I'm knitting a pair of socks. The pattern, Bellatrix (you'll need a Ravelry login to access the link), was inspired and designed in honor of Bellatrix Lestrange, a perfectly evil character from the Harry Potter novels. The plan is to have the socks finished and on my legs by the time I'm at the midnight showing of the new Harry Potter movie next week. Not only will I be wearing the socks, but I'll be in costume as Bellatrix.

Here's the thing - I'm not really a fan of the HP books.

I read the first one a couple years after it came out. My first reaction was, "That has potential." I was later told the series got better, so I read the next couple books. Yeah, they got a little better, but I still was left wondering why there was such a rabid fan base. I didn't think the ideas were fresh, nor did I think the books were wonderfully written. Still, people were shouting the praises of the series. (It's that same bit of wonderment I have over the fans of Jordan's Wheel of Time series.) The completist in me finished the series and I was left with a feeling of "Eh, it was a bit of fluff that entertained me for a bit."

So why am I succumbing to Harry Potter madness complete with costuming and midnight releases?

I'ma fan of what the books have inspired in people.

Every time a book came out, I'd watch the news as adults and kids alike would wait in lengthy lines at bookstores to get the book as soon as physically possible. It's cool to see that excitement in people.

I've always been a fan of costuming. So the sudden explosion of people putting together their school robes, hand-crafting magic wands, and knitting house scarves, completely tickled me.

Wizard Rock boggles my mind. Last year I did the nerdiest thing I may ever do in my lifetime; I attended a Wizard Rock festival in Brooklyn. Even after witnessing a full day of close to 20 bands singing HP themed songs, I'm still amazed by the music scene. Not every band was great, but many were good, and all shared a passion that was hard to resist.

I'ma sucker for people with passion.

Friday night: Sex Dwarf!

Saturday afternoon: Mall adventure with The Ladies.

Saturday night: Dinner at Xochitl followed by the Decemberists show at the Tower.

Sunday: New York adventure with Connie and Andrea. Brunch in Manhattan with friends, shopping and possibly dinner in Brooklyn.

I'm going to be tired come Monday but it will be worth it. :)

If I was going to be in town this weekend, I'd go to the PSALM Salon and see Jeni & Billy play on Saturday night. Some live bluegrass would be awesome! http://www.jeniandbilly.com

One of you should go and tell me about it. :)

What started as a cold that was aggravated by my seasonal allergies, has developed into seasonal allergy hell. I've been an unhappy stuffy headed, sore throated, hoarse sounding woman with a hacking cough for the past week. I sound like I've been chainsmoking for 30 years. If I can find one, I'm buying a neti pot today. Yes, I'm turning to sluicing saline solution through my nasal passages. I know a few people who love using their neti pots and I'm miserable enough right now to give it a go.

Sleeping has been very rough as I wake up every couple hours to cough. I very much want to take a nap right this second.

I felt crappy enough all weekend spend the bulk of it at home. With all that time to myself, I caught up on a lot of things; I watched a Netflix DVD I've had at home for weeks plus two other DVDs I had waiting to watch, finished reading a novel and started a second, finished knitting a pair of socks, did most of my laundry & read the comics I picked up the other week. I also participated in my family's Mother's Day dinner in honor of my step-mom and her mom.

I did however miss out on some awesome goings on out in the wide world. Robin, I'm very sorry to have missed your show this weekend, and John that party sounded very cool. Please forgive me for staying close to home.

I'm determined to take a trip this coming weekend. I'll be making a visit to some of my very favorite people on Long Island. I hope I can figure out a way to relieve my allergy symptoms before the trip. LOL

Sometimes I just want to cry and be held and told that everything is going to be okay.

Today is one of those days.

I complain a lot about not doing the creative things I want to be doing.

( I'm an idiot. )

I'm terribly unmotivated to write, which is a shame because I enjoy writing. It's similar to how I am with exercise; I hate to get off my butt, but once I'm at the gym I'm happy.

( tiny bursts of creativity )

It's Thursday! The weekend is getting close. :)

( plans and such )

It's a ( gaze out the window sort of day. )

I accidentally left my phone at home. ( Confessions of an iPhone addict )

My tea is slowly ( warming my bones. )

Hey look, the gray is passing and blue is breaking through. I do love a sunny day.

I was busy with volunteering at the Philadelphia Cinefestmost of the weekend: ( the past )


This coming weekend I'm being escapist and visting out of town friends: ( the future )
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