M.L. Crabb's Blog: The Command Deck, page 5

Vancouver: Part 2

A Man in the High Castle storyTechnically this isn’t Vancouver, and I was going to save these photos for last because it was the final part of my journey, but I was inspired to write a #HighCastle mini story, so here we are! I took the photos at Snoqualmie Falls in Washington State.


The Bird in the WoodsTakes place during Season 1: Episode 10
The morning chill stung his nose, but his heart was racing so fast that he did not feel it. A breeze rustled through the giant pine trees, creating an eerie whir. As he walked beside the man who had orchestrated the assassination attempt on his life, John thought about Helen and the children. If anything should happen to them…

Helen was a strong woman, a good woman. She knew what to do.

He was tempted to suck in a sharp breath, but that would reveal the fear threatening to consume him. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of what is right. 

As their boots padded along the silent trail, a steady roar began to permeate through the morning mist. A bird chirped overhead, and John slowed his pace. His nemeses shot him a sideways glance.

“Have you seen the waterfall?” he asked.

“I have no desire to,” Heydrich replied. “It’s best to stay on the trail. We have much to discuss. It’s time to end the silence between us.”

“Indeed,” John replied. The trail wrapped around a tree, and John knew that, like it or not, Heydrich would get a view of the falls. The roar grew louder, and the moisture in the air began to stick to his face.

The trail wove them around an ancient tree as wide as a vehicle. The waterfall burst through the foliage, and John shot his nemeses a look.


“You get your wish, Smith,” Heydrich said, his tone even. Another bird chirped overhead, its cries muffled by the power of the water. It chirped three times before John began walking again. Heydrich issued a wry laugh.

“For a second there, Smith…”

John did not answer. He did not need to. His man was in place. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, prickling the hairs on the back of his neck.

Whatever happens, Helen, I love you. 

... Fin ...

Vancouver Part 1

There is no way that this isn’t going to be a post about The Man in the High Castle ;) I mean, they filmed in Vancouver! My work trips are busy, so I take every last free second I get. From waking up at the crack of dawn every morning to using the few precious free-hours the first day, I explore what I can.

Sunrise in Vancouver
I sat on my balcony that first morning and watched the sun rise over the harbor. It was such a wonderful moment of pure peace! The cool morning breeze was quiet as I looked across the water. I felt an air of introspection and absolute happiness. I can’t help but wonder if the cast & crew had ever watched the sunrise and if they felt the same way.

Before I left for this trip, I looked up High Castle filming locations and mapped out the one closest to where I was going to be, and thankfully, there was one was within walking distance.

It was awesome to see something in the show up close. I am so thankful for those precious few hours that first day!

Sunrise -- Season 1: Episode 2
Smith’s headquarters building.




Screencaps of the scene where Smith and Klemm walk inside. 
As always, please read my disclaimer below. 


Please read!

The End of the Worlds

My favorite show, Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle is coming to an end this fall. The announcement and teaser trailer dropped when I was away on a work trip (in case you missed me!).


I haven’t gotten a chance to fully process the fact that Season 4 will be the last of the show that I love and have dedicated a considerable amount of my time and energy to—I wouldn’t trade all of the High Castle things I’ve created for the world! It’s been a huge part of my life ever since I saw Season 1 in 2016.

The melancholy mood of this sketch says it all! 
I honestly don’t know what I’ll do after Season 4. As I said, High Castle has been a huge part of my life for the past three years. It is a bittersweet feeling for me. While I’m glad they aren’t dragging it out, I am sad to see my beloved characters go. I wasn't quite ready for that announcement yet.

