Day 107, Quasi-Quarantine: Welcome Back, Old Friend -- Resurrecting The Millennium Falcon

Much of the early part of quasi-quarantine was dedicated to the project (nay, quest) to rebuild the Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon. Digging through, around, and under various bins and other containers, we painstakingly checked off the necessary pieces from the parts inventory at the back of the instruction manual.

When we finally had collected the necessary 1,330 pieces, we set about the rebuild. I had initially planned on doing the construction over the course of about a week to make it last, but with so little else to do, we managed it in around a day and a half.

We were thrilled to rediscover the exquisite detailing that made this set such a winner to begin with. It's a hefty and significant build, which makes it both impressive and susceptible to crashes and drops for younger children (hence, one of the reasons we had to scavenge this one back together).

Turrets on both the top and bottom were a cool add, along with gunner seats to control each. But the highly accessible inner play area is the highlight of the set, offering a view of the hyperdrive, holochess table, recuperative bed areas, and hoses and storage.

We did have a few quibbles: 

• The set came with seven minifigures, including "old" Han Solo, Chewbacca, Rey, Finn, and BB-8. That's all fine. However, the additions of Tasu Leech and another Kanjiklub member were a little baffling, and a set of this size deserves a couple of more (or at least different) distinctive minifigs.
• The Falcon sits too low to the ground, making the ramp essentially useless. 
• The cockpit lacks detail and is too small, making it difficult to put more than a single minifigure within. 
• The secret cargo hold is difficult to access and is too tiny to hold much more than a young Anakin-sized minifig.
• The interior hold had a number of random boxes in odd positions laying around. A combat remote would have been a nice touch to spruce up the hold.
• A way to get from the main hold to the cockpit would have been a welcome addition.

However, we've been adding a few of our own "modifications" (hat tip, Han Solo), including an escape pod that slides into the front region of the ship, which you can see in the overhead picture above. This small vehicle mirrors the one featured in the Kessel Run Millennium Falcon version.

Overall, we're thrilled to have re-added this tremendous build back into our repertoire. The hold has seen extensive use as a command center for holding Rebel strategy briefings, and the Millennium Falcon has quickly emerged as the centerpiece of the missions, scenes, and scenarios that have peppered so much of quasi-quarantine.

Day 106, Quasi-Quarantine: Disappointing Finish Mars Promising "Vast Of Night"

After reading an article about it, "Vast of Night" became one of my most anticipated movies of quasi-quarantine. When it was delayed a couple of times on Amazon Prime, my excitement to finally view it only grew.

The movie used a "Goonies" quality early on to build excitement and pacing. Director Andrew Patterson did a strong job of world building, bringing in a racial element and creating a viable setting for late-1950s America. Reportedly (and not surprisingly), the script also contains homages to "War of the Worlds" and H.G. Wells.

The two main characters -- a telephone operator and a DJ -- quickly move from an excited interest in quirky events to a frantic curiosity. Overall, the movie progresses methodically from Norman Rockwell and apple pie to alien invasions and eerie terror.

While I liked the movie, I couldn't help shaking the feeling that a lot of meat was left on the bone. I would have liked to have known a little more about the relationship between Fay and Everett and their respective back stories. The flick also ended rather abruptly, and while I'm not averse to climaxes that don't answer all the questions, I felt this one was a bit too jarring. 

All told, I felt a bit more time in the incubator could have turned this one from an almost-was into a legitimate sci-fi groundbreaker.

Limerick Friday #471: RIP To Legends And Logic -- Day 103

His 'Fins team was simply the best
Passing every opponent's test
"Butch" to Zonk's "Sundance"
Could juke you out of your pants
Jim Kiick, you can finally rest

A place to give thanks
And refuel our tanks
To hear the wave pound
And get lost in the sound
Forever the Outer Banks

Sunlight amidst the rains
A beacon between the pains
A different experience
Full of experiments
But part of us remains

Ignorance does soar
In every bar, beach, and store
So the cases skyrocket
With lawsuits on the docket
Protect us from ourselves, we implore

The situation gets dumber
A colossal social bummer
Now there's no school
Or any safe pool
Here comes the summer

Last time ...

Day 102, Quasi-Quarantine: Adding Rako Hardeen To The Fold

As we're discovering "Star Wars: Clone Wars" many years after the fact, unique characters are speaking to us from the saga. One of those is Rako Hardeen, the "Marksman of Concord Dawn."

A would-be assassin of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Hardeen was part of a complex plot that involved Kenobi being brought back to life to assume Hardeen's identity to infiltrate a plan to kidnap the Chancellor. During a painful procedure, Kenobi was made to both look and sound like Hardeen before going to prison, joining the conspiracy, and jousting with Cad Bane.

