Pottermore Quiz!

So I stole this from Kristina Horner (italktosnakes) who stole it from Hayley.

1. What's your Pottermore username? ScarletSpirit
2. What House do you think it sounds like? I don't know as though it really sounds like a specific house.
3. What House do you want to be in?This is the only thing that causes me anxiety about Potter more, hahaha.  I've identified as Ravenclaw for YEARS and I think I might have an identity crisis if I get sorted into another house.  ^w~  Only half kidding with that.  Pretty much I'd be ok with anything but my order of preference is 1-Ravenclaw, 2-Slytherin, 3-Hufflepuff (yes as much as I make fun of Hufflepuff I don't place them last) and 4-Gryffindor.
4. Does your username relate to you at all? I think it does.  I love the color red and I'm "bitten" ya know.
5. What kind of wand would you wish to get? Ya know, I don't know.  I kind of thought something with Unicorn hair or Dragon heartstring.  Pretty much I can't wait for this part of Pottermore.
6. Are you pure, half-blooded or Muggle born? Probably half-blooded.  My mom is such a muggle, haha, but I think if my Dad were alive we could have gotten really into Harry Potter together so I bet he was a wizard.
7. Which day did you get into Pottermore? Day 2.  The 1st day was the one day in a week Darius woke up after 3 am, lol.
8. What shape is your Patronus? A rabbit.
9. What does your boggart look like? I'm with Ron (and Kristina as this is her answer as well) on this one - a big-ass hairy spider.
10. Would you rather be an Animagus or a Matamorphmagus? Animagus.
11. If you were an Animagus, what animal would you be? Hmmm I think I'd either be a rabbit or a cat.  I think being a cat would be much more fun though.

So there are my answers.  If you take the quiz leave a comment linking to your answers!  Would love to see what other people's answers are!!

The Owl's Arrival

This morning the owl came to let me know that I the magical quill had written my name in the book of magical folk

Waiting for the email to finish registration was murder wasn't it?  Also it feels really weird to not be BittenUsagi somewhere, haha.  But ScarletSpirit seems quite appropriate as well. ^w^ 

Have you gotten your owl yet?

Direction

So I haven't been blogging here often but I'm still trying to adjust to have this little warrior and trying to keep him happy and manage some me time. So I've gotten a new blogger app for my phone and decided I'd give it a try. Ok, so Darius isn't the only excuse for my absence. I got burnt out on blogging. With baby on the way I started listening to bloggers about how to get yourself out there and hopefully make some money because, well I like the idea of being a work at home or stay at home mom. Plus most jobs would pretty much only cover the cost of childcare. And hell... the first time I was away from my son was this last Sunday for a whole 4 hours. (And that was rough on the nursing front- D is not a fan of bottles and I forgot my pump in Greeley & we were back home for 4 days- ouchies) Anyway so I tried to get myself out there and blogged regularly. Only to lose followers so I got discouraged but ya know what? Screw it. I'll do what I want. Don't like my opinion? Piss off. Don't like my writing? Piss off. Don't like the subjects of my posts? Piss off. With that being said this will be my geek space. I will cuss. I will rant. I will rave. I will fangirl the fuck out. Want family stuff? Go to my family blog: www.codyandcatmills.blogspot.com Want my photography? Go to my website: www.bittenphotography.com Here's to a new start and going back to not caring about follower counts and bs that doesn't mean anything in the real world and geeking out over stuff that matters to me. ^w^

Pottermore

I was, like many other Harry Potter fans, super excited about the announcement from JK Rowling about Pottermore. I enjoyed the speculation & had my hopes up for a game & was gonna be pissed if it was a scavenger hunt type of thing like some supposed "accidentally realeased memo" claimed. I knew it wouldn't be more books because very early on the publisher said that wasn't it. Damn. No Marauder's books. Lol.
I was up for the announcement (mostly because Darius usually wakes up at 4 or 5 am-thank you kiddo) & after reading the full press release at the Leaky Cauldron I was super excited & as Leaky continued coverage on Twitter I was still even more excited.
Also I don't get how people are so confused. My guess is that they didn't read the press release as I thought it explained it quite well. Essentially it's going to be a way to re-experience the series. Re-read the books but be a part of them as well. We'll get sorted into a house (so this is how it feels to be 11 & staring at that old hat...) & you'll get more information about your house that wasn't in the books and stuff. How fun! Also- we'll get to learn more about characters such as Professor McGonagall, such as a past heartbreak (ok so this isn't new novel but pretty sure thatseas close as you can come without it being physical novels. JS.).
So yeah, we don't have specifics but this info is MORE than enough to have me fangirling.
^w^ Edit: oh & the site will include audio & ebook versions of the series too but meh I has the books & audio books already lol.

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 15

Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)

 Luna, Hermione and someone random.  Lol.

Honestly I have no idea after Luna, hahaha.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 14

Day 14:  Team Voldemort or Team Harry?

Voldemort is one of the most epic villains of our time but I gotta say Team Harry!!!

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.

Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 13

Day 13:  Least fav movie

I think maybe Goblet of Fire but that was probably because of certain things I felt were important that weren't even mentioned and you can ask Cody when I watched the movie the first time with him I went on the entire time about how this was wrong that was wrong, etc.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.

Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 12

Day 12:  Fav ship.

Ya know I really don't have a favorite.  I also don't really have a hated one either.  I have friends that hate the Ginny x Harry and think it should have been Hermione x Harry instead and while I can see their point in why it should have been that instead, I can't say I feel the same, if that makes sense.  Like my friend Margarita makes some really good points but I actually like Ginny x Harry and Hermione x Ron.  *hunkers down to avoid the rotten fruit ruining my shirt too badly*  So yeah... pretty much I don't have a "favorite" but I can't say I hate any of the ships either.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.

Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 11

Day 11: What character are you most like?

Hmmm.  I'm not real sure.  I'd say Luna because as I said on Day 7 I identify with her but I'm not sure I'm most like her, she's been through more than I have I think, ya know.  She's seen a lot, I mean she can see thestrals.  I do feel like most people don't get her though and I've had that a lot in my life.  Not complaining, just saying.  It's the way it is when you're a nerd your entire life.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 10

So I'm totally behind on these, but it's not like anyone is reading them anyway so it doesn't matter.

Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?

Hallows.  Invisibility cloak FTMFW.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 9

Day 9: Least fav male character

Hmmmmm....

*taps on my laptop*

*stares at different places in the room*

*goes and grabs some food*

*stares at the screen*

I have no freaking clue.

Srsly.

Maybe it's 'cause my brain is fried or maybe it's because I don't really have one, but seriously I can not think of anyone right now.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 8

Day 8: Fav Lesson
(Day late! Sorry!!)
Oh this one is hard.  I think I'd be terrible at herbology.  Seriously my plants have learned to conserve water, I shit you not.  Maybe History of Magic as I'm a total nerd for interesting history (hello, Ravenclaw here!).  And if you're wondering what interesting history is, it's most history that isn't US history. 
I'd also love Astronomy.  OMG can you image labs in that class?  The astronomy tower... *swoon*
*cough cough*
Sorry I love astronomy and to have an entire tower of the school dedicated for it would be amazing.  It would likely be my favorite part of the whole school.  Can't find me at night?  I probably snuck up there to stargaze.
Shhhh.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 7

Day 7:  Fav female character and why?

Luna Lovegood.  Just as with the males there are lots of great female characters but Luna really stands out for me.  She's misunderstood by the majority of Hogwarts and I can so identify with that.  I've always been the oddball growing up.  My cousins and I didn't really get along (I preferred the company of the adults anyway), I was always the weird one in school (Trekkie, liked X-Files, anime, informational stuff, science- science fairs were my thing for MANY years) and I can identify with her more than any other character in the series I think.  Yeah she seems like this ditzy blonde who is completely in the wrong house but really she's quite brilliant.  She just has some quirks and don't we all?  She's experienced so much and I love the moment when she & Harry are talking about the Thestrels (prolly spelled that wrong) and she explains why they can see them and no one else can.  She's amazing!  Plain & simple.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 6

Day 6: What house would you want to be in?

 Ravenclaw

Always and forever. ^w^

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 5

Day 5:  Fav male character & why

Omg this one is so hard.  There are so many awesome guys in the series that it's hard to choose!!  Mr. Weasley is awesome and so funny.  His obsession with muggle artifacts is hilarious!  The Weasley twins are hilarious and loveable and definitely have the coolest shop ever which I know I would frequent quite often.  Snape and all he did for Harry.  'Nuff said.  Then there's Dobby, the free elf, who is satisfied to die surrounded by his friends.  Sirius was also so amazing and looked out for Harry even though he was having to hide.  When he insists on accompanying him to Platform 9 & 3/4 as padfoot- I love it.  Lupin was so amazing and also looked out for Harry even though he was dealt a tough hand with his "condition".  Hagrid, who was forever spilling the beans and getting Harry, Hermione & Ron into trouble unintentionally- damn spiders, huh Ron?  Dumbledore, oh Dumbledore you cryptic old wizard who left some of the coolest things to people in your will.

Ugh.  Still can't choose.  Thought after I listed them it would make it easier but no, it made it harder! (twss)  So let's go Sirius.  Simply because he was so loveable for me and even though he was looking to Harry more as a friend and even confused him with his ol' best friend James, he truly loved Harry and would do anything for him.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 4

Day 4: Least fav female character and why.

Umbridge.  This was the first time I have read a book and actually wanted to punch a character from it.  No not just punch, I wanted to beat her to a bloody pulp.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 3

"Is there any of the film adaptations that have made you angry because they've ignored importat parts of the book?"

