Nerdy or Else

When I learned Bath and Body Works had a Mandalorian and Grogu-inspired product release, I was there the day I found out! There were soaps and lotions, candles and a candle pedestal (its gorgeous!), a tin lunch box, hand sanitizer holders, and a car scent holder. TAKE MY MONEY! 

Going in, I figured that the Bounty Hunter scent would be for men. What I didn't realize is that the Grogu scent was also for men. Now I'm fully aware that both characters are dudes. Yes. But who does B&BW think is buying these scents? I figured Grogu would be the cuter fruity scent, and it would be like a couples set. Alas, that is not the case. 

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm all in for a good gender bending/breaking stereotypes opportunity. However, for me, I prefer tropical scents. The muskier scents just don't inspire "lather all over my body" for me. Bounty Hunter is created using "beskar" sea salt, "solar" woods, and "protective" patchouli fragrances. It's a nice smell but one that I've smelled on my husband. The Grogu one, called "Force Flow" is created using "galactic" green apple, salted lavender, and "cosmic" sage. Its woodsy, and while I love being out in the woods, I don't want to smell like it.

No, I didn't leave empty handed. Despite my let down, I let myself be sucked in to the consumer trap and purchased one Bounty Hunter lotion for my husband, one Force Flow body wash, the Grogu & Mando mini hand sanitizer holder (with a green bottle for it), and the car fragrance holder (with a couple fragrances). Did I want the light-up pedestal? Most assuredly, but not for $80. The nightlight wallflower plug? Already sold out--even online! 

So, I get home and start sending photos to some friends with the tag line "this is the way" and all that. Of note...I was in an echo-y bathroom the next day when I picked up the holder by Mando's head, squeezing it, and suddenly Grogu baby sounds erupted everywhere me. One mini heart attack later, and I realized why it more expensive than the other holders (other than the franchise name hiking up the price). It talks! You've been warned, be careful of the squeezing its head!

After the initial luster began to fade, it was my opinion that the names and marketing are a bit…well…basic. They hit a few well-known terms and stuff, but it doesn't feel like a truly nerdy item. Basically, Grogu is a cash grab, and he's quite the adorable one many follow. This got me thinking about fun fragrance names for other franchises.  

First off, if we think Lord of the Rings, I'm shocked Axe body spray has never picked up on the golden opportunity to create a Dwarven Axe scent. "And my ax!" Come on! That's just mind-numbingly easy to sell. Gimli's already said all you need for marketing!

So down the rabbit hole I went, sharing my ideas with a few friends. Below are some of the favorite ideas. 

Star Wars

For this new line, instead of Bounty Hunter, I really think B&BW could have followed the general trend and gone with 

Who's Your Mando-Daddy.

But that's just my opinion. 

Now, what about some lightsaber tie-ins? Like...

Blazing Blueberry Kyber

Dark Chocolate Seductive Strawberry Kyber (alternate name: We've Got Cookies Kyber)

Cool As A Cucumber Kyber  

Prickly Pear Purple Kyber

Ylang Ylang Yellow Kyber

Create a mini hand sanitizer holder that looks like a lightsaber hilt and BOOM! Watch those imperial credits roll in. TAKE MY MONEY!

Star Trek

I grew up watching Star Trek: TNG. I simply had to consider a few scents for the franchise that holds a special place in my heart.

Kiss of Kahless

Live Long and Luxuriate

Red Shirt Rendezvous (with Death)

I definitely need a Star Trek refresh, so its on my to do! Stay tuned for more!

Lord of the Rings (to quote the earlier-mentioned franchise, "This is where the fun begins.")

I’m not sure why, but this one really got the ideas firing. Yes, I love LotRs, but I can’t necessarily quote it like Star Wars or Star Trek. However, the ideas just kept flowing…

Mi Amour Aragorn

Midnight at Mirkwood

Ring Around the Rosy Cotton

You Have My Bow Berrylicious

Lemonilicious Lembas Bread - the scent that gives you more! (I like ending things with 'licious, as you may have noticed)

Toss Me Temptingly

White Wizard Wysteria

Uruk-hai Meat Pie

Simply Boromir (my personal favorite)

I have been trying for months, MONTHS, to book a tattoo appointment. I've emailed different artists, sent them a few images, tried to negotiate a date and time...and then I get absolutely ghosted!

