M. Pax is here today to discuss her best moments as a star guide!
Best Moments of Astronomizing
1. Discovery. Every time I find an object, it’s as thrilling as the first time. I don’t use a computer. I use star charts and an electronics-free telescope. When I started, my astronomy friends taught me how to point at Jupiter. It and the Moon were my entire repertoire. Now I can find a hundred objects.
3. Giving Robert his life’s dream. Robert visited a few summers ago. He told me it was his life’s dream to see a nebula. I gave showed him five then told him he needed a new life’s dream, because 9 was way too young to be done with that sort of thing.
4. Showing kids how to use my telescope and letting them. “Come see my star,” they like to say. Awesome.
5. Being able to give a person in a wheelchair a tour of the night sky. It was possible with my Dobsonian.
Yeah, most of my triumphs have to do with giving someone a special night, one made of stars and dreams. It’s the most awesome job, and that joy is what I’m paid. I can’t wait until next summer.
Find Beyond the Edge: Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Kobo
.jpg)
Cover Reveal
THE BOY WHO LOVED FIRE, by Julie Musil
Release date – January 2014
Add to Goodreads
Manny O’Donnell revels in his status at the top of his high school food chain…
Julie Musil is the author of YA fiction. As the mother of three teen boys, she’s immersed in teen speak, drama, and gym socks. She loves to chat--just ask her Super Supportive Hubby, the guy with the glazed eyes. Connect with Julie on Facebook, Twitter, or her blog.
Monster Movie Trivia Answers
1 – Ginger Snaps 2000 - Werewolf
2 – Them! 1954 - Giant Ants
3 – Tremors 1990 - Graboids
4 – Dead Alive 1992 - Zombies
5 – Near Dark 1987 - Vampires
6 – Mimic 1997 - Insects
Mini-Alex and the Cassa Poster
I’m always envious of the prizes you guys win. This time however, my publisher sent me one of them – the Cassa Universe poster!
More Cool Halloween Pumpkins
From EgoTV Online - visit the site for even more!
Every viewed the stars from an observatory? Excited about the new books? Get any of the trivia right? And did you carve a pumpkin this year…?
Be sure to visit Sandra Ulbrich Almazan!
Wow! Lots of news.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome post, Mary!
Neat poster, Alex. :)
Love the pumpkins. People are so crafty these days.
Oh, and look. I'm first.
ReplyDeleteThat's a first! LOL
I'm putting a telescope on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteI think that sounds like an amazing way to spend a summer. I would *love* to have a telescope strong enough to see more of the night sky.
ReplyDeleteVery much interested in Spiders.
ReplyDeleteDidn't do too bad on the trivia, forgot they were called Graboids!
ReplyDeleteMary--You know I'm impressed that you can pick out so much in the night sky. I can basically identity the Moon and Big Dipper. lol
ReplyDeleteA star guide sounds like an awesome job. I love looking at the night sky! I wish I knew exactly what I was looking at, but I appreciate it all the same!
ReplyDeleteHappy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
There's something special about watching the night sky. And I still say that's the best photo of you, Mary!! I LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteLooking at the stars always fills me with the wonder of how small we really are in comparison. Bet you're going to give that poster a special piece of wall space!
ReplyDeleteGood Monday Alex. after a noisy,wet night I am somewhat blurry eyed this morning,
ReplyDeleteGood luck to all the new books out,
I just loved your poster , are they just at your publishers or can one purchase one?
Have a good day.
Yvonne.
Congrats to Mary and Julie!
ReplyDeleteAnd what awesome pumpkins.
Sounds like a great job, Mary!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog today, Alex. The poster is awesome. I must tell my publisher (me) to make one of those when the Catalyst Chronicles series is complete.
I have viewed the stars from a small observatory. The most profound experience I ever had was when I saw my first galaxy - other than the Milky Way. The space inside the observatory was very small, cramped, there were three of us in there. When I took my eye away from the eye-piece I was so disoriented I didn't know where I was or how to move out the way to let my husband look. It was awesome/terrible in the most wonderful way.
