Harry Potter World 1.1: Palm Trees

Kelly's currently writing in her "travel journal" about our lovely trip, so I thought I would do the same - except my dear blog audience is going to SEE ALL.  I have to be quick and dirty because we have a date in the Magic Kingdom tomorrow, so this may not be as, proof read as usual.  Did I mention we're wearing our matching Tinkerbell Pajamas?  Well, now I am.

So today I woke up.  And I thought, "this is the beginning of the best week of my life."  I have prepared ridiculously.  I cut my hair!  I bought shorts!  I have toiletries!  I shaved my legs this morning.  And then I put on a dress.  It was red with dots.  Then I drove.  Then I bought gas - apparently cars need that.  I arrived at Kelly's house.  I pet Minerva.  We got in the car. 7:30: we embarked.

We bought biscuits.  They were too hard.  We drove.  For several hours.  We stopped at Subway and bought gas.  It has lots of security precautions.  We drove some more.

When we arrived in Florida there was a palm tree at the entrance.  It made smile.  I was so happy.  There are a lot of palm trees in Florida.  I mean a lot of palm trees.  It was sunny and beautiful, and so flat.  I was amazed.  How can it be so flat?  The sky was such a funny colour.  It wasn't Carolina blue.  I never realized that was, special to Carolina or something.  I mean, I know it's in the name, but you know, I just thought they dedicated it to Carolina.  I didn't think it was like, limited to here...there...whatever, quit judging.

Important/Influential/Significant/Interesting things that happened:
1.  We counted 'ProLife' signs.  There were over 7 - but we started counting late.  Although I am ProLife, they were a tad bit creepy.  For example:

Creepy Baby Smiles are Creepy

2.  Chris called and him and Kelly successful bullied me via phone.  My life is so hard.  They have successfully kept up a bulling chain.  Kelly tells Chris all the dumb things I do, Chris texts her about how dumb I am, and they laugh at me.

3.  Our hotel room is BEAUTIFUL.  It's at the Hyatt Place and it is huge and lovely, with a massive TV, a couch, a kitchenette, a king size bed, and a soap/shampoo/conditioner dispenser.  It looks exactly like this:

Room fit for the Goddesses we are

4.  Our waiter looked like a cross between Daniel Bottoms and Josh Groban.  It was frighting.  I'm posting pictures so you can imagine what a cross between the two would look like and be equally frightened.

When all is said and done, Kelly plans to Tumblr our whole trip; complete with 5,000 of my - interesting - quotes.  Speaking of which, what do coconuts grow on?  I always thought it was palm trees, but with so many planted around here, this can't be.  A coconut tree?  Somehow, this doesn't sound right.

After an 8 hour trip, I'm very tired.  Did I mention our hotel is directly across from Universal, aka, home of Harry Potter world?  I saw a billboard.  I had a nerd fit.  As I sat in a pool chair, looking across at the albino black guy, the Universal parking garage and the sunset, I began to cry because I thought, J.K. Rowling, the one who birthed Harry Potter (Figuratively, because Lily Evans Potter birthed him.) has walked the same streets that I am going to walk.  As I took a very long bath, I prayed, "God, thank you, because I don't know if I've ever been happier."

-Me.

Horcrux of the Moment

Kelly has this thing on her Tumblr called ‘The High-Five’ where she lists the 5 things she’s really into at the moment.  The more High-Fives she posted, the more I fell in love with this idea – it’s so organized!  I love organization!  I like charts!  It's like math!  I LOVE math!

Being the uncreative thieving wench in love with her creative idea, I decided to adapt something of it for myself.  The name is in development, but it has something to do with Horcruxes.  If you are asking "why, what is a horcrux?" I ask, a. are we friends? And b. are you adversed to good literature?  But for those who don't read Harry Potter, a horcrux is an vessel that holds a bit of your soul.  Fitting, no?  Okay, so that might be too dramatic of term, but love, soul, their interchangeable - sort of.  Whatever, I'm going with it.

Speaking of which, once the Voldemort has 7, I shall dedicate the same number to my Horcruxes of the moment

1. EOS Lip Balm

Call me a sucker for packaging concepts.  It's completely true.  Yes, I have 3 out of the 5 colours.  Well, in my defense, my mother bought 2.  BUT, I love it so much.  This chap stick...this chap stick.  It moisturizes my lips and it doesn't leave that icky residue that chap sticks often leave.  I carry it everywhere.  Only downfall?  It doesn't fit into pockets.

2.  Casting for The Hunger Games

A small addiction has risen in the form of continually checking the cast list for The Hunger Games.  I would be lying if I didn't say that I checked on the internet at least 3 times a day - and continually checking my twitter on my phone, seeing if anything has been confirmed.  SO MANY TRIBUTES have been cast.  So many of my favourites.  But so many more to go.

I don't think I've mentioned this (ha, WHATEVER) but it's being filmed in Asheville.  This mega-hit is being made an HOUR AWAY.  More awesome news: Thursday, Tommy, Drew, Val and I are heading out to the casting call for extras in, catch it, HENDERSONVILLE.  To be an extra isn't glamorous - but for The Hunger Games I would willingly enter the arena and thus die a seventy-four times to be included.  And with locality like that?  How can I pass?

3.  Exploring

Exploring has always been a hobby of mine; But, Saturday, I went on an adventure.

Tommy, his girlfriend Lindsey and the token Russian student, Vladimir, came up to see some falls.  I joined them, as I only live 10 minutes away.  As I've been trekking in the woods since I was 5, we took a lot of, *cough* unorthodox paths around the falls, often into thickets of poison oak.  Tommy then [dramatically] recited the waterfall scene from The Last of the Mohicans.

After that tomfoolery, we wanted to go swimming.  So we went near the bridge and played in the water.  We then decided to go through uncharted waters, through the rapids.  Barefoot.  I straddled a tree - Val broke the tree.  We climbed big rocks.  Then we decided to trek upstream through the rapids of death.  And I was the leader.

Best moment?  We were all holding onto some limbs when Val suddenly said, "Rachel, vet go of dee limb."  I had no idea what he was talking about until I saw the baby WASP NEST OF DEATH.  We managed to trek around it through the woods.  We also managed to run into strangers.  Lindsey, who lives in the city, was very excited about her adventure and told them, "We came up the rapids!  It was so much fun!"

They stared at her.  It may have been because she was in her underwear.

4.  Cats. Where they do not belong.

A Tumblr dedicated to cats being in places where cats do not belong.  Paired with the witty captions, I have never laughed so much.  I'm trying to decide if I have a legit obsession with cats.  If I do, I'm going to let it pass.  We all need something to love.

5.  Harry Potter

I'm looping two things into one category.  First off TRAILER:

Drew said I never blinked when I watched it.  It's true.  I think it looks fabulous.  Except for the falling off the bridge part; I'm a bit confused.  Because the Dragon in the 4th movie more or less fell around the same point, and it died.  And Harry and Voldemort don't die.  At least not that way.

Second off:

HARRY POTTER WORLD.

As I write this, I have 9 days until I'm home.  This will be my first trip.  I keep trying to find words to describe what I feel.  I'm coming up short.  No moment in my life will compare to what is to happen on May 12th.  Not the birth of my first child or the day I am to wed.  No.  I will cry.  As I write this, I find tears just thinking of the moment when I see that scarlet steam engine.  I just, I just, I don't know.

I'm so glad I get to share it with one of my best friends.  I'm going to try Butterbeer for the first time.  I'm may get to buy my wand.  Not a replica of someone else's - mine.

I'm going to stop, because my laptop is getting wet.

6.  Gladiator Sandals

A girl in my T.I.E. class broke my favourite flip flops.  My mom bought me a pair of $5 sandals to tide me over.  I wear them with everything.  And although they began to tear on the SECOND DAY I wore them, I do not care because I love them.

7.  The Mortal Instruments Series

I left the nerdiest for last.  I wish I could say I didn't like fantasy novels, but it would be a lie.  I've wanted to read City of Bones for a while, but just look at that cover.  It has a sparkly man chest.  Like, I can't even articulate how bad it looks, much less what it says about me as a person.

I won't say it's epic literature.  It's not up there with Harry Potter or The Hunger Games.  But, ya'll, it's good.  Like guilty pleasure, but a good guilty pleasure, one you don't mind admitting too.  I have feasted and devoured City of Bones and City of Ashes within days - that's just the first two books, and that's at least 1,000 pages.  I continually check my library account, waiting for the patron who has City of Glass to TURN IT IN so I can CHECK IT OUT and feast on its glory.

It features a normal girl named Clary who has lived a normal life.  She has her normal mother, her mother’s normal not-boyfriend, and her normal best friend (and captain of the nerds), Simon.  Everything is normal UNTIL she goes clubbing and she sees people no one else can see. *cue ominous music*  Then she finds out about these people called *cringe* Shadowhunters and they kill demons.

