Stuff Mindi Likes: THE CLONE WARS cartoon.

I have a crush.

On a cartoon character.

<-------This cartoon character.

I know it's silly and weird and it isn't cool to like anything affiliated with the newer of the STAR WARS trilogy, but I love me some cartoon Anakin Skywalker.

I don't even know how it happened.  I just decided one day that I wanted to watch THE CLONE WARS cartoon series.  I had to harass Dwayne to watch it with me.  (Which makes no sense because he actually rewatches all the STAR WARS movies indiscriminately!)  

And somehow I just totally fell for him.

Anakin, I mean.  I fell for Dwayne years and years ago.

There is definitely some cheesiness in this series.  Isn't there cheesiness with all things STAR WARS?  But it's been really fun to see the blanks filled in between ATTACK OF THE CLONES and REVENGE OF THE SITH (which is when the events of this series take place). 

For the longest time, I had a hard time reconciling that little kid Anakin with Hayden Christensen's Anakin and then with the Darth Vader of the original movies.  I never felt like the newer movies adequately showed the transition.  The cartoons have been great for giving additional insight.  Some of the changes in Anakin's character have been quite subtle and elegant.  I have to say, every once in a while, I'm blown away. 

Not to give anything away, but there was a scene early in season 2 (I think) where Anakin behaved in a way not becoming of a Jedi.  In an evil, Dark Side way.  In the midst of it all, the Imperial March kicked in.  That's the first time (and perhaps the only time so far) that we've heard that music in this series.  I have to say, I got chills.  Chills.

I read somewhere that this series will have 100 episodes.  I've now seen all 44 that have aired so far.  Slightly less than halfway done.  They still haven't adequately shown Anakin's devotion to Padme to make me believe that he'd turn to the Dark Side in the way that was shown on the movie, but there is still time for that. 

I'm SO looking forward to seeing how it all plays out!

Okay, well, I know how it all plays out, of course.  But you know what I mean...

Five more months!

Five months from today will be October 5th.  October 5th is FREEFALL's official release date. Five months!  That's less than half a year! It's 153  days!  It's about 3,672 hours! It's coming up so quickly!

Freefall on the interwebs.

I've spotted more mentions about Freefall online during the last few weeks, which is always very exciting for me!  The release is just about only five months out now, so it's cool to see that some book lovers are starting to talk about it and are looking forward to reading it.  Thanks to everyone out there who is helping spread the word.  I really, really appreciate it!  :-) "Waiting on Wednesday": Pirate Penguin Reads on April 20th and Ellz Readz on April 28th.

"On My Wishlist":  Missy's Book Nook on April 24th.

"Books to Pine For": Couch Potatoes on April 11th.

"Cover Catch":  The Bookologist on March 28th.

Friday 5

1.  Remember last summer how I was super in shape (well, the best shape that I've ever been in, I mean)?  Yeah, that whole thing sort of fell by the wayside last October when I went on all those trips.  I came back to rain and cold and never quite back into the groove.  For the last month or so, I've been gradually trying to get it back.  Water aerobics once a week.  Some walking.  I'm pretty sore, though.  Why does it have to be so hard?

2.  I wrote a new scene for my current WIP yesterday.  It took HOURS.  Then my husband read it in about two minutes.  *sigh*

3.  I was informed that the reason I always have to pay a "contact lens fitting fee" at the eye doctor is because they are "cosmetic" and therefore insurance won't cover it.  It's cosmetic to be able to see WITHOUT having stylish plastic/wire/whatever over my eyes?  Okay then, buhzitches.

4.  My husband's band, Alabaster, is in Seattle's final round for Hard Rock Cafe's Battle of the Bands tomorrow night (May 1st).  They're in competition to perform in England opening for the likes of Pearl Jam and Sir Paul McCartney.  Yay!  Seattle peeps, come on out and see them!  It's 21+/$5.

5.  My editor sent me an email just now letting me know that my proofreader sent her a note saying she loved my story.  Now I'm all teary-eyed.  It's been gratifying to see readers out there who are responding to the cover and posting about being excited to read FREEFALL.  Sometimes I almost forget that this anticipation period won't last forever.  And for someone to have actually read it and loved it?  Well, that's my most favorite thing ever.