Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (My Two Favorite Characters)

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (My Two Favorite Characters)

What better way to end and begin a New Year than relaxing and enjoying a StarWars marathon.

This time, as I watched these classics, I began noticing the wide array of character personalities that George Lucas created for his acclaimed series.

I thought you might enjoy a few of my StarWar-deian academic endeavors…

My two favorite characters from Solo: A Star Wars Story are Chewbacca and Ugnaught

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Wikipedia

Facts about Chewbacca You My (or May Not) Know.

1. Chewbacca, though seeming to interact with humans on an equal level, was a far more ancient being. Chewbacca ws well over 230 years old.
2. He was known for his incredible strength, extraordinary bravery, and his unlimited loyalty to Han Solo. He saw himself as having a life debt to Han.
3. Chewbacca was more trusted by the other beings of the Galaxy than Han Solo.
4. While being seem as very honorable, Chewbacca did not like losing. He did not handle even losing at board games.
5. Chewbacca was both an exceptional pilot and a star-fleet mechanic.
6. His weapon of choice was the handmade bowcaster.

FYI: Thanks you Wookieepedia for your assistance in honing my knowledge of the many beings from Star Wars.

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StarWars Fandom

Facts about Ugnaughts You My (or May Not) Know.

1. Ugnaughts were pig-like humanoids from the planet Gentes.
2. They were seen as one of the most hard-working species in the Galaxy. This was more of a curse because it caused many slave traders to hunt them.
3. Lord Ecclessis Figg hired many Ugnaughts to assit in the building of his cloud dity- Bespin. They were so trustworthy, Lord Figg allowed them to continue living in the city on the lower levels.
4. The tusked Ugnaughts had pink skin, white hair, and pug noses.
5. Ugnaughts were known for their longevity. They could live for more than 200 years.
6. The diet of an Ugnaughts consisted of genteslugs, and fugi and molds.

FYI: Thanks you Wookieepedia for your assistance in honing my knowledge of the many beings from Star Wars.

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Written for Movie Critiques.

The Awakening

Amazon

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The Awakening

Nora Roberts

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In her new trilogy, The Dragon Heart Legacy, Nora Roberts does a fantastic job of intertwining a mystical world of fairies and trolls and magics with the realities of a modern 21^st century world.

One of the main characters in the trilogy is Breen Kelly, a young woman raised by a single mother, who has been brow-beaten to accept ‘average’. Breen has begun to break out of this confining world (a middle-schoolteacher in modern-day Philadelphia) that her mother has bound her to with a few much cherished, not-so-average-and worldly-accepted friends.

The other main character is Keegan of realm of Talamh. The Fey is a magical world through which Breen has been granted entry through The Welcoming Tree. Her ancestry (her father) was of this world. Keegan is the guardian/protector of not only the Fey, but of all-interwoven worlds. He is the Keeper of Peace and the Last Bastion against of Evil.

Breen’s father, before he left Breen and her mother, had told Breen many tales of wonder as a child.

Now, Breen is coming to realize that these ‘tales’ were not mere stories, but based in truth.

If you enjoy fantasy, and can allow a little romance, you will enjoy this first of the trilogies.

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Written for The New York Times Best Sellers.

She’s Outta My League

Natural History Museum

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She’s Outta My League

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Assigned bus seats.

Meant to be the most severe of punishments.

So, you ask… Why was I elated?

I was now seated by Marybeth, the most beautiful girl in our school. Possibly, the world!

I knew from previously watching her, Marybeth did not enjoy childish conversations. That was OK by me. What would a fifth grader have to talk about with a senior in high school anyway?

Soon, I was engrossed in my most advanced dinosaur research materials and I spied to my left that she was studying a booklet of dress patterns.

As the bus stuttered to a stand-still for a neighboring child to disembark, Marybeth’s pattern catalog slide from her lap to the floor. Instantly, heroic Boy Scout Cub Scout that I was, I retrieved it and stoically placed the catalog into her hands.

Her fingers touched my wrist. I was awestruck. Frozen.