Anyway, one of the Shadowhunters is a boy named Jace, and he’s snarky and tortured.  And yes, that would be his sparkly, glittering chest on the cover.  As she begins to have feelings for him, she also begins to see Nerd Captain Simon in another way, which after 10 years of friendship, it’s about time.

Just so you know Simon is totally my favourite.  He a. is Jewish, b. an archer, c. wears glasses, d. is in a “band”, e. is a vegetarian, f. has unrequited love, and g. is allergic to ragweed.  He is the pinnacle of nerd/awesome and I think I want him as my boyfriend.  And just when he couldn't get any more awesome, he goes through something very serious, and it just makes him 8x more awesome.

I literally want him.  It's not a joke.  He has made me forget about all the crushes I have ever had, because they all revolve around this fictional character Simon and how much I want need him.

For now, these are my Horcruxs.  Will they change?  Most definitely.  But, the bright side is, if I keep changing them, Harry will never find them.

-Me

I took my pants off.

So, although I got little to no sleep last night, I am in better spirits this morning. Well, now I am. I was in bed around 1 last night; I stayed at Kelly's super late. We played Bananagrams, which I'm not all that fond of because I cannot spell very well; then we played Quelf which is rather fun. I had to be a mummy. Nothing super memorable happened. Then we went up to the studio and played signs, but they just had me as "it" because I'm bad at it as well. We played Ninja Destruction and Samurai. THEN we played "Truth or Dare."

Now, once I have absolutely no secrets and I'm not all that gutsy, this game is easy peasy to me. Truth, and I answer. But, there were about 3 dares. And boy me, they were good. Chase dared TJ to drink pickle juice out of someone's belly button. And he did it. I dared Chris to drink milk and ketchup. And he did it [after much whining, mind you. He thought I'd go easy on him.] Kelly dared Alex to eat a dead lady bug [complete with chewing]. And she did it!

Ya'll, it was hilarious. I am not very courageous on these sort of things, but I love watching others having to do it. After, we hit people with a large exercise peanut and I wrestled Chris to the ground, because I am very strong and he is weak. Before long I became cranky and grumpy, so I went home [and TJ drove behind me to guarantee my safety.]

Great night. Today was a bit hectic, but after two cancelled classes, I still have to stay over for a 3 o'clock meeting because I'm a costume crew chief thing for The A-Train Plays.

So this weekend is scattered because tonight I'm spending the night with Kelly, and tomorrow we're going to the Mall to see Beastly. I know this part should be cut out of my schedule once I have work. But how often do I see Kelly? And I rarely hang out with anyone, especially my bestie who is a good few hours away. This weekend though, I have a monologue to memorize and a french test to study for. I'm auditing a class, because the teacher asked me to be in the show for it. [yeah, I know.], so I have a character analysis for that and lines to memorize.

It's not a big deal, but to do something makes me smile and feel rather blessed. I'm the part of a conjoined twin. Yes, I know, I get the physically disabled part. Except this time I have four legs instead of one. What up. Also, Sideshow perks. "I will never leave youuuu..."

Next week looks less hectic, so I'm ready to breath a little. I'm going to get all my research done for one of my research papers, and then relax some.

Also there is a rumor that if a professor doesn't have a PhD that they are not guaranteed employment. So basically, Dr. Beam is safe if no one else is. Wonders of wonders, miracles of miracles. I am so happy that my BFF is totes safe.

Lets talk about things I like [other than Dr. Beam] now:

There is this new thing called Harry Potter: The Quest. It's basically like the coke points thing for Harry Potter fans. You do internet things, and you get points...? Look, I'm a member, and we're going to have fun. You earn collectibles and stuff. And you know, need.

The movie is coming out April 15th. I didn't really like this movie so much, but whatever, collection purposes. I'm hoping that one day, when I marry someone with a BlueRay player, that he will buy me the massive 4 disk box sets. Like, I need them too. I'm going to have the best future husband ever. Tag this under #thingsIknow.

In May, I'm going to be visiting a certain place where certain wizards flock.

YES HARRY POTTER WORLD! Tonight we are planning everything. It'll be a poor college students trip, with not many school supplies being purchased, [Fortunately, everything can be purchased off the internets.] but moreso a day worth of experience. Kelly and I am going together in May after we get out of school, and before work. Also a trip to Disney and Universal is planned too. We're making the plans tonight and cooking Harry Potter food.

