One Day

I remember thinking to myself that it seemed silly to go back to work only one day this week and then have a weekend.  Why not give us one more long weekend and then start from go on Monday? 

Yesterday was the loooooooooooooongest day of my life.  I was so out of "shape" per se that it was good I didn't have another four days to look forward to.  I've become accustomed to sitting in my pjs until 10am, laying on the couch and playing PS2 while Munchkin sleeps and, lastly, staying up all hours of the night. 

The alarm went off at 5:45, just like it always does, and I felt like somebody turned car headlights on in my head.  AAAHH, the racket!!

It was a good day at work - I think I accomplished quite a few things for my first day back.  Several things were tabled though until my boss and her assistant get back.  Since I don't have one, I rely on her assistant (my boss's) to help me with small things.

But, of the things I could get done, I finished them.  I'll have full demo sets of the new printed pieces next week and I'll start putting together formal presentations for the Board meeting.  I also have another Leadership Temple day next week.  Blah.  I guess I need to give some thought to my section of our team project soon.  (there are just so many other things to think about...)

I think today is going to be a day to take some of the Christmas decorations down.  We're leaving the tree, stockings and nativity up until J comes home.  He can open his gifts when he gets back.  That means we have to take down all the garland, lights, centerpieces, cabinet knob decorations, christmas dishes, flowers, candles and advent wreath. 

I want to work on a calendar to count down the days but I don't know what day he's coming home, do I?  That sneaky thing thinks he is going to surprise me.  I told him to be ready to do CPR because I will probably have a heart attack.  I still have an idea of a ballpark time, though....  Maybe I'll just arbitrarily pick a date and count down to it.  Kind of like a due date.  It's more a guess than anything else anyway - you never REALLY know when that baby will show up.  *snicker*

Ok, quick CD review.  "Dreaming Out Loud" by OneRepublic is a really great album.  They sound like a combination of several other bands - they've got some Coldplay, some Maroon 5 and others of that style.  And, I have to say that I like the arrangement of "Apologize" with Timbaland better than the original.   I like the extra effects they added.  *grin*  "Come Home" is a sweet song that captures a lot of the melancholy anybody who is far away from one they love feels.  "All We Are" has a line in the chorus that I just LOVE: We won't say our goodbyes/we know it's better that way.  We won't break, we won't die/it's just a moment of change.  I downloaded it from Amazon - you can buy and download the albums online now.  LOVE IT!!!   

We booked our trip to New Jersey for Spring Break.  *laugh*  Not exactly a spring break destination, you might think?  Well, Munchkin is going to see her daddy and his family for spring break and Mom and I are flying her up there.  While she plays with them, Mom and I are going to spend four days in Manhattan!  We've decided not to try and see a bunch of shows b/c we'd easily spend all our money on show tickets and there are so many other things to see.  I want to see Wicked but those tickets are going for $140/EACH so I don't see how that will be possible.  But, that's A-Ok.  There is LOTS to see without spending a lot of $$.  It'll be fun.  And the pictures! 

Y'all have a wonderful weekend!

To the End

After long months waiting and wondering how it would all end, I received my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) yesterday. I opened the package, read the acknowledgement and closed the cover again. Was I really ready to see how it all ended?

I was already an adult and married when Rowling's Boy Who Lived burst on to the scene. I was almost immediately intrigued but didn't read the books right away. But once I did, I was hooked. The story of this kid and all of his adventures (both good and bad) has a way of pulling you in. You genuinely care about the kids and want to see them do well.

As I began Book 7, I could see right away that Rowling meant business and got right down to it. There was very little background information and the action didn't wait at all to hurtle you along to that oh so final climax.

I will not give away the game here because I don't think that's fair. The book was as satisfyingly complete as I hoped it would be, as terribly sad as I expected it to be, with a few "OMGoshes" thrown in for good measure. Definitely five stars.

Oh my gosh!!!

Ok, so I'm not going to do the full review because my brains are turning into oatmeal as I sit here. It's almost 3am and I have to get up and be a grown-up again in three hours so I'll make this quick.

OH MY GOSH!!! Just got home from OOTP and WOW, it was terrific. Sirius's end was as terrible as I thought it would be. I love the way they handled it.

Let me give this critique: Having read the books at least three or four times ensured that I always knew where the holes were and filled them in myself but they cut some pretty big chunks out of the plotline. The holes left were pretty gaping - I can imagine it might have been quite a stretch for the unread movie-only HP fan. (shame, that)

Fred & George's exit was priceless. I did think, however, that the directors minimized the lasting hooplah and general rebellion on the part of the student body after their exit. But, as I told Mom (or Mum, if we're using true HP speak), this is the Empire Strikes Back episode in the series and it needed to stay intense so we'd be good and worked up for Books 6 & 7.

HP fans - don't miss this one. They did the story justice - even with all of the cuts. Non-HP loyalists - take a HP-friend if you want to start the story this late in the game. Otherwise, you'll probably hate it.

Somehow I don't think Book 7 is going to tie up all of our loose little ends so tidily. I can hardly wait. Tempting is not quite the word for the urge to pull down the series NOW, make a pot of leaded coffee and just stay up and read. Three hours is only going to make me feel bad.

OH, who am I kidding? I'm too old for an all-nighter. 'night, folks.