Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Harry Potter...The Deathly Hallows


I finished it. I received "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" on Saturday in the mail. And I finished it last night (about 1 AM). I was about 150 pages away from finishing at about 10:00 PM and I couldn't stop. I had to know what was going to happen. I had seen some "spoilers" online and I was anxious to see if they would be true...they were not. I was very pleased with the book, overall. This book had an additional purpose that just telling the story, it had to explain things that had perplexed readers since the first book so many years ago. I saw a parallel with the last few episodes of "Alias" season 5 (the final season) or with Star Wars Ep III; that the reasons for actions and events that had been mysteries for so long would now be revealed. I became a fan of this series later then some. I started reading book iv anticipating the release of the movie. After that I was hooked. The movies are great, but there is a limit to how much you can fit into a movie of a 600 pg book. So I don't fault the movies for omitting certain things. I'll read it again.

Just one more thing to say....SPOILERS AHEAD! (highlight to see)

Harry and Ginny: Good to see them happy. Named their kids appropriately.
Ron and Hermione: You could see them getting close and after the traumatic events you knew they had forged a bond.

Snape: I knew that he and Dumbledore had a plan and that he wasn't all bad.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Countdown...

Tomorrow is the day. I am not one of those who is going to the bookstore at midnight and wait in line for a copy, but mine is being shipped to me. My brother is going down at midnight to get his copy of
My question is...how am I supposed to undedstand the cryptic information from the UPS website? I went to check the tracking and I got this.


What does "in transit" mean?
Is my home the "final destination"? I just hope that I get it by Saturday. Or Amazon will get an earful.
Then I just need a couple days and I'll know...

Monday, July 16, 2007

Today is the day!!!! Alone No more!!! ;-)

I have been alone. It's true. Since last Wednesday I have been all alone. Tammy and the kids went to SLC to see her parents who are serving a mission at the Family History Center at Temple Square. They have been on their mission since January and we went and visited the last weekend of March. I thought that it would be nice to have some alone time, but this was a long time. I did get things done, I didn't mope. When it came time to go to sleep, it was very difficult. I did not go to sleep any of the nights before 1 A.M.. Not for trying either. I could not fall asleep. I think that after ten wonderful years of sleeping next to my sweetheart, that it is hard for me to sleep alone. I missed Tammy very much. Last night was hard to sleep because I knew they were coming back.

I missed the kids too. I had to always have something on to make noise, TV, radio, computer. The house was too quiet all alone. I missed them coming to me with their questions, I actually asked myself a few.

Now I talked to them on the phone, but it is not the same when you know that you won't see them when you get home. There was no sense of urgency when I would leave work, no one was waiting for me. No one was going to come running out the front door to greet me.

I am excited for them to return. I cleaned the house up and tried to get it looking good for them. I am also going to try to get done with work a little early to surprise them.

I love my family.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Something New...for Idaho Mac Users

I am branching out of my comfort zone and trying my hand at mac Support. Check out http://wtvmac.blogspot.com/ for more information.

Sunday, July 08, 2007

What is Windows Vista?

Just before the launch of Windows Vista New York Times columnist David Pogue made a video explicitly showing the differences between Mac OS X "Tiger" and Window Vista. You be the Judge, but I think that the answer is obvious.






*David Pogue used to write for MacWorld magazine. When I was a new Mac user I would read this magazine religiously (before I had internet access everywhere). He also has written many books on technical topics in plain English.

Friday, July 06, 2007

Could you pass the test?

I found  a citizenship test and thought I would share it. It is only ten questions, but you can see how you stack up. After the 4th of July, I thought this would be appropriate. Give it a try. 


You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 9 out of 10 correct!

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

4th of July

It is the 4th of July and no matter your political persuasion, we can all agree that this is the greatest nation on earth. In honor of our country...Here is my favorite patriotic song.
America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!