Harry Potter Lowers My Utilities

This weekend marked the arrival of the 7th and final book of the Harry Potter series “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. We could have gone to the stores and waited outside until midnight like many adults and children. When the first book came out they were difficult to find due to most stores selling out their limited supply in the first few minutes of opening their doors. After the publication of the second book we discovered bookstores will over stock the Potter books thus no fear we will be lacking a book come morning.

Given that plus Snow White was reliving her Rainbow twizlers from Saturday evening through the wee hours of Sunday morning (ate a whole giant pack herself), I decided to wait until Sunday. Sunday came and went and I completely forgot about the book. There was so much to catch up on house wise that went on the wayside when Snow White was sick Saturday. During lunch today I drove to the nearest book store (an hour or so drive one way) and saw they had stacks and stacks of the new book. As I stood in line I couldn’t help but giggle at the thought of my children’s faces when I arrived home and presented them with their books.

They were ecstatic!! Could not believe I actually bought each of them their very own hard cover “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. They screamed Thank yous, each gave me a quick hug (nearly knocking me to the floor) then started to rush off with their books. I managed to halt them in their tracks by saying “I have more Potter treats.” Pivoting on their heels they turned to me with quizzical glances. “I bought each of you a box of Every Flavored Beans, one Chocolate Fog, and a new book mark!” There were a few more new choices in the Potter candy but I just could not make myself pick them up (Blood Pops and Gummie Slugs)Yip, it was going to be a very Harry Potter night.

Everyone seemed to go off in a different direction to find a peaceful place to read uninterrupted. I was starting to regret not getting one for myself. I wanted to know what happened too! I finally convinced Snow White how fun it would be to read it aloud. The phone rang off and on through out the night but not one of us were willing to move from our seats to answer it. The computer was turned on but no one wanted to fuss with that old thing when there is such a wonder as a Harry Potter book waiting to take them to an enchanting place full of wonderful characters that even the internet could not compete. No one wanted to eat dinner when there is such a book to be devoured. TV? Why on earth would they want to turn on a TV when they have this stupendous book to wrap their minds around?!

So, as you see, Harry Potter will help me save money on my utilities since I wont be slaving over a hot stove making a grandiose dinner, the TV will just collect dust for a few weeks and the computer…will be just for me, when I can pull myself away from reading with Snow White. You know I am so going to want to read ahead when she goes to bed.

I did find out the difference between the Hard Cover and the Hard Cover deluxe. Higher quality of paper and box sleeve. This difference was not enough for me to upgrade from the $17.99 regular hard copy to the $124.00 deluxe. Yes, people have already started auctioning off the books. I am not sure why when there are so many $17.99 available at Amazon.com, Waldon Books, Borders and other book stores.

Hope everyone else is having a GREAT READ!
Tonight Snow White will pick a winner for the Elizabeth Arden Give Away!

Order of the Phoenix

It is July 11, 2007 and I have children. Can you guess what we did tonight? We went to see Harry Potter the Order of the Phoenix of course! All of the Harry Potter books and movies have been extremely impressive so why not make a rainy day into a spectacular event? I ordered our tickets on line during lunch. I wished Oldest Daughter could have been with us but she is off visiting in another state.

For all the hype that usually precedes a big movie debut you would think there would be a special stand in the mall full of Harry Potter memorabilia, costume items and accessories but not here. There was not one Harry Potter thing in the stores around here, nothing at all.

When we reached the ticket person he informed us three of our tickets were for theater 5 and one was for theater 1. He directed us to theater 1 and I thought nothing of it....until later. Theater 1 is apparently the largest they have here, that was nice. What I did not know was the movie would start half an hour later than theater 5. Apparently they do not turn the air-conditioning on in the theater until after the movie starts. We were in that hot room watching commercials for 45 minutes. When I say commercial I mean McDonalds, cell phones, etc., just like they are shown on TV but no show in-between.

As we walked around deciding on where to sit people were oohing and awwing at Snow White's Hogwarts uniform. Where we lived before there were many people of all ages who dressed up as the Harry Potter characters. Tonight, Snow White was the only person dressed up. That is when I noticed everyone in that very full theater was either a teenager or older, everyone except Snow White. After 45 minutes of sitting, sweating, all the chocolate melting and individual Twizlers had jelled into one solid piece, the previews for other movies started. The air-conditioning also started! Yeah!



The movie was FANTASTIC! WOUNDERFULLY STUPENDOUS! Again they have out done themselves!! I will not go in to details due to the fact many people are waiting until the weekend or the DVD. I will tell you the audience CLAPPED! OOOHED AND AWWWED! LAUGHED! CHEERED! WOOHOOED! and SIGHED audibly. They, like I, just could not help themselves. Usually you see this sort of audience participation and reaction only in live performances.



There is a new character, Luna Lovegood, who made me laugh! I read a little bit about her before we went to the movie. Had I not read that little blip about her character I believe I would have missed a few of the funny things related to her character.

Speaking of characters there are a few from movies and TV shows you might not recognize given the way they are dressed for this movie. My subconscious always seems to buzz like an alarm clock when I recognize someone from past movie or TV show. One of my most favorite movies to watch over and over again is Sense and Sensibility.

Alan Rickman - When I watched the first Harry Potter movie, The Sorcerer’s Stone in 2001 I noticed Professor Snape. He was Col. Brandon in Sense and Sensibility in 1995 (loved him in that movie). He has played in many, many movies over the years but my favorites are Sense and Sensibility, Something the Lord Made and the Harry Potter movies.

Emma Thompson - Took my notice as a wonderful actress when I saw her in Sense and Sensibility in 1995. When I watched the DVD of the Harry Potter The Prisoner of Azkaban I knew she was Sybil Trelaway as soon as she spoke! She stunned me when I saw at the end of Nanny McPhee! I also liked her in Howard's End 1992 and Remains of the Day 1993. Again, she has been in many movies, TV shows, is a writer and has many other accomplishments in the industry.

Imelda Staunton - Has played many roles in TV, Movies and Radio but I remember her in Sense and Sensibility as Charlotte Jennings Palmer. As soon as I saw her in the Order of the Phoenix tonight I looked right at ManSon and said nothing. He knew once again my internal alarm went off and I knew what other movies and characters she had played. She only did "her laugh" once during the whole movie. Her laugh confirmed that it was truly her before the credits rolled at the end. Wonderful performance in the movie. Perfect example of sugar and spice and everything nice with a sharp wit and strict adherence to rules. I enjoyed her character in The Order of the Phoenix.

For those who do not have a joy for old period movies you might giggle a bit if you venture to watch Sense and Sensibility for Hugh Laurie, Dr. House on the TV series House, is also in this movie as Mr. Palmer, Mrs. Charlotte Jennings Palmer's (Imelda Staunton) husband.

The regular characters are all in the movie performing wonderfully. I would definitely recommend this movie. There are a bits of scary situations and creepy looking animals so I would not take a child under 6 or 7 years old. Snow White is 8 years old and I did think about it before we went to the movie. If she became frightened or I felt she could not handle the movie I would take her home and come back later for ManSon and his girlfriend. Snow White enjoyed the movie immensely! I asked her several times why she was so quiet and she shhhed me! “Shhhh. I want to hear everything they are saying.”