Luckily, I found I didn’t have need to converse. Marybeth immediately paged through her catalog and took-up where she had left-off.

I tried to draw my attention back to the Stegosaurus stenops, but I was finding it difficult to turn the pages of my library book. My fingers had lost all their feeling.

She sighed.

My heart broke.

“Is there something wrong?”  My voice sounded as if I was a frightened mouse. I hoped she didn’t notice.

“I know the dress I want to make for my finals, but the materials are too expensive for a full-sized endeavor.”

“A doll’s dress, maybe?”  I countered. I knew a little about dress-making from watching my mother alter many of my older sisters’ clothes.

“I need a small mannequin, but …”

“I stand-in as a mannequin for my mom.” This time, I could tell, my voice was more confident. “She pays me,” Instantly, I wished I wouldn’t have added that.

“I can’t pay you. What about homemade brownies?”

Straightening my back to raise to my full height, I extended my hand. “It’s a deal.”

“I’ll call your mother a set up a date.”

She’d said the word date. The numbness left my fingers and suddenly I felt my throat swell shut.

Exerting all the self-control I still possessed, I nodded and smiled. I stared at the Stegosaurus the rest of the ride.

I could I sworn that steggy was smiling with me. (384 words)

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Written for The Carrot Ranch Challenge. January 14, 2020, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about dressing up. It can be a child or another character. Be playful or go where the prompt leads! (The challenge is a 99 word challenge. As you can see, I blew it. But I liked the story, so I kept it. I hope you enjoyed it too.)

Share Your World 1-18-2021

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Share Your World 1-18-2021

Hosted by MELANIE B CEE

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Wow! Melanie… Some serious stuff thsi week.

• Why do we dream?
• Do you think a person’s name influences the person they become?
• Does hardship make a person stronger?  (Example:  What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger)
• Why do we judge ourselves by our intentions, but judge others by their actions?

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Why do we dream?

I guess we dream to keep sleeping 8-hours a night from being boring?  I want to know how to have Yogi-Dreams instead of Jerry-Dreams? 

Giphy

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Do you think a person’s name influences the person they become?

According to ‘science’… Your name can reflect your decisions in life, your career choices, and even your romantic choices.

And… According to ‘science’ … Many people do not like thier birth names. They prefer nicknames. I never had a nickname. I think that if I could pcik my own nickname it would be something like Dodger or Jigsaw. 

If feel for Gus …

Willow Snug

Pinterest

Imgur

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Does hardship make a person stronger?  (Example:  What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger)

Imgur

Great advice… Even if you’re NOT a fish. 

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Why do we judge ourselves by our intentions, but judge others by their actions?

Pinterest

Pinterest

I try to leave all the ‘judging’ to Judge Judy.

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Written for Share Your World 1-18-2021.

‘Neath the Arizona Skies

Amazon

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‘Neath the Arizona Skies

Starring John Wayne

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Chris Morrell (John Wayne), is the guardian of half-Indian girl Nina. He is helping her find her missing white father. She needs to do thsi so she can cash in on her late mother’s oil lease.

An outlaw, Sam Black, is after the girl.

Circumstances are against Morrell. While trying to save Nina, Chris is shot and found unconscious by a robber who switches clothes with Chris.

Morrell needs to not only fight the Black gang to save Nina and her fortune, but he has to find clear his own good name in the process.

A fun old-time western.

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Written for Movie Critiques.

The Fifty-Fifty Brother

Photo courtesy of Donna McNicol

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The Fifty-Fifty Brother

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Fifteen-million dollars.

Half of my inheritance.

All resting on this one chance encounter.

The terms of my father’s will had been specific.

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I knew Dad had had a mistress. (I suspect he had had many.) But this one was different for some reason. This one gave him a son.

And now… This ridiculous hitch in his will.

I had been groomed to be the new CEO of Hilldenbury International. I would be, no matter how this foolishness played out.

But, if the worst happened…

If Bartholomew (my ill-conceived half-brother) was shown to have “a heart-of-kindness, like my beautiful Felicia” to quote my philandering father, Bartholomew was to receive half of the estate.

