Thoughts from places: London

Last week I didn't post anything because I was in London.

London, where can I start. This is one of my favorite cities, I've already been there twice before but I was 16 when I went there last time and I was too overwhelmed then to enjoy it. Last two times I went it was with my mom and stepdad but this time I went with two of my best friends, Sandra and Svenni.

It felt different than last two times. I walked out of the airplane ready to feel overwhelmed by the big airport, big buildings (that, by the way, don't exist in Iceland) and way too many people. I didn't feel that, it felt nice, it felt beautiful - almost like home.

For the last few months, maybe years, I've felt like I didn't have a home. My home hasn't felt right in a very long time, I don't even feel welcome. I know my parents love me and my brother is absolutely my favorite person in the world but somehow I feel like I don't belong here - it's been even worse since I finished college - I feel kind of lost and insecure.

The hostel in London - it felt more safe than "home" in Iceland. The people were oh-so-wonderful, I had a crush on a boy (my heart still feels a little warmer thinking of him) just because he was cute - we kissed (and more, maybe). This feeling I haven't really let myself feel for so long, flirting like I haven't been doing since I was attacked last year. I let myself out there, it was really awesome, it was the old me coming back, not the one who has been hiding away just because of some jerk who screwed with me - who I thought had ruined a part of me. Regaining that part of me gave me a lot of confidence, especially in the boy-field. Let's just say I came back with new emails (pl.), phonenumber and experience.

Enough of this.

The hostel! When leaving we spoke of the lack of privacy - that we'd be so happy to sleep in our own beds when we'd get back. Honestly, I miss sharing a room with 8 people. I have always been a very private person, but I really miss crawling to bed at 3 in the morning when everybody's asleep, trying not to make a noise.

Shit. I miss London.

Just being there, everything way bigger than everything I know, the shops are way bigger. In Iceland the total population is about 320.000 people, that is probably the amount of people that I could see in a few minutes standing in Oxford street. People just looking straight ahead, walking - me just smiling at everything and everyone hoping for a smile back. I guess that's one difference, people just walk and don't notice the people around them - me shouting "hello!" "good morning" at everyone that looks cute and to everyone that I see gives me a glance.

One day I'll move there, maybe for one summer - maybe longer.
I miss the London summer, the feeling of warmth at the hostel, all the partying and cuddling.

My last week has been pretty uneventful.

I don't really have much to talk about today. I'm going out tomorrow with my friend Ali to buy some skirts and non-tshirts.

I hope you ladies are enjoying your trips. I'm poor and haven't been on a vacation since 2003, and I probably won't be going on another for quite a long time. But I'm going to attempt to go to LeakyCon and/or VidCon next year.

Speaking of which, I'm incredibly jealous of everyone who is at VidCon right now. Just throwing that out there.

Oh, and I ordered The Fault in Our Stars today! For all of $9.88. I'm so excited, especially since it's being released in January instead of May. It'll make an excellent early birthday present. :D

out of town and doing this on my phone

i cant post because im in los vegas right now. see you guys next week.

I have been a Potter fan for more than half my life.

I discovered Harry Potter when I was nine years old. My older brother, Jeff, had to read Sorcerer's Stone for some book report when he was in sixth grade, so instead of reading it, my mom bought the audio book on cassette. When not listening to that, we'd read it together in the car.

And, as they say, the rest was history.

I fell in love with this story, and I quickly begged my mom to buy the remaining three books so that I could read them all. That was in 2000, before OotP, HBP, and DH were published. As for those books, I pre-ordered the fifth and sixth books. I still have the first editions, mistakes and all. I went to the midnight release for the last book and stayed up all night, completely lost in this magical world. I cried when every single character died. Most of all Snape, because I was so convinced that he was evil.

So, of course, when the movie came out last Friday, I went to the midnight release with my mom. We went to the 3D show, and as you saw from Karena's post, we had the most awesome 3D glasses ever to be created. I still have mine, and I'm pretty sure I will never, ever get rid of them. I'll probably even wear them to other 3D movies just because I can.

Now, as for the movie itself, it was brilliant. It was a lot funnier than I thought it would have been, with all of the dark themes in it. But between the awkward way Voldy hugged Draco, to Neville saying "That went well," and all of the other witty dialogue. I loved every moment of this movie, and I fell in love with Neville all over again.

And, if any of you have seen my Tumblr, it's obvious. For the past week or so, I've been obsessively reblogging anything relating to Harry Potter or Matthew Lewis (you know, the guy who played Neville who looks absolutely amazing now? Puberty was kind to that kid).

I'll miss this series. It was a huge part of my childhood, and this last movie, in a way, symbolized the ending of said childhood. The magic will never end, even though the series did.

And, besides, there will probably be a Potter remake in 20 years anyway.

Rediscovering Harry Potter

So I have a confession to make.

I used to be really into Harry Potter but lost interest in it between the 5th and 6th books. I hadn't ever looked back.

Except! Though she didn't say it my mother seemed to really want to go see the double feature (part 1 and 2) of the Deathly Hallows at the midnight showing, and I knew that she would only go if somebody went with her. I wanted to make her happy so I said that I'd go with her if she decided to go. She did.

So...I hadn't seen a Harry Potter movie since the 3rd one (my HP favorite book). I had some catching up to do. So I borrowed my roommates DVD's of the movies and watched them. As I watched them I started to really get into the story again. Also may have developed a girl crush on Emma Watson. Since I've never read the 6th or 7th book, I was excited to watch both movie versions. The Half Blood Prince movie disappointed me. I felt like they missed some interesting nuance that may or may not have been in the book. And the Ginny/Harry romance seemed forced, unlike in the books where I saw it coming. I don't think the actors had all that much chemistry. Maybe I'll read the book.

So I went to the double feature, midnight showing and absolutely loved part 1 of Deathly Hallows. My favorite characters have always been Ron and Neville. And Ron's inferiority complex, but strength of character has always made me love him. That movie hit my "I <3 Ron" button like whoa. The prejudice, the world weary trio surviving. Mmm yes. And the landscapes! Dear God, that landscapes were gorgeous. Props to the director of photography.

*Spoilers for Deathly Hallows part 2 movie*

Then there was part 2 which poked at my "I <3 Neville" button when he makes that speech. He's such a joke, everyone laughing at him 'till the end (the audience included), but he's so wonderful despite it. Neville as I love him.

The movie was in 3D and they had special Harry Potter 3D glasses for the event. They were the most comfortable 3D glasses that I've ever gotten. I kept them.

Fred dieing was what I wanted it to be. I heard that in the book it was only mentioned, but I knew that the movie couldn't skip by it. Oh man, when George called him Freddy and when he hugged Ron when he came back. I nearly lost it.

Remus and Tonks lying dead was terribly romantic and I imagined them as warrior lovers battling together to the death. Beautiful.

Snape's memory was adequately confusing. But of course Snape is made of amazing.

I love Helena Bonham Carter as Belatrix (she was brilliant wasn't she) and it was wonderful to see Mrs. Weasley kicking ass.

It was entirely beautiful to watch. Great cinematography and animation. The epilogue wasn't my favorite, but it was a nice juxtaposition of the final shot of the trio after the final battle and the ending shot of them sending their children off to Hogwarts.

*End Spoilers*

And seriously, I watched some behind the scenes stuff on the Half Blood Prince DVD and both the Neville and Ron actors are ridiculously charming, well adjusted dudes. I bet their married. Just my luck. :P Kidding.

At the end of the movie I was surprised when I felt emotional about the movies ending. But it felt like the end of the Harry Potter series. It was a goodbye, and I'm terrible at goodbyes. It was only in a weeks time that I had fallen back in love with Harry Potter.

Goodbye Harry Potter Series. I remember when we were both a lot younger, but we've grown up since then. You now a successful franchise instead of the budding book series that got children reading again, me now an adult in her final semester of college instead of the bookworm child that I was. I'll come visit every once in a while, but it will never be the same again. In the future I will be glad that things were never the same again. I look forward to your remake in 20-30 years. I'll keep my ears open to you tune. Best. Karena Wells.

And watching the end of the film, the theme music that's always undoes my apathy toward Harry Potter the same as the smell of a Harry Potter book has always done, it felt satisfying like the end of a Star Wars movie and dreadfully permanent like a graduation. A moment made forever iconic. I'm greatful that I didn't miss it. Thanks Mom. :)

HP7+

I have a confession to make... I haven't read HP7! I borrowed it yesterday and I'm reading it, planning to finish it before I see the movie this week. You've all seen the movie?

Btw, Sarah! Do you use Facebook (and want us on it, that is)? Because we have a FB group for this blog and it's a nice way to communicate. I'd love to see you there :).

In other news... I'm (hopefully) moving to Spain in September, that's crazy! My Spanish knowledge is crappy right now and I'm moving into some family in a small village as an au pair. It's so exciting, I feel like I'm going to explode, shit. I hope I'm not too excited because it's not confirmed that I'm going there, I have a skype date with the host family tonight.

Plans for next week: Read HP7, see HP7, see more of my Spanish friend (the one I have, awyeaaah) and go to LONDON! Top that, beachessss...

So, no blog next week from me!
See you guys.
xx

Just got home from HP7PT2

I think that's a bit too long of an abbreviation. I'd like to declare this week to be Harry Potter week, if that's alright with you guys. Or we can wait. I'll probably see it 2-3 more times anyway.

I got my classes all set up for the fall, and I have a rather insane schedule. Sort of. I have two science labs and a chemistry class every Wednesday. God help me.

I'd write more, but it is 3:09 am, and I should probably get some sleep. So, I will leave you with a photo of the shirt I made for the premiere. I don't have a photo of the back, but it says "Mischief Managed. 07.15.2011" and then there's a lightning bolt that says DFTBA on the side.

Waiting Here

I am here, sitting at my computer with nothing to say. I have all the time in the world today to post something and not a single thought crosses my mind.

I also have nothing to do so here I am, trying to to something. I was just plain lazy today and I'm very ashamed at myself for it. I didn't go to work today because I slept in and told my boss so. I'm embarrassed about it because I want to be better than that. I was going to say that it was because I expected more from myself, but as I started writing it I knew that it wasn't true. I expect very little of myself, but I want that to change. I've been working toward that for a long time now. I want to be the first one in and the last one out. That's who I strive to be. I'm afraid that in reality I am not meant for that path, that I'm not made of the "right stuff" to succeed.

People expect something of me. Since I was little the people I associate with have come to rely on me for reasons beyond my comprehension. It just always happens and it has always scared me. I'd forced myself into underachievement for may year to try and force their standards off of me. I've sabotaged more than a few relationships, telling myself that I'm not the person they thought I was (I'm still not sure on that one). The results were lasting, my work ethic declined and my social skill all but vanished. I got depressed and lost and lied, in that order. But in high school I decided to change all of that and here I am today, trying to see if I really am the person people think I am. Someone they can rely on. Someone they can look up to.

What kind of person do you gals strive to be? You don't have to answer if you don't want to. Thanks for the talk and filling up the time. I'll try to do better next week. Ciao.

Also, Eureka and Warehouse 13 premieres tonight! \o/ Excited!

winter is coming

Sarah, Karena (and maybe Marwa and Stephanie?)! We are so doing NaNo this year. Looking forward to it, mon!

Posting for the first time on my "new" computer, aye! My macbook broke few months back and my older brother fixed up an older laptop for me, so yay! It works really fast, it's very nice except for the fact it has Linux on it and I really can't figure out how to listen to music other than youtube on this thingie.

This week was busy. I went out for dinner 4 nights, no kidding, plus a barbecue party at my work today. I went out every night and now I'm exhausted. It was a really good week. An amazing week. I saw almost all of my closest friends, went out with a group of people from work. Ahh, it's nice.

