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Alright, here we go:
1) The Deathly Hallows themselves were a totally unexpected plot twist. Who would have thought JKR would add an all-new sub-plot when she had so many other plot points to resolve? But she did it, and it managed to be important and make sense. I'm still a little fuzzy on how the Elder Wand came to be Draco's, but I'm sure it will become clear upon re-reading.
2) I was really touched by how much Dobby's death affected Harry. I especially liked that he dug Dobby's grave Muggle-style.
3) Holy action, Batman! This baby's packed with battles throughout, not just a biggie at the end. I wasn't prepared for that. What an awesome movie this will make!
4) Speaking of the movie... Something tells me this one will be difficult for the filmmakers to keep at PG-13. And if they do get an R rating, I'm looking forward to a naked Dan Radcliffe!!!
5) Filled with action...and humor. Rowling was smart to include so much comic relief, since this episode is so stressful to read. Another characteristic that will make it an excellent movie. I was laughing out loud many times.
6) Ron and Hermione's liplock was perfect timing in its imperfect timing. Hysterical at a moment when tensions were super-high.
7) I was just starting to be disappointed with the lack of Snape through the meat of the story. But when he did reappear...yowza! I was happy to read that though he's not a nice guy, he really was on our side the whole time. Having Harry forgive him (and, in fact, honor him) in the end was good for our hero's soul, IMO.
8) I cried the most when I read about Fred, Lupin, and Tonks. Don't tell me there isn't room for another few books there: Teddy loses his parents as an infant and has The Boy Who Lived as his godfather? I smell a sequel!
9) Killing Hedwig, particularly so early in the story, was just plain vicious. What did she ever do to you, Jo? OK, so she would have been a pain for Harry to carry all around England all year. And yes, having his Firebolt and owl would have made things too easy for our hero. Still... It was just mean.
10) I would have liked to have seen a good liplock for Harry and Ginny there at the end of the Battle of Hogwarts. Knowing they are together and happy after 19 years is nice, but I wanted to see the reconcilliation.
11) I was actually kinda disappointed Harry didn't spend more time at Hogwarts. We see very little of the school and its culture in this book, which is good storytelling IMO, but I still missed it.
12) And finally... I was shocked and dismayed when Ron walked out on Harry. What the hell was that?! I know it furthered the plot and gave them all more information when he came back, but I was devastated when he left. I couldn't believe it happened. Well, "shocked" was pretty much how I felt most of the way through the book, to be honest.
I'm sure I'll be expounding on my opinions sporadically over the next few weeks. A few more read-throughs should do the trick.
Still wondering what's going to fill this hole in my life...
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Monday, July 23, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (no spoilers here -- yet)
Wow.
I was so scared that I'd be disappointed, so great were my expectations and excitement, but--
Wow.
That was just the best book ever! Not many of my predictions came true, and even fewer came about the way I expected. After all the theories and predictions I've read (from logical to wild), all supported ferociously by canon sources...and not one of them came close! I'm surprised just how surprised I was, the whole way through. It was full of action and humor, and I all-out cried at least once. (Oh, Teddy!)
All I can say is that here is a world which we can hold up for our children as moral examples: the heroes in this series are true heroes. They are flawed human beings, yes, but they show incredible moral fortitude in the face of danger. Harry is much like Frodo; I feel immense sympathy for him and his journey and am more than a little impressed by his courage. Not so sure I could do it.
And if all those Potter-hating sheep-- er, I mean, fundamentalists-- ever actually read the series, I think they'd find Harry actually exemplifies much of the morality they claim to believe in.
Now that I know where Snape's allegiences lie and who dies and who lives... I'm off to give it another go. What else can I read now??
I was so scared that I'd be disappointed, so great were my expectations and excitement, but--
Wow.
That was just the best book ever! Not many of my predictions came true, and even fewer came about the way I expected. After all the theories and predictions I've read (from logical to wild), all supported ferociously by canon sources...and not one of them came close! I'm surprised just how surprised I was, the whole way through. It was full of action and humor, and I all-out cried at least once. (Oh, Teddy!)
All I can say is that here is a world which we can hold up for our children as moral examples: the heroes in this series are true heroes. They are flawed human beings, yes, but they show incredible moral fortitude in the face of danger. Harry is much like Frodo; I feel immense sympathy for him and his journey and am more than a little impressed by his courage. Not so sure I could do it.
