Help me, Obi-Mom Kenobi! You're my only hope. » just plain fun

You are reckless.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Sat, 28 May 2011 17:51:09 +0000

“This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things. You are reckless.” – Yoda, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back

Perhaps. But I’m also blissfully happy at the moment. It may be an un-Jedi-like trait, but it’s very, very real.

The stars aligned. A couple of excellent deals were offered. The current landspeeder had required yet another expensive repair. It was time. So as of last Thursday night, we are now the new owners of a 2011 Mini Cooper Clubman. It’s British Racing Green with a black roof, mirrors and – going on next week – bonnet stripes. I’m calling it The Green Lantern, in honor of a comic book-loving friend who first dragged me to the Grand Rapids Car Show back before Minis were even in production because he KNEW it was the car for me. Indeed, it was love at first sight, and I’ve been Jones-ing for one ever since. I’ll get a picture up just as soon as the bonnet stripes are on.

Last night, as we were getting ready to go to trampoline practice, Dad Windu said, “I love everything about this car.” Shockingly high praise for a “Yeah, dinner wasn’t half bad” kind of guy. Our nearly 16 year old Padawan Learner is just itching to drive it, but he will not be touching The Green Lantern’s clutch until he gets a few more miles under his belt driving the old-slow-mobile. We’re keeping the old, larger car around for a bit, in case PL follows in my tracks and learns to drive the extreme way – by crashing into someone/something else in the first few months of having a license.

You assume too much.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:54:21 +0000

Nute: “I know nothing about any Ambassadors…you must be mistaken.”
Amidala: “Beware, Viceroy…”
Nute: “Your Highness, we would never do anything without the approval of the Senate. You assume too much.”
Amidala: “We will see.”
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace

Once again, I was close to assuming that I had pretty much seen it all, but I was wrong – of course.

Eileen Cook has found a way to combine her love for all things Pooh with my obvious obsession with Star Wars. Really, what are best buds to do when their ”You simply have to see this” moments don’t overlap? All hail James Hance, a clever creator of fine things. (look at both links)

And to add glorious fuel to the fire, Dad Windu found a way to combine Star Wars with his passion for roundabouts and all things road-related. TomTom, I bow to your awesomeness. First good and then evil.

Let the Wookiee win.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:56:25 +0000

Chewbacca:    Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrgh
C-3PO:           He made a fair move. Screaming about it can’t help you.
Han Solo:       Let him have it. It’s not wise to upset a Wookiee.
C-3PO:          But sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid.
Han Solo:      That’s ’cause droids don’t pull people’s arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that.
Chewbacca: Grrf.
C-3PO:         I see your point, sir. I suggest a new strategy, R2. Let the Wookiee win.
                                    Star Wars IV: A New Hope

ScoutMom has found a great collection of “Mompetitor” animated videos. As she noted, all you have to do is add a discussion of curriculum choices to make them homeschoolers.

I’m not the Jedi I should be. I want more. And I know I shouldn’t.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:18:52 +0000

Anakin Skywalker: “I feel lost.”
Padmé: “Lost?”
Anakin Skywalker: “Obi-Wan and the Council don’t trust me.”
Padmé: “They trust you with their lives.”
Anakin Skywalker: “Something’s happening. I’m not the Jedi I should be. I want more. And I know I shouldn’t.”

Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

Sadly, there are all things we want when we’re young that are just not allowed. Fortunately, as an adult, you can do something about it…

“When I was a kid, there are two things I wanted badly and never got…”

I don’t sleep well, anymore.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:07:10 +0000

Obi-Wan Kenobi: “You look tired.”
Anakin Skywalker: “I don’t sleep well, anymore.”
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones

It’s probably because his mom didn’t read “Goodnight, Forest Moon” to him as a child.

Noah Dziobecki adapted my son’s long-ago favorite bedtime book, Goodnight Moon, to the Star Wars universe for a friend’s son’s birthday. Kindly though, he’s made his version available for download with assembly instructions for the rest of us – for free. The Force is with us all.

Hat-tip to Eileen Cook for sending this along.

We have perfect weather today for the Boonta classic.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:01:08 +0000

“Toogi! Toogi! Greetings! Toong mee cha kulkah du Boonta magi! Tah oos azalus ooval Podraces. We have perfect weather today for the Boonta classic. The most hazardous of all Podraces.” – Fode & Beed, Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace

Ever wonder how the weather outside your door compares to weather in the Star Wars universe? Come on, admit it. You know you have.

Well, wonder no longer. Tom Scott has linked the varieties of weather here on lovely planet Earth to the weather you’re likely to experience in such interesting places as Tattooine, Kamino, Yavin 4, Endor, Hoth and Naboo. And if, like me, you’re currently experiencing the weather of Kamino, be sure to carry your best manners and a very large pocketbook around today.

I will not defer.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:01:18 +0000

“I will not defer…I have come before you to resolve this attack on our sovereignty now.” – Queen Amidala, Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace

Amy, over at The Foil Hat, has this up today, and I thought it was too brilliant not to, like ya know, share. Take back your right to an opinion.

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Nothing… can stop that now.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:55:52 +0000

Darth Vader: “Luke… help me take this mask off.”
Luke: “But you’ll die.”
Darth Vader: “Nothing… can stop that now. Just for once… let me… look on you with my own eyes.” [Luke takes off Darth Vader's mask one piece at a time, revealing Anakin Skywalker.] ”Now… go, my son. Leave me.”
Luke: “No. You’re coming with me. I’ll not leave you here. I’ve got to save you.”
Anakin: ”You… already have. You were right. You were right about me. Tell your sister… you were right.”
Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi

It’s on, baby. Our madcap road trip is on. Princess Leia is house/cat sitting, the days off have been approved with the Galactic Republic, we’ve set aside the fund-age, and we’ve a new plastic friend to send updates from the road. Have laptop, will travel.

