Dresser number two...

I finished my second dresser in 3 hours last night. While it was clearly a better time than the time spent on the first dresser, I wish it had only taken two. Ah well.

I have one complaint so far about my dressers. While assembling, you are required to put wooden dowels in certain holes to help with stability. Some of these dowels aren't exactly excited about being shoved into the hole you think they should be placed in, so a little encouragement from good 'ol mister hammer is required.

Now, I didn't thwack those puppies in. It was more of a firm, but gentle tapping into place. Or so I thought. However, when I flipped over the piece to place it on top of the dresser, it was clear that the dowel is entirely too close to the underside of the finished top and that the tapping had cracked the smooth finish of the top. Bummer. I did the same thing on the first one, but thought it was a screw that was over tightened and not the dowel.

Ah well. At least I bought the glass to go on the top of the dressers. I know nothing will catch on the cracked surface and tear away the finish for now, but in the long run, I may have to look at a solution with a resin surface or something.

While I am not happy about it, for the price and quality, I am not overly surprised. For now, that would be my only suggestion to Ikea: Make the tops a little thicker or your dowels not as long.

Oh, and one more thing: The size is considerably larger than the dresser I am currently using. Next to these two behemoths, it looks small and cumbersome.

Now that you are thoroghly bored with my recent posts, let me thank you for indulging the builder in me. There is something so satisfactory in stepping back after completing a project and saying to yourself "look at what I can do".

IKEA...my kind of store...

For a while now, I have been needing to update the furniture that I purchased almost a decade ago. With the exception of two shelves, all of my furniture doesn't match. Over the years, I have tried to make it look the best possible, collecting another shelf here or an end table there, to serve another function, but really it all has never matched.

Three weekends ago, my family and I had a yard sale. I decided, while preparing for the sale, that it was time to move in a more possitive direction when it came to the furniture I have in my bedroom by replacing some pieces for others that a) served the function I needed them to serve better and b) matched the pieces I was keeping more closely.

All in all, I sold an Armoir, a shoe organizer that was being used as a TV stand, two end tables, two lamps and various other items. I also sold items that I was no longer using but had been storing for years with no purpose behind it, such as my dog kennel.

I cleaned house. I went to town on all of the boxes that I had been storing over the last four years and just de-junked as much as I possibly could. And I feel I was fairly successful and it felt really good to just get rid of stuff.

Last week, after much deliberation during the weeks prior to the yard sale, I went to Ikea with my mother to purchase the furniture that I had decided on. I settled on two dressers, complete with glass tops to prevent scratching, a sturdy TV stand to place a top them, and a set of four little mirrors. On Saturday, I put the first of the two dressers together.

In my family, I am the person that assembles the furniture that requires assembly. I am not really sure why or how this came about, but I am the one that normally will put together what ever needs to be assembled, so I was fairly confident in my capabilities when I began to put my dresser together.

I must admit, I was a bit confussed when the dresser came in not one, but two different boxes. I opened the boxes, emptied the contents, examined the parts and then grabbed the instructions. At first, I was taken aback at what stared back at me, but then I laughed. There were no words, just pictures. I LOVED it! How ingenius! Pictures, the univeral language. Somewhere, someone is getting points in charades for this.

Without much deliberation, my ipod set to shuffle on They Might Be Giants, and my ratchet screwdriver set, I set to work and was able to put my first dresser together in about four hours or so. It took longer than I would have liked, and having the knowledge of how it is done now, I think I can crank out the second dresser in much less time. The quality was really good and I was more pleased overall with it once it was put in place. I think they are going to work out nicely.

All in all...I would say that I am now officially an Ikea fan.

An old poem...

While cleaning recently, I ran across an old poem that I wrote several years ago, during a time in the country where the out cry over the war was a hot topic and voting had just become available in countries that hadn't had it before. I decided I would share it and see what others thought. I would also like to voice that I do not condone war, nor do I believe all that are enlisted in the armed forces serving this country have the same feelings as expressed in this poem. I wrote this from one perspective on a very controversial topic and mean no disrespect or offense to any persons. I do, however, support our troops and appreciate the great sacrifices that they go through to help protect my rights as an American citizen. Please remember, I am not a poet by any means...this is just something I wrote and wanted to share. I hope you enjoy it.