And if all those Potter-hating sheep-- er, I mean, fundamentalists-- ever actually read the series, I think they'd find Harry actually exemplifies much of the morality they claim to believe in.
Now that I know where Snape's allegiences lie and who dies and who lives... I'm off to give it another go. What else can I read now??
Friday, July 20, 2007
Checking in before my total electronic shutdown...
Last night the boys and I camped outside Barnes and Noble with a good friend and her four kids. If you have to ask why, you apparently don't know me yet. Two words should explain it:
Harry. Potter.
Now, I don't care if I get the first or the 200-and-first copy when it is released tonight. I really don't. As long as I get a copy 'round about midnight, I'm good. But to ensure B&N doesn't run out of copies before we get ours, and to give the boys a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we decided to get there early and wait all night. And what a long night it was, too!
I was surprised just how much actually goes on in Harrisonburg at three in the morning. And shocked how many little old ladies are driving around at that ungodly hour! We had a few drunks stop and talk to us, but not as many as I would have thought.
The highlight of the evening for me was the college-age boys who commented that I looked twenty-six, not thirty-six. OK, so they were the drunkest of the lot, by far; that detail will probably be lost to my aging memory. It will certainly be lost in all future re-tellings!
Now I'm off to get dressed (as Professor McGonagall) for the release party, then I'll be incommunicado for a few days. May you all enjoy this unusual experience with your families, and savor this moment in human literary history together.
And FYI: The next time I post here, there WILL be spoilers. Don't check back until you've read Deathly Hallows. You have been warned.
Harry. Potter.
Now, I don't care if I get the first or the 200-and-first copy when it is released tonight. I really don't. As long as I get a copy 'round about midnight, I'm good. But to ensure B&N doesn't run out of copies before we get ours, and to give the boys a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we decided to get there early and wait all night. And what a long night it was, too!
I was surprised just how much actually goes on in Harrisonburg at three in the morning. And shocked how many little old ladies are driving around at that ungodly hour! We had a few drunks stop and talk to us, but not as many as I would have thought.
The highlight of the evening for me was the college-age boys who commented that I looked twenty-six, not thirty-six. OK, so they were the drunkest of the lot, by far; that detail will probably be lost to my aging memory. It will certainly be lost in all future re-tellings!
Now I'm off to get dressed (as Professor McGonagall) for the release party, then I'll be incommunicado for a few days. May you all enjoy this unusual experience with your families, and savor this moment in human literary history together.
And FYI: The next time I post here, there WILL be spoilers. Don't check back until you've read Deathly Hallows. You have been warned.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Addendum to Restaurant Meme
While in Pennsylvania, we discovered a fantastic place in Elizabethtown, called Rockwell's.
Good sign number one: they had several people directing traffic in their parking lot.
Good sign number two: about 8 thatched roof-style umbrellas on their deck, along with the hull of a sailboat as the outdoor bar.
Good sign number three: a playground for the kids. You heard me: A playground. For the kids.
We had lucious drinks (all kinds of tropical specials!), yummy appetizers, and excellent crab cake sandwiches in a really fun atmosphere.
I think the menu was reasonably priced, too: lunch entrees were less than $10, and dinners were in the $10-15 range. Those tropical drinks were around $4 each! For a party of 10 (3 kids), our bill was around $200, including all those drinkies (and there were a lot). Not bad.
If only there were a place like that around here...
Good sign number one: they had several people directing traffic in their parking lot.
Good sign number two: about 8 thatched roof-style umbrellas on their deck, along with the hull of a sailboat as the outdoor bar.
Good sign number three: a playground for the kids. You heard me: A playground. For the kids.
We had lucious drinks (all kinds of tropical specials!), yummy appetizers, and excellent crab cake sandwiches in a really fun atmosphere.
I think the menu was reasonably priced, too: lunch entrees were less than $10, and dinners were in the $10-15 range. Those tropical drinks were around $4 each! For a party of 10 (3 kids), our bill was around $200, including all those drinkies (and there were a lot). Not bad.
If only there were a place like that around here...
20 Answers
Before the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I'll make my predictions for the record. We'll see how many I get right.
1) People to die: Neville and Hagrid, possibly Percy (in the midst of or after just recently reconciling with the family. OK, maybe Snape, too.
2) Person who "receives a reprieve": Ron (or maybe Snape)
3) Sirius's two-way mirror will be very important, as will the collapsed passageway on the Marauder's Map, Hermione's knowledge of Ancient Runes, Buckbeak the Hippogriff, and Alice Longbottom's gum wrappers (I hope!)
