Double, Double Toil and Trouble

So much for blogging every day. I didn't even make it a full week. Oh well.

I can't think of much to write about right now, so I'll just talk about Harry Potter. I'm so flippin' excited! Only 13 days until Deathly Hallows part 1 comes out! I was thinking about going to a midnight showing, but I have to work the next day. I'll probably go after work on Friday, since the hospital is so close to The District, which has a fantastic movie theater.

Megaplex 20 @ The District in South Jordan, UT

Okay, in looking for a picture of the District (not a very good one, sorry), I discovered that there will be some pretty big to-do's in celebration of the movie. I might have to go on Thursday night after all!

Anyway, I love the Harry Potter.  I honestly hadn't heard anything about the story until I was a missionary in Belgium.  My companion and I were speaking with a lady in her home, when she asked if I had read any of the books (there were four at the time).  My companion had read them, and she told me I needed to read them as well.  So I added them to my list of books to read . . . hmm, I wonder where that little notebook has gone.  I also made a list of places to go and movies to see in that wee pad of paper.  That would be nice to know.

So, when I returned (in January 2002--man, I'm getting old!), I believe the movie had just come out the previous November.  I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie, so I borrowed them from someone; I can't remember who, though it was probably Shannah Leigh.  I COULD NOT PUT THEM DOWN.  I'll admit that I can get a little obsessive with good books--I'll stay up all night reading.  But that doesn't happen very often.  Most books I can spread out over a longer period of time.  Not Harry.  I read the first book in one sitting, and I'm pretty sure I had finished the first three within that same week.  I'm not sure why, but somehow I didn't read #4 (Goblet of Fire) until sometime in 2003.  The only reason I remember that is because I was living in a basement in Murray (a couple of miles from where I'm living now), and that is when I went to a Dave Matthew's Band concert (yes, by myself).  I went to USANA Amphitheater early, since I didn't already have a ticket, and I figured I'd be waiting in line so I brought Harry with me.  I ended up getting a front-row seat for $50 . . . I was pretty shocked, but I guess it can happen when you go solo.  The concert was great, but I had left the book (also borrowed from Shannah Leigh) under my seat, and when I got home, I realized someone had spilled an entire cup of beer on it.  Awesome.

I purchased the rest of the books on the days they were released, and read them all within the same week.  Yeah, I guess I do obsess about Harry a little bit, but they are just so well written that you feel like you are a part of the story.  I honestly feel like Harry, Ron and Hermione are dear friends to me, and it's a sweet reunion to read the books again and again.  I have probably been through the series 3 or 4 times over, and I have read the last three books 5 or 6 times.  I don't know many people personally who have read them as many times as I have, but considering how popular they are all around the world, I know I'm not alone.  I know there are some who think that it's weird and evil because it deals with magic.  Yes, it does revel in magic, but really it's about love--how love can overcome all things, even the most evil creatures.  There is so much to learn about friendship and charity and family, and it's all woven into this beautiful world of make-believe.  I know it's just a story, and I know I will never understand real magic, if there is such a thing.  But I understand Harry, and his unselfish journey to save the world from the darkest wizard.

If you haven't read the books, I suggest you do.  There are elements of darkness, but you cannot appreciate the light without them.  Goodness, kindness, friendship and love triumph in the end, and it just fills my little heart with happiness.

Of course, the books are better than the movies, but the visual elements have their place as well.  They have all been very well done, and I love that the cast has remained the same the entire time . . . except for the first Dumbledore, who passed away after the second movie was completed.  I love watching the young actors and actresses grow up before my eyes.  I love seeing how different directors interpret the screenplays.  I love having movie marathons, playing them all back-to-back.  I'm usually doing other things at the same time, since I have seen them so often, but it's just a part of me.  Harry has worked his way into my soul.  Other characters from other books are there as well, but none are as firmly entrenched.

This is a picture of the trio while making the Sorcerer's Stone (the first movie):

They were so young!

This one is from 2007, just before Order of the Phoenix came out (#5):

And here they are while filming Deathly Hallows (#7, coming out on November 19):

Holding hands, getting ready to apparate.

 That's not a very happy picture, but they it shows how they have grown-up together.  I expect we'll see happier pics when they walk the red carpet.

Okay, that's enough.  Only 12 more days.

Heaven Isn't Too Far Away

Yet another reason to love Super Target:

This is definitely a pain-au-chocolat. I was checking out the Bakery @ Super Target (which I hardly ever do) when I found these babies. I was so excited! These are found everywhere in France, but good ones are pretty difficult to find in the states. And they are good, too! Oh, quel bonheur !

We Need Love and Peace

Man, I need to start my blogging earlier!  I've gotta sleep.

I did just want to put in my two cents for the election: T.H.I.O. (Thank Heavens It's Over.)  I think it's interesting for a while, but all of the politicking gets so ugly that I can't stand it.  I haven't even listened to the radio in the past two months because of all the ads.

