Funnier than the first

In all the excitement of the new HP book I forgot to mention what I did Friday evening...

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

I remember watching the original Willy Wonka, Gene Wilder. I enjoyed the movie, especially as a young child, and dreaming such a beautiful magical place existed somewhere in the world.
However, I also remember the darkness of the film, which for some reason became more apparent to me as I grew up.

This new Wonka seemed a bit lighter... definitely funnier... I was a little surprised actually. I really wanted to see this movie and I either love or hate Johnny Depp's movies (more love than hate), but I wasn't really sure if I'd like it. Tim Burton is a bit of a hit and miss for me. However, I was really quite pleased with the remake.

Also.. for fans of the show Lost I found this article which tells you how to find a teaser trailer for next season of lost. There's not much to the trailer (heavy emphasis on teaser), but if you follow the directions you can see it. Mostly I just wanted to know if it worked.... seemed a bit far-fetched to me, but it does work and the website for Oceanic Airlines is cool. Neat way to hide a trailer.

She did it again

Read book6, and wow.....



WOW

Need to read it again I think. And maybe again after that.

Got it about 2pm yesterday and read a bit yesterday. Got up this morning and read some more and got to a point where I couldn't put it down. Only took me a day really to read it all. Once I got to a certain part I was hooked.

Don't really know how to respond about the book at the moment, other than to say WOW, because I'm still processing.

Lots happened and lotsa new things came up. Many things were solved and many more new questions brought up and left unanswered.

Yep.... she did it again.

Home is where?

big, Big, BIG news!

My parents are in the process of buying a new house.
A House....

Maybe that doesn't have much affect on other people.

Consider this: My parents moved into our house/home over a year before I was born.
Translates to 28 years ago.
Elm Street is the only 'home' I've ever known.
Of course home is really wherever my parents are, but my 'home' has always been the same place and I'm really, really sad they are selling it.
There are a lot of reasons for them to move and I understand and support them.
But AHHHHH! My house!
/sigh

hehehe
Mom was describing my choice of bedrooms - and since I woke her up when I called it was pretty funny trying to follow her - but I chose the one which faces South (like my old bedroom) and it faces the back yard so I can watch the puppies.
The new house is a 3 bedroom 2 bath with a big den and a living room, a 'chefs dream kitchen' and a big back yard, 2 car garage.... it's a corner lot.... it was built the same year I was born and it's a brick house. That's all I know for now, they've promised to send me pictures as soon as they can.

Big changes inc!

Speaking of changes, I think I've settled on my blog look for the time being - at least until I have finished the OBLC website. I thought I was done and then my supervisor asked me to add several things.

Tub Thumping

Chumbawamba... there's a band I'd almost forgotten about.
I hear all sorts of things on England's SkyWave Radio.

Speaking of... Heard from one of my British friends the other day. He's doing well and as far as he knows so are the other 3. All four of them live in or around London.

4 days to HP!
/bounce

One month til Dad comes.

Hmmmm...

You are in my head, swimming forever in my head
You are in my head
Tangled in my dreams, swimming forever (swimming forever)
Swimming forever
Swimming forever
Radio, The Corrs

Negative thoughts have been filling my mind lately.
Time to: 'Inhale the positive and exhale the negative'.
Once I give into the negative thoughts they have a tendancy to sweep me away. Make me pissy and irritable and not very fun to be around. I hate being that person and life's too short to waste dwelling on unpleasant things. So I'm not going to.

Fantastic Four

Went to see it yesterday and I loved it.
Great mixture of comedy and action.
Very entertaining.

Dude, seriously... never again

Very little sleep last night - lay awake for a couple hours (itching like crazy), slept a bit, woke up, restless.... etc all night. Finally gave up at 6am and got up (an hour early) with a new spider bite. Not sure how much sleep I wound up getting, but it wasn't enough. Freaking bugs.
/grumble

On a happier note, only 10 More Days to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
/bounce

I've been very busy at work. I'm preparing the lab for 36 new computers, which means I have to update other computers around the department with the ones going out of the lab. (like 50 computers I have to switch around). Should be fun!

