Empire Weekly - Premier Issue

Do Ewoks Dream Of Electric Christmas Lights?

As a kid, the night before Christmas was always agonizing, a torture, and always seemed to drag on and on. I would stare at the ceiling for what seemed like a lifetime waiting for that sun to rise and greet Mankind on a joyous Christmas day. So, after staring, I finally began to drift in and out of sleep, being drawn between the world of dreams and the longing of the gifts the next day. So, of course, some strange things may happen with this combination of events.

So, one Christmas eve, I had to usually go to bed early as my parents and older brother watched a movie on the T.V. So, one time, I went to sleep, and had a most unusual dream of Star Wars and Christmas blended together into one.

Of course, having a dream of Christmas Lights and Lightsabers, other things are sure to jump into the mix, such as random T.V. commercial voices, and other weird things I can barely remember. So, then my eyes slowly opened, the effect of sleep glue beginning to lose its effect. I then silently tip-toed out to the living room and saw the numerous treasures that sat before my eyes.

So, really, those hours before Christmas morning weren't agonizing or torture, but something different. Something special.


A Day In The Life Of Santa Claus

1. Going out to shopping malls every year, seeing kids and advertising.
2. Completing the tedious task of writing out a good and bad list.
3. Keeping the spirit alive through christmas carols, ornaments, and T.V. reruns.
4. Keeping supplies in stock.
5. Shoveling the snow and the Reindeer chips off the runway.
6. Keeping on top of tough competition between China.


Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Mynocks

Christmas is that special time of the year, when we all have a To-Do List. Things to get, Christmas trees to put up, decorations to hang, and finally something to wrap the things in (If you got any. I personally would't want to see my family's faces when they realize they got jack squat. It would be a very hostile place to be).

So, I try to think of what I want? Well, sometimes it's tough. Most things I want are pretty much unobtainable. Second, I have to find something that I need and/or want. And when you have a very large collection built up of SW products from over the years, sometimes it hard to know what you have.

Next, you need to find room for all this new stuff (You hope). What I've learned is that the more you have, the more you have to clean. Unfortunately, there is always enough to dust. But, I never worry about that. I never let that get in my way of finding the most SW collectibles my heart desires.

But, that old feeling never goes away. The one of hunting for figures, and the one for opening those paper covered presents. The feeling of tearing off that wretched paper and looking upon that new Sw figure or collectible never goes away. And I hope it never does.

Tis The Season To Be Jolly

Well, it's that time of year, where the people of the world are rushing to the shopping malls and stores to buy those gifts for a special person in their life. Whether it may be a lifetime's supply of toys for the kids, or just a Sirius radio for a husband, both men and women are doing their last minute shopping before the big day.

It feels like just yesterday that last Christmas was here. Time does fly. Sometimes it would just be nice to live in a world as joyous as Christmas time, but unfortunately that is not so. Life is not perfect, and like sometimes when there's a present we want and it's off the shelves, we are disappointed. But there is always a next year, as many say. But, sometimes, life likes to play tricks on us, sometimes humorous and sometimes cruel.

One thing that has happened often the past few years is that many loved ones of mine have died. It is a saddened thing to happen, especially during this joyous and exciting time of the year. It seems so cruel to have someone that you loved gone in an instant. Sometimes you don't know how to carry on. Suddenly it's a Christmas later, and you look back and think about what could have been, and what should have been.

The world seems to spin before my eyes at time. So much happens in so little time, like the ripples in the water. In little time, the ripples form and spread out and finally disappear, never to happen, until another time.

As things like this happen, you feel like you could have prevented it, like you could have done something. But then, after time passes and you're another year older, you finally move on, but you never completely let go. It continues to linger behind you, it continues to follow you whether you go. It sticks to you like a fallen snowflake, until you brush it off onto the snow covered earth.

Or course, you should never let go, and yet you should never become attatched to it, either, or else it will slow you down, causing your feet to slow and harden in the deep hard ice. All you need to do is pull your feet out and continue on your path.

So, this time of the year, every year, is not really about presents or special, spectacular gifts of the sort. The true values are not the wrapped packages under the tree filled with surprises, but the people around you who buy those for you. The true value of this holiday season is love. And that is something to be "jolly" about.

Last Minute Advice From An Old Hermit

Its that season of the year
Its that time of the day;
When others go shopping
Begin merry and gay.

There are salesman doing funny commercials that catch your eye
Some are serious and some are funny:
Some make you laugh
But the real purpose is for them to make money.

So now, relax beside the fire
Watch the Tree lights glow;
Surround yourself with family
And let the warmth flow.

I know its been awhile since I wrote
Three months have flown so fast;
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas
Embrace the future, present, and past.

May The Force Be With You.

And have a Happy New Year!