Dropping Some Oz Memes

What up, bitches?

Sorry it's been a while. Life decided to hand me a shit ton of "to-do" into my Inbox during the past month or so. Hopefully, I'll be able to get back to a somewhat regular weekly posting schedule.

To make it up to you, here are some memes I created. We all love memes. But have you ever noticed that there aren't enough Oz memes? Well, I'm here to fix that! If you have an Oz meme you've created, share it in the comments, I'll feature it here on my blog!

It's only fair to point out that this Wogglebug meme is a "Rick and Morty" reference. But given Wogglebug's pompous personality in the books, it seemed to fit.

This was the first meme I ever created that I shared. Others enjoyed it so much that I started making more. You know, because I crave attention. 😋

Halloween Part 2

Here are the last few pictures from the Halloween photo booth at work! I posed as Scraps with Billina and got a little flirty! I wonder what Scraps would think of that?

Anyway,  hope you all like my super Ozzy cOZplay! I hope to make a few little alterations in the future to make it look more convention ready!

Happy Late Halloween!

What up, bitches?

Sorry there wasn't a new post on Tuesday, but I got something extra-special for Halloween week (It's Nov. 1st, but we can still count it as Halloween because it's in the same week)!

For Halloween this year, I dressed in a cOZplay I've been working on and I got to wear it to my office's "Fall Festival" (it was a Halloween party, but you know, keepin' it neutral, whatevs). So, I present to you: Scraps the Patchwork Girl!

Throughout the day, I was also able to get some glamour selfies done.

I had to get a couple of Scraps with her boyfriend, the Scarecrow. If you haven't seen the kids show on Boomerang, "Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz", watch it now, because they ship the Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl so fucking hard and it's cuter than hell. I keep yelling at the screen shit like, "Just ask her out already!" and "Dude, she's into you! Make a move!" and "Oh my god, just screw already and let me watch!" (Mostly out of curiosity of how two beings without genitals would do it. I imagine something along the lines of two Muppets being rubbed together erotically.)

Of course being the goofball that Scraps is, I struck a few poses. One or two may have been anime influenced, but let's face it, Scraps would make a great anime character. Imagine her running after Scarecrow in a Japanese school uniform shouting "Notice me, Senpai!"

But that's not all! My office also had a cubicle decorating contest and our team's theme was "Disney". So my natural choice of theme was..."Return to Oz"!

 It's not much, but I added my little touches.

Here's my sister's chicken purse playing the part of Billina! I kept candy in her and when I offered others some, I would ask, "Would you like some chicken candy?" 

I hung this on the outside of my cubicle. 

 Jack couldn't attend so he left me one of his old heads.

And here are two of Princess Mombi's spare heads.

The office also had a photo booth and I got a couple of super cool pictures taken. I will post them as soon as I get them!

I hope you all had a super fun and/or Oz-errific Halloween! Now let's get crackin' on Christmas!

Review: The Flight to Oz: Book II: Anusha of Oz

Note: The following review is non-naughty. Viewer discretion not required.

            JW Krych continued where he left off in Book I: Arrival and not only brings us back to Oz in Book II: Anusha of Oz, but also reaches out to familiar lands from Baum’s canon. We still have 21st Century gadgets, subtle pop culture references, and Bungle the cat, but now we uncover a new threat to Oz now that the Magic Barrier is gone.

            In this new volume, it has been only a few weeks since the end of Arrival and Oz is still recovering from the devastation left by the Evilons. On top of that, the citizens of the Emerald City and the cast of characters alike are adjusting to the new changes around them. Ozma has limited her magic use to only the most serious of issues, which has divided her subjects. Jonathan and David are still getting used to their new positions as generals in Ozma’s military, and Trot and Betsy are adjusting to married life to their respective husbands.

            While there are bumps in the road, these are smoothed over and they continue to make improvements. It’s a realistic approach to problem-solving that we don’t see in the tradition Oz canon; given this is a book written for adults, which works in its favor. As if these new changes to the kingdom aren’t enough, new surprises are revealed. Trot and David discover new abilities that they possess, Cap’n Bill and the Starling Queen have a long-kept secret, and Jonathan and Betsy decide they are ready to start a family.

