Well, I did it. I finished the last Harry Potter book. While I am still in a haze from reading the entire 759-page book in about 30 hours (stopping only to eat, sleep and take care of Ana) I am deeply mourning the fact that there will never be another Harry Potter book. Sure, I will continue to re-read the series, allowing myself to slip into the mystical world J.K. Rowling created. I will be able to share the books with my daughter and experience the wonder and magic with her. But still. This is the ending of an era, and for that reason I am saddened.

While you will find no spoilers here, I will admit that there were deaths. So very many deaths. But there was also life. For each feeling of sadness, despair, and anger there was also happiness, laughter, and love. I am still trying to process all I have read, but I welcome anyone who wants to discuss the books to email me or leave a comment. As a courtesy to those who have yet to finish, I urge you not to leave any information in the comments. But I will say this: Oh. My. God.

As the seventh and final Harry Potter release date quickly approaches, die hard fans such as myself have to do all they can to prevent the last book in the series from being ruined. Leaks and spoilers run rampant on the Internet, the news, and just about any media you come across. Wanting to actually enjoy the story the way J.K. Rowling intended, I plan to attend my local Barnes & Noble Midnight Magic party with my girlfriends then quickly haul ass home, lock myself in my house, and read the book cover to cover before anyone can ruin the story. So my isolation starts now. I am avoiding the Internet. I am ignoring the news. And I am using my husband as my own personal shield from the outside world. So things will be a little quiet over here for a bit as I do all I can to preserve the literal and figurative magic of the final book. I’ll be back, eyes glossed over I am sure, once I have finished my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Anyone leaving comments with spoilers will have their IP banned quicker than I can say “Azkaban!”

It has been a long time since the door was open on J.K. Rowling’s site, and even longer since I was able to actually participate. The last time it was open (back in March, I think) I missed it and I have been kicking myself over it ever since. So I try to check in on a fairly regular basis to see if things have changed. I just checked the other day and there was nothing. On a whim, I pulled up the site and realized the “Daily News” and “Diary” sections were both updated since I last checked. I got a little excited and clicked on the eraser just to see if anything had changed. Low and behold, IT HAD. The “Do Not Disturb” sign was gone!

So I clicked around and managed to figure things out. I did get a little stumped at one point, but there isn’t anything a little Googling and forum scouring can’t help. Finally I got in, and it did not disappoint. I will tell you there isn’t any news on the next (and sadly last!) book, but it is all fun regardless. Go on over and check it out. If you need any help, let me know. I love to share.

In the mean time, I will be waiting on the owl post…(hint, hint!)

Last night ROCKED. Simeon, Megan C, Aaron and I went to the Harry and the Potters concert and I have to say it was the most fun I have had in a looooong time. A bunch of us went last year but this concert was SO much better. I think the venue made a huge difference because it was outside on this nice patio area which really allowed for better acoustics and the weather was absolutely perfect.

Oh but the wonderfulness didn’t stop with the location. The bands that opened for HATP were AMAZING. First up there was this little girl (she could not have been more than 10 years old) that played guitar and sang some fabulous covers. Lots from the Garden State Soundtrack (which has never left the CD player in my car since we got it, if that tells you anything about how great it is). Up next was Draco and the Malfoys. Now I don’t want to betray my allegiance to HATP, but DATM were so freakin’ funny. I am totally kicking myself today for not buying their CD last night. I just may have to order it off their site. It was that funny. “I don’t want Weasley to eat his own turds/Don’t want Pansy Parkinson to let me get to third…If there’s one thing I want you to bring me for Christmas this year/It’s to make Harry Potter disappear.” Need I say more?

Oh but then it was time for the main act. And our boys did not disappoint. The place was rockin’! People were standing on the tables (hey, why are you looking at me?), singing at the top of their lungs and just having a great time. They had to cut the concert a little short because in Oregon minors aren’t allowed in bars after 9pm, but they closed with my new favorite song “Save Ginny Weasley from Dean Thomas.” You better believe I bought their newest CD and even a T-shirt. Megs bought their 7″ vinyl and had both Harrys sign it for her (and her 6th grade class). Aaron had them sign his “Voldemort Can’t Stop the Rock” shirt and Harry 4th Year wrote, “It’s never to loud to read.” Man, you gotta love those guys.

I feel like a bad Harry Potter fan. I have to admit that I haven’t checked J.K. Rowling’s site as often as I should. To be honest, I was getting disappointed every time I checked and nothing was new. (But I still check the CBBC almost daily because they are full of fun, silly info about anything and everything HP) I know what you are gonna say, this just means that JKR is working on the book, but still.

But, BUT! today I was bored and on a whim I pulled up the site. Low and behold, things were different! Subtle differences, mind you, but differences nonetheless. There is new candy strewn across the desk. The butterfly is now orange instead of blue. The portkeys were all new; what was once a gum wrapper is now a pencil sharpener, the pen is now glasses, the hair band is an eraser, the tea cup is a hairbrush. Anyway, you get the point. I figure JKR was bored with the look and had Lightmaker update things a little.

Oh but they didn’t stop at the main page. They added more Easter eggs! I have found six new things (well only five of them give you scrapbook items, but I still consider the sixth one “found” then again maybe I just haven’t completed it yet?) bringing my scrapbook total up to 12. And let me tell you, the rewards are so cool. Lightmaker has gone and made the rewards zoomable (including the old rewards, so don’t forget to check those out again) so they are much, much easier to read. They haven’t managed to make JKR’s handwriting and more legible, but I think I can overlook that small detail. 😉 Let me know if you find any more. Or email/comment if you need a hint!