Goblet of Fire made me SOOOOOOO angry when I saw it.  One of my biggest pet peeves was leaving out SPEW and since then I have refrained from re-reading the books before watching the movie so it will help me keep them separate, though I might break that rule before DH pt 2... we'll see.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 2

My fav movie... hmmmm.  I think that actually my fav movie is based on my least fav book oddly enough but I felt like they did so well with it.  Even sitting in a theater at past midnight with a full bladder (and a small child resting ON said bladder) I could not tear my eyes from the screen.  Deathly Hallows pt 1 was amazing.  They did so well with it.  The story of the brothers and the when they're torturing the muggle studies prof.  Yeah it gives me chills sitting here writing about it.  I love most of the movies but wow this one was just... wow.  Ask Margie, I couldn't even speak afterwards.  I couldn't say anything but wow for so long after it.  In fact I believe all my first tweet afterwards was something like "Deathly Hallows.... wow is all I can say."  I'd look to be sure but I'm too lazy but I know it was a while before I could formulate a full coherent sentence, lol.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Day 1

My fav Harry Potter book.  Arg such a hard choice for me.  As in I keep choosing, typing and then deleting, hahaha.  I keep leaning towards Order of the Phoenix though and I think that's because even though I hate that Sirius dies in that one, you get to see so much of his relationship with Harry.  My heart breaks when in PoA Wormtail escapes and completely screws Sirius and Harry and the fact that they could have finally been the family they both needed, though yes, I know, Sirius was looking more for having James back than realizing that it wasn't James with him anymore but that's another can of worms.  In OotP they get close to having that family dynamic though and I think that's what I love so much about it.

And now before I delete that and change it again I'm gonna post this.

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

30-Day Harry Potter Challenge: Challenge Accepted

 So I don't normally do these but I am so down for this one.  I'd do it on Tumblr but Tumblr is always screwy when I schedule posts so I don't even bother and as busy as I am, I need to be able to schedule these a few days in advance.  Cheating?  Yes.  Do IGAF?  No.  So here are the topics for each day & I'm just going to go ahead and post the 1st and second and go with the days of the month to help me keep better track, lol.

The 30-day Harry Potter challenge

Day 1: Your fave book.
Day 2: Your fave movie.
Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book.
Day 4: Least fave female character and why.
Day 5: Fave male character and why.
Day 6: What house would you want to be in.
Day 7: Fave female character and why.
Day 8: What do you think would be your fave lesson.
Day 9: Least fave male character.
Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows.
Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
Day 12: Fave ship.
Day 13: Least fave movie.
Day 14: Team Voldermort or Team harry.
Day 15: Who would be your best friends at hogwarts. (three only)
Day 16: Fave professor
Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won’t do the book justice.
Day 18: Least fave book.
Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films.
Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be.
Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be.
Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight
Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn’t.
Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna.
Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be.
Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it.
Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical.
Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you

Japan

So I'm sure if you follow me on Twitter you're sick and tired of hearing about it but this is super important to me.  I feel like now, just a few short days after the earthquake and following tsunami in Japan that people are just going back to their daily lives and forgetting about the continuing devastation occurring in Japan which breaks my heart.  Also, I know very few people read my blog but maybe some of you read but don't follow me on Twitter so it's worth a mention here as well.

For those that don't know, I love Japan.  It started with a simple love of my favorite anime and has blossomed into an appreciation for their culture as well.  I'd love to visit Japan and several times have looked into teaching programs there as well as study abroad but life tends to get in the way (and the fact that I'm a total pussy and can't take not seeing my family for more than a month & my husband is not keen on sushi.  Yes I've told him there is McDonald's but he's not convinced, well unless our "president" gets re-elected, then he said we could move there haha. :D I win, kinda.)  Pretty much the gist of the story is that I love Japan and it holds a special place in my heart.

So this is my call to you.  If you haven't, please donate.  I know money is tight, trust me, I know, we have a baby boy on the way and a LOT to do to prepare for him as well as other things that daily life throws at you as well.  Not complaining, just saying, times are rough for many right now.

There are some very easy ways to help though:

(Everything in red is a link- wanted to make it obvious ^.~)

You can donate to the Red Cross, which I have done.  You can either go to their website to donate or you can simply text from your phone the word REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to relief efforts.  (I believe text is US only)  It doesn't get much easier than that.  Seriously.  I did it at midnight in my pjs from the comfort of my bed, so that hopefully someone in Japan that lost their entire home can at least have somewhere safe to sleep themselves.

Another way is donating to Doctors Without Borders.

Lady Gaga has also designed a bracelet you can buy for $5 and all proceeds go to help those in Japan and you also have the option to add more of a donation at checkout.

Save the Children is also helping with relief efforts and accepting donations on their website as well as allowing us another super easy way to donate- Text.  Simply text JAPAN to 20222 to donate $10.  (Text is US only)

Also, if you're interested in keeping up with the news of Japan I have heard from several people in and from Japan that some of the best news reporting comes from NHK.  I have noticed local news tends to focus on Americans in Japan (sorry but country of origin doesn't matter especially in a disaster like this) and our media is famous for reporting before they have the whole story.

You can also see some of what all the money to places like Red Cross is going to at places like this Flickr because it's nice to see the good being done as well as keep informed of all the disasters that keep occurring as nuclear plants attempt to combat meltdowns and the death toll rises.

I will also add to this list as I find reputable places to donate as well.  I am considering doing something like photography prints for donations as well so if you head over to my photography site and see something you like, hit me up and we'll see what we can do. ^.^  I know I'm not famous or anything (yet ^.~) but hey, get a print for a donation now and brag to your friends later when I'm famous, haha.