            While at first, they are unable to conceive, the answer to Jonathan and Betsy’s wish comes in the form of baby Anusha, rescued by Lurline from the world of men, specifically India. As they raise her, with the help of their young friend Tina, they discover along with her magical ability to grow up rapidly, she also has Asperger’s Syndrome, a high-functioning form of Autism. However, Anusha’s autism is in no way portrayed as a handicap in this book, but instead as a powerful ability worthy of Oz and aids her friends and family in their adventures in Oz and beyond.

            As in the last book, the themes in this volume revolve around love. However, instead of romantic love, the focus is on the love from friends and family and is portrayed in numerous forms.

            Betsy and Jonathan can be seen as relatable to many couples who are incapable of having children and desire them. Like many of those real-life couples, they turn to adoption. Despite not being biologically related to their adopted daughter, they prove that you don’t have to give birth to your children to be a real parent. This is a new form of the reoccurring theme in many Oz books concerning how you don't have to be related to be a family.

            The love of friendship is also represented heavily as relationships are seen to progress during happy times and sad times. Jonathan finds friendship and comradery with Ixian veterans of an 85-year war. He also bonds with his newly formed team in the Oz Research Corp and their loyalty is proven time and time again throughout the narrative. Ozma finds comfort in David and Trot and learns to see Dorothy, her beloved companion, as her equal. We also see the effects of what happens when we push others away and refuse to seek comfort in our companions. Both the Wogglebug and a citizen of Ix depict the negative outcomes.

            Another major theme that we see throughout the story is the depiction of the Autism Spectrum. It is expected in every Oz book to meet beings with magical abilities different from our own such as people made of puzzle pieces or a boy with 20 legs. This book is no different except for the fact that our unique individual hails not from Oz, but from Earth. Anusha has Asperger’s and even though she becomes over-stimulated by loud noises and is prone to panic attacks, she can memorize complex patterns and master kinds of math that I’ve never even heard of (I took Calculus in high school and Physics in college, trust me). Her Asperger’s is valued by her parents and by Ozma. I applaud Krych in his depiction of this disorder because for one, he doesn’t even refer to it as a disorder, and two, it is the most positive depiction of any form of Autism I have ever seen. Not only does the audience get to witness the struggles that the parents of special needs children go through, but they also get to see what joys it can bring.

            Once again, JW Krych has brought us a fantastic science fiction-influenced Oz novel filled with familiar Oz magic and realistic emotion, humor, and drama. The charm from his first volume shines just as bright in this volume and the cliffhanger at the end will make you tear your hair out as you wait for Book: III to come out.

OzCon 2019 Registration is Open!

Hey guys, sorry there isn't a new post this week. My family is getting ready for a big event this weekend and I have to help out so there isn't much time for anything else.

However, I will take this time to make one big announcement:

Tickets for OzCon 2019 are now available!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the convention that introduced me to the fandom (I loved Oz before that point, but I didn't know about the fan base). Since that con two years ago, I've actually had friends for the first time since I moved back in with my parents! So it goes without saying that you will see your Naughty Nerd there making a fool of herself at the after-parties (or during the day, it isn't really a scheduled event).

Just like this past year, it will be in Pomona, CA at the Kellogg West Center and runs from July 26th-28th, 2019. It will be the centennial anniversary of Baum's death so all of his works will be celebrated (Don't be surprised to see me there pouring my drink on the ground). The organizers have already announced a handful of the guests that are coming next year such as Raymond F Wohl, who will perform his full one-man show about L. Frank Baum (he was there this past year and his show was fucking amazing). But as the months pass, we will surely get more announcements about who is coming.

So go get those tickets for OzCon 2019 (and the meal tickets, too, trust me, unless you want to shell out extra money for UberEats or get a rental car or something, just buy the meals in advance; plus the food is fantastic). While you're at it, book your hotel room, too.

I'll even save you a step and give you the link to the registration page. Now you have no excuse to not find it. Go there! Go there now!

http://www.ozconinternational.com/registration.html

See you there, nerds!

Review: The Flight to Oz: Book I: Arrival

I know it's not Tuesday, but I have a special post for you today! I was honored to read a book by JW Krych and given permission to post my review on my blog.

