Movie Review: The Force Awakens

After much hype and anticipation I saw the new release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in theaters the day of my birthday. My whole family as well as my cousin Jennifer came to join as we watched it Saturday morning only a day after it's premiere. The movie exceeded it's high expectations and had us all at the edge of our seats, eyes glued to the big screen from beginning to end. I can gladly say that the film was a home-run, capturing the spirit of the Star Wars saga. It made for the one of the best birthday presents ever to experience one of my all time favorite movies with my family.

The Production

This new story is a break away from the George Lucas Universe, since the rights were sold to Walt Disney Studios, however the film was still very faithful to his brilliant creation. The film was directed by JJ Abrams, who succeeded in creating a modern blockbuster with many old school trilogy references. To add to this familiar return to the Star Wars universe was the wonderful musical composition of John Williams. 

The film was at the height of top quality cinema, sheer excitement from beginning to end. It was dosed with visual wonders, great special effects yet also not overdoing it. This was perhaps in response to the complaint of the prequels that relied too heavily on their CGI and not enough costume and makeup. This film was something new yet also a homage to the old school Star Wars Trilogy. I myself saw many similarities with the story of A New Hope. 

This new release has succeeded in re-awakening Star Wars loyal fans, yet also awakening a whole new generation of younger fans. It's very exciting to see and experience Star Wars merchandise, advertisements, and hype at every corner. I was very satisfied by the film and hope to see it again. What's most exciting about the success of this release is that it is only the beginning of a new Walt Disney led Star Wars universe. There will no doubt be many many more films, TV shows, and other forms of entertainment. to come based off the Star Wars universe. There's just too much money to be made, and for once I'm quite alright with the hype, since it's always been one of my favorite sagas.  

The Setting

The film is set 30 years after Return of the Jedi, where a First Order has emerged to restore the power that once was the Galactic Empire. They are lead by a dark supreme leader named Snoke who seeks to destroy the Republic and Luke Skywalker. They are however challenged by a group of militants known as the  Resistance led by Leia Organa. The plot begins with a mission to relocate Luke Skywalker, who has gone missing. The Resistance's best pilot, Poe Dameron, sets off on a mission with his droid BB-8 however are captured by the dark lord Kylo Ren and his army of stormtroopers.

At which point one of the stormtroopers, later called Finn, turns against his Order and helps Poe escape from imprisonment. The two successfully escape the StarKiller base however are separated on the planet of Jakku. It is here that Finn meets Rey, a young scavenger who lives alone, yet has recently disocvered BB-8. The three are forced to flee together during an assault in which they board the stolen Millennium Falcon and leave the planet. They are soon discovered by Han Solo and Chewbacca who have been tracking their stolen ship, on board a freighter.

Han Solo helps the band of rebels find the answers they are looking for, as he too is in search of his old friend Luke, as well as his son, Kylo Ren, who has turned to the dark side. On the planet Takodana, they meet a wise bar owner named Maz Kanata, who gives Luke's lightsaber to Rey. However they are later attacked by the First Order, who are later confronted by the Resistance an a air battle of X-wings and Tie fighters. Rey is captured by Kylo Ren and taken back to their StarKiller base for questioning.    

She is however able to resist his mind control, and at which point discovers she also has the power of the force. She is able to break out of her imprisonment by using a jedi mind trick against the storm troopers. She later joins Han Solo, Finn, and Chewbacca who have arrived to take down the shields so the base can be destroyed. Han Solo confronts his conflicted son Kylo Ren, however is unable to bring him back. The others leave the Starkiller base before it is destroyed by the Resistance. Rey, Finn, and Chewbacca return to the Resistance base to break the terrible news to Leia. However they are able to locate the map to Luke Skywalkers thanks to BB-8 and R2-D2. Rey sets off to find him on an island where she presents his lightsaber to him. As the film comes to an end, it can only be assumed that she will be trained to become a jedi herself.

Similarities with A New Hope

I myself saw many format similarities with A New Hope. This of course this was not a problem whatsoever, yet I still felt like mentioning them here;

• Beginning with the desert setting of Jakku, where a droid is lost and on an ambitious mission to find somebody (This was very similiar to C-3P0 and R2's mission)
• Then there's the Resistance, a band of militants formed to confront the First Order at a hidden base (Very similiar to the Rebel Alliance)
• Then there's the Starkiller base, which has the power to destroy planets entirely (no doubt a connection to the DeathStar
• Finally there's the plot to infiltrate and destroy the StarKiller base, before it destroys them (This is almost an exact replica of the final action sequence in A New Hope) 

The Old Characters

Han Solo: Reprised by a much older Harrison Ford, the heroic scoundrel once again steals the show with his usual cool demeanor. In this film he plays more of a father role to his lost son turned to the dark side, Kyle Ren; as well as his new younger acquaintances,  Rey and Finn. He has somewhat grown distant from his lover, Leia and returned to what he always did best, smuggling. However the quest of finding Luke and his son, have reignited his passion for Leia. All of which is however brought to abrupt end by his son. This was no doubt the most shocking part of the film.  

Leia Organa: Her role is reprised by an almost unrecognizable Carrie Fisher. She has continued her allegiance to the Republic and militant leadership as the new general of the Resistance. However she is devastated by the disappearance of her brother Luke, and most especially her son that has turned to the dark side. Her relationship with Han Solo is somewhat cold and distant in this film.  

