The Re-Awakening of Anakin and the Process of Forgiveness

Hello all!!

I am pleased to announce that my latest blog over on The Cantina Cast is now live!!  This one is a personal one, as it indirectly chronicles not only the lives of Anakin and Padme but also the lives of my husband and myself.  If you are able to stop by, any feedback is appreciated (either on The Cantina Cast site or here).

Until next month...May The Force Be With You!!

A New Beginning

Hello everyone!  I wanted to take a moment and apologize for the inactivity on here over the past year.  Real life quite often takes precedence over any aspect of our "pretend" lives (i.e. blogging, costuming, etc).  However, I am really excited to announce a new journey upon which I have embarked thanks to a good friend of mine:  I am a Featured Blogger for a new Star Wars related pod cast site called The Cantina Cast!!  We are just now getting things started, but I will be publishing a new blog on the site once a month from here on out.  As I do this, the blog here will more than likely take a bigger backseat than it has already.  I will post little things here and there, but I will leave my deeper, more thought-provoking blogs for the Cantina Cast.  I will link to my entries as they are published, so you can keep up with me there if you are interested.  For now, I will leave you with this link to my first blog with The Cantina Cast.

Until next time...May The Force Be With You All!!

Celebration Anaheim--2015!!

I realize that I am a couple of weeks late in posting something about the next Star Wars Celebration, but, like always, things have been hectic around here.  When the next Celebration was announced two weeks ago, my husband and I initially thought "there is no way we are going to be able to go to this one," mostly because of it being out in California, during the school year.  However, after thinking about it for a few days, we started talking and realized that, although our son would be in school at this time, he would only be in preschool, where it is not as critical for him to be present as it is when he is older.  So, as long as we are able to save enough money and nothing else comes up between now and then...my husband, my son (who will be 5 years old =O ), and I will be heading to Anaheim, California in April of 2015, with plans to spend a few extra days to visit Disneyland and some other attractions in the area!!  When tickets and hotel rooms went on sale this past week, I was able to secure us a room for 10 nights...although the length of our stay may change before then.  We still need to get our convention passes, but there is definitely still time for that.

Now, in addition to saving money and planning for the trip, I will be working on plans for our costumes ;)  I definitely have some in mind for myself...some of which I have already started working and some of which I have on a "plan to do" list.  My husband would like for us to start working on his Wookiee Warrior costume so that we have it ready by then; in addition to his Bail Organa costume that I made for him last year.  Finally, for my son I am planning on a X-Wing pilot, an Episode I Anakin, a farm boy Luke, and possibly something like Boba/Jango Fett or Ewok/Jawa or something else, all depending on whether he can tolerate wearing a "bucket."  He will definitely be introduced to Star Wars by the time the convention rolls around, so he may even have an opinion on what he would like to wear ;)

I do not know when I will be able to post any non-convention or non-costuming entries...but I do hope to have something out soon!  All of this, of course, depends on how crazy things around here get with my teaching starting back up, the possibility of a new job (where I can actually use my advanced degree/certification), and planning/sewing.

Until my next entry...May the Force Be With You All!!

May the Fourth Be With You!!

Hello everyone!!  I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a very Happy Star Wars Day...and, May the Fourth Be With You...Always!!

Also, I have a few ideas for new blog entries, so I hope to be posting them soon...as soon as things settle down here a bit and I start feeling better (been sick for the past week, but am starting to feel a bit better since being started on some antibiotics and using my inhaler more frequently)!!  Until then, I wish you all the best in wherever your adventures take you.

Then I'll Meet You on Hoth

I started this entry the other day while I was at work.  However, a situation arose that prevented me from finishing this before I left for home.  The day was December 26, 2012, the day  after Christmas.  There were blizzard warnings and winter storm warnings out for my area of the world, and it was looking pretty nasty out there.  I had started thinking about the weather on Hoth and the transportation methods that the Rebels had to get around the planet...as I began to worry if I would be able to leave the hospital that day and get back home at the end of my shift.  The strangest things come to your mind during a few moments of down time ;)  It turns out that the winter weather system had moved through the region a bit faster than the meterologists had predicted, so I was able to make it home with minimal difficulty.  However, on my one day off before returning to work, between loads of laundry and other household duties, I started thinking about this blog  entry a little more.  So here I am again, to write an entirely new entry about subject matter completey different than it would have been two days ago.

