Remembering Mission to Horatius

"Mission to Horatius": until "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", it was the first Trek adventure in which both Janice Rand and Pavel Chekov appear.

I had a weird/joyful experience with "Mission to Horatius" (1968). One Christmas, my grandmother gave my brother and I a "Whitman Authorized TV Editions" book each one Christmas. I received "I Spy" ("Message from Moscow" by Brandon Keith), based on a show my Dad really loved on TV, and my younger brother received "Star Trek", based on a show we knew about, but did not watch as a family. I had a stint in bed, confined with a bad flu bug, and I finally read both books (and many other unread books on our shelves). I quite enjoyed "Mission to Horatius", but the rat story reminded me too much of "The Trouble With Tribbles" when I eventually saw that episode in 1975.

The Whitman books eventually moved to "the toy box" in my brother's room. After our teens, my brother moved out and I discovered Trek via "The Motion Picture" in December 1979. A few weeks later, I was rummaging second hand stores for Bantam and Ballantine Trek tie-ins, and found a bagged "Mission to Horatius" for about $AU 70.00 - a huge amount, especially in those days. I couldn't get home quick enough. A quick rummage through "the toy box" of stuff my brother had left behind... and there it was. Such a thrill, even though I knew the store had overinflated their price.

Eventually, Pocket Books would release an authorised "facsimile edition" reprint (1996):

More recently, I decided I needed the Whitman "Green Hornet" title ("The Case of the Disappearing Doctor", also by Brandon Keith) for my "Batman '66" collection as well, resulting in several weeks of frantic eBay patrolling. (I think I also have a copy of "Mission Impossible: The Money Explosion" by Talmage Powell, in storage. It was sent to me by a friend, who had noticed that Leonard Nimoy appeared on the cover as his character, Paris.

Ranking Star Trek movie soundtracks

A thread on TrekBBS asked us to rank our favourite "Star Trek" movie soundtracks. I do enjoy all of them very much but, if pressed, I would have to put them in order of most-listened-to, I guess.

1. "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" by Jerry Goldsmith has to come first. One of the first movie soundtrack LPs I ever bought (with a gift voucher from my 21st birthday, a few nights after hearing how great the movie premiere was from a school friend at my party). Played the soundtrack many times before actually seeing the movie. Then loved it even more.

2. "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" - because I already owned Leonard Rosenman's soundtrack for Ralph Bakshi's animated "The Lord of the Rings", so I was very familiar to the style long before ST IV came to cinemas).

3. "Star Trek: Insurrection" and "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" (tie) - there are parts of these soundtracks that are just magical in the way that they tease out familiar Goldsmith music.

5. "Star Trek" (2009) - Love this so much. Rousing music, great to write with some Michael Giacchino Trek in the background.

6. "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" - Cliff Eidelman (as producer) had already been involved with an anniversary collection, "The Astral Symphony", which has music from the first five movies, so I was intrigued - especially since director Nick Meyer had tried to get the rights to Gustav Holst's "The Planets" suite for VI, which I remember fondly from high school. A great compromise.

7. "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" and "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (tie) - enjoyable, although ST II took a little getting used to after TMP. Parts are so reminiscent of James Horner's "Battle Beyond the Stars" and the two "Cocoon" films, and I played those soundtrack LPs often while waiting between Trek movies.

9. "Star Trek: First Contact" - very different Goldsmith to everything else. I had to keep the original release because the extended version omits Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" and Roy Orbison's "Ooby Dooby".

10. "Star Trek Into Darkness" and "Star Trek Beyond" (tie) - I don't listen to these as often as the 2009 film, but I do appreciate Giacchino's work and JJ's ongoing loyalty to him.

12. "Star Trek Nemesis" - nothing really gripping from Goldmith this time, but I do love the end credits that incorporate the TV series' theme music and "Blue Skies" by Irving Berlin. I wish I'd enjoyed the movie more. The whole "Blue Skies" song, sung by Brent Spiner (Data), is on the extended album - and was recently reprised so beautifully and appropriately by Isa Briones (Data's twin daughters, Dahj/Soji) in "Star Trek: Picard".

13. "Star Trek Generations" - the one I play least and the main theme I have the most problem recalling. Sorry Dennis McCarthy.

The kitchen dresser

In the 1960s, confiscated toys went to the very top of our kitchen dresser.

My younger brother was notorious for coming home from school with small toys obtained by curious means. There was a set of styrofoam toy aeroplane models, "Flying Things", sold at the corner shop. (Probably by Scanlens in Australia, not Topps USA.) Today's equivalent would be "Kinder Surprise" eggs. One didn't know what toy you had until you opened it up after paying for it. My mother took the slim envelope from my brother - and put it up onto the dresser. We never found out what plane he had! It was up there for five years!

Another time, my brother came home with the first "Bendy" toy I ever saw. They were all the rage at school for a few weeks, and he tried bringing one home. The Bendy was called "Mr Zebra", I think, but I don't know why. I've never seen one again and he fails to show up in Google searches. So far. I think this character had a bowler hat and the typical skinny limbs with wire inside.

I also remember the day my mother put both of these confiscated items out with the old toys being sent off to The Smith Family appeal when we were getting ready to move house in 1971. ("Can we just see what plane is in the envelope?" "NO.")

The top of the dresser was also where the plastic kazoo lived. Only ever lasted about 20 minutes before it went back up there again.

Thanks to The Topps Archives for unravelling part of this mystery for me.

