Alan Rickman FTW and Our Little Trip to Kansas

I dressed, once again, in my Slytherin student Hogwarts uniform (hopefully not for the last time) for the final Harry Potter movie last night. The theater was completely sold out (luckily we'd purchased our tickets weeks ago) so we drove around for 10 minutes looking for parking. Unfortunately, this meant we were in the 2nd row so we had to lay back the entire time. It was rather a lot to take in.

While I was rushing into the theater, robes a-flutter, Harry Potter whirled past me, but then stopped and looked at me. "Why is your wand not at the ready?! These are dark times!" I went to grab for my wand but he'd already disapparated. (Seriously - this really happened. Except maybe the disapparation part, but I blinked and lost sight of him)

So we saw Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 with a huge gang of Hogwarts-esque students - including the Grey Lady, some Gryffindors, and wanna-be Potters. It was pretty awesome. We all cheered at certain points (spoilers!) and...I have to say...Alan Rickman finally got to show his acting chops. I mean, wow. FINALLY.

That's all I'm going to say. I will say that I intend to see it again, farther away this time, (and hopefully with my brother) and I will reserve complete judgment until the DVD comes out, because I'm pretty sure there are some extended scenes that will make it longer and/or a wee bit more awesome.

That being said...I'm pretty happy with it. I think I'll like it better second time around.

Now, on to Kansas. We leave tomorrow morning and get back to Columbia Monday night. While I can't say I'm completely excited about the trip, I am excited about seeing Uncle Leon and my brother (again). And I can't wait to show Stu the Brookeville Hotel (wonderful old-world restaurant), the Cozy Inn (cheap, tiny hamburgers - surprisingly tasty!), and the small town of Salina...so...I think we'll manage to have fun.

When I come back, though, it's time to get serious about voice lessons and art therapy. Both are in the works and both will be happening, although maybe not 'til fall 'cause I just realized I am busy the next three weekends, and then we have 3 weeks of packing before we move apartments.

...Ugh.