I am finished...done...finito!

With the final Harry Potter book, that is :)

I have to say I was happy and impressed. Such a long journey. I am partly relieved, partly saddened.

****Caution - spoilers ahead...
please don't read any further if you haven't finished the book and/or care about not knowing what happened. :)

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Ok...that should give you enough room :)
1.) CJ knew it, I sensed it...but couldn't quite admit that Snape was still a good guy. The twist with him being in love with Lily was interesting and added a different view to so many of the side stories along the way. How Snape hated James Potter (not just because James was mean to him, but because he had Lily)...that was even stronger due to this new information. I knew he would die in this book...whether by Harry's hands or Voldemort's. It is sad though....what a rough and painful life.
2.) When Ron left Hermione and Harry in the forest after they found the locket Horcrux, I was sure he was a goner. I was so upset that he left...but so relieved when he came back. Again, it was one of those "Dumbledore always knows best" deals. Really quite clever. :) AND we all knew it...its about time those two snogged. And then in the final little writeup they are married with kids...I think that is greatness.
3.) Mrs. Weasley is a tough mama. Dueling with and soundly defeating Bellatrix Lestrange was quite possibly one of the highlights of the book. I can just imagine her slightly pudgy figure pushing aside the students who were fighting and taking over with vigor. I would think raising those Weasley boys would make any woman more than stout.
4.) speaking of the Weasley boys...I was heartsick when Fred fell. Excellent characters there...Fred and George.
5.) Lupin and Tonks - wow. Didn't expect both of them to go...especially after they had just had a baby...but, you couldn't help but know that child will grow and be exceptionally proud of his parents - especially with Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione there to tell them how fantastic they were.
6.) Harry and Ginny. You just knew they had to end up together. (and I loved the last part - 19years later - where they had Albus Severus Potter - that choked me up a bit)
7.) final battle scene with Voldemort...I love how he came out of nowhere - and with not only better wizardry, but with some mind games as well...brought Voldemort to his knees - even without using the killing curse. His famous use of disarming his opponent worked against the Dark Lord yet again...reflecting the death blow back onto the sender.
8.) I love how rowling used the Patronuses as not only safety from Dementors, but also as a means of communication. "You bloody idiot, it's a goat!"
9.) being introduced to new characters, but really tying all those stories together...I was just really happy with the whole damn book. :)
I am sure there is more I left out...but how friggin cool was that story?

rant.

people who have hands free systems for the cell phones, but hold the little mouth piece up their mouth and yell into them BEHIND MY DESK....IRRITATE ME!!!!

poser.

ugh.

I think I'll try....defying....gravity...

In every situation, we are given options.
Currently, my situation involves knowing that I have to make some pretty big moves in my new office. Not necessarily leaving moves...but more along the lines of grabbing the reins and garnering control. This is not me being a power hungry bitch. I swear. I simply know that if things continue to roll the way they are, it will be a cluster fuck of gargantuan proportions. I am actually not working directly for the lender I am "stationed" at. Essentially, by all standard definitions, I am a worker bee employed by an attorney to close/fund/draw docs/ship. Unfortunately, when worker bees don't have leadership...they usually don't succeed. My type A personality is pretty deeply ingrained anyways, so just succumbing to blind bumbling around doesn't suit me. The issue I need to let go of (for the time being, at least) is the frustration at being paid like a worker bee - but knowing that I need to step up the game to make it work. There are pro's and con's to every decision. In this decision, I strongly believe the pro's will outweigh the con's - at least for now. I am hoping that I can, in the process of helping this office develop some sort of workable structure, assert my business prowess in a way that will help move me into a more desirable position later.

In the words of Michael W. Smith, "pray for me". :) Ok...I am gonna go read Harry Potter and not think about it for an hour!!!
HUGS
Beckbee

the simple things

Technology is supposed to make our lives more efficient, simpler...faster...more enjoyable.

:) till the shit breaks. or you can't figure it out. then it becomezz a cluster of infinite proportions.

I have to say there are times when I am so incredibly thankful I can't use a computer or my cell phone or even have to see a TV. While I enjoy technology and appreciate its place in our lives...it sometimes wears me out. Maybe it is just the way I feel today (dull throbbing headache and moderate physical exhaustion), but I am just frustrated with my sad attempts to make seemingly elementary programs function to my advantage. Note that I very plainly said "my sad attempts". It is not the computer's fault, nor is it the programmer's fault who developed the software. It is all user error, and I realize this. ID10T. :) ah well. I will figure it out...or not...and continue to move on.