As I sit here thinking about all the wonderful friends I’ve made through the show, I smile, so I’ll end this by saying that I want to give the cast and crew a proper thank you for everything.

~~~

Talisman

I’ve been racking my brain for interesting topics to ramble about for the past few weeks. When you open a blank document and stare at it for the millionth time in a row, it’s time scour the Internet for ideas.

I found a bunch of prompts here: https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/

I did what any sensible person would do to pick a prompt. I closed my eyes, scrolled up and down, moved my mouse all over the screen, and clicked a random spot.

Talisman

After I opened my eyes and saw this prompt, I sat in my chair and stared into space. Do I have something that I carry around with me all the time? Do I have a good luck charm?

Back in the early 2000s (in my AF days), my mother sent me a beautiful necklace with a thoughtful letter attached. I wore it whenever I traveled or was deployed. It gave me a sense of peace. My rational side knew it was just a pretty necklace, but it made me feel safe for some unknown, unexplainable reason. Perhaps it was the intent behind the gift.

That was a long time ago. 2019 me doesn’t wear the same necklace every day, and I don’t carry anything special in my pocket—but worry not, friends, for the necklace is tucked away in a little keepsake box. ;) I will never part with it.

 So I got to thinking. Is there something that I *do* carry with me at all times?

Yes.

Does it have magic powers?

Not in the modern sense, but it is a powerful object. It contains the world at my fingertips, and I do not leave the house without it.

What is it?
 Though, I’m sure you have guessed by now, for you probably carry one too. 

My cellphone.

I can look up anything at a moment’s notice. When I’m away from home, I can communicate with my husband. I can order anything in the world. I can buy a plane, train, or bus ticket and go anywhere I’d like with just a few swipes of my thumb. It can direct me to the nearest coffee shop in the city, and it can hold a treasure trove of my drafts and scribbles.

It may not bring good luck in the supernatural sense of the word, but I sure as hell will have a bad time without it.

Walking around NYC: Give me Those TMITHC Vibes!

I just got back from the first trip of the new year, and let me just say that being in New York City has rekindled my love for The Man in the High Castle. I mean, these photos. Look at them. I can imagine Smith peering out his window or speeding down the streets in his staff car. I can picture Joe driving a delivery truck or walking along the sidewalk on his way to see Rita and Buddy.

 

I got myself a few souvenirs to go on my High Castle shelf. I couldn’t resist. The gift shop I purchased them from had all kinds of NYC trinkets (that goes without saying), and I probably would have purchased the entire store had I enough money. Needless to say, there will be some High Castle aesthetic photos in the near future.


With my passion for the show renewed, I got to thinking. What is my favorite season? Episode? Who is my favorite character (besides Smith)? I’ve never sat down and done an all-time favorite list for this show.

Top 5 episodes:
All of Season 1
Three Monkeys (S1:E6)I remember being blown away when I first watched this episode. I love everything about it, especially all of the cunning twists and turns on Smith’s part. When the camera pans on Smith’s face at the end as he holds his drink, his expression still sends chills down my spine.A Way Out (S1:E10)I could spend an entire post discussing this episode and why I rank it #2. For now, I’ll just mention the final scene between Wagner and Hitler—powerful and tragic at the same time.Kintsugi (S2:E6)Tagomi connecting with his family in the other world and trying to mend the damage his alternate self created is why I rank this one at #3. I cannot get over the touching way he repaired the mug with his grandson’s name on it.Duck and Cover (S2:E5)Luke Kleintank deserves an Emmy for his performance (I know I say that a lot about High Castle, but I mean it). When he found out that he was Lebensborn and broke down in that abandoned nursery, I felt my heart break!Revelations (S1:E4)This is one of those episodes where the soundtrack was spot on every second of the way. Frank’s most powerful moment was when he lowered the gun.I’m going to talk about my favorite scenes in a future post because I feel that there are enough of them to rank—the same goes for characters too!

December Reflections

We are in the second half of December, where the new year is glimmering just beyond the horizon. Christmas is almost here, and so is the season of setting new goals and striving to reach new heights--I realize I just sounded like a commercial for a gym membership, but hey, ‘tis the season!

I like to look back at my previous goals and see if I remembered what I wrote and if I accomplished what I had set out to do. Let’s take a look at December 2017.

