The Girl with the Star Wars Tattoo. Recovering geoscientist. 56 countries. I have opinions & adventures. Reykjavík. KC born; SG bred. Founder: www.sidequesticeland.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mkxcqvk5dk2xA Sunday #caturday post, if you'll allow me. A balmy 8°C today and sunshine. Gary is actually not a huge fan of the sun (I think he overheats with his thick coat), but he is a budding ornithologist and entomologist hehe. #catsofbluesky #weather03 May 2026 13:56 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkxcqvk5dk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mkuetmqjrk25It's Saturday and that means it's #caturday! Please enjoy this video of my favorite big little guy, Gary, doing what I call the "Jason Bourne." Spying on the house from above, but looking cute doing it. The way he holds his little paws out, I can't handle it. #CatsofBlueSky #MaineCoon02 May 2026 09:55 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkuetmqjrk25https://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mks3c6agp22oMunicipal elections are this month in Iceland, and things are already heating up. I might make a thread of all the tea brewing between the eleven (yes, 11!) parties running in Reykjavik. I am sure you are all here for the aurora and volcano pics, but local ridiculousness can be interesting.01 May 2026 11:59 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mks3c6agp22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mkkpnd5lpk2pSometimes you go out into Icelandic nature and enjoy it. And then sometimes you go out into Icelandic nature and luxuriate in it. Skál 🥂 We call this the Fizzy Foss 🍾 #iceland #luxury #cheers28 Apr 2026 13:42 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkkpnd5lpk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mkctg5aohs2kHappy #caturday! I was going through Gary's baby pictures and was reminded of my favorite photo from his youth: passed out completely upside-down, half out of his bed surrounded by toys. He is still such a character! #mainecoon #kitten25 Apr 2026 10:28 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkctg5aohs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mk4jehpxc22bAs the #northernlights season wraps up here (gee thanks, #midnightsun), I can't help but look back in awe with what an experience it was. Truly, I feel lucky to witness #aurora like this here at home in #iceland 💚 Do you have a favorite? Did you get to see them this past season?22 Apr 2026 22:12 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk4jehpxc22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mk6hxcjdx22cLava fountaining Episode 45 at Kilauea, Hawaii happening now. Preliminary bubbling was going on for a day and official fountains were declared starting overnight. Max fountain height was around 700 m (smaller than usual). If you like lava, tune into the live cams. #kilauea #volcano #science23 Apr 2026 16:52 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk6hxcjdx22chttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mk6axqqvts24Today is Iceland's most optimistic holiday on the calendar: first day of summer! Legend says the worse the weather today, the better summer might be. Predicted sun has not materialized, so maybe it's a good omen? Definitely have not been able to find the sun today! Gleðilegan sumardaginn fyrsta!23 Apr 2026 14:47 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk6axqqvts24https://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mk4jehpxc22bAs the #northernlights season wraps up here (gee thanks, #midnightsun), I can't help but look back in awe with what an experience it was. Truly, I feel lucky to witness #aurora like this here at home in #iceland 💚 Do you have a favorite? Did you get to see them this past season?22 Apr 2026 22:12 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk4jehpxc22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mjyt5al7a22oI think this might be the latest in the season I've seen #northernlights here in #iceland. Having excellent weather now in Reykjavík. Taken this morning in the city after midnight. Not the best photo, it was just a quick snap from my balcony; Twas not prepared for #aurora! #midnightsun is coming...21 Apr 2026 10:57 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjyt5al7a22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mjupcix43k2rSomething a little different from my normal content, but if you remember I was quite sick about a year ago and my hair partially fell out. I buzzed it, and now it's growing back. The problem is, I look in the mirror and see someone else: first Julius Caesar, and now Whittaker from S2 of The Pitt 🫣😭19 Apr 2026 19:37 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjupcix43k2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mjsrn7o2kk2xYes, it's a poorly focused iPhone photo, but I'm so pleased nonetheless that I was able to capture the gorgeous setting crescent moon, Venus, and the late season aurora. It was such a beautiful night. #astronomy #northernlights #aurora #venus #midnightsun19 Apr 2026 01:14 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjsrn7o2kk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mjraka3fxs2bHappy #caturday to all who celebrate! Gary is obsessed with this box. He has never cared for real boxes, and only occasionally uses the fancy cat beds I've bought him. But he's in this fruit box we swiped from Costco daily. (Fun fact: did you know that 75% of #Iceland has a Costco membership?)18 Apr 2026 10:35 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjraka3fxs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mjoze2bksc2cWelcome back online, #bluesky! Probably the last big #northernlights night of the season here in #Iceland. G2 geomagnetic storm warning predicted to hit around 21:00-midnight GMT and persist through 6:00. That means North America might be lined up for a prime time show. 