I don't think I'm asking for much. I'd love something with an open book and then a dragon or two flying out of it and around my wrist. IDK, is that a difficult ask?

Growing up, I never thought I wanted a tattoo. I remember a high school friend got a tattoo of a frog on her ankle. She said how much it hurt. Yeah, I wasn't about that.

But many things have changed. I've birthed two children (one without an epidural!), so my pain tolerance is much higher. I have friends with tattoos who tell me about their experiences, and its not as dramatic sounding as it did in when my friend and I were in high school.

When I finally found an image that I'd get a tattoo of, I was so excited telling my friends. I was like, "I'm getting a tattoo! Check out this picture!"

And that was last year. Yep. 2025. I'm still struggling. Of course, the struggle bus is not an unfamiliar location (let's be honest).

Tonight I've placed another request, added my inspiration photos, sent my preferred days of the week, and hit submit. Fingers crossed that fourth request is the charm!

I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, here's one of my inspiration photos. What do you think? Am I being a diva?

I think I'm in my Project Hail Mary phase. Please forgive me.

I just finished the book "Project Hail Mary," and its very good. Though... there was one moment that really ticked me off. You can check out my review here: J. Lynn Else’s review of Project Hail Mary | Goodreads

Actually, I think a part of my phase is due to Artemis II. Have you guys seen the photos? Watch the launch? Stunning. Amaze, amaze, amaze!

This new era of mine actually reminds me of my elementary school days. I was so excited about space! I also watched a LOT of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" at that time.

Space fascinates me--always has, always will. I see it as endless possibilities. Let's be honest, that's a WHOLE LOT of area out there...there's gotta be aliens out there! Are humans really so arrogant as to believe we're it in the universe? Oh wait...yes, we can be.

Anyway! In the book "Project Hail Mary," Rocky and Grace discusses the probability that led up to their meeting. Is it likely there are other life forms out there? What about the similarities/differences between their cultural development in their two worlds? Possibilities...yes, yes, yes! This is what constantly runs in the back of my head. Could Andy Weir actually have a sequel in mind with more Rocky adventures?

Here's another great Artemis II photo:

IDK. But I do know my love of sci fi stories has reignited. I've been dominated by fantasy the last 5-10 years, but I have a feeling sci fi is making a comeback. As I review my 2026 reads, I realize how many sci fi stories are populating it. Will that effect my writing? Well...there are a few ideas percolating in my tiny human brain. Puppet show, anyone?

When I go to used book stores, I specifically look for old 1970s and 1980s sci fi books. The market was huge back then! Sure, it wasn't very girl friendly, which was a barrier I ran into often. Where are the female characters? Why can't they pick up a space gun? Why aren't they wearing more clothes? But, there are some gems to be found.

This new successful space era we all live in, can you feel it!? The excitement? The call to adventure? Artemis II just returned, and its smashed the previous records. Glass ceiling? Say goodbye to that crap. There are plans for more space adventures too!

So how can I become an astronaut? Actually, "Project Hail Mary" kind of shows me how much I DON"T belong in space. Can I do physics and math? No. But in my imagination? Well, the possibilities are yet to be discovered. I'll keep you posted.

Until then...another pretty picture!

I read the book "The Martian" but never saw the movie. The book was exceptional, and while I had no issue with the casting and heard good things about it, I simply wasn't motivated to replace the images I had in my head with movie images. The book felt fresh, adventurous, and freaking hilarious.

For "Project Hail Mary," my son sent me a text saying how he thought I'd really like it. As I couldn't get a copy of the book in time, I decided to break my typical rule...watch the movie first (clutch your pearls, ya'll!) and read the book later.

My thoughts: it was SO amazing. I laughed, I felt my heart clench, I was intrigued by the science, the visuals were stunning (seriously: amaze. amaze. amaze.), and I can't complain about Ryan Gosling as an astronaut either (with the added nerdy teacher vibes? Say less...)

