fleurdemandala

I had a great Witherwings show last weekend. My friend Kristen took some great pics of me performing and I posted them on Facebook and Myspace.
So, being the good daughter I am, I sent and email off to my Step-Mom to let me know about them and to view them with my Dad.
Now, my Dad is a musician and, when we talk on the phone, he always wants updates on shows and song-writing etc. So I know he wants to see these photos, but his comments?
Ahh.... parents! When you want one thing (emotionally), it seems you always get another!

Example:



Dad says, "Well, you get to see the bad ceiling."

At least I can laugh about it!

For more heart-wrenching commentary, go here:
www.myspace.com/witherwingswrock

I just watched the sled dog movie "Eight Below" and cried my eyes out for an hour.
I never watch animal movies and this is why!
I cannot handle it. My mom never let me watch "Bambi" as a kid cause she knew I couldn't handle it. I still have not seen it.
Oi. I need to go splash some cool water on my face!

I am not sure how long I have been friends with kandipants21 on lj now. Maybe a year and a half? Two? We were introduced by her sister lezlishae because of our mutual love for scrappbooking. I am so happy to say that we finally met! Shae brought her to an Wrock show I was perfroming in, and we got to talk and hang, Yay! And yay for making friends over the internet with people you would have never met otherwise :)

I love Harry Potter. I love the books. I love the movies. I've popped in the DVD of PoA more times that I can count.
You would think I would watch GoF over some of the other movies seeing as though I cosplay Fleur, and my favorite quote ("Soon we must choose between what is right and what is easy") comes from this book and film, but I do not. In fact, I find large portions of the movie just plain aggravating.
I even understand the story-line changes to make the movie run smoothly and more quickly, but that is not my issue.
I decided to watch it today since I stayed home sick from work. From almost the beginning I was reminded of why I do not watch this film.

Here is my Top 8 List of "Why I dislike GoF"
(mostly in order of what bugs me most to least)

1. Bad writing. Arthur Weasley asks Harry who he saw in the aftermath at the Quidditch World Cup. Harry replies, "I didn't see his face." Well duh, even if he had, he wouldn't know who that was. Harry doesn't know everyone in the wizarding world. In fact he seems to know less than the average wizard since he was muggle-born.
2. Emma over-acts/ or just bad editing. In the scene where Moody discusses the Unforgivable Curses, Hermione is all worked up from the beginning. She has no idea that Moody is going to perform these curses. He had only just asked if the class knew why they were called that. She is all huffy and incensed and practically cries, "because they are unforgivable." She shouldn't be worked up until she sees he is going to perform those curses.
I do feel she overacts in a few other scenes, but this is the worst, but like I said, this scene is not necessarily her fault. This take was probably a later take where she had already gotten worked up.
3. Continuity errors: one of them being Harry addressing the letter to "Sirius Black" when he is in hiding. Ummm... Padfoot anyone?
Another continuity error is Sirius speaking "P.S. the bird bites" when the letter reads "By the way, the bird bites"
4. Filtch RUNNING, knees all up high, into the Great Hall to announce the arrival of the other students. What the heck? Since when did Filtch become the movie's comic relief? He is not supposed to be funny. You are supposed to loathe him!
5. Dumb, I know, but I hate how Hermione holds that candle right on top of Harry's face in the Burrow. Yes, it needs to be in-shot, but it bugs me.
6. Another dumb reason, but I hate all the long hair on the boys. I like movie 3 and movie 5 hair better. So I guess I just don't like LOOKING at these characters as much in this one.
7. Another continuity thing: Rita Skeeter goes to slap Fleur's cheek and Fleur closes her eyes before Rita even draws her hand back.
8. Did anyone bother to look at how an owl flies? There is a scene shortly after the Rita interview where an owl flies past the castle and the wings look as though someone was playing an owl flight in reverse.

I DO feel obliged to say, however, that Miranda Richardson and Ralph Fines are PERFECT. Just PERFECT. As are the other experienced actors. So there ARE redeeming qualties to this production.