4) Harry *will* return to Hogwarts, maybe even as a student, but possibly as the DADA teacher; he does, after all, need to find something from Ravenclaw/Gryffindor. Another probable hiding place for a horcrux: Gringott's.
5) Aberforth (who has the locket and is, of course, Dumbledore's brother), Dawlish (who I suspect is a spy for Dumbledore), Slughorn, and Krum will become more important characters.
6) Umbridge will be back, you mark my words.
7) WWII (Wizarding War 2) will involve giants, centaurs, house-elves, dementors, werewolves, and GOBLINS. The giants will tip the balance in our favor, and Kreacher will answer a lot of questions for Harry. Please please please let SPEW actually have a role in something, too.
8) Lupin and Tonks, sittin' in a tree...
9) OTOH, Harry will keep Ginny at a distance. She will be vital to our success, but they will only be reunited after Voldemort is defeated.
10) Fortescue's and Ollivander's disappearances will be explained. I have a feeling Fortescue is in protective custody because of his knowledge of the Goblin Riots, and Ollivander has been kidnapped by Lord Voldemort to help Him get around the peculiar behavior of His and Harry's wands when used against each other.
11) Madame Pince, the librarian, is Snape's mother, in protective custody, which is why Dumbledore trusts Snape so much.
12) Ron and Hermione...not so sure that's gonna work out.
13) Fred and George's shop will be important to the Resistance.
14) Petunia is hiding something magical under the squeaky stair at #4 Privet Drive...a wand? Something from Godric Gryffindor? Letters, perhaps from James to Lily or someone else who was at Godric's Hollow, or correspondence from Dumbledore?
15) Neville's memory is terrible because he had his memory altered when he was a baby. Perhaps *his* family was also at Godric's Hollow?
16) Speaking of Neville: He will Shine with his new wand; he'll take out a lot of Death Eaters, but he'll also have to stand up to a "friend" who has turned.
17) Pettigrew's silver hand will be useful...my guess is that it will have something to do with killing Snape, since so many bat references have been made with regard to Snape.
18) The mysterious locked room in the Department of Mysteries and the flying Ford Anglia will both be back.
19) Draco will be redeemed...his dad, not so much
20) Grindelwald and the 12 Uses of Dragon's Blood will not only be explained, they'll be important.
And a bonus: the word "scar," which Rowling has said for years is the last word of Book 7 and which has since been moved further in from the end, will refer not to Harry's lightening bolt-shaped mark but to the Umbridge-induced scar on his hand.
So now, we'll see whether I'm brilliant or clueless. I'm going with clueless, tinged with a bit of luck. ;o) Now I'm on total internet lockdown until I'm done reading the book. I hope you all enjoy it!
And "I hope it's THICK and LONG so it keeps me UP ALL NIGHT." ;o)
1) People to die: Neville and Hagrid, possibly Percy (in the midst of or after just recently reconciling with the family. OK, maybe Snape, too.
2) Person who "receives a reprieve": Ron (or maybe Snape)
3) Sirius's two-way mirror will be very important, as will the collapsed passageway on the Marauder's Map, Hermione's knowledge of Ancient Runes, Buckbeak the Hippogriff, and Alice Longbottom's gum wrappers (I hope!)
4) Harry *will* return to Hogwarts, maybe even as a student, but possibly as the DADA teacher; he does, after all, need to find something from Ravenclaw/Gryffindor. Another probable hiding place for a horcrux: Gringott's.
5) Aberforth (who has the locket and is, of course, Dumbledore's brother), Dawlish (who I suspect is a spy for Dumbledore), Slughorn, and Krum will become more important characters.
6) Umbridge will be back, you mark my words.
7) WWII (Wizarding War 2) will involve giants, centaurs, house-elves, dementors, werewolves, and GOBLINS. The giants will tip the balance in our favor, and Kreacher will answer a lot of questions for Harry. Please please please let SPEW actually have a role in something, too.
8) Lupin and Tonks, sittin' in a tree...
9) OTOH, Harry will keep Ginny at a distance. She will be vital to our success, but they will only be reunited after Voldemort is defeated.
10) Fortescue's and Ollivander's disappearances will be explained. I have a feeling Fortescue is in protective custody because of his knowledge of the Goblin Riots, and Ollivander has been kidnapped by Lord Voldemort to help Him get around the peculiar behavior of His and Harry's wands when used against each other.
11) Madame Pince, the librarian, is Snape's mother, in protective custody, which is why Dumbledore trusts Snape so much.
12) Ron and Hermione...not so sure that's gonna work out.
13) Fred and George's shop will be important to the Resistance.
14) Petunia is hiding something magical under the squeaky stair at #4 Privet Drive...a wand? Something from Godric Gryffindor? Letters, perhaps from James to Lily or someone else who was at Godric's Hollow, or correspondence from Dumbledore?
15) Neville's memory is terrible because he had his memory altered when he was a baby. Perhaps *his* family was also at Godric's Hollow?
16) Speaking of Neville: He will Shine with his new wand; he'll take out a lot of Death Eaters, but he'll also have to stand up to a "friend" who has turned.
17) Pettigrew's silver hand will be useful...my guess is that it will have something to do with killing Snape, since so many bat references have been made with regard to Snape.
18) The mysterious locked room in the Department of Mysteries and the flying Ford Anglia will both be back.
19) Draco will be redeemed...his dad, not so much
20) Grindelwald and the 12 Uses of Dragon's Blood will not only be explained, they'll be important.
And a bonus: the word "scar," which Rowling has said for years is the last word of Book 7 and which has since been moved further in from the end, will refer not to Harry's lightening bolt-shaped mark but to the Umbridge-induced scar on his hand.
So now, we'll see whether I'm brilliant or clueless. I'm going with clueless, tinged with a bit of luck. ;o) Now I'm on total internet lockdown until I'm done reading the book. I hope you all enjoy it!
And "I hope it's THICK and LONG so it keeps me UP ALL NIGHT." ;o)
Monday, July 16, 2007
Seventh Grade Progress
Remember how Noah said he wanted to start school in June? His idea was 2 weeks on vacation, followed by two weeks of "school." And remember how I said "we'll see how long this lasts?"
Three days.
Yep, you read that right: three effing days. So much for his interest in getting a leg-up on his schoolwork this year. Not that I have a problem with his taking a summer vacation. Heck, no! I'm the unschooler around here, so I'd be fine with doing what we do all year round.
But I think that if you're going to set a goal, then you need to...oh, I don't know...work on it, perhaps? Besides, he doesn't do much work (house, yard, or school) any other time of the year. What does he need a vacation from??!!
So all y'all who were impressed a few weeks ago can relax now. Noah is spending his summer doing all the things 13-year-old boys do: chat with buddies, have sleepovers, download music, and play Runescape 'til all hours.
Who says homeschoolers are weird?!
Three days.
Yep, you read that right: three effing days. So much for his interest in getting a leg-up on his schoolwork this year. Not that I have a problem with his taking a summer vacation. Heck, no! I'm the unschooler around here, so I'd be fine with doing what we do all year round.
But I think that if you're going to set a goal, then you need to...oh, I don't know...work on it, perhaps? Besides, he doesn't do much work (house, yard, or school) any other time of the year. What does he need a vacation from??!!
So all y'all who were impressed a few weeks ago can relax now. Noah is spending his summer doing all the things 13-year-old boys do: chat with buddies, have sleepovers, download music, and play Runescape 'til all hours.
Who says homeschoolers are weird?!
The "S" Word
So, after re-reading my last post, I'm thinking...
I guess one of my biggest problems is that I lack social skills. I'm just not very graceful in conversations with others. I hate making small talk (it's hard work for me) and I really hate talking on the phone (I guess I rely on body language a lot). Simply talking to other people is just not something I'm good at.
OK. That's no surprise to me, I suppose, but here's my question: Can someone who is socially inept teach their children how to be socially suave? I know if I need to teach Algebra, I can just get a book about it or find a few websites and learn it myself, then pass it on. But social skills? Other than things like writing thank you notes and saying "please" and "thank you," I'm not sure how to teach my kids.
I know a lot of my friends who are naturally good at entertaining or are social butterflies. How do you teach that if not by example? Is it even possible?
God, I hope so.
Anyone who wants to teach me, just step right up.
I guess one of my biggest problems is that I lack social skills. I'm just not very graceful in conversations with others. I hate making small talk (it's hard work for me) and I really hate talking on the phone (I guess I rely on body language a lot). Simply talking to other people is just not something I'm good at.