Chewbaca: He's the same ole Chewie, reprised by Peter Mayhew. A sharp shooter, great pilot, mechanic, witty, comical, and extremely loyal to his partner Han Solo.

R2-D2: Has a very minimal role due to being depressed at the disappearance of Luke Skywalker; Towards the end of the film however he plays a crucial role in completing BB-8's map to Luke's location.

C-3P0: The humanoid droid is reprised by Anthony Daniels with the same old British wit and cynicism. He is

Luke Skywalker: His role is reprised by Mark Hamill, yet also has a very limited part. Although his character is one of the focal points of the plot he is not seen until the end of the film. His brief scene seems to be an accurate depiction of an aged jedi master. I look forward to seeing more of him in the sequel.

Admiral Ackbar and Nein Numb also are seen at the gathering of the resistance. 

The New Characters

Rey: She was abandoned as a child on the planet of Jakku, however has become extremely independent and sufficient as a scavenger. As this adventure is thrust before her, she proves to be a great mechanic, pilot, and a skilled warrior. She also begins to discover her greater power of the force throughout the film. She is played by the actress, Daisey Ridley, who I saw many familiarities with Keira Knightley.

Finn: He is a conflicted stormtrooper, who turns against the First Order early on in the film. He teams with the imprisoned Poe Dameron to escape the base, and thus his adventure begins. While his first priority is to escape the First Order he later finds himself drawn to Rey and the Resistance and proves to be a valuable hero. He is played by the actor, John Boyega.  

Kylo Ren: He is the new bad warrior of the film, and has quickly become one of the coolest (besides Poe Dameron). He is a conflicted knight, the son of Han and Leia. He has turned against his master Luke and the Jedi Order and has joined the First Order. His character is a very unpredictable and complex one. While he is very skilled at combat, he seems to be in a very weak and conflicted state of mind. He is played brilliantly by the upcoming actor Adam Driver.

Poe Dameron: Another one of my favorite characters in this film he is simply described as the best pilot in the galaxy. And he's one of the good guys as he flies an X-Wing for the Resistance. He plays a key role in helping Finn escape from the First Order, as well as destroying the Starkiller base. He is also played brilliantly by the star actor Oscar Isaac.

BB-8: This new soccerball style droid is another one of the key players in the film. He is introduced as Poe Dameron's pilot-droid yet also holds the map to Luke Skywalker's location. After he is separated from Poe, he finds himself on a quest to return to the Resistance.

Supreme Leader Snoke: He is the new dark lord villain of the franchise, yet his character is still very mysterious. What we see in the film is mostly projections of a very large and wicked creature. He is the leader of the First Order, yet also has influence over Kylo Ren's dark arts. We're still not sure whether he is a Sith lord or what his motives may be. He is voiced by Lord of the Rings legend Andy Serkis.

Maz Kanata: She is the wise creature from the planet Takodana who owns a mischievous cantina. While she does not possess the power of the force, she is very knowledgeable in it's ways and serves as a valuable council to Rey and Finn. She is voiced by the up-and-coming actress Lupita Nyong'o.

General Hux: He is a commander of the First Order, disciplined and ruthless, He answers only to the Supreme Leader Snoke, and often quarrels with Kylo Ren.     

Historical Tribute: The Kennedys

I've once again been inspired by the history of the Kennedy family, thru TV shows and documentaries. This will be my 3rd post covering the Kennedy family and I have also written on many other topics in relation. My continuous fascination with the Kennedys is perhaps because I find their family to be pioneers of the most interesting time periods in American history. (Also because they were Catholic) The Kennedys were the political driving force of a changing era that witnessed an abrupt end to the age of innocence.

The intent of this post is to capture a better perspective of one of America's most royal families, the Kennedy's. The format of this post will be biographical and genealogical. It will highlight their early rise in America, as well as the key historical events, accomplishments, and the Kennedys impact on society. I would also like to consider this post a specific tribute to two of America's most progressive leaders; John F Kennedy and Bobby F Kennedy.

The Grandfather: P.J Kennedy (1858-1929)

Upbringing: He was raised by his Irish immigrant parents in the state of Massachusetts.

Significance: He worked as a teenager on the Boston docks, and would later use these earnings to start his own saloon business. This expanded into multiple bars in the Boston area as well as an importing business. He was also very popular among working class Irish and was able to pursue a career in politics. He served as a state senator and representative.

Wife and Children: He married Marry  August from  1887 until her death in 1923. They had four children together; Joseph, Francis, Mary, and Margaret. Their eldest son Joseph would go on to be a very successful businessman, politician, and the patriarch of the famous Kennedy family.

Political Office: Massachusetts House of Representatives (1884-1889)  Massachusetts State Senate (1889-1895)


The Patriarch: Joseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969)

Upbringing: He was raised into a prominent family in East Boston. They were proud Irish Catholics among the wealthy class of Protestant Brahmin families. Joseph pursued an education at Harvard University.

Significance: Throughout the 1920s he made a fortune in investments ranging from the stock market, real estate, Hollywood, liquor importing, and many other types of business. He was a proud Irish man and supporter of the Democratic Party. He made many business alliances with those who shared his values.

