"Your order is now packed and ready to leave our warehouse,"

said the e-mail that I received from Barnes&Noble.com this afternoon.

And what do I have to say to that?

HURRAY!!!!

That means my copy of the latest (and last) Harry Potter installment is on its way, scheduled to be delivered the day it's dropped-- Saturday, July 21.

Anticipation is just seeping out of me. Yes, I'm a HP fanatic (sad at 31 years of age? But seriously, I stand by my statement that these books are not just for kids-- they're scary and gut-wrenching and, well, distinctly adult). I'm in full-blown mania: saw "Order of the Phoenix" (book 5, for all you non-HP-fanatics) on opening night with my friend "e" who also has never missed a HP premiere (thanks, e, for coordinating!!) and re-read "Half-Blood Prince" (book 6) this week so I could recall all the important details going into "Deathly Hallows."

I must admit however, I'm having mixed emotions about this whole thing. While I can't wait to see how it ends, it's ending... this amazing fantasy world that J.K. Rowling has created for us is coming to a close... I know I'll be so sad when it ends... like saying goodbye to a friend. But at the same time, so I'm so excited to see how it ends! I know, nuts, right? I love books... and often feel a little lost after I've finished a great read. But the HP series is different... it's been a constant companion for nearly 10 years now (can you believe it??). How do you say goodbye to that?

And my other dilemma? Do I control myself and wait until my mailman drops off the long-awaited delivery (which on Saturdays tends to be in the late afternoon...), or chuck it all and be waiting in front of the bookstore when it opens at 10? Hmmm... what to do...

Nickelback

Has anyone ever noticed that all of Nickelback's songs sound the same? I just saw an ad for their new album, and I couldn't help but think, "huh? wasn't that their last album?" Now, I must admit, I'm not an expert on Nickelback-- I do have one album (purchased for the song, "Someday" which had a really sad video... and I was going through a deep dive into surrounding myself with everything depressing at the time... and my friend Theo said that any song worth downloading meant the whole album should be worth downloading... damn, Theo. Hundreds of dollars of purchases of pseudo-satisfying music from iTunes later... but I digress).

But, don't take my word for it... check it out:

Out and About in July

I ask the question because it doesn't SEEM like July... it's 75 degrees today. Beautiful, yes, but summer? Not so much. I actually needed a sweater this morning. But I'm not about to complain seeing as I hate hot (and humid) weather... although I do love sunshine, something I have found to be few and far between on my recent trips to our neighbor 'across the pond' as it were.

On another note, check out the new link in my "Watching" column for "Little Miss C." That's my adorable niece, "C" who's just the cutest thing in the world. If we drum up enough traffic, maybe we can encourage "C's Mommy" to post more pictures. Who's with me?

I seriously used to be so much more interesting... at least in my head. It seems that as of late I've been much more "in" the world than an observer of it, hence my lack of inspired blogging. Guess that's what happens when you fall in love (did I say love?! Hmmmm... I imagine I may be getting some comments and phone calls from that one... heehee). Yes, so I'm officially out. This perpetually single gal actually has a boyfriend. But since I tend to avoid overtly personal anecdotes here, that's about all this topic will bear... wonder how that's going to fly...

Happy summer! (If it's summer where you are...)

Blackbird

Keep Me In Your Thoughts