tortietta

So, apparently the world may well end tomorrow. Or, it may not. No one can be quite sure of this.

Now, I'm not one to buy into discordant scientific claims that the world may end, but I do find it interesting the reaction that is generated when you tell someone that the world may end in a day.

Tell someone that the world may end and what is the first reaction? Some will assume it's a joke, a terrible joke, but a joke none-the-less. Some will panic, assume the worst. Others will take the news with a grain of salt but not over-react. The skeptics will be many, but so will the believers, and yet I think the gut instinct of most will be to make sure those they love and care about know this, regardless.

As for me, I'm not convinced the world will end. In fact, I would be more worried that the nay-saying scientists and the media will blow this so out of proportion that mass-induced hysteria will result as opposed to the world being sucked through a black hole.

Will I change what I plan to do tomorrow? No. Will I make a conscious effort to let those dearest to me know how I feel? Yes, but not because the world may end but because we should all do it more often than we do.

Mind you, this whole topic throws open the question, what would you do if the world was coming to an end? Is there is a list of things you would like to do before the end of the world? If you knew that the world really was coming to an end, how would you spend your last day? Is there anything you would say to someone if the world was ending that you wouldn't otherwise say? What would you do?

So, what say you, o'flist?

A little over two weeks ago I decided I'd try to reread all six Harry Potter books before the release of Deathly Hallows. I never thought I'd get through all six in such a short time frame however I surprised myself and when I closed HBP on Friday night I knew it had been worth it.

I had forgotten just how much I loved these books. For me, so much of the joy of these books is the reading experience itself. The moments that catch you up and make you laugh and scream and cry, those chapters that you just can't put down no matter what, those times where you feel your heart pounding and your eyes stinging and your voice caught in your throat - every moment of the reading experience makes these books just that much more special.

The more I read the more I wanted talk about the books again. I remembered the desire I had when I first finished GoF in mid 2001 to find out more, to get my hands on anything I could. I was drawn to fandom, to the old yahoo groups and the smattering of fan fiction which ultimately led me to here, and I realised just how much I missed this. Missed fandom, missed the friends I had made through it, missed the discussions and theorizing.

Friday night I kept putting off reading the last 50 pages of HBP. I didn't want it to end. I knew that when I finally closed HBP that there was only one more step to take in this incredible journey. A step we have all been waiting for; a step that would ultimately bring some form of closure to this wonderful experience.

Which brings me to Saturday morning. The waiting. The nerves. The excitement. Everything culminating in the moment when I finally had DH in my hands. Wanting nothing more than to open it right away, but knowing that I wanted to read it slowly, to savour every word. I didn't want to rush this last journey, and I am so thankful now that I took my time to enjoy every word because the wait was so worth it.

As I said earlier so much of my joy of these books comes from the reading experience itself, and I wasn't disappointed this last time. I laughed, I cried, I shrieked and shouted. Some chapters I'd read and then stop to reflect on them, other chapters I found myself rereading just after I'd read them, and other chapters I'd fly through with my heart pounding and my head spinning. So was it worth it? Was it worth the wait? Was it worth drinking in every single word and savouring it? Hell yes.

Knowing that I've now closed the book on this last journey and that it's finally over, that there is no going back, no more first times, no more guessing and theorizing, well, it's like saying goodbye to one of your closest friends for good. The memories will always be there. The story will always stay the same, but the experience, well the experience will never be the same. Every reread will bring something new to the surface, every time the seven books are read in sequence I'll feel the magic, but there's nothing more to add to the journey and I think that in itself is gut wrenching.

When I finally finished DH I didn't know what to think, what to feel. I wanted to reread it straight away and yet I couldn't bring myself open the book again. I felt hollow and yet completely satisfied. The closure had come, and I had loved nearly every moment of it.

It's going to take a little while before I can really formulate any thoughts on the book. I want to reread it but I'm going to wait a few days before I pick it back up again because I'm still letting this all just sink in.

The reading experience may never be same, but I can't wait to see how everyone enjoyed their experiences. I'm so glad this has drawn me back here, reminded me how much I loved this place, how much I missed so many of you. The reading experience is only part of this journey and I am so glad that I get to share the rest of the experience with all of you.

So!

No more 'maevy'! Yay!

I always thought I'd feel a twinge of regret if I ever changed my username, but I don't. I've finally broken that last tie I had to a time I would much rather forget, and it's surprisingly freeing.

So, 'maevy' is now tortietta, which is going to take me a while to get used to, and I'm going to have to re-haul a few of my icons, but yay!

Out with the old and in with the new!