This very moment there is a dinner party at my house. I really want peace and quiet, so I'm locked in my room with my computer. I reaalllly want to relax! Dang.

Buheeey! Have you guys watched Game of Thrones (or even red the book series)? Everybody's talking about it and I already downloaded the first episode. Check it out if you're interested!
And HP7 premiere next week (yesterday in USA?), fuckkkk I can't wait! It's going to be so awesome. I don't want it to end. I, and probably all of you, grew up with the books. HP=my childhood, my first real literature, started at age 11 (never got the letter, still waiting!).

Have a nice weekend, girls + 2 followers.
xx

Actually posting on a Thursday this week. :D

I have five minutes left, actually, but oh well.

This hasn't been a very eventful week. Monday was Independence Day, and I went over Cody's house (the guy whose baby I get paid to watch), and we had a cookout and set off something like $100 worth of fireworks. We got some of those really big ones that shoot high in the sky and crackle. They were amazing, but we scared the little girl next door. As for Jaeda? She slept right through it. She is one weird child.

I'm getting paid tomorrow! Hooray! But I don't have much to spend it on, since I have to go up to Tampa on Wednesday for orientation at my university, and I was told today that my best friend will not be coming to visit me this summer. Which is really sad, but hopefully I'll get to see her soon. In the meantime, I'll just spend time with my friend Ali, who has recently become one of my best friends, and we'll shop and go see movies together.

I still don't have a place to live in Tampa, and I'm getting really worried because it's less than a month before I move there. My mom said that, more than likely, I'll have to drive two hours to go to class every day. She's buying a car later this month, and I'll probably just go up and sleep at friends' houses all week and go home on weekends until I find a place to live. Ugh, it's going to be a nightmare those first couple months. Hopefully, after I get my student aid refund (which is somewhere around $1,000) I'll be able to find an apartment, since I'll have enough for a down payment and rent.

And when I transfer to the University of Florida, I am living on campus. Hopefully I'll actually get accepted this time. I'm excited to even hope to go there, even though my ex-boyfriend goes there and is in the band (and for those of you who know how bands are set up, flutes sit in front of alto saxes. I play flute. He plays alto.). But, he's the only downside to an otherwise excellent idea.

I'm done rambling, mostly. I changed topic a lot. Have a great week everyone!

I am, once again, late

Hey all! Sorry I'm once again late. I am in the midst of tour de fleece, which means I'm spending most of my waking hours within arm's reach of a spinning wheel, which is sort of distracting lol. currently spinning up my first lace weight, just for shits and giggles, we'll see how that turns out. also, I have a skein drying that is going to be absolutely gorgeous. I should really figure out how to post pics, because it really is very pretty yarn. hold up while I go try to do that.



so that's my life at the moment. also, I think something went wrong posting the pic. oh well.

Busy now

This is a little late, but better late than never right? This'll be short, due to a church conference all this week I'm attending that kinda requires an actual good amount of sleep.
I'm not a huge fan of July 4th, since basically what it means to me is smoky air and dogs barking. Sorry, don't mean to offend anyone, the magic is just gone.
I wanna do Nanowrimo too! I was planning on it, but having other people to do it with should help my dedication levels tremendously.
I also want to see Green Lantern, after being told it's only bad if you don't know the story. I also saw Cars 2 recently, which, you know, was a good movie, just not regular awesome Pixar quality.
I don't really have anything else to say, except that I'm enjoying the conference a whole lot. I don't remember if anyone's religious; sorry if it's not your favorite topic.

Also, next week I will be gone on another week-long church conference at a 'camp' which has extremely skimpy wifi. I know; crazy summer. So I might be able to check in with a few sentences from my ipod, but I wouldn't count on it. But... I will try to talk to you all then!

4th of July

So since today is Independence Day, I have had family/friend obligations of the social kind. I love my country and I love this holiday, especially since it's the one day people agree with me that strawberries and cake go well together. It's late now and I don't have time to post a lot because I have work in the morning. Here's some quick responses.