The snowfall and storm system were the first major winter weather we have had in nearly two years here.  Last winter was mild, with little measurable snow...and it is looking like this year will be at least back to normal (hopefully not record-breaking!).  I know that I should not complain about the snow, ice, and cold we get around here...I chose to stay in the area after I graduated from college...and there are worse places to live, winter weather-wise.  However, that does not mean that I have to like it...especially if it means that I might not be able to make it home from work.  I would much rather just hunker down at home during these bouts of nasty winter weather and snuggle up by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate...no worry other than what my son may be getting into.

As I sit and ponder the cold and snow around here, of course I cannot help but think of the opening scenes of Episode V...the ones that occur on Hoth.  The Rebels chose a great, albiet cold and snowy, place to set up base in their attempts to hide from the Imperials.  It was a planet on the outskirts of the galaxy, and one that nobody would think about searching for a hideout.  The Rebels possibly could have hunkered down there a bit longer had the Empire not deployed probe droids into the far reaches of the galaxy.

I can only imagine not only how blistery cold it was for them but also how extremely dangerous it was for them to head out in search for signs of life and whatever else it was they were exploring there.  Just like many parts of our world in the wintertime, it would be clear and sunny one minute and snowy and windy the next.  They would almost have to venture out in teams so that nobody would have to traverse the extreme terrain alone.  Much like the current day explorers/scientists/etc. that have set up base on Antarctica, the Rebels on Hoth would have had periods of time where it was safe to leave base/planet and periods of time where it was not.  They would have had to adapt to these extremes in weather/climate and make adjustments accordingly, much like we do with extreme weather/climate changes today.

Although we do not have snow speeders or Tauntauns in/on which to travel, we do have vehicles that have been adapted over the years in which to travel: from four-wheel drive cars/trucks/SUVs to snow mobiles, we have ways in which to get around.  I wait for the day that we have such things as the snow speeder, where we can traverse the terrain without worrying about how slick the roads are from the snow and ice, where snow plows and salt mixtures for road treatment are a thing of the past.  So, until that time comes, I guess I will sit back and enjoy the snow on my days off and keep on traveling the way I have been since I was 16 years old...by car/truck/SUV.

Happy Holidays everyone!!

A Mouse of a Tail...

This past week has been full of news for my area of the world...earlier in the week, Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy made landfall and, although we do not live along the Eastern coastline, we still felt the effects of strong winds and heavy rains; our power went out for several hours; work was a mad house; and it was announced that Disney bough LucasFilm for some $4+ billion...and that there will be another trilogy!!  When my husband told me the news about this Tuesday night, I pretty much said to him "good one honey...I don't believe that."  Sadly, I saw the news the next morning when I was able to log onto my Facebook and other Star Wars related sites...it was true, and I owed my husband a HUGE apology ;)  I was in total shock with the announcement...Lucas sold his "baby" to another franchise and there are going to be more Star Wars movies!! 

I remain torn in my thoughts of the news...even after a week since the announcement. I know that we fans have wanted more in terms of Star Wars movies and television shows.  I, like many, hope that Disney can do the movies justice and will maintain continuity with what is already out there.  Will the original trio return?  Apparently, Harrison Ford is considering returning.  I know that George Lucas had met with Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill back in August to let them know about his plans for selling LucasFilm.  Hopefully, the gang will be willing to get back together, if even for one movie.  I hope that the release of books and other media continues as it has, as these have been a source of entertainment and information for many of us...they keep the story going.  I know people who write fan fiction and produce fan movies...will they still be able to do these things?  Will there still be Celebrations and other events where Star Wars fans and celebrities make appearances?

 As a member of the Rebel Legion, I worry about how our relationship with Disney will be...will LucasFilm still have a say in the Legions' (Rebel and 501st) participation in events, or will Disney have the final say.  Will we be allowed to continue our charity work and will we still be allowed to make our costumes without fear of being pursued for copyright infringement?  I love what the Legion does and what it stands for...and I love bringing smiles to the faces of children whenever they see us at events.  We have been told that our operations will continue as usual, but I still worry about what will change as things are finalized between LucasFilm and Disney.