Besides his charming good looks, Ryan Gosling's performance really made the everyman-forced-into-impossible-situations storyline work. Where in "The Martian," our main character was an astronaut, as this book's main character says, "I put the 'not' in astronaut! I've never done a space walk, I can't even moonwalk." The seriousness and hard science it expertly balanced with humor and heart. And it's easy to empathize with what Grace is going through.

Then there's Rocky. Lovable, quirky, adorable-buddy-who-helps-save-the-world Rocky. I mean...Fist my bump, Rocky! Honestly, when can I go again?

I wonder, how much say did the author have on casting? My guess is that he didn't, but with the success of "The Martian," did he have a lot of say in the production? I think the casting was excellent, but before there was any talk of movies and during the writing process, who did Andy Weir have in mind?

I've been asked that question before: who would I cast for my characters? To be honest, I haven't been able to answer the question. For me, it's hard to separate my characters from the pieces of myself and others in my life that I weave into them.

So the question I pose to my fellow writers, who do you envision when writing characters? If (if? I mean when) Spielberg calls, who'd be in your cast? Are there other books turned movies you'd recast if given the chance?

Is it sad to admit I'm not familiar with younger actors who can be cast in my "Descendants of Avalon" series? Yeah...I'm getting older and paying attention to older actors now who are, you know, like...my age. Hint: that's somewhere above 30 and below 50. All I can disclose at the moment.

So in the end, be sure to check out "Project Hail Mary." If you've read the book, how does the movie compare? Final thoughts? All I can say is: "whoop, there it is!"

I recently attended a lecture called "Literature is Good Medicine." The place I work hosts these the last Tuesday of every month. There, we analyze a few pieces of poetry, then we have a free write session based on the previous poetry ideas. I ended up writing something I'm a little proud of and thought I'd share. The title is still a working title, but I'm never really good with titles anyway. May I present my latest poem:

The Mirror's Argument

"The mirror in the bathroom wants to show me something.

Between the images in my head to the image haloed in fluorescent lights, 

who is this reflection?

Is it the brown eyes with highlights of gold

or the wrinkles that fan out from their corners?

Is it the bottle highlighted hair that is a bit messy around the edges

or the shades of gray that dare to crawl back down my scalp?

Can I accept the face in the mirror and the vision in my mind?

The girl who took dance classes, 

the teen who studied theater and recited lines of Shakespeare,

the woman who brought to life fantasy worlds and characters on paper?

Who does that look like?

Can she be both young and old?

The mirror only shows me the sun-damage, 

the fading colors, 

the crinkles and creases.

Its argument is compelling

that I am middle-aged, weary, a faded negative 

from a century past. 

But my eyes don’t tell the whole story, 

and there are other angles who can broaden my perspective.

I don’t just carry the things I see

but also the things I remember.

I don't mean to be political, and I'm sorry that I'm being political right now. You see, I live in Minnesota. Yesterday, ICE agents fatally shot a woman as she drove away from an ICE officer forcibly trying to get in her car. The actions of the ICE officers are plain on the video, but I will not argue with you on intention or fault. What makes humanity beautiful is our wonderful minds. I respect your opinions, and I hope you'll respect mine. Bear with me a bit longer if you will.

This incident is one of many recent events that brings to mind the 2nd season of "Andor." This is a Star Wars series about the rise of the Rebellion against the tyranny of the evil Emperor.

When the first Star Wars premiered in 1977, the movie's political struggles and destruction of rebellious worlds seemed so far removed from our world. They were set in a place far, far away (long ago) after all. Forty-eight years later, the fight continues. This is where "Andor" comes in.

The writers of "Andor" very poignantly provided a speech for Mon Mothma as she tries to persuade the senate to speak up against the blatant evil happening in their universe. Re-reading this speech, I felt the weight of these words. Perhaps when you read the words below, you will be equally touched.

I bring this up not just because of the injustice and lies being spoken today. I write about this topic to encourage you to be kind. Kindness matters, especially right now. Help your fellow neighbors. Join hands with your community. Lend someone a help up if they've fallen down. We all stumble from time to time.

I hope we can remember not the tragedy as much as the moments we stood proudly to spread kindness and acceptance.

