Harry Potter Mania

After months of waiting and speculation, I wondered if I would be like one of those people you see in the newspapers who queue's for hours on end waiting for that perfect gadget or first edition book. In truth, I may be a little impatient but I can sure wait a few hours until the queues died down to get the latest copy of Harry Potter.

As I do every weekend I go see my mom in hospital, and we chat... Well, it tends to be me who does most of the talking. I know it's so hard to believe, because i'm normally such a quiet person. I tell her all the news over the last week and let her know the ins and outs of the Stargate fandom. I try not to take offence as she closes her eyes... because she's obviously trying to picture what the Stargate fandom could be like. ;)

*cough*

So, I bid her farewell and head off to the shop to get my Harry Potter book: Deathly Hallows all 607 pages of pure escapism. *squee* It does the job as SGA is on hiatus, and I can only 'squee' now and again thanks to some yummies (Thank you, Mr M) until it airs on September 28th! Don't forget to mark it in your calenders. Only 65 more sleeps! Woohoo. Sorry, i'm getting carried away now. So, Deathly Hallows. It's been a very very long time since i've had a few hours to myself and I get the opportunity to sit down and read a book. So, I set myself a few hours to read, as i'm one of those people that once they start a book, I find it extremely hard to put it down (especially when it's a good book). So, I timed myself to start it early, then finish it off before going to see my mom. That was the plan. But alas, the more engrossed I became the faster I read, but obviously not fast enough. And there was no way on Earth i'd finish it before seeing mom on the Sunday.

So... *bows head in shame* I have a confession to make to my mom. Mom, i'm sorry, but I didn't come and see you on Sunday because I was... too engrossed in Harry Potter! I feel so ashamed. I blew my mother off to spend quality time with a book. Now obviously i'm not going to get the daughter of the year award after this. So how do I break it to her? I'm really bad at lying, I start stroking my nose (obviously subconsciously emulating Pinocchio) and am wondering what the heck am I going to say to my mother! Any ideas?

I was in work on Monday and one of the girls was asking who had died, in Harry Potter, not because I looked so guilty at not seeing mom. Ha! I thought I was a spoiler whore. Trust me i'm nothing compared to her! So as not to spoil it for anyone else, I wrote it on a bit of paper and handed it to her.A shriek of shock escaped her lips, and for the twenty minutes I had to go over the plot of the story and tell her what happened! I didn't mind, because with all the questions she was asking, I honestly thought she was interested. "So, when are you going to read the book then?" I asked excitedly so that we could compare notes. "Oh i'm not going to read it, i'll wait for the film to come out." I did the math. It was going to be at least two years before it came out. Shocked, I asked her why she wasn't going to read it. Her answer, "I can't be bothered!" Great! Next time i'm going to keep my mouth shut.

Anyway, getting back to the book. I won't spoil it for you for those that haven't read it yet, but personally I thought it had action, angst and oh my goodness lots of whump *wants that for Shep*. But I have to say the final ending just didn't sit right with me. It felt off... wrong. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was, but needless to say, I'm not fussed on cheesy endings, but it did smell of Vieux Boulogne. Maybe it was just me? But, at the end of reading certain books, I sort of like the fact that things aren't always... neatly wrapped up, shall we say! I like to use my imagination on certain endings. I enjoy those little strings that keep me hanging on and keep me on the edge of my seat, and keep me wondering. Even though I know it's the last book, I just wished for a different ending to what we got. I'd rather it had finished at the end of chapter 36, and left the readers with our own imaginations about what lay in store for the future! But, hey, that's just me, I like a bit of mystery regarding characters to keep me guessing as well as to keep my interest. For me, if you know 'everything' about a character including the future, then where's the excitement? Where's the suspense? Where does you imagination take you from that point on? Okay now i'm rambling, so I think it's time to call it a day.

Answers on what to tell my mom on a post card please!No stamp required. ;)

Phobia

Fear can save you or it can hinder you. I have a couple of fears, but to me there is nothing worse than a visit to the dentist. My heart palpates and I hate it so much that even sitting in the chair feels like a fate worse than death! Yeah, I know, i'm over exaggerating again, but well I wouldn't be me otherwise, would I? ;) For the last few months, I have taken everything available on the market to alleviate my toothache; which includes oil of cloves (which stunk the office out, much to the chagrin of my colleagues) to acupressure. Finally after much cajoling from colleagues, friends and family, I bit the bullet.

Standing outside the dentist surgery, I tried to convince myself that everything was okay and that the pain really wasn't bad... (getting up at 3am to put a pack of cold peas on my cheek didn't even convince me) :P So, there I was, looking through the window contemplating whether to go in or not, the pain, as I said wasn't too bad at that moment. It really had nothing to do with the fact that an hour earlier i'd taken enough pain meds to sink a battleship. Everything was fine, and that's what I kept telling myself over and over again. Finally after ten minutes of walking up to the door then walking away, I relented. That familiar sensation of dread built up and I was ushered into a side room with (I have to say) a very nice dentist. But she made her first mistake by wanting me to sit in the big chair! Was she nuts? She reassured me that she wouldn't do anything that time, so I sat down holding my breath. "You have to actually open your mouth." She told me. Right, I suppose that would help diagnose the problem. But then, she got an instrument out and went to poke it in my mouth. "What are you doing?" I cried out in protest. "I need to tap the tooth to make sure it's still alive." She told me calmly. Trust me the bloody things been killing me for months. I can categorically say that it's alive and out for vengeance!