ReplyDeleteWhoa -- awesome poster! I agree with mini-Alex's happiness.
ReplyDeleteAnd VERY cool pictures, M. -- here and at your own blog! Some might think that "star-gazing" means crowding up to the red carpet to catch a glimpse of Lady Gaga, but all the cool people know the REAL beauty is best seen with a telescope from a place with no light pollution (and those places are getting hard to find around where I live).
Melissa, you are indeed first!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I used to have one.
Fran, I think only two people remembered.
Suzanne, it already has one!
Yvonne, they printed them special as giveaways - I was just lucky enough to get one.
Sandra, thank you! And you should have a poster made.
Really enjoyed M Pax's post! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat poster, Alex!
On Friday, I knew I got the answer right to the movie THEM! = giant ants. Well, yesterday, I was flipping through the channels and I came across the movie itself! Spooky. :)
Great Job M.Pax.
ReplyDeleteI love using the telescope with my kids. I live on the outskirts of the city so the view is ok.
Nigels book sounds great Congrats!
No pumpkin carving for me this year, just used acrylic paint instead.
Awwwwww M Pax sounds so utterly lovely - enabling all to see stars! Good for her!! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Mary Pax's pictures always leave me breathless.
ReplyDeleteThat poster is AMAZING! And it looks really good on your wall.
I should make a dragon pumpkin.
I love hearing about Mary's job. I find it very fascinating.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
A guy in the neighborhood used this big open dirt area to set up his telescope during the summer and stargaze at night. One time I asked him about it while running by (I like to jog at night). He was taking everything down and said to stop by next time he's there and he'll let me look through. Then... in the next week they built a house over that piece of dirt and I haven't seen him since. So... that's my sad stargazing story.
ReplyDeleteLucky, Mary! We've checked out the starry skies of the Grand Canyon, in Arizona, Bryce National Park, in Utah, and Julian San Diego. I 'd love to spend more time doing it. But there's too much light pollution in LA.
ReplyDeleteVery cool, Mary.
ReplyDeleteThe new book look good, but the spider one looks creepy.
Yeah! You got author swag. Very nice!
Mary, that was awesome of you to do for the guy in the wheelchair! He'll remember and appreciate that for the rest of his life!
ReplyDeleteI've been to the Griffith Observatory many years ago. Need to take the kids there sometime so they can experience it.
Great to see M Pax here today. Being a guide sounds like a fun adventure.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the news, and congrats to everyone! Thanks also for the shout out! Very much appreciated! :)
Interesting post by Mary. I have seen the "fake" sky at several observatories, and even in a language I didn't understand so I really had no clue what I was looking at.
ReplyDeleteAs for pumpkins, even it were the right season they are gray in New Zealand - and never carved.
Wow, very cool CU poster!
ReplyDeleteAlways glad to see bunches of new books out, that means people are actually doing it....they're publishing...and that gives me hope for the future :)
We carved some pumpkins this year...I posted them on my Google Plus page, but might do a quick blog post as well. They didn't turn out half bad.
LOL! Robert certainly does need a new life's dream.
ReplyDeleteThe poster is cool. So are those pumpkins.
Wow.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great job, M. Pax! You're so lucky to love what you do!
Alex! That poster is freakin' amazing!
Good for you, you deserve something awesome.
Heather
Ooooh, it was so fun to read about M. Pax's star gazing!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all the authors with their amazing news.
Alex, thanks so much for sharing my cover with everyone! I really appreciate it.
I've never been to an actual observatory but I'd sure like to go.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to spend summer, looking at the sky. Wish I could visit her. Wrong side of the country. Lots of new books and yet Andrew Leon is worried about people not reading any more. Surely not.
ReplyDeleteGot one monster right as you know.
Forgot to say I love the WallE pumpkins, my favourite characters.
ReplyDeleteI love your poster, Alex. I bet that has a very special place in your home.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome poster. Love it!
