Crushing on Snape

**If you haven't read the Potter books or have yet to see the newest movie and plan to, you might want to stop reading right here.**

I went to see the final Harry Potter film last Friday with one thing on my mind: Snape.

Okay, so I also had "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE LAST ONE" on my mind, but ever since I finished book 7 at 2:30 in the morning in July of 2007 with soaking tissues EVERYWHERE, Snape has burrowed in my heart. 

Alan Rickman played Severus Snape brilliantly throughout the entire series, so I had no doubt his big scene in the finale would prove heartbreaking. It was. Even now, days later, I'm not really thinking about Harry finally sticking it to Voldie, I'm still thinking about Snape; the greatest closet romantic ever written.  

Scabior! Scrivener! What?

First of all, those of you who saw HPandtheDH part 1... did you think of Captain Jack Sparrow every time you saw Scabior?

Obviously (and regretfully), he's NOT Johnny Depp, but I couldn't help thinking this was the look they were going for with him.  

Moving on... as my Christmas portrait sessions have mostly wrapped up (that was a completely unintentional pun), I'm ALMOST ready to get some serious writing done!  The always awesome Kim Franklin shared with me a writing program called Scrivener. She's doing the trial version right now and so far, LOVES it.  I have to say, from what she says, it's pretty fantastic.  Keeps your writing projects organized to the MAX!! 

So for all of the writers out there who are Mac users (fear not, PCs! Your version is coming!!), have you tried it? What do you think? Never heard of it? Interested now?

I plan to give this puppy a try after Christmas when the portrait biz is slower than the molasses I usually put in my gingerbread cookies but I have no occasion to make them this year :)

Harry Potter 7 Part 1 Will Go Down in History As....

The first movie I ever saw by myself!!

That's right!  I went to see it by myself! I couldn't wait for a week or two when hubs would finally agree to go see it with me, or for my mom to finish watching 4, 5, and 6 to be ready to see 7.  I had to go NOW!

I went Friday morning while all the kiddies were in school, so it was just me and a bunch of middle-aged house wives--and that one young mother who brought her crying infant with her in the back of the room.  Hello... time to suck it up and get a babysitter!  Don't subject all of us who paid $12 to hear the score in HD to your screaming tot.

I really enjoyed the movie... every bit of it!  It's always interesting to me to see what choices they will make converting the book (which is extremely detailed) into a visual.  People get cut out, the storyline gets tightened.... on the whole, I think they did very well, and I can't think of anything I was disappointed by.  It was intense, emotional, humorous right when we needed it to be...  I'm SO ready for part two, but I know I'll be devastated when it's all over. 

I buy a lot of movie scores to listen to while I write, and I sampled this one by Alexandre Desplat (who also did New Moon--very well too, I might add), but didn't think too much about it.  After I saw the movie though, I think I might ask for that one for Christmas.

Have you seen it yet?  What did you think? 

Who's Counting?

Whoever says, "...but who's counting?" is usually the one that's doing counting, right?  

These days, I'm counting a lot of things...

CALORIES

This past Friday I started counting calories (again).  Seriously though, that extra 20 pounds I thought I had to lose is now magically 30.  Yeah... that blasted scale.  I'll tell you WHAT, if you don't want to know, don't get on it, but if you do, there is no greater motivator.  Simply working out has NOT been cutting it, so I'm back to counting everything that goes in my mouth, and I'm only drinking water--which isn't too hard, since it's pretty much all I drink anyway.  Since Friday, I've been between 1200-1500 a day (the goal is 1400, as it's too dangerous to go below 1200 a day, especially while working out).

I know what you're saying... how many health kicks can this girl go through in a year?!

At least one more ;)

PHOTO SESSIONS

Now that the job security blanket has been thrown out, I've been counting how many sessions I book--there is a certain number of sessions I need a month to make what I made at my former job.  

Am I there yet? 

Not even close.  

But I'm still counting.

EDITED PHOTOS

I count how many photos I edit per session, yes I do. 

BLOG COMMENTS

I like to see the number of comments that come through, not gonna lie. 

DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

40 days to go people.  Have I bought anything yet? 

No.

$ 

It's pretty important to have an idea of what's coming in... and making sure there is less going out.

Anyone know of good coupon resources? Because I'm considering being a coupon cutter....

DAYS UNTIL HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PT1

Oh yes, I am.  I'm planning to go Friday at some point.  I always say I want to wait for the big releases to die down a bit, but the trailer looks SO stinking exciting, I don't think I can wait.

What are you counting?

Busy Little Bee... and Inspired by JK Rowling (again)....

Well I thought I'd be a better blogger now that I'm working from home, but as you all can see.... that hasn't happened yet.  I'm busy busy busy and still haven't caught up.  Which, I'm thankful I have business coming in, but apparently I'm the type that gets this little stress layer under the skin if I can't catch up, like, EVER.  As soon as I get close to catching up, I add two or three more sessions into the mix.  I know, I know, I should only be THANKFUL and just keep pluggin away.. and I am.  I just hope this stress layer doesn't catch on fire and burn me out.  I guess it's up to me not to let it. 

On a very cool and happy side note, I scored a booth for Kristin Rae Photography at a Christmas market a school is hosting this December! Two days!!!  I won't actually be TAKING photos here... I'm just promoting my services to get my name out there. 
I'm already figuring out the set up of my first booth ever and all the fun things I want to offer--Gift certificates, email sign up sheet, maybe a drawing???  And my mind has been going crazy with booth decoration ideas.  I am so excited! I just need two customers out of it to make up for what I'm putting into the booth. :)

So... anyone catch the JK Rowling interview on Oprah?  There's just something about her story, you know?  It's so one of a kind, probably never to be repeated however we all may dream about making that happen.  The Harry Potter series did everything a writer aspires to--books that get people reading (children and adults!), turned into a series of hit movies that are so well done they stay true to the essence of the books, a theme park bringing the words from the pages to life..... it's just incredible. I haven't been able to write much the past couple of months, but since watching her interview, I'm definitely inspired to make time for it (somewhere...).  Though my writing aspirations are focused on just getting PUBLISHED!