My goal for 2018 is to finally—once and for all—to crack out of my shy Internet-self shell! I’m not a Marvel character with a quick, witty quip for every occasion. I’m not the most hyper active conversationalist, especially on the fast-paced platform that is Twitter (home of High Castle happenings).

Well…I definitely forgot I wrote that, ha ha! My how things have changed! Mission accomplished? I feel like this is an ancient fear I had back in the Beforetimes or something. The key to this endeavor was not giving a fuck. That’s it. I stopped stressing out over sounding “buzz worthy.” Trying to sound like someone else just because they get thousands of likes and follows is not the way to go. Trust me.

Let's look at the short list of goals I made in 2017.

1. Taking my art to new levels

I’d say I improved a lot! I never thought in a million years I’d do realism. This is all thanks to the wonderful friends I’ve made via The Man in the High Castle and the amazing people who have worked on the show. You give me so much motivation to continue creating art! THANK YOU. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

2. Getting my novel, Sisters, polished and ready to publish

I am slowly getting there. 2018 made certain themes difficult.

3. Creating more black and white photo aesthetics

I forgot about this one, and I think this morphed into pencil sketches.

Okay, so now that’s out of the way, what do I want to do in 2019? 

I refuse to give up on Sisters just because of “the times.” I suppose this is my next fear to get over. I mean if someone doesn’t read the disclaimers I have plastered everywhere, then that is their problem. I don't say this to be mean, but there is a frightening, growing trend of glossing over disclaimers, letters from the author, and wanting to ban books that may have something controversial in them. I'm going to be honest: this trend scared me away from Sisters for a time (no matter how fierce my disclaimer was or how Ann and Kathy began to question their environment, I was still terrified of moving forward). I ended up hiring a professional beta reader, and I'm glad I did! They gave me excellent, well written feedback that I’m going to use to improve the story.

Continue to improve my art!

Maybe make art/peg dolls a side gig and start selling it? I am giving this some serious thought!

Continue to fight my inner shyness. This has always been a struggle for me. I’ve lost count the number of times I didn’t get credit for something due to my inherent inclination to say nothing because people are scary (lol!). I made huge strides this year, especially at work (where it counts!) and want to continue this.

Here’s to hoping 2019 is a year of joy, progress, and peace!

What do you want to accomplish in 2019?

Kindness Matters

In this era of lightning fast doom and gloom news and social media tirades, the beautiful side of humanity is often drowned out and shoved to the back. We forget to pause and remember the little things, the tiny gestures that restore our faith in humanity. 

Kindness matters.

If I ever ran for president, this would be my platform.


“Teacher, I have the wrong coins.” 

Let’s rewind this a bit…okay, a lot. Let’s go all the way back to grade school. I was 5 or 6 years old, and my family was extremely poor. I remember the powdered milk that came in boxes and getting hand-me-downs from some of the other children in Sunday school. We even qualified for discounted school lunches at 40 cents.

Young me knew what three coins I had to bring: a big one, a small one, and a tiny one (a quarter, nickel, and dime). One morning, I only had the tiny and small one. I put them in my pocket and worried all morning about not having the big one. The teacher had us line up for lunch, after which, she’d lead us out of the classroom and into the cafeteria.

My nerves nagged at my senses, and I thought for sure the lunch lady was going to send me right to detention without lunch for not having the big coin. I panicked and shuffled my feet to the end of the line. The teacher noticed that I looked upset and asked what was wrong.

“Teacher, I have the wrong coins!” I wailed. I produced the dime and nickel, showing them to her in my tiny, trembling palm. “I need a big one and I don’t have a big one!”

“It’s okay,” she said in a soft voice. She started digging in her large purse. “Here you go,” she smiled, placing a quarter into my hand. Relief washed over me as I stared at the three coins.
…
This is one of those memories that has always stayed with me. That teacher made sure that I would not go hungry that day, and I’ll never forget that moment of kindness when she placed the quarter into my open palm. They wouldn’t have given me detention for something like that, but when you’re a little kid at school, EvErYtHiNg is scary enough for detention! 

It’s gestures like this that should be spread all over social media. It’s moments like this that restore my faith in humanity.

Do you have a memory that you'll forever hold onto because someone was kind to you?

Be kind out there,
~mlc

A Thanksgiving to Remember

