I could have probaly used another 12 inches at least...

O.k., call me just one of the masses, but I am unashamedly enjoying of the "Harry Potter". The movie last night was AWESOME!! It was absolutely worth the wait, and definitely worth the late night, and subsequent painful/hweh morning. (See? still not fully awake or coherent...)

Favorite Things about the movie:

First thing: Daniel Radcliffe gave a wonderful performance. While he was a bit emo at times (hello!! 15 years old, saw someone die, and does anyone remember all the yelling in the book?), I thought he captured Harry's growing emotional maturity. When he says to Sirius, "I'm just angry all the time", I was heartbroken. When he speaks of his fear that his connection to Voldemort makes him an evil person, his anxiety and shame are absolutely believable. He also captures the joy and confidence that Harry experiences while teaching the members of the D.A. So, Daniel, despite your pretentious desire to distance yourself from Harry, and also the pics that make you look not like the 17 year old you are, but a 50 year old porn star, I thought you were terrific.

Next: Imelda Staunton as Doloros Umbridge. Ooohh... she was completely terrifying!! She captured the character's desire to control everyone and everything at Hogwarts so well. And, how much did we love her office with all of the cats?

C. Michael Gambon as Dumbledore. While I was always a fan of the Richard Harris, Michael Gambon gave Dumbledore, strength, power, attitude and also portrayed the deep care he has for Harry. Which leads me to:

4th: The Wizard's fights in the Ministry of Magic. I thought the dueling was very stunningly visualized, and the final showdown between Voldemort and Dumbledore was incredible.

Anyway, I definitely need to see this movie again - possibly on an Imax screen.

More tomorrow, when my obsession starts to wane a bit.

Ranting while wearing a dress she made herself

Harry Potter!!! Harry Potter!!!

Tonight is the opening night for "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", and we are going to be there. I am ridiculously excited for the movie tonight!!! I am interested to see how a book so large will translate into a movie, and I think the fight scene at the end in the Ministry of Magic will be amazing!!

Things are pretty low key right now besides the Harry Potter preparations and book release celebrations. Drama free, and loving every minute of that. Except for...

We are planning a Relief Society retreat for August at Spring Glen Park. When I mentioned in Ward Council that we would be doing this, I was belittled on all sides by the men in the room. "You are going to sleep in tents?" You guys are going to build fires"? I know I was the only girl in the room, and they were probably teasing (to a degree), but seriously, guys - do you not think we can handle this? I am just going to say this. "Who plans activities for you all the time? Who feeds you on a regular basis? Who makes the phone calls? Who sets up the parties? I don't mean to belittle the men...I just get the feeling that if we stopped planning stuff, we would never do anything. (Or maybe that is just because I am so unpopular that if I didn't invite people over, I might never have a social life). Nevertheless, we are pretty capable women here!! I think I need to read "The Fascinating Girl" a bit more, learn how to sew, accept the fact that girls are not good at camping, and instead go to picnics and "get myself into one predicament after another". The only flaw I see in that is while I am sure it is cute when an 18 year old is playing scared of the mean nasty cow and falling into ditches, it might come off as desperate and pathetic when the 30 year old is trying to get you to hold her because she is "frightened" by the lightning. Well. I digress. Ummm, I also apologize to the men I know who do plan things. I appreciate the efforts, and I am really not a scary man-hater... really...

Anyway, next time you hear from me I will have enjoyed every minute of the HP. And I hope the movie is over two hours, because that really wouldn't be too much Harry for me...

If you're my mother, don't read this post...

I am officially the world's worst blogger as of late. Why is this? Where is my motivation or desire to record the happenings of my "hum-drum life"? Where is it?

Yesterday I spent the day in Waterton where it was 35 degrees. It was very hot. VERY HOT. At one point I laid down on the rocky beach and slept for about an hour, off and on. Mmmm, the breeze off the lake was absolutely delicious and it was a great nap. Waterton was so beautiful, and I realized that I miss going there on a regular basis. However, there was one cloud darkening the love of Waterton horizon, and that was the amount of couples there enjoying icecream and each other's company. On Friday night I went for a walk by myself with my trusty ipod, but sitting by the lake watching the two by twos got a little old. Here I was in one of the most romantic places around, listening (I am sorry to say) to some emo-ish music by myself. I think that "Summer Heat" (that's right...I just named this season's disorder) is going to get the best of me. I foresee it being worse than the Winter Wonderlust, and that one almost killed me. I should have known it was coming on last week at the fireworks when my usual seasonal disorder victim was kind of cute and funny again...

Oh, Barf. This might be the worst way to start blogging again: desperation and thinly veiled hints. C'est la vie!