moviesign - deathly hallows (movie spoilers ahoy)

Well.

It's Saturday night, I'm flipping back and forth between the football Tigers playing Iowa State and the Blues/Devils game (Mizzou is leading, Blues are tied). The house smells like oregano and butter (the cloverleaf roll experiment/dry run for Thanksgiving was a success).  The pup is hunting squirrels in her sleep (her nose is twitching something fierce).

I'm recovering from 8 hours of sleep in the last 2 days.

Paula and I went to the midnight show of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One after dinner on Thursday, and I have to say, for the most part, I was impressed. More on that in a few.

The crowd at the Regal was fairly young and loud - I was surprised that there were so many older teens there, as it was a November Thursday, with school in session. Lots of costumes.  I saw a gal dressed in gold with wings on her head (she was a Snitch), many many Gryffindors, witches, wizards, and a guy in a dress.  I'm not sure if he was dressed as Fleur-as-Harry, or if he lost a bet, but he was a SCARY woman. LOL! Whoever dressed him had him in red (!!) heels, and after the third or fourth time he came and went (he was in the row behind us), the shoes were off. I think Paula was traumatized.

We actually got to sit for about 2 hours in the theatre before the movie, and they didn't start the 'in-betweens' until 11:30.  At first we were all happy to have something to look at, except they ran the same 'quizzes' about 10 times.  We were shouting out the answers to the questions as the pages were displayed.  Yeah, we were a little impatient. THEN previews.  TRON was first, everyone thought that was cool...but every preview afterwards was greeted with grumbles, and by the time we got to the Yogi Bear preview, there were chants of "Harry, Harry, Harry" rumbling through the theatre. Again, impatient!

I won't go into details about the movie - I'm sure that there are enough blow-by-blow reviews out there to satisfy everyone.  I will give my highlights, tho ;D LOTS of skipping around here.

• I missed Dudley saying thank you to Harry.
• "I was afraid you'd lost your way..." made me go 'ooooh...nice double meaning!'
• Where the hell did Harry get the mirror??
• The cupboard under the stairs made me tear up.
• Hermione with Harry's eyebrows.  *diez*
• Thought Harry was going to keel over ... Oh, Ginny! lol
• Could Ron be any more smitten?
• YOU HAVE ONE HOUR! (to fix my office)
• Churchyard. *weeps*
• Snake. *jumps* Good god, Bathilda was perfectly creepy.
• Harry Potter, newest member of the polar bear club
• Harry and Hermione look a little...blue....and....nekkid....
• THEY LEFT OUT MY FAVORITE LINES.  WAH!!!
• Ron is such a suck-up lol
• The DH story art was cool
• *sob*

The chase from the Snatchers made me almost queasy, since the camera was all over the freaking place.  It was really hard to follow what we were supposed to follow.  I'd imagine it was one heck of a job to edit. Hey, Academy! Award for Editing needs a nomination...I nominate DH1!!

I should also say that many of my notes were used for the PFW podcast review and were written down the SECOND time I saw the movie on Friday.  Yes, I saw it twice in 14 hours. Yes, I did that for HBP too. yes, I'm a fan!  lol The Snatcher scene wasn't as bad the second time, as I sat further back in the theatre and center instead of closer and to the right. I can't imagine trying to watch that from the front rows. Ugh.

Speaking of the podcast, I have no idea when the review will be up, but when it is you can download it via iTunes (search PotterFicWeekly in Podcasts) or off the PFW site, which I think is linked on the right.

My favorite section of dialogue from THE ENTIRE BOOK was left out. It was the part after Ron has destroyed the Horcrux in the locket (yes, the audience cheered at both showings) and before they go back to Hermione. To quote JKR:

"After you left," he said in a low voice, grateful for the fact that Ron's face was hidden, "she cried for a week. Probably longer, only she didn't want me to see. There were loads of nights when we never even spoke to each other. With you gone..."

He could not finish; it was now that Ron was here again that Harry fully realized how much his absence had cost them.

"She's like my sister," he went on. "I love her like a sister and I reckon that she feels the same way about me. It's always been like that. I thought you knew."

Ron did not respond, but turned his face away from Harry and wiped his nose noisily on his sleeve. Harry got to his feet again and walked to where Ron's enormous rucksack lay yards away, discarded as Ron had run toward the pool to save Harry from drowning. He hoisted it onto his own back and walked back to Ron, who clambered to his feet as Harry approached, eyes bloodshot but otherwise composed.

"I'm sorry," he said in a thick voice. "I'm sorry I left. I know I was a -- a --"

He looked around at the darkness, as if hoping a bad enough word would swoop down upon him and claim him.

"You've sort of made up for it tonight," said Harry. "Getting the sword. Finishing off the Horcrux. Saving my life."

I listen to the audiobooks and Jim Dale reading the US version of this scene is one of my all-time favorite parts.  I was put out that it wasn't included when so much of other dialogue was lifted directly from the book. It's so heartfelt from Harry. :(

If you have read the books, or have seen all of the movies (and yes, this one is not a stand-alone; you need to see ALL of them), go see this one.  I may go see it in the HD or IMAX (is there a difference?) the first weekend of December. No 3D this time - not that I mind, since I don't like 3D anyway.

I've been working on Christmas presents - I've made two Rodekool brioche lace scarves and am about 2/3 into a third one.  I *may* make one more before I work on fingerless mitts.  I didn't get the Ravenclaw shrug finished before the movie due to the fact that I should have stopped what I was working on a week before I did.  Meh.  It needs to have the sleeves seamed and the body ribbing knitted, and it's done.  Almost 6 feet of stockinette!  I did one entire half from Saturday to Wednesday and grafted the two sleeves together. 110 stitches of mid-back grafting. Ugh... I do like the Patons wool.  Nice stitch definition, pretty drape, and good even fabric.

