Canadian Buffoon's Exhausted Vacation - Update 09/01 - New TR link!

[pkondz]

That makes sense. Of course I've been know to nod off in the terminal.

Yeah, but with the way my
day was going... I'd nod off
only to wake up 8 hours later...

 

[pkondz]

Long time lurker, first time commenting.

Hi, Julie!
to the TR!

That sounds like a very long travel day.

Soooooo long...

I hate connecting flights, but sometime you don't have a choice.

I either connect...
Or I drive.
(Or both.)
No other way around it.

Glad you bag made it to your room and wasn't still going around the airport carousel.

I seriously considered not
using DME for the bag...
Sure wish I hadn't that day.

But... it turned up in the end
and I only had to sacrifice
an extra hour or two of sleep
and got a $100 credit, too!

Hopefully, your trip improved from here.

It does!

 

[vamassey1]

Yeah, but with the way my
day was going... I'd nod off
only to wake up 8 hours later...

Gosh you're a hard sleeper.

 

[pkondz]

Gosh you're a hard sleeper.

I can be if I've had a grand
total of 15 hours of sleep
over the last 96 hours and
been up for the last 20
straight hours (with another
12.5 hours before I could
close my eyes.)

 

[pkondz]

Batuu: The Clown Wars

My holo-clock woke me at 4:15am,
or prior to sunrise at this latitude
on Batuu.
I had an appointment with
Hondo Ohnaka over at Black
Spire Outpost, and knowing
Hondo, getting an early start,
before First Order stormtroopers
were out in force, was probably
a wise move.

I took a few minutes to pressure
seal the contents of my bag
that the First Order had kept
overly-long the previous evening,
strapped my blaster to my hip
(with a spare in the ankle webbing),
and was through the closing
iris of my room portal just before 5am.

I arrived at the shuttle launch area
and was dismayed to see that the
holo-board had no time listed
for Black Spire.
I pulled out my data pad and
logged onto the First Order's
MDE site. (Mission Digital Emulator)
Before I even had the app started,
a shuttle landed at my stop.
Always nice when you don't have
to wait. They advertise a shuttle
every 20 minutes, but zero is better.

We landed not long after and
I found myself, along with other
miscreants and ne'er-do-wells,
waiting at a surprise First Order
inspection station.

A more motley and untrustworthy
group you're not likely to find
this side of Dagobah.
I left my tripod-droid guarding
my place in line to take this
holo-shot. I had to be careful
as some of those "people"
are just as likely to shoot first
and ask questions later if they
see someone taking their photo.


The stormtroopers on patrol
at the checkpoint hardly gave
my blasters a glance.
(And why would they? Who
doesn't carry a blaster in
Black Spire?
Dead people. That's who.)
But they did stop me to inspect
my tripod droid.
When I assured them that
it was a tripod,
(<wave> "This is not the
selfie-stick you're looking for.")
they let me through.
It only cost me a few credits
and it was worth it to not have
to surrender my droid.
Tell me if it's unreasonable
of them to confiscate selfie-sticks.
Or do you agree with the First
Order upholding this rule?

I blended into the crowd as we
made our way up Hollywood Slideway
to the junction with Sunset Droidway.
There, an impenetrable force-line
stretched across the 'Way and prevented
us from proceeding further.
Curse the First Order!
Were they on to me?

I remained hidden as well as I
could, about 8-10 back from
the force-line, averting my eyes
whenever the sweeping lenses
of the CMs (Crowd-control Machines)
turned my way.
I soon became aware of the pounding
bass-line beat that often accompanies
the arrival of elite First Order forces.
(The better to strike fear into the
hearts and minds of any Resistance
"traitors", I presume.)

A line of stormtroopers arrived
and took up posts on the other
side of the force-line.
Finally, at the stroke of 6am, as the
supergiant rose in the West, the CMs
dropped the force-line and we were
forced to march behind the Storm-
troopers as we made our way to
Black Spire.


The crowd jostled and heaved
as the swifter moved to the front
and the slow-moving fell behind.