Okay, I feel better now.
I still LOVE HP <3 <3 <3

Since July, I have been writing songs inspired by the Twilight novels. It all started when I was going through a rough time and I seemed to be in a rather black mood. The books were an amazing escape for me. It was much more pleasant to daydream about what would happen next with Bella and Edward than to worry about my Mom's health (which is much improved these days, thank goodness!)
So this dark mood was inspiring dark, lyric-less music, and the twilight storyline seemed a perfect place to draw from.
Many months and six songs later, I have 5 songs posted on my Myspace music page.

Go here to have a listen.
www.myspace.com/mandalasongs

I am quite proud of them.

Okay, I'm just a little more sexy/ less geeky than my boyfriend ;) I got 63% sexy and he got 58% sexy. It was probably the questions that had playstaion or video games as an answer. Not into that stuff. But the 63% is probably because, yeah, I've got a Harry Potter ringtone and I'd prefer Star Wars as a date movie :) Um and my computer runs on Lenux. That probably lost me 20% of my sexiness alone (at least it is not on my phone!)

Well I cannot be THAT nerdy cause I cannot get the results to post here, just the links! Oi!

Well here are the results:
63% Sexy!

Totally Nerd-a-licious

You have your geeky qualities, strange hobbies, and nerdy sense of humor, but you know how to hide it well and can be sexy. At first site, people aren't sure if you are a geek or not, and you know how to flirt in public - but when they talk to you there is no doubt that you are of the geeky variety. But that is part of your charm too, and you can use it! It's when you get them home they realize your inner geek is strong, as they note your video collection and the prominence of your decked out computer system. But for some, that is sexy too!


http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-are-you-a-sexy-geek-test

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

In loving memory of my darling little mouse, Narcissa, who now joins her sister, Nymphadora, in little mousey heaven.

So the "Wrock the Boat "cruise ship docked early Saturday morning, the day before my birthday. We all staggered, sleepless, to the airport shuttle bus and sleep-walked ourselves though the airport. My birthday was the next day, and the one thing I knew for sure was that I didn't want to celebrate with eating or drinking. Oi I did enough of that all week. So I gave Olek as call as soon as could since my phone was dead and I needed to charge it at the airport. It was very strange being out of touch with him most of the week. I did log onto the internet twice while at sea, but they charged by the minute and the connection was slower than dial-up.
While talking with Olek at the airport, he asked what I wanted for my birthday, and since he had given me a gift when I visited him a few weeks prior, I said nothing. I did say that I wished I could see him, though I knew that was impractical.
Olek was quite unavailable the rest of the afternoon. He said I might get his voicemail but that he'd call me back. He was busy with something.
I finally got a nap in an woke up around 10pm. I was having some interent issues so I texted him. He called right back and said he'd get to my computer issues in a minute. He said I needed to look outside for a birthday package that was supposed to be delivered that evening.
When I opened the door I screamed! There was Olek! Olek describes it as a I-just-won-the-lottery scream. I cannot believe the neighbors didn't call the cops!
So I got him for about 36 hours! It was the best birthday surprise I have ever received.

When I told my mom, she called him "super" and said he was a keeper! :)

Need a smile?
This will do the trick.
I giggled myself silly.
I needed that!

I've logged onto lj the last three days with the intent to post, but I just stared at the blank text box. I couldn't type anything. It isn't for a lack of things going on in my life, I just couldn't get started.

I am looking forward to visiting Olek in 2 days and 2 hours, but who is counting?!?! Okay, Olek is! And I am! :)

It is really strange how things can work out in ways one never expects.
My mom called me the other day to update me on some recent heath issues. The news wasn't good. She will need surgery, and it will happen while I am on Wrock the Boat. Oi. So MAYBE I can get my step-dad to tell my Dad and then my Dad can email me and I can check my email? Ehhhh.
So the good news is that Olek lives just under 3 hours from my mom, so we are going to do a little impromptu visit to see her. I knew he would meet my family eventually, but BAM he will be meeting my Mom this weekend. I know he doesn't mind. She believes she has a bit of a sixth sense about things and feels good about him. And him and me. Us. And all that, so she cannot wait to meet him.

