HP7 ***Spoiler Alert!***

Alright, normally I'm not a movie critic (though most of my friends are...), but I thought that Harry Potter 7 deserved a critique.

***Warning- If you have not seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, stop reading while you can. CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK! If I spoil it for you, don't blame me- you're the one who's still reading***

Overall, the movie was amazing. I thought it followed the book pretty well, though some major-ish details were left out. It was kind of slow; it lasted over two hours and hardly any important events occurred (except for killing a few Horcruxes... actually, it was only one, wasn't it?).

Here's what I loved about the movie:

1. The multiple Harrys just crack me up (especially the one in a dress...)

2. They got Fred and George's lines right when George loses an ear... 'I feel saint-like' ahh, gotta love the Weasley twins.

3. The wedding was just as I imagined it (and I loved Fleur's dress!)

4. The whole scene at the Ministry of Magic? Loved it!

5. I thought the scene when Harry and Hermione dance was so touching and cute- even though it wasn't in the book, I thought it fit in perfectly. (and I still think Harry and Hermione are a cuter couple)

6. When they destroy the Horcrux locket- it was perfect... and they got the doe Patronus right!

7. Really, just the entire movie in general. It was downright amazing.

There were a few things that disappointed me...

1. This has to do with Hedwig. In the very beginning, while they were flying in Hagrid's motorcycle, Hedwig was supposed to be in a cage, but in the movie she was flying. And Harry claims that it was Hedwig made him different from the other Harrys, but in reality it was when he stunned Stan Shunpike instead of killing him.

2. Also, what ever happened to trying to stay undercover? Hagrid and Harry were zooming in and out of traffic, and causing accidents. I think its safe to say that the Muggles noticed...

3. Hagrid and Harry never went to Tonk's house- they were supposed to Apparate there to the Burrow (reflecting back on Half-Blood Prince- why the heck did they burn down the Burrow?!)

4. Lupin never stopped by at Grimmauld Place.

5. Harry never gave Kreacher the locket (which was really disappointing, because I liked Kreacher a whole lot better after he had the locket).

6. What was up with Ginny? She really disappoints me sometimes...

7. Wasn't Wormtail supposed to die?

8. Mad-eye Moody's death was clearly under-done. I was prepared to cry. And I didn't

9. DOBBY COMES BACK TO THE HARRY POTTER SERIES AFTER BEING LEFT OUT OF GOBLET OF FIRE ONLY TO DIE?!?! What is this world coming to?

10. The scene with Xenophilius Lovegood was all wrong. It was just wrong.

I would definitely recommend this movie to all Harry Potter fans. It was amazing, and they stuck to the book so well! I can't wait to (hopefully) see it again with my cousins this week. And oh, did I mention I'm going to the WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER on Friday?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Unexpected and Unsolvable

American culture loves mysteries. They enjoy fantasizing about the unknown. To enlarge upon the unknown, especially in writing, is an example of ambiguity. Ambiguity is a word or expression that can be viewed in a number of ways. Henry James often uses ambiguity in The Turn of the Screw to add a sense of mystery to his writing.

The use of ambiguity makes James' novel a work of sinister mystery, unsolvable events and a unique perspective. The combination of ambiguity and narrative ellipsis draws the reader in, only to leave him hanging at a vital part of the story. Henry James uses ambiguity well, making it work for him.

By using ambiguity, James gives the novel an eerie tone, forcing the reader to come to their own conclusions. He often makes important events or information vague, again forcing the reader to make his own decisions. Did Miss Jessel and Peter Quint have an affair? Is the governess only working at Bly to gain the uncle's love? Are the children as innocent as they seem? James leaves out the answers to these questions, adding to the overall effect of the novel.

Henry James uses ambiguity to expand upon the eerie, mysterious feel of the novel that was already established my his characters and setting. He can effectively draw readers into the story and keep them in. His readers never quite know what to expect, making The Turn of the Screw a well written novel full of captivating mysteries and unexpected, and unsolvable, problems.

Me and My Busy, Busy Life...

Stressed? Me? Nah, lets go with over-my-head-in-this-craziness-we-call-life.... yeah, that sounds about right.

Why am I stressed? Well, lets begin with the gazillion choir practices we had this week. One on Monday morning, one Wednesday after school. Those were both for the Christmas production choir. Then there's the million other practices for the Fall Banquet choir, most of them during lunch period. The banquet was Friday night (we sounded marvelous, if I do say so myself). We sang three songs, all of which lasted about seven minutes combined. We were there for five hours. I never knew how much fun a mix of sophomores, juniors and seniors could have with about 300 Silly Bandz when you're locked in a room with an assortment of grammar school children all night. I would try to narrate all the funniness that went on that night, but words cannot do it justice. It was a you-had-to-be-there kind of thing.

