My Geek Moments

First off, I want to apologize for this blog up front.  This is the first post in a while and I'm gonna be complaining so I'm sorry upfront.  Lets talk NCAA football.  For years college football fans, myself included, clamored for a more fair system to replace the Bowl Championship Series. For me, the nail in the coffin of the BCS was several years ago when undefeated Boise State was blocked from the championship game for a single loss team. This, in my opinion was a colossal failure and injustice. Because Boise State came from a "weaker" conference, they weren't considered as good as teams from the SEC, ACC, or other conferences who had lost one or even 3 games. They still ran the gambit, ended their season without a single loss and wasn't given their fair shot at the National Championship because of their "strength of schedule". Fast forward to now. We are in the thick of the new NCAA football season and its new playoff system. The syste

So if you know me well, you know I'm a geek. I'm one of those strange geeks that doesn't have a problem loving both Star Wars and Star Trek. You always hear you have to choose between the two, but I'm here to say that's not true. I am huge fan of both for many reasons and through the blog, you will see a geek moment posted which will give some insight into my enjoyment of each, but for now, I must focus on Star Wars. With Episode 7 fast approaching, its an exciting time for anyone who is a fan of the Saga. For most of us, 2015 cannot come fast enough, but its still a ways away. So in the mean time, I have been biding my time till then with re-watching the Saga, yes all 6 movies (I do like the prequels too), re-watching The Clone Wars TV show, loading my iPhone up with all the John William's scores I can get my hands on, as well as listening to great Star Wars Podcasts like Coffee With Kenobi, Rebel Force Radio, and the Cantina Cast. All provide different insig

So I know it's been a while since I have posted anything. There has been spot going on in my life lately that has kept me away from fandom and blogging for a little while longer than I wanted. I'm trying to catch up here at my daughter'a piano lesson. First off thanks to all you who have sent messages and comments of support for my family. For those who aren't aware and one of the reasons I've been away, my 90 year old grandmother is in her last days with us. And since this was an overnight change in her health, I had to make an emergency trip to Alabama to see her, which heartbreakingly will most likely be the last time. I'm blessed with a great job who worked with me to get me up there to say my good byes and is continuing to work with me  to get my princess to school while my parents are still up there with my grandmother. I'm blessed and grateful for my cousin who is giving of herself day in and day out to take care of Mammaw in these last days and ma

WOW!!! So much news has been released about the upcoming Star Wars Weekends and we are just weeks away from it all being reality!!!! Of course we have had the blockbuster news of Mark Hamill, aka Luke Skywalker, making his first appearance at Star Wars Weekends. We have had the announcement of the 5th week be added and the legendary James Arnold Taylor returning to reprise his role as host.  Disney has since announced several items of interest through out the last couple of weeks. First it was announced of several dining options offered this year for the first time. These are Star Wars character based meals. For a Disney price, you can wine and dine while having photo ops with Star Wars characters who will be hanging around the dining hall. Also for the first time ever, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, instead of the old sci-fi movies, they will be playing clips from the Star Wars movies. If you are going and want to participate in any of these dining events, make your reservations no

So I haven't been writing like I have in the past. As you know from my most recent blog, we have a recent edition to the family and life has been hectic. Matter of fact I'm writing this from home right now as Lil Bit has kept me out of work all week battling bronchial pneumonia. She is doing a lot better now but won't be returning to her normal routines til Monday. Yet, that's not why I'm writing today. Today marks the anniversary of the premiere of Star Wars The Clone Wars TV show on Cartoon Network. It launched a whole new group of people into a Star Wars fandom which leads to today: October 3rd, 2014. Tonight at 9:00 PM EST, A new chapter begins. The long anticipate premiere of Star Wars Rebels hits our TVs tonight on Disney XD!

Shannon and I have been discussing how to make this news public. We have been sitting on it for a while, not saying anything on social media. Some family and friends already know what has been been going on in our lives over the last several months, and once you read this you will understand why my presence on Twitter, Facebook, and even blogging here has been sporadic at best. Lets start at the beginning.  For several years now, Shannon and I have been attempting to grow our family. We definitely didn't want Kailynn to be an only child and she has requested of us and of Santa each year to get her a baby sister. Yet, after many frustrating years, thousands of dollars spent, and a lot of praying, nothing. Only thing Shannon's doctor could do was refer us to an infertility specialist who wouldn't be covered under insurance. So we were pretty bummed. The thought of not having another baby was quite devastating to say the least. So about a year ago we started discussing other