And I have done it ALL! I went over to Tampa for Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream, then Mickey's Not-So-Scary at Magic Kingdom, then Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights.

At Disney:


Universal:

(ooh how I love the fawn!)

But what I am really looking forward to is the party Olek and I are having this coming weekend. We got his friend Renee to cater it (no arm twisting - she is as excited as we are) and she is going to have the most disgusting-looking delicious food EVER.
I am also, and probably more-so, excited about the costumes Olek and I are going to wear. In addition to being in costume, we are going to cosplay and act the part. This could be really fun and I am looking forward to figuring out how we are going to do this!
We can play this so many ways. I promise not to go overboard. After all, I will be meeting some of these people for the first time and you know about first impressions and everything.... hmmmmm.
It's going to SO fun!

I just haven't had anything I want to publicly post. I have been incredibly happy. I have been rather sleep deprived, but all is well.
I have had a few aggravations at work with co-worker issues, but when I think about it, that is not what REALLY matters.
The things that do matter... well things have been wonderful.

Okay so I live about half-way between 2 post offices. One of these post offices is in a direction that I hardly ever need to go. The other is the one that is considered "my" post office (where my packages go) and is in a rather nice neighborhood. Where I live, the homes are not quite as big, but I guess they had to lump us in somewhere. I have noticed over the years, a general trend to the attitude of the patrons of this post office. It seems they feel they are owed something. There are two lanes of parking, but no one ever wants to loop around to the further row. They all wait to get the front lane of parking. They even park in the handicapped spaces or block the entrance walkway rather than go to the second row.
My worst experience at this post office was a couple of years ago. I was getting in or out of my car and my door was in that awkward place where it doesn't want to stay where you put it. It either wanted to be further open, or closed more. So it gently swung open and bumped the tire of the neighboring car. The car that was parked there and had several people in it, yet somehow the alarm went off when my door tapped the tire. I am not sure how the motion of the people in the car could not have done this. So the owner gets out. She is not American-born - neither is most of this neighborhood. It is full of very wealthy immigrants. She says I put a dent in her car and that she is going to sue me. She even points to a mark on the car. I open my door and show her how the door hits the rubber tire and could not have made that mark. I drove off worrying that she would get my license plate number and try to sue me anyway. That seems to be the new American way, isn't it!?!?!
So I really hate going to this post office. The funny thing is, the other post office is in a much less-nice part of town. Not a bad part of town, just lower income, YET!!! every time I go there, someone holds the door for me, and people smile at one another. The lines move faster and the people who work there are in better spirits. I commented on this to one of the employees once, and the lady said that I was not the first person to make such a comment.
So my general impression of these two post offices? Rich = mean and snobby; Poor = friendly and kind.
Hrmph!

Okay, not ALL boys are dumb ;)

I am SO far behind on everything! I haven't even downloaded all my pics yet - I had two cameras and a couple memory cards each. Oi.
I miss you all terribly.
<3 Mandala

I knew it had been a while, but 7 weeks?

I've been writing Twilight-inspired music. I didn't want to have yet another book-based band. My HP inspired Witherwings project is quite enough, thank you, but I am so obsessed with the Twilight series right now that I cannot write a song that ISN'T somehow about Twilight.
Well that's where I am right now, so OH WELL! :)
Terminus is right around the corner and I am not sure how I feel about it. I think my roomies are more interested in partying than attending programming. I want to do a little of everything. I don't really care about partying and I am starting to realize that the Wrock world is ALL about partying. Where does this leave me? I think I am having a wrock identity crisis - hence the Termimus apprehension. Hmmmm.

Okay, SO MUCH happened at the FloridaSuperCon, so here goes!
This is Epic in length and photo heavy so all is below the cut.
( I felt like a STAR! )

So when I got home from work yesterday I found a pile of coupons on my kitchen counter. No need to panic. My old roommate still has a key and does this from time to time when she is in the neighborhood.
Somehow, I didn't notice the other thing she left until this morning :) I went to feed my dog and there was a lavender envelope in the cupboard addressed "Mommy." Via my old roomie, my dog gave me a mother's day card!
HOW GREAT IS THAT?!?!?!?!?