Musings By Jan

It's A Wrap (Almost!)

Wow, I think July flies by very fast. I guess because all the anticipations and all the activities. I was so into my Potter Fever that I never got the chance to cerita2 about other things.

Earlier this month, I went to one of my best friend's wedding in Temerloh. She is one of the best looking bride i ever seen. Chewah. Seriously. I love her bajus. Everything is simple but beautiful!! From the hantaran to the pelamin.. i love every bit of it. Me and  my friend Syir attended her nikah on Friday night, so we took leave from work and stay the night at the hotel. I also gave some of my cupcakes as gifts (shared with a friend, Akla). The next day we went to her bersanding ceremony and then went back to KL. I was supposed to go to an office mate's wedding in Bentong which is just on way from Temerloh but I got lost hahah. To Wynn and Luke, congratulations and I wish you guys all the love in the world.

Then came Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix. hahah nuff said. As to date, I watched it 3 times already. hahahah

Then the next week, I celebrate my friend, Laila's birthday in the Khan's fave restaurant Omar Khayyam. We ate so much, it was delicious!! I am glad the girls enjoyed the food there.  Then the next day, for the first time in my life I went to the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra with D. It was one of the most memorable experience. I never been in a stall before. I felt like Vivian in Pretty Woman. hahaha we went to see Joshua Bell. I dont really know much about orchestra but I know it was beautiful, especially the sounds of violin.

As for work, now it's a pretty rough time. I have no boss, again!!! I am all alone!! I am now officially, a one person department. I am really really glad i had something to look forward to (harry of course) that it caused a little bit of distraction from the "serabutness" of the office.

Then, the day I"ve been waiting for... the launching of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I have never pre-order the books before (i love cheap thrills) hahah and now how I was glad i havent pre-ordered it cuz I got the book at a very affordable price. I have prepared RM109.90 for the book, but being a customer, of course I want the best price, right? And after all the planning (wanting to go to klcc and Q at 530 am), I went to buy the book with my "oldest" best friend, Yeen at Tesco Kajang. haha we arrived there at around 645 am, thinking we were the only "crazy" people in Kajang.. but to our suprise, there were already about 20 people in front of the door!!! After 7, went inside tesco and went out at around 710. LOL. Thanks yeen, for spending time with me!!!

Then it was Jemi's graduation. Kacau betul laa.. org nak baca buku laa!! but it was fun... especially the part when we see our balloons flew away into the sky.. hahahah but at least we got pics. Congratulations to Jemi and all the best in Korla. ;-P

July has been a very hectic month. I just want to take a breather now. ahhaha but just so you know, I am not over Potter fever yet. Just bear with me. lol

Muaaahhh

My Baby's Back with the Bucket Hat!!!

Yeay! After months of hiding, finally my baby made an appearance.. in his bucket hat!! My fave!! hehehe.. look at him.. he's so adorable.. *squeee*

 

I love you, Harry Potter

After a decade, the story finally ends. It is truly magical. The best reading experience I had, but of course...don't worry I won't spoil it for you.

All I can say about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is that it is so precious. I love it so much and definitely became my favourite. I finished the 607 page book (Bloomsbury) at 1 pm today. Even though the story ended, I feel like I am not out of the world yet. I couldnt wait to read it again. While I was reading, I was struggling with myself, half of me wanted to go on reading and the other half doesnt want to read further because afraid for it to end. Let's just say that I cried from beginning to end, just because that it is the final book. But as the saying goes, "all good things must come to end". And you know what, I am not really looking forward for it to be turned into the silver screen. As i have said earlier, it is too precious. Just let it be immortalised in words. But then again, it is expected to be released somewhere in 2010. I will watch it of course, but what I am trying to say is that, I wouldnt mind if they didnt turn it into a film.

