Hi everyone! Its CANADA DAY! its our birthday! You wouldn't know it! We Canadians are so reserved! There will be fireworks etc to scare the heck out of my dog! There are some flags and stuff out but not like the states. We are all proud to be Canadian but we also have such short vacations that a extra day pff far out weighs the fact that it is Canada Day!
My husband has the kids out for a little while! Since he was working for a friend of a friend ALL DAY on saturday! So I am alone doing laundry ( supposibly) !
i am goimng to be a good girl and start my chores! I will set a good example for the family
talk to you soon!
Tracy

Hey Everyone!! And a special welcome to all of the new friends who've recently joined us!

Tracy, Happy Canada Day to you too!! Unfortunately, I missed the celebrations this year as I was sitting in a hotel room in Glasgow finding out that my flight home had been cancelled!

Yep, I just got back from the UK today. Aside from the attempted car bombings, I had a wonderful time. I toured around Scotland a bit, then went down to England for a few days, and finally over to Belfast to visit some friends. I was supposed to come back to Canada on Sunday, but the flight was cancelled, and I wasn't able to get one out until today. Oh well, back safe and sound! Elaine...I made it to the Cotswolds - it was absolutely beautiful there!! Probably one of my favourite places! You are very lucky to live in that area. I love Canada, and the area of Ontario that I live in, but it was so nice to visit a place that is completely different. I definitely want to go back to the UK again sometime!

Anyways, I'm getting pretty psyched up for OOTP! I really hope it does the book justice (as I think it's my favourite), but I'm sure it will be a great movie all the same. I just finished rereading GOF, so onto OOTP tonight...if I don't fall asleep first!

Talk to you all soon!
Abs

Okay, so if anyone watches greys anatomy you will get this.

Boys are stupid! A few weeks back I was all excited about a date...I know...I date that I went on and things were looking really well but then boys get stupid.

Anyways, I knew I should have just kept to myself.

But then I went to see Gretchen Wilson in concert and met someone who I told right off that I was "medicating" the heartache and not up for anything serious. Guess what the first thing we ended up talking about was? Harry Potter! I was so excited because he was so into it. His site is Hogwarts but I am trying to convert him to VTM! Anyways, it is nice to be able to talk to another HP fan in person for a change...not that you all aren't great, but I am sure you know what I mean.

It is the fourth of July in the USA so it is bar-b-ques and fireworks for me today...just wanted to stop by and say "HeY!"

~Amanda

I am so LAZY!! I haven't posted here because of the email notifications being shut off. I have missed some.

Laura, I hope your husband recuperates (sp?) quickly. Men can be such babies when it comes to certain things. My husband has had two 'operations' one to fix something and one to 'fix' him. He was such a whiner!!! He almost passed out when our kids were born. He would have been much happier being in the waiting room with cigars or better yet, in the bar....I made him stay. If I had to go through 9 months of pregnancy and then extended labors etc. He could be there for me to swear at and hit.

Tracy and her fellow Canadians. Happy Canada Day! (belated)

All of us Americans. Happy 4th!! (belated).

We went to a historical site that had volunteers in 1700s period clothes. They had period games, quill writing, slingshot shooting, 'archeology', hidden 'coins' in a haystack, tours, water balloons, tours of the house and food. We had a blast and have volunteered to work there at Halloween.

We went to see fireworks last night, with an obstructed view.

I am not happy with the holiday in the middle of the week. I am tired and have many things to do and ketch up on and my youngest is a little monster today.

I hope everyone is having a better day....

Cris

Men ARE babies, aren't they? (No offense to any reading this! ) He popped the maximum doseage of pain bills he could in 48 hours. I had to cut his food for him because it took too much strain. I'm surprised he didn't want me to chew it for him as well. I waited on him hand and foot bringing him ice, water, food, whatever for 48 hours straight every 30 minutes except for the few hours of sleep I was able to get. Plus I had to take care of the kids.

When I had surgery on my mouth, I was a single parent. I had to nurse myself back to health and take care of my child at the same time. And I didn't use nearly the maximum amount of pain pills. I only took one when I really had to. After I had my kids, I think I took a maximum of 3 pain bills total each time even though I had an incident during labor which had to be sown back up. That was painful! I told my husband that it isn't any wonder women go through childbirth and not men-they couldn't handle it!. He tries to pride himself at having a high tolerance for pain. I don't think so.

Anyways, I was planning on having him going and getting "fixed" because it is supposed to be easier for the guys and faster to heal. I'm not sure if that is going to be such a good idea anymore. I might be better off just going myself. I bet he won't wait on me for 2 days.

But anyways, I think his area is getting infected. He is having a friend who is an anesthesiologist (sp?) come and look to see if he needs to go to the doctor. He refuses to go right now. Men can also be such hardheads. They can't stand the pain but they put themselves through it anyways for no reason.

Sounds like you had a good 4th, Cris. We didn't do much around here because the baby got sick. He started running a 103 temp. Luckily, we were able to see some fireworks from our back porch through the trees. My daughter enjoyed them all the same. Actually, I think she preferred it that way because it wasn't as loud. She hates loud noises so it worked out for the best.

Well, I guess my day isn't much better than yours seeing as how I'm having to take care of two "babies"! Hopefully your day (and mine) will be better tomorrow!

