Harry Potter...

Bond and I were so lucky to get tickets to an early screening of the final installment of the Harry Potter movies.  We saw it at 6 p.m. today, Thursday, evening.  It was, like all things Harry Potter... amazing!

Afterwards I came home and hopped on ichat with one of my sisters, currently living in England.  She and her husband saw the movie when it opened at midnight, so we saw it at the same time (cool right!)  We talked about all our favorite parts of the movie and book, what they left out and added new, and she pointed me to an article posted on HuffingtonPost.com, Harry Potter and the Loss of My Adolescence by Meghan Overdeep.  This article does a wonderful job of summing up the feelings I have been having as the Harry Potter series comes to a close.   Especially the very last sentence, because as is true of any great book, the Harry Potter series has the power to truly transport you.

I have moved from adolescence into young adulthood.  But as I contemplate this article, look to the future, and of sharing the magic with my children, I realize that growing up and finding your place in the world never really ends. So the guidance and wisdom gained through the wonderful world of Harry Potter will never really end, only change as I change.  "And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure" (Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince).

Water for Elephants

Last weekend my ladies book club met to discuss Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.  We did something different this time and had no host.  Instead we went to a Saturday afternoon showing of the movie version of Water for Elephants followed by appetizers and drinks at a local restaurant.

The main character and narrator, Jacob, is in his 90's and the circus has come to town.  He begins to remember and somewhat relive a time in his life when he was searching for his path and it intersected with the circus.  I am not sure what your memories of the circus are, but Jacob's memories are of a depression era, train traveling circus.  It is a fascinating hierarchy of bosses, performers, and working men, but still interdependent on the other for the show to go on.

Jacob is an ivy league drop out one test away from becoming a licensed vet when he hops a circus train.  He falls for the woman in the star act, Marlena, pretty much instantly.  He is allowed to stay with the circus as the vet, but has a difficult time finding his place in the hierarchy.  The love story develops between Jacob and Marlena, complicated by the fact Marlena is married to Jacob's boss, August.  August has a tendency toward violence and the author hints towards a mental illness as well.

The book club had a lot of interesting things to say.  One person posed the question whether the elderly Jacob was remembering his true past or a fictional story he now believed to be his past.  Overall, I enjoyed the book.  But I think my favorite thing was the way Sara Gruen wove historical aspects into the fictional story.

The movie stars Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon.  I have learned to adjust my expectations about movies based on books, if I have read the book.  I understand that they cannot include every aspect of the story so I try to base my opinion on whether the movie maintains the overall effect and essence of the book.  The movie was good, but not great.

One comparison the ladies discussed was everyones favorite character, in the book versus the movie.  Mine was hands down Rosie in both!  The whole time I was reading and watch I just really wanted a baby elephant!!

Have you read Water for Elephants or seen the movie? What did you think and who was your favorite character??

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I found this on one of the blogs I frequent and love it! So I wanted to share the idea.







I'm Loving... The Royal Wedding Fever. I admit it, I can't get enough of all the shows about William & Kate, the wedding and reception details, the history, and the traditions. Thank goodness for TiVo, so I won't miss a second of the coverage on Friday!








The one below is my favorite...







I'm Loving... The Voice. I have only watched the first episode of the "blind" auditions, but I am really enjoying it so far, and really like a couple of the singers.















I'm Loving... The King's Speech. This is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time and highly recommend you check it out!







I'm Loving... The Victoria Secret Pink MLB collection.






Bond is a huge baseball fan and his team has been a Giants fan since 5 years old. I will be purchasing this to support his team...






And this to support my team...






I love this whole line of MLB wear and the collegiate collections. Check them out.

I'm Loving... All my Administrative Professionals. Today is Administrative Professionals day and the ones in my office are so amazing! Here's a pic of the gift they got today...







It's a Tervis tumbler full of tea, coffee, candy and a Starbucks gift card.

What are you loving?

- Posted using my iPad 2

My weekend got away from me...

So I was planning to do at least one maybe two posts this past weekend, but all of a sudden it was Sunday night! My weekend in a nutshell....

Friday I was feeling a bit under the weather so Bind and I stayed in with dinner and a movie. We picked up salads and pizza, and Oscar winning The Kings Speech. If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it. Fair warning that you really have to pay attention to the dialogue to follow the relationship development, so it's not a good movie to watch while multi-tasking or with the kids around.

Saturday I slept in and felt much better. Did a few things around the house, laundry, etc. Then Bond and I went to dinner with his parents. When we got there one of his sisters surprised us by flying in town for Easter weekend! We had a nice long chat over Mexican food, and high tailed it over to some friends to watch an NBA playoff game starting at 9 pm. After that it was home to bed for early Easter service.

Sunday was a rainy Easter morning, but we made it to the 8 am service despite the weather and late night. After service we did some light grocery shopping. Then about an hour talking to one of my sisters on iChat before heading out in the rain again. This time to pick up Bond's Grandmother for Easter brunch with his family. It was a delicious buffet, and I ate way too much! Swear, I gained several pounds in the last 4 days.

It was a lovely Easter weekend, and our first since we got married! I have a busy week ahead of me and already feel drained! So I will be making quick, easy dinners, if I have the energy to cook at all, and trying to get to bed early!

How was your Easter? Did you have a busy weekend too?

- Posted using my iPad 2