ReplyDeleteAnd I always love to read about Mary's experiences at the Observatory. I'd love to visit it myself someday.
Very cool to be able to point out the night sky to people in detail. And cool poster!
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats to Doralyn. :)
Mini Alex looks so pleased with himself. And rightfully so.
ReplyDeleteAnd I did pretty darn good on those movie monsters. I'm pleased with myself.
Mary, I loved your post! What a fulfilling way to spend an evening.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to everyone with new books!
I cheated on pumpkins this year. Don't judge :)
I had a telescope but my neighbors took it away....
ReplyDeleteWonderful guest post, Mary. I've never been to an observatory, but one day I hope to get a chance. Congrats to everyone who has books out this week! And that's an awesome poster, Alex. Off to Sandra's!
ReplyDeleteThe poster is gorgeous! And I have two favorite memories of the night sky (and what a cool thing to be a star guide!) The first was a friend with a telescope who showed me Saturn. I was completely blown away. The second was a "moon walk", where a bunch of guides set up telescopes in a field and invited folks to join them in gazing at the full moon. That is where I learned to see the lady in the moon instead of the man, and now I can't see the man at all, just the glamourous lady!
ReplyDeletewow that WALL E is impressive...i bet discovery is awesome....we live in such an amazing universe...the night sky def enraptures me...
ReplyDeletethat is a wicked cool poster as well of your book covers...
ReplyDeleteOH! THAT POSTER! That is just downright gorgeous, that's what that is. Awesome, awesome, awesome!!
ReplyDeleteA star guide? How cool is that? I miss those glorious night skies... can barely find a star in the sky here. To see the sky I remember as a child, I have to head up the pass and put the mountains between me and the city.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing my book cover and release!! And thank you for all the support you've given me.
Madeline, what are the odds...?
ReplyDeleteDavid, smart move.
Al, you should make a dragon pumpkin!
Brandon and Bryan - bummer!
Karen, you're welcome!
Rhonda, a gray pumpkin would be eerie.
Mark, please post them!
Julie, you're welcome!
SL, yes you did.
Carol, how did you cheat?
Betty - funny!!!
Thanks, everyone!
We're carving pumpkins tonight. Still not sure what we're going to do. LOVE the poster!
ReplyDeleteBe great to see the stars through a telescope like that. Some awesome pumpkins too, even if one has to scoop goo
ReplyDeleteThat was a really nice interview with M Pax!
ReplyDeleteThat poster look so cool, congrats!
ReplyDeleteI didn't carve a pumpkin this year yet ... if the kid doesn't ask me to, I'll pretend I forgot about it lol
Mary you did a fabulous job! I love your passion and what you shared with us~ (I am mentioning you tomorrow) ;D
ReplyDeleteMini Alex is sooo cute! He needs a girlfriend~
Congrats to all in the news-I will definitely check them out! I have started my holidaze shopping.
I love these pumpkins. I was going to carve Stephen King out of mine-now I am scared.
Happy Monday Captain!
I've never kept up much with stars--not the ones in the sky or the celebrity kind. Being a star guide at an observatory sounds kind of cool.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
YAY! for Julie, and all the others who've had recent releases.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I've seen some of the most interesting pumpkin carvings this year. It's really making me want to carve one myself. I just hate the mess... (Yes, I can be a downer like that.)
Carving pumpkins is hard! I did one a few years ago that took me all day. Had to use a lot of fine tools. I admire whoever did those of the Pixar characters.
ReplyDeleteI do plan to carve a pumpkin this year, but I haven't yet. I've also never been in an observatory, at least a night, but always wanted to. I was captivated by the brightness of the stars in the Cascade Mountains while on a family trip. They were absolutely amazing. However, I was told they are ever brighter in the desert.
ReplyDeleteAwesome guest post. It's fun to learn about bloggers 'other' lives.
ReplyDeleteSome interesting book covers your sporting there and great pumpkins.