Posted Day 2's pic on flickr. hehehe Anyone who has seen the commercials or billboards for Stratos (on NW HWY in Dallas) will get a kick out of this - YOU LOVE IT BABY!!!!


OPA! Damn, that makes me want to drink Greek beer and eat souvlaki. yum. :)

oh for the love...

Today is one of those days where it seems to be impossible to get anything done. Oh. Hold that thought. Office Depot delivery. WOot. I think I just got my new file rack and calculator. yay!

something new to try

Some of you know I have these strange ideas for goals or resolutions. One of which is my "try something new or that I am scared of every month". Well...in line with such an adventurous theme, I am going to try something semi-artsy and probably pretty difficult to stay on top of - 365 days of photos. Essentially, you take a picture every day and post it. I probably will do the posting on my Flickr account, but will post some of the more interesting ones here. Started on 7/18 :)

Here is a little writeup about it.

Here is my picture for day 1:


As for the every month trying something new dealio, I should start that this month. I guess one of the best ways to get started with that is to start compiling a list of things I am afraid of or haven't done (just as a starting point...it doesn't HAVE to be on my list).

1.) bats - terrified of bats. one month I am gonna go down to Austin and see the bats at the Congress St bridge. (maybe Sept for ACL Fest)
2.) going downhill fast on my MTB - mainly this is a confidence issue. I need to get more time on my bike so I am not so trepidatious. Worrying so much takes away from the fun of riding...and honestly, makes you stiffen your body - which probably adds to the danger level. this will be an ongoing deal..not just a one time, so I can't really count it...nevermind. heheh
3.) run/walk a 50k. Hoping to complete my first in October. :) Woot. Palo Duro, here I come....I am hoping I can complete this and NOT be totally beat down by the end. I will then be an official ultra runner. (even if I walk most of it. HA!)
4.) make a pie. I still haven't done this. will find a recipe online. :)

I will add to the list as time goes by...or just as life throws me stuff. Like I said, feel free to suggest ideas...I will take 'em!

It's tuesday :)

Just went to the gym on my lunch break. It has been a while since I have done that. Felt good to get a short jog in. Not fast, by any means, but getting in 30 minutes of exercise is a good thing. Hopefully will get in a swim this evening before Mike and I ride our bikes over to Greenville to meet some people for drinks. It is nice having that option. Keeps me from drinking too much. LOL

So, I saw the 5th movie. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Here are just a couple of my observations:
1.) I think they did well casting Tonks, Bellatrix and Luna. Not so fond of Professor Umbridge, although...it might have had more to do with her character being unlikable than her being inappropriately cast.
2.) I didn't cry when Sirius died, I sorta got choked up earlier in the film when he spoke with Harry about being a "proper family" when all of this was over. That one did me in a bit.
3.) Alan Rickman continues to breathe life into the character of Snape. So much speculation about where his loyalties lie...and yet, there is something about Snape you have to love. )(it might be that dark, mildly goth corner of my mind that just digs guys that wear long black cloaks and have shaggy black hair framing their fantastically pale skin - come on.... a little Trent Reznor-ish action going there
4.) Ginny has her eye on Harry. :) I was happy to see that the director included subtle scenes where Ginny checks up on what Harry is doing or who he is talking to. Laying the groundwork for future movies where the two start to come together...it really adds another level of interest in the lives of our characters.
5.) I am glad they left out alot of the house elf crap. It just bored me to tears.
6.) I loved the scenes at the Ministry of Magic...excellent action shots! It actually looked like I imagined it would.
7.) Dumbledore vs Voldemort. Great fight scene. Ralph Fiennes has really taken the role of Voldemort and made it his own. He just oozes evil. Fantastic.

Now all we have to do is wait ever so patiently for the book to arrive. Sigh. :)

well since I am not busy...

Let's talk hockey.
Recently received in my email is an "Unfiltered Letter from Dallas Stars President Jim Lites" - http://sdm3.com/viewmsg.cfm?n163s564c2440226t572

Now, I have to admit (and with great shame) that I have been out of the loop when it comes to off-season trades and the shape that our team is taking before the puck drops in preseason. However, I am really now increasingly curious as to what prompted Jim Lites to send out such an email. Someone said something to generate a very defensive and "must stand up for ourselves" attitude from Jimmy Boy.

From the little bit I have gathered so far...I am only really disheartened by the loss of Syd. Darryl Sydor has been one of my favorite players for some time and him moving on really does make me want to pick up a bottle and drink the sorrows away. Having said that, he isn't a deal killer. Losing Zubie. That would be a deal killer. Losing Jere (kiitos Jere), I would have to seriously rethink donning that green jersey in my closet. I dunno...I need to get back in touch with my inner hockey fan. I am really looking forward to the coming season. HOCKEY HOCKEY HOCKEY HOCKEY!!!!

it's peasant food...

Ratatouille - another Pixar animation gem. My good friend Kari and I made a date for last night to catch up on life's goings ons and to also catch a flick. We met up at Buffalo Wild Wings, had some great conversation (mostly how we think life should go) and some really tasty buffalo wings (my fave is the honey bbq). After that, we mosey'd on over to the Vista Ridge Mall to catch Ratatouille. From the first trailer I saw for this one, I knew I wanted to see the full feature length film. Not only does the subject matter (a rat who cooks) pique my interest, the animation and style really captured my attention. http://imdb.com/title/tt0382932/

We barely made it in time to catch the short that comes before the movie. This short has received rave reviews and is almost more popular than the film itself. It was pretty amusing and gave you a good feeling for what lied ahead.

The movie iteself was one of the best animated films I have seen in a long while. Light-hearted, but with your standard feel-good-let's-try-and-learn-a-lesson-while-having-fun themes, it really touched on all the things that make a good animated flick good..or great. I couldn't place the voices (maybe it was the loose and somewhat goofy french accents), so figuring out the actors wasn't my biggest concern - this is a bonus and left me to just enjoy the voices as they went with the characters - instead of envisioning whoever the famous person was who leant their pipes to breathe life into a character. This made the images turn into people I had never met before, but soon grew to like. A simple, yet well thought out, story made for an entertaining and effortless trip into a famous (albeit somewhat on the downhill slide) kitchen in Paris named after a world reknowned chef, Gusteau. Gusteau's trademark phase "Anyone can cook" helped bring about some changes in the kitchen. A young man desperately in need of a job somehow gets hired as the garbage boy in this fast-paced and somewhat cut-throat environment, overlorded by a short and extremely power hungry head chef. After witnessing (in utter horror) a rat adding ingredients to a soup on the stove - which consequently gets served to a guest and receives high praise - the story takes on the whimsical task of showing how two very unlikely partners can create greatness. Overlooking someone's socially accepted place in the world and seeing them rather for who they are and what they can do is the underlying theme - hence "Anyone can cook". In the process of reviving the restaurant's good name and subsequently ousting the dictator-like head chef, Linguini (garbage boy turned chef) and Remy (the rat with the cooking skills) become friends and go on to face the greatest challenge a restaurant encounters (ok, outside of a rat infestation)....the critic who cannot be satisfied. Voiced by Peter O'Toole, Anton Ego - the chilly and somewhat morbidly frightening critic that can make or break a chef in Paris - singlehanded brought Gusteau's restaurant from 5 star chi-chi-ness to tourist trap drivel with one scathing review. In so doing, sadly, the review kills Gusteau. Viewers are led to believe he died from heartbreak. Upon hearing that Gusteau's namesake eatery is reviving it's once sparkling creativity and quality with a new chef (after some time serving up the same old recipes and barely hanging on with tourist business), Ego sets out to prove that he is the last word in what is greatness.

Romance on the side, swarms of rats and a frigid food snob whose soul is revived by the simplest "peasant food" - a tasty rendition of ratatouille...this movie really serves up something warm and inviting. Of course, the good guys win. Guy gets the girl. Rat gets to cook. Bitter old man finds happiness in the least likely of places. It's a win-win combo for an animated feature film. I would highly recommend this film to people who like to walk out of a movie feeling - and pardon the phrase - but jolly. If you want to grin from ear to ear (and animated rats in a kitchen don't freak you out too badly), go see this movie! If you enjoy cooking and the scent of different spices and food send signals to your brain that create rich, inviting images of culinary combinations, go see this movie.

Becky points: 6.5 out of 7

(by the way, I pulled up the IMDB.com information - hella good voice cast - check out the link at the top!!!)

