Not A Harry Potter Post

Here it is! Finally a post that is not about Harry Potter.

I finished my annotated bibliography and got it turned in. Woooo! I have never written a paper that will (hopefully) be 22 pages. I'm not gonna lie, even though I'm a writer 22 pages of not creative writing is very daunting. However, bright side, my annotated biblee was 5 pages long. That's right. FIVE FREAKING PAGES! It's time to take a little breather.

So sure, even though I'm reading the last HP book, I am taking a break (sorta).

What's been going on in the world since I OD-ed on HP?

Well, (and here's where the sorta plays in) J.K. Rowling announced her plans for publishing a new book. I'm not aure about you all out there in web-world, but I'm a bit on the fence about this. I'm worried it will be like seeing your favorite actor in the behind the scenes feature on the DVD - it kills the spell that the movie could be real. I'm really excited to see what she does and what else her amazing mind can produce... BUT at the same time, it almost breaks the spell. I will wait to make up my mind when we know more about this new book.

Also I have realized that I don't have enough time to read all the books I want to read: The Hunger Games, Cinder, The Fault in Our Stars... not to name all the books I've procured over the years that I still haven't gotten to. But, I think I can make time for some audiobooks... esp when they are handpicked and produced by Neil Gaiman. Why has it taken me so long to find this? Neil Gaiman Presents? Check it out here. Such good fun.

Thirdly, I can finally access my former college professor's blog on my home computer. Why did it not work before? I don't know... BUT, I have a link to it in my blog roll. He always has fun tidbits and news about fantasy, writing, and other things. I really think you should check it out.

Lastly, Castle had my favorite episode on last night. It was all new and all awesome. Castle + fairy tale characters being murdered = some good monday night fun. Also, the other week Nathan Fillion (Mr. Rick Castle himself) was on Jimmy Kimmel. You can check out both episodes on the network webpage.

So that's what I got right now. I have another clip to share with you all, but you'll have to wait until next time :0)

Video Tuesday

Tuesdays are my off days from work. So that equals more time to work on my Harry Potter quest. I apologize to all of you readers whose lives aren't being inundated with Harry and Voldemort - but mine is and therefore it is leaking over into my blog. I promise that all my posts won't be about Harry Potter.

But....tonight's is! So in honor of finishing my research and finishing reading the 6th book, I am posting my favorite HP YouTube videos!

(drumroll)

This one is a parody of a Super Bowl commercial from a few years ago. Harry Potter: A Google story...


And this one, just a little music video to get your jam on...





And how can a Potter Puppet Pal video not get into my top favorite?




And lastly, this one that made me giggle the entire way through....



TADA!

There they are. My top favorite.

But I will say this. I do not spend epic amounts of time searching YouTube for amazing Harry Potter videos... So, any of you have a favorite HP video? If so, I think you should share --> just link it up in a comment.

Harry Potter Reflections

My plan had been to post a reflections post after reading the 4th book... but now I'm a third of the way through the 6th book and I suppose I'll post my reflections on the books now.

Issues:
Yes, I am falling in love with the series all over again, but I still have issues with the books.

1. Hermione. I adore her. She is brilliant and strong and doesn't change who she is for anyone. She is muggle born and really kick-ass. So what's my problem? She's Muggle born. What about her life before Hogwarts? Didn't she have friends? I mean I met my best friend in the whole world (apart from my husband) when I was nine. Does she still have these friends? What did she give up (apart from her parents because really, as the series goes on she spends much less time with them and much more time with Ron and Harry and the Weasleys)? 
2. The Weasleys. I love the entire family. They are awesome. Ginny mostly makes me happy. BUT, didn't these kids grow up knowing any other wizarding kids? Did they not have babysitters? What is life really like growing up in a wizarding home? We never get to find out.
3. Dementors mate. Yeah, in the first chapter of book 6 Fudge tells the Muggle Prime Minster that all the mist is due to the Dementors mating. My only question is: how? Is it like asexual reproduction where one just pops off? Or like coral where all the sex stuff is released into the water in a giant cloud. I'm getting the vibe that it's more like coral and that's just EW...

Awesomeness


I know why now I cry when I read these books and someone dies (okay I didn't really cry until the 5th book) but it's also, I think, what makes these books so awesome. The characters (for the most part) are such real people. I read about James and the relationship with his friends and I think of my Dad and his two best friends from growing up. I read about Hermione and even as an adult I not only relate to her but want to be strong like her. I want to be best friends with Ginny - she's funny and brave and like Hermione is happy being who she is. Reading about Hagrid and how he's worried about Aragog dying totally relates to me right now (the dog I've had since I was 11 is getting old and I think he won't be around too much longer). The characters are so real. So when they die, you really do feel like you've lost a friend.  

