the long awaited end...

to what I would say would be one of my only obsessions in life. Is it strange that a 35 year old woman would get so giddy at the release of a book? That I would actually go to the last 3 book release parties? If you are a kid at heart (like me) then I would think not. I do not feel ashamed of my Harry Potter obsession but proudly wear it on my sleeve like so many of my other feelings.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was a roller-coaster ride for me. With it's ups and downs, tears and laughter (actually laughing out loud) and then the abrupt halt at the end knowing that there will not be another. I have used the HP series to escape the harsh realities of this world and be transformed into (if only for a few hours at a time) the wizarding world. I lovingly have all 7 books stored together now on the bookshelf and whenever I need to escape, they will be there for me.

I am still absorbing all that was revealed to readers in this last book. So many little details that one can overlook and yet the slow but steady road that Harry took to become a man was clear at the end of the book in the final battle with Tom Riddle. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it again.

Farewell Harry, Ron and Hermione and the rest of the wizards and witches I love so. I will always regret that I never got that long awaited invitation to Hogwarts at 11 to join you.

I remain always a devoted muggle,
Stephanie

plumbing

After a horrendous fight with my kitchen sink, I have finally gotten the expected and desired results from my new plumbing job. I did this ladies and gentlemen...yes...me. My husband helped of course with the overseeing part of the project, but it was me...Stephanie the plumber. I couldn't be more proud, except I am proud of my water heater that I installed a few years back but that's a different story. The final results of our remodeled kitchen will be up as soon as we finish the paint job and that might take a little while as we finish tearing off the wall paper and priming the walls.

a jazzy night out...

the funniest thing happened to me the other day. I was singing up at my usual place (the lovely Benton's Steak & Chop House atop the Westin Crown Center Hotel) and my daughter came up to the pianist and started to play along with him. Now mind you that she is only 18 months old (today!). How cute is that...just starts playing away. Then she walks over to me and says "down" which means up. So I reach down and pick her up and hold her while I continue to sing. She proceeds to grab the microphone and coo away into it. It was a very proud moment for this mother. I can only hope that I can foster her love of music and not squelch it with the constant badgering to "practice, practice, practice" - which I will try not to do.

floating...

So, does anybody feel like they are just floating through life sometimes? I mean the rat-race of it all just seems to be so mundane. I am currently remodeling my kitchen and master bath (haven't even touched that yet - I'm having a love/hate relationship with my kitchen sink right now) and I have to wonder...why? I mean the other stuff was fine.

The most important thing in my life right now is my daughter and her development as a person. She is growing up so fast and I wish it would slow down sometimes but I know this is how life is. She is so cute and funny and sweet and she is going to be gorgeous...I'll have to keep an eye on her in the boy department and I know what to look for so she better not even think about slipping anything by me...

So back to the floating bit...I just wonder sometimes if this is what I'm suppose to be doing? I mean aren't we suppose to make the world a better place to live and that sort of thing? Do we just have jobs to simply exist? If that is the case then I could do with moving out to a little farm somewhere and raising some pigs and cows, grow some corn, and a little garden and live off the land. Mind you I don't think about this ALL the time but it certainly crosses my mind when life's little stupid things crop up. I don't want this life for my daughter but I think living simpler is not all that bad of an idea. I mean the whole kitchen thing is so that we can have the BEST of everything, granite countertops, gas Viking stove, Kohler sink and faucet etc..... I grew up in a little 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch home with no basement (because there are not basements in Florida) and a little backyard and a screened in porch. I love that house! So perfect and my sister and I always had everything that we needed as kids. I want to teach my daughter not to be a spoiled brat, that you can get along with out things that you want...it makes you appreciate the things that you already HAVE.

Big heavy (no pun intended) sigh!

I am officially going...to the fat farm that is. I got sick and the Dr. put me on steroids and (I swear to God above) I gained 7 lbs. Yes, that's right...7 lbs. ladies and gentlemen. It freakin' sucks I tell you. I worked so hard after I had Olivia to get all that baby fat off and now, right as bikini season is about to begin, I have most of it back again. Well...Atkins it is for me. No more candy runs down to Barb's office, and as those of you who know the PAC is FAMOUS for that. No more pasta at lunch at home, no more snacking on Olivia's treats...just strictly rabbit food for the next 2 weeks and then I can start adding some nice whole grains to the diet (but not too many mind you). Then I also think that yoga and regular trips to the gym during the lunch hour are going to be an absolute must if I'm going to look good in my bikini (and believe me...I'm going to get into one this summer and I'm going to be smokin!)

Well...enough ranting and raving.

Hugs and kisses to all :-x

Konnichiwa

I am basically starting over here - I got so bogged down with work, school, family and everything else that I had "forgotten" my blog. I hope to be more diligent about this now that summer is here and there are many things happening in my life. We are currently remodeling our place. The current phase is the kitchen - new dishwasher, new stove/oven/microwave. New granite countertops, paint, screw up ceiling (because the STUPID people that built the house in the first place just nailed it up...hello...ever heard of GRAVITY?) and at some point a new fridge. Then on to the master bath...new everything except the sink and the floor. (UGH!). Then we will re-paint the entire inside and outside - new colors so this will take some time in determining what the right colors are. Also new windows throughout the entire house. I will take pictures and post as we go. Thanks for being here and there will be more to come...promise :)
jazzmomma

Blog for bloging?

well, i'm starting this blog because i want to have a spot just to myself for me to share my thoughts with the people who care about me and whom i care about as well. just sort of a journal on line. who knows what this will turn into but it's nice to have a spot just for myself. the pov stands for "point of view". just an fyi - all these acronyms!

stay tuned - there will be more to come :)