I love getting stuff done...

I got most of the items on my list of chores for yesterday done. Didn't hang out by the pool, but that is allright. I had a good day, nonetheless.


At my new office today...pretty quiet.

Normally, my life is so jam packed with stuff to do, I rarely have time to peruse what the latest marketing gods have handed down as necessary items for living.

The past week or so, however, has saddled me with lots of free time. Amazon.com and the stores local to the office where I am training have become helpful time fillers and as such, sadly, I have realized all the little gadgets and things that I desperately need. (How did I survive without them?)

So...in an effort to keep myself from purchasing said items, I will list them here and explain why I do NOT need them (or why I DO need them...heheh)

1.) Aerogarden - I found this handy dandy dealio in Linen's-N-Things. Essentially, you can grow a little herb garden or tomato plant or whatever in this ingenius little hovering environment - complete with special growing lights. While I think I do need some fresh herbs and 'maters...I a) have no where to put it b) do not have $150 extra lying around and c) can barely keep my bamboo alive - much less an entire garden. - rational Becky wins this test!


2.) Pop Strainer - Silicone collapsible strainer. Again, found at Linens N Things. Space saving, cool looking, usable. I might just need to buy this. I used my super mind over purchase skills and decided that if I STILL need it next week, I will order it. :) Results of this test are still up in the air.

3.) new towels and sheets. Now these are not "gadgets" per se, but they are incredibly tempting to purchase. Rational Becky wins again, but at a cost. My towels and sheets are not great quality, nor do they all match. Sigh. Function and cost win out over what looks cool. :)

So, I am taking tomorrow off to get some stuff done around my condo and generally just enjoy the day. Have a list of items that I need to do, so I am going to post them here to sorta keep myself accountable. I will update the list to show which ones I actually accomplished:

1.) vaccuum all rooms - I friggin HATE carpet. HATE IT. Especially since I have a cat.
2.) brush Double Down and trim his claws - should be doing this every week...but have slacked. He is shedding everywhere
3.) clean the ceiling fans - my allergies are kicking...I think this is contributing
4.) super clean the bathroom - it's moderately clean now, but needs one of those ass kicking clean jobs. sigh. that means scrubbing. whee!
5.) sit by the pool with a book and a beer (or something) - if I am gonna take a day off, damn well better be some relaxing!!
6.) go to yoga...will probably try and go to the noon class...that would be good (or the 5:30 class!)
7.) organize my "desk". I really need to get a desk desk for my computer (just a laptop) and stick it in my room...I just haven't done it yet. Currently, my kitchen table is doubling as my "office" - mainly it's a catchall for mail, random shit, etc.
8.) look for some kind of sticky peel off stuff for the closet door mirrors. I hate the mirrors. they freak me out. really need to get some stuff to put on there.

Ok...well I think I can get at least SOME of that stuff done. We will see how well I do. If I only accomplish #5, it will still be a good day. HA!

Ok...now back to no work - Amazon.com here I come!

word of the day?

phantasmagoria: a shifting series or succession of things seen or imagined.

If you say it wrong, you might wind up with - "fanta-orgasmia": the intense pleasure felt when consuming an orange Fanta. (wanna fanta...doncha wanna...wanna fanta!)

keep it comin' love...

Yesterday was a great day. Aside from being pretty bored at work (training kills me), I had some really good moments. The World Market is having a clearance sale on sarongs (BONUS) so I bought three. :) I also got a snazzy orange beaded necklace, found my Jim Jim wine and bought some pesto paste in a tube to do some cooking experiments with. ** NOTE TO SELF ** The World Market is a dangerous place for Becky to go alone.

I then proceeded to go to Central Market (I got a whole Market theme going on here folks!), picked out some pasta salad for our cookout at work and the fixins to make panini's. I was shopping online yesterday (another dangerous thing for me to do!) and saw the coolest kitchen gadget ever. Luckily, I found out Mike owns one. This knowledge prevented me from purchasing one - which is good - cause I really just wanted to play around with it. :) Anyways, seeing this magical cooking tool conjured up images of melty, crusty, yummy sandwiches in my head. SO...in an effort to appease my inner chef, I bought some stuff to jam between bread and press with the grill. I bought some focaccia (the kind with the cheese cooked on top), brushed it with olive oil (only the sides that would be on the grill), smeared some pesto paste on the inside of the bread and then carefully stacked slices of fontina cheese, grilled chicken breast, sun dried tomatoes, carmelized onions, fresh spinach - and just a bit more cheese - between the slices of bread. About fifteen minutes later - melty, crunchy, tasty goodness! I was ever so impressed with my mad panini grilling skills. All sorts of yummy ideas have been generating in my noggin ever since. (gorgonzola cheese with sliced steak, a shallot dressing and pears? maybe some arugula? OH OH or some portabello mushrooms, balsamic vinaigrette, mozarella cheese - maybe some spinach, onions, hmm..oh ideas. ideas. ideas.)