Take care to everyone else out there and have a wonderful day!

Laura

Happy belated 4th! It was great weather out here in Hawaii for fireworks and a picnic. My daughter (bless her little heart) struggled to keep her 2 year old self awake until 845 for the fireworks...in the end she fell asleep on my shoulder.

I am too excited! I just saw Gretchen Wilson and Alan Jackson in concert this past weekend. We don't get much country concerts all the way out here in the middle of the ocean and all I can say is it was simply fabulous. I am always so jealous of the great country line ups the midwest gets

Well Im off tomorrow to get a Severus Snape shirt that someone said they saw at Hot Topic...I hope they still have some. Ok rambling as it is 230 am my time, talk to you all later.

Amanda
PS, yeah, men are babies...thats why they don't have 'um.

Hi im typing this from my new laptop! I saw an add for a really good one and since my hands cramp from fibromyalgia i am thinking tht this might save them during my 3 hour lecture at school. to bad it can't make me a better speller.
i haave my first home care job1 i am helping a girl who was hit by a car and go her legs broken a few months ago. she is pretty mobil but needs some companionship to help her with some jobs for a little while. i am paid to do very little its great! The only problem is that i have this job all week long and so I will not be able to go see OOTP till sunday ( due to a family reunion on saturday). I am a little bummed but what can you do money is money. hangon she wanted to be done @ 7pm on wednesday! maybe i can still go! sorry for the depart there.
My lap top is great by the way i haope that my typing improves or i m in trouble. I am paying for it next year when There is a expected amount of money coming. Hopefully or this was a bad mistake.
There is a town near by that soes a Hogsmead weekend just before the final book comes out1 the entire town participates and the shops and bars join in! ther is Madame puddifoots the Leaky cauldron etc.It sounds like fun! i think that it will be a great treat for me to get away for a while!
Talk to you soon!
Tracy

OH my gosh, I havent posted in here in awhile. I sure have missed alot. I hope everyone is doing okay and that family and friends are pleasing you.

Okay,now on to the movie. I hope you all have seen it. I thought it was great...as long as I try not to compare it to the book. It stands alone as a great movie. And Snape...yummy even though his part isn't as big as I would have liked.

I have to go see it at least two more times. Once with my six year old and again with my sister and brother. The only part I worry about possibly is the snake attack. Okay enough.

Talk to you all later
~Amanda

Hello Everyone,

Amanda, I have to agree with you...I thought the movie was great. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was definitely a lot darker, and a little more "grown up" than the others, which was to be expected. I will definitely go and see it again...my mom likes HP, so maybe I'll see if she wants to go!

I won't say too much more, because I don't want to spoil it for everyone, but as Amanda said, you have to take it as a separate entity to the book...you shouldn't look at it as a word for word retelling of the book. It's an adaptation...and personally, I think they did a lovely job!! Okay - stopping now.

Tracy, sadly I don't think I'll be able to make it to the Hogsmeade weekend in New Hamburg, ON. *sniff, sniff* Ah well, we can't always get what we want. Please take detailed notes, and let us all know how it goes!

The weather here in Ontario continues to be quite pleasant. We're having a nice little break from the really hot weather. I hope it will warm up a bit for tomorrow...really want to go to the beach! But then again, the farmers really need rain. Oh, I'm so torn...

Take care, and Happy Harry Watching!
Abs

Hello folks!! I am a 30 year old man, and I love HP!! It is good to see that I am no the only one on here that is over the age of 30. I was starting to go nuts debating topics with people LITERALLY half my age.
I was wondering, is there anyone else in the Buffalo NY area who is going to stand in line for the next book? I am going to borders on Milestrip in Blasdell to pick mine up. Anyone in the area looking for another adult to stand in line with, give me a shout.

Welcome Magog! We are a fun bunch.

Wow! New York! That is terribly far for a Hawaii gal like myself. I just recently found a fellow HP lover close to my 31 years who will most likely go to Borders with me. My local store is hosting a Grand Hallows Ball complete with costume contest...I may wear a gown and shock the pants off all of my friends...I dont wear dresses very often. I cant wait for the book. I have already told my family and friends that unless someone is dying...do not call or text me for 3-5 days after I get my book. I already know I will be so engrossed in it that if I get interrupted, it will be very grumpy.

Be afraid...Be VERY afraid.

nevillesgirl

My local Borders store is also having a Grand Hallows Ball, however I don't think I will be going in costume! I would feel a bit weird being as at this point I am going by myself. My Wife doesn't get into "That Harry Potter stuff". My kids are a bit young to be going to a Midnight book release as they are 3 and 6. I am just kind of trying to keep my ears open to find someone whom I can go with that is at least CLOSE to my age. I haven't read all the posts in this topic, but from what I can see, you guys seem to be a good bunch. I think I may stay around a bit.



