Ah, 2015. It was a pretty good year, on the balance. I think I accomplished most of what I actively set out to do.
I am a bit bummed that I did kind of fall off on my exercise plans, but that’s easy enough to pick up again. I think I’ll do that more slowly, to build up the habit more easily.
We’ll see.
Today’s the day! The new Star Wars movie begins it run in theaters this evening. My or pre-purchased ticket, reserved months in advance, is for an 8 PM screening.
Hopefully, I won’t be completely useless at work today due to the excitement. I’ve actually seen the movie at the premiere screening earlier this week, but the movie’s so good, I definitely want to see it again, even if just to pick up more details I might have missed.
It is Star Wars, after all, right?
I’ve loved the universe of Star Wars almost my entire life. I was too little for the initial premiere of the original film, and I’m side it was not a luxury my parents, taking care of my 1-year old self and my baby brother, could afford, that warm May day back in 1977. My first viewing is the same as many my age: on TV (likely on ON TV, an early cable provider), and I was hooked.
Every time after the first, if I saw that Star Wars was on the TV schedule, in TV Guide, or via a commercial, it felt like a short holiday. I knew I would be trying to watch it when it aired.
I’m sure my parents loved it too. They certainly had no problemd watching when it was on. All three of the originals were experienced by my brothers and I (3 of us by the time Return of the Jedi was released) on TV, in fact. It wasn’t until the re-releases in theaters, after years of wearing out the boxed VHS tape set, that we’d see the first trilogy in theaters.
So, fast forward from the 90’s to the present. We all still love the films, I’m able to not onlh costume up as, but also able to perform as a Jedi, as part of a group of like-minded fans and friends, in Saber Guild, an LFL-recognized, international lightsaber performance group.
We create and perform shows, in characters of our own creation and with known characters, and any funds recieved are donated to local charities. We volunteer our time to spread the wonder and excitement of Star Wars to others.
It’s my association with, and participation in that group that got me involved in the comic conventions I’ve attended, such as the Long beach and San Diego comic-cons. I’ve met many fellow fans and made many friends across the other costume clubs, such as the 501st and Rebel Legions, The Dark Empire, and others.
It’s been a great deal of fun, and some work, but it’s also been a dream come true. I feel so lucky, and grateful to be alive, now, because, even in the face of the spread of evil and fear-mongering I’m the wider world, there are those that fight that depressing really off, in bursts, as they can, by spreading love and hope. I could not be prouder to be a part of such a community. Yes the movies are fun, but the community is what drives many fans to band together for good causes.
I’m excited today that yet another generation will get to experience the awe and wonder from what follows these words on the big screen:
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away…
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
– Frank Herbert, Dune
I’ve seen it over and over. A blank page is the most frightening thing to a writer. I extend that fear to any creative undertaking. Heck, I’d even extend it to software development. A screen, with nothing but a blinking cursor is pretty daunting.
I don’t think I’m a great storyteller, but maybe that’s because I’ve never tried it out. The more I think about how much I love to read, hear, or watch a story unfold, the more I think that perhaps the stories worth telling are only such simply because they’ve been told, and not held back.
That’s still poking me sometimes. I don’t believe I have very interesting stories to tell. Whether that’s true or not isn’t always up to me, but I’ve long thought that even the struggles I’ve been through don’t seem so bad when I look at the problems of the wider world. Although I do experience some pretty exciting events and have fun with friends, not much of it falls into the nostalgic reminiscing level, in my opinion.
Maybe I’m setting the bar too high for my own biographical standard. My life’s not that mundane, after all.
I’ll think some more, and be more mindful, just in case something I do think is interesting happens. It’s the time of year (Winter holidays) when interesting things do sometimes occur. I shall try being less afraid of sharing.
Original Photo Credit: Ania i Artur Nowaccy via Compfight cc
It could be a few things, such as that thing the guy does when you initially order cable for the first time. It could also be the thing you wait for when your car is broken and won’t go.
Perhaps it’s even all those things, combined, that the people who fight fires, take care of the ill, and fight battles overseas do to help make life better for the rest of us.
All of these things seem to be services to me. What do dictionaries say? Let’s see:
Service
noun
- an act of helpful activity; help; aid:
to do someone a service.
[Source: Dictionary.com]
That also looks good, and pretty much all of the above, and more, fit that particular definition. It’s not the only one, and this is one word that is very versatile.
Inspired by a prompt at The One-Minute Writer
Well, well… It’s Thanksgiving again. I’ve yet to be away from home this time of year, so the routine begins again. Hopefully, I don’t read as ungrateful because, for me, being grateful has been something I’ve made a personal habit of fairly recently.