As Thanksgiving approaches (with lightning speed, I might add), I’ve been walking down memory lane and revisiting past holidays. As the years go by, fewer and fewer stick out in my mind (what can I say? It’s a side effect of getting older ;) ), but there will always be a select few that I’ll always remember and treasure forever.

One of the few I can still picture in vivid detail was my first Thanksgiving away from home.

It was 1999, and I was fresh out of Basic Training. That September, I was sent to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi for tech school. I volunteered for the drill team right out of the gate. I loved the marches, formations, my teammates, and the comradery; hell, I loved everything about Keesler. To this day, I look fondly on the time I spent there.

Let's fast forward to November of that same year because this will end up being a novel if I don’t!

The powers that be did what they could to let us go home for the holiday, but this isn’t an ideal world, and this is the one part that is fuzzy. I don’t remember why some of us couldn’t go home for Thanksgiving, so I’ll leave it at that.

We were hanging out around one of the smoke pits near the dormitories (just picture a wooden gazebo) and lamenting over the fact that we had to stay and were going to miss out on some good food. I mean, the chow hall was awesome, but there is nothing like a home-cooked Thanksgiving turkey.

The drill team leader, a short airman with black hair cut just below her ears stood up, her manner stoic as she lifted her head. The movement was so commanding, that it silenced the entire gazebo.

“We will make our own Thanksgiving,” she declared.

 And that was all it took.

The smoke pit turned into an excited Thanksgiving Command Center as we planned the meal. It would be held in the fishbowl (a community center for us airmen in training, complete with a kitchen). We had everything worked out to a capital T, right down to who’d ask the chaplain for permission to use the kitchen. 

I’ll never forget playing Risk, laughing and joking the day away as the cozy aroma of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie filled the air. I’ll never forget drinking cider as I looked down at my plastic little men (contemplating their next move as I eyed the plastic men of my friends), the cheerful chatter, the fervent excitement when the food was ready, or the way everyone pitched in to clean up.

It was our first Thanksgiving away from home, but we made it our own, and I will always treasure the memory of us coming together that wonderful Thursday afternoon.

It was a testament to the America I love, the America where people from all walks of life come together in love and kindness. This is the America we must fight for, now, more than ever.

Happy Thanksgiving, and remember:
Kindness matters.

❤ mlc

It's that Time of Year Again!

It’s that time of year again, folks! NaNoWriMo is back!

Last year I jumped in with vague impressions of a story and sank, but this year, I’ve got myself an outline, a plot, and an ending.

Sisters: Behind the Iron Eagle, take two!

I don’t know if the political climate is right for the original Sisters. I started it before a certain election. And despite the fact that I have disclaimers plastered everywhere, I am still wary about publishing it. I don’t want to give up entirely because I put a lot of research into it, and let me tell you, researching Evil in WWII will make your gut churn.

I understand why Philip K. Dick couldn’t bring himself to dive deep into the horrors and atrocities of the Third Reich for his unfinished sequel to The Man in the High Castle. From Wikipedia, The Man in the High Castle [book] :

Dick said that he had "started several times to write a sequel", but progressed little, because he was too disturbed by his original research for The Man in the High Castle and could not mentally bear "to go back and read about Nazis again."

Moving on from the dark and depressing...

Since there is a world of characters and places that already exist in my head that I’m not ready to toss into the Great Void yet, I started looking at other alternate endings to WWII, and Behind the Iron Eagle (BTIE) was born.

In BTIE, the allies dispersed after a grave disagreement over the handling of a defeated Germany. Only the Red Army remained as an occupying force in the end. Japan and the United States was at a stalemate, signing a non-aggression pact where Japan got Hawaii, and the US was awarded a lucrative manufacturing contract. Everything seemed to be going well after 1945 for the US and Japan. Their newly minted friendship created an economic boom.

But the great bear grew hungry. In 1955, the Soviet Union invaded the United States and defeated her.

The characters from Sisters return in BTIE. The People’s Republic of the United States is their way of life. They know nothing else, but is it a better life than the one we enjoy today?

Only time will tell as I trek through NaNoWriMo to write their journey!

If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year and would like to add me as a writing buddy, feel free!
Add Me! RlyehDreams

Coming to a Multiverse Near You: TMITHC Season 3 Review!