Earth Hour 2020

#EarthHourDay

The search for homeostasis

Where have I been?

Two weeks into Term 1 of 2019's school term year, I officially "separated from the NSW Department of Education". Despite keeping tabs on the doings of my teacher-librarian colleagues, I haven't felt a burning desire to do any casual teaching or library work. Instead, have renewed my writing efforts on some fiction manuscripts and started making preparations for a future career(?) as a massage therapist. Recent changes in courses and career paths (to formalise which courses' graduates can access health fund rebates for their clients) saw me gravitate towards a Diploma of Remedial Massage rather than a Certificate 4 course. Endeavour College in the Sydney CBD offered my best option and I have just completed my first ten weeks of study. Some days, it hardly feels like studying: ie. give a massage, receive a massage, break for lunch, repeat. Now that's the way to study.

First homework involved removing a ring that has been stuck on my finger for about ten years...

All of which led to a firm resolve to lose some weight. This was a momentous landmark.

A few weeks into the course, the other students and I spent a day volunteering at the City2Surf marathon, massaging doctors and nurses who have their annual post-race gathering on the roof of Bondi Surf Club. (Talk about being "thrown into the deep end".)

We are expected to do at least two practice massages per week to consolidate our skills. When human volunteer crash test dummies aren't available for practice sessions, there are always other stand-ins...

Finding my way around the college LMS (learning management system) has made the last ten weeks relatively easy. Certainly a different way of submitting assignments since my last full-time course in 1990. Now I can take a three-week breather before the next term commences...

Meanwhile, I am back to writing Draft #2 of a Young Adult novel manuscript. No rest for the wicked, even a retired teacher-librarian.

Earth Hour 2019

#Connect2Earth

Again, Earth Hour

Earth Hour - #connect2earth

Earth Hour 2017

Earth Hour

Year 4 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 2

Week 2: Feathered animal.

Watercolour painting of an extinct, feathered Velociraptor, based on my own photograph of a model featured in the Tyrannosaurs exhibit of 2013 at the Australian Museum, Sydney. Highlights and shading in white pigment Signo, watercolour pencils and black finepoint Sharpie. In 2010, scientists discovered proof that many dinosaurs had feathers and, through a study of fossilised melanosomes (pigment-bearing organelles), they were able to ascertain some of the feather colours of Chinese dinosaurs!

Year 4 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 1

Week 1: Whimsy.

"Ready for a night out." Sketch in black Sharpie, watercolour pencils and white opaque Signo pigment ink on watercolour paper.

Update:

Week 1: Whimsy II.

"Working for peanuts." Watercolour and brown, black and white markers.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 52

Week 52: Reflection.

"The witch's mirror." Sketch in black and silver Sharpies, with red, yellow and blue coloured pencil.

Update:

Week 52: Reflection II.

"Duck on the pond." Freecut silhouette symmetrical collage using metallic bronze card, watercolour pencils, white Signo pigment ink and black Sharpie. Based on a photo viewed in Google Images.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 51

Week 51: Celebrate.

"Celebrating in their snowglobes." Sketch in watercolour, and black and brown Sharpie on watercolour paper. Snow created with masking fluid.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 50

Week 50: Festive.

Symmetrical collage and freehand white opaque Signo drawings and black pencil and Sharpie shading, mounted onto Quill Metallique card.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 49

Week 49: Gift.

"Always one in reserve." Cartoon in finepoint black Sharpie on watercolour paper, coloured with watercolours, white opaque Signo and red Sharpie.

Redbubble for art by andorianlad (Ian McLean)

I finally set up a Redbubble page to host my art on various stationery, clothing and drinkware products - even clocks and phone covers!

Click www.redbubble.com/people/andorianlad/ and scroll down to see themed categories and the full range of products! Service seems to be very efficient!

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 48

Week 48: Clocks.

"Cassius Cuckoo, Magic Circle Club." From the early 60s Australian TV series, Cassius lived in a longcase cuckoo clock and told a daily riddle sent in by viewers. Symmetrical collage and watercolour, mounted onto corrugated cardboard.

Update:

Week 48: Clocks II.

"Time flies." Quick sketch in black Sharpie with highlights in white opaque Signo, metallic gold Sharpie and watercolours.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 47

Week 47: Buildings.

"1960s Street". Sketch in finepoint Sharpie, with watercolours, white opaque Signo, yellow pencil and collaged road markings on watercolour paper. Based on a photo found in a Facebook image search.

Update:

Week 47: Buildings II.

"King Kong hug." Quick sketch in black and brown Sharpies with highlights in white opaque Signo and watercolours.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 46

Week 46: Treehouse.

Torn paper and corrugated cardboard collage with black ballpoint detail.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 45

Week 45: Zebra.

"Deconstructed zebras." Freecut zebra silhouettes in cartridge paper, collaged onto card and striped fabric.

Update:

Week 45: Zebra II.

"What's black and white and red all over? A sunburned zebra and a newspaper." Freehand sketch of a zebra in black Sharpie with a watercolour wash and collaged newsprint. I found an ironic headline to suit this big news week.

Year 3 of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 44

Week 44: Spain.

Sketch in red and black Sharpie on white card, based on several Google Image photo references.

Update:

Week 44: Spain II.

"The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain." Cartridge papers of various colours, mesh baking sheet and photocopied flowers, collaged onto pink card. Some brown Sharpie shading. Inspiration from a Google Image search of publicity stills of Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady).