That costume, actually, is from the 80's...  I wore the same thing as a kid, and had my best haul in candy ever.  The pattern was still around (you can buy it brand new I guess but it's different) so we just modded the old one and worked from there.

I sewed a skullcap inside it, so the top sat on my head...  The fin kept hitting people and made a great conversation starter actually...  Or drink spiller.

By the end of the night, I actually hadn't drank much at all but I was so hot I was just chilling in the corner of the 80's bar my friends and I wound up at...  Was a good night.

On a Star Wars related note, the first bar where I was and they had the contest, there were a good 5 guys in Star Wars armor of various types including an ARC trooper and the toon hadn't even been out yet.  That kicked ass.  There was a Scout, and some others I recall...  Not all together even though, just coincidentals it seemed, which was neat.

Hardest part about that costume was it basically was like a long dress in that it had no fly to take a leak.  I had to pull the whole thing up and then go through the motions to pee, which made drinking not something too high on my priorities actually.  That plus the fact that it was tough to maneuver in crowds, but I managed.

EDIT:

BTW my buddy's an orthodics guy, he makes prosthetic limbs and such...  He also does make-up effects and things as a hobby for a Pittsburgh Television show called "The Its Alive Show" that airs campy crappy horror films on Saturday's.  Anyway, he makes elaborate costumes for himself, such as the one he wore the year I had my sharky in those pics.

He was a devil, had fold-out wings on a pully rig system on his back that was covered by his prosthetic torso like, and he had goat-leggigngs that covered cloven-hoof boots/shoes that raised him a good 6 inches off the ground (he's already 6'5").  So with all that, he basicallyw as a behemoth demon with these elaborate wings that would unfold and looked like thin skin membranes on a skeletal frame.  Freaky...

He got NO appreciation for his costume when we were out at the clubs but it wasn't complete that night so he could move better, but he did have the whole thing on at a bar out closer to where we live outside the city, and they were giving away either $400, or an old herse (sp).  He won, and took the herse...  It needs a little work but it's running and driveable.  I want to buy it and sorta soop it up for a halloween mobile...

If it pops right back in, then I can't say I have much of a complaint really...  If it falls off on its own though while displayed on your shelf then there's a gripe.  I'd take the Imperial Officer's arm falling off when I tried posing him, but I can pop it right back on, over the Imperial Officer having no arm articulation.

That said, they can do better...  Other companies do, they can, but I'd say a larger gripe is with plastic quality.  Figures with thinner legs fall prey to flimsy plastic.  From battledroids to some of the female figures in the line, the cheap plastic being used has gotta go...  I dream of someday an apology staff for Amanaman being offered as a mail-away, haha.  I'd even pay for the thing, I just want a staff that'll hold up over time for that figure.

I had one up to the last push-back and cancelled...  WM.com came through better which I hate to say since I despise WM in every way.  They got me what I wanted though and I can walk away from Amazon's F'd up inability to get any of these and ship them.

Of course, if I see them on there ready to ship, I may nab a set or two, maybe cash-in a coupon if I find one to get them cheaply or shipped free...  I love these sets, but business is business as they say.

I love freakish aliens, so the Senators wave of figures in the ROTS line was nice.  A bit of a bitch to find, but nicely done all around.  That makes this review's focus a fun one to own and pick apart for what's good and what failed.  This week we're looking at Ask Aak (Republic Senator).  Not only do I love the figure, but I even liked the character in the prequals and felt he should've had a figure back in 2002 even.

Hasbro did a pretty bang-up job though on this one, and took the usually duller "Senator" figure and turned it into something special.  There's a number of ball/socket joints, the sculpt rivals the best work Hasbro's done such as Ephant Mon, and the figure's a weighty mofo to boot.  The fact Hasbro did a nice little extra by including a blaster accessory is greatly appreciated.

The lack of accessories with these types of figures is where it can usually be critiqued but all 3 figures in the wave Aak came out in had a gun and a base.  That's pretty nice work.

So check out the review at the link provided and enjoy...  And if you're lucky enough to find the figure, pick up Ask Aak without hesitating because he's a winner to me.  A pegwarmer if he shipped in huge numbers, but he's still a winner for a figure.

So mind-numbingly-stupid EU stories aside (I'd not read, but knew of the robotic Maul, but holy christ that's one of the worst plot lines I've ever heard for SW EU), I've pretty much been under the assumption that Owen knew a lot more about everything in the galaxy than the average Joe Schmoe would have...  Perfect place to hide Luke then since he's a backwater kid with backwater adoptive planets on a backwater planet...  but Owen's just more in-the-know than one assumes.

Kinda like how Tarkin has that connection to Vader that nobody else but Palpatine seemed to share with him (on-screen anyway), so it was like you could just tell Tarkin knows more about the past than the average guy does.

Anyways...

I figure Obi-Wan and Owen did have some disagreements.  He perhaps (likely?) knew Obi-Wan was staying by to groom Luke to the "new hope" but knew of his step-brother's collapse, figured the same fate would follow Luke...  I'm sure he did everything possible to keep Luke from Obi-Wan, and Obi-Wan kept his distance most likely till he knew it was the right time.  Obi-Wan lies but Owen certainly did too, but everyone seems to lie to Luke for his own good...  Given what they're working with and what his father turned out to be, it's not surprising that they didn't want to tell him everything...  I'm sure they felt like they were playing with fire as far as Luke was concerned since things went so great with Anakin and all.

I'm glad you're at home with your parents and son, getting more time with him is important for him I think.  Boys are always attached to their mom's hips despite how tough they try to act! 

You look good in your pic Shannon, and that's a positive thing for your health.  Keep your spirits up...  Bumping this thread isn't bad at all since everyone's wanting to know how you are and this is a good means for many of us over here.  You know you've got everyone's support so don't ever feel like updating is a bad idea, however don't feel obligated to post a bunch either...  We just like knowing how you're doing.  Consider everyone like big brothers (and sisters for the lady forum members we have) who are just wanting to look out for you but never intrude.

I can't help but wonder how many kids with internet access and no income feel when they see all the cool little droids and find out how much they cost.

I can help with this...  I can tell you just how at least 2 little boys feel when they see things, go ape**** over wanting them, but then are deflated when I tell them A) it's too expensive, and B) their mother would gut me like a fish if we tried (successful or not) to get them this or that...

The Target Clone 5-pack...  They saw it when I stopped at her house on the way home, the boys liked it and wanted one, I got "that look" and told them it's hard to find and costs a lot...  They saw the Stealth Trooper over my shoulder one day while I was "working" here on JD, and the 8 year old went nuts and said he wanted two...  I told him "you and every other guy...  And these are $13 each so I don't think mom's gonna let you get this one". 

Then they saw pictures of Rob's army and asked why I don't have that many figures.  I hate you Rob.

And that's not even getting into me finding them what they want...  Clones aren't exactly a dime a dozen 'round here so the boys have had some disappointment.  Fortunately I bought with their birthdays a ways off, so I was prepared.

Anyways...  Yeah, kids are disappointed by the exclusives, and even by the basic line itself.  Hell, these two opened Clone 3-packs their mom bought them and immediately wanted them returned...  "These don't move...  They suck!" was the concensus from the back of the truck...  I almost did a spit take laughing.

PS: You're welcome Dr. Padawan.