I can't believe that I haven't written in so long!  Life has had many turns for my family and I this month. Many good things have happened, unfortunately, some I can't discuss at this time, but with time, announcements can and will be made.  Yet with the good comes the bad, and we have had our downs this month as well. We are awesomely blessed to have my parents here with us! They moved in back in March and we have enjoyed their company since. I know Kailynn has loved having them here more than anything else recently. Then not long after, the toilet in the bathroom broke, and flooded a good portion of the house while we were all gone. Flooring was ripped up in my parents room and Kailynn's room, the hallway and half the dining room. Thankfully, no damage to any of the furniture and it was caught before the drywall was damaged. We are now waiting for the new floor to be installed. Also this month, I started a new shift at work which gives me more time to spend with

So for years I have heard of Dr. Who and how great of a sci-fi show it was.  Yet, with my fandom of so many other franchises, I didn't want to get tied into a show that has been around since the 60's. That's a lot of seasons to catch up on. Besides, Star Wars has a new show and movie coming out, Star Trek has a new movie in the works, then with all the other franchises that aren't producing anything new: Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, Space Above And Beyond; I wouldn't just have the time to squeeze in something else. So what changed? Well I started on a new team at work and my new cubicle partner is quite the fangirl. Besides liking Star Trek The Next Generation like me, she is quite the Whovian. So with her encouragement, plus since my free trial of Netflix was still going on from when the 6th season of Star Wars The Clone Wars was released, I bit the bullet and gave the good Doctor a try. Starting with what Netflix calls season 1, which aired in 2005, I began.

So at the last minute, at the behest of my friend Robbie and his brother Angelo, I headed out Saturday morning for to the Orange County Convention Center to attend Megacon 2014. The announcement of my trip to Megacon scored more likes on Facebook than I expected and to be perfectly honest, I had no clue what to expect. Sure, I have been to several conventions....through my church...and they were nothing like this. So this was my first official con. Robbie and Angelo had attended several over the years, from Megacon to multiple Star Wars Celebrations. I had heard stories of conventions past, but to experience the excitement, craziness and pure fandom at a convention is unparalleled. Besides Robbie and Angelo, I knew no one. So Robbie picked me up early Saturday morning and off we went to Orlando. Angelo, being an active member in the Rebel Legion, was already over at the convention center attending to booth the Legion had set up. We arrived, thinking the convention started at 9 A.

Just announced on the official Disney blog: Luke Skywalker himself, The talented Mark Hamill will be a guest for this years Star Wars Weekends for weekend #4, which runs from June 6-8!!!! The Jedi Master is the first guest announced to date. James Arnold Taylor was announced as host again this year a few weeks ago. As more news is announced, I'll be posting it. Plus look for some Star Wars Weekend blogs coming soon to www.coffeewithkenobi.com as the build to the fastest 5 weeks of my life are coming up.  Until then, Live long and prosper, May the Force be with you, And most importantly, may God bless you richly!

Its the most wonderful time of the year! Mickey Mouse is a Jedi, Stitch is a Sith Lord, and long lines at Star Tours, Oh is the most wonderful time of year!!! Thats right folks, Star Wars Weekends (SWW) is back for 2014! Back with a vengeance. This year, Disney has extended SWW from the traditional 4 weekends to 5 weeks this year as Disney and Lucasfilm are ramping up the promotional pace as the premiere of Star Wars Rebels approaches!

It's coming!!!!! As you have heard by now, Disney and Lucasfilm has announced the release of season 6, the bonus content, the lost missions of Star Wars The Clone Wars! Finally we get to see what Dave Filoni had in store for us in the cancelled season 6. But after the outcry of outraged fans, like me, spearheaded by Jimmy Mac from Rebel Force Radio who started the Save The Clone Wars campaign long before the announced cancellation, the decision was reached to provide the episodes that were already done.  Exciting, right? YES!!!!!

As time goes on there is one striking thing that has impressed me about Star Wars, and it's a direct reflection of the Saga's creator, George Lucas. It's something that has been witnessed time and time again all over the world. It's a simple philosophy that became the basis of fan groups like the 501st Legion and the Rebel Legion. That is simply, Star Wars gives. Star Wars gives. To countless charities.  To fans and children in need.  To each other involved in the clubs or organizations. I have learned over the last 2 years that I've been plugged back into the universe that Star Wars fans are some of the most generous fans out there.  Look at the 501st Legion, Vader's Fist. In the Star Wars universe the 501st was the best of the best, Vader's personal legion he commanded through the Clone Wars and on into the Original Trilogy era. Now, the bad guys are the good guys. Founded by Albin Johnson, the members donate their time and resource