It was a wonderful journey together with JK Rowling and his hero all these years. I don't think I'll ever get tired of reading this brilliant piece of literature. We all grown to love Harry, we grown with him together, we love the people he loves, we trust those who he trust, we feel pain when he is hurt, we care when he cares. Harry Potter became someone close to our hearts, like a dear friend.

The story might have end, but I think many will agree that we will never stop loving him. I will always love you, Harry Potter.

Thank you to JK Rowling for this truly magical experience. I feel like hugging her right now. hhahah ok, i am a bit emotional right now. What do you expect? hehehe

But now, let me sulk in a corner, while waiting for others to finish the book and discuss the book with.

Hide

Lots of things are going on and sometimes I just can't stand them. Sometimes, I don't want to be strong and take this all. Sometimes I just want to go somewhere and hide. Some place where I feel safe, a place where every thing seems to be ok, even for a few minutes. Just to have that security, that every thing will turn out ok. *sigh* oh well... i still haven't found that place. And at times like this, it breaks my heart that I don't have one...

It seems like yesterday when I said 'I do'
And after all this time my heart still burns for you
If you don’t know by now that you’re my only one
Then take a look inside me and watch my heart strings come undone

I know I promised you forever
Is there no stronger word I can use?
To reassure you when the storm is raging outside
You’re my safest place to hide

Can you see me? Here I am
I need you like I needed you then
When I feel like giving up
I climb inside your heart and still find
You’re my safest place to hide

You see colors no one else can see
In every breath you hear a symphony
You understand me like nobody can
I feel my soul unfolding like a flower blooming

When this whole world gets too crazy, yeah
And there’s nowhere left to run
I know you give me sanctuary
You’re the only truth I know, you’re the road back home

Can you see me? Here I am
Standing here, where I’ve always been

And when words are not enough
I climb inside your heart and still find
You’re my safest place to hide

My safest place to hide

I know I promised you forever
There’s no stronger word I can use
To reassure you when the storm is raging outside
You’re my safest place to hide

Can you see me? Here I am
Standing here, where I’ve always been
When I feel like giving up
I climb inside your heart and still find
You’re my safest place to hide

Oh, yeah
You’re my safest place to hide

~ "Safest Place To Hide" by Backstreet Boys from the album "Never Gone"

   

"O" for Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix

WARNING - SPOILER FOR THOSE WHO HAVENT WATCH OR READ HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF PHOENIX AND DONT WANT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK ;-P

Twice in a day, that's pretty mad innit? ahhahahah well i just couldnt resist. The tix were already bought since Sunday for Wednesday's night 9 pm show. but ok, the impatient me, just couldnt wait. I am on leave today for personal matter, and since i got free time and kak tine sanggup take a half day just to see the movie, we went for the 12:20 pm show. hahah kak tine asked me to buy the 220pm show but again, i just cant wait, the earlier the better!

I think many would agree that this year we are all overwhelmed with great movies.. i think it started with 300. Then Pan's Labyrinth, Pirates of the Carribean 3, Transformers, Die Hard 4.0, Fantastic Four etc. The only disappointments for me are Spiderman 3 and Shrek 3. But anyway, the one movie that i most anticipated above all is of course, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix. When we entered 2007, all i think about is the movie Order of Phoenix and the final book.

When the day came (today la).. naturally, i have to a bit mental. I've been preparing for this since July came. Even though I said to myself everytime before any Harry Potter movie came out not to read the book beforehand, I just can't help myself. So, 2 days before 11th July, I finished Order of Phoenix, the book. Of course, every miniscule details still embedded in my mind and i expected so much from the movie.

