Pottermore

Everyone has heard of it, but does everyone know what it is really about?

It isn't just a place to play games, make potions, and duel. What I love about it the most is the new content. J.K. Rowling has written new content to go along with the books. The only one that is done is The Sorcerer's Stone. But by exploring, you learn about Professor McGonagall's background. You learn more about Lily and James Potter and much more.

You can also explore each books and there are very cool graphics to go with each chapter.

And you get sorted. But I am not particularly happy where I got put. Hufflepuff. Although I am loyal. And Cedric Diggory was Hufflepuff, so I guess I'll survive.

So if you can't get enough of Harry Potter, I suggest checking it out.

I am PotionAuror26731.

Books to Read

There are a couple of sequels coming out soon for books I have read. I would recommend reading all of these series. (Obviously.)

1. First on the list (not a sequel), The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. Duh. Sept 27, 2012

It sounds like an completely different from Harry Potter. But some of my favorite authors happen to be British and I just love most of the stuff they write.

2. The Woman Who Died Alot, by Jasper Ffrode Another British Author

Another Thursday Next novel. I absolutely love these books. They are smart and funny. Seriously, if you like books, you should like these books. All of them. Plus there are now 7 in the series, isn't that exciting to find a good series with so many books already out?

3. Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot

This is the 4th book in the Size 12 is Not Fat book series. It is definitely chick-lit, but fun. I read one of the books one night after work. Fast and fun.

The problem with all of these, is being patient while on the waiting list. Except for The Casual Vacancy, which I will buy.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

This has been on my list for a while. The waiting list was so long last time I checked the library a few months ago. Then I finally looked last week and it was there! It is my first Stephen King novel and it is classified as Sci-Fi. Although it is light sci-fi.

Jake Epping is a recently divorced high school English teacher. One day towards the end of the school year, the owner of the diner he frequents, Al,  invites him over. Al shows Jake a "rabbit-hole." When a person walks through it, they enter September 9, 1958. The same day and same time, every time. When the person returns to the present day, only 2 minutes has passed. No matter how much time was spent in the past.

Al had been on a mission to stop the assassination of JFK, but finds he is unable to complete his task. He now implores Jake to take over the task.

Stephen King did a great job of making me understand the key differences between 1958 and 2011. I also was connected to the characters. Jake goes back in time as George. He is supposed to blend in, but not form relationships. However, he forms those relationships anyways. I loved the characters he bonded with.

At 851 pages, it seemed like no easy task to read this before I left, but I couldn't put it down. It was a fabulous story. And while I don't think I'll read any of Stephen King's horror books, I would love to read one similar to this in the future.

5 on Fri

1. I leave for G-camp tomorrow and Chris leaves for debate camp tomorrow. Thus begins our 17 days apart from each other. I know that by day 5 I will be homesick and Chris-sick. I will blog some, but most it of will probably be on my new teaching blog, since it is a teaching oriented trip.

2. I bought a cheap ring so I didn't have to take my real wedding rings on the trip with me. I usually don't where them running or hiking because I am afraid I'll lose them.

3. I think most people have heard of Spotify. But downloaded about two months ago, and I listen to it almost everyday. I love finding new music on it.

4. I have read 41 books this year, which is exactly how many books I read last year. I only have 9 more to go to reach my goal.

5. That last one is a lie. I have actually re-read some of the Harry Potter books but didn't put it in my final count. I read them at least once a year, so it just doesn't go into the totals.

New Blog

I actually told someone today that I was excited for school to start.

Not sure what I am thinking. But I do know that I miss some aspects of school.

I could literally talk about education all day long. Thank goodness Chris is a teacher too, because then I might bug him a bit. But he is perfectly happy to talk about it too.

I started a blog to get me through the rest of the summer and then some. It is all teaching, all the time. Check it out if it interests you. Click the banner below

Green Thumb

Anything can grow in California. The climate is perfect all year round. Most of the plants that are grown there now were introduced to the area. We went to several history sites that were covered in awesome plants I have never seen before. Even the ones that could not produce food could be used for something else like brooms, medicine, cleaning...

One place we went was The Getty Museum. Getty wanted to create a Mediterranean Villa to house his large Greek and Roman art collection that he had collected over the years. The outside gardens had tons of plants.

 Peach Tree

 Artichokes. I never knew they looked like this. 

 Lemons

Papyrus

Food

I like food. So naturally on of my favorite things about the trip was the food. This is a sampling of all the food.

The newest thing I tried was pea soup. Never wanted to try it and I will probably never make it. And I added ham, bacon, croutons and lots of cheese. With all that, it wasn't too bad.

The best thing was the flank steak I have. And the clam chowder. And the chinese food.

What Happened to June?!

Summer vacation is halfway over!

Good thing I like teaching.