So, I've been away for awhile... very original way to start a blog, I know. But it's true.

I haven't written a blog in AGES. Months. Maybe not even since '07 (gasp.) So here I go, with another epic tale, including the long-awaited next installment of Granny Wars!!! And without further ado...

So, to kick things off, I would like to say that in recent times, my Star Wars fandom has expanded in some very real ways. It all started, I think, with my brash step of pulling Betrayal off a shelf at Books-A-Million one day. I have never been into the EU, and in fact that first baby step is my first EU venture. Since then the only released LOTF book I have left unread is Revelation, and that's because I didn't see it when I went looking for it at Barnes and Noble. Phooey. Well, I'll get my hands on it sometime. I'm not particularly impressed with the books individually, but they make a nice series. So I have at last been inducted into the hordes of EU-readers, and am enjoying it. But don't think that's the whole story. No, like Star Wars itself, this story is not told in one episode. You see, not too long ago, maybe about two months, I was away from my computer for two or three weeks, and returned to find that-- horror of horrors-- playing across my Gmail account were several emails from StarWars.com stating that my Hyperspace subscription had expired! Naturally I was not happy, and reactivated it in something of a panic. Then, I believe shortly after this, I decided to subscribe to the Force-cast, and have been a happy fan ever since. I hear stuff on the Force-cast that simply isn't mentioned anywhere else, and it's all great fun. I would highly recommend it for anyone who hasn't listened to it. To top all this wonderfulness off, I finished KOTOR! It was great fun, an excellent game, I was absolutely addicted, and I'll be getting KOTOR II someday soon (I might even order it today). I also managed to get someone who's never played KOTOR to try it out, and he gave me the impression he liked it but had never seen a game like it before (that's because KOTOR has no equals). I hope he comes back and keeps playing it sometime, because he has his game saved on my computer! Who knows, maybe I can convince him to install it on his computer?

Then there's all this business with Fanboys. I heard Weinstein company received 300,000 e-mails, asking for the release of the director's cut. I sent no e-mails. It seems to me that it would be unwise to try and boycott a film we haven't even seen clips of. Thankfully, Weinstein will be releasing both films on DVD, so everyone should be happy. Honestly, I kind of want to see both versions. Who knows, maybe the new version actually is better, and is just getting a bad rap from a handful of outspoken people. There's no way of knowing until it's released. I just wish they'd stop pushing the release dates back, but if the movie's good it'll be worth the wait. Whatever happens, I, at least, intend to have fun and get sick on popcorn and candy.

And Granny Wars? Well, you'll be happy to know that my dear old fossil has at last been introduced to Star Wars, but as of now she has only seen ANH and TESB. So here are the results: not impressed by ANH, I don't think. She didn't really remember it when I finally showed her TESB, months later. But when I got her to watch TESB, she walked away humming the Imperial March. No, she will never be a fan. But I still got her to see two of the big ones, and for someone who's old enough to remember Eisenhower, I consider it a victory, in a kind of Apollo 13 way. Well, not everyone can be a saber-wielding idiot like me .

Meanwhile, I have heard someone who's played KOTOR and been on StarWars.com say they thought Matrix was better than Star Wars, and that he was now a fan of the franchise. You could say he's gone over to the dark side, but he's still a friend, so I have no plans for e-pounding him for it (he doesn't live close enough to plain old pound). Personally, I'm guessing that either he ditches fandom of all types in a few years and moves on with his life, like so many unfortunate souls, or he comes running back to Star Wars after Matrix gets boring and monotonous. Anyone else with me? Should I start a timer or something? Oh well. It doesn't really matter that much, it's just fun to watch.

And there is yet more. In case you haven't heard, the Celebration V rumors have started already, and the first one, I believe from Sansweet, is that it will be in the summer of '09, and it may be in Chicago, or otherwise nearer the East than the West coast of America. I can't wait! Wherever it may be, whenever it may begin, I AM GOING. It was only after seeing the reviews of CIV that I really realized what I've been missing, and I'm not missing any more! Chicago (or wherever it is), here I come!

Finally, there's my fanfic. I don't have a name for it, but I'm on chapter 3 right now. I think I will be able to take the prize when it's over for longest Star Wars fanfic on record. But I'm being very careful not to chock it full of bs and stuffing, thereby making it long-winded and lame. It's just a long and complicated story, and if anyone wants to see it, I'll release the first chapter on another blog entry. Say the word, and it's yours, folks. I've been writing and re-writing it for almost three years now, so it's had a lot of time and thought put into it. And, of course, I'm always happy to receive critiques. I even have plans for a black Jedi costume that's sort of based on my developing story. As of now I have some odds and ends for it: a belt, boots, and notes on paper. It will be fun and different, and everyone will think I'm a Sith. Oh well. That's the price of being yourself, I suppose .

Whew, long blog! Well, I think I've covered pretty much all the news I have. Hopefully I'll be updating my blog a little more frequently in the future!

MTFBWU,
Tornado Alley Jedi