Remind me not to do that again

Semi-miserable 4th this year.
Instead of going to our usual town to see their beautiful fireworks display... we were talked into going to somebody's cabin - accross the lake.
Unfortunately, it was on the opposite side of the lake - far away = very tiny fireworks. Plus, being by the lake = zillions of skeeters = 4 layers of Off..... yeah... The nasty little buggers ate me alive. I finally gave up and just kept the spray bottle next to me and sprayed around myself every 5-10 minutes. Add in the rain and cold... plus the very drunk people who kept throwing fireworks into the fire we were all sitting next to.... It was mostly miserable.
I left after the third batch of fireworks being thrown into the fire I was sitting 3 feet from.

Oh well. Valuable lesson learned.

You say that I waste my time but I can't get you off my mind

Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa ba-ba

hehehe
Abba

Went to see War of the Worlds last night and I was NOT disappointed. I quite liked it.

Can finally say what my exciting news is.
Got tickets for my dad to fly up and spend a few days with me in August. Would have liked for my mom to come as well, but somebody has to stay behind at the shop.
Gonna take him to the local state park and a few other places... maybe horseback riding if he is so inclined.

That's all for now... still have to figure out the wierd spacing issue...

Let My Love Open the Door

Why the wierd space in the post on top?
/ponder
Will have to work it out later.

In the meantime.... EXCITING STUFF!
/bounces around for joy
They finally have a trailer online for:
King Kong

That boat, the venture... that's the one that was docked in/at Wellington. I have a picture of it somewhere in my pile of cd's. The movie filming was always in the paper when I was in NZ and all the excitement of being there when it was filming and knowing who was working on it and such... now I can't wait to see it! But I have to... til December. But I'm so there!
And HERE IS THE MOVIE SITE
And KongisKing.com

Saw Bewitched last night and it was cute.
Rented Hostage and it was ok as well.

Almost done with the 5th HP... I keep thinking I should pace myself so I finish it right before the 6th one comes out, but I can't put them down. It's really a struggle.
hmmmm
/shrug
I'll just have to reread 4 and 5 or something to keep myself entertained for the next two weeks.

Annnnnd...
Happy Birthday to John Cusack - upcoming movie: Must Love Dogs I'm really looking forward to (as previously stated).

But wait, there's more...
I just figured out why the guy - the Phantom - in Phantom of the Opera looked so familiar... yeesh... and I was like... where's that guy from - so familliar - sounds Scottish... /boggle
I truly amaze myself sometimes. But I mean with the hair and the mask, and he's clean shaven - he's always scruffy - uhm yeah one could easily be confused.
Gerard Butler = Timeline, Lara Croft (Cradle of Life) and Reign of Fire
Psst Aya... he's doing a movie based on your favourite story - Beowulf & Grendel

Wake Me Up When September Ends

Must Do's:
1. Follow up with Website - get info to S
2. Continue organizing/sorting through my storage locker
3. Find registration stuff for d2l (somewhere in storage)
4. Register for summer session 2 class
5. Change work/office/class schedule
6. Organize office
7. Find out exact date for Nancy's thing
8. Ask for time off
9. Make signs
10. Make B-Board
11. Find out Move-in date for Fall
12. Move printer & monitor
13. Find inventory sheet

So much for my relaxing summer.
I was promoted right away, rather than waiting until the end of August. Not that I'm complaining, I can use them $$$. However, this means I have to take a class (as a Graduate Assistant) and I really didn't want to have to take classes this summer. Oh well. Nothing else seems to have gone as planned this summer.

Did have a good weekend. Talked to an old friend, got a manicure (second ever) and decided yeah - I should pamper myself every now and then.
Finished the 4th HP and now I'm almost 1/2 through the 5th one:

VERY Excited about the 6th one. Counting the days!