I have never observed starts from an observatory but I have always wanted to. I think it would be amazing. I would also love to look closely at the moon from an observatory. And I haven't carved my pumpkin yet - I need to get to it!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful, very interesting poster Cassa Universe!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathy!
ReplyDeleteDoralynn, you are most welcome.
Pat, I don't do goo...
Juliana, clever girl!
Ella, care to make one for him?
I love looking at the stars. One of these days will have to visit MPax as she's just across the border and down one state from me in British Columbia. I'm very fond of MPax's universe.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great poster and shows your achievement, Alex. It should rate right up there with your guitars.
Thanks for letting me rent some space today, Alex. The view over hear is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteCool poster your publisher sent you. Nice.
So many great books coming out. It's great to see everyone so busy.
Thanks, Melissa!
If you need help using it, Huntress, come out this way.
Binoculars can give you sights you've never seen before, Elizabeth.
I'm fortunate to have a lot of astronomy boyfriends who know waaay more than I do, Brinda. That's how I learned.
It is a fun job, Laura. I love teaching people and giving people their life's dream.
I love what I do, Lynda. I guess it shows. My fellow astronomizers say so.
Me, too, Suzanne. That's another reason why I love it. Feeling small calms me for some reason.
Thank you, Natalie.
I love doing it, Sandra.
The first time I ever looked through a telescope, Bish, was at the observatory. When you think about what you're looking at it is insanely amazing.
They're very hard to find, Chris. Central Oregon has some of the darkest skies remaining in the US.
You should come out and visit some time, Madeline.
ReplyDeleteSome view is better than none, David.
I lived in NYC after college, Karen, so I know. Then DC before coming out west.
That makes the job worthwhile, Kitty.
A new camera was put on the big telescope this year, Al, so I have lots of pretty pics to share as the winter drags on.
It is a blast, Miranda.
That is a sad story Brandon/Brian.
I knew someone who ran the star tours down there, Jenn. I bet it'd be stunning.
Thanks, Holly.
She does remember, Stephen. She was back this summer, but I wasn't there. She told the other volunteers to tell me hello.
It is quite an adventure, Karen.
I think Mary has her head in the stars. And what a great place that is.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Julie. I loved seeing her here today with her new book.
I let the kids carve the pumpkin. My job was to haul it home.
We have a local observatory that I've yet to visit. I need to. It's a mezmerizing, humbling thing to do. MPax has it right.
ReplyDeleteFantastic poster, Alex.
Happy Monday.
xoRobyn
We have a great observatory in Cincinnati. Love the pumpkins.
ReplyDeleteSeeing fake sky is not the same thing, Rhonda. That would be disappointing. Fake sky has way more color than real sky.
ReplyDeleteI feel very fortunate, Heather. I know it's a rare opportunity.
It's fun to do, Julie.
You'll have to come out sometime, Charles.
It is a wonderful way to spend the summer, Jo.
I hope you get to, Julie.
It is very cool, LG
That's what keeps us going out there, Carol.
Bummer, Betty.
I hope you get to, Christine. It's awesome.
That sounds like an awesome experience, Kat. I taught myself a few years ago to pick out where they landed on the moon so I can tell people.
I was lucky to find the need for star guides here, Doralynn
It is great, Pat
Thanks, Suze!
I love what I do, Ella :)
It was a fun new skill to learn, Arlee
There as lovely in the Cascades, Christine. There's usually more turbulence in the air there though which can make the views swimmy.
The Moon is awesome in a telescope, Optimistic. Hope you visit an observatory in the near future.
You must visit, DG :)
I do, Lee.
ReplyDeleteIt is mesmerizing. I never seem to tire of it, Robyn.
Great, Tonja!
What fun pumpkins and super-cool poster, Alex!
ReplyDeleteMary does sound as if she gets joy from what she does, which is awesome.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to everybody with a book out and to Julie on her cover. Def. want a copy of Spiders.
I was given a telescope as a kid, but it was mostly disappointing. My dad's fairly generic set of binoculars was more powerful.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a dream job, M.
ReplyDeleteOff to visit Sandra's...