I had a moment of discomfort as
we rounded a curve where some
Tatooine Traders were plying
their wares.
The path we were following
narrowed and I felt myself
pushed up against the person
in front of me, while the entity
behind me was similarly pressed
up against me from the rear.
It was not a pleasant feeling and
I wondered what might happen
should someone stumble and fall.
I could see no way that they wouldn't
be trampled in the mad rush.

Let that be a warning to the unwary,
or those afflicted with claustrophobia.
This march is definitely not for you.


As we drew closer to Black Spire Outpost,
more CMs appeared, blaring warnings
through their speaker boxes to
"Pair up! Pair up!"
We funneled ourselves down two by two
and at last entered the Ark... er... Outpost.
I looked up and to my surprise,
through the gloom, I spotted
Solo's Millennium Falcon, docked
in front of me.

I was beginning to suspect what
Hondo had in mind for me.
Others were streaming in a
similar direction so I remained
in line, with my head down,
hoping not to draw any unwanted
attention.
As we passed the Falcon, I noted
that despite some wear and tear,
she seemed to be ready for action.

I entered Hondo's hideout
and climbed a ramp heading
towards his office.
I doubled back over my
tracks and this offered me
a dorsal view of the ship.

Yes... definitely space ready.
My hunch about Hondo's
intentions began to solidify.

I turned and entered the darkened
walkways leading to Hondo's lair.
I doubled back numerous times
in an effort to throw off any tails.
An Ion drive sat sputtering and I
hoped this wasn't an example of
Hondo's repair and maintenance skills.

Arriving eventually outside
Hondo's office door, I was
surprised to see others
waiting there as well.
I knew better than to ask
what they were there for.
Either Hondo would tell me...
Or he wouldn't.
People who ask too many
questions tend to find themselves
kicked out of airlocks without
spacesuits.


We shuffled in to Hondo's office
where he greeted us warmly.
Purely a ruse to put us at ease.
That Weequay pirate didn't fool
me for a second.

As I suspected, Hondo had
a little smuggling mission
that he needed some extra
crew to run.
He called it a legitimate cargo
run, but... I'm nobody's fool.

Or so I thought... I had no idea
of the depths of his depravity
or to the lengths he would go
to hire a good crew.

We moved forward and headed
down the spacetube to the Falcon.

*A space bridge (also termed spaceway, spacegate, gangway, zerobridge, space jetty, portal, skybridge, finger, spacetube (tube), or its official industry name Pure Boarding System (Pure BS)) is an enclosed, movable connector which most commonly extends from a spaceport terminal gate to a spaceship. (space-wiki)

I entered the familiar confines
of the Millennium Falcon and
stopped in my tracks.
The all-too-familiar holo-chess
board was being manned by
all-too-familiar faces.
That Hondo will stop at
nothing to achieve his aims!

Leave it to Hondo to stoop
to these depths.
I started to whistle "Send in
the Clones" under my breath.

I shrugged and waited while
the rest of my crew oriented
themselves to the ship's surroundings.
Once acclimated, I joined them
in preparation for our jump to
hyperspace.
I relinquished control of the
pilot and co-pilot seats
and even grudgingly decided
to forego the gunners' seats
as I had a sneaking suspicion,
based on Hondo's reputation,
that the action would be fast
and furious and a skilled
engineer would be most needed.

And I was right.
I have no real memory of what
happened outside the cockpit
window.
I was too busy managing the
ship's systems and repairing
the damage my less-than
skilled co-smugglers couldn't
manage to avoid.

Don't ask me if the scenery
was beautiful or compelling
or intense or blasé.
I really have no idea.


We managed to complete the
mission and return safely,
so I guess that's all that really
matters.
But the next time I fly this
bird, I want to be either a
gunner or a pilot.
I was too far back and too
distracted to really enjoy the
ride... If one can say they
"enjoyed" a smuggler's run.


Credits earned, I set out
into the now twin-sun-lit
Black Spire Outpost.

I took one last look at the
Falcon, sitting out in the daylight
and decided that I'd seen enough
of her for one day.

I set out, looking for a good
place to spend my well-earned
credits.
I had to keep on my toes as
every few minutes, a Stormtrooper
patrol would swing by, harassing
people and generally being
a nuisance.
I couldn't afford to be caught
with my new-found credits.
I didn't have ready answers
for their questions, and I didn't
feel like wasting my credits on bribes.

