Fidget

I’ve been on quite a Hogwarts kick for awhile - I just got done reading through all the books. What fun! I think it took me about 12 weeks. If you haven’t read ‘em, I’d recommend the series for an absorbing, time-wasting, nail-biting good time. I laughed a lot and even had a good cry or two. (And don’t read the rest of this post because I’m talkin’ spoilers in it!)

I think one of J K Rowling’s strengths in the books is how convincing the wizarding world is. You quickly come to feel that you’ve become a student at Hogwarts and find yourself wishing you could visit Diagon Alley in person. The movies have helped with this feeling - I’d seen all 5 that are out before starting the books (though I’d read Book One years ago, after seeing the first movie.) Having images from the film to assist my imagination was fun. That’s also why I wanted to read the books - the movies left me mostly really confused so I wanted to read all the details and subplots for myself and get it all figured out. The books are so long and complex that I think the movie makers sometimes have to just count on people having read the books to follow the plot and catch the details.

There are also some really great characters - I absolutely adore Hagrid’s little domestic tendencies (he cooks, knits, gardens, and cossets his pets. He’s a regular Martha Stewart… ok, maybe not) and emotional meltdowns. He’s so tenderhearted. Rita Skeeter is so infuriating… and Snape! Where do I start. I think his movie self helps his book self be more believable and… dare I say endearing? (Alan Rickman rocks!) I (mostly) always knew he hadn’t gone back to the dark side. I think Rowling made a lot of great choices in things like having the Weasleys be Harry’s surrogate family. They’re great… giving us a glimpse of the normal wizard family life that Harry never had. One thing I never thought worked was the whole Sirius thing. I think Rowling never gave them time to bond, and then S was killed and it was sad but only because Harry’d only known him for 2 years, and never spent any significant time with him, really. That was troubling. I also disapproved of killing off Fred during the climax. He’s a twin!! you just can’t do that. Wouldn’t Percy have been a better choice? He comes back to the good side, and nobly dies for the cause. ‘Course, that’s what I was expecting so maybe JKR thought it would be too predictable.

She managed to bring things to a somewhat resolved ending in book 7, quite tastefully too. I wish there would have been more than just one chapter about “what happened after.” Also I think there were a few too many near-death episodes for Harry, Ron and Hermione in book 7. It just started to get wearying. Unlike the first six, they spend very little time at Hogwarts in year 7 and I think the book suffered a little from that lack of stable context for the action. One moment they’re in Godric’s Hollow and then next they’re inside Gringotts, escaping by the skin of their teeth, again. And again. I guess I should have expected it, since Voldemort attacked in chapter 4! Things don’t calm down much after that. Whew. That’s gonna be a heck of a movie… too many action scenes already!

Yesterday I had a birthday party. I really wanted to do something significant because my 30th birthday is this week, coming up on Thursday. I haven’t had a party for a few years, not since I lived in the bay area and we had picnic birthdays at Vasona park. But up here you can’t count on nice days in mid-October, so we planned a drop-in party in our apartment. We were really worried that too many people would come at once and it would be uncomfortably crowded. But, everyone came in tidy little groups. BN’s mom was here, on a Thursday-to-Tuesday visit, and the most we had at one time was 8 of us. We served brownies, (baked with love by BN himself) and various kinds of ice cream with bananas and toppings for sundaes and root beer for floats. GK gave me beautiful white roses, and GC brought me the last of her homegrown flowers and a butternut squash from her garden. I got some lovely soaps, and a bottle of gourmet simmer sauce, along with various cards. It was a very pleasant day, and even the weather was quite cheerful.

So, how do I feel about turning 30? Well… I guess I might expect to feel upset, like my life is passing me by, but I really feel fine. I’m married to my best friend, we have the things we need, and I’m keeping busy with work and projects. I’ve basically spent most of my life (until recently) feeling like I was behind in growth. I always, always looked young for my age… and now that is starting to be a blessing rather than a curse. I make a better grownup than a kid, I was always struggling to “catch up.” Now, I feel quite caught up, thank you.

It’s been truly fall here for a couple of weeks now… patchy clouds, periods of rain, and the temps took a noticeable dip awhile back. The forecast high for today is 62, tomorrow it’s 58. It’s been a bit sudden… summer gave no warning that it was leaving for good.

I’ve busted out my sewing machine recently - I’m working on the pants pattern from SEW U / Built by Wendy. Finally - fashionable pants from a home-sewing pattern. GC has had good success with her attempts at this same pattern, and she inspired me to buy the book/patterns and have a go as well. The book is worth the money for the patterns, the wonderful array of customization/embellishment ideas, and some good tips and tricks, but I wouldn’t recommend it to a beginner. I would be a bit lost in the instructions for the pants if I didn’t have as much experience with sewing as I do.

I’m taking a weaving class at the Craft Center this term. I had my first class last night and it looks like it’s going to be fun. We’re making rugs out of scraps from a wool mill.

Yesterday I woke up with a sore throat and today I’m feeling worse. Yuck. I hate being sick!