Mary, I first wanted to say that I can see why you love this job so much. You are in the business of fulfilling wishes and dreams... giving gifts. Very inspiring. Second, I wanted to tell you that I am following your blog, but can't figure out how to comment. Your pictures today were gorgeous. Nature is stunning.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Doralynn, Nigel and Karen. Wahoo! I love Julie's cover and Mary's brand of awesome has me grinning. Star geeks rock!
ReplyDeleteM24, very cool...I'll have to check it out:) Jupiter has been amazing in the sky lately, I hardly need a telescope:)
ReplyDeleteMary, It must be so great to be a star guide. Most of my viewing is in the back garden, but seeing those things you can't see (or can't see well) with the naked eye is so fantastically rewarding.
ReplyDeleteAlex, great poster - I love it :-)
Lots a cool stuff and it's only Monday... over the weekend I watched "The Last Stand" and The Expendables II".. both very entertaining and just mind free films. It's good to see these types of films being made, since "Escape Plan" buddy films.
ReplyDeleteRock On, on your poster! Now just your name in lights... I will make some art soon!
M. great post. Love your telescope! The bookcovers are awesome, and Alex, the poster rocks!
ReplyDeleteThose are some wonderful moments, Mary. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHeading over to Sandra's. :-)
Man, those pumpkin carvers have some serious skill :)
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(From Sarah, with Joy)
It was great learning more about your job Mary! It's wonderful how you are able to share your joy of star gazing with so many! Love your poster Alex!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Great guest post, Mary. Do you do that every summer? Would be tempted to make the drive to do a star tour next summer when we're in PDX :)
ReplyDeleteI still think it's very cool you get to spend time at an observatory, Mary!
ReplyDeleteWhoa! That poster is awesome, Alex!
Orion Nebula is my favorite too. It won't be long until the Hunter comes up from the horizon.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your poster. That is so cool.
I love the Cassa Universe poster! It looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteLove those pumpkins, too. :)
DG, it's just below the Les Paul...
ReplyDeleteCrystal, yes they do!
Jeremy, thanks! And yes, those are both dumb but fun movies.
Thanks everyone!
Love the Cassa poster.
ReplyDeleteAnd I LOVE that Mary could give the guy in the wheelchair a tour of the stars. A great reminder that we don't have to have working legs to be able to look up!
I do, Joy. It's a fantastic job to do, even without pay.
ReplyDeleteBinoculars and telescopes have different fields of view, which do give different views, Andrew. For some things, binoculars are best.
It's one of mine, Cate. Writing, the other. :)
Thanks, Robin. I love giving the gifts I do. Either click on the title to get to comments, or click on comments on the left sidebar.
Star geekdom is awesome, Crystal :)
Jupiter is great. It's up late here and wasn't up this summer, Mark. We did have Saturn, Venus, and Mercury, though.
It is, Tony. And I'm fortunate to be surrounded by much more knowledgeable people, so I'm always learning.
I love my telescope, too, Joylene.
They remain great moments, Misha. Giving gives so much back. :)
I love it, Julie.
Yes, I volunteer every summer, Johanna. We get lots of visitors from PDX and all around the world. I usually only work Friday nights now.
I think so, too, Cherie. It was such a farfetched dream of mine, I never thought it'd come true - to do anything with space beyond look at NASA's photos.
Not long at all, Jay. It's up if you want to stay up until it rises. I think around 1ish a.m. now.
A dobson telescope can get low enough to accommodate, Elizabeth. It limited what I could point at, but it was rewarding to be able to do that for someone who lives with incredible limitations everyday.
Nice Post, MPax.
ReplyDeleteGo Nigel, Doralynn and Karen.
I like the Eva pumpkin. That's impressive.
Heading over to Sandra's
Mpax, it's cool that with all this tech you enjoy star charts and an electronics-free telescope. It must be great fulfilling dreams. Thanks gor hosting Mary Alex. By the way, I always hated that they are stuck withe name Graboids for the sequels. I preferred Snakeoids. Fun trivia Man.