The Soldier arrived home wearied and dusted

What happened to the country he so loved and trusted?

Could they not see the happiness brought

or the good of the battles the brave warriors fought

in countries far way to bring freedoms long overdue

basic human rights, safety & a sense of pride to their people too?

It saddened his heart to be so betrayed

How could they see conflict & injustice and not step into the fray?

He himself had given up every thing

and still the critics watched from the wings

of our country that soars high and sleeps deeply through the night;

Many not willing to put up the fight

Could they only see the anger of some over all?

Could they not see the evil and inequality fall?

Or the happy faces of the people who went to vote

for the first time in decades allowed to hope

of a better day when freedom rules

with no fear of their children being raped or used as tools

of mass destruction and hate

hoping, perhaps now they had a better fate?

The soldier cried as he thought "where's the justice in this?"

and holding tight to his family in bliss, giving his strong & patient wife a passionate kiss

for the months at a time he's been missed

He cried bitterly for the people left behind

who still suffered from evil minds

He cried again as he counted his blessings

his wounds still seeping from beneath their dressings

and he cried again remembering one more stop he had to make

to the home of a friend whose life the enemy did take

to offer words of comfort tender & dear

to his friends' bereaved mother, through her sobs & tears

"It was worth it" he'd tell her

through kind eyes now wiser & older

"Don't believe everything you hear" he'd say

"what we did was good & gets better by the day"

"In the end, he did lose the fight,

but remember he did it because it was right"

The Soldier tattered and bruised

angered and upset by the hatred and abuse

that this fair country cried out

against his good works in selfish doubt

But he held his head high

and everyday the American Flag he did fly

knowing it mattered not what they said

he knew the truth & did the right thing instead

....And she carried a .50 caliber Desert Eagle....

Today was...well...phenomenal. I must share.

When I woke, the sun was shining brightly through my windows. It was ten a.m.. I LOVE sleeping in! I started some laundry and tried to plan out my day.

Noon brought lunch with good friends at Joe's Cafe in Orem. If you are looking for great food...Joe had got it covered! Laughs, good friends and good eats...doesn't get much better than that! Or does it?!

In fact it does!

Upon exiting Joe's, Mark and Tim decided to go gun shopping...so I tagged along! I haven't looked at guns in a long time, but it was a lot of fun! We started at Gunnies...then perused Cabelas...and ended up at Get Some in Murray. Yes...Get Some. And we did!

Inside Get Some, they have a shooting range. I couldn't help but be drawn to the range counter looking at the rates to shoot. Tim decided that he wanted to give his brand of gun a little test drive and apparently I drooled a little too much because the manager at the counter asked if I was going to shoot. I must admit, my trigger was itching something fierce!

The manager then said "I have a just the gun for you and it looks like we have one box of ammo left"...magical and powerful words. I wasn't sure what gun it was that he thought I would like to sure and then he pointed to the .50 caliber Desert Eagle in the bottom right corner of the glass case, tucked away....

It was magnificent. It was seductive. It was taunting me...

I caved.

It was HUGE!!!

The manager loaded us up with all our gear and we headed into the range. Not having a whole lot of experience with a semi-auto pistol, I had Mark load it for me. I also had him shoot it first because I was chicken. It was a REALLY big gun.

I stepped up the lane. I took my stance.

I pulled the trigger...

....and fell in love.

The power was tremendous, the sound was shattering and I could feel the blast of air as the bullet jettisoned away from me.

Sweet adrenaline coursed through me as I pulled the trigger once, twice, three times.

Bliss.

Of course, the weight of the gun and the kick tired my arm quickly, so Mark and Tim stepped up to squeeze a few rounds off. This kind of fun should be shared!

It was only after that I realized the manager hadn't really thought that I would shoot that gun. Apparently he thought I would shy away from it. How very wrong he was...

After all the bullets were gone, a few kept for souvenirs, and the papers processed for Tim's new baby... the guys were good enough to take me to the Fashion Place mall so that I could get some lip gloss I have been lusting after and some new Skull Candy ear buds, since mine have shorted out.