In respect of a friend's work, this is a non-naughty post.

The Flight to Oz: Book I: Arrival is the first in a trilogy by JW Krych. The story hits the ground running when Glinda is given a cryptic prophesy by none other than Lurline herself; Oz will forever be changed by visitors from the stars. Shortly after, a spaceship, named the HALEY, from the civilized world crash-lands near the Emerald City. While the astronauts, known as “newcomers”, acclimate to life in Oz as they teach the locals how to use Linux and play volleyball, evil is rising and the only ones who can stop it are Princess Ozma and her Beloved Companion, Princess Dorothy.         

There is nothing that I didn’t like about this book. In short, I would describe the writing style as a mix between L. Frank Baum and Arthur C. Clarke with a light touch of Ridley Scott. This intriguing mixture of influences is what makes the story so engaging and exciting. We reunite with familiar characters like Ozma, Dorothy, Trot, Betsy, Glinda, and even lesser known canon characters like Bungle and Cap’n Bill. Krych then introduces us to new characters to love in the form of the crew of the HALEY: David, Jonathan, Allen, Hector, and Emilio. The richness he gives to each of these characters makes each of them seem like a real person with real feelings and thoughts. I’m very certain that Krych’s own background in the military greatly influenced the gentlemanly astronauts of the HALEY and their family-like closeness.

Humor is balanced perfectly with pathos as we watch 21st Century astronauts teach Dorothy and her friends about computers and space travel. These chapters happen throughout the story and present numerous charming and delightful scenes. We get to see the natives of the Land of Oz discover the world of computers and high-tech gadgets with the HALEY crew as their guides. A great amount of technical jargon and information is used in these chapters, but the reader feels in no way overwhelmed as we, the readers, are learning alongside Dorothy and Trot. I feel I finally know what a byte is after all these years!

As we witness the progress of the Evilons, the name given to the dark entity of this book (calling it a villain would not serve any justice), we see Ozma fall into despair, but her Beloved Companion remains by her side. Jonathan, one of the astronauts from the HALEY, heals from the guilt and grief of loss through the love of friends old and new. The most thrilling chapters will make you want to read through the night to see what happens next. As a reader, I feel honored that I get to peer into these intimate moments. My heart melted so many times, I’m surprised it isn’t a permanent pile of goop.

A major theme in this story is focused on the power of love and we get to see this through relationship between Dorothy and Ozma, and the relationships that Trot and Betsy develop with two of the men from the ship. Krych’s style shines the most in his message of how every couple is different, but at the core of each relationship, that healing, trusting love exists. We also witness that love between friends and how empowering the ability to move on after grief can be as long as we have a support system to help get us through.

It seems cliché to say that this book made me laugh and cry…but it really did. There were moments that I chuckled and even howled with laughter as I watched Ozites learning about 21^st Century technology and life. Then I got to the tears. The language used in these chapters evokes the deepest emotions that we can relate to. You feel the words in your heart and relate to the grief and strife that the characters are feeling. Krych writes about the most human of experiences and emotions. By the climax of the book, I was crying for a whole chapter.

The Flight to Oz: Book I is an Oz novel with a science fiction twist. Just like in science fiction, you delve into human nature and relate to the cast of characters on a universal level; and just like in an Oz novel from the Famous Forty, you experience the adventures within the pages with child-like wonder and amazement. It’s a book for anyone familiar or unfamiliar with Baum’s 14 books and after the end, you will want to immediately want to pick up Book II.

Review: The Chronicles of Oz, Season 2 Episode 4

As always, spoilers abound.

As in the last three episodes of this season, we have seen multiple major departures from the original story that are made to appeal to an audience who may be unfamiliar with The Marvelous Land of Oz. We still have Tip bringing the Gump to life and fleeing the Emerald City with the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Wogglebug, and Jack Pumpkinhead, we still have the fight at the jackdaws' nest, and then the flight to Glinda's palace. In summary, the bones are there, but every other detail in-between is completely changed. However, I have spent the past few posts nit-picking every little detail that even deters from the book, and I am going to take a different direction.