Haven't been to see Bewitched... yet....

/stares at her (rather large) almost empty coffee cup
/sigh

Another Lonely Day

Someone else was commenting on their blog about the number of mosquitos and they were longing for a cold snap.
aaaah
Sounds like heaven to me.
Bloody bugs are such a nuissance.
/resist scratching her numerous bites
I'm not sure if it's the O- blood they love so much or maybe I'm just that sweet ;)
Whatever it is, they L O V E me and it's freaking annoying.

Sunny and 75... I really can't complain too much. It's not sweltering and living in a basement means I'm always nice and cool, without air conditioner!

Picked up a paperback copy of the 5th HP book, as I'm almost 1/2 through the 4th one. For some reason I don't want to read while at work, only at home... so it's taking a bit longer than I'd anticipated, but I will be done in time for the 6th book!

Did something exciting yesterday, but I can't write about it yet... will let you know when the time is right.
/evil twinkle

Ben Harper's music sort of reminds me of Cat Stevens.
/ponder

Title-less

Forgot to mention - I saw my first MN beaver on my way back from Fargo. Been here 4 years and it's the first one I've seen up here - odd because off all the lakes and ponds and beaver hutts I've seen.

Note to self:
1. Pack up and send a box home
2. Storage unit - organize and select items for rummage sale
3. Exchange keys

I went yesterday to pick up the keys for my office, the building, and the lab... Unfortunately, only the building key works. They've had the other two locks changed and they gave me the old keys.
Despite this minor set-back, I am very excited about my new job/promotion. I guess it's more of a promotion, as I've been working in the computer lab for over two years now and now I'm overseeing the lab. They've hired a second GA and we'll be working together to do the work which had previously been assigned to one person. We share an office along with the responsibilities. I'm looking forward to learning from her and having an impact on the lab. Hmm... hope it turns out as well as I hope. I suppose I could be totally miserable. Eep... hope not.... Happy thoughts.
Buttercups and Rainbows!

Joss Whedon News...
New movie coming out: Serenity - apparently the characters are from his (failed) series Firefly, which I never watched. However, it is Joss... and by September 30th I may be in desperate need of a fix ;) I do miss Buffy and Angel - and though I now own all the episodes on DVD I keep wishing for new ones.
Also, Angel & Spike are being resurrected in comic book form.

/sigh
I'm also having Rugby withdrawls. Unfortnately, I don't get any tv chanels with rugby. I want to cheer on the Lions and the All Blacks!

Uhm about not volunteering for anything else.... yeah... did I say that?
From July 1 - 12th I'll be dog-sitting for a friend - the one who is moving to Arizona. She and her fiancee have a puppy (9 months) and I will be going to walk her for 12 days. I am getting paid to do it... so it's not so bad, but seriously, next time somebody asks me to do something for them I'm going to say no. Just to prove I can. Cuz I can you know... say no... honest.

Five birds with one stone

Maybe it's a new record?
But oofda, I'm tired.
After a very enjoyable dinner at a friends house and a less enjoyable, (long) drive to the cities I:
1. Went to the Mall of Amercia for the first time.
2. Saw Batman Begins
3. Took a friend to the airport
4. Went to IKEA
5. Bought an awesome futon for next year in the dorms
Then we sort of - accidentally took the long way home. Ugh!

Had lots of fun hanging out with R and Aya and very excited I got to do the things I did, but seriously - two big trips in one week without even a full day in between.
Nuh uh
Never again.
Too exhausting.

Really have to go through my storage unit now and box things up properly - to make room for my new futon.
Weeee IKEA - fun fun fun. Sem-modern-ish stuff... but curvy... dunno how to explain it. Definitely stuff I like. Dangerous place.

Apparently we're having a big Father's Day lunch here (at Aya's mom's house). Didn't know about it til last night when we drug ourselves through the front door.
Lots of kids and people and friends, should be fun.

Gotta call MY father now.

