Luggage and Stars Wars
I'm obsessed with luggage.
I don't think I've ever told anyone this, but I am fascinated by luggage and proper packing and things that make travel easier. I discovered this interest when Facebook started showing ads for luggage kickstarter projects. I usually scroll by every ad on facebook, because I dislike ads, and also because they're not tailored to me (turns out for those ad algorithms to work, you have to visit a website other than facebook or tumblr. I don't, so they have nothing to track my interests by). Then one day I found a luggage kickstarter ad, and I discovered I have a secret desire to buy all the luggage.
I travel a lot for someone who doesn't travel a lot, but I don't travel *that* much, so I don't know why I'm obsessed with checking out every new suitcase or backpack that comes my way, but I am (and to prove that point, I just spent nearly 2 hours looking at indiegogo and kickstarter for luggage). I found a sleek looking backpack that has approximately 10 million pockets, which is basically my dream come true. If I didn't already have a perfectly functioning backpack, I'd drop $180 for that sucker, because I'm a sucker for dedicated pockets. These days you can buy all sorts of luggage. Suitcases come with gps locators and fancy wheels and special pockets for batteries and ease of charging. I found one suitcase with a wide handle that folds out into a table/desk, and one with a special front compartment for all your technological needs. I found one tonight shaped like a hatbox that comes with a battery AND bluetooth speaker. Another suitcase has a top compartment that doubles as a table or a vanity.
But my favorite suitcase that I've seen so far? It has its own closet. Open the suitcase, closet pops up, and all your clothes are conveniently located exactly where you left them in a perfectly findable manner so you don't have to dig through your whole suitcase looking for that one thing you can't find. I'm in love. I'm drooling. If I had several hundred spare dollars, I'd buy it no questions asked, even though I already have a perfectly functional carry-on suitcase (two, actually). The wanting is strong with this one.
I'm so glad I live in a modern era where I can get online and openly drool over things I want but don't need.
In unrelated news, Shannon invited me over for dinner on Friday. I went and had a grand old time. Her husband and older boys were absent for most of the evening, so it was just her and me and the babies, but Husband and sons came back as we were discussing Star Wars. We got into it, because what is the purpose of life if not to discuss Star Wars? I watched The Last Jedi Thursday evening on Netflix, which is my preferred way to watch it, because that 2.5 hour movie only takes an hour when you can skip the stupid parts, which launched us into a discussion of what we like/don't like about the new movies. As inevitably happens, the prequels got brought up, and he told me he become an angry rage monster when discussing Episodes I, II, and III, so naturally I had to inform him that I love the prequels and Anakin Skywalker is the best character.
He, of course, nearly had an aneurysm over that declaration, and immediately tried to point out how much of a whiny crybaby Anakin is. I love these conversations because 1) you can't convince me I'm wrong (Anakin is the best!) and 2) I can pinpoint the exact moment I flabbergast the opposition because they can't refute my point. After the declaraction of Anakin's crybaby-ness, I responded with a reminder of how the Jedi have no compassion, no empathy, stole a child from his mother, and didn't know what to do with him because they usually steal children from their mothers when they're toddlers so they have no memory of their families, and maybe, just maybe, if the Jedi had had an ounce of compassion (and also maybe considered following their own dogma and doing something about the illegal slavery on Tatooine--but that's another point entirely) and recognized that Anakin's situation was different than any they'd previously dealt with, things could have turned out massively differently regarding Anakin and the destruction of the order. Cameron, having absolutely nothing to say, said, "Well, you're wrong!" So I smirked to myself and knew I had won.
It was great fun. Some fanboys argue Star Wars because it's fun, and even if they disagree with me liking the prequels, can still banter with good humor. I love those conversations. Some fanboys can't handle it and get genuinely aggravated and angry, and those conversations aren't fun (even though I can wipe the floor with them, because I still know more about Star Wars than they do and I can undermine their arguments with facts. They hate it. I hate it, too, because they're too busy being angry that I have the wrong opinion to enjoy the banter).
Fun fact: once upon a time one of my brothers brought home Star Wars Trivial Pursuit over Christmas, and we all sat down to prove who knew the most about Star Wars. Neither of my brothers care for the prequels, don't understand why I like them, and at least one of them has told me I'm not a real Star Wars fan because I don't worship the originals. They also told me I wouldn't do very well because this game was the OT (Original Trilogy) only, not the PT (Prequel Trilogy), so I wouldn't know anything. I let them think that, then proceeded to wipe the floor with them. Momma was reading the questions, and while my brothers sat there staring at her because they didn't know the answers, I, the PT lover, answered question after question, because I actually like Star Wars.
(Okay, unfair comment--they like Star Wars. I just like all Star Wars so I know more. I bet I could beat them at ST Star Wars Trivial Pursuit, too, and I don't even like the sequels very much.)
Moral of this story: don't underestimate a girl who knows the difference between Dodonna and Rieekan when you don't even know which one was on Yavin and which one was on Hoth.
Last Star Wars comment--Kyle once bragged about me to someone and said I was a walking Star Wars encylopedia. I was super pleased, even though it's not true because that universe is INSANELY huge--you'd have to devote your life to memorizing Star Wars facts to be a walking encyclopedia. But I do read the Wookiepedia for fun, so he's not far off. :)
Second moral of the story: be careful asking me about Star Wars, because I just might start talking and forget to shut up.