Mizzou is leading 14-0 with 3 minutes left in the game, and the Blues are tied up 2-2 at the start of the third period, and I think I'm out of gas. I may also be out of parentheses.

Have a nice Thanksgiving, US peoples!

Cheers!

mtv's dh sneak peek

Well, I tried to post this right after it aired last night, and Blogger was down. Stayed down all night!

Ugh.

Anyway, here's the clip:

(Edit:  Viacom said TAKE IT OFF and it was done.  Sigh.)

Am very very very excited about this....and if a less-than-one-minute-long clip can do this, I can't wait for the TWO MOVIES! w00t!

Off to get ready to podcast.

Cheers!!

idle chatter

Miss me? Awww!

I know this was from a few days (weeks?) ago, during the media blitz before HBP came out, but it's funny! It's in 2 parts, and Yes, it's Dan. ;P Ah, July 9th. Just over three weeks ago.





Sorry, I think the sound is all left channel, but I can't help that.

Still haven't taken pics of the yarn yet - and I'm buying a kettle-dyed lot from Rachel @ Dyeabolical today. She went and dyed it, and then had a severe allergic reaction to it! She posted about it late last night, and I'm relieving her of half of what she dyed this evening. I'll take a pic of that as well. *hugs to Rachel*

I'm almost to the center point of the Ravenclaw shrug, and need to get one more ball of the grey yarn. Meh. I hope they have the same dye lot. In the meantime, I've started yet another sock: it's called Outside In and it's available on Knitty.com in the Summer 2009 set. I'm using the Premier Yarns "Serenity Sock Weight" in Aquamarine for the socks - I've already ripped back and restarted with a larger needle (a US2 instead of a US1) and I think they'll fit better. Me and my big feet!

I'm going to see HBP in IMAX tomorrow - the first 15 minutes are in 3D, so the joke has been that I have a date with Harry in 3D. LOL!

I'm still planning on reading the fic that Ryan wants to podcast, but the Peons have run into a little trouble - it appears that we're going to have to re-record several eps, as one of the guest hosts had a HDD crash and lost all her files. Before she uploaded them. Grrrrrr. We're going to have a meeting tonight to discuss it.

The Cards are in first place (w00t!!) and the new acquisitions (Holliday and Lugo) have been productive! According to...I don't remember, one of the sportswriters off my Twitter list, I think....if the Cards are in first on the morning of 8/1, they have won the division. If they are not in first, they have not won the division. That goes back to the beginning of the franchise, I believe. We're in first today. The trend will continue!!

That's all from me right now. Cheers!

rupert on yahoo

Masterofmystery over on LJ tweeted about this vid:

Rupert Grint on Swine Flu, Kissing a Castmate @ Yahoo! Video

Ryan is giving me trouble about 'how many days till DH1?' *rolls eyes*

Happy Birthday to Dan Radcliffe....yesterday was his 20th, and yesterday was two years since I saw OotP and the day that started The Jumper That Ate My Brain, and indirectly, this blog! Who needs Kevin Bacon for six degrees of seperation. Ha!

I do have yarn to review (I think I mentioned it last time) and I'll get there soonish. Ryan wants me to read Harry Potter and the Psychic Serpent which is oh, 435K words. By next week. So I can podcast. I'm going to kill him.

Cheers!

yet another hbp clip

This one was put up a couple of days (2?) ago, and made me squee! Okay, so all of them are making me squee. Gimme a break.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Exclusive Clip


I'm working on a new project - a shrug based on the Caron Simply Shadows Shrug. It will be dark oxford grey mix with new denim stripes above the wrists and in the opening ribbing. The stripes are fairly subtle, but they show off my Ravenclaw house colors! I'm making it out of Patons Classic Wool. I'll post some pics of it as I go along!

Tomorrow night I'm going to get my copy of Harry, A History signed by Melissa Anelli! Apparently they are coming to St. Louis instead of Kansas City for the PC/Wrock tour, so they'll have a booksigning, a PotterCast show recording, and The Remus Lupins and Whompy! St. Louis County Library Headquarters at 6, people! Come see them, and say hi.

I found out that the closest theatre is going to have HBP for the midnight show, and I'll be getting my ticket for that on Sunday. w00t! 11 days, 23 hours and 25 minutes.

Watching the replay of the game today (we won) - we're tied for first with the Brewers, and Albert rocks. First player in history to get 30 homers in each of his first nine (!!) seasons. Awesome.

Off to sleep soon - working both Friday and Saturday. Yay for holiday pay!

Cheers!

oshie for mayor and other chuckles

Okay, in a bit of a better mood than I was two days ago. I'm still miffed at Warner Bros for jerking us around, but I'll get over it.

The Blues lost the first game of a best-of-seven to Vancouver last night *eyes Ang* but they played a good game. They really poured it on in that last minute! Go Blues!!!

On a Blues-related note, someone apparently broke state law by writing in T. J. Oshie for mayor and then taking a picture of the ballot. *rolls eyes at Missouri* Give me a break. I think it's very funny that he was a write-in, considering he's 22 and not FROM Missouri (altho....I've been to Mt. Vernon, WA, where he is from).

Cards are playing Chicago this afternoon - Carpenter is on the DL *sniffs* and they called up two pitchers from Memphis. They're saying he's got a left oblique strain, and that he may be out a while. I remember Woody Williams having the same thing (his was severe, if I recall) and he was out for MONTHS. Sigh. We're on top on the Central, though. 10 games in, and we're 7 and 3. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going!!

I still haven't posted about the yarn I got from DBNY - it's been an up-and-down couple of weeks, but I'll get to it. The Peons recorded another PFW 'cast this week which should be out some time in May, and we should be getting back to our own podcast starting next week.