There is so much I wanted to say, but I couldn’t fit every little detail, scene, and character interaction that amazed me into a single review. I may go back and do a Little Details I Noticed post in the future. 

The Man in the High Castle (TMITHC) Season 3 is different from the first two, and while there were rumors of it having a positive outlook, I felt that it is the darkest and most depressing season of the show so far—this isn’t a criticism. If you haven’t watched it yet, strap in for the ride and grab a box of tissues while you’re at it.

You will need them.

Before I tread into spoiler territory, I just want to say that the acting, the visuals, and the costumes blew me away. Everyone involved with the show did such an exceptional job! Kenneth Tigar (Himmler), Rufus Sewell (Smith), and Chelah Horsdal (Helen Smith) deserve Emmys for their performances (well, everyone involved in the making of the TMITHC does!).

And now for some spoilers!


I’ve broken down the review by my favorite characters this season.

Admiral Inokuchi
My favorite new addition to the show! I mean, it doesn’t hurt that he has a fleet of badass ships with him. I loved his peaceful pragmatic approach to everything, “We need to win them over.” Finally a high ranking official in the Pacific States that gets it (other than Tagomi, of course!). I want to see more of him in Season 4.

Tagomi
He continues to be a beacon of hope and goodness while possessing a calm, peaceful demeanor. Himmler greatly underestimated him, and the scene where he defends himself against his would-be assassin was perfection, right down to the solemn expression on his face. He did not want to do it, but it was the last resort because it was him or the assassin.

I loved the meeting between Tagomi and Smith. It was so well written and acted on all fronts. I’m glad the two characters got to see each other face to face. They are so very different. I've always wanted to see an interaction between the two.

Kido
One does not mess with Chief Inspector Kido.

I enjoyed watching him go to the Neutral Zone posing as a member of the Yakuza and having to tolerate other people to blend in.

Clerk: Information isn’t free.
Kido: *Slams his head against the desk*

Well, he tried. ;)

I didn’t expect him to actually catch up with Frank, so when *it* happened, I was shocked. I found it interesting how he drove out to the site of a WWII Japanese Internment camp and how he changed into his uniform to give him a ceremonious execution. I’m still trying to figure out if it was a sign of respect, or if Kido felt an immense amount of guilt because the bomb happened under his watch and, therefore, he was honor bound to execute the culprit.

Ed, Robert, Frank & Jack 
I absolutely adored these four. I loved every second they were on screen. It was so nice to see Frank showing remorse for his actions in Season 2.

As for Ed, I am happy they gave him a boyfriend (Jack). It’s been established that he is gay since Season 1, and I always wondered if they’d ever put him in a relationship. I felt that this relationship fit perfectly into the story because Ed is a character we’ve cared about since Season 1, and Jack seamlessly flowed into the storyline and helped progress the plot. He is a likeable character that you can’t help but root for. I loved the dynamic between him, Ed, and Robert. I look forward to seeing more of them in Season 4.

The trio unfurling Frank’s banner in San Francisco was such a beautiful way to protest without causing anyone harm, and I wish they were the leaders of the resistance because it was just so pure, honest, and good. It was my favorite scene of theirs.

Before I move on, I loved the reunion between Frank, Ed, and Juliana.

Smith
The home he’s built for himself and his family is collapsing around him. The sins of his past and present are catching up with him. Thomas’s death shattered his world. The perfect, warm family life he’s enjoyed for so long is now a mere shadow. Everyone he cares about is either dead or gone. He’s lost Wagner, Thomas, Erich, Joe, and Helen whisked the girls away from him.

His storyline was the darkest and most depressing of all. Watching Helen fall apart during the first half of the season was heartbreaking. When she left and told him that she was running from him, I wanted to cry (Chelah Horsdal deserves an Emmy for that performance).

As the season progressed, he grew more stoic and distant, and she embraced her emotions—her heart led her to do what she thought was best. The contrast between the two was chilling and a so beautifully sorrowful.

One thing is for certain, Smith is reaping what he’s been sewing for the past 15 years. I don’t want redemption for him. I want him to get what he deserves. Remember the memory dream sequence involving the little girl in Cincinnati.

Let us not forget that.

With that being said, he is my favorite character, and Rufus Sewell is an extremely talented actor who portrays the character so perfectly!

Here’s to looking forward to what Season 4 has in store for us, and hopefully we won’t have to wait 2 years. ;)