It's hard to explain to someone that you need time alone. "Me" time. Earlier in 2025, I went on a solo "sanity"/writing retreat because I severely needed to recharge with just myself. However, this did unintentionally leave a mark on my husband.

When I mentioned the other night that I was feeling the need for another weekend venture on my own, he got very quiet. Then he said it hurt to feel like he was driving me into needing alone time.

But that's not the case. Yes, I need space from him, true, but I also need space from reality. This is what gets hard to explain. While a small part of it is him, it's also everything around me. And to be honest, he is not the reason--I am. I am someone who needs alone time. It's not a reflection on anyone else. However, I believe society has trained us to think that separation from a partner or friends is something wrong or dangerous. Alone time? How selfish of me!

Self-care is not selfish care. That's something women have been taught: time for yourself? What about your family? How could you just leave them? Selfish woman!!

Well, that attitude stops in this Gen-Xer's mind. I have two kids, and it's okay to want to be on my own for a while. To leave their care to my spouse or to themselves! I have a job and a husband and bills to pay, but I can also spend some money doing something just for myself. Maybe it's a massage, maybe it's a hotel stay in a small town somewhere, maybe its buying 10 used books, who knows? And that's the beauty of it. Who knows...the possibilities are endless.

To reframe things, I said to him: I want to do whatever I want and not have to worry about anyone else. If I choose to sit for an hour at a used bookstore pouring over lovely paperbacks, I don't want to feel the pressure of someone tapping their foot while waiting for me. If I want to write for a bit in a small local cafe and then enjoy a quiet dessert (or two, don't judge) while reading, I don't have to worry about being late to anything (or judged). And if I want to sit in an egg chair all day, watch some Forensic Files, and sketch, I can do that too. It's all my choice.

Another solo trip is in the works. I'll probably have to explain it again. Yet it's a fundamental part of finding joy in this chaotic world I must adult in. I've denied myself this for so many years. Now I'm in my mid-forties and wonder what took me so long to start this?

Like decadent chocolate or a fine wine, indulge yourself. If anyone takes issue with it? Well, that's a 'them' issue. That's their yard stick they are using to measure worth, and you don't need to make their measuring stick yours. Build your own.

I can't wait for my next adventure!

Nothing soothes last-minute gift-giving panic quite like ebooks. Instantaneous gifting! Bonus? My first book is 70% off and can be found here: The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen

Welp, yesterday I was very mad at myself. See, I bought this adorable wireless mouse for my laptop. I was so excited to bring it to writing group and show everyone how cute it was. But the mouse needed a battery first. Of course I didn't have a AA readily available, so the mouse could not be used immediately.

Sooooo....after finally getting a battery, I was ready to plug it in to my laptop and try it out. I grab my laptop. I grab my mouse. I grab my...wait. I realize I'm missing something...the USB thing that connects the wireless mouse to my laptop...where'd that thing go?

I remember taking it out of the box, saw the USB connector, and said to myself, "I won't forget where I put this."

You can probably guess what happened next.

Yep. Forgot.

I spent Saturday night and Sunday evening looking for the stupid USB plug in. I picked everything up around the last place I saw it. I vacuumed. I searched via the strongest flashlight around where I'd last seen it. Do you think I found it? Nope.

So then I'm angry and upset with myself Sunday night--resigning myself to the fact I'll probably need to buy a whole new one. And without this one even having a chance to impress with its functionalness and cuteness.

Today, I go on Amazon checking to see if there are any replacement USB plug ins from the company. Randomly, I decide to watch a video about someone's review of the mouse. Why? Maybe they'll show what the box looked like? I certainly couldn't find the box either. Maybe it was divine intervention, who knows.

Guess what I learned. Just guess....

Have you guessed yet?

THE USB PLUG IN WAS INSIDE THE MOUSE THE WHOLE TIME!

Yep. Didn't lose it. I simply left it where it belonged. Easy to travel with. Easy to find. Unless you're me!!! And FORGET!

So that was my revelation today. Looking on the bright side of this whole ordeal, at least I found it. Or maybe it found me? Anyways, I can use it this week at writer's group. It's a super cute purple hamster, and it's working well.

To the person who made that video review and showed where the USB was kept in the mouse (hint, it's where you insert the battery, in case I forget again): Thank you!