I don't think I've ever told anyone this, but I am fascinated by luggage and proper packing and things that make travel easier. I discovered this interest when Facebook started showing ads for luggage kickstarter projects. I usually scroll by every ad on facebook, because I dislike ads, and also because they're not tailored to me (turns out for those ad algorithms to work, you have to visit a website other than facebook or tumblr. I don't, so they have nothing to track my interests by). Then one day I found a luggage kickstarter ad, and I discovered I have a secret desire to buy all the luggage.
I travel a lot for someone who doesn't travel a lot, but I don't travel *that* much, so I don't know why I'm obsessed with checking out every new suitcase or backpack that comes my way, but I am (and to prove that point, I just spent nearly 2 hours looking at indiegogo and kickstarter for luggage). I found a sleek looking backpack that has approximately 10 million pockets, which is basically my dream come true. If I didn't already have a perfectly functioning backpack, I'd drop $180 for that sucker, because I'm a sucker for dedicated pockets. These days you can buy all sorts of luggage. Suitcases come with gps locators and fancy wheels and special pockets for batteries and ease of charging. I found one suitcase with a wide handle that folds out into a table/desk, and one with a special front compartment for all your technological needs. I found one tonight shaped like a hatbox that comes with a battery AND bluetooth speaker. Another suitcase has a top compartment that doubles as a table or a vanity.
But my favorite suitcase that I've seen so far? It has its own closet. Open the suitcase, closet pops up, and all your clothes are conveniently located exactly where you left them in a perfectly findable manner so you don't have to dig through your whole suitcase looking for that one thing you can't find. I'm in love. I'm drooling. If I had several hundred spare dollars, I'd buy it no questions asked, even though I already have a perfectly functional carry-on suitcase (two, actually). The wanting is strong with this one.
I'm so glad I live in a modern era where I can get online and openly drool over things I want but don't need.
In unrelated news, Shannon invited me over for dinner on Friday. I went and had a grand old time. Her husband and older boys were absent for most of the evening, so it was just her and me and the babies, but Husband and sons came back as we were discussing Star Wars. We got into it, because what is the purpose of life if not to discuss Star Wars? I watched The Last Jedi Thursday evening on Netflix, which is my preferred way to watch it, because that 2.5 hour movie only takes an hour when you can skip the stupid parts, which launched us into a discussion of what we like/don't like about the new movies. As inevitably happens, the prequels got brought up, and he told me he become an angry rage monster when discussing Episodes I, II, and III, so naturally I had to inform him that I love the prequels and Anakin Skywalker is the best character.
He, of course, nearly had an aneurysm over that declaration, and immediately tried to point out how much of a whiny crybaby Anakin is. I love these conversations because 1) you can't convince me I'm wrong (Anakin is the best!) and 2) I can pinpoint the exact moment I flabbergast the opposition because they can't refute my point. After the declaraction of Anakin's crybaby-ness, I responded with a reminder of how the Jedi have no compassion, no empathy, stole a child from his mother, and didn't know what to do with him because they usually steal children from their mothers when they're toddlers so they have no memory of their families, and maybe, just maybe, if the Jedi had had an ounce of compassion (and also maybe considered following their own dogma and doing something about the illegal slavery on Tatooine--but that's another point entirely) and recognized that Anakin's situation was different than any they'd previously dealt with, things could have turned out massively differently regarding Anakin and the destruction of the order. Cameron, having absolutely nothing to say, said, "Well, you're wrong!" So I smirked to myself and knew I had won.
It was great fun. Some fanboys argue Star Wars because it's fun, and even if they disagree with me liking the prequels, can still banter with good humor. I love those conversations. Some fanboys can't handle it and get genuinely aggravated and angry, and those conversations aren't fun (even though I can wipe the floor with them, because I still know more about Star Wars than they do and I can undermine their arguments with facts. They hate it. I hate it, too, because they're too busy being angry that I have the wrong opinion to enjoy the banter).
Fun fact: once upon a time one of my brothers brought home Star Wars Trivial Pursuit over Christmas, and we all sat down to prove who knew the most about Star Wars. Neither of my brothers care for the prequels, don't understand why I like them, and at least one of them has told me I'm not a real Star Wars fan because I don't worship the originals. They also told me I wouldn't do very well because this game was the OT (Original Trilogy) only, not the PT (Prequel Trilogy), so I wouldn't know anything. I let them think that, then proceeded to wipe the floor with them. Momma was reading the questions, and while my brothers sat there staring at her because they didn't know the answers, I, the PT lover, answered question after question, because I actually like Star Wars.
(Okay, unfair comment--they like Star Wars. I just like all Star Wars so I know more. I bet I could beat them at ST Star Wars Trivial Pursuit, too, and I don't even like the sequels very much.)
Moral of this story: don't underestimate a girl who knows the difference between Dodonna and Rieekan when you don't even know which one was on Yavin and which one was on Hoth.
Last Star Wars comment--Kyle once bragged about me to someone and said I was a walking Star Wars encylopedia. I was super pleased, even though it's not true because that universe is INSANELY huge--you'd have to devote your life to memorizing Star Wars facts to be a walking encyclopedia. But I do read the Wookiepedia for fun, so he's not far off. :)
Second moral of the story: be careful asking me about Star Wars, because I just might start talking and forget to shut up.