Ocean front property...

hot + dry + dirt = Arizona

As I said before, found an apt for my friend, took her by the school, district offices, and the state capitol to do all her paperwork. Figured out the best/easiest route to her school, apt, grocery store, district offices, etc.
So much driving... and lots of traffic... = stress. I really, really hate driving in city traffic.

That said, I'm leaving around 4pm to take a friend to the Twin Cities. Aya's coming too and we're going to stay in a hotel tonight, then I'll take my friend to the airport at 5am tomorrow. Maybe come back to the hotel to sleep for another hour or two and then Aya and I will go check out the Mall of America (never been) and IKEA (never been but everyone tells me how great they are).

Looking forward to the rest of the summer. The only pressing thing I have to do is sort through my storage locker and box things up in the new, soon to be labeled, bins I bought. I'm hoping they'll help keep me organized with all the moving I do (2-4 times a year).

Finished book 3, starting on book 4...


I'm taking my time and enjoying these books. I first read this series last summer. I read 1-4 in two weeks to prepare for the 5th one. I don't know what I find so appealing about them...
-they're easy to read
-they have humor (at least the first 3 - they're getting darker)
-it's magic-fantasy-type and I love fantasy - and I love the way she mixes real life into her own world
-the movies are good and follow the books fairly closely
-great characters
In any case, I think this will be an on-going tradition, even after there are no more new books to prepare for.
My summer vacation and Harry Potter.

What was I thinking?

Arizona in June.... could be worse.
Could be Arizona in July or August!
Still, it's hot enough for me now.

Found an apartment for my friend and tomorrow we're going exploring a bit - after we sort out the easiest way for her to get from her apt to her school.

Be back in MN Thursday evening!
More exciting news then.

It's not the trees... it's the tics that are calling you

Spent part of yesterday afternoon pulling up carpet and staples at Aya's grandparents. The rest of the afternoon/evening was spent relaxing in their cool den and then later lounging on their porch swing. The aspens were quaking, as they do, and I swear they were calling to me. They were asking me to come sit under them and share their shade.
Aya's cousin said it was the tics calling to me... blood thirsty little varmits.

Working again this morning - woke up with nasty migraine but couldn't do anything about it - still had to work. 1 Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino and 2 Excedrin Migraine later and I'm feeling quite a bit better. Just a dull ache now. Must be the weather... front moved in over night - really dark and ominous outside.

Now reading...


Listening to...


Dreaming of... fields of gold...

For Dad

I was talking to Gwen about my kite flying experiences (childhood and this past semester) and I told her about my most recent trip home; when I discovered our house had been invaded by kites.
She directed me to
THIS SITE so I'm sharing it with you.... though Mom may wish I hadn't.

I really like the Astro Star and the Happy Face Mini Sled is just too cute.

And they have gi-normous ones that are 3 times my height and kites that cost more than $500! yikes! For the Serious Kite Flyers.

About those rennovations

yes, yes.... I'm working on it.
I have been finishing up the website for Open Borders for my university. I have almost completed them and will work on my own website afterwards. I have it all planned out in my head, just need to take the time to lay it out in Dreamweaver - of course I've learned a bunch from doing the OBLC website :) love learning! Gonna impliment that stuff into my new blog!

Going to Arizona next Monday - Thursday. Seems really weird to be leaving again so soon - I JUST got back from Texas!
I can already tell this summer is going to freaking fly by.

Just finished reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Renovations Inc!

Gonna add a few things and shift things a bit.

Movie BuZZ

The Legend of Zorro
Who knew?
Looks good to me... just have to wait until this Fall.

Coming from a VW family I will be seeing the latest installment in the Herbie Movies.

And you KNOW I can't turn away from a good looking Horse Flick and Dakota Fanning is a cutie.

hehehe
Must Love Dogs
My kind of movie!

Uhmmm.....
An Aussie Zombie Film
Interesting....

Zathura is the new Jumanji.

Ok enough surfing, back to Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets!