What's up & Harry Potter VII

Well, I've been in Ithaca about a month now and things are going really well.

I'm starting to get more settled in the area and getting a better idea of where stuff is and how to get there.

I'm getting to know more people on campus, but I still can't wait until the students get back next month...that'll be when my job really gets going.

My boss asked me today about the transition from being a full-time student into (well, in my case, back into) the working world. I guess the biggest transition for me has been getting used to a new schedule. Right now, my schedule is fairly set, but will probably be more fluid when the students get back. As a student, my schedule was very fluid. Things changed from day to day and week to week. I mean, classes and my work schedule was pretty set at the beginning of each summer. But, the workload and what I needed to do would change from week to week based on what assignments were due or coming up. Also, the readings always cause things to be different all the time. Right now, at least, I'm pretty much working 9-5...it's kinda weird for me because I haven't had a 9-5 job since 1994 when I worked for a law firm back in Florida. But, I'm enjoying myself and life should be enjoyable.

About the most exciting thing lately for me, though, was the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! I was talked into going to the release party at the local Barnes & Noble and had a pretty good time. I'm glad I went...I'd of just been sitting at home by myself if I hadn't gone and I got to see some VERY interesting people.

WARNING

SPOILER ALERT!

So, I managed to get the book at midnight on Saturday morning (or Friday night, depending on how you look at it) and I had finished all 759 pages by Sunday morning at 3:40! It was really, really good!

It pretty much answered most of the questions I had up to this point. So what were my favorite parts? Well, in no particular order...

• learning about the memorial in place at Godric's Hollow (where Harry was born and lived, in spite of you know who!)


• the epilogue...I loved getting to see how the three heroes were doing in future years, though I'd have loved to learn more about their careers, who was teaching at Hogwarts...stuff like that


• the Battle of Hogwarts...I CAN NOT WAIT to see this played out on screen in the movie!!


• Even though it was really sad (I teard up...there I admitted it) one of the most touching parts was when Dobby died...followed by the death of Fred

And my absolute favorite...

• "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" (p 736, US version) Mrs. Weasley to Bellatrix Lestrange during the Battle of Hogwarts! Oh yeah, baby!

All in all, it was awesome and a fine, fine end...worthy of the series.

Thanks Be to God and Long Live Harry!