ReplyDeleteLove Mary. She's so awesome.
ReplyDeleteAnd yaaaay for Julie's shout out! So stoked for her!
Star guide is the coolest job ever. Love that poster and I haven't carved pumpkins since my kids were little.
ReplyDelete1. Your job seems awesome, Mary!
ReplyDelete2. Congratulations to Doralynn, Karen, Nigel, and Julie!
3. Your poster looks great, Alex!
4. I'm full of exclamation points today!
I always wanted one of those big fat telescopes but only ever had a crappy extendable one.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mina.
ReplyDeleteI like the old-fashioned way, Maurice. I want to learn. With electronics what do you really learn?
Thank you, Morgan.
It is an awesome job, Susan.
It is, Carrie.
They're not too expensive, Mooderino. The smaller ones, anyway.
CONGRATS on all the book releases and cover reveals!
ReplyDeleteThat is one cool poster, Alex! CONGRATS!
I would not think a movie called Ginger Snaps would have a werewolf. It's just...odd.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I would look up into the night sky and wonder what year the light just reaching us across the void had been created by the star sending it. Were the dinosaurs ruling the earth when their light was cast into the darkness? Thanks, Mary, for making me a child again. :-)
ReplyDeleteMaurice, that's what happens when a bunch of rednecks try to name something...
ReplyDeleteCarrie, that's all right!!!
JE, Ginger was the character who turned into a werewolf - thus, she snapped.
Awesome poster, Alex!
ReplyDeleteIs Mini Alex wearing the 4th Doctor's scarf?
ReplyDeleteThat poster is very cool!
Science Fiction books! That makes me happy. I need to pick up some of Pax's, they all sound good!
I love all Mary's posts with observatory pics!! Thanks for allowing her to guestpost Alex!
ReplyDeleteNo pumpkin carving, alas.
Cheers!
I had to chuckle . . . to bee or not to bee, eh?
ReplyDeleteLong day, I'll catch your post tomorrow.
"...words of wisdom." *laughs uncontrollably*
ReplyDeleteAlways good to answer a few questions about yourself.
Oh, that kind of star guide,M.Pax. Seriously, I would love to do that. I have been to the Okanagan Observatory in the Okanagan Valley, B.C. However, it was in the daytime.
Congrats to all those with new books out. Carving out a pumpkin is not much of a tradition here in England, as you will know. However, it is becomng more popular.
Gary
Lots of great news this week. Very cool publisher prize Alex. It should go above the fireplace!
ReplyDeleteAw, Mary. That was such a heartwarming post. I'm all teared up over here.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Doralynn - I want Spiders! (Well, not the real thing, but the book looks cool!) Congrats Karen, Nigel, and Julie! I wish you huge success!
I love your poster, Alex, and the pumpkins, too! :-)
M Pax, from your description, I can tell you really love what you do. What a gift, and you get to share it with others!
ReplyDeleteMan... I was wrong about Tremors, lol!
ReplyDeleteThose pumpkins are amazing :) Walle is such a sweet cartoon. That must have been crazy to carve, but it was amazingly done.
On a different topic, I gave you an award here: http://www.anythingimagined.blogspot.com/2013/10/hoonies-and-sunshine-award.html
=)
I often wonder that vary thing as an adult, Roland. From a galaxy that is 35 million light years away or more, yeah.
ReplyDeleteHope you like, Jack.
Glad to make you happy, Danette.
A friend of ours, Lee, is from BC, Gary. He was visiting this weekend. He showed me some new things, which I always really enjoy.
Aww, Lexa. I love to give something special to others. It feels great when I can.
I do love it, Mary, and I'm the least knowledgeable up there. And I think Eric and Tom beat me at star gazing love.
GRABOIDS?!I need to watch Tremors again!
ReplyDeleteLove the poster your publisher sent you, Alex!
Congrats to Mary and Julie's books they both sound amazing!