Seriously...good food, wonderful friends, shooting a serious gun and topping it off with lip gloss?!!

Superb day! One for the books.

Thanks Mark and Tim!

Kabluey...

While in the local movie rental store, I stumbled across a movie that looked intriguing and decided to rent it.

I loved it.

I can't really put my finger on the reason I loved it, but it has something to do with the acting style I think.

I have rented it three times. Most likely I will purchase it in the future at some point.

Anyway, I know I have told more than a few of you about it, so I thought I would add some links to the trailer so you can get an idea of what you are missing. I am also going to link to his other short films, which I was highly entertained with as well.

Enjoy. Or don't. It's really up to you. :)

Kabluey Trailer

Anna is Being Stalked

The Delicious (Part 1)

The Delicious (Part 2)

Begin again...

...and then I remember that he wants me to feel that way...and I search... And I find:

"The Lord knows who we really are, what we really think, what we really do, and who we are really becoming.

"For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. (Proverb 23:7)

"Hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him."

In the end, the only thing that matters is what is in my heart, and only the Lord can judge that...no one else.

Thanks for the reminder, Elder Bednar.

Self-misconseption...

...and then the other shoe drops and I quietly wonder if despite all changes made, I am inherently bad and cannot be fixed...

F.S.P. (Flippin Sweet Photo)

I saw this posted on my friend, Ru's, blog and had to repost it because...well...it is TOTALLY F.S.P.!

While I am totally embarrassed that a) I did this and b) it was caught on film for posterity....I have to say it is truly CLASSIC!

Let it never be said that white girls can't jump!

What: The Bouquet Toss

Where: Ruth's Wedding June '01

And in Ruth's words:

What The?!: Brooke jumping what looks like 10 feet in the air to catch the bouquet. She really wanted it!

(I really did! Hahahaha!)

Know thyself...

So this weekend was full of movies for me since I was not feeling the best for most of it.

As I was showering this morning, I was reflecting on my life and a few things, which is normal for me, and I started to think of the movie "Runaway Bride" starring Julia Roberts. As I started to think about this movie, I wondered just how much like her I am. 

Clearly, I haven't run from marriage....but I almost did once. The day I got married, my nerves were shot and right about the time the fire alarm starting going off in the church, I was ready to bolt for the door. There was about 10 minutes there, where I was mostly unsupervised, and I could have done it. Haha...but that is not what this blog is about.

This blog is about how much of myself I change for another person. 

I past relationships, I have taken on the passions of the guys that I have dated, claiming them as my own. Now, if this was due to me not knowing myself or if it was more just to see if I also liked those things, I am not sure. What I am sure about is that in the past, I have watched my fair share of WWE wrestling, Hockey, and hunting videos to last me a lifetime. (If I had to go Turkey hunting now, I think I could manage just fine)

I can camp with the best of them now, out in the boonies. I know how to fix a great deal of things that a normal girl wouldn't have the first clue on (a point that causes me great frustration when they don't know how to do these things on their own. I want to look at them and say "power tools, you can use them too you know...").

But at the end of the day, when the hockey game comes on or I am flipping through the channels, am I going to pick the hunting, or the WWE? No, probably not. In truth, they aren't my cup of tea.

So my question is again, how much of my likes are mine and how much of them are theirs? 

Since I have been alone for the past four years, I have started to ferret out exactly what my likes are and learn more and more of myself in the process. It has been a really healthy thing.

So here's what I have come up with:

I am not a big fan of wrestling. It is a cruel sport (the real one) in which men beat mercilessly on themselves, till they cause irreparable damage to their bodies. As for the WWE thing...give me a break. Isn't Nova on or something?

Hunting...well, as far as hunting goes, I don't mind it. I understand the need for it. I think you can gain a better appreciation of an animal that you respect and admire. However, I don't believe I will ever have a "mount" on my wall.

Guns...always a good thing to know about. I personally like them. Nothing quite like taking frustrations out on a pack of clay pigeons!

Camping...I prefer to go camping somewhere partially groomed that has some form of "facilities" attached. But, if necessary, I can be boonie girl if required.

Football...or sports in general, really. Having never been the best at ANY sport, I don't really enjoy watching or playing for that matter. I can watch if I must, but not every night all night long. Again, Nova anyone? Or perhaps Are You Being Served?

I don't like horror movies, especially the ones with the ghosts. I don't like ghosts. 

I don't like horrible heavy music, where the lead singer is blurting out cuss word after cuss word, but you can't tell because it isn't decipherable anyway.

Travel...I like traveling. I enjoy going new places and having adventures. It is something I hope to do more of.

These are just a few of the things that I have figured out on my own. There are more, but time constraints don't allow for a more thorough review.

I will say this though, it would seem pretty clear that I am not afraid to try out the likes of the guy I date. There are several things that I have liked because of them and kept.

At the end of the day, I think it is all about balance. Trying out new things and being able to retain the things that you truly enjoy, without losing yourself in them and not truly knowing thyself.

Once Upon A Time...

(My favorite picture of myself)

I myself was a princess once. A Long, Long, LONG time ago.

Weddings have been on my mind a lot lately. A good friend of mine is getting married and we have been looking at pictures of wedding dresses, rings and cakes. For a while now, when thinking about getting remarried, I have often though I wouldn't care so much about all the small stuff that brides stress out about. I still don't think I will be as stressed as I was before, but I forgot how much fun it was to plan a wedding.

So, because I have such a GREAT imagination, I have started to think about what I would do differently this time around if I got married again. The first difference would be going to the temple. Of course, this time I would do it right, making the temple my first priority. Which temple I would marry in, I am not sure. The Salt Lake City Temple is a beautiful temple with several places for beautiful pictures, but my heart isn't set on any particular temple.

The second thing is that I would probably get a simple wedding dress, but perhaps have a color on it. Maybe a vintage dress, instead of something modern.

As for a ring, well, this time I think I would choose a Moissanite stone (aka Simulated Diamond). You can get just as beautiful a stone for a huge deduction in cost. A plus here is that for any reason if you loose your ring, the compulsion to vomit is slightly less.

A good photographer is always a good idea, but this time I would most likely put the wedding video together myself.

If there was a reception, I would LOVE to have a dance floor! Make it a big party!! Cool and relaxed, everyone just having a good time and getting down to some good tunes.

Cake...well, probably make it myself, something small and simple, but with some fun or pizzaz and cupcakes for the guests with fruit.

This time, I wouldn't worry about the centerpieces, the colors...all the details that were so HUGE the first time, and now really don't matter. This time, most of the details I think would be up to the groom, especialy if he'd never been married before.

In truth, I don't really think I would mind getting married in something I would wear to church, with a simple silver band. It wouldn't matter to me as long as I had the right guy next to my side. The guy. I want to find a guy that looks at me as though I were the beginning and the end, the sunset he couldn't look away from, the most beautiful creature he's seen both inside and out.

If I could find a guy that loved me for all my strengths and even more for my flaws, who wanted to endure all the trials this life has to offer with me, who would love me despite my shape or size but rather for the depth of my heart, who wanted to achieve the same basic goals and could support me in mine...well, it wouldn't matter to me about all the details of the wedding.

Once upon a time, I was a princess bride...who stressed about the colors, and the cake, and the church hall, the table decorations, the invitations, the line, the dress, the ring....

...and then this princess grew up and realized that there are more important things than that.

This time around...it would be different.

P.S. I still would like the dress and all that...Lol...I am a girl after all! I am just saying...is all.

P.P.S. ~ Sorry about the horrible quality pics. I didn't have a scanner for the first one and the second one, I was just being lazy and didn't want to scan it. :)

(My second favorite picture of myself)

The Most Depressing Song....

Recently, a friend shared with me her thoughts on the song "Somebody" by Depeche Mode and how it had to be possibly the most depressing song she's ever heard. She sympathizes with the singer of the song and how alone he sounds...but listening to the song, I disagree. It sounds to me like this guy knows what he wants in a relationship and is looking for it.

"Somebody" by Depeche Mode

I want somebody to share
Share the rest of my life
Share my innermost thoughts
Know my intimate details
Someone wholl stand by my side
And give me support
And in return
Shell get my support
She will listen to me
When I want to speak
About the world we live in
And life in general
Though my views may be wrong
They may even be perverted
Shell hear me out
And wont easily be converted
To my way of thinking
In fact shell often disagree
But at the end of it all
She will understand me
Aaaahhhhh....

I want somebody who cares
For me passionately
With every thought and
With every breath
Someone wholl help me see things
In a different light
All the things I detest
I will almost like
I dont want to be tied
To anyones strings
Im carefully trying to steer clear of
Those things
But when Im asleep
I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me
And kiss me tenderly
Though things like this
Make me sick
In a case like this
Ill get away with it
Aaaahhhhh....

What do you think? Sounds good to me.

I wish you enough...

My mother recently forwarded this message on to me in the form of an email, but seeing how valuable the message really is, I wanted to share it with all my family and friends that may, from time to time, frequent this little blog of mine.

For all those who have touched my life...all members of my family, Ru, Em, The NRG, The Office Ladies, My Movie Night/Rock Band/Monopoly Crew, The Ladies of Desert Gypsy Dance Co., My Fab Hairsylist, and all those I am lucky enough to call friends...I wish you enough, with all my heart.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives. You give me enough.


Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.'

They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry... I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'.

'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

He began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone...' He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger...

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

He then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE....
I WISH YOU ENOUGH.

Enhancing the experience...

I just recently posted about my re-reading the Harry Potter books and had a thought, so I thought I would share it.

When I say that I re-read the Harry Potter books, technically that is a lie, because I didn't sit down and read out of a book, but rather listened to those books read aloud to me off of my iPod.

There are some that would argue that isn't the same things as reading a book and doesn't offer the same experience, so therefore it doesn't count. Movies that are based off of books also fall victim to this view, I believe.

I both agree and disagree with this thinking.

I would agree that in listening to a book read, instead of doing the actual reading yourself, does limit you in some ways. For myself, I find that I am not always listening 100% of the time and tend to miss things that I would have otherwise caught, if I were reading the book.

One reason that I think listening to the audio version can be limiting, is that it can be very difficult to listen to the person that they have doing the reading. For instance, I am not particularly fond of the lady whom they hired to read the Twilight series. Yes, in the end I got used to her voice and it really wasn't a problem. At first, however, I had a really hard time listening to her read the book, because I felt that she was articulating some of the words incorrectly and emphasizing the wrong words in sentences. When she read the books, the meaning were considerably different, due solely to where she was emphasizing certain words, than compared to when I would read the book.

Another similar example of this was the reader of Harry Potter, Jim Dale. I once tried to listen to the book and read it at the same time. I became VERY frustrated! His reading was slower than my reading along and I became irked with his reading style, because it differed so violently than my own. However, again, once I stopped trying to read along and just let go of the little annoyances, by the end of the reading, I had very much enjoyed the experience.

Movies based off of books are NEVER as good as the book. Period. So that never really helps the movie in my book.

However, here's why I like having had the experience of both reading and listening (or watching): I get to look at it from all angles.

Let's take my recent Harry Potter experience for an example. I have read the series through plenty of times, or at least more than the average reader, I feel. However, when I listened to the books this time, I got a different feel for how the books could be. On one hand, I think it should look and feel like this, but then I listen to Jim read it and it helped clear some of the confusion on some of the book. For instance, in The Deathly Hallows, I have always had a hard time imagining just how the scene in Godric's Hollow looked like. Harry being attacked by the giant snake, him pulling Hermione out of the window and falling...it has always just been really hard for me to imagine. Perhaps it is due to my excitement when I read the action sequences. Perhaps I have skipped over words in my haste as the excitement unfolds. Regardless of the reason, I have gone back and re-read that section a couple times trying to get it right and it wasn't until I listened to Jim read it (twice), that I was really able to see it in my mind's eye.

So, there are two levels there. There's my level, the way I read it and see it. There's the readers' level, the way he reads it. And then you throw on the Movie level and it's like you can see it, hear it and touch it! It's fabulous. Now, I realize that the movies are all going to be different than the books. This was a sad reality that I had to come to grips with after the Prisoner of Azkaban (I almost walked out). Having been so spoiled with the first two Harry Potter films, which were so close to the original books, the third movie was sadly lacking and very disappointing on multiple levels. After that, I finally had to reason with myself that the "movie version" and the "book version" while similar, are in fact two completely different stories. What the movie does offer that I really like, it a visual aspect that I had not imagined. I do have a vivid imagination, but sometimes seeing something that doesn't really exist is hard to do. The movies helped with this aspect. So now, when I listen or read the books, I can in my minds eye, refer back to the movie for the visual of what that looks like, how it acts, or what it would feel like. It adds a third dimension.

Another great example of this "3-D" feel added to a book, are the Jane Austen books. Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility...etc.

When I first decided to read Jane Austen, I didn't think anything of it. Everyone raved about her stories, and I liked reading, so it sounded like a good fit. Until I tried to read it of course. Old English is not something you just pick up one day and understand completely. In fact, I really had a hard time with her writing because it was so devoid of emotion. I was expected, as the reader, to glean all the meaning without the description. It was a highly difficult read. Needless to say, I was not so infatuated with Mr. Darcy at first. I believe when I was done with the book, my first response was "huh...". It was that good.

But, then I saw the movie and it was like it just...clicked. I was able to see the interpretation of the feelings before my eyes and I able to see the emotion in the writing, able to feel it for the first time. After that, the re-readings of her works have been much easier. I even watched the extensive BBC version of the movie (which of course I loved) and it thickened that dimension considerably.

So, in conclusion, my point is that while I didn't necessarily read the book in the traditional sense, I am ok with that because I am heightening the adventure and enjoying it all the more on a deeper level.

Let the adventure never end...

For anyone that knows me, you know that I am a pretty decent reader. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I am an avid reader, because there is a great deal of my time NOT reading books. So I would classify myself as a decent reader.

My personal choice of diversion, I have noticed, goes in cycles and if something isn't quite finished during that cycle, it gets set to the side till that cycle comes back around. The cycles I frequent are reading, knitting, crocheting, scrapbook crafts and an occasional quilting. If I start reading a book and then accidentally change cycles, well...it waits to be read till another day.

I have recently discovered the joy of books on iPod. This method lets me digest the book that I am longing to read AND let's my hands stay free to finish other projects that I may be working on. I realize that books on tape or books on CD have been around for a while, but for some reason, I have never really taken advantage of them till now.

I am a strange reader, or that is to say, that most people I have mentioned this to, find me strange. The oddity that I am talking about is that I enjoy reading the same books over and over. In book collection, I really only have a handful of book series that I like to read time and time again: Harry Potter Series, Twilight Series, The Host, The Jane Austen Collection, The Chronicles of Narnia Series, The Work and The Glory Series and a handful of other books that aren't as widely known or that I can't remember at the moment.

I enjoy re-reading stories over and over. Prior to Harry Potter, I was not really into the series books. I remember the first time I read Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone. I was on a road trip with some friends to California to spend Thanksgiving in Huntington Beach. I remember thinking that I probably wouldn't really enjoy this book, because from all accounts, it was a children's book. Needless to say that by the time we reached Las Vegas and the Smelting Stick...I was hooked.

We finished The Sorcerer's Stone and half of The Chamber of Secrets by the time we got back (we only read while we were driving there and back). Upon our return, I purchased copies for myself and was quickly done with The Chamber of Secrets. What a fabulous fictitious little world this was that we received from J.K. Rowling!

As the years rolled on, and new books came out, I would re-read the series for every new addition. Currently to this date I have read The Sorcerer's Stone 10 times, The Chamber of Secrets 9 times, The Prisoner of Azkaban 6 times, The Goblet of Fire 5 times, The Order of the Phoenix 4 times, The Half Blood Prince 3 times and The Deathly Hallows 2 times.

I usually let quite a bit of time go by between readings and visit other series that I have neglected while reading this series.

In trying to get ready for the new Harry Potter film that was just released, I decided to listen to the books all the way through once more. I finished the books on Sunday night. I had forgotten what a fantastic writer the author was!

Having read the last three books of the series the fewest number of times, listening to it this time was like a completely new book. I had forgotten all the details from the past and it was a whole new joy ride. The twists and turns of the plot where new and different, unexpected and fogged in my memory from the excess of time between readings.

I, once again, loved the series all the way through. I love the way the writing progresses and grows with each volume, as though it grows up with the characters that are in the story. I loved the characters even more! I laughed when they laughed & I cried with despair at their losses that seem to increase as the series continues. I have gotten so tied to characters in the past that when the journey ends, I am almost forlorn at the loss of their companionship.

This happens with most of the books that I read and I blame an overactive imagination that makes reading these kinds of books so enjoyable.

The reason I mentioned my "hobbies" cycle above, is that during this reading of Harry Potter, it was a little more special. When the Prisoner of Azkaban came out in movie form, I was working on knitting a scarf that resembled the pattern from The Sorcerer's Stone. I fashioned it in the Ravenclaw colors (movie colors, not book colors) and enjoyed it so much, I decided I needed to have the Prisoner of Azkaban scarf in Gryffindor colors. So I started an additional scarf. I believe I started that second scarf mid to late 2005.

I just finished it. LOL.

I got to about The Order of The Phoenix before the desire to finish it hit me again, but then I was able to work on it while I listened to the story and it was a fantastic thing, because it really tied me to the story. Like I was there and a part of it, working on my scarf for the following school year! As I got a little way through it though, I decided that I wasn't going to keep it, but rather give it to a friend of mine, who like me, is a fairly avid fan of the series, but is more discreet when it comes to his public displays of support. I never did see the point of getting lightening bolt earrings...

Anyway, I hope that as the years go on, I will find more stories that are as near and dear to my heart as this story is.

Thank you to the imagination of those writers that make such a journey possible and thank you to my imagination for letting me enjoy these experiences!

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death. ~ Robert Fulghum

Forks Trip: June 2009

So last year, I broke down the trip I took to Forks in pretty good detail. This time...I think I am just going to give you a basic description and the highlights.

Day 1: Fly to Seattle. Pick up the SWEETEST Full-size rental car (Mercury Grand Marquis) and dub it the Maude-Mobile. Lunch at McD's! Ferry. Got lost on the way to Port Angeles. Drive. Drive. Drive. Walmart for groceries. Welcome to the Cabin! Dinner at Sulleys (best burgers in Forks!), shopping in the Thriftway grocery store. Built fire in the fireplace. Phew!!! LONG day!!!

Day 2: Get ready for day. Visitor Center. Take the Self-guided Twilight Tour. Go to the Thriftway again with the Cali girls Donna, Jackie & Tiff, because they hadn't been there yet. Subway - say hello to our favorite underage illegal subway boys! (hahaha...jk). Beach at Sunset & Bonfire baby!!!

Day 3: Get ready for day. Drive to the Hoh rainforest, but change mind and look for Big Cedar that is just scary. Find a big cedar...but not THE Big Cedar...keep looking. Stop at Kalaloche gas station & fill up on with OLLLLDDD SCHOOL pump! Find creepy scary Big Cedar. Go to Kalaloche Beach 4, since we were down that far, but the tide was in, so no beach wandering. Back to Forks without seeing the Hoh. Back to First Beach/La Push for Quileutte storytelling around bonfire. Dancing in the new Millcreek Bar & Grill that had the best games and a very nice live band. Danced the night away!!!

Day 4: Got ready. Went shopping in local stores of Forks. Lunch at Sulleys. Dressed up for Dinner at Bella Italia. Ended the evening dancing again at Millcreek with our new good friends! (Joe, Ryan, Phil, Zane, Michelle, Matt, Paul & Jaime) GOOD TIMES!!!!

Day 5: Got ready. Packed. Drove to souvenir shop near the Hoh rainforest and got hoodies. Drive, Drive, DRIVE to the Airport. Say goodbye to Maude-Mobile. Flight home. Lost the car in Economy parking...but found it shortly! hahaha. Home again, home again!!!

I know this is a VERY short synopsis of my trip, but as you will note, I have attached lots of pics again...and they say pics are worth 1000 words, so there you have it!

A warning...I am a self-portrait junky, and lots of the pictures are of just me, but since it's my blog...I figure I can self-indulge as much as I like! hahahah

People always ask me "Why? Why are you going to Forks for vacation?" my answer is for you to look at the pictures and captions below and then I would simply state....

"Yeah...because it's something like that! Forks Baby!!!"