He was a major supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1932 presidential campaign, which would later grant him a position as the first chairman of the SEC (US Securities and Exchange Comission) in 1934. During his close ties with FDR he developed a public dispute with the outspoken Catholic Priest from Michigan, Charles Coughlin. Coughlin had gained popularity through his radio broadcasts and was known as an extreme anti-communist, anti-Semite, and a fascist sympathizer.

In 1938 FDR appointed Joe Kennedy as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom during it's most testing time at the on-start of WWII. Kennedy dealt closely with Prime Ministers Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill, however often took the approach of defeatist to the Nazi Regime. He was simply not trained in diplomacy and was quickly forced to resign in 1940.

By the end of WWII, Joe realized he could no longer acheive his dream of becoming president due to his failures as ambassador, broken ties with FDR, and accusations of antisemitism. Nonetheless he was determined to see that his children would someday rise to the executive office. He continued his investments and business alliance after the war and made good friends with Charles Lindenberg, Senator Joseph McCarty, and many other notable leaders.

Wife and Children: He married Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald in 1914, who was the daughter of John F Fitzgerald, Mayor of Boston, and one of the most prominent political families in the country. The two would go on to establish their own family royalty with their 9 children. Joe Jr, John, Rose Marie, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert, Jean, and Ted.

Political Office: US Ambassador to Great Britain (1938-1940) 1st Chairman of the SEC (1934-1936) 1st Chairman of the Maritime Comission (1936-1938)

The Eldest Son: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr (1915-1944)

Upbringing: He was brought up into one of the most prominent families in America, and was his father's chosen son to become president. Just as his father did, Joe Jr. pursued an education at Harvard University, as well as studied economics in London, and later back to Harvard to study Law.

Significance: He was a clear path to become president and bravely served the country during WWII. He shared his father's ambivalence towards Adolf Hitler, however still was eager to serve his country. He joined the Navy in 1940 as a patrol bomber pilot and served over 25 missions throughout the war. He took part in Operation Aphrodite, which was a guided missile attack on German fortifications. However during an attack one of the missiles pre-maturely exploded inside his plane, instantly killing him and his partner. Joe tragically died at the young age of 29.

The President: John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

Upbringing: He was the 2nd eldest child of Joe and Rose Kennedy's prominent family. He spent much of his childhood and teenage years in his older brother's shadow. He developed early medical issues and a bad lower back however that did not slow his academic ambitions. In 1936 he enrolled at Harvard University and studied political philosophy.

Significance: In 1941 he was determined to strengthen his back and join the US Navy during WWII. He became an instructor of PT boat operations and would go on to lead several missions outside of the war zone. He did however serve missions in the Pacific Theater leading boats and missions throughout the Solomon Islands. One of his most heroic acts came when one of these boats was rammed down by a Japanese destroyer and he and his crew had to swim back to shore. For three miles he carried one of his crew members.

After the war was finished John eagerly began his career in politics as a Democrat. In 1947 at the young age of 30, he was easily elected to the US Congress representing Massachusetts' 11th district. He served as a congressman for six years until he decided to run for the Senate in 1953. That year he also met and married Jacqueline Bouvier. He was a very popular senator not only because of his name yet also his youthful charisma and charm. He helped push thru the Civil Rights Act of 1957, which granted more privileges to African Americans as well as usher in a new age of integration. In 1958 Kennedy easily won his re-election and decided to run for the presidency in 1960.

He ran on the democratic ticket with his Lyndon B Johnson as his vice president. LBJ had been in congress for the past 20 years, since 1937. Kennedy ran against the Republican candidate, Richard Nixon, who was the Vice President of Eisenhower as well as a former congressmen and senator himself. The election was most famous for becoming the first ever televised debate. This was the infamous moment where the general public witnessed Kennedy's cool demeanor in contrast to Nixon's perspiration and tension. It was one of the closet elections in history and JFK won by the very slim margin of 49.7 to 49.5% in the popular vote. He was sworn in as the 35th president on January 20th of 1961.

His presidency came at a very tumultuous time in US history from foreign tension with Russia to domestic issues with civil rights. He was very ambitious and brought his brother Robert F. Kennedy on board as attorney general. The two brothers brought forth a new progressive style to governing the White House and from the get-go they made many enemies; Russia, the FBI, Cuba, LBJ, organized crime, CIA etc.

Their greatest enemy was the foreign threat of communist Russia under the leadership of Nikita Khrushchev. This was during the height of the Cold War, where the two superpowers were both keen on spreading their political ideology. Khruschev saw Kennedy as young and weak and strengthened his military upon his election. However the major front of Kennedy's presidency was the small island of Cuba, led by the communist leader Fidel Castro. In 1961 the CIA pushed forth a plan to overthrow Castro through a group of rebellious Cuban fighters which lead to the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The plot was a total failure however, and only strengthened the Cuban resolve.

In 1962 Cuba was once again was at the center of American conflict with Russia at the Cuban Missile Crisis. This was caused by a growing fear of Soviet missile sites being built on the island of Cuba. It was a Soviet reaction to the Bay of Pigs Invasion, to offer protection to Cuba. However Kennedy needed to handle the crisis with cool demeanor yet also strength to not give in to Khruschev's military aggression. The two exchanged several letters and came to a diplomatic agreement to back off from one another's territories and avoid war. This was perhaps one of President Kennedy's finest moments in which the world was at it's closest to nuclear war.  

