It's been awhile and nothing done on AL since October, except buying a few parts like booster covers, slip rings, side plates, side vents (and that's what I can remember). I did get the motors in the feet, but having trouble with the wheels. Got some 4" swivel wheels from Harbor Freight, can't wait to try 'em out.

My biggest "AL" purchase: his own astromech lab. Yep, I bought a HOUSE!!! After 3 years of forclosure and working super hard on my credit rating, I was able to purchase another forclosed house with a VA loan through Wells Fargo. It has a very large living room, big kitchen, four bedrooms, 2 baths (OK, one bath and one shower), nice breakfast area, oversized 2 car garage, and did I mention the astromech lab? It's in the basement as an unfinished bedroom, right next to the finished bedroom (and the one shower). Speaking of basement, aformentioned guest room and bath, laundry room, and a HUGE open area with a fireplace. The fireplace area will be my den/living area and the other space will be my home theatre (to watch all those SW movies) and built in bar with sink (if the plumbers can put a water line in). And new carpets and paint to make it my own.

Lots of backyard for the cats and AL to play in, too. I'm planning to make a lot of winding sidewalks in the yard to test AL, along with the outdoor patio. I hate mowing lawns, so I'm trying to design it with minimal yard work. Definitely a tough shed for more storage (lawn mower, I guess), a BBQ queen's grill and work space, and maybe a small hot tub (later, after I've fixed everything, like a new water heater and some plumbing leaks that aren't that bad).

Let the house repairs, uh, updates begin....
Until next time,
Jawa Jaka
(Maybe a new "house" blog? I definitely see one in the near future. Gotta win that Better Homes and Gardens remodeling/decorating contest!)

Chapter 3 part 9

Several stormtroopers marched down the alley, knocking down doors, inspecting all contents of the dilapitated neighborhood. They came to the shop, tearing it apart inch by inch. Just some old boards and nails, an old hammer, and lots of very large bags full of garbage. TK1492 was dismayed at having to go through all that garbage just to find clues of a lost Imperial droid, but orders were orders. Find that droid, it might have some important information about the rebels. His partner, TK1812, was just as grossed out.

Nothing here, let's move on.
We've only gone through three bags. Shouldn't we go through the rest?
You want to go through them all, go ahead. I tell you, it's just garbage.
Orders. Gotta search everything.
I don't think the orders meant all 200 bags of garbage. Besides, you're starting to really stink.
Yeah, so are you. OK, next shack then.
As I said, let's move on.

And they left, meeting the other four troopers in the middle of the street, contemplating their next move. After some discussion and map reading, all six marched back up the street and disappeared. Glug and Peety removed their bags and stood in the middle of the shack dripping with garbage. A few minutes went by to make sure no other troopers were in the area, then Glug made his rounds spying on Manny, who was still spying on the shop. This time Manny had a friend with him, the long-legged woman who kept him totally preocuppied to where he didn't even notice the troopers. Or Glug for that matter.

Glug went back inside to find Peety taking out all the tools from the remaining 200 garbage bags. It was Peety's idea to hide everything, including themselves, in all that garbage. Glug didn't approve of the plan, but being that he had no ideas of his own, went along with it. Sometimes though Glug could come up with something brilliant to say, like, I'm glad we don't have noses like those troopers!