A patrol came around a corner
so I turned down an alley.

And ducked inside Oga's Cantina.
Even for this time of the morning,
the Cantina was bustling with
off-world tourists, bounty hunters
and various other riff-raff.
It's five o'clock somewhere
in the Galaxy, right?

After a while, I snuck a glance outside
and seeing the coast was clear, headed out.
The flora here on Batuu always
catches me off guard.
It's amazingly Earth-like, with
only subtle differences that
aren't readily observable
under these suns' light.

Yes, I see you, Kandall Hornsplitter;
with your green, Fangsnarth blood
stained shorts and blade filled
side pack. Her bionic enhanced
eyes ceaselessly scanned for prey
or bounty.
I know when I'm outclassed.
I gave her a wide berth.
Spending my day disemboweled
was not my idea of a good day.



While I was admiring the
greenery and avoiding
certain death, hidden
speakers began to blare
the First Order's dirge.

A ship descended to a reserved
docking space, and when I noted
its design, I knew it was
time to make myself scarce.

I snuck down another alley
and took refuge at a droid
repair and spare parts center.

Eventually, the droning First Order
requiem ceased and I was able
to ease myself back into the public fold.
I sidled up to a droid-kiosk and ordered
a libation.

Thirst satiated, I mingled among
the other gawkers and looked
for opportunities to earn more
credits or cause a disturbance
that might be embarrassing
to the recently arrived High
First Order officer.

I stopped for a moment
to ponder how things
had changed ever since
Skywalker came on the scene...

The smell of roasting rontos
and nunas drew me away
from my reverie and towards
Bakkar's Ronto Roasters.

Bakkar and I go way back
to my pod-racing days.
Maybe he'd cut me a deal
for old times' sake.
It sure smelled good.
I had just decided to grab
a bite of roasted ronto
when a passing patrol spotted me.
Curse the luck!

I quickly ducked out a back
door and made a run for it.
I knew that for at least the
next few hours, I'd be safer
off-planet.

Time to make my get-away.




Contest!

Answers from previous update:

1. What time do I get up the next day?
Closest to the right answer wins bonus points.
Points awarded in descending order.

Answer: 4:15am

People! Not even close!
I told you I gave you a major
clue. Did the title of the TR
not tell you anything???


2. Where do I go the next day?
a. A theme park.
b. Two theme parks.
c. Three theme parks.
d. DTD.
e. A theme park and DTD.
f. Nowhere. Too tired.

Answer: B. DHS and … you'll see.
Take my word for it. Or just wait.
I'll get there eventually.

Did you say "Yes" when I asked you to?
Bonus points for saying "Yes".

Did you see it?

SCORES:
juniorbugman: Said Yes: 10 points, 3pm: 1 point, f: 0 points, saw it: 10 points. Total: 21
SnowWhiteOz: Said Yes: 10 points. Total: 10
docsoliday1: No: 0 points, 10am: 3 points, f: 0 points, saw it: 10 points. Total: 13
DonnaBeeGood: 7:45am: 12 points, b: 20 points, saw it: 10 points. Total: 42
dolewhipdreams: 11:08am: 2 points, e: 0 points, saw it: 10 points. Total: 12
Kiotzu: 7:15am: 17 points, 3: 0 points, saw it: 10 points. Total: 27
tundra1: Said Yes: 10 points. Total: 10
Captain_Oblivious: Said Yes: 10 points, 7:30am: 15 points, e: 0 points, saw it: 10 points. Total: 35
MinnieWebster: Saw something else. 2 points for effort, 7:00am: 20 points, e: 0 points. Total: 22
vamassey1: 8:30am: 5 points, b: 20 points, saw it: 10 points. Total: 35
buzzrelly: 7:00am: 20 points, e: 0 points, saw it: 10 points. Total: 30
SimplyGoofy: 9:00am: 4 points, b: 20 points. Total: 24
Terra Nova guy: 7:15am: 17 points, e: 0 points, saw it: 10 points. Total: 27
franandaj: "after noon": 1 point, f: 0 points, saw it: 10 points. Total: 11
Steppesister: Said Yes: 10 points, 8:00am: 10 points, e: 0 points, saw it: 10 points. Total: 30
Jules76126: 8:00am: 10 points, b: 20 points. Total: 30
mustinjourney: 8:15am: 8 points, e: 0 points, saw it: 10 points. Total 18