JFK was openly in support of Civil Rights and met various times with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He passed numerous executive orders to further grant African Americans less discrimination and advanced integration. On several occasions he faced heavy opposition on this matter in the south. In 1962 the University of Mississippi withstood it's first integration which lead to a riot and federal troops having to arrive. In 1963 Gov. Wallace of Alabama took a similar stance against the integration by blocking the doorway from two black students enrolling in the University of Alabama. Once again federal troops were sent in to maintain order and see the integration go through. Kennedy used this occasions to further push thru civil rights, which would eventually lead to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Kennedy also worked to strengthen and create other departments within the government such as the Peace Corps, NASA, and his "New Frontier" domestic policy which granted funding for education, poverty, and medical care. He also worked to maintain peace throughout other foreign countries such as Israel, Iraq, Germany, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. He was also known for his image in popular culture with ties to Hollywood and several extramarital affairs most notably with Marilyn Monroe.

In 1963 he began his re-election campaign, with the support of his wife Jackie. However on a trip to Dallas, he was tragically assassinated while on a motorcade through the streets. Harvey Lee Oswald was accused of taking the shot from a vantage point, and was arrested and to be tried for the assassination of the president. However before he could stand trail he was also murdered, which of course has lead to numerous conspiracy theories. Nonetheless one of the great presidents was killed far too early. He was immediately succeeded by LBJ.

Wife and Children: He married Jacqueline Kennedy, the daughter of a prominent Wall Street stockbroker, and met thru elite social circles. They married in 1953 and their first child, Arabella was lost in a miscarriage. their 2nd child was Caroline, their 3rd child was John Jr who died in a plane crash in 1999, and their 4th child Patrick was also lost to a miscarriage.

Political Office: US House of Representatives (1947-1953) US Senator (1953-1960) President of the United States (1961-1963)


The Attorney General: Bobby F. Kennedy (1925-1968)

Upbringing: He was the 7th child of Joe and Rose Kennedy, and as the 3rd son he was somewhat of the runt of the family in the shadow of his two older brothers, Joe Jr and John. He went to three boarding schools and developed an interest in American History. He was considered a very gentle person, however developed a tough character to get ahead in politics.

Significance: In 1944 he was 18 and very eager to serve his country as his brothers had. He joined the Navy and in 1946 he served for several months on-board a destroyer in the Caribbean, which was fittingly named the USS Joesph P Kennedy Jr, after his elder brother who was killed in action. After his discharge he returned to his pursue an education at Harvard in political science. He was also a notable football player and journalist. He then studied law at the University of Virginia.

By 1951 he had married Ethel, developed a strong relationship with his brother John, and was eager to begin his career in law. His father began to see him in a new light as an important player in the family. In 1961 he joined his brother's successful presidential campaign and was appointed attorney general. His devotion to his brother and the family was one of the reason's JFK and his father felt he would make a great cabinet member. Others saw Bobby as under qualified for the role, and considered his position clear nepotism. With all this and Bobby's progressive ambition for change throughout the government, he quickly made many enemies.

As Attorney General he lead an aggressive campaign against organized crime as well as union organizations such as the Teamsters and their key leader Jimmy Hoffa. Bobby's ambitious and progressive style lead to many disagreements with FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, who considered Bobby too young and inexperienced to be his boss. Bobby was also very committed to the civil rights movement, while J. Edgar Hoover thought it was a communist revolution and especially despised Martin Luther King Jr. Bobby played a crucial role in helping his brother resolve the integration issues in the south as well as problems with Cuba and Russia.

Following the assassination of his brother, Bobby left the Cabinet to run for Senate in New York. He served for four years during which time he continued to support the advancement of civil rights as well as spoke against sending ground troops to Vietnam. During his brief tenure he began to pull himself away from president LBJ's agenda, and it was quite clear that he himself intended to be president. In 1968 LBJ withdrew from running for a 2nd term, and Bobby announced his intent to run for president.

His campaign got off to a slow start as he faced vice president Hubert Humphrey. Yet following the assassination of Martin Luther King in the midst of racial tension, Bobby continued his rhetoric on economy and racial equality. By May the Democratic primaries began to shift in his favor as he won in Indiana and Nebraska. However before he could continue to carry off that momentum he was assassinated at a hotel in California. The murdered was a 24 year old Palestine, who felt betrayed by Kennedy's support of Israel in the Six-Day War. However just as with JFK's assassination there are many conspiracy theories to this one as well, especially when you consider all the enemies he had. Nonetheless it was yet another tragic early and tragic death of an American hero.

 Wife and Children: He married Ethel Skakel in 1950 and the two had 11 children together; Kathleen, Joseph, Robert, David, Courtney, Michael, Kerry, Christopher, Max, Douglas, and Rory.

Political Office: US Attorney General (1961-1964) US Senator- New York (1965-1968)


The Senator: Edward Kennedy (1932-2009)

Upbringing: He was the youngest of nine children, raised into Joe and Rose Kennedy's prominent family. He was very gifted at football in high school and even went on to play his freshmen year at Harvard University. However he was expelled his semester year for cheating on an exam. At which point he enlisted in the US Army from 1951 to 1953. He then re-entered Harvard in 1953 and later the University of Virginia to study law. He was always considered more of an athlete than a student and was able to graduate through the help of his family name.