With his distinct look and high-powered weaponry, Hardeen became a household favorite -- to the point where we had to secure a minifigure to join ongoing adventures. Hardeen is pictured here performing a complex maneuver as part of a siege on Scarif, alongside Poe Dameron and Lieutenant Connix.

Yes, we're going to great lengths to amuse ourselves.

Day 101, Quasi-Quarantine: "Straight Man" Captures Russo At His Most Cynical -- And Funniest

"Have I brought this on myself, I wonder, that people who know me refuse to take me seriously, while to virtual strangers my ironic sallies are received with staunch, serious outrage?" 

Richard Russo's tale of the inane inner workings and petty politics of small-college, small-town Pennsylvania captures northern academia beautifully. "Straight Man" works mostly in satirical farce, but injects some surprisingly serious and melancholy moments toward the end -- a balance that is difficult to achieve and unique to Russo's talents.

To great effect, this novel combined elements of David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest" and John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces." At times in the story, you are left wondering who you should be rooting for -- which is not always an unwelcome effect.

" ... I see a truth I've long known -- that the world is divided between kids who grow up wanting to be their parents and those like us, who grow up wanting to be anything but. Neither group ever succeeds." 

The author's decision to position the main character as an involuntary witness to his own life can be a bit off-putting, and seemingly vital figures are given short shrift. 

This book is much funnier than "Empire Falls," which ended up at #5 in the Scooties Awards for 2018. While the former doesn't exhibit the heart and wistfulness of the latter, "Straight Man" displays a masterful wit and biting style that elevates it to similar heights.

"Which is why we have spouses and children and parents and colleagues and friends, because someone has to know us better than we know ourselves. 
"We need them to tell us. We need them to say, 'I know you, Al. You're not the kind of man who.'"

Limerick Friday #470: OBX Offers Hope On The Horizon -- Day 89

A change of scenery

Along with a beer or three

The beach calls

To escape it alls

Come coast away with me

Quiet nights on the sound

Only birds and the wind around

My soul restore

Prepare me for more

As havoc does abound

Sand and light

And rain at night

Surf and waves

Are what the heart craves

In days of confusion and fright

The headlines bleed

With news hard to read

A country in shambles

Its traitor just rambles

No logic or sanity to heed

Legos and crafts

And sometimes porch drafts

Books, art, and games

Hitting and calling names

Quasi-quarantine has ennui and laughs

Last time ...

Day 88, Quasi-Quarantine, Sounds Of Social Distancing: Boygenius Blends Indy Folk In An Irresistible Way

I've long been drawn to the emotive power of Julien Baker, who came to my attention when she covered a couple of Frightened Rabbit songs ("Modern Leper," Holy," and "Acts of Men") after the death of incomparable frontman Scott Hutchison. She also collaborated with the band on "How It Gets In."

So when I heard that Baker had joined Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus as part of a new band called boygenius, I had to tune in. The trio met each other on tour, created a mutual admiration society, started trading music, then decided to join forces, picking a band name that serves as a clapback on perceived favoritism shown toward young male musicians.

Apparently, the three wrote and recorded their self-titled debut album in four days."Bite the Hand," "Me & My Dog," and "Salt in the Wound" are highlights, with each's incredible voices somehow complementing one another instead of competing. 

But perhaps their most powerful work comes through in their spontaneity in covering the Dixie Chicks anthem "Cowboy Take Me Away." Violinist Camille Falkner takes this version over the top with her soulful playing.

While the catalog is slim for the time being and all three may never have enough time away from their own bands to dedicate to this side project, boygenius is powered by the potential of music that may be yet to come.

Day 87, Quasi-Quarantine: Unearthing And Reconstituting The Iconic T-16 Skyhopper

"I used to bull's-eye womp rats in my T-16 back home, they're not much bigger than two meters."

With those words, Luke Skywalker accomplished two things: he psyched up his buddy Wedge Antilles for the attack on the Death Star, and he established himself as a sadistic hunter of space rodents.

Flash forward to modern-day Earth, and the T-16 Skyhopper mentioned by Luke represented our first foray into building an unpackaged Lego Star Wars set that we had never built (or owned) before.

Checking in 247 pieces, the T-16 was an easy build. The hardest part was tracking down the requisite pieces from the buckets of Legos passed down by a cousin. Once these were secured, the set was a surprising and clever addition.

The Skyhopper features a cozy pilot cabin, with adjustable wings that offer access to an interior department that includes a detachable storage box that can hold ammunition or other small items.

The different wing configuration possibilities were a highlight, as the T-16 can be aligned for flight, battle, and landing. The spring-loaded shooters and laser cannon gave the airspeeder a more intimidating look.