Wordless Wednesday: 'Cause I'm Chillin with a Klingon

Minor Requirements

So Mondays were supposed to be my day for manga reviews but I'm slacking hardcore and I've been eyeball deep with research for my senior portfolio/career choice as well as trying to keep up on reading for my last class for my minor which is killing me.

Seriously my very last class for my minor seems to be more than the rest of my minor classes combined. >.<  I'm just hoping I can pull off a C, really.  Lol.  Yeah way to shoot high, right?  All my other minor classes have been good grades though so really that's all I need.  It's only like a 2.0 or something requirement for that anyway.  Yay Asian Studies!!  (My major requires a 3.0... in art... wtf most other programs just have the university-wide 2.0)  So yeah this class has been ridiculous reading and let me tell you, Asian politics is FASCINATING to read about.

/sarcasm

Like I said, hoping for a C...

So since I've slacked and not delivered a review for a manga I will now share with you photographic awesome that I got from the comic book store in Loveland.

 

Sailor Moon "Button Men"  ^w^

(Photo taken on my Droid X using FxCamera in Toy Cam mode)

It's a game, which I totally didn't even know existed but seriously if it's Sailor Moon I want it.  Had to laugh, the guy at the comic book store said it was part of a game like, why would you want it if you don't already have some.  Ummm because it's Sailor Moon, dude and that's what I do.  The Usagi in my name comes from my obsession ok?  2 of my upcoming tattoos?  Sailor Moon.  I'm obsessed mmmmkay?

So yeah I was pretty excited.  I should show my collection of Sailor Moon stuff.  It's small, really, but I love it all just the same, like the comforter I found in Oklahoma at some Mom & Pop store that we hit on our way home from a family reunion back when anime and manga stuff was SCARCE.  

 *sigh*

Someday when I'm making millions I'll be all over ebay buying up everything Sailor Moon I see, hahaha!

Finding My Path

Well I got one post out this week...

*shifty eyes*

So the last week or so has been me examining photography and what I like about it and don't like about it and if you follow me on Twitter you also know I had to write down some strengths and weaknesses and was having a terrible time of it and got super down on myself as a result.  Part of me is ready to graduate and another part of me is like "whoa, no... so not ready for this" and completely terrified that I've wasted the last few years and oh so many thousands of dollars on an education for something I'm not good enough at.

See that?  That's me spilling my guts out.  Be gentle.

So after examining what I like and don't like (and not even going over the strengths & weaknesses bit that I spent oh so much time stressing over) I've pinned down what I want out of my photography and wondered why the hell I've been sticking with such safe photography.  

When the HELL did I get so damn timid???

In High School my favorite activity was drama.  I lived for drama and it was really the only thing that kept me going.  I took chances with my art and I wasn't afraid to talk to anyone, what the hell happened to me???  Now I can't even approach anyone.  Umm hello I've sold sex toys as a job!  This should be easy peasy.

 

So now it's shoot, shoot, shoot.  In fact a large part of today's to-do list is finishing up some photos for a friend to then see if she'll model again.  I'm so slow at editing, but getting faster as I work at it, damn perfectionist side.

Another "funny" thing- in my research the number of photographers I feel my model should get for her time is a hell of a lot more than many give their models for several hundred dollars. O.o So that's how so many photographers make a killing.

So yeah.  That's what's up and why I've been neglecting my blog.  Was told I needed to do some serious research into the area I want to go into and I have been.  Funny though, doesn't seem like research should be this awesome.  I'm thinking I'll do some artist spotlights with the artists I've found here in the near future, so have no fear, I will share you you my findings of awesome.

Paying It Forward

So Christina, a lovely blogger that I follow (who makes the cutest little knitted & crocheted creations that you can get at her Esty store) had a wonderful idea and I loved it and decided that even if she got filled up I'd post this over here anyway because I think we should do more things like this these days.  ^w^

Here is my pledge to "Pay It Forward"

I promise to send something handmade to the first 3 people who leave a comment here.

(I'll either be etching glass/mirrors or sending prints... which would you prefer?)

To be eligible, you must also post this on your blog,

offering the same thing to 3 other people.

The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 3 people *sometime* in 2011.

I'll give you time to get your post up then I'll hit you up to get your address and such. :)  I will warn you though that it may be a bit before I get things sent out.  It's my last semester of college and I'm pregnant so things are a bit crazy around here!

So come on peeps!!  I know I've got some creative people out there. Join us on a bandwagon worth joining! :D

Manga Review: Vampire Knight V1

Vampire Knight

Volume 1

By Matsuri Hino

Rating: Older Teen

Published by: Viz Media/Shojo Beat

Appeared in July-November 2006 Issues of Shojo Beat

First off let's tackle the artwork.

I LOVE Matsuri Hino's drawing style and her characters are beautiful.  The page layouts are also uber easy to follow.  It is printed in the original Japanese format, which I prefer, with pages and manga being read from right to left, which for many who are used to manga that is switched to the American format can be a bit hard to grasp but this is a great manga to get used to the correct format with.  Her pages flow wonderfully.  I have read manga where it's so jumbled that it's difficult to tell whether I'm coming or going.  ^w~  Back to the characters, they're wonderfully drawn and her style is very precise and she does not glaze over details at all!

The Story:

Vampire Knight is about Yuki, a student at cross academy.  There are two classes at the academy: Day Class which are your normal students and Night Class, which is full of vampire students but the Day Class knows nothing about the Night Class other than the class is full of extremely beautiful students.  Queue Yuki & Zero, who are school guardians and work to keep the Day students from discovering the secret of the Night students.  Other key players are Kaname Kuran, the president of the Night Class and the eccentric headmaster of the school, Headmaster Cross.  There are of course other characters as well but I'll let you get to know them yourself.  ^w^

The characters are great.  Yuki is super cute and while she's a bit shy in certain cases, she's a strong female lead and you don't forget that this is centered around her.  Zero is also a strong character and quite opinionated (and completely unafraid to make his opinion known) but I hate to say too much as it may spoil this volume.  Kaname is a strong lead though as well and it's obvious from the start that it's time to start picking sides between him and Zero already.  Headmaster Cross is a riot and super cute when he's all mushy over things, like a present from Yuki, but also a very strong person and while you may not see a lot of him he stands his ground and cares for everyone, vampire and human, equally.  An admirable trait I think.

I've thoroughly enjoyed Volume 1, which contains chapters 1-5.  I have actually read this several times, though I hadn't bought the manga & had only read it online or through a manga reader I had on my blackberry so they were "scanlations" (scanned translations) so not everything was quite right and plus I prefer to support the mangaka if their work interests me and hmmm let's see... Vampires?  Yes please.  Yeah, I'm one of those people.  Deal.

This does NOT mean I love all things vampire but I do love a good vampire story if I can find one. ^w^

This manga is one that is hard to put down; it's easy to read as well as having an interesting storyline.  Plus Hino-sama begins divulging the ins and outs of vampire society in this first volume which I love.  Sometimes I feel like in manga the mystery is left for quite a while and it's easy to get annoyed waiting for it.  I definitely recommend it to anyone, even those who aren't really used to the right to left format or is new to manga altogether!  It's a new world in several ways but not so much that it's overwhelming.  ^w^

And last but not least, as this is a question I've gotten in my YT review before so I'll address it here.  As far as I'm concerned the rating is right on BUT if it's a concern for you then you should check it out before your kids do, plus bonding over manga is awesome! :D

Oh Fridays, How I Love You

Fridays have come to be a beautiful thing.  Semesters past I was always one of those poor saps that Fridays meant absolutely nothing other that more work because it and the occasional evening were the only times I had that I was able to work.  It sucked and I don't miss it at all.  I still have a small shift on the weekend but it's nothing like it used to be.  It feels good to finally be one of those people that can scream TGIF at the end of the weekdays.

So I'm slowly finishing up some editing from past shoots.  Damn photo manipulations class made me such a perfectionist, haha.  That's good until you're trying to get stuff done so you can move on and I feel like I can't move on until I'm done with these photos.  I feel like I gotta get these done so I can left them behind and get to work on what I'm excited to work on, which is putting more me into my photography.  I have an attitude and I need to portray that in my photography.  I get called a bitch a lot but since high school I've been like "you say that like it's a bad thing" and yeah a lot of the time I'm a bitch in the bad sense but I'm working on that.

[Though days when I lose my seat in class and end up having to sit up front, directly in front of some jerk who thinks my chair is theirs to tap on or someone who sits right next to me in a totally open lab, and then precedes to make disgusting noises as they blow their nose and hack all over the place or that guy that has to go HA! every time the professor says something even REMOTELY funny and then HAHAHAHA! when she says something chuckle worthy... (oh & did I mention he's had a cold for a week so I get to hear *cough*HA!*sniff, sniff sniff sniff sniff*HA*coughcough**sniffle*HAHAHAHA!) make it really hard]

Sorry went on a bit of a rant there for a second.  I just don't understand people, I guess.  Or at least the ones who insist on walking next to their friend down a narrow staircase so you have to hugs the railing in order not to be taken out but I digress.  I'm really excited to burst into this new direction.  What my advisor said really hit me and I'm excited to get people together.  Now it's just getting models.  Yeah, yeah, I know try places like Model Mayhem, well the problem with that is that all my photos are my old style (or rather lack of a style altogether) and so there's that problem but yes I will go there and put in my bio what I'm working on, so hush.

(Sorry people keep reminding me of things I need to or should do too and it's starting to wear on me a bit)

I do have a couple friends around here I can start with though, it's just that I'd like to do what even in my head sounds like a ridiculous amount of shooting, but then that's what I need to do as I need to get an entire portfolio of my photography together by like mid-April or so.