Significance: Ted worked for his brother's presidential campaign in 1960. Following the election of JFK, Ted would later go on to fill his seat in 1962 as the senator of Massachusetts. A seat that he would hold for 47 years. He was very popular during his years and defined as one of the most liberal senators in history. However his career was also clouded with controversy including a divorce from his wife and a car accident in Chappaquiddick of which he fled the scene. This would later go on to ruin his presidential plans for 1972, 1976. When he decided to run in 1980 he was defeated by Jimmy Carter who was then defeated by Ronald Reagen. However Ted went on to serve the senate until his death in 2009. I remember I was saddended by the news of this great American leader, and wrote a tribute in his honor. (See Tribute to Teddy Kennedy )

Wife and Children: He married Joan Bennet in 1958 and they had three children together, Kara, Ted, and Patrick Jr (who served as congressmen of Rhode Island for almsot 20 years). In 1982 he divorced his wife and remarried Victoria Reggie in 1992.

Political Office: US Senator of Massachusetts (1962-2009)

The Kennedy Family Legacy: 

The first thing that comes to mind to me when I think of the Kennedy name is one word; tragedy. Of Joe's nine children, four of them died far too soon (Joe Jr died in WW2 at the age of 29, John was assassinated at the age of 46,  Kathleen died at the age of 28 in a plane accident, and Robert was assassinated at the age of 42). The eldest daughter Rosemary spent most of her life mentally incapacitated. And in 1999 JFK's eldest son John Jr was also killed in a plane crash, which has epitomized what has become known as a family curse.

Nonetheless despite all this tragedy the family as a collective unit went on to do so much for this country. Much of this accredited to Joe Kennedy's ambitious vision for his children, based on Catholic and Democratic principles. Two of his daughters, not quite as popular as the four sons, who also made major contributions were Eunice and Jean. Eunice founded the Special Olympics in 1968 and Jean served as ambassador to Ireland from 1993 to 1998. Many of the offspring of these 9 children went on to serve their country thru congress and other forms of leadership.

Of course the two most significant of the Kennedy children were John F. Kennedy and his brother Bobby. It was these two young ambitious leaders who paved the way for civil liberties in the country.  It was these two leaders who challenged crime, communism, prejudice, and poverty more than any other presidency that came before it. The abrupt deaths of JFK and RFK marked a major turning point in this country. It was an end of innocence, to think that an ideological change could be challenged so viciously. And yet their deaths served only as a rallying cry for American progressiveness that continues to push new barriers today.

Famous Landmarks

• The JFK Space Center launched by NASA in 1962
• JFK International Airport located in NYC was renamed in his honor in 1963
• RFK Memorial Stadium was opened in 1961 and renamed to honor RFK in 1969
• The Justice department building was renamed to the RFK Justice department building in 2001

Cultural Depitctions

• 1991 film JFK portrays a conspiracy theory of JFK's assassination in Dallas, TX
• 1994 film Forrest Gump portrays a fictional character's dealing with the Kennedys
• 1992 film Hoffa portrays RFK's fight against the infamous Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa
• 2006 film Bobby portrays the day RFK was assassinated at a hotel in Los Angeles
• 2010 film J. Edgar portrays the FBI director's rise to power, and his dealing with the Kennedys
• 2011 TV series by the History Channel The Kennedys gives a very detailed look into the family thru 8 episodes (this was part of the inspiration for this post)

California Vacation

This past weekend I flew out to Los Angeles, CA to partake in EJ and Laura's wedding. This was my 6th time in California, however was a very memorable 4 day vacation. I knew I couldn't miss the trip when EJ asked me to be his groomsman a year ago. He was one of my best friends in college, along with Palms and K-man. And although we've grown distant over the years, it doesn't take away from the incredible memories we shared at good ole IU. Therefore it was a great honor and pleasure to be a part of his special day with Laura.

The trip had been over a year in the works, actually 2 years since EJ and Laura got engaged. My friend Lauren took the initiative to rent us a house that we could all stay in Oxnard. There were going to be 8 of us staying together (Lauren, Nate, Audrey, Liz, Lindsay Scott, Karlan, Megan, and myself) I also planned on visiting my cousin Jennifer at some point. That Weds evening, Philip gave me a ride to the airport, and I caught a direct flight from Indy to LAX. I later met Karlan and Megan there, who gave me a ride to the cabin. By the time we got to our rental house in Oxnard it was 12am (3am eastern time) and nearly everyone was in bed. We had a couple beers then went to sleep.

I woke up around 5:30am on the couch and couldn't fall back asleep, after a couple hours of tossing and turning I decided it was time to get the blood pumping. As soon as everyone else got up, I decided to go for a good run. This gave me a chance to explore the new territory of Oxnard. I ran along the streets and roads all the way to the Oxnard Airport, which was a good 9 mile run. Afterwards we all went out for a nice breakfast. Then we spent the day at the beach, drinking beers and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean which was very refreshing. 

That evening Karlan, Megan, and myself drove out to meet EJ and the rest of the bridal party for the rehearsal dinner in Camarillo (about 30 mins from Oxnard). We had a walk-thru at church, then all met for a nice dinner at a fancy barbecue restaurant. We sat outdoors, drank wine, and all got to know one another. Griff, Chewie (Brad Bauman), and Amanda Baker I already knew. However I met some new friends such as Lauren Smith and Anna Wright. Anna was my walk-up partner. I think it was a pretty fun bridal party. By the end of the night I had a pretty good buzz going and was having a real good time. We partied some more when we got back to our house in Oxnard.

That night I slept much better and was ready for a busy wedding day. We met early that morning to have breakfast with EJ, get suited up together, and take pictures. We had a few beers together in EJ's hotel room as we reminisced about the days of old. My tux was a lot bigger than I had measured two months ago, and the pants were especially loose on me. By about 11:45 we were on our way to the church. We took some more pictures before the ceremony. It was actually a fairly small wedding, with no more than 70 people in attendance, however a full Catholic marriage ceremony. 

After the wedding ceremony we took more pictures than loaded up in the limo where we drank champagne. I would have liked some beer yet Laura wanted nothing to do with it. So we drank a lot of champagne while jamming to music. On our way into the reception, my partner and I worked out a good dance entrance. We did the classic Grease dance, which was very well in sync I thought. Afterwards the party really got going. EJ and Laura had their first dance, K-man gave a great best man's speech, and then came the food. 

EJ and Laura also had a Korean ceremony during the reception which I thought was a very cool cultural exchange. They dressed in full garbs as they celebrated EJ's heritage thru his family, and Laura was very focused on this which I thought was cool on her part. Afterwards we had some huge cigars outside and then danced the night away. I hit it off quite well with Lauren Smith who became my one and only dance partner. We had us a quite a thing going that night. I wasn't extremely wasted yet at a good level of happy drunk. The reception ended early at 10:30 and we then took the after party to the hotel. It was a very fun night!

The next morning I was luckily able to ask Griff to give me a ride back to Oxnard. I bought him breakfest as a gesture, however when I got back I realized I had left my new billfold in my suit pocket. So I then had to ask K-man and Megan to give me a ride back to the hotel. This worked out well since they had to drop off their suits anyway. At this point I said my goodbyes to everyone in Oxnard and in Camarillo. I bought K-man and Megan breakfast as a gesture for driving me around the last couple days, then they dropped me off at the car rental place by 10am. I was excited to drive and visit Jennifer in Los Angeles.

I had done my research a few days before and decided I wanted to take highway 1 along the coastline from Oxnard to Los Angeles, instead of the inland highway 101. This was only an extra 30 minutes of driving and very worth it. It was a winding road with the ocean on one side and the mountains on the other. I drove through Malibu at one point, and could hardly take my eyes off the waves, bikers, and so much else that was going on around me. I made it to Jennifer's apartment after about an hour and a half of driving, thankfully traffic was not too bad.

This was the first time I had visited Jennifer in California and it was perhaps the best part of my trip. I finally got to see her apartment and her California free-lance lifestyle. She had her own apartment which she used as her work studio as well. After catching up for a bit, we went out to lunch at a fancy Mexican restaurant. Then during the day we went on an adventurous hike up Hollywood mountain, which took us about 2 hours and a lot of navigating. The hike was well worth it however as the view of the sign and city was incredible. The way down was so much easier and I remember being very inspired by the unique houses up in Hollywood Hills. 

That night we went out to get tasty burgers and some beers nearby. The burgers were very unique tasting and the truffle cheese fries were tasty at first yet became to be a little too salty after a while. I bought dinner and we then went out for dessert which Jennifer bought. We also did a little shopping where I bought my mom some soaps and lotions. By around 8:30pm I said goodbye to Jennifer and then drove to LAX. My flight back was an overnight one, and a bit more busy since I had to drop off my car rental and connect in Chicago. And besides barely making it to my connecting flight in Chicago things went rather smoothly. I was happy when Philip picked me up that morning and I was finally back home! It was a very memorable trip.

Fall Festivals: Shipshewana, IN

Years ago my mom and I started a tradition of visiting small town festivals during the fall time. This tradition was actually inspired by our family fall drives in which we use to pack up in the van in search for pumpkins, apples, apple cider, and very large hills to drive down. Now-a-days instead of the country drive, we try to visit a small town festival when one of us is in town (usually on the outskirts of Indy or Fort Wayne). This time of the year is without question the best time to take on some countryside culture.

My mom and I decided to visit the town of Shipshewana this year, since it was a place neither of us had been to. It was also a good chance for me to give my newly acquainted Night Wolf some rural experience. Unfortunately Andres or Dad weren't able to join us however we recruited Sue who happens to be one of our frequent fall festival aficionados. We left early Sat morning inside the Night Wolf on the 1 hour northern trip. It was a very scenic drive winding thru country roads.

When we first arrived it was extremely cold and windy, yet there were still a lot of people out and about. We began at a large flea market where I found a great deal on some sports banners (Cubs and Lions). My mom and Sue also bought some stuff. Afterwards we went indoors into the Blue Gate for a late breakfast/early lunch. It was a cliche country styled restaurant. Afterwards we bought some stuff inside the store and dropped in on some other nearby souvenir shops.

