Backstory 1

The Adventures of Jawa Jaka and R2-AL
(A love story between a jawa and his droid)

Chapter 1: AT THE PUDDLE OF WATER

Part 1:
Jawa Jaka was on his daily roaming of the canyons on Tatooine, his home world. Jaka enjoyed his lonely walks, picking up stuff here and there left on the ground by wayward space travelers or the abundant farmers scattered throughout the planet. Sometimes he would come across items left behind by those city folks just looking for a good party, junk like lost jewelry or small vats of Correllian wine (a rare find but his most prized possessions since he loved the taste of it). Jaka spent most of his life gathering up the flotsam and jetsom most would consider trash. To him they were treasures, ready to be made into fantastic sculptures or refurbished and sold to other lost city folk (except the wine of course). He collected and stored all this junk in a very large tent he made from a ship's parasail found at a crash site somewhere in the middle of the desert. Lightweight and easy to fold, Jaka could break down his tent and travel anywhere he wanted. That was the appeal to him, freedom to go anywhere and do anything. Who cared if none of the other jawas called him friend or came to visit? Yes, it was a lonely existence, but he was happiest amongst all his junk.

On this cloudy day, without looking up at the sky, Jaka made his way down a small canyon that led into a larger opening. He had been to this valley many times, but today was going to be different. Instead of sitting quietly in the valley he decided to forage for junk along a path he rarely went on. He had heard several days ago about an Imperial spy ship being blown to bits by a rebel cruiser in the skies just above the planet. Jaka figured there might be some junk he could sell from bits and pieces that might have fallen from the battle. Pieces of Imperial ships brought large sums these days since everybody was suspect of everything Imperial. The Battle of Yavin was big news on all outer rim planets, and Tatooine was no exception.

Jaka reached the valley, rested his tired feet, took some drink (who knows what jawas drink to quench their thirst), and took out a small map showing possible crash sites in the area. He picked a route and headed up a small ravine that had a trickling brook burbling just underneath. Jawas are very self-sufficient in the desert and can find small amounts of water under the crust rather quickly. Jaka filled a small bottle with the lovely liquid. This would fetch a great price in the city. He took another bottle out when he noticed something odd reflecting in the water. He turned around and in the sand was something shining, even on a cloudy day. AHA!! KACHING! Jaka knew it had to be something from the battle. It was time to get to work.....

Disco Padme

My roomate found some pics of me as the Disco Padme. This is an outfit I created for CIV May 2007 based on the "picnic" dress in Episode 2. I updated the dress by making it a 70's tribute costume with mini skirt, disco blouse, and knee-hi boots. The wig had the usual side buns in a gold wire mesh and pastel-colored ribbons down the back, just like in the movie. In the movie Padme wore a tight-fitting renaissance dress, complete with flowing ribbons, and got Darth Vader. My version got me a few beers, a couple dances at the CIV Sat. night party, and lots of looks (and photos). I don't know, but I think my version did much better than hers! I think I'll wear it again next Celebration (just because it's soooo much fun to wear!).


Don't ask me what's that on my knee. I think it was something on my roomie's camera....

Until next time,
Jawa Jaka

Foot Update

So, you think I'm talking about AL's foot hehehe. Nope, Jawa Jaka's foot (OK, mine) has another three weeks to heal before the boot cast comes off. Bummer since the Colorado Ren Faire starts in two weeks, and I always go to opening weekend. Nothing like prodding along on hilly countryside in a pirate costume with a boot cast. Sigh, I guess I'll just have to sit at the pirate's pub all day and drink since I can't do much else. Maybe I'll work on a small piece of AL at the pub. Like the center vents, or something like it...

I have about a month to get as much done on AL as possible, including all parts on the dome installed and most painting done. I'll be one of the presenters at the R2 panels at Osfest in Omaha, NE, July 11-13. The R2 Central Builders (the local Nebraska and Iowa group of the R2BC) are too excited that I'll be there with an all aluminum droid. One of the panels is on different materials to use for droid building. The other is on electronics, which I know nothing of but presenting a brief description on the Budget JEDI controller (more on that later). AL won't walk or talk at this con but I'm hoping he'll look good anyway. Maybe I'll put a bowtie on him.

In the meantime, here is a pic from the Yahoo pictures of the week showing a barn in Kansas (also on DenverPost.com, search Colorado tornados for story, May 22nd I believe). It was the same nasty storm that demolished the town of Windsor, CO and did some serious damage in nearby Platteville. It's freaky to look out your window to see a line in the sky, bright blue stillness on one side, dark menacing fast moving monstrous clouds on the other. Yep, that's what we saw here in Aurora for three days. Kinda reminded me of the Dementors from Harry Potter coming to town. SCARY!!!

Until next time,

Jawa Jaka