I need to take a break from LJ. I'm not going to go into long explanations. I've hardly been around for close to three months now, and unfortunately this is just the next step. I don't know when I'll be back, or even if I'll be back, but I don't want to lose the friendships that I have here. I'm going to miss you all. Be happy and be safe, and maybe I'll see you on the flip side. ♥

Oh man. Wish I had time to think. Seriously, my head is like mush at the moment.

Ah. First time in over an hour where I've had more than 20 seconds between calls. Absolute bliss.

As much as I like being able to see how many incoming calls we have, watching call after call queue up and knowing that there is nothing you can do to hurry along your already well over the time-limit call is incredibly frustrating.

Also, I'm amazed at the persistence and patience of some people. Honestly, I hate waiting on the phone for more than five minutes, but some of these people are quite happy to hold on the line for more than 10 minutes for a silly little problem.

Actually, I'm sure I'm not the only one who hates waiting on the line for assistance, be it computer assistance or some other form of assistance. So, how long is too long to wait?

[Poll #686148]

Ah, I knew the quiet was too good to last. One day I might actually have time to catch up on everything, that is, if I ever get a quiet night or a quiet weekend but seeing as this hasn't happened in weeks I can't see that changing anytime soon.

OMG, I SUCK!

BURNT CHOC-CHIP BISCUITS!!!

PACKET MIX BISCUITS! I SO SUCK!

Sometimes I don't think it's possible that I'm the daughter of a chef. *headdesk*

...

I think I might just have a beer instead. *sigh*

Well the holiday season is beginning to kick in once again, and it's about that time of year to start collecting addresses and writing cards!

I know there are some people who feel awkward about giving out their addresses, but please don't feel that by giving me your address you're asking for a card. I want to give you all cards but to do this I need your help!

I understand that some people feel uncomfortable giving address out via LJ so I'm giving two options this year. All comments to this post will be screened so you can leave your address details here, or you can click here to send me an email.

I love Christmas. I love the holiday season. I love the cheer, and the happiness. I love the baking, and the shopping, and the crowds, and the heat. I love thinking of things I can give to people; things I know will make them happy. I love sending cards; doing things I wouldn't normally do to let people know I'm thinking about them and that I care about them.

Each and everyone one you is special to me. Sending holiday cards is the least I can do to show you how special you are and to share the joy of the season with you all. ♥

I haven't done one of these in a long while, but I think a lot of people are feeling a little low at the moment and we all need to be told how special we are from time to time.

So...

Comment. Then I'll say something I honestly adore about you. ♥


Gacked from the ever lovely figgy. ♥

Three Good:

1) I got my hair cut last Thursday and it's shooort but nice. My hair was down past my shoulder blades and now it's just under my ears. I don't think I've had my hair this short in close to ten years. It's an odd feeling.

2) I sent a letter to my biological father yesterday. I realised that while I'm ready to let go, I need him to know how I feel so that I don't keep hoping that maybe one day things will be different. Writing the letter? That was bloody hard, but actually sending it? Such a wonderful feeling of release.

3) Going to sleep with Lily curled up next to me. Best feeling ever. Yep.


Three Bad:

1) My hair! Okay, so it's not exactly bad but I'm still not sure if I like it or not. I put a lightner through it on Saturday because I thought it looked too dark and frumpy and now I'm not sure if the lightner hasn't made it look too ... teeny. Every morning I think I like it and yet every night I think I hate it. :-S

2) The potential fallout from the letter I sent to my biological father. Honestly, I think I'm over-reacting with this one but I keep freaking out that things could get really ugly after this. I did this for me, and I feel great for doing it, but I know how my biological father can be and it scares me to think of how he might react to this.

3) My house looks like a bomb has hit it. Seriously. I keep telling myself that I just need to get down and clean but every time I do I just see pile after pile of dirty clothes and dishes and a thousand other things to do and always manage to do something else instead.


Three Cool, or Three Things I Need To Spend A Lot Of Money On Before Christmas But Which Are Still Cool:

1) A car. I have put this off for years but it has got to a point where I can't put driving off any longer. The thing that really sealed the deal with this was realising that despite the high petrol prices it's STILL cheaper for me to drive to my parents for Chrismtas than it is to fly -- keeping in mind that my parents live nearly 1000km (621 miles) from me.

2) A new computer. Specifically, a Mac PowerBook. My poor old desktop is dying and the more strain I put on it the more I realise that this needs to get rectified as soon as possible. The simple solution to this is to buy a PowerBook through salary sacrificing, but it's still a lot of money.

3) A clothes dryer. Okay, so I don't really need this before Christmas but it would make life so, so much easier. The saddest thing is that this is by far the cheapest of these three things and probably the least likely thing I get. Woe.

OMG, NOOOOO!

Not because of the light! NOT THE LIGHT! They were playing SPIN BOWLERS! They weren't even playing pace bowlers!

SPIN BOWLERS! NOT PACE!

I can't believe it.