Graboids??I thought that is something Charlie Sheen would get right after he grabbed one if his goddesses. I got some right:) I looked at the planets through a telescope and it was cool. Nothing so cool as what you have seen but it is neat to see. Now I would love to see a film about aliens where they are not trying to take over our planet, destroy us or eat us. Aside from the amazing Star Trek I can not think of any other recent film that shows this. I love The Day The Earth Stood Still-the original version. That's just me talking:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely list of astronomy moments. I've been to a planetarium, but what M. Pax does really sounds special and sweet.
ReplyDeleteAnd Alex, your poster is gorgeous!
I LOVE astronomy. LOVE it. She's living an amazing job!!!! Sigh. Seriously, I can stare out of a telescope, roaming it around, for hours.
ReplyDeleteAwesome poster by the way XD
Another awesome post. Love that poster, and the pumpkins. Some of those trivia I got and just finished reading the fabulous Dark Lullaby - must read for paranormal horror mystery lovers. :)
ReplyDeleteshahwharton.com
I envy anyone with dark skies, but most of all, those with cloudless skies. Living in the north of England it's hard to find a cloudless sky. I would've stayed up to watch the Orionids recently but it was cloudy, yet again.
ReplyDeleteI did go to Jodrell Bank in Cheshire once. It was awesome, but no opportunity to observe at that time.
I love Mary's story about Robert! He sounds like a cool kid.
ReplyDeleteAnd that poster, Alex, wow! It looks amazing, too cool, way too cool to have that. I hope you've got it in pride of place on the wall.
Jack, it looks like the Doctor's scarf, doesn't it? Deniz made it for Mini-Alex.
ReplyDeleteGary, stop laughing. And difficult to see the stars in the daytime.
Emilyann, thank you!
Birgit, that made me laugh!
Thanks everyone!
I didn't know you were a star guide Mary, very cool!
ReplyDeleteI love those Wall-E pumpkins. Very nice, so much cool shading going on. People are talented!
Great post MPax! There is nothing better than giving inspiration to kids!
ReplyDeleteLove the poster Alex!
The kids and I will be pumpkin carving tomorrow, but I'm sure they won't be that fancy.
I did a pumpkin carving contest last year and found it super difficult. I decided to do more of a sculpture instead of a true carving, so I got out my dremmel and had at it.
ReplyDeleteA year later, and I still am finding bits of pumpkin flesh hiding in corners of my garage. And my goblin ended up looking much more like Buddy Holly. Horrible.
Sounds like you had a great time being an interstellar tour guide! My wife is an astronomer and when we first met we were living in Tucson. I spent some wonderful nights up on Kitt Peak with her keeping her awake as she worked. The sky was beautiful up there!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting the words of M. Pax!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathrina.
ReplyDeleteIt feels special, Helena, and to freeze at 6300 feet most of the summer and drive 30 miles out into the wilderness, love is required.
I can do that too, SC, and often do after the people go home, roam about and fill my eyes with stars. Then I go home and dream about them.
The cloud issue exists on the West side of the Cascades, Fanny. We're more fortunate on the arid side, but weather is still often a factor.
He was a cool kid, Annalisa. He was also really into whales. He taught me a whole lot about them before he left. I was glad the nebulae weren't it for him.
I sort of stumbled into it,JA, and I'm very glad I did.
It is wonderful to inspire others, Katherine.
The sky is marvelous, Sean. Cool job your wife has.
Thank you, Leovi.
Love the Cassa Universe poster, Alex.
ReplyDeleteMary, I didn't know that you were a star guide. That's awesome.
I love observatories. We have one near us and I really need to go visit sometime!
ReplyDeleteGreat list of books featured too, Alex.
I just checked out the book trailer for Spiders at Doralynn's blog. It's a good example of a trailer well-done. Short, to the point, and narrated by a perfect voice for the genre.
ReplyDeleteSo jealous of MP's astronomical exploits! :D Way to go to all of the authors with books out--particularly, Julie! I'm huge fan of her blog, and really excited to The Boy Who Loved Fire.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see stars from a powerful telescope or observatory. I got a telescope for my kids, but my binoculars worked better. The night sky is so amazing!