I found this picture the other day and really... it shows just how awesome Harry Potter can be to readers.

My deepest hope is that I can write something that will inspire readers (even if it's just one) the way that these books have inspired the world. I don't need an eight movie contract or a theme park - I just need to speak to people. JK taught me it's okay to be poor and write, as long as it's what you love.

Harry Potter Overload

So I've been sick this last week. Stupid cold that made me something close to a zombie. It was gross and I will spare you the details. But I assure that I spent the sick time well. I (of course) did my reading; I am now half way through the 5th book. And then I did other productive things, such as watching the extras on the HP DVDs and online window shopping.

Well I found lots of things I think any HP fan should find amusing if not put on their wish list. Sure, anyone can go to Hot Topic when the movies are due to be released and get all sorts of "fan gear" there. HOWEVER, I would argue that the merchandise I'm about to show you goes to the hardcore fans.

For the home....

That's right. Harry Potter chopsticks. Amaze your friends by busting these twin mini wands out next time you order carry out chinese. Find them here.

Is the just a prop wand? Oh no. It's much more than that. This is a wand that controls your tv with just a swish and a flick. That's right. A universal remote that looks like a wand. Hells yeah... Buy it at one of my favorite online stores (they also have lots of fun Star Wars and Doctor Who gear... thinkgeek.com

Here is just one way to show your school pride... available for purchase here

Because if all of our cars flew then the Ministry would have our necks. Best to stick to flying a broom...buy this awesome decal here

You don't need to travel by floo to get to work. No, your bathroom has direct access to the Ministry. Don't forget to  flush

Easy way to turn on the off the lights... when you can't find your wand. 

Fun way to scare your guests after afternoon tea. Here let me read your tea leaves... OH NO! It's the Grim!

Clothing and accessories...

You may notice that I don't highlight a bunch of shirts, well that's just because I think it's the details that make things more fun.

These Toms come in all house colors. Kick-butt cool fun. Get your kicks here

I think my favorite shirt. Really, is there more to be said?

Never forget the wise words of the founders of Hogwarts, keep them on your wrist at all times.

Dumbledore always know what to say, and how best to say it....

Because really, isn't that where we all belong?

There are tons more other items I could show you. But these will link you to all the best websites - or at least the ones that I check out when I need to get my window shopping fix. I'm just waiting for the next paycheck before I get my Lumos/Nox light switch plate. I would get the mug but  I already have to many for our apartment cabinets. *Sigh* Well, we can all dream...

Vampires

Do you all remember the song I posted about back in July? The song about vampires? Okay, if not here's a bit of background: The song is called Die Vampire, Die! From a broadway show. The whole point of the song is that being an artist of any kind (singer, songwriter, creative writer, painter...) is hard. It's hard to create and even harder when people doubt you. They tell you how unimportant your work is - and while that can fuel you, too much of it can really take it's toll. BUT, the worse vampires (and vampires in this case are people who beat down on you and your creativity) are these vampires...

Susan: 
The last vampire is the mother of all vampires and that is the vampire of despair.
It’ll wake you up at 4am to say things like:
Backup: 
Who do you think you’re kidding?
You look like a fool.
No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be good enough
Susan: 
Why is it that if some dude walked up to me on the subway platform 
and said these things, I’d think he was a mentally ill asshole, 
but if the vampire inside my head says it, 
It’s the voice of reason.


And those damn vampires are the ones who have been flying around in my head the last few days. It's been brutal. Work has been super busy and then I come home and bust it working on my Harry Potter paper. But then Husband comes home (and I want to make clear that he is NEVER EVER a vampire to me) and he tells me about the babies he helped save in the hospital that day or the person who he gave some ice too and it made a world of difference to them. And I compare myself to him. I see my Husband as a superhero (and to me he is one) but I don't see myself like that. And in swoop the vampires...

So - I finally broke down (crying) to Husband about this this morning. I told him that he doesn't make me feel unimportant but I compare myself to him and I see him learning to save lives in nursing school and me making salads. I see him going to get a degree that promises to help us out finically in the future and I see my degree as fluff.

And this is what husband did: He let me cry and then told me that I am important and amazing. That sure I make salads, but that's not bad. I'm getting through school and that he couldn't do what I do. That when people ask him what I do and he tells them they are all impressed. He told me that he saw a quote the other say that I need to remember - it goes along the lines of everything has genius in it, if you ask a fish to climb a tree sure, it'll fail - but it can breath underwater! And that's it's own kind of genius.

I know I married the right man when he can help me slay my vampires of despair. All I have to do is just keep swimming...