I feel like I'm suffering from the cruciatus curse!

In case you haven't heard JK Rowling recently announced this new web site. And that's all she did - announce it. It's been like a howler heard around the world. She hasn't giving any hints as to what its about or anything. But, this is from the lady who kept the secret of Harry's destiny for practically a bazillion years when pretty much the entire universe was bugging her to spill the beans, so it's to be expected.

I'm really hoping it's an encyclopedia of the Harry Potter world, a sort of Hogwarts: A History type of thing. Or at least something to that affect.

I've decided JK Rowling is very cruel. We're (and by we, I mean the collective Harry Potter fan community who stuck with Harry until the end) already beside ourselves waiting for the final movie, and then she goes and does something like this! Does she not realize that the anticipation is boiling over inside me like a potion down in Snape's dungeon? She should lose 100 points for this outrageous act.

On the other hand, I feel like I've swallowed a mouthful of Felix Felicis and am in the midst of the luckiest day/summer of my life! The final movie and a new website that promises to be as exciting as the Quidditch World Cup! A bazillion points to JK!

I love summer

I think it's a newfound love, or maybe just a greater appreciation. I've always loved summer, but summer here in Provo is so different. It's full of friends, family, books, and sun. But I think this summer will be different because I don't have school looming in the future and I'm able to just relax and enjoy life.

The past couple days it has felt like summer is finally on its way, despite all of the crazy rain we've been having. And, this summer has the prospect of being EPIC. And these are the reasons why:

1. 7Peaks/Trafalga pass - I haven't bought it yet, but I will
2. Cruise in July with Brooke
3. No school in the fall
4. Provo City Library Summer Reading Program. It started today and I'm freaking excited about it.
5. We have recently discovered how many movies the library has and will be taking full advantage. Brooke, Jess, and I have already enjoyed Emma and Somewhere in Time and are looking forward to Nicholas Nickelby
6. I fully intend to get an awesome tan. Not lifeguarding and swimming status, but just enough to make me look alive through out the winter...
7. TacoTime. A new one just opened up down the street from work and I am obsessed with it. It is seriously my kind of place. They have mexifries (aka tattertots) and a Chicken BLT burrito. How can it get better than that?
8. Fourth of July in Provo. I don't know why, but Provo just knows how to do the Fourth of July.
9. Sandals
10. Shaved Ice stands on every corner
11. Light outside until 9:30
12. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART II.

Doesn't that have the makings of an awesome summer?

The Secret Garden

Bad news guys. I think I'm about to become as addicted to The Secret Garden as I was with Anne of Green Gables. Well maybe not quite as addicted, but close. 

I rented the DVD of The Secret Garden from the library and watched it last night. Growing up we always watched the 1987 Hallmark version that has Colin Firth as grown up Colin. (Did you realize Colin's name is Colin Craven, which is extremely close to Colin Creevey from Harry Potter? Quite the coincidence. But, I may also just be really weird and the only one who make connections like that.) Anyways, now I'm just itching to read the book again.

At the part in the movie when Mary finds the key to the garden, and sits on the bench as the wind serendipitously blows the vines away from the garden wall and reveals the locked door, I remembered something very important from my childhood.

One year for Christmas, Kelsie, got a copy of The Secret Garden from out grandparents. It came with an awesome key pendant necklace. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. I wanted a key pendant necklace soooo bad. I would always ask Kelsie if I could wear it, and she would always say no. Because Kelsie was a stingy child who wouldn't share her Barbie's and Polly Pockets. I just remember being so jealous of Kelsie's key pendant necklace and nice, new copy of The Secret Garden. Especially because I had to read my Mom's old, falling apart copy.

Summer Reading List

Since I have officially began an eternal summer and I will be finishing Lost tonight (I have ONE episode left!) I thought now would be a good time to compile my preliminary summer reading list. I just saw on Facebook that the theme for the Provo City Library summer reading program is "Up All Night" which I am a huge fan of. Possibly because I often stay up all night reading and then make my way through the next day like a zombie. I really can't be blamed for this behavior. It's all my Dad's fault. He would take my books away at 11:00 so I didn't learn to self-regulate my reading habits. At least that's the story I'm sticking with.