*hyperventilates*

Okay, on to other things.  I've decided that I'm going to start doing my manga reviews in blog form only because people on YouTube are dicks and I'm not in the mood for their bs.  Cause you know, no one else has ever made a pronunciation mistake in their freaking lives.  *rolls eyes*  plus I get more done and it gets done and actually posted.  I hate editing video of myself.  My voice on tape or video drives me insane so it takes me forever to edit, if I don't just scrap the whole dang thing.  So Mondays will be my review days as I've promised myself to read more manga this year, but we'll see how long after May that lasts, hahaha!

Speaking of babeh... I could sit and watch my stomach move from D's movements for hours.  It still makes me giggle and yesterday he was going half crazy and I discovered that if I yell, which I tend to do a lot of when driving in this shithole of a city, he gets all sorts of upset or something and tumbles around and punches and kicks.  So there's that.  Now he's not only determined to make me eat healthier but also determined to make me calm down.  He's gonna be just like his father...

Anyway, I really didn't have much to say today, sorry, but the pictures I have that I would post aren't here with me so that post will have to wait until next week or something.  Hope everyone has a glorious weekend and I hope at least one of you is looking forward to manga reviews, though I'm probably kidding myself.  And ya know if all you wanna hear about is the family stuff and you don't want to read posts where I cuss all the time and stuff you can always hop on over to the Family Blog and follow me there.  I wouldn't blame you one bit as I'm as foul-mouthed as a sailor and am well aware that I offend people on a daily basis.  It's kinda my thing.  ^w~

^w^

Four Generations

Normally I do a Wordless Wednesday

Erm... at least when I'm posting regularly which I don't seem to be doing anyway...

but this is one of those photos that I just can't not talk about.

This is four generations of my family, taken when I was around 3.

My Great Grams (Grams' Mom), Grams (Okaasan's Mom), Okaasan and then of course me sitting on Grams' lap.  Mom thinks this was when my Great Gramps died which is probably why everyone looks a bit distracted and like they're struggling to be happy but I love this photo anyway because the best part of it?

I knew my Great Grams.

She was a wonderful woman.  I remember staying there in the basement and waking up to the ceiling creaking like crazy (the house was pretty old and wonderful and had so much character, I miss it) and when you came upstairs she'd have all sorts of stuff laid out for breakfast.  When I was little it seemed like a buffet, haha.  She also had the coolest old stool to sit on too.  It was vinyl and had the steps to use as a step stool.  I actually said something about wanting it and found out my Great Uncle had it and was like if she wants it she can have it so it now graces our kitchen, in serious need of refurnishing.  It's very well loved, haha.  She always had toys (though some were quite old) for me when I came to stay.  We had to break into her house once.  She had forgotten her purse and I being the smallest (probably 7 or so at the time) got the job of crawling through the window, lmao.

When her sons gave her crap she gave it right back.  She was sweet but passionate.  I consider myself lucky to know her.  I didn't see her much in the months before she died, which oddly enough was when my other cousins saw her most.  She had Alzheimers really bad and I didn't want to remember her that way.  It was really the first major opinion in my life but I wanted to remember her spunky and sweet, not forgetting who her own family was.  I feel sorry for my cousins... for not taking the time to get to know her when she was alive but then that seems to be the way most of them are, not taking the time until the end is near. *smh*

I also know my Grams quite well as I've said before on here.  ^w^  We write letters to each other a lot and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  She and Okaasan are in my list of besties.  They're amazing women whom I love very much.  My family means so so SO much to me.  Cody gives me crap about "cutting the umbilical cord" cause I get super bummed out when we can't get back to see them often, lol.  Like right now I can't wait for my baby shower and it's not really because of the shower, it's that I get to see them.  ^w^

I Should Be Reading

But I'm not.  Obviously.  I can only read so much about Asian Politics until I want to *headdesk* until I can no longer feel, haha!  I have been doing more unassigned reading than anything, really.  I got a book with tips and info for portrait photography that I've been reading a lot of.  Most is review but a some of it has been extremely helpful since most of my lighting experience is in lighting products and not people, though there are some similarities between the two.  I did assist a photographer the semester before last and that helped me a TON but it was also with studio lights.

My new camera came today.  I was super excited.  It definitely made my Monday suck less.

Though really it's my Tuesdays that are my hell.

Meet TIM 

(TIM stands for Twin Image Maker)

Also meet and love Archimedes who accompanied dear Timmy on his journey from Photojojo to his home with me.  ^w^  He is also quite the star of my Timmy photos.  :D

My other two should be here any day now as well.  I finally was able to get a Polaroid one-step (I've been wanting one for years) and the one I ordered happen to come with a Polaroid Square Shooter 4 which may or may not work but considering I got them both for what most of the one-steps were going for individually I was pretty happy.  Film for the Square Shooter is pretty damn rare though so I don't see using it anyway but it's good for the collection, ne?

I also made me a cell phone charm.  I was super stoked that my new phone (Droid X) had a spot for a charm but didn't want to get something metal that would scratch the screen (or the screen protector- haven't made the jump to buy the $30 one that's supposedly scratch proof) so I decided I would get a plushie one and while I did find an uber cute Hello Kitty/Ichigo (strawberry) I found this little guy at Hellmart and in my head I was like "IT'S SO FLUFFY I'M GONNA DIE" *giggle*

 So I made my lil white & purple unicorn into a cell phone charm.  :D

Also, I have blogged over at the family blog again.

