And the Magic Begins

Have I mentioned I'm a huge Harry Potter fan?
An enormous Potterhead.

I can't tell you how many times I've read the books.
Well, I can.
I read the first book soon after it was released.
I was reading it to a friend's daughter,
the quintessential bedtime read,
and was intrigued by the story.
My friend insisted I'd like the book,
so I bought it.

And fell in love.

Each time a new book was released,
I would reread the series from the beginning.

Whenever a movie is released,
same thing.

Do the math.
I've read the books many times over.

Part 1 of the last movie is set to be released
on November 19.
Needless to say, I'm well into the series
for the umpteenth time.
I am now reading The Order of the Phoenix.
They're sorting the first years right now.

By far, my favourite character has become
Luna "Loony" Lovegood.
And the actress who plays her in the movies
is spot on!

Lady Fairchilde, Robi and I have a date to see the movie.
I just ordered my t-shirt to wear on opening night.



I wonder if the WB will send it by Owl Post.

Harry Potter Day - Le Deux

Yet another Harry Potter Day! Woot! Woot!
Robi, Lady Fairchilde and I are going to see HP in Imax!!
Tonight.
Oh baby!

Just imagine the opening scene with
the Death Eaters flying through London.
On a huge motha screen!
Booyah!!

Since the theatre is a fair walk from the office,
And I don't want to carry my usual suitcase/bag with me,
I thought I'd just bring my wallet.
A lovely black Coach wallet that my previous bosses
gave me for Christmas one year.
(Thanks Penny and Jen!)
I can fit everything into this thing.
Money, cards, keys, gum, GO Train ticket.
You name it.

I figured, to pass the time on the way to and from downtown,
I'd play games on my BlackBerry.
Rather than read a book.

But, of course, my ADD got the better of me this morning,
and I simply couldn't concentrate on anything on the train.
As usual, I was sitting with my GO Train Buddy,
who, by the way,
is the biggest sci-fi geek I know.
As much as I love Harry Potter, he loves Star Trek.

So we're playing with our BBs,
exchanging PIN numbers so we could message back and forth.
Mostly to bitch about delayed trains and noisy riders.

And he messages me to test the link.
Types "from GTB"
which, with my dyslexia and ADD, I mistaken for his initials.
Which I know are BG.
So I ask
"What does the "T" stand for?"

He rolls his eyes.
"GO Train Buddy"

God I'm dumb sometimes.
And I laugh and tell him that I thought it was his initials.
Only backwards.
He points out that his initials are actually BSG
"Battle Star Galactica!" he exclaims
eyes all bright,
bobbing his head up and down
grinning madly

OMG!
"You are such a GEEK!!" I tell him, laughing.
He pretends he's offended (or maybe he's not!)
and tells me if he's a geek then what am I.
"I'm totally a geek!" I admit.
Proud of it too!!

But now I'm thinking, what HP character am I
with the initials MM?
OH!
Moaning Myrtle!!

Hmmm ...
wait, that doesn't sound quite right.

My Potterverse

If you don't live in a cave, then you know that
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
opens in theatres on Wednesday.

Lady Fairchild, Robilicious and I are going to the premier.
We've already purchased our tickets.
I sleep with mine under my pillow.
I don't want the Nargles stealing it.

In anticipation of this great event,
the three of us went shopping for Potterphernalia.
At the very least, I expected to find a Quidditch scarf.
But no ...

Rien.
Nada.
Zip.
Not one piece of Potterphernalia to be found.

All I could find was an HP version of the 20 Questions game.
Which, I must say, is still pretty cool.
If you don't know what the 20Q game is, then click on the link.
You can get just a regular one that's not theme specific.
I keep mine at my desk, which entertains the lawyers I work for.
I also bring it on road trips and long flights.
It really is a lot of fun to play with

But I digress (as usual).
This is what my HP 20Q game looks like:




It's a Golden Snitch.
It has wings and everything!
How frickin' cool is that??!



Despite the great find, I am still disappointed,
to say the least,
with the lack of Potterphernalia.
I blame it all on Stephenie Meyer,
the author of the Twilight Series.

It started when the release of the Half-Blood Prince
(originally set for November 2008)
was rescheduled due to the release of the Twilight movie.
She couldn't wait?
Her books were already selling like hotcakes.
Would it have killed her to wait until all the HP movies were released?

And let me point out that Robert Pattinson,
who plays Edward in Twilight,
was first portrayed as Cedric Diggory,
who is branded a hero because he was murdered by
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

I really thought I'd like the Twilight series.
I tried reading the first book.
Couldn't finish it.
Don't know why ... just couldn't.

So I've been on a bit of an anti-Twilight binge lately.

Then I started writing this post.
And Googled the books and the author.
She has a blog.
(of course she does, who doesn't?!)
I read her post about how she got published.
I hate to admit it, but it's quite inspirational.
She may be my new hero.

Cousin Alex returned Twilight to me on Saturday.
Maybe I'll pick it up again.