I also got to pick out some fresh flowers and make a little arrangement. Damn. I should have taken pictures of the food and the flowers. I was just an artist all over the place last night :)

Wow...I have work I can do now. WOOT! Ok...I might update this later OR I might just blog Monday when I am bored again. :)

Night fever night fever....

ignore the drug charges...

Yes, former Vice President Al Gore's son made a boo-boo. Really bad error in judgment. He had drugs in his car when police pulled him over for speeding...but ignore that for a moment...

I didn't know the Toyota Prius could go 100 miles an hour!

According to Amormino, Gore was driving south about 2:15 a.m. in his Toyota Prius, going 100 mph on the San Diego Freeway, when authorities stopped him. Watch Gore leave jail without comment »

Wow. I didn't know green could be so fast. I bet it rocks when you are high.

~snicker~

brain spurts

....I am incredibly bored. I thought since I was bored, some of you might find entertainment in my musings.

Show of hands, please - how many people think JK Rowling will off poor little Harry Potter in the 7th and final book in the series? There is much debate about whether Rowling will take a more historial literary path (unabashedly killing our angst-filled protagonist) or, as most ardent fans would hope, will let him live to fight another day - in line with more current children's grand adventure stories (grow, learn, possibly face a life or death situation, but overcome - with at least some loss, like that of Ron or Hermione - and become an even greater character). Anyone? Anyone? My guess...Harry defeats Voldemort soundly and with finality, while at the same time hooking up with Ginny - even though in book SIX they sorta hooked up, but then didn't because of the whole gotta save the world BS - then Snape kills Harry and himself in an apparent murder suicide. Hermione rushes to Ron's side for comfort in this time of loss, has premarital sex and is unceremoniously knocked up. Ron flees the burdens of fatherhood, knowing full well he doesn't deserve Hermione and couldn't support her and her, no doubt, genius child. Hermione becomes Headmistress at Hogwart's and secretly wishes to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher (although, shys from the task because of the short tenure those professors have). Mini-Hermione goes on to be the first witch ever to come out of the womb saying "Wingardium Leviosa" properly and thereby levitating her mother off the exam table.
Ginny joins the Ministry of Magic and starts a "Harry Potter Society" for students with facial disfigurements as a representation of her ardent love and devotion for "the boy who lived" - well until someone killed him.
:) Ok...so I got a little carried away. (I bet Ron would work 3 jobs to support Hermione...he's a good egg)

Rain - I am so done with Dallas Becomes Seattle. WTF? Where is my summer? Where are the sweat drenched, mindless heat swabbed days blotted together with blurry sunshine and margaritas? Apparently they are elsewhere and I will have to figure out another way to make myself sweat unnatural amounts of fluid from my pores. (eww) Good times!

Live Free or Die Hard - the fourth installment in the Die Hard series brings a warm fuzzy feeling back to action movies. Why? Because Bruce Willis kicks ass! That's why. The last movie was dry and really quite arguably, the worst in the series. You must have good dialogue. You must have a sinister, yet sly and witty bad guy. You must have Bruce Willis say "Yippe Ky Yay M*ther F*cker". And it helps to have some really wicked special effects. Suspension of disbelief is key in this film, though. Don't expect to see something realistic. Just go and enjoy the ride. uh uh get it get it.

I wanna see Ratatouille. (that's all)

I forgot how fast you can get through a DOS based system. It's cool. You get the hang of the tabbing, Fkeys, etc...and you can FLY through a process. It ain't a pretty interface, but I dig it yo.

I wanna go rollerskating.

I wanna make a panini sandwich.

I would really like to have that Quatros Leches cake from La Duni. :)

Ok...I think that's enough for now. Sorry if I wasted your time...but I feel better, and that is what counts. HA!