Luke learned to fly on this vehicle, taking advantage of its light design and maneuverability to navigate the canyons of Tattooine. He's also seen playing with one as he cleans R2-D2 and C3PO soon after their purchase in "A New Hope."

The set also comes with a Skyhopper pilot and a Tusken Raider (including gaffi stick), marking this as a legendary throwback to a beloved Star Wars reference.

Alas, we could never find the womp rat. Some of the galaxy's mysteries must always remain mysteries ...

Day 86, Quasi-Quarantine: "Dead To Me" Romps Through An Unlikely But Absorbing Season 2

The second season of the surprising "Dead to Me" was released in early May, and we raced through its easy-to-view 10 episodes with a quickness.

The new arc is almost the same as the old arc, only this time Jen (Christina Applegate) has accidentally committed a grievous act personal to Judy (Linda Cardellini). Hilarity, near-misses, inexplicable decisions, and separations from reality ensue.

The show plays on the undeniable chemistry between Applegate and Cardellini, and James Marsden shows impressive range playing twins with highly distinct personas. However, the Type A-hippie union does not hold up here as Jen and Judy have switched personalities at times.

Also, for a Type A widow with two teenage-ish sons, Jen spends an inordinate amount of her time pounding wine, covering up fairly obvious crimes, and making inexplicable decisions seemingly designed to lead to her own capture (is this what she really wants, subconsciously?).

The hysterical moments persist, but Season 2's darker side shows through much more. These episodes explore obsession of all kinds, ending on an unbelievable-but-anticipated moment that opens the door to a potential third season that would be likely to fall apart under its own weight.

Applegate is tremendous and Cardellini is irresistible, but creator Liz Feldman has created a series built on unfathomable consequences, so there is a definite house-of-cards (*fill in your own Kevin Spacey joke here*) quality to the show. 

Quitting while you're ahead isn't the Hollywood way, but that would probably be best for "Dead To Me" while it still retains the originality and charm that's propelled it this far.

Day 85, Quasi-Quarantine: Hacking Together A Wampa Cave

A bit of a flashback Monday, hearkening back to when we put together a Wampa cave lo those many moons ago (early May).

We wanted to use hinge pieces to be able to access the inside of the cave, giving the scary lair from "Empire Strikes Back" a confined default look that could expand to show bones and assorted meat and fish products on the interior.

To make the cave even more intimidating and forebidding, we added a number of detail pieces along the outer edges: tusks, bones, totems, and various symbols intended to frighten visitors away.

As a final touch, we turned to Gorilla Grodd, a hand-me-down from my nephew. We decided that painting the gorilla white would make it look enough like the Wampa to pass muster.

The Wampa cave is situated near our expanded Echo Base, making for a nice start to a fully realized Hoth situation. 

Next challenge? Finding a way to organically to work my Cliff from "Cheers" into the landscape as Major Bren Derlin.

Limerick Friday #469: It's All Burning -- Day 82

In hopes of a Dow bump

Racism he'll continue to pump

Invade citizens, he's liable

With an upside-down bible

Amerika in the age of Trump

Petri dish in a pool

Mouth-breathers covered in drool

A church will protect

And a virus deflect?

Nothing more dangerous than a faithful fool

Drew Brees, most did like

But he stepped in it, by crike

Now apologies all day

But remember it's OK

To occasionally pass up a mike

Help, you can't dial it

Words like a pile o' shit

Leadership a dead-end street

Management by spreadsheet

A jumbo jet with no pilot

Love for the hometown team

Building the homegrown dream

Playmakers in the fold

After some time on hold

Recruiting picking up steam

Last time ...

Day 81, Quasi-Quarantine: Ambitious "City On Fire" Explores NYC's Clash Of Culture

"And you there: Aren't you somehow right here with me? I mean, who doesn't still dream of a world other than this one? Who among us -- if it means letting go of the insanity, the mystery, the total useless beauty of the million once-possible New Yorks -- is ready even now to give up hope?" 

Quasi-quarantine felt like the right time to tackle the monumental "City on Fire," Garth Risk Hallberg's +900-page novel. While the (perhaps overly) ambitious work gets bogged down on occasion through sheer heft and pedantry, this book is capable of great beauty and insight into the human spirit.

He effectively depicts New York City from a number of different social strata, painting a vivid picture of the 1970s scene as a microcosm for how the country as a whole was trying to redefine itself. 

"They were everywhere he looked, suddenly, these kids who no longer believed in progress. And why should they? Progress was Watergate and Mutually Assured Destruction. Progress had looked on as tracts of jungle and thatched huts disappeared beneath a carpet of flame. Progress had raped villages at My Lai and bayoneted babies."

