Ren Faire 2011

Oh my, it's been a while! And it's been even longer since I actually made a post, you know, with words.

I can't believe the summer is already winding down! The weather is already starting to change - this very morning I started second guessing my choice of sandals as footwear. Though, it's very likely it could shoot back up to 90 degrees again very soon. (Damn, I just checked the weather and we're looking at 90s again on Thursday...)

This past weekend Mike and I went to the Bristol Renaisance Faire. It is absolutely our favorite thing to do all summer. I'm not even sure why we love it so much. It's shops, and kid activities, and shows and food. But it has, hands down, the best people watching I've ever stumbled across.
This past weekend was Steampunk weekend, which culminated in a costume contest. So many of those who were dressed up looked spectacular.

This summer has been eventful, but also low key. It's been strange.

Pottermore Frenzy

I got in!
(though it was a shallow victory)

Username: CauldronLight144

Saturday, July 30th

It is Saturday morning. I woke up at about 9:30am, despite falling asleep at a grandmotherly 11:30pm. I had big plans to start cleaning out closets and getting rid of things I don't need. But then, I sat on the couch, watched a little 30 Rock, had some unhealthy cereal and coffee. And now? It's after noon, and I'm still here. Only now I'm watching Parks and Recreation.

Mike came downstairs shortly after me, and now he's napping across from me on the couch. Maddie has taken up her usual spot on the back of the couch, watching for some unseen threat to our home.
We haven't had a Do-Nothing type of weekend in a while. Mike has been working on weekends for the last two months. Last weekend I was out of town and Mike hosted friends at our house. So this? While it feels so wrong, is much welcomed.

The end of an era and solidifying my fanaticism

This is what my afternoon consists of....

Oh you know, after I got THIS:On a whim :)
I am madly in love with my super simple HP tattoo. It couldn't have turned out better.

And tonight, I'm seeing the movie at 8pm. As much as I love the atmosphere of the midnight movies, I'm just too, too tired to stay up and watch it. I want to see it when I'm awake and aware and comfortable.

I am so sad about this era ending, but so happy that I was able to be a part of this amazing literary juggernaut. From non-stop reading, re-reading, to midnight book releases, and midnight showings (in my younger years). Making t-shirts to buying t-shirts and COUNTLESS other HP related items. I've been a fan for 11 years. It's been the longest love affair of my life (sorry, Mike).

These books have been a bright spot whenever I'm sad, or stressed or generally frazzled. And the movies have been such an amazing interpretation of their content. I am genuinely sad to see everything conclude - but at the same time, there's still a whole other Potter-life ahead of me. I hope to someday get Mike to read the books, and introduce them to my future kids, not to mention the endless possibility of reading them over and over and over again.
As JK Rowling said at the London premiere, "Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

And that is all I have to say about that.
For now.

Red lipstick.

I am feeling lethargic, but hopeful.
I miss Mike, but I appreciate it far more when he's present.
I can't wait for the last Harry Potter, but am so sad that it is ending.
I am hungry, but too lazy to cook.
I'm super nervous about my future, but confident that everything will be just fine.

Wallow-y Blog Post :(

Remember last post when I said I was handling everything well? Today, it crashed down around my ears. Hard.

I've been sick since Tuesday, and it's been a constant annoyance. And because of it I haven't slept properly since...Tuesday.

This morning Maddie was being a bundle of nerves, and I couldn't figure out why until I went upstairs and found out that she threw up. I tried to comfort her (throwing up terrifies her) and then she threw up some more. Sorry. That's gross. But it's been awful. She's OK now and back to psychotically watching the birds out the back window.

Plus Mike is working today, and is going to go into work again on Sunday. And worked late almost every day this week. I don't know what to think of it, because he's not some brain surgeon where people die in his absence. But it makes him feel better to make sure he's ahead of the game, and apparently this is his busy season. It's just really, really hard.

I've been cleaning all morning and I hate it, and I just burdened my poor mother with a self-pitying sob-fest. I'm a mess. I feel like nothing is going right. But, I know it's not true, and everything is going to fit into place, because, well it has to. I have so many things to be excited about and to work hard for, but right now, nothing fits. It feels like I'm wearing an too-small suit.

Image via

I've had my cry, and I've written a wallow-y blog post, so now it's time for me to buck up, buttercup and get my act together. I'm going to pull myself up by my bootstraps and whatever other cliche feel good-eries I can think of. I'm going to have some lunch, and finish cleaning and, and get in a good head space, and finally sit down and try to actually make some progress reading The Hunger Games.