Standings:

DonnaBeeGood: 42
Captain_Oblivious: 35
vamassey1: 35
buzzrelly: 30
Jules76126: 30
Steppesister: 30
Kiotzu: 27
Terra Nova guy: 27
SimplyGoofy: 24
MinnieWebster: 22
juniorbugman: 21
mustinjourney: 18
docsoliday1: 13
dolewhipdreams: 12
franandaj: 11
SnowWhiteOz: 10
tundra1: 10

Questions!

1. I'm in DHS... and just leaving
Batuu for Toy Story Land.
What do I do first?
a. Ride AS2.
b. Ride SDD.
c. Ride TSMM.
d. Grab breakfast.

2. I have at least one DISmeet
in DHS that day. Do I meet
a. 1 person.
b. 2 people.
c. 3 people.
d. More than 3 people.

3. Lunch. Where is it?
a. Sci Fi Dine-In.
b. 50s Prime Time.
c. Mama Melrose.
d. Ronto Roasters.

4. What's the longest wait
for a ride at DHS?
a. 20 minutes.
b. 30 minutes.
c. 45 minutes.
d. 60 minutes.


And...
Did you see it in this chapter?
Did you see both?
(Hint: Neither is a black and white photo.)

Remember to PM your answers, only.


Coming up... Well, hello there.

Chapter 3. Boys And Their Toys​

 

[SimplyGoofy]

My holo-clock woke me at 4:15am,
or prior to sunrise at this latitude
on Batuu.

Good Lord, that's early! How on earth are you still standing with that little sleep?!

The all-too-familiar holo-chess
board was being manned by
all-too-familiar faces.

I was going to comment on how great your pictures are (and they are!), but that picture is AMAZING! How did you do that while traveling by yourself?!

I sidled up to a droid-kiosk and ordered
a libation.

No wonder - you needed the caffeine! The bottle is pretty cool, too.

Wow, I'm solidly in the middle of the contest?! That's amazing - I never do that well in contests! I'm sure my placement will diminish over time - but I'll take it!

 

[disneyAndi14]

I love your story and pictures, so awesome!!

I really want to be in the contest but I am terrible at spotting things in your reports, I did not see the comment in the first post and I went back and forth in your report many times, ugh!!

I will play in spirit!

Boo to the engineer role, I agree with you!

 

[Grumperella]

That was an awesome update!! I"m glad you were able to make your getaway with your credits! Who won the holo-chess game?

 

[Grumperella]

Well, hello stranger/old friend!
to the TR



Thank you!

 

[pkondz]

Good Lord, that's early! How on earth are you still standing with that little sleep?!

Funny you should ask. I believe I'll
talk about that in the next update,
or the one after that.
(Depending on how much
writing is involved.)

I was going to comment on how great your pictures are (and they are!), but that picture is AMAZING! How did you do that while traveling by yourself?!

I'm so glad someone asked!
I had planned that photo
when I first saw the table
on someone else's TR,
and was probably the most
involved photo of the entire
trip.

I actually went back in the
queue and told the CM
that I wasn't going to ride.
That gave me plenty of time
to stage the shot.
I set up my camera on
my tripod and waited while
others took their photos.
When there was a window
of opportunity, I put my
camera on a timer (only
three seconds! So I really
had to hurry!), pushed
the shutter button and
quickly sat and posed.
Repeat two more times.
Then combined the resulting
photos in photoshop.

No wonder - you needed the caffeine! The bottle is pretty cool, too.

I didn't even think of the caffeine.
(But I'm sure it helped!)
I just wanted that bottle as
a souvenir.

Wow, I'm solidly in the middle of the contest?! That's amazing - I never do that well in contests! I'm sure my placement will diminish over time - but I'll take it!

Keep playing!
I've found that the winners
are always those who don't quit.

 

[pkondz]

I love your story and pictures, so awesome!!