Hallberg carefully and deftly treads the sometimes overlapping lines between cynicism, hilarity ("For the rest of the ride, he had to picture the wobble of President Ford's jowls in order not to pop a full-blown bone."), racism, irony, and classism.

Elsewhere, Hallberg even unwittingly touches on some of the side benefits of social distancing.

"To pretend not to see him would tax credulity. How much simpler the world would be if people could admit openly to hating each other! On the other hand, this was not that world. And William still believed, questions of utopia aside, in the social graces." 

While often conveying the sense that this is many books in one, Hallberg has managed to pull together disparate storylines into a coherent whole. The ability to capture the zeitgeist of a time and place is one of the biggest compliments that can be paid an author, and Hallberg has done so here.

"He let his burning forehead rest against the inside of the window and watched the empty streets scroll by, sparkler sticks, downtrodden little flags, the metal gates of loading docks graffiti'd with the hundred secret names of God."

"City on Fire" reminded me a bit of Eleanor Henderson's "Ten Thousand Saints" in its exploration of NYC subculture. And while Hallberg's piece may have been better served by ending a couple of hundred pages earlier, this book is well worth the considerable effort.

"Waiting for the end. Knowing each other as we do, we probably wouldn't need to say anything out loud. But I guess what I would want to leave each of you with finally -- tender some Evidence of, against a life's worth of signs to the contrary -- comes down simply to this: You are infinite. I see you. You are not alone."

Day 80, Quasi-Quarantine: Re-Creating The Star Wars Lego Droid Escape Pod

As we reached the dog days of quasi-quarantine, we began the process of rebuilding Star Wars Lego sets that we own that have been destroyed, cannibalized, or otherwise disintegrated. Our first escapade in this movement, fittingly, involved the escape pod.

A retired product, the droid escape pod captures an iconic moment in the Star Wars saga. The set comes in at just 197 pieces, but comes with four minifigures: C-3PO, R2-D2, and two Jawas.

This droid escape pod set is unique from previous versions that had a more tapered design and included stormtroopers and swoop bikes. This version folds up to highlight its recognizable shape, but folds out to reveal an interior that has a few nice details. C-3PO and R2-D2 each have distinct sitting areas with a rudimentary control panel as part of an entire piece that can be easily removed and used for other transport.

The rocket thrusters on the back of the pod are simple, but surprisingly well done, and they really bolster the overall look. The stickers add important visual elements, bringing the pod to life and elevating the feel of the entire build.

The Death Star plans are a clever add, making it easy to create missions where the bumbling droids deliver the keys to the galaxy to the Rebel Alliance.

Tracking down the nearly 200 disparate pieces needed to re-create this build wasn't so bad, as many of the pieces are distinctive and easy to find. As we move on to more intricate and complex hunting-and-gathering projects, I'll look back fondly (likely with an added whimper) on the relative ease involved in rebuilding this legendary vehicle.

Day 79, Quasi-Quarantine: "The Scheme" Reinforces The Exposed Farce That Is College Athletics

"The Scheme" wasn't exactly earth-shattering. The HBO documentary explored the "seamy underbelly" of college basketball recruiting, which is a known commodity to all but the most persistent head-in-the-sand ostriches.

The most remarkable aspect of the doc was hearing about the incredible amount of FBI resources allocated to entrapping a teenage "runner" -- Chris Dawkins -- who funneled players to major programs for relatively little money.

From a local perspective, the tale of Nassir Little, who received massive monetary offers to attend Oregon, Florida State, or Miami, was mentioned. The most hysterical aspect of the Little story is that local media and pucker-ups would legitimately like you to believe that Little turned down hundreds of thousands of dollars from major colleges to play for "free" at UNC-Cheat.

It was also revealing to hear the wiretaps of Arizona coach Sean Miller (who I've interviewed) and LSU coach Will Wade, who both come across as both incredibly profane and shady. Miraculously, neither coach has lost their job.

The entire documentary was simply proof-positive that the post-accountability, post-truth era doesn't reside only in the federal government -- it extends to the NCAA as well.

Day 78, Quasi-Quarantine: Turning Tiny Parts Into A Rebel Landing Pad

Let's continue on our personal pandemic quest involving Legos, because why the hell not, right? 

Using the "LEGO Star Wars Ideas Book" mentioned in a post about Echo Base, I created a landing pad that features the Rebel logo.

The hardest part was finding enough small plate pieces in the right colors to carry the design to the forefront. Ensuring there was enough bracing on the undercarriage to support movement was another challenge, but the end result is a sturdy, aesthetically pleasing build.

This landing pad adds yet another element to the sprawling Echo Base, bringing some color overall and providing an area for small starships to land. If I can find enough similar pieces, we'll eventually create a Resistance partner build as well.

Because -- again -- this is who I am now.