On top of having to sing at the banquet, I learned that my BFF Megan and I are being involuntarily volunteered (oxymoron, anyone?) into running the Girls Chorus next year, in place of two of the most musically talented people I know- two of our Seniors, who will not be here next year (silent tears...). Um, what?! For the record, I have ZERO talent in the music department whatsoever. I'm still trying to figure out why I'm in choir in the first place. I can't play an instrument, I can't sing, I can't hear tone, or pitch, or any of those other musicy terms. And now I'm expected to lead this thing??? Thankfully, Katie and Megan the Great (our seniors)(I said Megan the Great because 1. Megan the Great is Megan the Great. and 2. two people named Megan in this blog post would be quite confusing...) agreed to write a manual on How to Lead Chorus, How to Be a Senior, and hopefully Katie will make a YouTube video of all the parts for all the songs the chorus girls will ever sing.... haha, just kidding :)

Then we have my younger sisters upcoming birthday party. There will be horses. At my house. In my yard, and on my dad's lawn. And they will poop. yippee....

We also have a slight problem with the horse I lease, Smokey. He is lame, and we don't know why. I have tried everything, but nothing seems to help. It is most definitely frustrating.

And we can't forget that I'M GOING TO FLORIDA IN PRECISELY 8-ISH DAYS!!!!!!!!

So, yes. Stressed, well, it can't exactly describe my life at this moment. It is too weak of a word.

Just For Fun

I absolutely love the feeling I get when I sit down at my laptop and think 'hmm, what can I write about today?' A blank Word Document (or piece of paper, but writing things out hurts my hand) holds so much potential, so many possibilities. I could write about how beautiful the stars look tonight, or how the moon randomly disappeared... or how excited I am for Thanksgiving break (because I'm going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!!! eep!!!!- but there will be more on that later...). The possibilities are endless.

Many authors think 'what do my readers want to hear?'. Me? I think 'what do I want to hear?' I write mostly for my enjoyment, but most people enjoy my writing as well :). Some people may call me odd, but I don't mind. I am myself, and no one else. I'm me. Besides, I'm not that odd...

**you are about to read a very random rabbit trail taken straight from the depths of Lila's mind... be warned**

What did I learn today? (besides how to graph a rational expression or what stasis theory is or what ethos, logos, or pathos are, that is...) I learned that mothers tend to think that a Deathly Hallows symbol drawn on your hand means you're in some kind of gang. I learned that certain Seniors cannot stand when pizza interferes with their schedule. I learned that old people who have their little 'Daytimers' meeting in our cafeteria smell like overpowering floral perfume- and mustiness. I learned that certain peoples eyes sparkle at specific times. I learned that if you open a bottle of nail polish in a stuffy classroom, it makes the whole room smell weird. I learned that another certain Senior's mind is a 'deep, dark place' and that when they think of 'to protect', they also think of 'to eat'. And that at certain times in the day- meaning last period- said Senior will laugh uncontrollably for no specific reason. I learned that because of Daylight Savings (which I currently love- but ask me that in the spring and I will hate it) the sun conveniently shines right in my eyes in the tiny classroom. I learned that tappy shoes are very, very loud when one is walking down the halls alone- and this is why you can normally find me walking barefoot.

Yes, these are the important things I learn during my day, at least, they are the things that I remember at 11:20 at night.

Rest in Peace, Poor Thing

Have you ever felt that horrible sense of dread, like all hope is lost? The one feeling that comes right as you find out some kind of tragic news? Yes, I'm sure most of you (being human beings and all) know what I mean. Today, I discovered the tragic fate of my cell phone. It has been unmercifully drowned in our washer.

Now, I know that cell phones aren't that important (actually, I'm lying- my cell phone was one of my most valued possessions- right after my A. A. Milne books and all those amazing works of literature). But honestly, I feel as if I have lost part of myself. If you think about it logically, you talk to your cell phone more than anyone else (disregarding the fact that you are actually talking to someone when you talk to your phone). (I'm using a lot of parentheses in this post. Just thought I'd let you know.) For the Harry Potter fans that are reading this- I feel like Harry did when his wand broke. For those of you who haven't read Harry Potter (I most enthusiastically recommend these books), I feel that I have let my phone down in the worst way possible- a horrible death in the deep labyrinth of the feared washing machine that robs all electronics of their lives. I feel like such a murder, because my phone was left in my chapel skirt pocket, which was then washed by my mother today. (not that I'm blaming her, but if she hadn't washed my skirt...)

Thankfully, we had my father's old phone, which happened to be the exact model my poor deceased one was, so I simply switched the SIM card into the semi-new red phone. All's well that ends well, right? Um, not quite. Unfortunately, half of my contacts were stored onto the victim of this tragic death, thus meaning I have lost half of the numbers in my address book, along with all my pictures. So, I do still have a phone, but it will never amount to my old one. RIP, my dearest blue cell phone, because none shall ever be as great as you were- not even the exact same model (because he's red, and I like blue better).


Total Number of Parentheses: 14

***Edit: I must add that after I published this post, the little add that appears on my screen on the Blogger home page - it was about cell phones.