Favorites From the Holocron
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“Exciting is hardly the word I would choose.” – C-3PO, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi
We three Jedi have seen our share of pavement lately (and concrete and bridges), and it’s taken a toll on our homeschooling routine. **Take a piece of paper, run it through the keep-your-identity-nice-and-safe chipper/shredder, toss them all up into the air with a forced “Yippee!” (knowing full well that you’re only going to have to pick up all those little bits in about 30 seconds) and you’ll understand what I mean.** I may be going to go out on a limb here, but I think even Padawan Learner is tired of the unexpected days off as we drive from one corner of the state to another and another and another.
One thing I’m learning in this whole Dad Windu lay-off situation is that routine is our friend, our really good friend. PL and I do our usual math, writing and history/science stuff in the living room each morning while Dad Windu goes upstairs to practice Spanish, do some more job search stuff, and keep up with his professional network. In short, he stays out of our way and we stay out of his as we all get down to work. After lunch, we go about our own special projects.
There are so many things up in the air, and some unpleasant realities that we’re probably going to be facing in the months to come, that our routine is becoming a bit of a security blanket for the three of us. Christmas and the scheduled week-long break that followed it were nice, of course, but a bit too distracting at this already wildly distracted period of our lives. Normally PL looks forward to these days stolen away from our day-to-day routine, but on our way home after our Dutch class today he said a little wistfully, “Tomorrow’s just a regular ordinary day, right?” I know I breathed a sigh of relief when I answered, “Yes. Yes, it is.”
Yoda: “Yes, run! Yes, a Jedi’s strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan’s apprentice.”
Luke: “Vader. Is the dark side stronger?”
Yoda: “No, no, no. Quicker, easier, more seductive.”
Luke: “But how am I to know the good side from the bad?”
Yoda: “You will know… when you are calm, at peace, passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.”
Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
I’m feeling that way today. Calm, at peace, passive. I’m doing what I can and letting the rest slide.
Dad Windu is officially unemployed, and that’s ok. We can meet our basic bills – home, utilities, food – on his unemployment benefits and that’s about 3 steps further than many families right now. Chalk one up for common sense, frugal living, and good luck over the years.
DW’s getting some (long overdue) things done around the house. We’re keeping Padawan Learner’s life as normal as possible, with both trampoline class and piano lessons for the time being. We’re surprisingly relaxed about the whole process, one of the side benefits of waiting for this to happen for.months.now, and taking our time enjoying the holiday season, our families and friends. We’re entertaining job postings from all over the U.S. and DW is working his network here at home.
We bought Padawan Learner some new snow boots today, nothing like a winter storm to highlight the need. He got off easy from shoveling snow the last 4 days, “I’d love to help, but I don’t have any boots. Bummer.” How a kid that wears a EEEE width can just walk in and find boots that fit, several pair no less, is beyond me. I think there’s a widespread athletic shoe conspiracy in force every six months when he’s outgrown yet another pair of shoes.
“That’s good. You have taken your first step into a larger world.” ― Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars IV: A New Hope
Padawan Learner would like me to let you know that he has officially opened up his blog The Padawan Learner for public perusal. Please be so kind as to roam over his way and say Hello. Additionally, if your kids might be interested, my little social butterfly would love to have them visit.
opening title crawl
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The
taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems
is in dispute. Hoping to resolve the matter with a
blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade
Federation has stopped all shipping to the small
planet of Naboo. While the Congress of the Republic
endlessly debates this alarming chain of events, the
Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi
Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy,
to settle the conflict…
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace
There is an international art contest setting up in downtown Grand Rapids, already a hotspot for sculpture for the uninitiated, that looks to be mind-boggling in scale. Over 1,200 pieces are scheduled to be up for public review and voting when it officially starts later this month. Dad Windu, Padawan Learner and I headed into GR last weekend to see the hands-on Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion exhibit (very cool) and to catch a sneak preview of some of the sculptures that have already been installed.
There’s a number of pictures involved in this post, so I thought I better give you the option to click through (rather than steal all your bandwidth if you just don’t care about Leonardo and/or sculpture). Click on a picture to see a its full-size image.
Continue reading The Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict…
Qui-Gon Jinn: “Tell them we wish to board at once.”
Radiant VII captain: [on comlink] “Yes, sir. With all due respect, the ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately.”
Nute Gunray: “Yes, of course. As you know, our blockade is perfectly legal and we’d be happy to receive the ambassadors. Happy to.”
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace
My sister-in-law, Queen Jamillia, must have felt that way when we descended on her house last Thursday. One teenaged boy who never stopped eating, two fatigued adults who had just driven across several large Midwestern states, and enough knitting and cross-stitch paraphernalia for an entire legion of visitors.
Dad Windu got several days of uninterrupted relaxing. The weather cooperated nicely, hitting the high 80s, so we spent several hours at the local pool before heading home for grilled steaks and birthday ice cream cones. The backyard and playgrounds were put to good use. My niece, Dormé, got to snuggle up with Dad Windu as much as she liked (her dad is spending the year in a combat zone). My mad knitting skills resulted in Padawan Learner getting a very manly iTouch cozie and my nieces Dormé and Versé got cupcakes and a washcloth/towel set for their play kitchen.
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much needed rest
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cooling off
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like father, like son
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towhead
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cuddle time
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yummy
Best of all, Queen Jamillia got to sleep-in past 6 am for two whole days in a row. Talk about luxury!
“From the moment I met you, all those years ago, not a day has gone by when I haven’t thought of you.” – Anakin, Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones
Padawan Learner hit the jackpot. The thing he has been dreaming about since he first held one last year has become reality. Behold, Padawan Learner’s new iPod Touch.
I got proof tonight that he’s going to do just fine in this world. How? His first couple of purchases included the Flashlight, Lightsaber and More Cowbell apps. “I got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell.” Family and friends alike pooled their money to make him the happiest guy in.the.entire.world. I think he’s still in a bit of shock. Any MUST GET apps for the iTouch that you recommend?
Happy Birthday to my favorite young man!
Darth Vader: ”What is thy bidding, my master?”
The Emperor: “Send the fleet to the far side of Endor. There it will stay until called for.”
Darth Vader: ”What of the reports of the rebel fleet massing near Sollust?”
The Emperor: “It is of no concern. Soon the Rebellion will be crushed and young Skywalker will be one of us. Your work here is finished, my friend. Go out to the command ship and await my orders.”
Darth Vader: ”Yes, my master.”
Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi
After months of waiting and buying (a house and all the baby stuff to fill one), the final hours of rushing, waiting, encouraging, worrying, and encouraging some more, Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru have their first baby. Their work on this pregnancy is finished, but the real fun now that they have a child has just begun.
He’s a.dor.a.ble and looks just like his daddy with a thick shock of dark brown hair and that slightly not-quite-sure-about-you look on his face. 
If he doesn’t just make you want to rub your nose into the screen to get a whiff of that new baby smell and cover his super-soft baby neck in kisses, I don’t know what will.
Now I just need an appropriate Star Wars tag for him. Any suggestions?
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