HP 7 (no major spoilers)

My copy of the final Harry Potter installment arrived around 5pm yesterday. Pulling my first all nighter since my undergrad days, I finished it at 9:45 this morning. I suspect I was far from alone in this endeavor. I really enjoyed making a big deal out of it - it was just fun that way. And the cats kept me company all night. Eric came in every few hours to grin and ask me who else had died since his last inquiry. There is a rather inconsequential wizard couple who thoughtfully named their middle child Ellie, and even more satisfying, I share my birthday with the late Lily Potter.

Excellent conclusion to the series - you have to figure it was pretty good for ME to read 750 pages in less than 17 hours. (I'm guessing my bf Alyssa read it in half the time!) But a literary talent like JK Rowling comes along less than once in a lifetime.

Awwww....

Today marked exactly 6 years since my first date with Eric. :-) It was even a Saturday that year, too! July 14, 2001, we went to the Renaissance Festival (I had never been before), then I fed him homemade burritos at my apartment. Then we played putt-putt, and finally we watched a movie, "The Long, Long Trailer." It was a busy day! The following Monday at work, he brought me a pink rose from his backyard. That bush still produces the sweetest smelling roses I've ever smelled!

Two thumbs up!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Outstanding! Perhaps the best movie I've ever seen.

Story: Well, duh - of course the story was stellar. The screenwriters did a pretty amazing job of condensing the book into a 138 minute film, plus there's some fine humor in it.

Casting: Perfect! Especially for the character of Dolores Umbridge. What a hoot! And what I wouldn't do for a set of her plates with the moving, mewing kittens on them!

Soundtrack: Excellent! And very fitting, especially in terms of emotional effect. I may have to buy the CD.

Effects: WOW. Don't wait for this one to come out on DVD - you need to see it on the big screen. Some of the effects are breathtaking and the small screen will never do them justice. I've never really cared an ounce about special effects in movies, but in this case, they added tremendously to the overall experience.

Final word: I'm going to see it again!