I feel like playing one of those group games. I’m going to try to think of things that I need to bring along, from A-Z. I’ll fill it in as I think of them (so stop back occasionally, if you’re intrigues). Feel free to play along. Yes, this includes you lurkers out there. You know who you are. If you can think of something that I’ve forgotten to put on the packing list, I’ll add it in and give you accolades and linky love to boot. Just remember to say, “I’m going on a road trip and I need to bring…”

A – Audiobooks, downloadable from Audible – Sandra Foyt
B – Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, so if you get stuck in traffic, you can headbang like there’s no tomorrow – Wendy Hawksley
C – Crock Pot for cheap dinners in the room.
D – Digital camera
E – Electric skillet. You can cook pancakes and toasties and steak and stir fries and lots of good things to eat. – Keptwoman
F – Fluxx one of our favorite games to take on the road. – Karen
G – Games that require you to look at every license plate, road sign, or volkswagen rabbit on the road are a MUST. – Topsy-Techie
H - Hiking Shoes for the jaunts around the artifacts (and to run from bears) – Brian
I – Interstate maps; preferably up to date; not like the ones from 1988 we still have… – Wendy Hawksley
J – Journal/sketchbook for the joy of 5 minutes observing or sketching – Keptwoman
K – Kit for roadside emergencies: fix-a-flat, flashlight, garbage bags (I think I’ll pass on her suggestion of a concealed weapon) – DJ
L – Lessons from home, to be done during any boring car-riding time. Nothing else can make scenery so interesting!
M – Medications in their original containers
N – Nuvi by Garmin – Sandra Foyt
O – Occular necessities like glasses, contacts, contact solution, and sunglasses. – Ashley Allain
P – Pillows so you don’t have to rest your head on your folded-up sweatshirt – Wendy Hawksley
Q – Quilts for when the temperature tug of war begins (hubby says its hot, you say its cold…) – Wendy Hawksley
R – Reusable shopping bags, preferrably insulated, for carrying food about the place – Keptwoman
S - Surge protector, multiple-outlet – Sandra Foyt
T – Towels, preferrable microfibre for roadside swims if the weather is good, and cleaning up messes in the car. – Keptwoman
U – Undies, clean in case we end up in the hospital
V – Very full tank of gas – Brian
W - Water bottles for our hiking adventures
X – eXtra dose of patience! (I think I’ll pass on Theresa‘s xylophone suggestion.)
Y – Yarn . . . for knitting. – Hilary
Z – Ziplock baggies of all sizes: food in the cooler, wet clothes in the suitcase, picnic supplies, dirty shoes, etc.

The Chancellor is behind everything, including the war.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:20:43 +0000

“The Chancellor is behind everything, including the war. Palpatine is the Sith Lord we’ve been searching for.” - Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

Wendy, from Athena Academy, wants to know the 10 things I’ve done once in my life which I wouldn’t want to repeat, ever. Wow, I only get to pick 10? OK, but from here on out, I get to blame all of these things on The Chancellor.

Using assorted “herbs” and “chemical spices” as a teenager, because a new friend said it was great fun. Not so much.
Having the skin ripped off my hands because I froze when my horse completely freaked out getting into our new trailer and, thus, I didn’t let go of the rope.
Riding in a horseshow, in leather gloves, for 8 hours after the aforementioned skin was ripped off.
Taking the local train (after an overnight flight to The Netherlands) from Amsterdam all.the.way.down to Maastricht because I misinterpreted sneltrein to mean slow train – get it: snel sounds similar to snail. (It literally means ‘fast train’).
Calling a friend in Germany using my AT&T phone card, instead of back home to Dad Windu, because I figured “It’s closer, so it’ll be lots cheaper.” Visual path of phone call from The Netherlands to Germany using an AT&T phone card: The Netherlands –> USA –> Germany Bill for one month of ‘cheaper’ calls to neighboring Germany: $300 USD
Working a 36 hour shift – and then driving 35 minutes home.
Driving 8 hours, in and out of a blinding snowstorm, to visit Dad Windu while we were at different schools. Only to returning in the same manner 48 hours later.
Flying into a wall and breaking my wrist because my cousins wanted to play “The Flying Game.”
Crashing the family truck after having my driver’s license barely a month.
Saying that final goodbye to my childhood’s best-friend-in-the-whole-world.

I’d love to hear your 10 things. Yes, I mean you. Let me know when you post yours.

I should think that you Jedi would have more respect for the difference between knowledge and… heh heh heh… wisdom.

Obi-Mom Kenobi — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:02:45 +0000

Dexter Jettster: ”This baby belongs to them cloners. What you got here is a Kamino Saberdart.”
Obi-Wan Kenobi: “I wonder why it didn’t show up in the analysis archives.”
Dexter Jettster: ”It’s these funny little cuts on the side that give it away. Those analysis droids only focus on symbols. Huh! I should think that you Jedi would have more respect for the difference between knowledge and… heh heh heh… wisdom.”

Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones

Not child-friendly. Not appropriate. Not in anyway how I want to imagine my country spending my tax dollars. Not even new. But OMFG funny.

A higher-ranking-than-you-probably-are-were-or-ever-will-be friend showed us this before heading back home to get his family’s household goods picked up before they’re transferred out of the country again.

Skippy’s List: The 213 things Skippy is no longer allowed to do in the U.S. Army

And just because this one was Star Wars related:

77. The MP checkpoint is not an Imperial Stormtrooper roadblock, so I should not tell them “You don’t need to see my identification, these are not the droids you are looking for.”