ReplyDeleteRusty, it sounds really scary...
ReplyDeleteSean, I used to live there - awesome clear skies!
Patricia, wasn't the voice great?
It amazes me if I think about it too hard, Rachna.
ReplyDeleteYay for observatories, Julie.
Once upon a time I would have been jealous of me, too, EJ.
Different views come from different instruments. Smaller scopes and binoculars have their strengths. Large telescopes have their weaknesses. The universe is amazing, Sherry.
Love the poster, Alex! So cool! And those pumpkins are out of this world! ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat article from Mary and congrats to all the authors with new releases!
ReplyDeleteVery cool poster!
ReplyDeleteDarn it! Missed the monster trivia. Now that's one topic I can rock. ;)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to everyone on their exciting releases!
I love Mary's achievements. Very cool. I've never been to an observatory, but want to go when the kids are bigger.
Shannon at The Warrior Muse
I love listening to Mary talk about the stars. And I got 4 on the monster trivia! Yay me!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carolyn.
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to come visit, Shannon.
Glad you like to listen, Marcie.
Whoa. I loved M. Pax's interview!! What an amazing cool job.
ReplyDeleteThat poster is awesome - so glad you got one, Alex!
I love Julie's cover but I had to scroll quickly past Doralynn's. My arachnophobia is so bad even that silhouette against the moon gave me the willies.
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome poster! Always good to stop by here... Though I don't comment nearly often enough!
ReplyDeleteThat was another great interview over at Almazan's blog and I really enjoyed M. Pax's story about being a star guide. If it didn't take so much time and dedication to learn about astronomy, I could be a star guide, but then I could be a lot of things.
ReplyDeleteI like the CassaUniverse poster and the cute pumpkins. There are some really cool books out now; wonder when I'll ever get around to reading all them. :)
Mary, your job sounds absolutely awesome! Congratulations on being able to give back so much!
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds amazing! Wishing you all the best!
Alex, great interview! and that poster - wow!
#3 is so sweet and so awesome! M. Pax's job sounds so freaking fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed I do it, Liz. So is my family. I'm not really an outdoorsy sort of gal.
ReplyDeleteIt'd take us less than one summer of weekends only to teach you, Toinette.
It's a pleasure, Yolanda.
It is a blast, Lisa. We have a good time, which is one of the reasons I keep going back.
I loved reading about Mary's experiences.
ReplyDeleteMy, my, I was gone from the blogosphere for a few days and so much news, all awesome of course.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Alex. And thank you to everyone who left a comment. I'm visiting your blogs on my breaks to thank you. It may take a little bit, but I'll make it there!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to an observatory in years and I would love to go to one again. It would be fun to visit M.Pax's. I loved hearing about some of her favorite moments. I wish I was better at finding things with my telescope! I guess I need to practice more- and maybe have someone help me. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
oooh, love your book poster, Alex!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Oogie Boogie Day. Something weird happened with my last post. It erased all my previous posts and I couldn't get them back until I deleted the post. So weird, because it showed up in Feedly fine. But not in Blogger. Anyway, I liked the spiders and Steeler zombie as well. Fun stuff. Cheers and boogie boogie.
ReplyDelete┈╱▔▔▔╲▕▔▔▏╱▔▔▔╲┈
╱┈╱▔▔╲▔▔▔▔╱▔▔╲┈╲
▏▕▂▇▇▂▏╱╲▕▂▇▇▂▏▕
▏┈┈┈┈┈▕▂▂▏┈┈┈┈┈▕
▏▕▔╲▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂╱▔▏▕
╲┈▔╲▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂╱▔┈╱
┈╲▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂╱┈
Hi Alex .. isn't that Cassa Poster great - no-one you're chuffed and Mini Alex is cheering you on ..
ReplyDeleteLove it .. cheers Hilary
I did carve a pumpkin, but it wasn't nearly as cool as those.
ReplyDelete