Favorite Friday: Pottermore

Several months ago, it was announced that J.K. Rowling, creator of Harry Potter, was going to launch a website called Pottermore. Apparently, Rowling has stored up books of knowledge on the background of every character, minor and major, in the series; and knows the whole history of important objects & sports (Quidditch, anyone?) So early summer she announced she would release a magical (FREE) site to pull us deeper into the world she created. She announced there would be interaction, information, and even the first sales of Harry Potter e-books!

Then came the announcement that there would be a lucky few to have Beta access (1 million to be exact); and that door would open for sign-up on Harry's birthday, July 31st.

**At this point I would like to bring you the latest Internet usage stats, as of March 2011:
World Population: 6,930,055,154
World Internet Users: 2,095,006,005
% of World Population on Internet: 30.2%

That's 70% of the World without Internet. Just take that with you today.... now back to my silly, but fun interest in Pottermore.**

So a week before the July 31st opening, it was announced there would be a series of clues given for early access. 7 days, 7 clues over 7 books. Luckily, Jayson and I happened to be awake (but were about to head to bed) when the first clue hit the internet.

Day 1 Clue
How many breeds of owl are featured on the Eeylops Owl Emporium sign?
Answer: 5
Multiply this number by 49.
Solution: 245

We entered in the solution, found the magical quill (yes, there was a magical quill), and registered for early access.

Then we waited until just a few days ago to finally have access.

And what did we find? magic.

I will tell you more about the actual experience later, but just know, it's amazing! Sure they have a lot of work to do (lots of suggestions are made from all over the world every time there is a comment board), but what's there is a great entry into the world of HP! Background information on characters (so much information!) and did I mention sorting into Houses!

I am a.... Gryffindor! (Yes, the same as: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville AND Dumbledore!)



Jayson is a..... Hufflepuff! (there is lots of background info on Hufflepuff as well, and it's actually a really amazing house! don't judge!)



In case you have any doubts, watch this PG-13 (for language) YouTube video about the Honey Badger:




If you want to know more about Pottermore, stay on top of things with this link:
http://insider.pottermore.com/

-Sass

Hamilton Happenings: Next Week's Texas Visit

Oh, hey!

So it looks pretty official, Sunday afternoon we will be driving to Texas.

Why, you ask?

Well, when we moved here, we moved with our two cars and the things we could fit inside them, and we left everything else in storage.

We have discovered we forgot a few things. So while it would not be financially responsible to get a moving truck/U-Pack and move the rest of our stuff to California (which I can tell you how great it's been to discover all the things we don't NEED--it's kind of been a personal challenge for us to discover the real needs and wants of our life), we have decided to go back and grab a few things like glasses, baking supplies and soccer cleats (Jayson's been invited to play and has had nothing to play in).

In case you're wondering why we're driving-- it's cheaper. We can bring Adler with us (save money), even with our airline miles it's still saves money to drive (if we flew we would only have to get 1 one way ticket... still cheaper to drive), AND we can load our stuff in the back of the car and not worry about bag checking or shipping costs. Plus, repetitively, I mean Ads get to come with us, and we love that little puppy (and the Hamiltons have missed her too!)

So we're really excited because this also means we will be able to see a few people we adore. This could be you!

Problem, we need to focus on grabbing our things first and spending time with family. No going out to dinner, no form of entertainment where we can't talk to people....I'm thinking Tuesday evening/night is when we will head into the city of Fort Worth for quality time.

Let us know what you think, if you have an area for multiple people to gather in, if you have free time. Basically, what your next Tuesday looks like.

If we don't get to see you this time, we will be back. :) Don't fear. Also, feel free to visit LA. We have an extra bedroom (but we're not picking up our mattresses this time... so we'll have to see if there is an air mattress to borrow for your visit :) )

Still up in the air is the day we will return to LA. I will keep everyone updated on that, but for right now just assume it will be about 3 or 4 am Thursday (hopefully I can get Friday off, and can stay until noon-ish on Thursday).

Thank you for being a friend.... in Fort Worth (sorry if this blog post doesn't apply to you),

sass

Hamilton Happenings: Sisters

Oh gee, internet, what have we been up to this week? Why am I writing Hamilton Happenings on a SATURDAY!?
Well, i've been really busy; and I just didn't get around to it, okay? ;)

My sister, Melissa, came into town last Sunday! It was so nice to have family stay with us, and especially host my sister (who used to live here.... way back when).

Of course, I forgot to take any pictures the whole weekend (for a person that used to call herself a photographer, this is embarrassing). Luckily, my sister took at least this one:


The two of us at Hollywood & Highland.
Not the best of us, but i think the iPhone did a pretty good job in the dark surroundings.

We got to introduce her to some of our friends (new and old), take her shopping, and even go to see a taping of Jimmy Kimmel (Aziz Ansari=winner).

Melissa was really set on buying me a pair of sandals (because I broke two pairs of mine in two weeks and am now without any); and we found out something very important: even in L.A., starting in "fall season," they stop selling sandals in the store. Can someone explain this to me? I'm pretty sure I can wear sandals year round here; and as soon as I find a pair of sandals, i plan on it! :/

Anyhow, it was really nice having her here; and sad when she left.

Then, I went straight into a 4 day weekend of work... and a fight to catch up on sleep. (Last night I took a 3 hour nap at 7:30 pm, woke up for 2 hours, and went back to sleep for 6!!<---actually really good amount of sleep for me!)

If anyone wants to look up information on the ol' internet about fighting tiredness, send it on over. I'll just be over here taking my hypothyroid medication and drinking a lot of coffee.

-sass

Favorite Friday: Holiday Season

Let me take a second and admit something...

I am currently listening to Christmas music.



I love it, and I am excited that we are nearing my favorite few months. To me there is no better time than that which runs from the end of September to the first week of January. I absolutely love everything about fall. The weather, the pumpkin flavored everything, the need to have warm drinks in hand (i love apple cider), my wedding anniversary, then my birthday, and knowing that Christmas is just around the corner! It's all perfection to me.


The view looking up from our backyard last December.

Living in LA it feels like Fall nearly every night. In fact, it is the one and only thing that has made me truly home-sick. At night, when we walk Adler in the cute little neighborhood beside us, i yearn for the few precious months in Fort Worth that I love so much. The months where friends sit outside for longer, the months of decorating our house, and the months of spending way too much time at the University Park Village Starbucks visiting the baristas. This year, as Fall approaches in our new city, I am nervous about how Fall and the Holiday Season will feel to me. I'm excited for new memories and new traditions, but for a few years Fort Worth in the Fall & Winter months will always be the standard by which everything else is measured.


Could this be a preview of our new stockings?

When it approaches, I will definitely let you know what it feels like to have L.A. weather in place of my beloved Southern Fall and Winter weather. But just to give you a little insight of what it's like here, I have borrowed a climate chart from About.com.


When time comes please feel free to post lots of Fall and Christmas photos no matter where you are in this world. Send me links!

It's only the most wonderful time of the year!

-sass