We walked around the town square for a bit which was an amazing setting of local stores and floral landscaping. The site was booming with culture!  I got a pumpkin coffee and an elephant ear. We also visited some tents full of merchants, where my mom and Sue bought some more stuff. We later caught a Christian bluegrass band while we enjoyed our snacks. We left the town by late afternoon right before the rain and traffic began to set in. It was a perfect Saturday and we all agreed to re-visit the amazing town of Shipshewana someday. 

Tribute: The Night Rider

This past Friday my Night Rider, (2005 Chevy Cobalt) punched in it's last ticket. She had served me gloriously for the past 7 years and 150,000 miles, most of which were driven here in Indianapolis. However over the past few months, she had begun to show significant signs of wear and tear. I had begun to anticipate her replacement,  yet was hoping it would not be until a few more months. However life never goes according to plan.

It was a Friday afternoon in Zionsville, and I had just finished a run when she completely shut down on me. After some time and many attempts I was unable to jump-start her. I had no other choice but to have her towed to Meinke. The trustworthy mechanic there told me the alternator was bad and the engine was quite questionable as well. It would have cost me over $500 to get it replaced. And so the decision was quite an easy one. It was time to trade her in, and buy a new car.

It all happened so quickly and unexpectedly yet I had no choice but to leave the car at Meinke and make plans to quickly purchase a new one. It was such a sad and sudden departure for such a reliable stead that she was. A car such as the Night Rider deserved some form of proper farewell, yet instead I had to leave her at the Meinke, and trade her in for all I could get on a newer model. Yet woe is life, and with one ending leaves a new beginning. However the Night Rider will never be forgotten, and here in this post I want to commemorate her for all her glorious years of servitude.



The Night Rider's History

It was back in the fall of 2009 when I first bought the Night Rider from a dealership. I remember it was a Friday, which is quite ironic that she would die on a Friday. At the time I was working three jobs in Fort Wayne, and loaning the Ford Taurus from my family to get around. However that car was in it's final days and once it broke down it was time for me to step up and buy my first official car. (Before that I had owned two other cars, a Ford Escort and a Toyota pickup truck, yet both were unofficial.)

I did my research that morning on the internet and had found the perfect car I was looking for; at the time I was looking for something sporty and batman-like. It was a 2005 black Chevy Cobalt, at 50,000 miles and a fair price. My dad would later join me at the dealership and the paperwork was signed. I remember driving it to work that evening feeling very proud to be a new car owner. The name Night Rider came quite naturally to me, as she blended with the night. Here's the post I made the day I bought, My Brand New Car!

The following day I was eager to show her off to my friends at a tailgate in IU, which was of course a terrible idea. I picked up Philip, Shawnna, and Stef early that morning in Indianapolis to make the drive to Bloomington. The fields were dirty and muddy yet I thought nothing of it. The worse came later that day when Stefanie passed out in the car and threw up on the floor. Later in the evening, the battery died on me, because I left the keys in the ignition playing loud music. Luckily some girl helped me find the battery which was located in the trunk and Rager helped me give it a jump start. The new car feeling was tarnished in only it's second day, yet I by no means lost my sanctification with her.

Days in Fishers, IN

I enjoyed her Mp3 capabilities and would often make mixed CDs with over 100 tracks on them to utilize the full stereo surround sound. I remember those first few months driving was my favorite part of the day, even when I had moved to Fishers, Indiana to begin work at the BACA. In those days I was going thru a cultural burst and was into a wide array of music from hip hop, to indie rock, to even Phantom of the Opera and Edith Piaf... and it was all provided thru the Night Rider's sound system.

Driving around Fishers in 2010 was perhaps it's golden luxurious years. Even tho it was only a compact car, it was everything I needed to get to and from work, run errands, visit friends, and drive to Fort Wayne on the weekends. That summer, I took her camping with friends,. And when a family road trip came up to Sara Shaw's wedding in Virginia, I gladly volunteered to drive the Night Rider. It was Dad, Philip, Shawnna, and myself that squeezed in for the 12 hour round trip. It was no doubt quite the experience and perhaps the first of many Night Rider adventures.

In the fall of 2010 she took on more responsibilities as my career began to shift gears. I was no longer at the stationary post of the Baca and had taken on multiple jobs that required more travel. From the fall to the winter I traveled around Indy working as a tutor and traveled outside the city to Big Ten college football stadiums. This was a tough financial time for me, however the Night Rider was always dependable during this time. She eventually became my utmost source of income when I became a courier with RCL.

Courier Days

It was on Valentines Day of 2011, when I began work with RCL, as a contract courier. At first it was meant to be a transitional job, something where I could easily make money to pay off my bills and realign my career paths. And the first few months were quite easy and I soon found myself enjoying the easy money that came out of courier work. I would listen to music, drive on  delivery routes, and navigate all around the city and beyond making money while enjoying the time in my Night Rider. That summer was a very inspiring one, as I felt quite satisfied with my new lifestyle as a courier.

