‘Star Wars: Outbound Flight’ – Chapter 17 (Part 2)

Monday.  First day to a work week and I have to say I was hoping the last day I would have to wake up early.  I got up at four-thirty this morning to take Heather to work and I will admit that I was just going through the motions.  I don’t even remember what I did or even in what order I did them.  I just know that I took her to work and came home and crashed for an hour before I got the kids up for school.  We did our usual routine and the kids headed for the bus stop, Tara  for her babysitter’s, and me to school.  I was hoping today would be the last day I would have to take Heather to work.  We’ll have to see how it plays out.

I got to work and started things for the day.  Quite honestly, my classes are starting like I would expect my classes to act like at East.  The kids are now awake in the morning and I am hearing complaints about having to do work and the “why do I have to do this?” routine.  I’ve actually grown accustomed to it over the years and it really doesn’t surprise me anymore when I hear it.  Today my students started to fight me over having to do music theory in class, but I think in the long run, they will thank me for pushing them and presenting this information to them, especially if they end up going to college and taking music there, the information I give them will help them with their college course and my hope is that somewhere along the way, students will appreciate that.

I got done with work and raced home, hoping that Heather would be at home with a car.  She told me she did not have the car yet, but that it would be ready for tomorrow.  So, I have one more day to take Heather to work, after which, I may not have to do it for a long time.  I then crashed for a brief amount of time (about fifteen minutes) and then got myself going, ate some dinner and then rushed over to marching band rehearsal.

Tonight, we started to work with our floor mat for the first time.  What a piece of equipment that thing is!  It’s about ninety feet by ninety feet and weighs about five to six hundred pounds.  Once it’s all painted, it will look amazing, but it is a giant pain in the kanish to get on and off the field.  It’s heavy and the way we’re trying to take it on and off does not seem very efficient.  There seems to be a plan about that, but it has not been explained to us yet and I’m not so sure that leaving it as one piece is such a good idea in the long run, but we’ll have to see.  Time will tell.  As always, the students did an amazing job at the rehearsal, and really got used to the idea of this mat on the field and adjusted what they were doing on the mat as effective marchers.  What other band could put a mat under their students’ feet and ask them to adjust in one night’s time?  This band did, and I give them a lot of credit for that!  We got done and it was time to go home.  I came home and crashed with Heather and then went to bed.  I know we both went to bed with the dreams of Kia Sportages dancing in our heads.
Okay, let’s talk about Part 2 of Chapter 17 of “Star Wars:  Outbound Flight” by Timothy Zahn…..

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Chapter 17 (Part 2):  Doriana led them into Kav’s command office knowing that he has been sparred his life.  He offered them a seat and refreshments.  Thrawn and Car’das sat down but turned away the drinks.  Doriana then started to tell them about Outbound Flight.  Thrawn said it was a great story, but asked what it had to do with the Chiss.  Doriana continued to explain that the Jedi onboard are dangerous as they have rigid ideas on what people should do and how they should act.  Thrawn said this does not affect the Chiss as Outbound Flight is going to another galaxy.  Doriana said that the Jedi may attempt to force their will upon the Chiss.  Thrawn says they may attempt, but the Chiss have never been forced to do any such thing.  Doriana said perhaps not, but warned that the Jedi have powers beyond any of the Chiss understanding.  Thrawn then stood up and said this will have to wait for later, as they have other matters to discuss.  He told both Doriana and Kave to stay on the bridge as he would be bringing in a team onboard the ship to examine their equipment.  Kav snapped back saying the ship is the property of the Trade Federation, but Doriana cut him off and told Thrawn he would assist him in any way possible.  Thrawn told Car’das to come with him and they could feel the tensions between the Neimoidian and human as they left the room.  Once they left the two of them argued with each other.  Kav argued that Doriana was turning his back on his people and Doriana said they have failed in this mission as Thrawn destroyed their fleet, but argued that they still have a hope if they can convince Thrawn to destroy Outbound Flight for them.  Kav asked if he could convince Thrawn and then wondered if Thrawn could even achieve such a task.  Doriana said he wasn’t sure about that, but knew he was talking to Car’das about Outbound Flight even as they speak.  Doriana told Kav to leave everything to him.  Kav agreed for now, but says he’ll be watching Doriana intently…..