-Holy wha-! Sarah, you came back. I'm glad I didn't find someone to replace you. Don't be a stranger, now.
- I have both Looking For Alaska and Paper Towns, but I haven't read either. Paper Towns is the one book I'm going to finish reading this summer (I have a summer goal to finish at least one book).
-Oh man, a 50 Cent book. I wonder if it will be surprisingly insightful (or full of ghost writers /inevitable)
-Alda and Stephanie both posted on the wrong day and it worked divinely
-I am totally the person who is always listening to other people's problems. Though I am trying to be less like that now-a-days, I have lots of experience in "therapy" situations. It's okay to be down sometimes. The point of this blog is to get to know each other so I think it's healthy to get things out in the open sometimes.
-Alda: NaNoWriMo would be fun to do together!
-The Postal Service reminds me of high school. I couldn't help smiling when I heard it.
-I've been avoiding seeing the Green Lantern movie, but everyone keeps recommending it to me. I think maybe I'll go see it.

I saw three movies this weekend. All of them I liked, but I'd only recommend one to you. If you want to see a good summer blockbuster then go see Super 8. I love JJ Abrams, and this was good storytelling. The other two movies I saw were Transformers and Bad Teacher. Don't see either unless you know what you're getting into.

Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans

This is me, forgetting what day of the week it is and blogging late. Again.

I like to do things in lists, so that I don't get lost.

1. SARAH, YOU'VE RETURNED. I've been wondering where you ran off to. I hope you'll come and update more often, because we nearly replaced you. But it's nice to see you back, and I adore your sister right now because all I've been watching lately is DW.

2. Marwa: I AM SO EXCITED FOR POTTERMORE AS WELL. I'm going to make sure I sign up as early as humanly possible on 31 July because I want to know what this is all about. I'm so excited to learn more about my favorite book series, and I love JK Rowling for writing this. And that's something, because I love her a lot.

3. I've read all of John Green's solo books, and I adore them. I think Katherines doesn't get the attention it deserves, because it's a lovely book. Everyone always seems to focus on Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns. I don't think I can choose a favorite because they're all so wonderful. You get pulled into this world and it's like you're sitting right there next to the main characters. His books also make me want to try Strawberry Hill, because it makes appearances all the time.

----

So, I didn't update last week because my internet bill was due, but since my dad gets paid on Fridays, we weren't able to pay it. Which is really sad, because I was bored out of my mind for a few days. I don't have a car, either, so I honestly had nothing to do with my time.

Babysitting Jaeda has been getting easier. She laughed for the first time about a week and a half ago, and it was the most adorable sound I have ever heard. And then she proceeded to look right at my dad and day "HA!" really loudly. It's cute. I need a good picture of her for you guys. Maybe I can find one on Cody's Facebook if I try.

On Saturday, I finally got to get out of the house and hang out with one of my closest friends, Ali. We saw Green Lantern, and I must say, it was much better than the critics are saying. Ryan Reynolds is an amazing Hal Jordan, and I love Blake Lively as Carol Ferris. I even love how they alluded to her future as a Star Sapphire by having her pilot callname be "Sapphire." The movie was great for comic book geeks like myself, and I guess the critics just couldn't follow the plot like us geeks could. I give it an 8.5/10, and I definitely recommend you go see it.

After the movie, we went shopping and I got a beach dress for when my best friend comes to visit, or for when Ali and I go to the beach next weekend. I'm not sure which will come first. I haven't been to the beach since...April 2009, and I live in Southwest Florida. No lie, I probably live about 30 minutes from Fort Myers Beach, and yet I never go there. No wonder I practically glow in the dark.

I hope all is well with you girls. I'm going into my last month or so at home before I move to Tampa for school. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time, and I still don't quite know where I'm living, which is causing some major issues. I hope I get that all sorted out when I go to Tampa on 13 July.

Happy July, Girls. FOURTEEN DAYS UNTIL HP7PT2 COMES OUT. I'm extremely excited, even if it means bumping into my ex-boyfriend at the midnight release.