Wotcher


Magog

Hi Magog nice to meet you! I think that it is very hard to find true fans our age I am 31 and Ihave 1 friend who is a freak like me! Although I have some friends who are willing to go the movie with me I am afraid I am on my own for the book buying.
There is a Hogsmeade weekend in 2 small towns near me. The entire town makes their store into one from HP. Thery will have flame blowers magic tricks owls butter bear( how they are doing that I'll let you know!) That is on the 20th and the 21st. I will attend onthe 20th but in no way will I sacrafice my reading time to go on the 21st.
I must say I have cheated. I was intorduced to a web site that has movies very recent (cough ) movies. Last night I was checking out the site and found OOTP on it! It was a terrible recording from Japan or some place. It went black alot and the volume sucked but I got the gist. I am going tomorrow to see it in the theater. I have had to work all week at night and watch the kids during the day so I have been unable to go (@##%^@&&#@**@$^^&) If you want to know the site name just owl me I wont post it here I don't want trouble. This morning the movie was replaced ,by an idiot ,with GOF( I think the guy was on crack)It should soon be back though.
Man i really don't like Emma Watsons acting ( sorry to her fans)The only good young actors ar Rupurt Grint and Daniel Radcliff. The others are trying to hard and you can tell they just don't have the natural timing required for acting!
Magog I have a 6 and 3 year old we could talk

~Oh I don't know...I though the actress who played Luna did very well. I wont say more because you havent seen the movie yet but I think that when you see her, you may change your mind at least on that count.

Ugh. My two year old girl is potty training...she'll be two in september. Someone told me that girls train far easier then boys. My son was in diapers until he was three and a half so I thought 'wooo hooo' my daughter will be trained in no time. HA! She understands that she need to go and where to go but she just won't go. If I take her and place her on the potty then she most likely tinkles. If not she goes in her diaper, tells me about it then takes off the diaper because she hates the feeling of being wet...poo on the other hand she can sit in that nasty diaper...I just don't get it.

Anyone have any tips? I was hoping to have her at least partly trained before I went back to work at the end of the summer. It would help out my mom who is her caregiver.

Have a good day.
~Amanda

Sorry Amanda, no hints for girls. Boys, I think, are easier, especially when their daddy works outside on the farm and goes behind the barn...they pick that up quickly!

Magog, Welcome!!!! My husbands family is from Sandborn and Niagara Falls. His cousins are all about your age and school teachers but I don't think they are into HP like we are.

I have not seen the movie yet as my son leaves for Holland on Thursday and all our money is tied up in him until the end of the month. It is driving me crazy. I sat there and watched GoF opening night and was very sad. We will see the movie at the end of the month (payday).

I have ordered my DH book (woohoo!!!) and my family wanted me to read it to them but both my older boys will be gone until the 27th and the 29th. My husband and I will be fighting over the book. I do NOT want him to read it first but it takes me so long to read.....
What to do?


Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!

Cris

Cris, haven't you been a fan of HP longer than your husband? If that's the case, he can wait until you are done! It's only fair since you have been anticipating this longer than him. At least that's how I would handle it. Luckily, my husband has no interest in reading the books. He'd rather wait for the movies. And I've already told my daughter that she has to wait until I'm done. I read much faster than she does and I'm paying for it so she doesn't really have a choice. I know, I'm sooo mean!

Speaking of my daugher, it's time to brag her up!! My 9 y.o. daughter has been on the year around swim team for a year and a couple of months. She just had her final summer swim meet this weekend. This is the big one for the summer where they go up against everyone in the area spanning several counties. Some of the kids she competed against have been doing swim team for 2-3 years. Well, she ended up placing 1st in backstroke, 3rd in 50 free, 3rd in IM (it consists of all four swim strokes), 5th in 100 free, and 5th in Fly(although I thought she placed 4th but oh well). She ended up placing 3rd overall in points for her age group, and there were about 50 kids in her group. This is an amazing feat when compared to the competition she was facing with her relatively new experience. Give her another year and she will be unstoppable! Her dream right now is to get a scholarship to college through her swimming and then on to the Olympics. She's definitely off to a great start!

Your daughter sounds like she is doing fantastic! That is great! Scholarships are great ways for an education! i have a few past running friends that got scholarships to the states like Penn state and Notr Dame I think Arkansas. i got offered one to north Dakota. I was really excited till I found out they live more north than we do . I still has more school to finish so I didn't go.
I have seen the movie and I really liked it! i stand by the fact that Emma Watson can't act but she was doing a little better this time around.Luna was really good I loved her! I also really laughed at the cats on the plates in Umbridges office!
I will not say more because others have not seen it! i love the no spoilers rule here! I don't want to know the ending till Im reading it! I can't believe that some one would be that horrible! I have to wonder howevern if it is the real ending that is being put out htere! Any which way I don't want anything to do with it!
Talk to you soon!
PS girls are terrible potty trainers my son had it down in a week! Both 1and 2! My daughter is 3 and a bit and it is hit and miss with her! She will stand beside the toilet and poop in her pants! I am frustrated to! She know what to do and jut isn't doing it! It doesn't help that i am working right now either! i feel your pain! I really do!
TRacy

Tracy,
We had a bit of a break through this morning!! My daughter said, "Doo" and then ran into the bathroom. We got her diaper off and set her on the toilet. She tinkled, then made "Doo"! I was really excited for her. Of course about an hour later she had the runs from the apple juice this morning and didn't make it to the toilet. Ahh well, such is life.
Since we're bragging...
My youngest brother, who is going to be a senior in high school this fall has been taking trips all summer trying to improve his soccer game. He recently got back from a camp in Irvine California and for a week was working out with College level players and coaches. He came home really exhausted but with a newfound respect for what it takes to play college level ball. He will be leaving shortly for a Regional training I think it is in Idaho? I don't know. We are all really proud of him because of my moms' 4 children, Im the oldest, he has the best chance of going to University and actually getting a degree. I think it would please my parents if that actually happened to one of there children.

