Trying To Savor Harry

I'm making an attempt to slowly experience this last book in the Harry Potter series. I set a goal for myself to read only 100 pages a day so that I could have a whole "Harry Potter Week" for this last book, but I'm beginning to sabotage that plan. Day 1...read 100 pages, Day 2...read 100 pages...last night...couldn't put it down and read 200 pages. I really just don't want this book to end. I'm happy with the book so far and it's proved to be such a thrilling read. Very emotional at times and heart racing at others. I was afraid that those little comfortable, heart warming moments wouldn't be in this book because of the lack of Hogwarts, but they certainly are and they always bring a smile to my face. I'll be sad when this book is over, but it seems like it will bring closure to the series. Sorry I've been avoiding everyone's blogs but my livebookmarks show the titles of your posts and I can see that many of you have finished the book already ;) I'll be by soon, I promise!

In the meantime, my girlfriend's mom has moved back to New Orleans and her house is a mess. It's really sad. Her house got damage from Katrina and it was made worse due to problems with the insurance company and her inability to get her checks to fix the house. I feel like I haven't done enough to help victims of Katrina (despite being one myself) so this is my chance to help someone out who needs it. Yesterday I started getting her yard back in shape and got the front yard looking nice. Today it will be the front garden and I'll start the back yard. I actually enjoyed doing it. I miss being able to work in the yard. I used to complain about it, but now that we rent a house I actually miss cutting the grass, edging and weed eating. I'm enjoying this DIY stuff.

Greetings From Texas

So today is my last day in Texas and I'm not ready to leave. This trip flew by way too fast. It's been a perfect trip. Exactly what I wanted. We've had the time together that we wanted to spend, but it just hasn't been enough....it never will be until we're back in the same place. But the time we've had has been well spent. It's been spent mostly over coffee, target, book shopping, eating, driving and listening to music, drinking, sleeping, and all that other good stuff.

Tomorrow will be a sad goodbye as it always is, but hopefully all of these goodbyes will end soon. Megan had to work tonight, so I figured I'd fit in a blog and say hello to everyone and then of course fit in some Harry Potter reading ;) Right now our mini poodle, Buddy, is licking my brand new Harry Potter book which he was just corrected for. He has a new best friend...a 50 pound Great Dane puppy...oh yeah, there are pictures of that that I will post when I get home. I think I'll go visit Megan later tonight and have a cappuccino and desert and continue the Harry reading.

Book buying has been pretty decent here. I picked up a copy of The Time Traveler's Wife for Megan. Of course I got my copy of the new Harry Potter this morning. I've also bought a hardcover copy of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo, Rip Van Winkle illustrated by Arthur Rackham, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield for the RIP Challenge and Renfield by Barbara Hambly for the RIP Challenge.

I also finished The Color of Magic by Terry Prachett and I honestly wasn't that nuts about it. Don't be mad at me everybody! I have to admit though that I didn't give it a fair reading. I was distracted throughout my reading of it, but it never really caught me. I did however like Rincewind quite a bit and the ending left me with enough of a cliffhanger to pick up The Light Fantastic which I will be doing. It did have it's funny moments and it was a very clever book. I love the world that Prachett has created, I think I just need to get to know it a bit more. Many of you told me that I may not be nuts about this first book, so I expected it somewhat. I'll continue on with the series because I'm curious enough to know what happens in The Light Fantastic and the later books in the series sound incredible!

That's all for now folks! A warning ahead of time...until I finish The Deathly Hallows, if I see the words "Harry Potter" on your blog, I'm likely to wait until I'm finished reading the book to visit your page ;) I completely understand if you do the same with mine. Happy reading everyone! I missed you guys.

Musings and Most Anticipated Cover of the year

Here it is folks - the cover for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has been released. I like it, very orange. This picture is the dustjacket laid out without the words on it. I just can't wait for this book to come out!

Today was a fairly productive day. I sort of flew solo at the hospital today which felt good. I feel like I've become much more capable and competent in the counseling profession. I've found that counseling skills definitely grow over time. I know I have a lot further to grow, but at least I'm moving.

Went to the gym again today which felt great, though somewhat exhausting after the work day. The show Workout on Bravo! always brings out that urge in me to get to the gym. And that urge couldn't come at a better time with the Mexico trip coming up soon. Great show by the way, very interesting people.

And finally, there's been a new addition to the blogroll. It is Jenclair's blog, A Garden Carried in the Pocket. Her's is a blog that I've visited for awhile and realized that it deserves to be a regular. She always has wonderful things to say about books and just life in general...and she's a fellow Louisianian! And spellcheck actually didn't try to correct Louisianian. What can I say, I'm smart.