Ya'll, I am so excited. This is my mecca. It is honestly our plan to go there and work after we get out of school. Theatre degree, hello! It's PERFECT. I would be content if I was selling shaved ice in this place. Rumor has it they are thinking of building Gringotts and Diagon Alley, and OH please let it happen.

So...I have to share this on my blog, because I like to share. There are these new dolls, in a franchise entitled Monster High. Now, you know my fondness for monsters, but these dolls are adorable. And ya'll, I want them. Bad. What would I do with them? Probably write blogs about our adventures and have playdates with Alex [who has already agreed with me on these matters.] Yes, I would totally play with them. BUT the important thing is, the new one has been reviled and I am in awe of how awesome she is:

LOOK AT HER LITTLE SEE THROUGH LIMBS? Is that not precious?

I know, I don't need them, and it's silly to want dolls, BUT if Scotty can collect Vinylmations, then I can collect monster dolls. No judging. Even if they have the worst names ever. "Draculara" and "Frankie Stien" to name a few. Also, they have webisodes and I have totally watched every single one.

Oh, stop judging me.

So, a bunch of my friends have started reading The Hunger Games.  And they are, of course, seeing how phenomenal it is.  My main squeeze is in the running for the role of Peeta, BUT everyone is saying he's a super bad actor.  I'll judge myself when we go see Beastly, and I hope this isn't true.  Because, above all else, I want someone who can act.  I know I swoon over this guy, but if he can't act... then, meh, I don't want him.  I believe I have picked my Katniss though:

I have yet to see True Grit, and once it's a Western and there are no Aliens/Wizards/Vampires/etc., my interest is limited, BUT she was nominated for an Oscar so I suppose she isn't to shabby.  Her eyebrows bother me, but, by the time she reaches 16 I think she'll be fabulous.  She's not gorgeous, no, but she's just looks like Katniss to me.  And girl can apparently act.

As for Beastly, which I'm seeing tomorrow, I am kind of scared now.  The reviews are giving it a very dismal rating.  I mean, I wasn't expecting that it would be awesome.  It's obviously one of those movies you watch for the sugary and swoony goodness.  Sort of like Twilight.  You don't go to see Oscar bait; you go to see entertaining junk.  But, I hope it's good.  Even if it has Vanessa in it. *snear of discontent*

Of course, Little Red Riding Hood looks so bad [and sugary!] that I must see it as well.  Even if Gary Oldman is in it, it just has to be bad.  Please be so bad you're good.  Not like The Room or Human Centipede bad, but, Twilight and Beastly bad.

As long as The Hunger Games is AWESOME I will die so happy.

I'm going to go get food now.

-Me

Liversss

So, acting II has been canceled for today; sort of happy; not looking too forward to Psychological Gestures, although it is over the top, so therefore, RAPTORISMS abound.  There is a girl in the UC who is wearing a Slytherin tee-shirt.  Naturally she also goes by the name of 'Kitty' and wears animal ears.  Oh, how our fandom is perceived.  i.e. badly.  The same people in her group are talking about Wizard Magazine being canceled.  I now see what it's like to be surrounded by me.

I don't really know what to type at the moment, except I'm enjoying Chic-Fil-A and I have a company meeting at 5.  *le sigh*  There are somethings I don't like; that company is sometimes one of them.  They screech for 'professionalism' yet I think my cat is more professional [professionally awesome, that's what he is.]  I suppose I'm supposed to feel super *connected* with the company or something, and we're supposed to be a family.  But only three people out of the 25 have actually bothered getting my phone number on the sake that they actually like me.  And I retract that, because one only contacts me in regard to homework and the other one only gave it to me so I could pass it out to girls.  And the other one is Chris, so we know how that one goes.

BUT yours truly feels bad if she doesn't volunteer for something so alack, I am house manager.  All things considering, I prefer this.  First off, I actually somewhat know how to run house, secondly this means while the show is going on I get to sit outside and read books or study french; possibly the latest HoN book if I can remember what happened in the first 7.  House of Night books and I go way back when it comes to doing WCU shows, and this cheesetastic vampyre boarding school series is so bad, but like a car accident, you can't look away.  It makes me mad though, because the puny human never wins; in fact HE DIES.  :(

Okay, so Alex gets it because she actually owns the book.  We go way back, Alex and I.  Mm, Dr. Flamez is all up in yr stuff.

This morning  I was driving and I was so cold and why can I still see my breath? The car is usually warm by the time I reach the bridge, and it was just very cold and very bad.  That usually means my radiator is acting up, but I checked the gauge and no, it was fine, and I kept going.  But still, SO COLD, so I passed the taxidermy, and sure enough there it was on hot.  So I made it to the Cullasaja BP and parked, and sat there and called my mom and went inside and looked like a moron because I kept staring at the section that housed the, um, contraceptives.  I didn't realize I was staring until later [there were q-tips and toothpaste in the section too] and WHATEVER.  I also looked at the movies.

Lucas Grabble now stars in a new sensational, 3 dollar gas station special:

You remember, Sharpay's not-gay brother who is the only one in the series who can truly sing.  Apparently, 'Food Boy' can make food appear out of thin air or something.  That's his power.  Then he battles with if he wants said power or if he wants to be normal.  To me, this is a no brainer:  first off, YOU CAN CONJURE FOOD.  Who wouldn't want that power?  Secondly, um, no packing your lunch and having soggy tomato sandwiches, because you can CONJURE food.  Thirdly, ship that kid off to Africa and feed those kids; it's like, the end all to world hunger.

Although, I'm not going to lie, I almost want to see this $3.00 DVD Gas Station special.  God knows that I dearly love to laugh, and expecially when it's at someone/something's expense.  Heck, I'll even laugh at MY expense.

My mother showed up before I could make said purchase, to pick me up, and Subaru Jim is coming to pick Sevs up.  Subaru Jim works on Subaru cars.  He is has a shabby garage and it has a plethora of Subaru vehicles on the front.  He knows his stuff though, and rumor has it that the Subaru corporation actually contacts him on things regarding them.  He also is very apt to be appeasing and take care of the situation fairly and honestly.  He fixed Sevy the other two times his radiator messed up (and that time I blew a head gasket.)

OH YA'LL.

Apparently, Sharpay is offering her, *cough* talents in an all new movie, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure.  I kid you not.  Ya'll this, this, is bad.  And it's straight to DVD; rightly so.

Speaking of High School alums, dear Vanessa Anne Hudgens [don't get me to convay how very much I dislike her] is STARING in a new movie.  Beastly is the name, and although I do NOT like her in any way, I will admit that the 13-year-old fan girl in me is very excited for this movie.  Not to mention the guy who plays the beast might be the most handsome movie star I have ever seen.  In my life.  No lies.  I want him.

And he's British. *swoooon*

Mentioning him, they are wanting him for the lead [one is speculated; one is for sure] in the next two movie series that are alleged to be the next IT.  One is The Hunger Games by Susanne Collins and the other is Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.  The former is absolutely MAGNIFICENT and I love it with all my soul and spirit.  Can I express how much I love it?  I love it more than the food it describes, the formidable mangy cat within its pages, and its heroine -  May I be you? Except, you know, without actually being you.

Alex understands, and I declare it now: it is going to be the next Harry Potter and I tell no lies; and their are no wizards!  And it's still amazing.  How is this possible?!

The other one is a little bit of a laugh in my mind.  Being as ingrained in the Harry Potter fandom as I am, Ms. Clare used to be, *cough* a famous fanfiction writer.  Of Harry Potter; or should I say The Draco Trilogy, if that one doesn't make you guffaw like a loon.  And now she's famous...?  I'd be okay with this (to some degree) if she hadn't been accused of plagiarism for her fanfiction.  It's legit too; I've read the reports. I mean, this series has the markings of everything a book shouldn't have:  author avatar, leather pants, the 'Luke, I am your father,' aspect, the fantasy kitchen sink.  And most of all, she named a story she wrote about Ginny and Ron hooking up The Mortal Instruments as well. In case you're not familiar with HP, Ginny and Ron are brother and sister.

So... next Twilight anyone?

Anyway, the beautifully handsome actor in the movie above is wanted for both movies.  Sadly, The Mortal Instruments refuses to march forward without him, and this is a travesty.  He'll stain his name forever.  Don't do it Alex, don't do it.  :(  Go play Peeta and make bread and stuff.  And let me be Katniss so we can kiss in caves.  Mmm, cave kissing.

Did I mention I think he's super hot?  He's also going to be in a Disney movie about the number four or something.  LOOK, he's my new celebrity crush and he will have a place in my heart next to Ryan Reynolds and Chris Evans.  No, not that Chris Evans.

These nerds in the UC are killing me, and my internet isn't working in here anymore.  So I'm going to go the library and print stuff and sleep and maybe buy food or something.  May check out a book, may check out a movie, or I may just be.  Perhaps see if Tommy is in the CMC.  I miss Tommy.

Oh, and turns out I need a new radiator.  Dazzling.

-Me