I've been reading a fic called Away From The Sun by hgfan1111 (aka cibjasfad, aka Andi). It's really, really good. You can access it at Sink Into Your Eyes (edited) and Simply Undeniable (may be edited, login required). I've been reading it off of her LiveJournal, and talked OR!Sue and indirectly Jules into reading it as well. She's also a friend of (the eevil) Ella aka deadwoodpecker, who wrote Yellow Submarine among other things. *prods you into the direction of fic*

I think that's all for right now - there will be a new trailer released tonight, and I'll link/post it here when I get it! There's at least one new clip - Katie Bell being cursed - so we'll see how it looks.

Cheers!

not happy with wb

Why do they keep doing this?

`Harry Potter' sweeps into theaters 2 days early

We're all geared up for the Friday premiere, midnight shows, podcast reactions from Azkatraz, people taking time off work, etc. I think they do this on purpose. Dorks.

The better news is that we're supposed to be getting a 'new' new trailer on Thursday - not the same as the Japanese trailer - at least, that's what it looks like. The one in the post below is just at 2 minutes, and the one for Thursday is supposed to be 2:20. I'll believe it when I see it. We've also had a few new pics out; one of them has Harry playing the piano of all things. Um, I don't think so.

I have a little bit of yarn to review, but I'm off to bed. Just popped in to watch the end of the Cards-D'backs game (we lost, extra innings, alas) and if there was an update on Carp (possible pulled left ribcage). We JUST got him back, and he left before the first pitch of the fourth. *crosses fingers for not bad injury*

Cheers!

a mini-catchup

Okay, so this really isn't a blog post...I'm a bit behind on posting, and have been (seemingly) all over the place in the last month. Sorry about that.

Hallows & Horcruxes II/Gathering of Awesome was ...well, awesome! Bought CDs, jumped around like I was 10, sang at the top of my lungs with a roomful of people doing the same thing, hung out with PFW peoples, awesome. Really, I have pictures, and links, and all sorts of other stuff to share about the trip. I've also managed to get at least one Ministry of Magic song totally trapped in my head. Sigh.

I also have a bunch of yarn to photograph, add to stash on Rav, and review here from a bunch of places including Yarn Barn of Lawrence.

A few more promos have been released for HBP, and I managed to see the trailer (#3, I think) for the new Star Trek. Oh Em Gee.

Speaking of rendering me speechless (*g*), I have just in the past hour or so finished Backward With Purpose by the evil Ella, aka deadwoodpecker. Oh my freaking Merlin. If you have a spare...oh, I don't know, few days, go read the fic. It's linked in the Books Read 2009 sidebar. PFW reviewed this fic, and it's sequel The Book of Albus, on upcoming episodes. I haven't started BoA yet, but plan to do so ASAP. This is the same author who wrote Yellow Submarine (which I have apparently forgotten to add to the Books Read list *fixes that*) and has at least three or four other irons in the fire. She's on LJ and on ff.net. Go read her stuff. I'm not kidding.

I got to record a PFW! Go me! I'm a guest host on the second Season 3 PFW ep. We reviewed the last half of Harry Potter and the Power of Truth by CreativeQuill. Yes, it's linked on the sidebar. ;) No word yet as to when the release date is....probably May or so. You can hear me on Peoncast starting with the season opener, too! We've been having a great time with the one-shots and short chaptered fics.

Oh! and you can also hear me narrating a story for Spellcast. I think the podcast with the reading will be released in the next week or so.

I'll be driving (on Saturday) into the winter storm that is apparently going to be zooming through Kansas City this weekend...D and NE!Sue are having a mini-meetup, so I'm going for an overnight. It looks like I'm not going to get snowed on until at least Boonesville, and it shouldn't be too bad. I hope.

Last but certainly not least, please keep my OR!Sue (aka Sueatducksfoot) from PFW in your thoughts...her grandfather passed away on Friday, and she's in California this weekend for the funeral. It's been a difficult week for them.

Phew. This wasn't going to be this long.

Cheers!

PS: BASEBALL IN 12 DAYS!!!!!!!! w00t!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mtv's spoiler peek courtesy of leaky

W00t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ahem.

There were a few other writeups this week concerning the Harry/Ginny ship. The first one was the list, and the second was the defense!

The Book Examiner's 5 Most Annoying Literary Romances - And the 5 Most Romantic.

The Book Examiner - In Defense of Harry and Ginny

Finally, I was listening to last week's NPR Science Friday, and one of the interviews was with Neil Tyson, who is the director the Hayden Planetarium at Rose Center, which is part of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City (Yes! I was there! w00t!). He talked about his new book, The Pluto Files which is about Pluto and the issues around 'demoting' it to a dwarf planet. He was very amusing (he cameoed on Atlantis and apparently was bad at playing himself! LOL!) and the interview was interesting. You can listen to it right off the website. Check it out!

The Oscars were on tonight, and after getting hyped because there was going to be footage from HBP, I was disappointed that it was about 15 seconds right at the very end of the awards show. Meh.

Oh well. That's all from me for now. Cheers!

a vid gakked from tom smith and babbles

Everyone know Tom Smith? No? You should so go check out his website and blog!!

Anyway, I gakked this from his LiveJournal. I love the smiles!!




I bought yarn from.....Michaels and The Weaving Department. I'll list them after I shoot them - I did get one of the Winter's Tale yarns by Opal! I'll shoot the Ron socks at that time, too. I'm already about halfway through BSJ #....6? No. #7. It's in the Angel yarn, Blue River. I'll be sending this along this week to a baby. Oh, yeah, and to his mom, too. ;) PK and D have decided that what I should give up for Lent is yarn purchases! ack.......!

Not much else happening - Leaky posted that the role of Reg Cattermole was cast for DH - which means the Ministry of Magic scene is in! YAAYY!!

Must read fic for tonight's podcast...Cheers!

yet another vid

It seems all I do these days is post vids...not much else going on, I'm NOT buying yarn, and Christmas is stressing everyone out.

I did do a few one-shot recordings that are now up on my main site - check out the SpellCast readings and the Deathday Auction one-shot.

Raesive sent me this (she's a Mac person):



They reminded me of Cylons, as well....

Cheers!

okay, so maybe i am a fangrrl

*rolls eyes at self*

I'm hoping that the E! interview will embed properly...I still have not watched Dan on Inside the Actors Studio, but I hope to on Tuesday night.



Isn't he cute? hehehe! I'm such a perv. Sigh. AND! I am right!!! I've said that the reason that WB moved HBP to next year was because they didn't have a blockbuster for next summer due to the writers' strike, and now Dan says he thinks that too! Vindication!! *pokes WB for good measure*

Also on the video front, someone (Robert from Spellcast, I think) sent me a link for a "Disney Sarah Palin Parody" which was quite amusing.

I know, I still haven't reviewed my yarn. Time now!

• 1 4oz skein Red Heart "Strata" (100% acrylic) in colorway Crayon (white, red, yellow, green, blue/white dot)
• 1 2oz skein Yarn Bee "I Love This Yarn Sport Weight" (100% acrylic) in colorway Green Camo Multi (chocolate brown, forest green, olive, black, tan, white)
• 1 3.5 oz ball Yarn Bee "Elvish" (100% polyester) in colorway Clove (rust, orange, red) Phoenix colors.
• 2 50g balls Red Heart "Heart & Sole with Aloe" (70% superwash wool, 30% nylon) in colorway Toasted Almond (medium brown, dark brown, charcoal, black, cream, tan, grey, navy)
• 2 50g balls Patons "Kroy Socks Stripes" (75% machine washable wool, 25% nylon) in colorway Burnished Sierra Stripes (orange, brown, grey, rust, black, gold)
• 1 5oz Red Heart "Super Saver Fleck" (96% acrylic, 4% other fibers) in colorway Aran Fleck (cream with brown, black, rust, and dark green donagal fleck). I'm using this one to teach someone how to knit - I'm making a scarf, and my SIL has been eyeballing it. Christmas present!

I haven't taken shots of these yet - I may not at all, since most of them are online. I'll think about it.

Lots of recording to do - I was auctioned off for the Deathday party on PFW, and Bob, the "Squirrel King" won me. I'll be reading a one-shot by Viridian. We're also working on the Christmas ep of PFW, and I've got at least three things in the works for that. I'm in the middle of recording Chapter 14 of Harry Potter and the Battle of Wills (we're reviewing Chapter 16 right now! eep) and I still need to edit Chapter 26 of After the End. I'm working on them, I promise! I've been getting distracted by a couple of very good fanfics - I'm following several WIPs, and one has reached the 100K stage, so it made it on the "Books Read" list. It's called Easier To Be, and it's by hgfan1111. It should be finished shortly. Mature themes, so it's not for the under-17 group.

We had a good day yesterday - Ash and I went to Nephew #2's hockey game (they lost), then to Happy Joe's Pizza (yum!), LadyBug Beads, B&N, and then Michael's. Ash got most of her Christmas shopping wrapped up, and I get to wrap them. LOL!

Okay, that's enough for now.

Cheers!

yarn and quiche and hp

It's been a wicked crazy 2 weeks. First, the yarn.

• 1 100g hank Fire Lizard Studios "Lizard Sock" (75% superwash wool, 25% nylon) in colorway Autumn Woods (dark leaf to forest green, dark gold to burgundy, plum) and #2
• 1 100g hank Fire Lizard Studios "Lizard Sock" (75% superwash wool, 25% nylon) in colorway Julia (bronze-gold, burgundy-berry)
• 1 4oz hank St. Paul's Catholic School by Cherry Tree Hill "Supersock DK Select" (100% superwash merino) in colorway Garfield (black, yellow, cream, orange)
• 2 50g balls Patons "Kroy Socks Jacquards" (75% washable wool, 25% nylon) in colorway Denim Jacquard (sky blue, dark blue, grey, white, charcoal/white check)

Most of those were from DBNY, and sold out very very quickly. The Julia color of the Fire Lizard made me laugh - it's Gryffindor colors. Perfect for PFW Julia!

Today is Day #1 of 5 days off in a row, and the only thing I've done is wash the dishes. Lazy! I'm recovering from last week. I think I took more calls on Friday than I have for the week prior. From what I understand, the DMCA tickets are just going to get worse. Don't share copyrighted files, peeps!

I've started sorting the laundry, so where is the pooch lying? On top of the clothes on the floor of course. *rolls eyes*

I'm making the sausage & salsa quiche into minis for an appetizer on Thanksgiving. I made them as a test case last week, froze them, and then defrosted them in the frig. They were great! I couldn't find the mini shells in the store, so I made the crust myself. First time for me making crust, first time for making anything in the mini pans, total experiment. Mike @ work liked the crust (flour, butter, cream cheese) - he said it reminded him of potpie crusts. I'm so glad it worked!! I can't wait to see what the family thinks.

PotterCast had a review of the new trailer (which is totally totally made of awesome) and posted it on their site. It's a little hard to hear in places, but it was way cool. Too bad the movie couldn't have been out this weekend (*pokesWB really hard*) but I supposed I'll live. The Deathday part on PFW was a lot of fun!! I was auctioned off to Bob, The Squirrel King for an audiobook commission!

The bad news of the week was L-of-the-scarf in Colorado got laid off on Friday. 20 years at the same place, and she's out. I always figured her boss for a crackhead, and this proved it.

Well, on that sad note, I'm off. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving weekend!!

taking a deep breath

Just a short post today...a little HP news and some yarn to talk about.

From Hobby Lobby (I was looking for the Sock-Ease in Red Hots but they didn't have it....grr):

• 2 50g balls Patons "Stretch Sock" (41% cotton, 39% wool, 13% nylon, 7% elastic) in colorway Olive (green, dark green, rust, burgundy, orange, yellow gold)
• 2 50g balls Patons "Kroy Sock" (75% washable wool, 25% nylon) in colorway Mulberry Stripes (pale pink, hot pink, chocolate brown, country blue, black/white dot). This is a self-striping yarn, and is brighter in person that it is in the picture. It sorta reminded me of a Ginny color. Something she would wear. Dunno.
• 1 5oz ball Yarn Bee "Boucle Traditions" (90% acrylic, 10% polyester) in colorway Naturals (black, grey, brown, tan, white) for a scarf. I can't seem to find a pic for this, so I'll be linking one in a later post.

I have frogged the entire middle section of the Challah cloth. I ran the braid out to the end of the ball I was knitting it off of, and have re-started the center part. I think this time I'm going to stitch the blessing on it with duplicate stitch.

How weird is it that I'm watching Good Eats - Alton is making a standing lamb roast using a bundt pan to cook the roast - and for some reason all I can think of is the fact that that pan won't be kosher now...?

I found a few HP fics that I thought should be recommended, even though they're nowhere near the 50K mark that I have in the "Books Read 2008" sidebar. The first one is called Solving the Clues, and is very clever. The second one is probably the first post-DH fic written (it was posted in the early evening of July 21, 2007) and is called Interlude. There's one particular paragraph that totally choked me up. Choked Harry up, too. See if you can find it.

I've decided that the next 'gotta start' project is going to be a Baby Surprise Jacket (thank you, Sue) made out of "Sweet Delight Baby" in the Ladybug colorway. Now I just need to unearth some US7s - I know there are some around here somewhere.

In HP news, please note that I am calm, cool, and collected.

*waits a beat*

*cue jumping up and down*

The HBP trailer is going to be released TODAY! Squee! According to several places (including the Teaser Trailer site and Leaky), AOL will be streaming the trailer on Tuesday, July 29.

Now I just have to remember to breathe.

The author of Harry Potter and The Battle of Wills (Jocelyn) has graciously given permission for Scott, Dan and I to record her fanfic and post it for download. If you're interested, you can download the work-in-progress (the fic is done, the recording is not) at my site, and come chat with the rest of us in the Reading Group on PFW!

Lisa, you've been gone forever. Comic-Con is over, there was much squeeing and (more) jumping up and down (not by me so much) and people are now recovering. I'll be happy when you're back online with us in chat! I've missed ya.

Okay. I think I need to go to bed....soonish.

EDIT: I forgot, I wanted to add this to the post from today:

The 'alt text' is "I'd like to see more damage assessments for hurricanes hitting New York and flooding Manhattan -- something like the 1938 Long Island Express, but aimed a bit more to the west. It's just a matter of time." *diez* I loved the TRON reference, too....

Cheers!

i was attacked, i swear...

Never go to a craft store and 'accidentally' walk past the clearance rack. I went to Hobby Lobby to see if they'd received any "Sock-Ease" (they had!) and walked out with 16 - SIXTEEN - balls of yarn. Most of it was a buck or so each, but still! Oh, and Hobby Lobby sellers? Two things. Firstly, if you're going to send a new sock yarn to a store, make sure you send enough of each color to MAKE A PAIR OF SOCKS. The new Red Heart "Heart and Sole" yarn is only 50g, and they sent one of about 6 different colors to the store. *rolls eyes* I mean, come on. Luckily, the LB yarn is 100g, which is enough for a pair of socks. Secondly, if you are going to carry sock yarn, you also need to carry the needles for it. The smallest circ or DPNs they carry? US4. Hellooooo....

I can see that I'm going to have to take pics of the Yarn Bee yarns - there are very few shots of it online (according to Google). I'll post the haul here, and when I get the pics taken I'll update the links.

• 1 100g ball Lion Brand yarn "Sock-Ease" (75% wool/25% nylon, finished with aloe vera) in colorway Toffee (brown, olive, orange, yellow)
• 1 4oz ball Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Baby" (60% acrylic/40% polymide) in colorway Giggles Ombre (yellow, pink, orange, green)
• 4 4oz balls Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Baby" (60% acrylic/40% polymide) in colorway Ladybug Ombre (light red, sky blue, very light pink, charcoal)
• 2 4oz balls Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Baby" (60% acrylic/40% polymide) in colorway Baby Camo (tan, light to forest green, brown)
• 1 3.5oz ball Yarn Bee "Featherwisp" (100% nylon) in colorway Tempting (blue, rust, olive green, yellow)
• 1 3.5oz ball Yarn Bee "Airy" (100% nylon) in colorway Royal (bright amethyst)
• 1 3.5oz ball Yarn Bee "Paradox" (49% acrylic, 40% nylon, 9% polyester, 2% spandex) in colorway Wild Night (black core with rainbow twist, hot pink eyelash)
• 5 3oz balls Yarn Bee "Intrigue" (57% polymide, 43% Lurex glitter) in 5 different colors: Bunny (blush pink), True Love (dark red), Rouge (lipstick red), Blushing (blush bronze), and Midnight (deep blue)
• 1 4oz hank Scarlet Fleece "Totally Tubular x2" (80% merino, 20% nylon) in colorway Painted Desert (rust to deep black-brown, dusty blue-grey to deep teal, dusty pinks) from Loopy.
• 1 100g hank of Spindle City Yarns "SCY" (75% superwash, 25% nylon) in colorway Copper Pot (verdigris green to olive, sky blue to deep blue, red rust to medium burgundy), also from Loopy. Yummy yarn.

My Loopy Ewe Order #3 present was a mini red sock kit! It's so cute. I may have to make that this weekend. I have another hank of yarn, but it's a surprise. *waves to Teh Sue*

Jim is doing fine as far as I know - he still doesn't want visitors, and Mom hasn't called me (I specifically told her to if she needed anything, like to be kidnapped or something), so I'm clueless on the recovery front.

I picked up and worked on Seeker a bit yesterday - I'm past the increases on sleeve #2, so I have about 4 inches of 'straight' knitting in pattern before the armpit and raglan decreases.

I'm catching up on my podcasts again - I got behind while listening to the Born In series - and sooo want to send Violet a hank of the fibraNATURA yarn that I found at Kirkwood Knittery in the Seattle Skies colorway. She's nutz about the PNW. Who else would buy ROCKS from there??

Latest rumor about the HBP trailer is that it might might might be attached to the newest Mummy movie. *sigh* At this point, I don't care. I just want to seeeee.

There's a new promo pic - this one is from EW, and looks like it's the Felix Felicis potion. :) The covers for the calendar and sticker books are out too (here, here and here). The same pose that was used for the Opal Yarn poster is on the cover of the calendar - and I STILL don't think it looks like Dan. It just doesn't. *shrug* I can't put my finger on it. The first link for the sticker books doesn't look like him, either. The second and the third ones are him, though. They all look.....I dunno. Photoshopped.

Scott (the Hufflepuff King), Dan (the Pwncast of Wrock guy/aspiring broadcaster dude) and me (*cough*) are collaborating on a new audiobook. The PFW Reading Group is discussing Jocelyn's Harry Potter and the Battle of Wills and Scott had the brilliant idea to record it. We're still waiting for actual posting permissions from the author (hope that Hotmail account still works!) and we'll be trading off the chapters. 51 in all, which will break down to 17 for each of us.

I desperately need to edit and upload the next chapter or three of AtE, too.

The American League beat the National Leage on Tuesday in the longest All-Star Game on record: 4 hours and 50 minutes. 15 innings. the NL lost, and someone needs to nominate Uggla (from FL) as the Least Valuable Player. 3 errors. THREE! Meh.

I think I've wound down now - it's going to be very hot this weekend, so I'll either be staying inside where it's cool, or I'll be out for a drive. I'm thinking the former, as the A/C in the car is kaput.

Cheers!!

still alive, I am

Hello, I have not gotten lost. As Teh Sue has pointed out to me once a month, I have not posted since the end of March. Been in a bit of a blue funk, and still am, to an extent.

I'm not really going to go into details, but I do want to say I know I've let several people down by not doing what I was supposed to be doing, and that I've rather been hiding from that and from just about everyone in the process. A dearly departed friend of mine would have told me that I'd barricaded myself in my nice little closet, and that it was time to come back out and deal with the real world. Please bear with me over the next little bit while I do so.

I've been visiting the dentist just about every week for the past month or so - I had to have a tooth pulled, and was informed that if I didn't get my gum issue under control, I'd have no teeth in very short order. I just completed the fourth (and final) scaling yesterday, and will be back in about 3 weeks for what is being called a 'periodontal' (no clue) and a polishing. If the gums look better - and right now, they look better than they have in over a year - I'll be taken off the antibiotic and the fillings will begin. Yay. Thank the good lord (and Charter) for great dental insurance.

I've also been buying comfort yarn:

• 1 100g ball of Berroco "Sox" (75% superwash wool/25% nylon) in colorway #1472 Leeds (rust, burgundy, orange, charcoal, white) self-striping sock yarn.
• 1 100g hank Sunshine Yarns "Twist" (100% superwash Merino) in colorway Accio Firebolt! (chocolate brown, ash grey, black, white, lemon yellow).
• 1 130g ball of Universal Yarns "fibranatura Yummy" (100% superwash wool) in colorway #41359 Seattle Skies (sky blue, ash grey, deep purple). I swear, I had no idea what the name of this color was until just now - and those who know me know I love Seattle!
• 1 100g ball of South West Trading Company (SWTC) "TOFUtsies" (50% superwash wool, 25% Soysilk, 22.5% cotton, 2.5% Chitin) in colorway #854 Four Leaf TOEver (leaf greens to white). These, I think, may be Nagini socks.
• 1 100g call of Berroco "Comfort Sox" (50% superfine nylon/50% superfine acrylic) in colorway Stewart Island (muted pine green, rust, orange, burgundy)
• 1 50g hank of Artyarns "Ultramerino4" (100% handpainted merino) in colorway #136 (very pale yellow, yellow, orange, rust, burgundy, brown, dark lilac). This was an orphan ball, so this will be a pair of anklets. I got it from Chris' Needle Craft in west St. Louis County.
• 2 100g balls of Plymouth Yarn Co. "Sockotta" (cotton/SW wool/nylon) in colorway #803 (red) for some Cardinals socks.
• 1 100g ball of Plymouth Yarn Co. "Sockotta" (cotton/SW wool/nylon) in colorway #30 Country Garden (blue, green, yellow, pink, orange).
• 1 4oz hank of Cherry Tree Hill "Summer Sock" (30% merino wool/35% cotton/35% acrylic) in colorway Silver Dollar (charcoal grey). Will be used with the next hank for striped socks in Ravenclaw colors.
• 1 4 oz hank of Cherry Tree Hill "Summer Sock" (see above) in colorway Little Boy Blue (royal blue).

Speaking of "Nagini" socks, the widower of the designer of these socks (Monkey Toes) has very graciously allowed upload of the patterns for her socks onto Ravelry.

I've been working on a pair of Monkeys (Cookie A's pattern) with the Gypsy Girls Creations yarn. I really like the yarn - very sturdy. I frogged it three times before I got a sock that I liked and that would fit! I first tried the Nagini pattern with the yarn - couldn't see the scale effect (needs to be a semi-solid or a solid yarn). Then I tried another one, but by the time I got to the end of the ribbing had decided to do Monkeys instead.

Cast on with US3s (pattern calls for US2s), knit down and turned the heel. Tried leg on for size. Sock = narrow leg. Me = fat leg. Rrrip. Cast on with US5s, and now they fit. I'm just to the heel flap on the second sock. I modified the heel to the eye of partridge stitch, which I rather like with this yarn. For some reason I can't seem to insert a pic, so I'll see if I can edit this from home and insert it there. There are shots of the yarn, Sock #1 before frogging, and Sock #1 Redux posted in my projects page on Ravelry.

I did go to the Stitch 'N Pitch here the end of May - sat next to Susan (eeeek! she took pics of me!) who apparently now thinks I know everything about the Cardinals. Useless Info! I'm tellin' ya, I'm full of it. We had a good time - great weather and Yes, we did win the game. I hope we get as lucky next year!

More of After the End has been posted on my site and is available there or by subscription via podcatcher - link on the right sidebar.

I'm working on organizing the trip to NY in October to see Dan Radcliffe in Equus on Broadway. It's looking like it'll be the second or third weekend of October, and we're aiming for the Friday matinee. That will give us all day Saturday to see some of NYC, since I've never been there before. Dan and Richard Griffiths presented the Tony for Best Play on Sunday, and it was amusing! You can see it here, and a short red carpet interview with Dan is here.

I think I'm done for now.

Cheers!

5am and i'm awake

I thought only children could make you get up at weird times because of thunderstorms. I was wrong.

The shivering puddle of fur in the corner managed to make me get up. Ah, well, it wasn't like I was asleep anyway.

We're gonna be short and sweet this post, just a couple of Potter-related newsy bits and some yarn.

I did manage to finish listening to David Reidy's Series 3 yesterday while I was folding and stuffing 1200 envelopes. I like David's podcasts - they're chatty and informative, and he likes a lot of the same things I do! He just knits a lot faster than I do. LOL! Anyway, his podcast is Sticks and String, and he's currently wrapping up Series 5 - he breaks them down into groups of 10, and focuses on specific topics - Series 3 had a lot about the Easter Show in Sydney (last year) and had interviews and observations from there and from World Wide Knit In Public Day. His 'casts are about 30-40 minutes long, and are very entertaining. Go listen!

Speaking of WWKIPDay, I've linked the website over in the sidebar, and I hope someone here in town will organize a meetup here!! I have to work, but if there's enough interest, I may ask for that day off in order to go. I'm not sure where they'd set it up - it's in the middle of June, which gets hot here in Missouri, but maybe someplace like Union Station downtown would be nice. We could take over the food court or something!

Onto the yarn:

• 1 100g hank of a superwash merino/nylon blend (75/25) from Dharmafey - the last of the subscription series Potter Covers in colorway Deathly Hallows (sherbert orange, tan, chocolate brown, yellow, cherry red) with a stitch marker (I think it might be a representation of a cloak, but I'm not sure) and the original pattern "Hermione's Purse" - which is really a sock pattern, not a purse!

I've really liked the yarns in this series, and want to thank Carrie for all her hard work!

A little Potter news: PotterCast announced in the newest ep (#144 - The Magic Dragon) that Dame Maggie Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer, has already had the tumor removed, and 'the prognosis is good.' Leaky has an address for well-wishes, and I think I'm going to send a card, stalker!fan that I am.

The House Pouch is blocked, dried, and now I need lining material. Sounds like a trip to the fabric store! Horrors.

Well, the clock on the wall has started it's chiming for the day, so I think I'm finished for now.

Cheers!

happy easter

Busy week...plus a brush with what may have been the flu.

A few yarn arrivals first:

• 2 50g hanks of 100% superwash merino of Stone Barn Fibers' "Gypsy Girl Creations" in colorway Goblin (leaf green, grass green, black, lilac to amethyst)
• 1 100g hank of 100% superwash merino of Sunshine Yarns "Twist" in colorway Horcrux (yellow/gold, rust, black, blue, deep emerald green, grey to charcoal) A very Harry color!

I finally finished the knitting on the House Pouch for my spoilee - it's blocking now. It's a little bigger than I thought it was going to be, which is very good. Mine is next! I'm not overly thrilled with fair isle, because I'm afraid I don't 'float' very well. Practice makes perfect.

I've been working on PK's Twinkle Toes using the Fleece Artist yarn she picked out. I may have enough for a pair of crew socks! I'll have to check the weight when I'm finished with the pair.

No progress on the Big Blue - except a new name. It's now Seeker!

Oh the HP front, the fandom is still squeeing about the announcement last week about a 2 part DH. Theories are flying around about where they will split it...lots of opinions. There was an article that Adri on PFW translated for us from Spanish that covered a visit to the set - there was an excerpt that was posted quoting Dan and the fact that the movie appears to revolve around Harry and his ships. ;-) The H/G shipper in me is, as I posted on the forum earlier, dancing around the room with jazz hands! Squeee! Dan says that this movie has a lot more comedy in it than the others - ought to be interesting to see, since we also have a major character death at the end of it.

PotterCast talks about last week's news on Ep #143: Of Two Minds - linked on the sidebar.

My second squee is that Alton Brown is coming to St. Louis on April 27! Yay!! He'll be at a book signing at the Ethical Society in Clayton at 4PM. The link here shows his schedule, but it has the wrong address for the venue here - it's supposed to be 9001 Clayton Rd. Anyway, I think D and I will be standing in line - at least, I will be. The book tour is for his new book, Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run. *g* I'll bet he has to take a detour through Alton, Illinois! Mwhahaha! We all pronounce the town across the river like "AWLton" instead of how AB pronounces his name (ALton), and we'll have to see what he says to that.

Squee #3 is that the Stitch 'N Pitch date has been set for May 28, which is a Wednesday. It had originally been set for April 28, but that changed three days ago. I'm dragging PK along, and I think I'll take a vacation day for it. We're playing Houston! The link for SNP is on the sidebar - there are a lot of dates set, and I'm sure it will be as popular as it was last year. I'm glad that it's earlier in the season - here's hoping that it won't be 96F again.

Well, I think that's all for me. There are a few pics of PK's Twinkles on the Flickr group and the Ravelry site...oh! The HW now have a group on Ravelry, so if you're a SJHW, and you don't have your name on the list for Ravelry yet, get thee to the website! If you're not a SJHW, you should still go. ;-) I created the group so we can have a place to yak about our projects and yarn.

Chapter 17 of AtE is uploaded on the site - subscribe to the feed for the page on the right side. You can use any podcatcher or iTunes. :)

Cheers!!

fanfic and podcast posting

Just a note (okay, so, it's longer than I thought it was gonna be. Shoot me.):

The latest PotterCast (#140) is up and going, and I'm sad to say that listening to the podcast, I'm just about as smart as John Noe. *hangs head* Altho, I have to say I DID know Babbity Rabbity.

Also up and running is the PotterFicWeekly 'Season Finale', Special Episode #13. All I can say is that I love these guys - I joined the PFW forum about 5 weeks ago, and have been having a blast. I've stopped listening to the podcast (I'm up to #24) because I need to read the fic they are reviewing (A Year Like No Other) and so I'm now able to catch up on all the OTHER podcasts I've been slacking on.

I've also moved most of my podcast subscriptions over to the ZENcast software, as it's much easier for me to transfer stuff to the new player than using iTunes. I've also discovered a few more podcasts - like The Babylon Podcast! OMG, it's run by Jeffery Willerth and company. I very fondly remember talking to him (and other B5 peeps) in the old AOL chat room "The Eclipse Cafe" - he was REELKOSH online. Memories......

Here are a few of my fav podcasts (I'll just link them again for your convenience):

• Lime & Violet
• PotterCast
• PotterFicWeekly
• This Week @ NASA Audio Feed (http://www.nasa.gov/rss/TWAN_podcast.rss)
• Science @ NASA Audio Feed (http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml)
• Sticks & String
• FilkCast - Potterstyle
• WZRD
• The Pwncast of Wrock

Yes, those are my favorites this week. ;-) There are a ton more that I get, including an awesome few from Pendant Productions that you should check out if you like old-time radio-style programs.

There is soooo much audio available online, it's quite mind boggling.

Speaking of mind boggling, I have been adding more 'books' to the list in the sidebar - a word of warning, however. The latest entry - #22. Where In The World Is Harry Potter - gave me a bit of a headache. Funny, but very confusing.

I'm going to read AYLNO, and then I think I'd like to sit down with Lauren Willig's newest one, The Seduction of the Crimson Rose. If you like Napoleonic era/early Regency era romances with a twist, you'll like Lauren's books. They have the added bonus of a contemporary romance as well - you'll have to read it to understand what I'm talking about! Her previous books are The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, The Masque of the Black Tulip, and The Deception of the Emerald Ring. I have thoroughly enjoyed all three of her previous books, and don't doubt that the newest one will be just as fun to read.

Okay, I think I've blathered enough. Cheers!!

long time no....post

Well, I haven't fallen off the face of the planet, I promise.

The week totally zoomed by at work - one day it was Tuesday, and then it was Saturday. Don't ask me what happened to Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, because I swear I've been in a time warp.

I helped with the sale on the 10th, and had several people leave happy knowing how to do cables! We also said goodbye to one of the workers at the Weaving Dept - Shani is moving to Oregon the end of the month, and Nancy very kindly took her out to dinner and included me! *hearts Nancy*

The Blue (yet Purple) Monster hasn't been worked on this week - I've been working on finishing up my Twinkles for the Sockdown. I only have a week to do sock #2! Eep! I finished the first one at the hockey game and tried to cast on the toe of the second one, but it's hard to knit and cheer and clap at the same time. The Blues beat the Blue Jackets last Sunday 5-1 (we got taaa-cooos) and Paula and I had a good time, even if she did have to go to the yarn shop with me first. ;-)

The Navy Nite yarn came in this week and is now waiting for me to finish the design version. I think I've decided to call the pattern Seeker. *g* I still need to chart it, and it'll join Jack, Daniel, Samantha, Jonas, and Quest. More on those patterns in a few weeks, or maybe a month or so. Sweater designs from a few years ago.

The latest yarn haul:

• 1 100g hank of Chameleon Colorworks "Twinkle Toes" (50% superwash merino/50% tencel) in colorway Indian Wedding (orange, light burgundy) - very nearly Gryffindor colors! Got it from Kirkwood Knittery
• 1 110g hank of Colinette "Jitterbug" (100% merino) in colorway Sahara (orange, tan, black, brown) - Weaving Department now has this! Yay!
• 1 110g hank of Colinette "Jitterbug" (100% merino) in colorway Mardi Gras (jewel tone rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, teal, purple)
• A ball of Fleece Artist "Somoko" (65% merino, 20% kid, 10% nylon, 5% silk) in yet another unnamed colorway. I think I read that Fleece Artist does this on purpose so they wn't be hemmed in by one dye lot. PK picked this one, and it's purple, blue, pine green and indigo. It kinda looks like this, but a lot darker blue and with more green.
• 2 50g hanks of Stone Barn Fibers "Gypsy Girl Creations" (100% superwash merino fingering) in colorway Wizard's Pride (burgundy and gold). Yes, go ahead, laugh. I saw the name and just could NOT pass it up. And I'm not a Gryffindor!! I'm a Ravenclaw, FPS!
• 2 100g hanks of Cascade Yarns "220 Paint" (100% Peruvian Wool) in colorway Alaskan Twilight (black/brown, deep magenta, deep yellow/golds, deep olive greens, very dark purples). This is for an entrelac scarf I'd like to try.

I'm waiting on the arrival of my spoilee's yarn for the Sock Kit Swap, and I need to work more on the house pouch! Eep!

I've been obsessed this week with reading Potterfic - you'll see a list over in the sidebar. Remember that all of the 'books' listed are at least 50K long and are completed. There is a sequel to Evanescence that I think has been abandoned, which is too bad. I need to read A Year Like No Other so that I can listen to more of the PotterFicWeekly podcasts - I think I'm at Ep #24, and there are 39 eps and 8 special editions I still need to listen to to be caught up.

Well, I think that's enough from me for now. Cheers!!