How SOLO Sparked My Creativity

You might remember that on May 4, my dad got advance tickets for the new Star Wars movie, Han Solo—which is officially out TODAY! Well, he and I went last night, and it was ah-mazing-ing. No, seriously, it might be one of the best Star Wars movies in the franchise—and I'm a huge fan, so that's saying something.

It wasn't just about the acting either, though Alden Ehrenreich played a convincing young Han Solo. It was also fun to see some of my other favourite actors, like Danny Glover as Landon Calrissian, Woody Harrelson as Beckett, and Emila Clarke (from Game of Thrones!) as Qi'ra. (Not to mention Chewbacca! He's the greatest Wookie...)

Origin stories are fun, and this one...well, it sparked a few ideas for me.

My Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Kratky, says we should be thinking about what to write over the summer break—have to keep those reading and writing skills honed when we're not in school. I'm not usually stuck for ideas. But as the end of the school year approaches, I realized the other day that I didn't know what I was going to write.

Until I watched SOLO: A Star Wars Story.

I'm going to do an origin story for a character from one of my favourite books! Like, maybe Charlie's grandpa from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Or what about one of the dwarves from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves? Hey! I could even do an origin story for one of the characters in the Superman Duffy series!

And I'll use SOLO as a great example of what to include—the way the character speaks and moves, his or her hobbies and passions, even the way he or she reacts to certain situations should all mirror the "older" version of the character. In SOLO, young Han smirked JUST LIKE Harrison Ford, and he was a little arrogant like the Han Solo we know from the earlier movies. It was fun picking out those kinds of things...and I bet the writers had a good time planting those clues.

So, that's it. My summer writing project.

If you could write a favourite character's origin story, whose would it be? Go ahead and let me know in the comments!

Gotta jet! Have a great weekend!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Today, We Ride ~ But First..Safety!

It's no secret I love to run—but sometimes, I love it SO much, I forget about the other summer sports I enjoy. Like playing softball and soccer, kayaking...and biking!

Today is National Bike to Work Day, and as my dad was pulling out his bike from the shed and dusting off his helmet, I asked him to grab mine too. I plan to pedal all throughout the neighbourhood this long weekend, which is supposed to be sunny! I can't wait.

If you're like me, you'll be ready to hit the road soon. Before you do, though, don't forget these important cycling rules!

1. Check your tire pressure, brakes, gears, lights, horns and reflective devices to make sure everything works — or ask an adult to help you with all those details. They're worth paying attention to!
2. Check your helmet to make sure it still fits. And also, wear a helmet — with the straps done up and everything. It could save your life!
3. Know your hand signals, and use them.
4. Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against it.
5. If you’re heading out in the early morning, or coming home at dusk, wear bright clothing.
6. Map out your route and look for side streets or designated bike paths where possible.

And of course, don't forget to have fun. Gotta jet! Have a happy long weekend...whatever you're doing.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

The Perfect Mother's Day Craft — With Canola!

Mother's Day is a big deal around my house. Not only do I want to tell (and show) my mom how much I appreciate her, but I also want to recognize my grandmother—they're both very important to me, and "doing chores for the day" doesn't seem like quite enough. (Don't get me wrong, I will be doing chores all day...happily.)

But I want to do more. We made cards at school, and my dad will pick up flowers. I've written poems (some good, some not that great), and a couple of years ago, I made a picnic lunch. This year, I'm switching things up a little by giving Mom (and Grandma) the spa treatment. 

Did you know that many spa products—such as bath bombs, lip balm, and body scrub—can be made using canola oil? It's true! And tomorrow, my dad is helping me make an Bath Body Salt Scrub that I can give to the two most important ladies in my life. 

Want to make some too? Ask an adult to help you with this recipe:

INGREDIENTS

½ cup (125 mL) Epsom salts (not regular salt, but the kind from the pharmacy)

2 Tbsp (30 mL) canola oil

2 Tbsp (30 mL) almond oil

30-35 drops essential oil (to make it smell nice, but not necessary)

DIRECTIONS

Mix Epsom salts, canola oil, almond oil and essential fragrance oil together. Place in a glass jar. Tie a ribbon or piece of yarn at the top to make it prettier. You can even print off a custom label to make it more personal.

Be sure to let your Mom know to mix it up again before using – and then to rinse it off after. And as with all salts, don’t rub the scrub onto a wound, as it will sting.

Gotta jet! Have a great weekend. And to all the Mom's out there...Happy Mother's Day! 

~ Chase Superman Duffy

May The Fourth Be With You!

There's never a bad day to celebrate your love of Star Wars, but if ever there was a perfect day, it's today—May the fourth be with you!

And THIS year, I'm celebrating BIG because my dad is buying advance tickets to the new Star Wars movie—SOLO—that comes out at the end of the month. I'm so excited to see it because although I really love all the characters, Han Solo is my favourite.

He's kind of a low-key hero, you know? Not all flashy with his lightsaber like Luke Skywalker, or full of wisdom like Yoda. He's a great pilot, loyal to his friends, and he gets to chum around with the coolest Wookie in the world—Chewbacca. I can't WAIT to check out Han's "origin" story at the theatre this month. Are you going to see SOLO?

If movies aren't your thing, there are some other ways you can celebrate the day. Here are my top 5:

1. Rewatch the whole saga. Okay, so maybe you can't do that TODAY, but you can pop some popcorn and cozy up on the couch for the weekend, right?
2. Explore your crafty side with these Star Wars-inspired bookmarks.
3. Listen to the iconic music! Okay, so you're not allowed to spend all day indoors—why not download music from the Star Wars movies and head out for a walk or run? (I can already hear the theme song in my head!) 
4. Plan a Star Wars breakfast this weekend with these Darth Maul waffles!
5. Ask your parents for help to build your own lightsaber—and then challenge your friend (or sibling) to an epic match.

What have I missed? Feel free to add your ideas into the comments section—I'm always looking for ways to share my love of Star Wars!

Gotta jet! Have a great weekend and...May the fourth be with you!

~ Chase Superman Duffy