Despite what you are about to read, I did actually get some reading done this weekend. In fact I have many books about which I wish to bend your ear. However, my weekend was full of other activities as well. We were in Austin, Texas visiting John’s brother and family.
For the first time in about 15 years I went bowling. John hadn’t been in about 30 years. We weren’t good, but we had lots of fun. And the food (nachos, fries, club sandwich, washed down with Dr. Pepper) was really tasty.
We also went to an arcade where I spent all my time playing the Shrek pinball machine which was oddly satisfying.
Then there was the 3-D showing of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace which I had never seen before. The dialogue and much of the acting was rubbish, but it was still kind of enjoyable. (Except for the racist depiction of the happy/stupid Jamaican-esque Jar Jar Binks and the racist depiction of the evil villains with their Asian-inspired broken English.)
And finally, I got to help John’s nephew finish his giant, complicated Lego Death-Star. That was tons of fun. I was worried I was doing too much of it, but it turns out, he was more interested in playing with the finished product than actually putting it together. So hurray.
hogglestock 
Bowling is just way more fun than it has a right to be. I stopped going to Star Wars movies when Yoda stopped being a Muppet, but that Death Star looks like fun.
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I WANT that Lego Death Star. Still kicking myself for not buying the Lego Harry Potter Knight Bus last year at the Borders blowout. And the Death Star Cookie Jar which you can't get ANYWHERE nowadays, not even Ebay.
I agree with CB, Star Wars went down the drain when Yoda became CG and R2D2 was able to fly. Plus the acting in the second (fifth?) one was just awful. “Hold me in your arms like you did on Naboo. . . ” Yech!!
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Sounds like the perfect old school weekend!
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How old is John's nephew? That looks pretty involved for a kid although I see the recommended age as being 12.
Old fashioned arcades are fun! I end up playing Galaga. Actually, my kids go to a dentist whose waiting room is an actual arcade. Makes it fun to go to the dentist and all the games are rigged to be free. Can't beat that.
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ph death star lego is way cool Thomas ,agree the first three film classics shame about others ,all the best stu
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What a great break away, we all need non bookish time now and again, this looks, I do similar things when I go home and have to entertain my 13 and 10 year old siblings… I don't know who enjoys it more?
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I've gotta say this is not the weekend adventures I'd expect to see you talking about, but it looks fun just the same ;)
My family is full of Star Wars geeks, so I'll have to find out whether any of them have that Death Star. One of my sisters will almost certainly want one if she knows it exists. This same sister has a Centipede game rigged to play to for free. It *is* oddly satisfying to play for hours!
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I cannot share your weekend with my son…I would never hear the end of it! He loves to go to the Lego store and stare at the Death Star. So glad to hear that you had a nice, relaxing weekend.
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Couldn't have more fun than that! Perfect.
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CB:The bowling was kind of addictive as well.
Karen: A Death Star cookie jar. That would be fascinating to see.
Darlene: It reallly was.
Ti: He is 2nd grade. His dad had put together most of it up until I came in and finished it.
Stu: I must admit I have only now seen two of them.
Simon S: Odd thing is I still got reading down. Must have been not watching TV.
Teresa: Free video games, every kid's dream.
Susan: Think the Death Star was really expensive. His parents and both sets of grandparents all chipped in for his birthday.
Nan: It was a lot of fun. John and I need to find our local lanes.
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