I really just need to make a button to put over here in the sidebar but yeah... maybe someday and maybe not, hahaha.  I'll prolly blog again around tomorrow or Wednesday too, since I sat and watched my stomach move for like 20 minutes last night and another 20 minutes tonight.  *giggle*  I just love it so much I can't get over it.  It's funny when people tell me "oh wait till he's big and doing this or that" like it was so annoying (someone on my fb).  I simply tell them that I am totally okay with that.  This way I know my lil man is okay.  Plus maybe it's that we've waited so long for this that I cherish every bit of it.  I love when I'm getting kicked like crazy from the inside.  It's so fun and so weird and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  

^w^

Carving Out My Path

So it's almost been a week since I blogged but it's pretty obvious that it doesn't matter to anyone other than me whether I'm blogging or not.

Had my meeting with my adviser about my portfolio and I'm still super nervous about it but I've got an idea though and I'm ready to run with it.  I wonder if he saw the specific moment the ah-ha moment hit me or not, but then some of it hit me after I left too.  I realized that I'm not putting my attitude into my photos so no wonder I'm having problems.  I've got a few more photos to edit and get to models but then I'm going to be working my ass off and hopefully getting about a shoot a week in or at least every two weeks so I can really hone putting myself into my photography.  My professor said a couple things in our meeting that really hit me, like the fact that looking at me it's pretty obvious I have a rebellious nature and I'm not portraying that and to get the clients I want I need to be doing that.  Also when he suggested some places I look to get some inspiration I realized a few of my own and I'm super excited to start drawing from these places as well, such as anime and manga.  Plus I've still got that photo from my ah-ha moment last year hanging in my office reminding me all the time that if I want to achieve greatness I gotta stop asking for permission.  ^w^

Other than that I've just been busy with lots of reading for classes (so much for getting any fun reading in this semester) so my "now reading" is all jacked up. I will damn well find a way to read Lover Unleashed when it comes out in March though.  Can't wait for more of my man Vishous.  YUM.

So that's it for this installment of the vampire bunny talks to herself so yeah...

^w^;;

PS:  How about them Packers? :D

Kids These Days

I can not count the times I've said those words in just the past few months.  And really it's not just kids these days.  Cody and I were talking about this last night.  He has discovered that auto parts stores up here are not what they are back home.  See we come from out in the middle of no-where, had to drive an hour to a Walmart, 2+ to get to the nearest mall and the nearby theater has ONE screen so if you don't like the time or what they're playing (which has usually been seen by other countries before you get the chance to see it in theaters) you're screwed.

I miss it terribly.

Back to my point.  Cody has noticed that if it's not in the computer screen in front of them the people working in auto parts stores have no idea.  Which I guess for someone who lives in the city might be par for the course but it's super irritating when you're used to being able to call the auto parts store and ask a question, like telling them the strange noise your car is making and they can even diagnose the problem for you, not that Cody even needs that 99% of the time but it's nice to have available.  It's just funny when you realize these things and realize that while you may have been hours away from "civilization" you were actually quite spoiled.

Something else I noticed is that included in Walmart's secret slogan "no we'll tell you what you want" I couldn't find a box of assorted greeting cards.  Then no one my age really even writes letters anymore.  Nothing is snail mail anymore, it's all email, which is great for some things but nothing makes my heart smile more than the handwritten letters I get from my Grams.

This lead to this conversation between Cody and I:

Me:  Our generation needs to bring back the snail mail!

Cody: Yeah, that'll happen.

Me:  Yeah I know... I just don't get it.

Cody:  Not everyone was raised like us to appreciate that sort of thing.

Me:  You mean raised in the middle of no where and being 10 years behind everyone else?

Cody:  Pretty much.

I just think it's sad.  Remember writing cursive in elementary school?  Omg it was so hard to learn sometimes and they drilled it into us that come middle and high school the teachers wouldn't accept anything not in cursive.

*dies laughing*

Then came computers into the schools and cursive was forgotten by most of the population and a lot of people can't even read it.  Yet here I am again.  I don't write completely in cursive but I write in a hybrid of cursive and print that's never the same.  In the same letter I could write the same word three times and it's unlikely any of them are written the same way as the last.  My writing has a life of it's own, haha (which probably means something fascinating in handwriting analysis that would likely get me committed but whatever).  It makes me wonder though.  Will my kids even be taught cursive?  When will they enter their first class that regularly involves computers?  In 6th grade we got email addresses and there was one lone computer in the classroom (and this was when Okaasan and I were living in the city for a few years) that we all fought for time on though none of us ever got any mail because no one else had email addresses, haha.

I'm just amazed when I look back at things like cursive, that while being taught was SUCH a big deal and now no one uses it.  Hell, ask Cody, I struggle to print.  I just think cursive is so much prettier than print, plus all that time learning it shouldn't be wasted.  ^w~

As I write this I also think this is one of those reasons I think vampires are so cool.  So many of the stories about them show their tie to traditional ways.  I love tradition.  Well some traditions.  ^w~  I just feel like there are some things our generation has left in the dust that we shouldn't have.  But it's not to late so I don't about you but I'm going to fight till my death to keep some traditions alive and I will teach my kids them as well.