However the more I began to work, the more money I began to make, and the more responsibilities I began to take on; both at work and in life. I soon found myself with new bills (phone, Netflix, car maintenance) yet also more work. Things got less enjoyable that fall as my workload began to intensify and the weather began to worsen. It was that winter that the Night Rider had its first major financial bomb wen I had to repair it's brakes. The Christmas Delivery rush was a very trying time for me, however I got thru it thanks to my Night Rider. When I did my taxes in Feb of 2012, I realized she had put nearly 40,000 miles that first year.

There were many times throughout that first year as a courier, that I had sought out new career avenues. Afterall I was a college grad and sometimes felt a bit embarrassed to be working as a mere courier. Yet I was still making very decent money, and after a year I had caught up with my debt, paid off the Night Rider, and had begun to amass a large savings account. There were many times that winter I considered quitting yet things got much easier after the winter was over. By the summertime I was enjoying the work again and even took on a new job at Victory Field. I remember it was a very hot and dry summer that year and although I went thru some medical issues (mostly dehydration) the Night Rider was always reliable.

By the fall of 2012 I had once again began to grow significantly bored with the courier job. Even tho I was making good money, I began to grow tired with the management yet also the lack of challenge. That winter was another difficult one, and I remember the weather was the worse it had been in years. I would often talk with friends on my phone while I worked to make the days more interesting. However my mood took a terrible dip that winter, especially after the Night Rider went thru some major repairs. I had to shell out nearly $1000 to once again fix the brakes as well as the transmission.

After the Christmas Rush and inspiration from Les Miserables I was able to pull out of this frustrating time. However the winter lasted clear into March of 2013. There was one instance where I actually got stuck in a snowy driveway in Lebanon. I was so furious at the company for not sending help, that I nearly quit on the spot that day. I knew at that point that I had to seriously find a better job and get out of that field as soon as possible. And finally the opportunity came in the spring of 2013 where I was offered a new full time position at Dow Agro Sciences. And so after 2 years and 80,000 miles of hard mobile work my Night Rider was no longer to be used as a business vehicle yet rather a personal vehicle.

Dow Agro Days

By the spring of 2013, the Night Rider took more of a back seat in my life, as should be for a car. It was only used to commute to work, run errands, and visit friends and family. In the fall of 2013 I used her to explore the northwest region of Indianapolis/Zionsville to find a house I could buy. When I finally bought my new place in the spring of 2014, I was only 10 minutes from my work, which made the commute all the easier.

In the fall of 2014 she went on yet another adventure, as I drove her on a 20 hour round trip to visit Marc and Laura in Kansas City. She caused me no problems whatsoever, minus a bad tail-light which was my fault and not hers. It was a very enjoyable trip and her last major road-trip. Not once of the many times I drove her outside the city (Fort Wayne, Michigan, Bloomington, Chicago) did she break down on me, and this was a very fortunate thing. In the past two years she only cost me a little extra on brakes and tires.

Her final and most recent months were quite uneventful. By the winter of 2014 I noticed the paint had begun to significantly wear off and the idle problems had worsened. There were times she would completely shut down at stop signs or lights, however this problem was always off and on. Luckily she made it thru the winter, which wasn't nearly as brutal as the previous two years.

However thru the spring and summer, there were certainly warning signs, mostly with the idle. By that point I had once again began to consider the possibility that these were her final days (as I had so often done in my courier days). On the weekend of Aug 28th she made her last long distance trip to Fort Wayne. The next few weeks in September the stalls began to increase. And on Friday the 25th of September she punched her last ticket in Zionsville. And so ends the glorious and very eventful lifespan of my Night Rider. She will never be forgotten!


The Night Wolf

I have been anticipating the demise of my Night Rider for quite some time, even back during my courier days. About a year ago I was very keen on purchasing a Jeep as her replacement. Yet the cost and efficiency of a Jeep didn't suit me, so I would later change that desire back to a sedan. I wanted a more mature vehicle, something luxurious and powerful. I was prepared to recommence on car payments, and ready to spend much more than on previous purchase. It was several factors that brought me back to Chevrolet and specifically the Malibu/Impala models.

1. First was brand loyalty, having owned a Cobalt for the past 7 years.
2. Second was that my brother Gabriel had owned an Impala and always spoke highly of it's performance and power
3. Third was that my favorite team, Manchester United was sponsored by Chevrolet
4. Fourth was an advertising campaign on the awarded luxurious cars provided by Chevrolet

The night of the breakdown I did my homework, with a keen interest towards Impalas or Malibus. (I wanted to stay with Chevrolet that had done me well the past 7 years). I wanted something new and slightly used, a luxurious sedan yet with a powerful engine. The next morning, my mom and I, drove to the Bill Estes Chevrolet, nearby on 96th and Chevrolet. Our salesman was a very friendly and young face and he showed us some of the inventory, however there was a clear front runner in my mind. It was a 2014 black Chevy Impala with only 27 thousand miles on it. After a little bit of negotiating and a lot of paperwork, the car was mine. It was exactly the one I wanted.

The car is unlike anything I've owned before. It's very modern, sleek, and extremely spacious. It has a sunroof and bluetooth capabilities where I can call and answer my phone from the speakers. It has a very fast acceleration with her 6 cylinder engine. She can pack a punch when needed, however she's also very classy. She's smooth as silk, graceful like a gazelle, and vicious like a wolf. She's my silk rider and my night wolf. I hope she'll bring me many years and great experiences to come.