I'm sorry it's been so long since I have geeked out. Life has been absolutely crazy since the middle of January and I've been just trying to stay afloat and sane. As many are aware, my family has been dealing with the loss of my 91 year old grandmother at the end of January which is why I have been away and not geeking. I'm still trying to play catch up on my podcast listening as well, which is why I haven't been putting in my 2 cents in a timely manner either. Anyway, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for everyone's support during this time. The well wishes and prayers have been most appreciated and uplifting. I can't thank you all enough.  There has been a lot I have missed geeking out about over the last several weeks too. The script for Episode 7 was announced to be completed. The characters of Kanan, Ezra, and Chopper were all announced for the up coming Star Wars Rebels. The announcement of when and how the final unaired episodes of Clone Wars

Yes, I'm doing the typical top ten list. This will probably be the first of several too. The topic this time is my favorite episodes of Star Trek The Next Generation (TNG for short). Now before I proceed, I know I will get this question: "Aaron, why start with Star Trek? Why not do your favorite Clone War episodes?" To them I reply: I will do a Clone Wars top ten for sure, but I'm waiting to see the bonus content, lost missions, or what ever Lucasfilm will wind up calling it, first. So while waiting, lets do Star Trek TNG. The Next Generation lasted for 7 seasons and produced some great stories. It was the second series in the Star Trek franchise, and one of, if not the, most popular of the series. A stellar cast commanded the Enterprise into a new era and new life.

One thing question I always hear get asked is "what is your favorite Star Wars movie?"  And I have heard every answer under the sun. So that got me thinking which of the movies do I feel is my favorite? Which holds the fondest memories of me? Now the general consensus is that The Empire Strikes Back is the greatest of the the 6 movies and I would have to agree. ESB is darker, has the start of Han and Leia's romance, Luke's first lightsaber battle, the revelation of Vader's and Luke's relationship, and the introductions to Lando and Yoda. It generated some of the most quotable lines in Saga: "Do or do not, there is not try."; "I love you!" "I know."; "No, I am your father."; and so many more! The unmatchable score by John Williams for the pursuit of the Falcon through the asteroid field is still by far my favorite of all his compositions. And of course, the first appearances of Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett, who is one

So my geek out blogs are usually about geek things: Star Wars, Star Trek, even a recent one was about Muppet Babies. I had every intention to sitting down and writing a blog about the wonders of the Star Wars community of fans....but after tonight, that has been placed on hold. Oh I'll write it eventually, but something happened tonight that made my day, my week, and my month. I'm talking about a date. Oh yes, I had a date. This was a special date too. I was able to spend the evening with my precious 6 year old daughter Kailynn. What an evening it was!!!! My wife went out for a girls night with a friend, so Kailynn and I went and had a wonderful dinner at Pizza Hut. She was so excited, cause she got to use a free pizza coupon she earned at school for reading some books (she has 2 more on the fridge, she LOVES reading). While we waited on the pizza, we played Hungry Hungry Hippo on my cellphone. We followed it up with ice cream at Dairy Queen and then we came home. Once we got

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! Yes, I know I a little late on this, but the end of 2013 and first few days of 2014 have been a little busy with family in town, even though I did squeeze out a quick Muppet blog on New Year's Eve. Its 2014 now! Its has the potential to be a great year for us geeks! A new Muppet movie, new Captain America movie. Star Wars Episode 7 is suppose to begin production, Star Wars Rebels premieres, and the long awaited Clone Wars "Bonus Content" is to be released. What am I expecting as a geek from 2014?? Well for one I expect news galore about Star Wars Episode 7.  With filming suppose to start in the spring, I expect casting news to start in February starting with the Big 3 (Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher) and continuing up til shooting starts. Once it starts, I expect some promo pics from the sets to hype people up, like Hamill brandishing his lightsaber, Ford in his Solo costume.

So I had this thought while at work today: Disney owns the Muppets. Now I know this isn't breaking news and I know that this is something that's been around for a while. Matter of fact, Disney has released one Muppet movie already, and a second one is on its way. The 4-D Muppet attraction is at Hollywood Studios.  We have even had The Muppet Show released on DVD. So with all of the work Disney has done with the Muppet franchise...why have we not scene the greatest Saturday morning cartoon from the 1980's released yet??? That's right, where are The Muppet Babies????? You know that show that ran from 1984 to 1991, that follows the Muppets as babies who all live together in a nursery and go on the greatest adventures in their imaginations.