Bittersweet

ast night, or should I say this morning, I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at the midnight premiere. I teared up during parts of the movie, but I didn't just openly weep like a lot of people in the theater.

But when I got home, Grant asked me how I liked it, and I started to cry. And now as I write this I'm getting emotional again. I don't know exactly how to express my feelings right now. For the last 10 years of my life, I always had something Harry Potter oriented to look forward to, and now all that's left is Pottermore. I was always just around Harry's age when each book came out, so I understood his world so perfectly.

It was the summer before 7th grade when I met Harry. It was 1999 and I was 12. I was in the Edmond Public Library with my mom looking for something fun to read. She told me I should read these new books she heard about about some boy named Harry who lived in England and was a wizard.

I remember looking right at her and saying, "Why would I ever read a book about some British boy named Harry? That's like the stupidest name ever. It sounds dumb."

She went on and on about how it was on the best seller list and she knew I would like it. I had always been a fan of fantasy books and she didn't understand why I was fighting her so hard. Then she proceeded to tell me that a family friend had already bought me the first two.

I didn't get anything from the library that day. But I borrowed some books from my neighbor. Shortly after our library visit we made a road trip from Oklahoma to New York and New Jersey to visit our family. I brought my borrowed book that I had almost finished with me and those lame Harry Potter books just in case I had more time.

I finished that borrowed book quickly. I remember laying in the back seat in my mom's 1990 caravan finally giving in and deciding to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. After one little 17 page chapter I was hooked. I stayed up almost the entire 24 hour car ride reading about Harry's first year at Hogwarts. Soon I moved on to his second year. My grandparents hardly saw me that first week. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger had become my life.

Luckily the third book came out that summer, very soon after I had finished the second one. For Christmas I got collectors editions. I reread them over and over and over. I made my mom and grandma take me to the midnight release for the next book. By then the whole world had fallen in love with Harry. How could you not?

I remember reading Fahrenheit 451 in 8th grade, you know, the book about how books are banned and burned in the future, and thinking that somehow I would save my Harry Potter books if that were to actually happen. My little 13-year-old brain couldn't process not having them.

I could go on and on and on about my love for Harry. I have special bookends that my hardback editions sit in. I have every book in paperback. I have every book on audio CD. I have all the movies. I have countless t-shirts and accessories. I bought an annual pass to Universal Studios just for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Thank you, Mom, for making me read something you knew I would love. Thank you, J.K. Rowling, for creating such a wonderful world with such beautiful and real characters. Thank you, Harry for being in my life.

I will never ever forget you, Harry.

“Always have a vivid imagination, for you never know when you might need it." - J.K. Rowling

Adventures of the Kavourgi

fter my last post I decided that I needed to share adventures that I have gone on recently with my family.

My mom and Terry and Peter came to come visit me in January. We went to Universal, and we had adventures all over Disney World. The picture from last post is from when they were here. My mom had a great time seeing Prince Charming too.

We went to a dinner show called the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue where it's all you can drink wine, beer and sangria.

Peter was in the show! (Not really, but that guy sure looks a lot like him!)

My mom is so cute.

Terry and Peter are such great musicians.

Then we went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Terry pretended that he was Harry and this was Hedwig. He's so precious.

Peter was really really scared on The Mummy. It was the best.

Then mom and Peter had to go back to Oklahoma :( But Terry stayed a few extra days and went to 80s night with us!

Then a few weeks later the Pittsburgh Steelers played the New York Jets in the AFC championship game in Pittsburgh. The Kavourgi secured tickets!

Mom and her boys. They're so cute. If you look closely, you can see that Donna is supporting both teams.

Peter could barely contain his excitement!

I think that's a sufficient snap shot of what happened while I was with my family in January. There are a lot more pictures. Eventually they will go on Facebook. No promises for any time soon though...

"A brother is a friend given by Nature." - Jean Baptiste Legouve

New Beginning

o much has happened in my life since my last blog! I finally decided to blog all about it and then, of course, I come to my blog to get started and I see that my background has been removed! WTF?!

I guess that means it's been way too long since I've been here. I love to blog and I don't know why I put it off so much.

Tomorrow night my apartment is having a Mardi Gras! I've very excited about this. Mostly because people from both of my jobs are coming. I've become so close with both groups that I'm glad that there's finally a place for them to get to know each other.

I've decided to utilize a theme from blogger for now, because if I really get in to looking for another background and new header and new font colors and I'm really indecisive and blah blah blah then it'll be another few days before I blog again. And no one wants that...haha

A lot has happened recently that's made me think about my future again. I have decided to stay in Florida for another year. Meaning that I plan to live here until at lease June of 2012. I'm ready for a change at my job right now. I had my fun being an hourly cast member just playing with guests all the time, but now I'm ready for something more. I've been trying to go out and find a "big kid job" lately and so far I'm very optimistic that something will happen before that deadline. If not, then I might be back to Oklahoma. I miss my mom so much. It's very weird. I'm 23 years old and what I get homesick for the most is her. Of course I miss my brothers very much too, but they have their own lives and will go on to do their own things too.

I want to expand my knowledge of the digital world too. I really want to learn Html and inDesign and all those things that are so very confusing to me.

Anyway, I spoke with Travis on the phone today for what may be the last time for 13 months. He's moving to Tokyo tomorrow to be in Entertainment at Tokyo Disneyland. I'm so proud of him. I can't imagine moving to another country where their language is not English. I know he'll do fantastic, but I'm going to miss him a lot. Not only has he become one of my closest friends, but he was my little tie to home. My someone who always knew what I was talking about and who knew my family. I'll also miss him a lot during football season.

So my quote and picture are dedicated to him today.

“Now...bring me that horizon.” - Captain Jack Sparrow, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl"