Dont read if you dont wanna be spoiled.
I am going to try not to reveal anything major, but I can't make any promises


JK Rowling has outdone herself.
I laughed some, I teared up some, and I throughly enoyed every moment that I have spent over the last 7 books. But this last one is her crowning achievement.
A big portion of the book is centered around Harry, Ron and Hermione on the search for the Horcruxes. They find out a lot about themselves, and about their friends and enemies, along the way.

I thought at one point I was going to have to hurl my book across the room but what I feared did not come to pass.....for the most part.

There are quite a few deaths (not saying who). There is a whole lot of back story told through letters, stories, and Pensieve memories that give the reader a better understanding of the characters.

I love how several of the characters come into their own as wizards.
I loved the big epic battle at the end....and the final chapter.

I REALLY wish they wouldnt make this one into a movie. I just KNOW they'll mess it up!

Thank you, Ms. Rowling, for Harry. I have enjoyed being introduced to your Wizarding world and getting to join Harry on his adventures. And i am most grateful for the closure.

My musings can be found on myspace

http://blog.myspace.com/childofthe80s

go see me!

Mark and I ventured out end of last week for the mountains of East TN.

The first- Our encounter with PIRATES!
Yes, the mountains of East TN has pirates. The details of how we got to the water and on their ship is something that I can't tell because I was sworn to secrecy (Pirate code and all) but believe me whe I say that it was an adventure and I am lucky to have escaped with my life.
It started out pleasant enough. A stingray came to visit



But as I paused for a souvenir photo little did I know that I was about to be surrounded. I think one of them almost chomped my hair.



 After escaping into a nearby cave and catching my breath I came face-to-face with a nest (den? flock?) of Japanese crabs. This one almost got my toe!



We slowly made our way out of the cave and landed in a pool of jellies. Luckily a small fish swam by and distracted them and we made our escape.



I ran onto a deck of what I thought was an abandoned ship.....and ran right into this guy. I think it startled us both



Once I assured them that I had enough rum for the crew stashed in my bag and that I was adequate with a sword I was allowed to join the plundering.



Poor mark was put in irons while he awaited his fate



I persuaded the men to let him go. Lucky for him, too, because he almost ended up like this guy.



All of this could have been avoided had we only seen the sign




*imagine my glee when i found out the gatlinburg aquarium had a pirate display this time! the aquarium is one of my favorite places to go when we are in g'burg. Lots of pictures and information in once section -placards telling about the different pirates, fact and fiction sections, model ships, etc. fun fun!

One pic from my new camera. Lovely lil weed, aint it?
THis camera is amazing. I am only beginning to discover what it can do. I will post more pics later!

I hope everyone out there is ok..not that anyone reads this.
I mostly keep to Rotten Tomatoes and Myspace.
The school year is almost over- WOOO! my nephew is growing like a weed and I need to get more pics up.
I have added new books reviews to my other blog www.sandiw.blogspot.com please please please go comment.

I love you all

I have posted a new book review on http://sandiw.blogspot.com/
I have reviewed the book The Sisters Grimm-The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley. This is the 2nd book in this series.

Be a pal, go check it out! Tell your pals to check it out too!

:)

This fall I have to lead a workshop on Blogs for other teachers. Since I have NO intention of showing them this one I am going to use one that I created last year when I was trying to see how the others works in case I decided to use one for school. Right now I am thinking of using it to review books since I read mostly Young adult fiction anyway.
Please help me out and periodically read and comment, k? Suggest books I should read, tell me what you think of the ones I'm reading....just give me something so I will have something to show them in August.

http://sandiw.blogspot.com/

Mark came home Friday to the TN Forestry Division all over our yard trying to put out a fire.
Our idiot neighbor almost burned down our house AGAIN. He was burning garbage but it was very windy.. Anybody with sense in their head should know NOT TO START A FREAKIN FIRE.
This is how close it got to the back of the house. Those are burn marks. Luckily the dog was in the house, though it didnt get inside the fence.


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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!

Hope you have a fantastic holiday.

No really. go now.

I have been a fan of the stage production of Rent since the moment I saw it in Memphis. I have seen it twice on stage. When I found out they were making a movie of it I was thrilled- but still a little apprehensive. Would they be able to capture it right?

Yes they did.

The movie is beautifully done. And there is a big fat plus for the fact that they used many of the original Broadway actors. I know the original broadway recording by heart and seeing the faces that go with those voices.

I hope that Paris gets it (but they are weenies so I doubt they will). I will go see it again....

one ibuprofen cold/sinus and mt dew later....


...my headache is finally gone.


I updated my itunes and the user agreement I had to agree to in order to use it had this (in all caps):

THE APPLE SOFTWARE IS NOT INTENDED FOR USE IN THE OPERATION OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES, AIRCRAFT NAVIGATION OR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS, LIFE SUPPORT MACHINES OR OTHER EQUIPMENT IN WHICH THE FAILURE OF THE APPLE SOFTWARE COULD LEAD TO DEATH, PERSONAL INJURY, OR SEVERE PHYSICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

So I wondered why someone would think that itunes could be used to run nuclear facilities and life support machines...

I need to take a picture of me smooching my nano.....

today is veteran's day. whatever I think of bush and this war I lay aside and honor and remember those who have served or are serving in the armed forces. They have my support and I hope those in Iraq make it home safely-soon. I am not patriotic, but thank you.

My marine friend is on a ship headed to the gulf area. He is not sure if he will have to actually go to Iraq, but I worry.

ONE WEEK TIL HARRY POTTER! ack!


(copied from my rt journal)

We got some pictures taken for our parents for christmas. My sis, neffie-poo and moi

( LOOK HERE FOR MORE! )

So I round the corner today before 4th block and see a girl trying to keep two boys from scuffling. One of them got away before I could see what was going on. I found him, pulled him aside and asked what happened.
"I'm fucking mad, Mrs-"
pause
fear spreads across his face (I feign surprise)
"I didnt mean to say that, I was just so mad!"

heh

Turns out other fella was talking to and flirting with a girl mr. potty-mouth likes.

Such drama, I swear.

I told the kid that girls aren't worth fighting over (I tell the girls the same thing about boys, bc it's true.) Who knows if he'll actually listen.
I didnt send him to the office for slipping with the f-bomb (though he does have to write off. Stupid punishment, but it WAS an accident)

my job keeps me on my toes. ya never know whats going to come out of their mouths.

Now, go expand your brain and read a banned book http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/100mostfrequently.htm .


"censorship causes blindness"
Edited to add link :)

Is it creepy of me to say that this kid is really cute in this picture? cuz he is.
i cant wait.....

I hope this movie is as bad ass as the pictures





Some one PLEASE explain to me why the name Marvolo is on the tombstone when it is supposed to be Voldemort's father that is buried here and NOT Voldemort......This better be fixed in the movie, dangit.

I have almost made it through the first week of school teaching middle schoolers. Much cooler than I thought it was going to be. The kids make it much better, though, since I have had most of them before. I have a chalkboard in my room (a REAL chalkboard- not a white board!) and I am in need of a chalk holder so my fingers dont get all chalky all day. Mine is one of the very few with a chalkboard.

There is really nothing else to report, I just wanted a new entry on top :)