But anyways...here's my summer reading list:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I've gotta get ready for the final movie!
2. Sense and Sensibility
3. Work and the Glory. I haven't decided if I want to reread the whole series or not, but I figure I'll decide as I'm reading it.
4. Secret Garden
5. Goose Girl and accompanying books that I don't know the names of
6. Mockingjay. Maybe. I want to see if it gets any better the second time around.
7. Undaunted. Actually I just want to finish this one. I still have about 100 pages somewhere in the middle because I NEEDED to know who ended up together at the end and may have skipped ahead...
8. The Healer's Apprentice. I really want to read this book, but I swear its impossible to find. So I may just have to order it from Amazon
9. The FitzOsbournes in Exile. I just saw this one on a library reading list and want to read it really bad. 

And we'll just start with that because my lunch break is over and I could go on forever.

Only one can live...

At open house in 6th grade my family went to the book fair. I've always loved stuff like that, you know, since I'm a problem reader. Well, I got this book there, it was called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Maybe you've heard of it?

I had seen my friends reading it at a class read and feed and thought it looked interesting so I asked my parents for it at the fair. At first my mom was hesitant, but finally gave in but said that my dad had to read it first.

And so began my obsession with Harry Potter. At times it has reached unhealthy proportions.

I think pretty much everybody knows I love Harry Potter, but I don't think they realize HOW much I know about it. I try to keep that on the DL. Because every once in a while when I slip up and people realized all the random facts and information I know about Harry Potter, I get really weird looks.

Anyways, to add to my weirdness, or coolness-depending on how you look at it-I saw the trailer for the very last Harry Potter movie today. And I got chills. I didn't even watch it with the sound (because I forgot my headphones today and the computers at work don't have speakers) and I got chills.

I'm such a weirdo.

But when the protective enchantments on Hogwarts start breaking apart and you know Voldemort and the Death Eaters are invading the school I just couldn't help it!

I've grown up with Harry Potter. I was 11 when I read the first book and 17 when the last one came out, so even though I wasn't trying to save wizarding-kind I could relate to Harry because we were the same age. And it seems so fitting that the final movie would come out the same summer I graduate from college. It's like we're passing into adulthood together, Harry and I.

Watch the trailer and tell me you don't get chills.

UPDATE: I just watched it again, but with sound. And it is AWESOME!!! I'm so freaking excited! Definitely got chills the second time around.

Halfway Gone

Did you know that iTunes has songs for 69¢?

Well they do. Every once in a while they get updated, I guess. At least that's what Brooke says.

So anyways I found them this afternoon when I was laying in bed. And guess what one of the songs was?!

Graduation by Vitamin C!

Which is a coincidence, because, I'm graduating in 53 days!!!

I'm totally gonna buy it. Because it is not only a classic, but it speaks to my life at this moment.

Also, this weekend marks the half way point in the semester. And this week there is a graduation fair where I get to order my cap and gown.

53 days and 38 classes and I'll never have to check out this many books from the library again...

(Those aren't all mine. Some are Jess's, but I'd guess at least 2/3 of them were mine, if not more...)

Another Anne post

I'm sorry. I just can't help it.

Last night I was reading Anne of Avonlea and I just loved this paragraph.

"Anne had no sooner uttered the phrase, 'house o' dreams' than it captivated her fancy and she immediately began the erection of one of her own. It was of course, tenanted by an ideal master, dark, proud, and melancholy; but oddly enough, Gilbert Blythe persisted in hanging about too, helping her arrange pictures, lay out gardens, and accomplish sundry other tasks which a proud and melancholy hero evidently considered beneath his dignity. Anne tried to banish Gilbert from her castle in Spain but, somehow, he went on being there, so Anne, being in a hurry, gave up the attempt."

Even Anne's imagination knows Anne and Gilbert are perfect for each other!

All I know is that I want someone who will help me arrange pictures and accomplish sundry tasks. I could care less about laying out a garden because I would just kill it a few days after it was planted.