Take care all
~Amanda

My husband reads very quickly. He will not sleep and be done with the book in two days. I will take a week to read it because I have other responsibilities, yah know?

My middle child left for Georgia yesterday and started a soccer camp there. My oldest is headed for Amsterdam on Thursday to play soccer on the U15 US soccer team as a People to People Sports Ambassadors. And my almost 4 year old will be starting to play soccer this fall with mom as coach (yippee!!!)

They are no where near where you brother is Amanda but I hope some day they will be, or at least one of them....

I can't wait until Saturday!!!!

Cris

Well i am glad that you have had a break through because I sure am not! My good friend was watching the kids today because i had to take a week of day shifts for work. My daughter peed through 3 pairs of underwear and poop in another!She just really doesn't do well unless we are at home and I am on her case the whole day! i can take the peed undies but the poop is just something else. Apparently for the other sitter on Monday she pooped on the floor for her! How lovely.
I think that I may have convinced another friend to be a Potter reader. She went to the movie with me this Sunday. She said that she can't wait to find out what happens. She said dthere is no way that she could waith till 2010 to see the final movie! Plus Dan looks particularly yummy in the movie by the way. I think I can say that because he is 18 now ( or will be soon)
Tracy

Well, my daughter was almost 3 before she was potty trained. Once she was, however, she never had a single accident-Thank goodness! She would have been trained sooner but the daycare she was at at the time was not helping at all. When I put her in an in-home child care consisting of only 6 kids, the lady stepped right up and helped. She was out of diapers by the end of the first week there.

All I remember is that it took consistency in asking and reminding her about the potty, and when she went on the potty, she was rewarded with a sticker. Once she accumulated so many stickers, she got a prize. I believe that went on until she turned 3. By then she was good about going on her own without interference from us asking her if she needed to go.

My son is about 2 and 3 1/2 months old. He has gone on the potty a few times in the past. But now, he refuses to sit on the potty. If you ask him, he gives a very pronounced "no". I figured I must have started him too young and turned him off to the idea. I decided to step back and stop the training for a bit. I ask him every now and then to see what his response is. I'm probably not going to try and push it again until he is 2 1/2 or unless he happens to say "yes" when asked about going on the potty. I heard that it is easier if you throw a few fruit loops in the toilet and tell them to "shoot them down". Not only does it seem fun but also helps teach them to aim themselves downward.

Oh my....
All this talk about potty training is making me really glad that I'm single and don't have any kids...yet! Don't get me wrong - I pray that day will eventually come, but for now I think I'll enjoy my diaper-free years while I can! I've heard that the Fruit Loops and Cheerios in the toilet does work for boys...however, I think girls might be a different matter altogether. On the other hand, one of my cousin's daughter's decided one day (before age two, I think) that she didn't want to wear diapers anymore. My cousin said "fine" telling her that she would have to use the toilet...and she did, with very few accidents too! So it probably depends on the kid. I think in this case, she saw her older sister wearing "big-girl pants" so she wanted to as well.

I'm anxiously awaiting my copy of DH! I'm almost through the series again...just finishing up HBP. I'm also very thankful that VTM has a no spoiler rule!! I haven't been back to see OOTP yet, but I'm hoping to go this weekend with my roommate...she likes the movies, but has never read the books...not much of a "reader". Well, maybe by the time I get my own house, and we part ways I'll have her hooked!

Take care, all!
Abs

I have now seen the OOTP movie twice and need to go again with my other friend. The more I go, the more I like it. Where oh where is everyone? Still reading the seventh book? I finished it in two days. A remarkable feat considering I had to stay up all nite on release nite or I knew I would never get it done. Watching my kids the next day proved that. They would not leave me alone. It will be nice to not use all of these spoiler tags again and just get down to discussing the book openly. I hope you all are well and enjoying your days where ever you may be.

I go back to work on Friday. My summer has ended. At least I have a killer tan to go with me and I am 12 pounds lighter!!!yeah!

Take Care,
Amanda

Amanda, you go back to school when????? When did you get out?

We go back Aug 20th for teachers and the 27th for kids.

We are planning on going to upstate NY for a couple of weeks. We will be staying in a camp (house, kitchen etc) in the Adirondacks. The camp belongs to my husband's family. There is no running water and not electricity. There is gas for lighting and cooking, a port-a-potty, radio etc. We are planning on having a good time. We want to go t Canada for a day trip, probably Niagara on the Lake, but my husband mentioned Montreal too- my French is atrocious and he doesn't speak a word. I'm not in the mood for that kind of treatment. We will get back in time to do our back to school shopping.

I finished reading the book Tuesday. I read most of Saturday, most of Monday and Tuesday, however I have my 3 year old almost solely. My too oldest are away - I found out what babysitters they are- and my husband was busy when he was home - doing what I'm not exactly sure...but yelling at me to hurry up and finish the book so that we could talk about it. He finished it Sunday night.

Cris

Hey,

Wow, it's been quiet on here lately...everyone must be still reading or rereading the book. I finished late Sunday night...was a bit tired at work the next day, but it was worth it!

