Autobiography, Part 1

My mother once told me that my brother came quickly but my birth was long and painful. My brother was healthy and quiet. I was sickly and never stopped crying.

I was born premature, weighing 5 lbs, and my skin was so thin that my eyelids still remain purple. I grew up in a cozy ranch home with an exposed finished basement and a basketball hoop in the driveway. My house was in a suburban culdesac; my best fried lived ten little-girl-steps away.


I lived in a city of Swedes. Ninety percent of the families were descendants of Swedish immigrants, mine included. My grandmother tried to teach me a little Swedish when I was very young. I retained very little but the pronunciation of certain words sometimes sneaks out of me.

Though I have three older siblings, I lived much of my youth as an only child, finding companionship in my dolls, movies, and books. My older sister was always a mystery to me. I remember looking at a portrait of her in her dance costume and thinking she was the prettiest woman in the world. As a little girl, I was envious of her big eyes and womanly figure. I always wanted to be part of her life but she always seemed distant.

My older brother and I used to play cops and robbers; I was usually the robber (this later became ironic when he became a criminal).

Throughout my childhood, my extended family belonged to a country club where I (along with my siblings and ten cousins) swam and dove for the swim team, took tennis lessons and played golf. Some of my fondest memories of those summers included playing the card game, “Spoons,” and eating stale popcorn from the bar after a long swim practice.
I was a terrifying child. One of my older cousins dubbed me the “Red Tornado” due to my wild red hair and my hyperactive behavior. I taught my six year old cousin how to play “21.”

We moved out of my favorite house when I was 12. My best friend threatened to slash our tires – she didn’t – or to chase our car down the street for as long as she could – she did – even though we moved less than a mile away.

Jai Ho

I don't know why I love this so much.

Possibly because it reminds me of the Food Court Musical that Improv Everywhere came up with.

But mostly, this video just makes me want to learn that dance, and also take a dance class without completely humiliating myself.

Apparently (from reading of the comments on YouTube) the first girl that starts dancing came up with the whole idea and got her friends to go along with it. It wasn't a class project or formal group thing, just a nice little way to relieve stress during finals.

Also, this video is a great spontaneous advertisement for the Flip video. I kind of really want one now. Birthday?...

Encore, Encore!

We all were sad when the Harry Potter series ended. I, for one, put that last book down and wasn't sure what to do next with my life. I've re-read them. I have both the British and American versions of the audiobooks (because I love both Stephen Fry AND Jim Dale). I've bought multiple copies of the books. (I actually have 5 different copies of the first book alone. I know. Sad.) I even knit my own Gryffindor scarf.

Did you the word "fan" is short for "fanatic"?

Anyway, when Rowling released her short story "prequel" for charity, I felt temporary satisfaction. And again when she released the Tales of Beedle the Bard. But of course, I look most forward to the day she writes another book (whether its part of the Potter world or not).

Well, although she has not said outright that she is working on more books, she did say she has not dismissed the possibility, "maybe 10 years from now." (See also, CNN - J.K. Rowling)

So I was thinking, if Rowling were to continue the Potter series, or at least write more in that universe, what might she try? So here are my Top 4:

4. The gang all grown up in their adult lives. (This is number four, because I really think their story has really reached completion.)
3. A new series with new characters but still set in the Wizarding World.
2. A more complete prequel about James, Lily, Sirius, Lupin, Snape, etc....
1. The next generation at Hogwarts (i.e. a continuation of the Epilogue) - More specifically, I think a new storyline with Teddy Lupin as a protagonist would be great. He's even got the whole "orphan" thing going on. Seriously. Think about it.



Also, apparently, a Rowling barbie doll has been released. Um. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It does kind of look like her at least...kind of. 








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Some are silver and the others gold

I've been thinking a lot lately about how people in life come and go. Some stay for ever, like your best friends and family (and of course the ONE, once you finally meet him or her) but others are only there for one thing. That thing could be to help you when you need them most or to be your friend when you have none, they might be there to inspire you or to let you inspire them. Whatever the reason they come, they leave just as swiftly.

Facebook is an interesting tool that allows us a slightly better opportunity to touch base with these people, or at least get updates once in a while on what they are up to. For example, one particular person that falls into this category just got engaged over the weekend. He is the guy who I once went on the most awkward date of my life with.

This guy was a few years older than me. We worked together at a summer job. He was starting Grad school when I was just getting out of high school. He had beautiful eyes and adorable curly-ish hair. I had the biggest crush on him, but he had a girlfriend, of course. I never thought he would be interested in me anyway, because I was kid and he was in Grad school. But I spent that whole summer daydreaming those "what ifs" and started writing them down. And when I started college that next year, I kept thinking about him and writing stuff down. Essentially, he was the inspiration for my first attempt at writing a screenplay.

Now, I have to say, I never finished that screenplay. It got a little too "Nicholas Sparks" for me and I wanted to move on to other stuff. But I never threw it away. I still have the hand written pages that I stapled together with notes to type up later.

Anyway, this guy and I didn't really get back in touch until a few years later when Facebook took over the world. He had just been jilted by a fiance (remember that girlfriend he had that summer I had a crush on him?) We started commenting on each others' walls. Then we started chatting on AIM. I was dating my ex, then, and I would talk to him about it. When that relationship finally fizzled out, he asked if he could call me. And he did. Nearly every day until I came home for that summer. He told me he wanted to take me out on a date. I had never been on a date. Not with someone I wasn't already in a relationship with, anyway. (I don't count high school dances as dates, either.)

So, like I said, we went on the most awkward date ever. The more I think back on it, the more awkward it seems. Maybe it's just because I'm a really awkward person in general. Or maybe it's because I no longer had any romantic interest in this guy but was just shell-shocked that he wanted to go on a date with me! Because, remember, I was just a kid to him.

Anyway, after our date we both got busy and didn't talk as much. He moved to Chicago and I went back to California. He met someone and they started dating. I graduated from college, moved back home, and started Grad school. But like I said about Facebook, it keeps us in the loop. He and I still occasionally post comments on each others' pages. And I was able to see through my news feed that he proposed to his girlfriend over the weekend and she said yes. That girl turned out to be his One.

Why is this important? Well, he came into my life twice. The first time, he inspired that screenplay. He was my muse. The second time, we were there to help each other through our respective failed relationships. Even though that date was awkward, it was a date. It made me feel like even though I had just been rejected by my ex, I was still dateable to someone else. And for him, well, I like to think maybe I was a stepping stone for him before meeting his One. Maybe I'm giving myself too much credit. Ah, screw it. I can remember things the way I want to. It's my life.