerd who geeks out over the Iron Throne, creates his own board game, cosplays as Batman, AND dresses as Wesley from The Princess Bride for Halloween? Ben Wyatt is the nerdy girl’s ultimate boyfriend. 



2. Indiana Jones– Glasses and professorial suit, whip and satchel, it does not matter. He has been my fictional crush since I first saw Raiders of the Lost Ark when I was in 4th grade! (Yeah, I’m that old).  Intelligence, wit, and that face…done.



3. Han Solo-I know, I know. Another Harrison Ford role, but every girl needs a surprisingly honorable scoundrel in her life now and then. Scruffy looking nerf-herder indeed.



4. The Doctor– Now, this isn’t really a way to cheat and fit several people in one slot. I love every Doctor, and even though they have different faces, they are the same person, so it totally counts. That being said, I do have favorites (Bow ties, Converse, and Scottish accents).



5. Steve Rogers/Captain America– Brave. Noble. Strong enough to pick me up as if I was only a feather. And have you seen him run? It’s a thing of beauty. On your left…



How about you? Do you have any fictional crushes? 



5 Fandom Friday: My Favorite Funko Pop Figures

Yikes, I’m posting this right under the wire, but I figure it’s still Friday somewhere.

I knew I couldn’t resist writing about this week’s 5 Fandom Friday, which is a series of blogging prompts from The Nerdy Girlie and Super Space Chick. An entire post about Funko Pop figurines? I’m so in. I have my Funko Pop figurines scattered all around my classroom and on my bookshelves. My friends think I am crazy to trust them with my students, but strangely enough, the kids are great with them. They race inside my classroom to claim the one they can have on their desk for the class period. Listen, if having a cute plastic toy on your desk helps you survive a lesson about direct objects, go for it. I totally get it. So here are my favorites:
1. Baby Groot- He’s my most recent purchase, but darn if he’s not also the cutest.

2. Invisible Bilbo- I am a Hobbit and Lord of the Rings nerd, through and through. I love that even though he’s “invisible,” you can still see the Ring of Power on his finger.

3. Rocket and 4. Groot- Another Groot? Yup. And I have to say, you can’t have Groot without Rocket, can you?

5. Lumiere- I love Disney. I mean, LOVE. And I have several Disney Pops, including the animated version of Malificent, which was my very first Funko Pop I bought nearly four years ago. But Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie. Besides having a heroine who actually, you know, thinks and reads, it features a French candlestick that can put the moves on a sexy duster.

Sometimes I wonder if I really need another Funko Pop figurine in my life (and classroom), but then I’ll read about the upcoming Doctor Who Pops or see a picture of Gus Gus in A GLASS SLIPPER. And suddenly, I already know exactly where I’m going to put them.
Any other crazy Funko collectors out there? Which ones are you currently coveting?

Flashback Friday: Singin’ in the Rain

Yesterday, snow hit my Texas town. My students were entranced by the flurries of fat snowflakes, and while we all waited for the principal to call an early dismissal, the kids danced and ran and jumped in the snow. Pure joy. When I finally made it home, the snow had stopped, but the joy continued when I turned on TCM and saw “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Released in 1952 and starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds, the movie, set in the 1920’s, is about a popular silent movie star whose star may now be fading with the release of “talkies.”

The story is filled with wonderful acting (Jean Hagen as the ditzy, vain movie star Lena Lamont is hilarious) and some great songs (I defy you to hear “Good Morning” and not smile), but the standouts in this musical are the dance numbers. Donald O’Connor’s acrobatics in “Make ‘Em Laugh” defy the laws of physics. And no one danced like Gene Kelly, who was so masculine and graceful at the same time.

When I watched Kelley splash around joyfully in his famous “Singin’ in the Rain,” I was thought three things: 1) I saw that exact same happiness earlier in the day with my kids dancing in the snow, 2) I could watch Kelly dance forever, and 3) I’ve never wanted to be an umbrella so badly in my life.

Project 365

One of the things I really want to do this year is take more photos. I just downloaded the Project 365 Pro app to help me with this goal. I’ve used it in the past with some success, but a stolen phone kept me from completing the whole year.

I think of this app not only as a visual diary, but also as a push to help me be more creative by looking at things from different perspectives and finding beauty in the ordinary.

Only 364 more days to go!

Nerdy New Year’s Resolutions

Sure, the old standbys are still true: be more organized, run more, conquer Tree pose without tipping over, actually get to a damned yoga class…
But I have a few nerdy resolutions that are just as important. Let’s do this.

1. Score SDCC Badges:
Back in November, my nerdy luck finally ran out and I didn’t score badges for me or the best friend. As the spinning blue circle continued to taunt me, it was clear that not only was 4 Days + Preview night out of the question, I wouldn’t even get a Sunday badge.
Unthinkable. Unacceptable. Unpossible. Impossible.

So, at the top of this list is to get those badges, continue my yearly pilgrimage to San Diego, and blissfully stand in line for hours for a panel. I don’t know what it’s going to take, but this is my Hunger Games. And I’m freaking Katniss, albeit without the awesome archery skills.

2. Blog More:
First of all, can this entry count? Between work and life and the thousands of papers that need to be graded, sometimes all I want to do is marathon a few episodes of Parks and Rec and just escape. I suppose I could always write about my Netflix dependency. BOOM. There’s a possible entry right there.
But seriously, blog more, think about blogging more less.

3. Continue Nerdy Adventures:
Last year was filled with incredibly nerdy travel experiences that I could check off my bucket list: visiting Harry Potter Studios, Platform 9 3/4, and 221 B. Baker Street in London, seeing where J.K. Rowling wrote in Edinburgh, flying the TARDIS with the Eleventh Doctor in Cardiff, sitting in the Iron Throne at San Diego Comic Con. I was so lucky.

A month ago, I impulsively bought tickets to Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim. I’m going Solo (see what I did there?), but I hope this will lead to more cons and nerdy travel experiences, if nothing else than to help with #2.

I’m sure I could list more, but I do have that Tree pose to do, so it’s best not to spread myself too thin. How about you guys? Do you have any nerdy resolutions? I’d love to hear them!

Happy New Year’s, friends. 2014 was a fabulous year, but 2015 is going to bring us Jurassic Park, Star Wars, and the Avengers. And that’s just movies! I have a feeling 2015 is going to be an awesome year.