But as i finished watching the first time, i said to myself, i know they cut a lot from the book, but it's ok because the movie is FREAKING AWESOME. Lots of details were left out (ok i was disappointed that they left out Quidditch.. i really want to see Ron played Keeper) but i let all them pass, it is not that related to the story line, its just add more spice to the whole story. Shorter running time than the predecessor, I do think that the film makers sort of rush things around but I gave thumbs up and bowed to them for doing a good job in patching the story line and change little details here and there to make it watchable. The book as everyone know is a bit too long, and it is impossible to fit everything in one movie. Anyway, that's what the book is for. if you want details, just read the book again. The movie is to live out what we have always imagine while reading the book. It is great seeing inside of the Ministry of Magic, flying on the brooms to london, Dumbledore's Army practicing their defences, the patronus, the end battle between the death eaters and the members of the order. Gosh. I just cant get enough of those "Stupefy", "Petrificus Totalus" , "Expelliarmus". By second watch, I just dont care about all the cuts and it was ABSOLUTELY FREAKINGLY AMAZINGLY AWESOME. hahaha

As for the cast, our faves returns (i just cant imagine seeing harry potter movies without these people). New additions, Luna Lovegood was great. I love her, she is so adorable. With her dreamy eyes and her soft spoken ways. And  the "hem hem" Umbridge.. OMG, i just hate her with that stupid smile and that annoying giggle. I wish I could slap her. hahah and she even make me hate pink! Or not. But sheesh.. i hate her pinks. lol. He who must not be named is of course, evil as evil can be. Ralph Fiennes is so fine in potraying Voldermort. And he looked fine in suit. haha. Bellatrix Lestrange, wonderfully played by Helena Bortam Carter, is as I imagined in the book. Wickedly crazy woman. One thing i wish is that they show more of Tonks. I love her in the book.

ok i am bit mental right now.. i just cant get enough of ickle 'arry and his world. Well, the not so ickle 'arry. hahah he just became drool-worthy. and have i mentioned how sexy Sirius Black is? Damn! hahah ok so i am a bit weird for thinking that ragged man as sexy. So what. Sirius has always been one of my fave characters ( but i cant really choose a fave cuz i love them all) and to see him alive out of the book like this is,  well simply wonderful. In Azkaban, he was not potrayed that much, and in Goblet of Fire he was just this face in the fire. But here, seeing him walking about, hugging harry, talking like normal person... being a father figure to harry *sigh* cant help but I had tears in my eyes. And then, the death scene, is of course, taken us by suprise, like the book, but i just wish they show it longer.. i mean the fight between the cousins. I am always in denial that Sirius is dead whenever i read the book, but seeing Bellatrix shot the Avada Kedavra curse on him and seeing Harry's emotions, crying out for him while Lupin holding him back, I do believe him to be dead now. (eventhough i always hope that he will appear again in deathly hallows..).. haha the archway is whispering for a reason ( I wont give up!). lol. And i have to mention his oh so cool battle style, with the flick of his wand in fighting Lucius.

What i love most about the movie (and the book) is that it showed a lot of emotions. More complex and better story telling, this installment is a bit darker than the previous ones. It gave a chance for Daniel Radcliffe & Co. to show more of his acting... with 'arry angry bursts, his romantic side, his love for his family and friends. Compared to its 4 earlier predecessors, which mainly focused more on the "good" side of the magical world, this installment focused more on dark side of magical world where magic is also something that should be feared, naturally because the return of the Dark Lord.

As a fan, I think this movie is the best they can do with the time restraint and to make it watchable. You have everything, you get to see the wonders of the magical world and also the dreary dangerous side of magic, the special effect, humour. Definitely an "O" in my OWLS of movie rating. heheheh. My final verdict is that Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix is the perfect ending of months of great movies. Ohhhh i just cant wait for Half Blood Prince. I read somewhere that it will be directed by the same director as Order of Phoenix. So 2 more years to wait? *sigh*

UPDATED 17/7/2007: read somewhere in the net, that half blood prince is in production and will be out somewhere in November 2008. YEAY!

Anyway, I have to go now, I still have about 188 pages more to finish the Half Blood Prince ;-P

 

Potter Fever

A movie and the final book. This is too much!!

Are you ready, muggles?

I AM! *squee* ;))