OK. That's no surprise to me, I suppose, but here's my question: Can someone who is socially inept teach their children how to be socially suave? I know if I need to teach Algebra, I can just get a book about it or find a few websites and learn it myself, then pass it on. But social skills? Other than things like writing thank you notes and saying "please" and "thank you," I'm not sure how to teach my kids.
I know a lot of my friends who are naturally good at entertaining or are social butterflies. How do you teach that if not by example? Is it even possible?
God, I hope so.
Anyone who wants to teach me, just step right up.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The Three-Headed Squirrel Strikes Again
We recently made a trip home (Lancaster County, PA) to spend Big Bro's big 1-3 with Grammy. He took in a decent haul, garnering more cash than I get on my b-days, plus a guitar, amp, and tuner and a shiny new MP3 player.
Must plug the Sansa he got. It's 4 gig and plays music, FM radio, photos, and video, plus there's a voice recorder on it. All for the low, low price of $120 at Circuit City. We love it!
Anywhooo... while we were in PA, hubby and Little Bro and I went to a housewarming party for an old friend. I was nervous, since it would be the first time I'd see some of my high school friends in years, and none of them had ever met Aengus. Noah wisely chose to go to the movies with Grammy and Papa. He got to see Die Hard, the rat bastard. I've lost weight since I saw many of them (not enough, but still...), I've been working out, I've gotten to a place of peace with my own life, yada yada yada. Thought it would be fun.
And yet...
I found myself feeling exactly the same as when I lived there: the oddball, socially inept, highly uncool in everyone's eyes. And these were my "friends." The hostess, Melissa, will always be a good friend, and while she and I don't agree on many things, we love each other and will always have a good relationship. Aside from her, however, everyone gave me that look.
Like I'm a three-headed squirrel.
Dammit, I'm 36 years old! Why did they make me feel 14 again? I'm not even sure I can put my finger on the problem. I'm a fun-loving girl, and we chatted about all kinds of things. But I was clearly the oddball. Again. I got the feeling people were rushing to get out of their conversations with me, never to return. I just got a we-don't-like-you-but-we-tolerate-you-for-Melissa's-sake vibe. I left there feeling like a total loser.
But I am what I am, right? I mean, I know what my faults are, and I'm working on them. Really, I am! But my freak flag waves proudly -- I am a three-headed squirrel, dammit, and I've no interest in changing so my old friends will accept me. It's obvious to me now that the reason I never really felt like one of them is because I wasn't, and apparently I never will be. I am what I am, and I always will be.
So while nothing specific happened at this party, I did manage to realize that I hate that whole place, and *cough-gasp-sputter* Virginia is where I belong.
Three-headed squirrels are welcome here.
Must plug the Sansa he got. It's 4 gig and plays music, FM radio, photos, and video, plus there's a voice recorder on it. All for the low, low price of $120 at Circuit City. We love it!
Anywhooo... while we were in PA, hubby and Little Bro and I went to a housewarming party for an old friend. I was nervous, since it would be the first time I'd see some of my high school friends in years, and none of them had ever met Aengus. Noah wisely chose to go to the movies with Grammy and Papa. He got to see Die Hard, the rat bastard. I've lost weight since I saw many of them (not enough, but still...), I've been working out, I've gotten to a place of peace with my own life, yada yada yada. Thought it would be fun.
And yet...
I found myself feeling exactly the same as when I lived there: the oddball, socially inept, highly uncool in everyone's eyes. And these were my "friends." The hostess, Melissa, will always be a good friend, and while she and I don't agree on many things, we love each other and will always have a good relationship. Aside from her, however, everyone gave me that look.
Like I'm a three-headed squirrel.
Dammit, I'm 36 years old! Why did they make me feel 14 again? I'm not even sure I can put my finger on the problem. I'm a fun-loving girl, and we chatted about all kinds of things. But I was clearly the oddball. Again. I got the feeling people were rushing to get out of their conversations with me, never to return. I just got a we-don't-like-you-but-we-tolerate-you-for-Melissa's-sake vibe. I left there feeling like a total loser.
But I am what I am, right? I mean, I know what my faults are, and I'm working on them. Really, I am! But my freak flag waves proudly -- I am a three-headed squirrel, dammit, and I've no interest in changing so my old friends will accept me. It's obvious to me now that the reason I never really felt like one of them is because I wasn't, and apparently I never will be. I am what I am, and I always will be.
So while nothing specific happened at this party, I did manage to realize that I hate that whole place, and *cough-gasp-sputter* Virginia is where I belong.
Three-headed squirrels are welcome here.
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