Thanks, Caroline!

By the way...
Do you pronounce your name
Carol-line, or Carol-lynn?
I keep going back and forth
in my head when I write or
see your name.

I really want to be in the contest but I am terrible at spotting things in your reports, I did not see the comment in the first post and I went back and forth in your report many times, ugh!!

Please play!
Even if you don't spot
everything (or anything!)
that is frequently not the
deciding factor.

Of course if you'd rather not
just for time or effort's sake,
I get that too!

I will play in spirit!

See above.

Boo to the engineer role, I agree with you!

I was so unimpressed.
I pretty much missed the
entire ride because I was
spending all my time looking
sideways at some buttons.
Next time I'll ask to do
something (anything) else.

 

[pkondz]

That was an awesome update!!

Thanks!!

I"m glad you were able to make your getaway with your credits!

It was a very close call!
But I'm pretty sneaky.

Who won the holo-chess game?

It was a draw.
If you look closely, you can
see the Gornath is in a position
of dominance over the Snarmutt,
but is flanked by the Derningan.

Thank you!

 

[MinnieWebster]

Tell me if it's unreasonable
of them to confiscate selfie-sticks.
Or do you agree with the First
Order upholding this rule?

I like that they don't allow the selfie sticks...it gets hectic trying to dodge everyone stopping in the middle of the walkway to take pictures anyway. It would be so much worse with those.

I took one last look at the
Falcon, sitting out in the daylight

Great pic!

 

[MinnieWebster]

actually went back in the
queue and told the CM
that I wasn't going to ride.
That gave me plenty of time
to stage the shot.
I set up my camera on
my tripod and waited while
others took their photos.
When there was a window
of opportunity, I put my
camera on a timer (only
three seconds! So I really
had to hurry!), pushed
the shutter button and
quickly sat and posed.
Repeat two more times.
Then combined the resulting
photos in photoshop.

That's awesome! Great photo(s)!

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[missjackiemcg]

I sent my DM and then totally forgot to comment here!! I LOVE the time and effort that must have gone into creating the chessboard pic. Awesome! I wish I knew how to photoshop

I'm looking forward to wandering through Batuu in December. Hoping we are able to get in and enjoy despite the insanity of Christmas crowds! We do have an Oga's reservation, so at least I know we'll get into the land in general.

 

[thumper*]

WOW what a great way to describe your day, that took a lot of imagination.

and was through the closing
iris of my room portal just before 5am.

Great editing

 

[buzzrelly]

I would totally get up at 4am for some EEMH. I'm hoping they throw in a couple days for the opening of RotR, otherwise I don't know if I'm brave enough to go.

Your pictures are amazing. I cannot wait to see all this myself!

 

[pkondz]

I like that they don't allow the selfie sticks...it gets hectic trying to dodge everyone stopping in the middle of the walkway to take pictures anyway. It would be so much worse with those.

I'm so glad they don't allow
selfie sticks.
But I'm glad they allow tripods.
Selfie sticks are everywhere now.
And if they were allowed you'd
be dodging them left, right and center.
Almost no one brings a tripod though.
Too ungainly.
So if you have to dodge one tripod,
once per trip...

Great pic!

Thanks!

That's awesome! Great photo(s)!

 

[pkondz]

Wow, great picture at the chess board!

Thanks!

I wish I understood any of your themed prose, but unfortunately I do not speak Star Wars.

Well... neither do I.

I had to Google everything.
"What's the dude's name on
Smuggler's Run... what's the name
of a Star Wars planet..."
Either that or I made up names.
Like Mission Digital Emulator
for the MDE app we all use.
Or Crowd-control Machines
for the CMs.

At least I can handle the engineer position in Smuggler's Run though.

It is easy... but I really
feel that I still don't know
what the ride is like.
I didn't see anything!

But ack, 4:15? You are a dedicated fan!

I wanted to ride SR.
I figured the only way of
doing that without an
overly long wait was to
rope drop it.

Update: my connection at Pearson went smoothly, in about 30 minutes. Security would not even allow me to get all my liquids together, just shipped me on straight through!

Good!
I've not had issues with security...
but customs? Yeah...