Maybe it was that I was raised on things before my generation, like Spike Jones, who really was before Okaasan's time as well but my father introduced her to his stuff and I remember listening to it my entire childhood including running with two friends in a circle in the living room to one of his racetrack skits.

Alright.  I'll stop sounding like that crazy cat lady down the street screaming at the kids to get off her lawn now...  Besides, I gotta go see if Hallmark in town has any assorted greeting cards packs. :P

^w^

Let's Do This

So much for staying on schedule during the semester.

>.<

Mostly my excuse yesterday was that we had another doctor's appointment which was down in Denver.  It amazes me how we're an hour away but going down there is a half day ordeal.  The appointment went well other than I really did not like the doctor who came in after the tech did my ultrasound.  Pretty sure D didn't like her either.  How could you like someone bouncing the ultrasound thing on your home to try and get you to move around.  

Truthfully, I was pissed.

So by the time I got home I was exhausted.  Then again by about 5 or 6 in the evening any day I'm wiped (stupid classes in the tops of buildings) and doing anything other than sitting on the couch takes entirely too much energy, haha!

Found out today that I will have to sit out on some activities in my photo class.  It's all about alternative ways to process photos so we're working with several chemicals and while most won't hurt me as long as I'm wearing gloves and not drinking the developer (doesn't print developer just sound scrumptious?) I'll be just fine.  I will, however have to miss out on some fairly noxious processes like Gum Bichromate, which is uber fascinating but I can always give it a go after the little one is born.  But there is lots I will be able to do and I can't wait to make pinhole cameras out of all sorts of ridiculous objects which will be one of our first projects.

My other classes seem like they'll be good, fairly easy.

*runs off to knock on wood and runs back*

Which I'm hoping will hold true as another one of my courses is me focusing solely on my portfolio.  My senior portfolio that needs to be spectacular enough that they'll be like yes we feel confident you can go off in the world and be a photographer.

*deep breaths*

This is what's scaring me most.  I gotta pick a direction for my art.  Up until now it's been try a little of this and a little of that and make discoveries and have fun.  Now it's figure out what I want my photography to say about me.  My art has to speak for me and what I'm about.  It needs to have a discernible style.  So John looked at me today and said he needed me to do some serious soul searching.

*gulp*

I know it's true but damn it scares me.  I also know I can always later change directions.  Artists change style all the time but I've been trying to choose a direction for a year and I'm still drawing a blank.  This is also why my photography site has sat for months without me adding anything.

Well that and I need to reinstall my tablet driver because suddenly my laptop hates my guts.

*headdesk*

Which is the goal for tomorrow afternoon/night and then this weekend is crazy photo editing time so I can get discs to two of my girls who were awesome models for me last semester as well as get some new material on my site and take something to John next week and say okay this is what I've been up to and now I need your professional opinion.  Which I would get whether I wanted it or not but it's crunch time and I need to lay it all out on the line.

*deep breath*

Alright last semester of my college career....

Let's do this.

Last Semester

Terribly creative title, ne?

So I was supposed to have blogged yesterday but I didn't get around to it.  Mostly I was in a horrific mood and didn't want to subject you all to an entire post of my whining.  It wasn't that anything had really gone wrong I was just having one of those days that emotionally I feel like crap and every tiny thing annoyed me.  I hate when I'm like that and there's no reason for it, especially with things in my life right now.  I have so much to be thankful for and then when I remind myself it makes me feel that much worse for being such a colossal @$$.

Today is a bit better though, so here I am.

2nd day into my last semester of college EVER.  Thank the gods above because this university is trying my patience this semester, lol.  I pay them how much a semester and they can't even get mobile blackboard for us?  Yeah I can access it via my mobile browser but I just find it a bit ridiculous is all, though I should be used to the university spending more money on getting students here than keeping the sudents they have happy.

Crap.

Maybe I shouldn't be blogging today either.

*facepalm*

So my classes are looking good so far.  Fairly easy but we'll see if they stay that way.  One of my professors is British so that was a highlight.  I felt smarter just going over the syllabus the first day than I have in entire semesters of other classes *cough*Women's Studies*couch* (& the Great EYE!!! class) Plus my photo class sounds really fun, I'm just super nervous about my portfolio.  I'm scared and I need to really remember this:

 Then I think I'll be okay.

I hope.

Okay so since I can't seem to be anything but depressing I'm going to end this here and do some research for a class for a tiny presentation I need to do Thursday.

Oh after some thinking I decided to go ahead and keep the family blog separate.  I tell Okaasan about my awesome ibffs a lot and when I started the blog she asked if they would be commenting there and I said yeah some might and she was pretty excited about that so I'll let you guys know when I update it and we'll go from there.  :D  Oh and uh... I updated it last Wednesday after our ultrasound.

Speaking of awesome ibffs, go give the ever so sweet and funny Aubrey some love.  She lost her Grams recently and could use some extra hugs and love.