Personally, I think it's a miracle my roommates and I haven't killed Jess's bamboo - even though they're suppose to be impossible to kill. We would be the first ones to do it. Especially given the fact that we go weeks without watering it.

Anne thinks she wants a proud and melancholy husband. But her imagination has a different opinion, and know she needs Gilbert.

I agree with her imagination.

I've been sick so my brain is a little fuzzy

Here's a list of what I've been doing

1. watch Mighty Morphing Power Rangers: The Movie

This movie is a classic. I even had to watch it on VHS. Now let me tell you, I use to be a big Power Ranger's fan. Just look at this...

Yep, I had Pink Power Ranger footie pajamas. Talk about legit.

Even though I apparently was a fan since birth, Power Rangers just could not compete with Barbie. For example, when I was 5 and had my tonsils out my dad gave me the choice between Power Ranger Trading Coins or Shaving Ken (my parents had to bribe me for stuff like this. Once I got silky Princess Jasmine pajamas for being good and getting my blood drawn). I remember it being a hard choice, but Shaving Ken won.

Just look at him, how could he not win? He had real hair and clothes! My only other Ken had plastic blonde hair and a pink swim suit. Plus it was just not fair to all my Barbie's that they had to compete over only one Ken. And let me tell you, I am way more sympathetic to them now because I know exactly what it's like...

2. Finished 5 books

I was sick, plus all the books I had on hold at the Library came in. And I just can't help it that I have to find out what happens! Plus my dad isn't here to take my book away at 11 o'clock at night so that I'll go to sleep.

3. Made caramel brownies and chicken tortilla soup

Caramel brownies changed my life the first time Brooke made them for me, and I was really craving them. The chicken tortilla soup was really yummy too. I just finished the last of it for lunch.

4. Played Super Nintendo

Apparently this was an old school weekend. I suck at most video games, so I lost a lot, but it was way fun.

Katie's ultimate list of the best couples ever

Well the best couples from literature, TV, and movies that is. Naturally when it comes to best couples ever including real people, me and my future, yet to be determined, husband will take the heart shaped cake. (I really do have a heart shaped cake pan...no joke.)

Laura Ingalls Wilder and Almanzo Wilder

He calls her Bess. She calls him Manly. Could it get anymore perfect? Why, yes it can. He drives through freezing weather with his Morgans, Prince and Lady, to pick her up from her school so she doesn't have to stay the weekend with the dreadful Mrs. Foster. And takes her on Sunday rides through the South Dakota prairie. And builds her an awesome house with a really cool pantry. Also, they're real people! So that just makes it even better. Oh how I idolize Laura Ingalls Wilder...

Elinor Dashwood and Edward Ferris

While most people favor Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (who I almost put instead), I decided that Elinor and Edward's relationship is way more up to my speed. Chances are this would totally be me. I can identify with Elinor. Which just makes it all the more triumphant when everything finally works out for them.

Ariel and Prince Eric

Aw, love at first sight. I mean it was fireworks the night they first saw each other. Not even the fact that she has a fish tail can keep them apart. They sacrifice so much to be together, I mean they have a whole ocean and a fat octopus between them. Plus they just look good together.

Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe

Oh, Anne and Gilbert, what else can you say. From the very beginning you know they are meant for each other, yet Anne is just so darn stubborn. And then Gilbert is so cute and charming with his good looks and Canadian accent. Then it looks like they'll be together forever and Anne crushes Gilbert's poor little heart. And when Anne realizes she made a mistake, Gilbert has the audacity to be engaged to another woman! It's all just so tragical. Luckily, they do end up together right after Gilbert is nursed back to health from the brink of death. If not, I would be forced into the depths of despair and therefore find it hard to believe that true love really does exist and make a vow with Brooke to always be old maids together.

Ella and Prince Char

Ella Enchanted is probably one of my most favorite books in the history of the world. Right up there with Harry Potter and the Little House books. When Ella saves Char and breaks the curse, its like anything in the world is possible. Plus, they wander through an old castle and slide down banisters. Talk about a pretty sweet date.