Fortune Wookie

We've been really into this series of books lately - the ones that started with "Origami Yoda."  We're on book #3, which is "The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee."  This one has been just as good as the others, with Madison and Mommy listening closely at bedtime.  The original premise was to read just one chapter per night, but I think it's been about three or four per night, per book - we're just that into these, which have been lots of fun.

We took some big naps today, as last night was a late one for Mommy and Daddy.  No explanation - we just didn't sleep well.  A lot was resting on us for the service this morning, which went really well, actually.  The message was dynamic, and glory to God for that.  In some ways, as a writer for these series, the messages are easier.  You've already done the research a long time ago, and the messages are actually a part of you.  And in other ways, you let go and realize that it isn't you so much doing the talking.  The imagery of an astronaut ignoring Mission Control and spending his fuel up to look out the window is strong, and it really happened.  The short window he had to get back to the earth was missed, and he was way off course.  The real danger was that he could have burned up in reentry.  He might not have made it home safely.  This is an appropriate metaphor for our nation today.  We're really off course, but if God's people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways - we can see healing.  That's a big if, and it's up to this next generation, apparently.  Because I think we've blown it.

In honor of our Space Camp series, there is one thing I forgot about.  It's down in the basement, and kind of unusual.  Daddy used to collect fast food plastic cups that advertised for movies.  I have all the "Jurassic Park" ones, and the ones for "Batman Returns."  Also, there are "The Lion King" cups, and a wide variety of plastic casino cups we picked up in Vegas.  Daddy went out there with the guys some time ago (when we played "Trog"), and we gambled our nickels on the tiny slot machines.  Daddy walked away $2.15 richer than he was when he arrived, yes sir.  That, and we played a bunch of video games.  But the big thing for us was collecting those plastic cups from each casino to collect our winnings in.  We didn't really gamble that much, but rather just walked into each place to get plastic cups and leave.  Oh, and eat those really cheap meals they had there.  This was back when prices were set in such a way to draw folks to the middle of the desert.  Daddy has since decided gambling is not for him, even when you're using nickels only.  But the plastic cups remain.  It's an odd collection, to be sure.  The thing that got me down there were the "Apollo 13" cups, the ones used to promote the 1995 movie of the same name.  I think I have two of them.  Recently, we were looking online at the value of the plastic cups - that Batman set is being sold for $40.00 right now, which of course is more than we paid for it initially.  The "Jurassic Park" ones are $8.99 each, probably due to the recent movie "Jurassic World."  I like the artwork on these cups, the way the ink put down.  I think I'll keep them around a bit more.  Someone is getting these as an inheritance, I bet.

MOVING ON:  We got a lot of rest today.  Tomorrow should be a big day with big news, but we'll see about that tomorrow.  Today, we did some more LEGO Batman 3, again in space.  There's your theme for the summer.  We opened up some new DC characters, which are fun - although again, I seem to lean towards the Marvel ones more.  The big DC characters - the main ones - are cool, of course.  Even some of those villains.  The secondary folks don't seem to capture the imagination as much, and that's one of the primary differences between the two.  Again, I used to be more a DC guy growing up.  We loved the Tim Burton vision of Batman, and Christopher Reeve is simply Superman - there can't be another, although Brandon Routh came close.  The latest incarnations of both of these characters are too dark for Madison, and just not as fun as I hoped.

Still, Madison is enjoying the LEGO games quite a bit.  The vision LEGO has of Batman sort of pokes fun at the direction the hero has taken, and we're glad to see that more comedic take in the games as well as of course the LEGO movie with Batman in it.  Fortunately, Green Lantern was spared the treatment he got in the LEGO movie, as he's more of an annoying wannabe there.  In this game, he's his cool self, the hero I remember growing up.  Green Lantern was Daddy's early favorite growing up.

As for Madison's favorite, it's usually a girl hero.  It just depends on which game she's playing, but right now it's Wonder Woman.  It could be Black Widow if it is Disney Infinity or LEGO Marvel.  In just a few Saturdays, Madison will be creating a sky cycle for Black Widow - we signed her up for that morning at Lowe's.  This is the class that fills up so quickly, so Daddy actually waited until midnight, despite being really tired, and got her in for making that sky cycle.  We're not going to see a huge line this time around - yesterday was amazing how many people were there, and walked away empty handed.  This is a very popular series here!  Currently the Captain America one we did yesterday is available online from creeps who take advantage of this sort of thing:  only $40.00!  We did it for free, because it's a free program for the kids, and Lowe's offers it for free.  And then there are the folks that come in, pick up their free copy of it, taking it from the kids in order to sell it online for $40.00, plus shipping.  Black Widow would smirk at this capitalist scum, while Captain America would shake his head sadly, exclaiming that's the freedom we have here in America.  So I vote for sicking the Hulk on these folks.

Anyway, Madison will at least have her Black Widow sky cycle, no problems.  And speaking of vehicles, there's another new one coming our way soon.  That's probably tomorrow, as you'll be reading about soon enough...