There are many questions that have yet to be answered in the past week, and lots of speculation on the next movie and about fan relations.  I am taking the watch and wait approach...with cautious optimism.  As a blogger and costumer, I do have my concerns...and I hope that they will be put at ease sooner rather than later.

Until more news on this comes out...May the Force Be With You All!!

Celebration VI...Memories To Last A Lifetime

Well hello everyone...long time no blog!!  Things have been crazy at the old homestead.  My husband and I took the opportunity to attend Star Wars Celebration VI in Orlando, FL at the end of August...and we had a blast!!  I had every intention of writing a long blog entry detailing our trip, but, alas, Darth Real Life took hold.  It was just a few days after returning from Orlando before I had to return to work...and that work included my full time job at the hospital, and my new part time job as a nursing clinical instructor.  Add to that duties at home, my son being a very energetic 2-1/2 year old, and my husband returning to school, and there is little time for anything else. 

Our time in Orlando was pretty much spent relaxing the few days before the convention started, attending the four day convention, and then relaxing for the few days after the end of the convention before returning home.  We arrived a few days early so that we could catch up on some sleep, relax, and do a little shopping for the kids...because, frankly, we needed the break :)  We had also decided to stay a couple of extra days so that we could recover from the convention "madness" before making the approximately 18-20hour trip back home.  The first part of our trip, including the convention days, was filled with some nice, but humid, weather; while the last few days were filled with the remnants of Tropical Storm Isaac...which meant RAIN!!

I really do not know what to say about the convention itself, except that it was AWESOME!!  Although I had a great time at the last Celebration I attended (which was CIV), I had a much better time this time around.  Maybe it was because I had been to a Celebration before...or maybe it was the company this time around ;)  Whatever it was, I can say that I was better prepared this time around, and did not miss out on too much of anything I wanted to see/do.  My husband and I were able to attend some panels and we were also able to see a few celebrities during their shows:  Ian McDiarmid, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Warwick Davis.  We also attended the "Super Secret Star Wars Panel" with Seth Green and company where none other than "The Maker" himself appeared on stage!!  I could not believe it...and my husband said that I "squealed like a litte fan girl."  I also had the opportunity to participate in the Rebel Legion's Royalty/Senatorial costuming panel, the Great Lakes Base and Rebel Legion group photos, and the Celebration Costume Contest (in which, of course, I did not even place).  Of course I dressed in costume every day...wearing Classic Leia on Thursday, Padme's Blue Linen gown on Friday, Breha Organa's gown on Saturay, and Padme's Tatooine Poncho on Sunday.  I was able to see and do so much more than I did last time...and I would not trade this experience for anything!

One thing I did learn, though...you really do know who some of your "true friends" are in situations/circumstances like these.  In 2007, I attended CIV with a group of ladies I had met through the old Star Wars blogs...a group of ladies with whom I had connected (including a few that lived locally to me) both on and off site.  However, as time passed after the convention, I was feeling a bit of a distance between myself and several of the group's members...I did not feel like I fit in any longer.  The breaking point for my participation in the group came when I met my husband...and how I stood my ground to the others in how I felt and how things were going to go.  After this, I severed ties with the group, until I joined Facebook and reconnected with a few of those with whom I was closest.  Things still are not the same as they were back in 2007/08, but I can handle that.  Through my "run-ins" with some of the ladies who were in attendance at the convention, I could immediatey tell who had gotten over the events of four years ago and who still were holding a grudge (who had "grown up" versus who had not).  When the people you were once friends with look down/away or turn to walk the other way when they see you...you know that they were only there "for the season" and not for life.  I could care less if I have any interaction with those who did not acknowledge my presence when they clearly noticed me there, right in front of them.  I made my choices and they made theirs...and I am a better person for it.

As we look to the future of Star Wars Celebrations...I can only hope that they will be as good (or better) than this one was.  May The Force Be With You...Always!!



P.S.  I was planning to attach photos, but have not had the time to organize them in any certain way for me to be able to do so.  I hope you all understand :) 
Also, I will have a blog about the new buy-out by Disney of LucasFilm out shortly.  Months with no new blog, and two out in a short time...the world must really be ending!! ;)