I think the most interesting (and obnoxious) race in Utah was for the second congressional district seat.  Utah is a very RED state, with both senators, and two of three congressman from the GOP.  Salt Lake county tends to be a bit more liberal, which I can appreciate, although I refuse to align myself with any political party.  Even so, Congressman Matheson (a democrat) has been a representative for the past 10 years, and he has done fairly well.  I like him.  His main challenger during this election was Morgan Philpot, a representative in the Utah State House of Representatives.  I was intrigued by Philpot at first, because he made it sound like he would bring new energy and ideas, etc., etc.  Then his ads started coming out attacking Matheson.  And SO MANY SIGNS on roads, overpasses, everywhere saying "Matheson = Pelosi" and "Philpot = Patriots," and "Go Philpot!  We the People support you!"  The sheer number of signs seriously pissed me off.  Even so, I think the Matheson = Pelosi signs were the worst; how can you say that one democratic congressman from Utah is even close to being a Nancy Pelosi?  Matheson has not always voted along party lines; I think he actually tries to represent Utahns, because he knows he will not be re-elected if he doesn't.  Even so, Philpot's campaign was at least 75% negative, which drives me batty.  I only recall one "negative" television ad from Matheson's campaign, pointing out that Philpot missed more than 200 votes as a state representative (just not even showing up for the vote), then moved out-of-state while keeping his title and his state benefits.  That was the game-changer for me.  If Philpot felt he could get away with that kind of behavior in the State Legislature, how could we possibly trust him when he's on the other side of the country?  I'm just glad it's done and the Philpot signs are disappearing (finally).  Let's just move on, shall we?

I did like Peter Corroon's concession speech.  He ran for Governor, and lost by a considerable margin to the incumbent.  But when he gave his speech, he said something to the effect of, "We are all winners.  We have elected Governor Herbert, who is a good man, and who spends every minute of the day working for the good of the state of Utah.  I give him my whole-hearted support."  That was very classy to me.  I wish all of the losers could come out with their heads held high like that.

I think I hate it so much because of all the conflict.  I hate confrontation and competition, even when it's not me doing the competing.  Can't we all just get along?  And can we please have a moment's peace before the pundits start zoning in on 2012?

Leaves That Are Green

This is my 200th post.  I should be more excited, I suppose.  Whatever.

"Leaves That Are Green" is one of my favorite Simon & Garfunkel songs. And it is that time of year, so here are some pics I took today. I took the boy to the park and chased him around for an hour and a half trying to get some decent pictures.  So here are a few (totally, uncharacteristically unretouched).


I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song
I'm twenty-two now but I won't be for long
Time hurries on
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither in the wind

The only way I could get him to be still was to stick him in a tree.

Once my heart was filled with the love of a girl
I held her close but she faded in the night
Like a poem I meant to write
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither in the wind
And they crumble in your hand

I threw a pebble in a brook
And watched the ripple run away
And they never made a sound
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither in the wind
And they crumble in your hand

Every time I tried to lead him somewhere, he would pull the limp noodle.  Grr.

I threw a pebble in a brook
And watched the ripple run away
And they never made a sound
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither in the wind
And they crumble in your hand

Hello, hello, hello, hello
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
That's all there is
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither in the wind
And they crumble in your hand

He's a sweet boy, even if he is a handful.  That's all there is.

It's All In Your Mind

I think that November is National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo).  Maybe that's all in my mind, but I need to be better about blogging, since this is basically my journal.  I have one I write in when I'm really pissed off, but no one should ever read that.

Since I'm lacking in inspiration most days, here is a prompt from the NaBloPoMo website:

What toy from your childhood do you still have in your possession?

I have a small bean-bag type doll named Wilbur.  I don't think I came up with the name (I'm pretty sure the name is on the little tag).  He is extremely dirty, he has a long nose and a sad face and on his belly is written: "I Need Love."  For some reason I just can't bring myself to throw him away . . . so he sits on the dresser in my little man's room.

On a totally unrelated topic, I have been really bad about reading my scriptures for, well, for a long time.  I have excuses, but none of them are very good or justifiable. The other night I picked them up and flipped through them, hoping for a little message from Heavenly Father.  I got it here, in Doctrine and Covenants Section 93.  (For those of you who may not know, I believe the Doctrine & Covenants, or D&C, to be modern revelation from the Lord, i.e., scripture.)

42 You have not ^ataught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your ^baffliction.

  43 And now a commandment I give unto you—if you will be delivered you shall set in ^aorder your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house.

Yes, there are many things in my house that are not right.  It is definitely not in order (read: messy), but there are other things missing from my house too.  Most especially among those things out-of-order are my priorities.  I haven't been putting the Lord first in my life.  I don't do everything for His glory; I'm just trying to get by day to day.  I have been in 'survival' mode for so long, I have forgotten what it's like to be engaged in the work of the Lord.  I look back at my time as a missionary with extreme fondness, because I knew who I was.  I knew what I was doing.  And I knew I was exactly where Heavenly Father wanted me to be.  I haven't felt that kind of approbation in a very long time, and I miss it.  I want it back.  But getting there will be tough; it will require work on my part, so I need to summon up the energy from somewhere.

I did manage to get some cleaning done today, trying to literally put my house in order, because I know I feel better and happier when I'm not surrounded by messiness.  I know I'll never be one of those great housekeepers, who manage to keep their homes and children and lives organized.  Baby steps, I suppose, are the way to do it.  ("Baby steps, get on the bus.")

I do need to go bed, but I'll try to post something every day this month.  Baby steps, become a real blogger.