Episode 4 is definitely character-driven. We observe a lot of characters fitting into their transformed roles (funny how different the characters are in this adaptations as opposed to their original 1904 counterparts, given that a major theme in the overall story revolves around transformations). We hear a ruthless Jinjur torture Omby Amby, trying to get him to confess where "His Majesty the Scarecrow" has gone, only to get the real answer when Mombi actually forces it out of him through painful mind-reading reminiscent of the tactics used in the mini-series Tin Man (given that there are numerous references to other Oz adaptations throughout the series from the 1939 film to The Wiz, this would not be surprising). Jinjur is definitely not the vain, bonbon-munching conqueror we are familiar with; and it makes her quite terrifying.

However, the biggest character development we witness in this episode involves, surprisingly, the Scarecrow. Even in the darkest moments in season 1 and this season so far, he has always been the happy-go-lucky goofball we all know and love. The moment Tip and his company fly away from the Emerald City, we start to see a transformation in his disposition. He begins to feel regret for not only the citizens he believes he has abandoned (despite the Tin Woodman's reassurances that he made the right choice to leave) and for not being the leader that he felt he should've been. His new melancholy mood only gets worse after the jackdaws fly off with all his straw and he is left without a stuffing for his body. Once they get flying again, he's stuck as a head until they reach Glinda's. This is when it got scary, even for me. He actually started "dying" and his head started losing life. Tip sustains him with the Powder and hope he lasts until they can stuff him again. The moment they get to Glinda's palace, we hear sounds of people running around calling orders and it sounds like an episode of Grey's Anatomy for about 30 seconds.

When the Scarecrow recovers, we get probably the most emotional, and relatable, moment that we've ever had in the series. The Tin Woodman scolds him (and smacks him, to start the mood light before getting heavy) for almost dying and points that the Scarecrow couldn't possibly die unless he actually wanted to. He even asks the Scarecrow if he wanted to die. The Scarecrow explains that he felt like he failed as a ruler and if he couldn't use his brains to rule, what's his purpose in life? I mean, holy shit, this is fucking heavy for an Oz adaptation. This is a Rick and Morty-level existential crisis right here. Jesus, I'm gonna have to lie down after writing this. The Tin Woodman assures him that he doesn't have to be a ruler to have a purpose; that he can be whoever he wants to be.

I really like this scene for two reasons. One, we finally see that classic Tin Woodman/Scarecrow friendship that we haven't seen much of in either season. We have seen glimpses (mostly them telling each other to shut up, as well as the one time the Tin Woodman tells the Scarecrow to get his ass in the Gump made me laugh and strangely aroused). We get to focus on that dynamic that has been celebrated, and often shipped, for a few minutes and our hearts just melt.

The second reason why I live this scene is that it's something we all can relate to. Whoever claims that they were sure of their place in life and has never had a single doubt about it is lying. We all look for that purpose and place to fit into and we often fail a thousand times before we actually find it. It's normal to be scared of that doubt and there's no shame in feeling depressed. Depression is a major issue that many of us face (hell, I take meds for it and absolutely cannot function without them) and for some of us, we do want to end it all; we may not want to actively pursue that suicidal goal, but we often hope, or even wish, that something happens and that the end just comes. But here's the thing, that is the time to reach out to a close and trusted friend and talk to them, and more often than not, you feel a fuck ton better. You're not cured, but you sure as hell feel like you can keep going. And if the Scarecrow, a guy who is famous for being carefree, can feel that way, then I think it's OK if we can feel that way too. We just need a Tin Woodman to talk to.

As you can probably guess by now, I really loved this episode. It hit home for me even more so than the other episodes. It made me laugh like the others, but it also gave me feels (like this week hasn't been full of enough feels between reading JW Krych's The Flight to Oz through tears of joy and the latest volume of Saga [not Oz-related, but it still fucked me up with emotions]). This episode is setting us up for some real shit to happen in the next installment in two weeks. By that time, I think I may be ready, I don't know about you, guys. With this much time spent building up the characters and judging by where we are in the story, the next episode should be good.

This episode is still making me think. If you are having a hard time and need someone to talk to, here is the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-8255.

Also, just a heads-up. Updates will be on every Tuesday instead of every Tuesday and Thursday since it's kinda hard on my schedule to get out two every week.