It’s been roughly a month since my morning routine has begun with more than exercising my phone’s multiple alarm clocks as I begrudgingly climbed out of sleep. For me, inspired by a post I came across somewhere that escapes me at the moment, I’ve made a direct effort to list out a few thinks I’m grateful for. I’ve done it almost every morning since mid-October. Today, I actually am sure that I’ve shared that task with many more people.
Just think about doing that if you haven’t been. If you think gratitude should be a daily thing, make it happen. Have a great day, even if you don’t celebrate anything today.
Thanks for reading.
Another chilly morning in Southern California. I know my east coast friends hate us, but if I shiver any, I call it cold.
I’m pretty much hooked on WildStar. Had a moment last night where I actually lost track of time and got booted when scheduled maintenance began at midnight. I was actually sad that I had to stop before I was sleepy. 🙁
All #WildStar MegaServers are now down for maintenance. Expected duration is 45 minutes. https://t.co/8fwZwg9pD2
— WildStar Operations (@WildStarOps) November 12, 2015
All #WildStar MegaServers are back online!
— WildStar Operations (@WildStarOps) November 12, 2015
The life of an MMO gamer…
Read a post written a few years back by a friend I admire the made me glad that person is a friend and reinforced my admiration for the guy. Wish I could go visit soon, but life is throwing up the old roadblocks. I will make it happen before terribly long.
Your turn. How was your morning/afternoon/evening/night?
Super Mario Brothers. It was, I think, the first video game I remember staying up really late while playing.
Even though I knew shortcuts to skip levels, warp zones, I was determined to play through every one of its 8 levels.
We (my brothers and I) had received that, as part of the deluxe Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) as a Christmas present, nearly 28 years ago. Before receiving this version, I’d only ever played this game for short periods of time at video game arcades, which I didn’t spend a lot of time in, before receiving the home version. Our parents were 
definitely more focused on our academic endeavors.
I was more excited to play this game than any other game I’d ever played up to this point, and I’d played a lot since our family also had an Atari 2600 system, with a healthy library. The NES really cemented my own lifelong love of video games.
I knew, even then, that this is something I’d be able to enjoy for a very long time, and even back then, I could not even consider that there would be a time I would not enjoy playing games. I still can’t imagine it.
There are, however, some games with the brothers Mario I have yet to experience. That’s mostly due to a few games being on my plate, as well as the hefty time investment it takes to finish current incarnations. Heck, I still have yet to complete Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii.
Mario Brothers games are also not the only franchise of games I lament being “behind” on. A franchise with another princess, whose name starts with Z, also challenge me to play, and I’m sad, being woefully behind. I would need a 3DS system to work on catching up there. Someday…someday…
Images: Wikipedia
Well, today’s a day long awaited. The concert. Foo Fighters, at The Honda Center(aka The Pond). I’ve been looking forward to this since last December, when I ordered my ticket.
I’ve actually wanted to see these guys perform live for many years now. They’ve been at it for a couple decades and I find that I like songs from nearly all their albums.
Even though I couldn’t afford to buy their albums or go to concerts when I was a bit younger, I’m glad to be able to now. I’m hopeful that this will be an awesome rock concert.
Let’s dance to Joy Division,
And celebrate the irony,
Everything is going wrong,
But we’re so happy
I blame T for putting that song by The Wombats in my head. Please forgive me for spreading the earworm.
Anyways, it’s another Friday, and an appropriately gloomy one for Fall. The Dodgers got themselves eliminated in postseason play yesterday against the Mets, of all teams.
Today, I plan to drop off my laptop at a FedEx location to ship for RMA since it seems to have a faulty video card. This is causing system shutdowns and can’t be tolerated. Thank goodness it’s still under warranty.
Been playing a good chunk of Ori and The Blind Forest. It’s a must-play for those who love Metroid-style games. Plenty of exploration and tricky jumping-while-fighting-off-enemies and pretty awesome graphics are featured.
I kind of want to see some speed runs of this game after I finish it. This game made my thumbs sweat. I totally recommend a play-through. Anyone want to share their death count? I just want to know how high mine might be at the end and I’m not that good at staying alive.
Today’s an important day. The reconstruction of my mouth continues. Now that the teeth are in a better alignment, the cleanup of the gums, to help show off the teeth better, begins. I’ll also be fitting retainer gear to keep the teeth from moving back.
it’s time to eat a good breakfast. I’ll need something sustaining for the long day ahead.