I would inherit the business; he would get the rest.

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I had hired the best detective agency. My father’s attorney presented them with the scenario my licentious father had planned.

If Bartholomew offered assistance to this vagrant itinerant upon their meeting, then he was to be recognized as Mr. T.Y. Hilldenbury’s long-lost son.

If not, the entire fortune was to be mine, Bartholomew was to be forgotten.

Sweat was dripping from my face, and that of my solicitor as we watched the scene play out before our eyes.

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Written for Sunday Photo Fiction.

THE BIBLE: Part 4 KINGDOM

Gfycat

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THE BIBLE: Part 4 KINGDOM

The Miniseries 

Saul and David

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The Israelites want to be like the nations around them. They want a KING.

God grants their request.

We find out, even kings appointed by God are still human.

Saul is anointed King of the Israelites.

• He and his son Johnathan are formidable warriors.
• Saul succumbs to the power of the kingship.
• He disobeys God.
• He rages against David.
• Saul’s son is killed in battle and Saul kills himself.

David is anointed King of the Israelites.

• He lusts after his best friend’s wife.
• He orders the friends murder in battle.
• David repents.
• He chooses to keep his heart with the God of the Israelites.
• God forgives him.

As I was watching this one, I was struck by the humanity of David – his sinfulness- yet the compassion and grace granted by the God of the Israelites.

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Written for Movie Critiques.

THE BIBLE: Part 3 HOMELAND

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THE BIBLE: Part 3 HOMELAND

The Miniseries 

Joshua and Samson 

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This episode of THE BIBLE was on the violent side. I guess it would have to be since it’s the Biblical version of Saving Private Ryan.

This episode tells the story of Joshua and the story of Samson.

Joshua is now the leader of the Israelites.

• The obstacle in the path of the Israelite’s capturing their Promised Land: Jericho.
• Jericho was a city fortified as no other.
• God provides a very unique way of scaling-the-impenetrable-walls of Jericho.

Samson was a child foretold by God.

• His birth was promised to mother and she was to raise Samson as a Nazirite.
• Samson was to free the Israelites from the clutches of the Philistines.
• Samson had the strength of a one-man-army.
• He slayed a lion with his bare hands.
• He massacred an army of Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey.
• Samson had a weakness- he kept falling in love with Philistine women.
• It was not an army that led to the downfall of Samson: he was neutralized by a pair of shears.

As I was viewing this one, I thought of this song.

I think this is a song Joshua and the tribes of Israel would have enjoyed singing in celebration.

I hope you enjoy it.

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Written for Movie Critiques.

THE BIBLE: Part 1 Genesis

Daily Express

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THE BIBLE: Part 1 Genesis 

The Miniseries

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I have never seen the miniseries THE BIBLE before, so I thought that during this Easter season, and I am quarantined with plenty of time, I would relax and enjoy it.

Episode One (includes these Biblical stories)

• Noah telling the story of
  • The Creation of the World
  • Adam and Eve
  • Cain and Abel
• The story of Abraham
• Sodom and Gomorrah
• The children of Israel arrive in Egypt

While watching the story, I was transported back to vacation Bible School days and some of my favorite Sunday school teachers telling me the Bible stories.

While in college, I was blessed with the opportunity to perform the intermission for the rising Christian band- Fireworks. One of the songs they did became a favorite of mine. It was about ‘the pillar of salt’ story.

I hope you enjoy it. I still do.

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Written for About Me. 

THE FALLEN

Amazon

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THE FALLEN

David Baldacci

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FBI Special Agent Amos Decker goes on a much needed (but not desired) vacation with his partner the former journalist but now FBI Special Agent Alex Jamison.

Alex and Decker travel to Baronville to see Alex’s niece for her niece’s birthday. Of course, given Decker’s propensities, they find a murder. Detective Decker feels compelled to assist in solving it.

Good cops, bad cops, irate off-line killing machines and the drug-dealers, even the butler, are all involved in this new cast of characters.

A great read!!!!

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Written for THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERS.