Protest

Ok, I'm just going to come right out and say it. We Ravenclaws were assigned an INSANE amount of homework. I looked at the assignments for the other houses and I had to ask myself -- how did we get so loaded down? There were THREE LONG assignements. Those three could have easily been spread out over three weeks and no one would have been the wiser. So, in protest (and the fact that I'm heading down to Miami for a conference), I'm not doing it. I'm sorry ladies, but I'm not. I know that when I signed onto this swap, there would be assignments, but I thought they would have been like last term. Or, if you had wanted to challenge us more, maybe ONE of those assignments at a time. But not three at once. Sorry... ain't gonna happen!

In other HSKS 7 news, work is progressing on my spoilee's kit. I've gotten a lot of the little goodies and have started on the handmade bag. The sticking point is still the kit itself. I think I finally found something that will work though. I just hope my spoilee likes it!

Anywho, back to the paying job. Talk to you all when I get back from Miami! :)

My long weekend

I was so happy when 5:30 PM rolled around this past Friday because it meant the start of a long weekend. This weekend was going to be for me! Since I'm a singleton with no one to celebrate Valentine's Day with, I figured I would treat myself this weekend.

After work I went to Knit Happens (my all time FAVORITE LYS) to pick up a button for my dueling hat. While I was there I also found a set of handles for the bag I'm making for my HSKS7 spoilee. After that was done I took myself out to dinner at Bertucci's (oh the bread!). I then went home and watched some TV while finishing my dueling hat. I finished the hat around midnight or so. Go me! Finished another hat in less than a day!

Saturday I woke up bright and early to tack down the flap of the hat and add the button. After getting some shots of the FO, I left for the Post Office to ship it off to Thalia Tinkwych in England. Here's hoping mine gets to HER before hers gets to ME! That errand completed, I went in search of a new bed. Now, I was SUPER excited about getting this bed. It was the EXACT style I was looking for and wasn't TOO expensive. I found it at Crate & Barrel and it is scheduled to be delivered to my house on Friday, Feb. 27! So excited!

Sunday was my movie day. I saw Confessions of a Shopaholic and He's Just Not that Into You. The first was predictable and funny, but not much to write home about. The second however, was better than I expected. I really only have ONE issue with it. If you know anything about the book, you know that it was written to help women with this idea that men play games. For example, he's not calling because he lost your number, it's because he's just not that into you! It's not mean, per se, it's saying that you are fabulous, and you shouldn't be wasting your time on a guy who doesn't see that. A guy that IS interested in you will stop at nothing to call or see you. Well, this movie did a really great job of portraying this -- until the end.

One of the guys, played by Justin Long, says that most girls AREN'T the exception, that in fact most of us are the rule. However, (SPOILER ALERT!) in the end he tells the girl he ends up with, played by Ginnfer Goodwin, that she IS the exception -- for him! I mean come on! I get that it's a rom-com and people want a happy ending, but that defeats the whole purpose of the book. I mean, are we really supposed to continue to constantly hope that WE'RE the exception for that ONE guy?! Or are we supposed to be empowered and independent women who know that you shouldn't have to CHANGE a guy (or yourself for that matter!) for them to be interested in you. Well, I guess this where the argument where it IS only a movie and movies are supposed to be a place where you can escape reality. What do you think?

To finish off the weekend, I worked on my final package for SP13, did some laundry and tried to fix my DVD player. I think the DVD player is a lost cause and I'm going to have to replace it. So sad!

How was your weekend?

Photo Tag

I was tagged by my swap mate today, Pandora Phelps. Here are the rules:
1. Go to your pictures on your computer
2. Open the 6th folder
3. Choose the 6th picture
4. Show the picture on your blog and write something about it.
5. Invite 6 new people to this challenge.
6. Link to them and let them know they have been tagged.




Here we have my niece Lexie the day after my sister's wedding. She's my birthday buddy! She's also one of the happiest and easiest going kids I know. Aww... and she's so CUTE!

I'm tagging: Thalia Tinkwych, Callisto Verity, Arriana Stylos, Minerva Wood, Cassandra Goode and Hermione Bagnold. Have fun ladies! :)

Quidditch Round #1

1. What momentous event was the reason that the members of the Order of the Phoenix felt it necessary to move Harry out of the Dursley’s house?

a. The start of the new school year

b. The Dursleys kicking him out

c. Voldemort’s escape from Azkaban

d. Harry’s upcoming birthday

2. Who revealed the actual date of Harry’s transfer to Voldemort, despite the misinformation the Order had been spreading around that the move would occur on the eve of his actual birthday?

a. Mundungus

b. Snape

c. Yaxley

d. Shacklebolt

3. With the use of Polyjuice Potion (and to confuse any possible attack by Death Eaters), six members of the Order were disguised as Harry and escorted out of Privet Drive, along with the real Harry. Which member of the order did not survive that night?

a. Mad-Eye Moody

b. Nymphadora Tonks

c. Hagrid

d. George Weasley

4. Who informed Harry, Ron and Hermione of the bequests left to them in Dumbledore’s will?

a. Kingsley Shaclebolt

b. Minerva McGonalgall

c. Arthur Weasley

d. Rufus Scimgeour

5. During the wedding celebration for Bill and Fleur, Kingsley Shacklebolt sent a Patronus to tell the guests that the Ministry had fallen, Scrimgeour (the Minister) was dead and the wedding celebration was about to be attacked by Death Eaters. What form did the Patronus take?

a. A lynx

b. An otter

c. A doe

d. A stag

6. Escaping from the wedding to London, our three friends found themselves confronted by a pair of Death Eaters, disguised as workmen. This close brush impressed on them the need to find someplace to hide. Where did they decide to go?

a. The Leaky Cauldron

b. Sirius Black’s house

c. The Dursley’s house

d. Ron’s Auntie Muriel’s house

7. Kreacher’s animosity towards Harry, Ron and especially Hermione (a Mudblood) was well documented in book five, “The Order of the Phoenix.” His initial interaction with them showed that his attitude had not changed. How did they win him over?

a. By giving him clothes and his freedom

b. They didn’t win him over!

c. By giving him something to eat

d. By giving him Regulus Black’s old locket

8. Who did they eventually find was in possession of the locket/Horcrux?

a. Severus Snape

b. Lucius Malfoy

c. Lord Voldemort

d. Dolores Umbridge

9. What did Harry find embedded in the door of Umbrdige’s office?

a. Moody’s magical eye

b. Nymphadora’s purple hair

c. Hedwig’s head

d. George Weasley’s ear

10. After retrieving the Horcrux, they tried to return to their safe place but they were pursued (actually Yaxley tagged along when they disapparated). This meant that the Death Eaters knew their hiding place and they had to go somewhere else. Where did Hermione take them?

a. To Godric’s Hollow

b. To the Forbidden Forest

c. Back to the Burrow

d. To the site of the Quidditch World Cup

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Mad-Eye Moody

Nymphadora Tonks

George Weasley

The Dursley's House

Kreacher

Ravenclaw Assignment #2

I usually avoid these kinds of "tell me about yourself" kind of surveys, but since it's for school I can't avoid it. So, here it goes!

1- What form does your Patronus take? What does it symbolize for you? My Patronus takes the form of a wolf… a symbol of loyalty, independence and intelligence.
2- Did you bring a cat, an owl, a toad, or other pet with you? What is their name? I brought my cat Matilda.
3- What is your favorite class here at Hogwarts? I would have to say my favorite class is Runes.
4- What is worth sneaking out of the castle for, even if you got caught? Helping out a friend in need.
5- What has made you laugh so hard that you've had butterbeer come out your nose? Watching Snape slip on a wet spot in the Great Hall.
6- What yarn do you covet? Link please... Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere
7- What is your favorite flavor... the one thing you could simply not live without? Is brand important? Chocolate hazelnut… specifically Nutella chocolate spread… so many uses, so little time!
8- How many HSKS terms have you participated in? This is my second.
9- Do you have a birthday, anniversary or other big Muggle event during this year at Hogwarts? If yes, please tell us what. No, all of my big events happen at the END of the year.
10- You in 5 words. Curious, trustworthy, persistent, friendly and intelligent.

It was only a matter of time!

I am a metro commuter. Meaning, I take a bus to the Metro station and then take the Metro to my office. (For those not in the DC area, we call the subway system the Metro.) This means that I encounter anywhere from 2-5 escalators (depending on which station I get on/off of). Every time that I encounter an escalator I flash to the possibility of slipping and falling DOWN the escalator. It has not yet happen, but I always THINK about the possibility! So, considering the fact that this area has seen a bit of wintry weather, the possibility increased quite a bit. And sure enough, today was the day that it happened. I was walking down the first of three escalators at the Ballston station when the slickness of the step combined with the slickness of my shoes and caused me to fall on my butt. My phone landed in front of me (it was in my bag), the bag landed beside me and the umbrella landed behind me. Thankfully, I did just fall backwards, rather than taking a header down the escalator, but I was still a bit sore and REALLY embarrassed!

So, is this a matter of self fulfilling prophecy or am I just a klutz? Any thoughts?