Cris, your vacation sounds great! My family has a cottage on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario...no running water, either. I love it up there, it's great to just get away from everything. I can highly recommend Niagara on the Lake. It's a beautiful town, with great shopping...lovely for a day trip! I've also been to Montreal - there's no need to worry about your French skills, or lack thereof. For the most part, when someone hears you speaking English, they will switch and speak in English too. Montreal is a really busy city, but it's also a lot of fun. However, there is some pretty crazy driving and traffic downtown, so you might want to use the Metro (subway system) instead...it's pretty easy to use and will get you where you need to go! Hope you have a great time!

I'm hoping to get up to my cottage with my roommate over the Civic Holiday weekend...ah, I love Canada and our long weekends! I haven't been up there in over a year, and am having serious withdrawl...hopefully the weather will be nice. Take care, all!!

Abs

Hi everyone! no one is mentioning the book! I guess even in the quidditch pitch we can't say anything? Ohh well! i finished the book on Monday i had 2 kids who wouldn't leave me along no matter how much i lost my temper. I also had a husband who I think is alittle jealous of the attention that I give Harry.
If you come to Canada be ware of the Civic holiday weekend.Its the first weekend in August! Traffic can be a little Hairy( pun not necessary I know) Montreal is really neat and historic I have only been there once ( its 6hrs from here) Niagra on the Lake is pretty and very nice but if you are bringing the kids you might have trouble entertaining them. The plays at Niagra on the Lake are very good as well. Take a trip to Niagra falls for a laugh! heck come by and see me i am just an 1.5 hours from niagra falls! I know there may not be much to see but some Mennonites and fleas markets but there are tourist stuff here to like a water park etc. We are just 1hr from Toronto as well. OHHH for the kids and adults is Canada's wonderland! Big theme park like 6 Flags.
Sorry i get exited when some comes here I am a little weird!
i hope we can discuss the book soon i am dying for some of your opinions!
Tracy

Thanks Abs!! That was good advice and all. Yeah we know about that withdrawl thing. We used to live just about 1 hour from 'camp'. Now we live 13 hours from camp. Before we would go up for just a weekend to 'detox' from modern life. Now we can't. I miss the quiet and simple fun. I can't wait to go there now because we have had a crazy summer with the boys going on their trips and us getting ready and all...too bad we can't take the dog with us he would love it but we just don't have enough room.

I hope you have a quiet enjoyable weekend too.

I reread Snape's memories yesterday but I am holding of on my rereads until we get to camp. I want to read slowly and soak it all in instead of zooming through like I did. I know I missed a lot of the little stuff that JKR is so good at.

I can't wait to get ahold of her first draft of the epilogue!! And her promise/threats to write an encyclopedia. I just hope she doesn't wait T O O long.

Cris

Tracy, you and I were posting at the same time!!! Thanks for the advice. We just hope that, since we don't have passports (except the oldest boy currently in Holland) that we can get into Canada with driver's licenses and birth certificates. I have heard mixed things on this.
Anyone have current experience going accros the Eastern Canadian/US boarder?

Funny, we have the Mennonites and flea markets here. And we had the Mennonites in NY. We are planning to go to Enchanted Forest/Water Safari in Old Forge NY because it is 10 minutes or so from 'camp'

As far as the book:
I can't wait to reread the whole book.

Cris

Happy Saturday Everyone!

Cris, I'm on my rereads of DH too....I just know there were things I missed! I was talking to a co-worker who I found out loves the series too, and she started asking some questions, and I thought "hey...I don't know...I'll have to figure that one out!" Must be the sign of a great author who can keep an audience asking questions, even after the series is done!

I think you should be okay crossing the border with just birth certificates and driver's licences. I know that I have used those many times going into the US at both the Sarnia/Port Huron crossing, and the Queenston/Lewiston crossing. I'm not sure when the passport only thing will come into effect...but there have even been a few times that I haven't had to show any ID at all! Crazy, eh?

Tracy, I hope you and your family are keeping safe. For those who haven't heard, there is a killer on the loose in Southwestern Ontario. He killed someone in Windsor, and then there was a double homicide a little further north...just about 15 minutes from where I work. Due to the nature of my job, I'm out talking to rural property owners all the time, and other staff members are often in secluded places doing water sampling, etc. So we've all been a bit on edge to say the least! I guess the best we can do is take Mad-Eye Moody's advice to heart...CONSTANT VIGILANCE!!

Stay safe, everyone...
Abs

Abs, That's so scarry, especially with your job!! Please stay safe. Constant vigilence

Thanks for the advise. I have to go look for all our birth certificates. Mine is from Puerto Rico so that will be interesting......I am actually getting a little excited about the trip. Even thought I have tons of work I want to do around here and lots of stuff I need to do....oh well.

I am taking the computer with me and hoping to find wi fi spots...I wont be on often but I do plan to check in once in a while.

Cris

Hi I think that the pass port thing changes next year! You need a pass port for flights only for now. I thnk that the american authorities are more sticklers thatn the canadian counter parts however. Bring all your citizenship stuff just incase.
i want tostart the rereads but man its been busy! we are finishing the basement and i am working now so it gets alittle hard.
My husband seems to think that you need a passport I'll check the website and find out!
Hi ya I just checked and on a transportation site from British columbia said that you need some sort of ID like Birth crtificate, citizenship or passport. Come on over!

My Mom applied for her passport back in December for her trip in March. The backlog was so bad she had to postpone her trip for a month and it was still down to the wire to get them. i think we might slowly get one for each of us so that it won't be such a financial blow its $80 bucks a shot here!
Happy travelling!

Constant Vigilance Abs! That weirdo could be any where. If you see the picture they have of him, he looks like he has not a shred of life in him! He looks like a human dementor! there truley is no love or good in his eyes.

Thanks for the updates. Yeah we have birth certs, social security cards and driver's licenses for the adults. I hope that will be ok. If not we will stay in NY and find something else to do....

Boy you guys I think I would be a little nervous with a lunatic arround. We were on a lock down at school one day because the police had chased two figitives who had robbed and beat up an 80 year old woman, into our county. They wrecked their car and one gave up. The other went off on foot. He was considered armed and dangerous. Even after they lifted the lock down - the guy hand't been caught yet but was considered to have left the area - I was very nervous to walk around campus.

Cris

Hi again,

Cris, I totally think you should be fine with the identification that you have. Tracy's right, the Canadian Customs agencies are pretty good to deal with. As long as you have your ID and don't look too suspicious you'll be okay. Remember to take off the sunglasses and look them in the eye...that's what we always do...reassurance that we have nothing to hide!

And you're definitely right about being a little nervous of the maniac. There's been reports of him in several different places, so no one really knows where he is. My mom was getting a little worried about me at work, and about my friend and I going to our cottage. I had to remind her that although we definitely need to be alert and cautious, we can't stop living and start fearing all the time. However, it is really weird to think of something like this happening in friendly, rural Ontario...sadly, I guess it just shows that none of us are immune to evil.

Okay, so I just read what I wrote and it kind of depressed me...so onto happy thoughts! The weather here has been beautiful...and we're coming up to the long weekend!! Woo-hoo!! I'm sooo ready to lay out on the dock with Harry Potter in hand (again) and just....chillax!

Have a happy and safe week!
Abs

Well my son got back from Holland yesterday. Poor kids were utterly exhausted, having been up for over 24 hours and plane delays int Newark. I am so glad he's back. I could actually sleep last night for the first time in 2 weeks or more. I'm tired now because we didn't get home until after 11pm, since we have a 2+ hour drive to the airport and didn't find out about the delayed flight until we were about 1/2 way there. We were driving around the city for about 5 hours....I'm glad it's all over.

Now we have to get tires on the Jeep and such, dentist appts, shop for last minute necessities, repack and head to NY. I think I will sleep the first day or two there, if the mice let me....

I hope our Canadian friends have a wonderful and safe long weekend.

The weather here has been hot steamy and raining (thunderstorms) for several days. We need the rain badly but I could live without the humidity between storm.

Cris

Hi everyone ! We are feeling the humidity too! It feels like a warm blanket wrapped around you!
My son is at a camp for the afternoon and my daughter actually watched an entire movie......Quietly..........its unheard of! How did i get so lucky.?
I am going up to see my mom this weekend. My brother will be up there to. I really wonder where we will all fit! They have a tent they can camp it!!!
I don't like going away to someones house, even a house that I use to live in! I rather stay in a hotel! I like things on my own terms.... I have control issues!
Talk to you later!
What was your favorite HP book? As adults we might have different views.
Tracy

Hey everyone. Sorry I have been away awhile...the work thing ya know? So Yeah, we got out of school June 8 and go back for teachers July 27. First full day for students is August 2...frosh go back Aug 1. For some reason the DOE in Hawaii has shortened our summers and put all public schools on the same schedule...make things easier for teachers and also so the students wont forget everything they learned with a 3 month summer. I personally miss the loooong summers. Although the extra breaks throughout the year are nice too. A week in Oct. 3 weeks Christmas, 2 weeks spring break...It works out.

MY favorite book (without the reread of DH) is still OOTP. I like the emotion of it all, I loved Snape and his character through out the entire thing. I thought finally Neville was growing some...courage.(hahaha) I didn't mind the length because I love to read and to me the information we got was by far the starting point of the climax of our story.

Anyways, I have to go...work...UGHHHHH

Take care,
Amanda

Wow you guys do go back early! We don't go back till September 4th! Thats college and university as well as primary schools and secondary schools. I think that i like the breaks in between better though! That sounds much better to me!

I think that my favorite book is a toss up between HBP and DH! i love how The information about Voldemort comes out in HBP!

By the way they caught that murderer. They found him because he robbed 12 cottages in a small area in Quebec in 3 days! Um .........if you want to maintain a low profile don't be so obvious !!! Small towns don't generally have large amounts of break and enters! He is in custody and tried to waste time by saying he had stomach pain so the police had to take him to the emergency room! it didn't work he is out of the hospital and going to prison .

It is going to be disgustingly hot again today! ihope we get that 30% chance of rain!
its going to be about 35+ degrees and we are lucky here in southern ontario to always have that humidity factor! So it will feel like 40 degrees. A nice warm blanket ...so....nice......!Yah........ we don't have AC! Its going to be a great day!

Tracy

Hi there,

Oooh, another question!! I think I have to agree with Amanda and still claim OOTP as my favourite book of the series, although I think DH comes in at a close second. I'm still rereading it, so who knows? It might surpass OOTP.

Yeah Tracy, I was so relieved to hear that they caught that creep! Everyone at work was too, seeing as we're out and about all the time. He was acting pretty stupidly right before they caught him, and I figured it was only a matter of time until he slipped up. Apparently they think the truck that he stole was parked in the bush quite awhile ago, possibly before they found the couple that he murdered. So I guess he's been out of our area for a while. Relief!!

At work today, our car was reading 34 C, and that's without humidity factored in. It was terrible. My co-worker and myself actually started feeling ill because of the heat and came back to the office early. On a happier note, I took off after lunch yesterday, and spent the afternoon up at the beach with some of my family who was visiting...it was great!! It never feels quite so hot there, because of the breeze off the lake. However, I do hope we get a break soon, and get some much needed rain...as long as it clears up again for Sunday/Monday when I'm at the cottage!

Take care everyone...and Happy Civic Holiday Weekend to my fellow Cannucks!
Abs

Hi is anyone out there I hope we are not disbanding we have come so far.
i will start saying that I hve a new found respect for nurses. I am helping out at the hospital and man ! So they do a lot of work! my back has been killing me.
School starts soon here. We are gearing up and hoping that the change in schools this year does not mess Eric up to much. He seems to be excited and I hope that that continues.
What is everyone else up to I miss hearing about everyone!
Tracy

Hey all!!!! we are back from our traveling!!! My middle child made it back from Georgia (USA :0) and my oldest made it back from Holland, then we went to Upstate New York. We were busy, we went to Enchanted Forest Water Safari for 2 days; went to see OoTP, mini-golfing and gokarting (in one day). Swimming in pools, lakes, creeks etc. Hiking, to Revolutionary War forts, community fair days and much more. (unfortunately we never made it to Canada. We just ran out of time and money. )

We are tired. Too bad school starts (for teachers) tomorrow. I need some down time to relax . At least the first two work days are really not work days. They are welcome back meetings etc. I just wish the weather was more like the mountains in NY. 70s F every day and cool in the night. We actually had fires in the cabin 2 nights. It was 105 F at home while we were gone. That is just disgusting for NC mountains!!!!

Wow, Amanda, I wish we were on your schedule!! I would love 3 weeks at chirstmas!!

Some schools in our area have gone back (in the mountains in Virginia) but they don't have airconditioning and the temps have been above 95 F so they have had to send them home at 1pm.

Oh and my favorite book is still HBP.

Cris

Cris!! So glad you are back. We've missed you! Wow!! Sounds like you had a really great vacation with lots of activities. I'm glad you had a great time and everyone made it home safe. I'm sure that is a huge relief to you.

We are going out of town next week ourselves for about 5 days. My daughter's birthday is next Sunday so we are taking her to Orlando. She doesn't even know what we are planning. She thinks it is a business trip for my husband.

Anyways, wish I could "chat" more but my husband is waiting on me. We'll have to catch up later. I'm sure I'll see you around the forum. Glad you're back!!

Laura

Ah ha! Time to sneak away and type a few minutes...still at work *shhhh*

Freshmen Science...oh the fun of it. It is actually way cool because tonite the entire Pacific Rim will be honored to witness a Total Lunar Eclipse. I have never seen one so of course my students have an assignment to stay up late (with parent permission) to observe and detail what their observations are. I am very excited as I have been looking forward to this for 6 months!

October is our first intercession break. One week. I will be taking my children to the Big Island of Hawaii and we will be visiting the rainforest and the Volcano while we are there. Of course lots of beach time and just lounging around. 4 days is a nice mini break to the start of the year.

We had our first Hurricane of the season August 14. Hurricane Flossie sideswiped the Big Island but just brought some clouds and showers to the Island of Oahu where I live. At its peak I believe it was a category 4!!! Thank God it didn't hit at that strength or we would be a federal disaster area right now.

Take care all
~Amanda

Hi Everyone - wow it's been awhile...glad to see you're all here safe and sound!

Tracy, I totally know what you mean about respect for nurses. My grandma just passed away this week, but she was in a nursing home for over five years. The nurses there were just great...they are extremely overworked, but they never let that interfere with the care of the residents. I love them all for all they did and do!

Cris, glad you guys had a great holiday and are back home. I'm sure you'll make it up to Canada next time...it will be here waiting for you when you get the chance!

Amanda - I'm glad you're safe after that Hurricane. I've never been in one, or even remotely near one. The other day a bunch of tornados came down over Michigan and possibly there were some in the far south areas of Ontario. I remember when I was little one came through a neighbouring village..it was pretty scary...so I couldn't even imagine a hurricane at full strength!

I can't say there's been too much going on around here. I've got a couple of days off work for my grandma's funeral etc. Then this coming weekend is Labour Day weekend...yay! My sister and bro-in-law and myself are heading up to the cottage again! Hopefully the weather will hold out...it's been hot during the days, but pleasantly cool at night...just perfect! I also got to see OOTP yet again....this time it was my parents who wanted to see it...and I just happened to be with them at the time...how convenient!! I like it better each time I see it.

That's all for now
Abs

Wow we don't talk anymore! is it something i said! do we have nithing more to offer anymore! I am still a crazy fan! i took a quiz on Facebook and got 100% of the Harry potter questions right! I feel a little silly I guess! i am out of the closet now I suppose.
My son started grade 1 Last week!He was so excited. The teacher is a bit strick but within reason. She will keep him in line.She already sees that he is easily frustrated witll the school work, so she is trying to work with that. They actually have agenda books is grade ! i was absolutley astonished!!!! I can't keep my own agenda for school up to date how am I going to keep his up to date too!
My daughter is in a new daycare and was crying quit a lot last week. She is doing much better nnow.
I am back in school and am barely keeping my head above water. I am not going to be going for great grades this year. I am going for the pass and move on goal this semester. My clinical placement is in a great hospital which I happened to work in this summer for a couple of days. This really helped with the anxiety level .
I must go and read more on chest assessments for tomorrow! Lets talk soon!

I must see December boys! Dan has been every where! I still love him! He is so gracious and cute!
See you soon!
Tracy

Hey...anyone still out there? I figured I'd be so behind on what was happening with everyone on the forum...but I guess not! Ahhh, the busy lives of adult Harry Potter Fans!

So, I just thought I'd drop a line to see how everyone is doing. Things are going okay here in Ontario, other than just being kind of busy. I hope all of my Canadian friends out there had a great Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for in this country...I'm finding that out more and more everyday! And one of those things was the absolutely gorgeous long weekend! What was up with that? I was actually swimming in Lake Huron in October - I think that must be a first. It was kind of neat swimming along, and then every so often a red or orange maple leaf would float by on top of the water. It all changed though this week. We now have more "seasonal" temperatures (whatever than means nowadays?!)

Just on a side note - I was walking my friend's dog the other day, and I saw someone putting up their Christmas lights...and they turned them on! I don't mind if you want to put them up while the weather is decent, but please, wait until November/December to turn them on...let's try to get through Halloween first!

On a HP note - my co-worker and I visit farms everyday..the flies have been really annoying the past week. So now every time we try to kill one we yell "Stupid-fly!"...oh, we're just a couple of crazies!

Well, take care everyone...and enjoy all of the fall colours (well, those of you that get the fall colours!),
Abs

Hi i wondered whether anyone was still around. i check every sooften. I am at home today with the kids Eric has a cough. When he gets a cough he gets asthma. So nip it in the bud I kept him home for rest.
Ahurricane wow ! We jsut get thunderstorms here, not much else.
I have turned my brother into a Potter fan! Yay. He has borrowed all my books and loves them. In under 2 months he is on book 5! I am very impressed. I can have good chat now with someone face to face about the books its great.
Has your interest in HP dwindled now that we have the ending or are you still a big fan? Question of the day. I am still a fan. I am finishing the book for the 3rd time. School just gets in the way with recreational reading though! Terrible thing.
Tracy

Hey Tracy - glad you're still around here too! Kudos to you for turning your brother in to an HP fan! I'm still trying to entice my sister, but I think it's a lost cause...she's never really been that into the fantasy genre. I have got her husband watching the movies, though, and he really seems to enjoy them!

As for your question...I don't really think my interest has dwindled. Of course, I'm still looking forward to the last two movies. And I also enjoy reading some of the fanfictions that have been written based on the stories...some of which are really very good! I'm also starting to see some of the more deeper and darker themes that are alluded to in the book, but never really expanded on. My co-worker and I were recently discussing the abuse in Harry's childhood that JKR alludes to, but never really goes into. I mean, there was obviously some physical abuse (i.e. lack of food), emotional abuse, and so much neglect! Many kids won't pick up on these things, but JKR put them there for those of us who really pay attention. Wow...that was a much longer answer than I was planning on...oh well.

I guess that's it for now...hope some of our other "old" friends will find a few minutes to drop by! Take care,
Abs

Hi! i am procrastinating 1 i have 2 tests and return demonstrations this week. I just can't get in gear! it so nice out! dis you read that little blurb on the home page here! Dumbledore was gay!!! that explains how he got so carried awy with grindlewald! I wondered how someone so smart got stuck with someone so evil! Wow i know that JK is going to take a few years to start the encylopedia but man i can't wait for it! there is so much we don't know!
Talk to you later! I have to study now! Really i am going to! ........right now.......okay now!
Tracy

I, too am trying to pursuade my elder sister to read HP books, but in vain...

although, its true that she is quiet busy with her studies and all and soon wil get married...

Well, from the looks of the posts, us "older HP Fans" have a lot more going on in our lives than HP! I can't convince my hubby to read the books, so I really don't have too many people to discuss it with. Right after DH came out we had a lot of discussions at church functions (yes, I'm a Christian at a Baptist church and we were discussing HP... may wonders never cease ), but not so much now.

I have 2 boys, 2nd grade and preschool, so I'm just waiting for summer vacation. I really think my life will be less hectic once school is out! Of course I know I'll be ready for school to start back come August!

Hope all of you are doing well!

Life will be less hectic with your two boys home all day? I'm not too sure about that!

I can't get my wife to read them either. I've even tried reading them aloud to her while on a road trip. She liked them fine, but unfortunately I wasn't on the first book at the time so she needed some of the backstory. Maybe I can sneak the first one into the car on our upcoming trip.