📸 April 17, 2025 #aurora17 Apr 2026 13:21 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjoze2bksc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mjnebcfvt225Me, not being able to access Bluesky app all day due to some server issue: #blueskyisdown https://media.tenor.com/HfAsPg2rcMsAAAAC/confused-white-persian-guardian.gif?hh=498&ww=49816 Apr 2026 21:31 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjnebcfvt225https://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mjicgjchr22hAnother harbinger of spring? My first time confusion moment of the season. Looked up from book, thought, "oh, it's getting late, I should go to the gym now." I assume it's 19:30. Nope. It's past 21:00. It's still light out. Sun *just* set. So it begins. 📸: one year ago, twilight #aurora hunting.14 Apr 2026 21:15 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjicgjchr22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mjh43eaytc2cThe other avian harbinger of spring has made its way to Icelandic shores, right on time. The puffin was spotted in two localities last week, Grímsey (north) and Borgarfjarðar eystri (east). It will take them a bit longer to arrive in the south & west. Sea clowns are here! #iceland #birdwatching14 Apr 2026 09:49 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjh43eaytc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mjezjrdjks2oOne of the big news stories here in Iceland last week is of a newspaper publishing an obituary of a man who turned out not to be dead. The police cited "ongoing bullying" and two women were arrested. The paper apologized and had to fight back on claims they DIDN'T CALL THE DECEASED TO CONFIRM. https://media.tenor.com/bmr6YS5qmKIAAAAC/phoebe-lisa-kudrow.gif?hh=270&ww=24413 Apr 2026 13:58 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjezjrdjks2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mjcc7qye5k2uAs #Artemis2 has landed back on Earth and prepares to leave our news cycle, I want to highlight the crew's poetic quotes from their Houston press conference. I don't know if they understand the magnitude of how many people they've inspired, but #NASA knocked it out of the park with this mission.12 Apr 2026 11:55 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjcc7qye5k2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mjaqw6awrc2dPink hour here in Reykjavík 🩷 Sunset now already at 20:45. Midnight sun is coming. #iceland #sunset #earthjoy11 Apr 2026 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjaqw6awrc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mj7o4v6ois25A camera roll reminder. The early days of Covid were an interesting time here in Iceland. Six years ago today, I was out on the south coast, completely alone. All the sites normally swamped with visitors were empty. A scary, but unique time to be on an island closed to the world. #iceland #travel11 Apr 2026 10:50 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj7o4v6ois25https://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mj7kwv3src2lA lovely #caturday to you all, from Gary the Maine Coon. He's been upset by our late nights watching NASA have upset our sleep schedule. Look at that face 😹11 Apr 2026 09:53 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj7kwv3src2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mj6rezxilc27They look so joyful 🥹 I am so relieved and proud. They're off to med bay and I'm off to bed. #Artemis2 #NASA #moonjoy https://media.tenor.com/fTwXwteUFVgAAAAC/artemis-2-reid-and-victor.gif?hh=264&ww=48011 Apr 2026 02:16 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj6rezxilc27https://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mj6kbr4rrc2oIt's so beautiful! Fist pumps in the air! Our friends, our explorers, are home. #Artemis #NASA #welcomehome Perhaps #earthjoy?11 Apr 2026 00:09 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj6kbr4rrc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mj6jkseddc2vWe're now in the six minutes LOS period. 11 minutes until splash down. #Artemis2 #homewardbound10 Apr 2026 23:56 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj6jkseddc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mj6hdmqsuk27What an evening. The #Artemis2 live stream of reentry and splash down competing with early #northernlights dancing in the sky. Two of my passions happening at once 🤩 There might have also been a yummy bowl of mac and cheese in the mix too. #NASA #aurora #moonjoy10 Apr 2026 23:16 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj6hdmqsuk27https://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mj5b3lys3k2x"Copy moon joy." Today's re-entry of #Artemis2 will begin at 23:30 GMT (19:30 EDT) and splash down will be at 00:07. #NASA have all the details here with cool diagrams and maps. Will you be watching? https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/04/09/artemis-ii-flight-day-9-crew-prepares-to-come-home/10 Apr 2026 11:52 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj5b3lys3k2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mj3xjzfmcs2kEruptive Episode 44 of Kilauea in Hawaii has begun. Fountains reported to be 200 m right now. Lots of excellent lava channels on live cam right now. Eruptive episodes, on average, are decreasing in length of time. From days to hours now. Wishing safety to the island, as always! #kilauea #volcano09 Apr 2026 23:28 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj3xjzfmcs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mj2zajx5o22iWanted to do a quick reintroduction after all the (some friendly, some not) new visitors to my account. I'm a geologist here in #Iceland, with a background in earth science and astrophysics. After being quite sick in 2024-25, I quit my job and now run my own #travel experiences company for nerds!09 Apr 2026 14:26 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj2zajx5o22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/markdownhandsup.bsky.social/post/3mixwakkv3k2lYesterday, the crew of the ISS called the crew of #Artemis2 and had a short conversation in between their busy schedules of research and documentation (I promise, to a scientist, that's more fun than it sounds!) This was the first ship-to-ship communications ever to take place in space. #NASA08 Apr 2026 08:54 +0000at://did:plc:3qve3sf64omlpy62iktymbbv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mixwakkv3k2l