Putting away the instrument, she then once more proceeded to look inside my mouth. With my heart pounding away, I held my breath for what seemed like an eternity, and then she said "All done, you can breath now." Thank goodness, I was becoming slightly lightheaded. She told me very nicely that I could get out of the chair before I had a heart attack from the fear! Nice lady, she obviously knows me well.

So when she told me that i'd have to have treatment (because i'd left it so long) I was not a happy camper. However, she did assure me that she would sedate me. Bless her little cotton socks. With that, my friend said she'd come with me on the next visit to hold my hand, and make sure I didn't say or do anything stupid. Not that I would of course, but given my healthy obsession with shirtless Shep, I might say a few things i'd regret, especially as she knows nothing about 'The Quest'. Secretly I think she only agreed to come with me, so that she could laugh at things she thought I would say under sedation! Ha! No chance, i've been sedated before and never said anything ridiculous.... Until yesterday.

With a brave face, and Valium taken, my friend came with me yesterday. And it was only today I actually find out all the things i'd said... Apparently even under sedation my fear knows no bounds, as I refused to open my mouth to get the treatment. Well, at least i'm consistent. :o) In the end they apparently had to bring my friend in to co-operate. I'm never going to live that down. After surgery, I was taken into a side room, where my blood pressure rocketed as I once more realised that I was in a dentist chair. Alarmed that my blood pressure was sky high, the dentist told my friend not to worry, as if I was in any danger i'd start fitting! There's a comforting thought! Apparently she (my friend) asked me if I was ok as soon as the alarm bells sounded. The only thing I vaguely recollect is that I remember looking at her, and noticed that she had 3 heads; which surprisingly didn't freak me out, but from her account, it did freak her out, lol. As she panicked, I apparently found the whole thing hilarious and began giggling like a school girl at my three headed friend and the two headed doctor. I think the fact that I wasn't freaked out by my friend having several heads means I might be watching too much Sci-Fi. But, it has to be said, it could potentially hold me in good stead if we're ever approached by ET! ;)

So, as I recovered slightly and headed out to pay, with my friend holding me up. The lady told me the cost and I handed over a £20 note. It's £200, not £20 she told me. I remember looking at the note, and I definitely saw a £200 note. Now, in my defence I know there is no £200 in circulation, but she could have at least humoured me until I came back to reality!

I still even now have no idea how I got home or what else was said, but my friend has been having lots of fun today telling staff about my little escapades. I'll have to try and find a way to get my own back now!

That's one thing i'd love to see in SGA S4... No not someone going to the dentist, but a phobia of some sorts. Sheppard is the perfect choice to explore this, with his fear and loathing of bugs. And who knows we might get to see him go a bit nuts and lose it for a while. I don't think having a hero lose it, takes away anything from the character, or makes them any less heroic. In fact the opposite is true, as it makes them more human, and people can identify with those feelings and fears to some degree. So i'm going to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best. Mr M, if you ever read this, please can we have Shep not be the hero and losing the plot.... and on that subject maybe he could lose his shirt at the same time. *puts on her most cheekiest of expressions* ;o)

Race for life

Oh my, I have rambled on a bit. So as usual, go pee then grab yourself a beverage, you might be a while. Sorry. Some people are suspicious when it's Friday the 13th, and I am one of those people. Everything was going swimmingly without any problems on this fateful day. For a whole 6 hours I thought i'd escaped the curse. Alas it was not to be. As I left work early to attend a friend's leaving do, we had a late lunch at a lovely restaurant while a few of us stayed behind to gossip, as our remaining co-workers trundled back to the office. So there we were, having a good old chinwag about the goings on, and we find out that certain people are having an affair right under our very noses. One of whom was under me! Thankfully not literally, as he's a bit of a weasel. That same person was whom was sent to assist me. As it turned out, all the times he kept disappearing was to see her. It all makes sense now. I asked my new boss (apparently my old one became too exasperated with me... I wonder why?) *puts on her most innocent expression* So anyway, I asked my new boss why if they new these shenanigans were going on, that she put 'him' with me. 'Well I knew you could sort him out!' I never realised I had such a reputation!

After our gossip session ended we headed out to the pub, but I left early to get some last minute things for the race. Heading off I got what was necessary and headed to the till, only to have my card rejected. The first time, could simply have been an error, and as the queue formed behind me, I tried to hide my embarrassment once more as it failed to go through a second and third time. Shocked and appalled I took out 'old faithful' my mom's credit card. Thankfully it worked and I left the shop with heavy heart.

To try and sort this problem out, I headed to the bank whereby I waited for 30 minutes to see someone about this predicament. After too long a wait it turns out it was their error and they'd inadvertently cancelled my card as it was due to expire. Nice of them to let me know! So with about £1.50 in my purse I still hadn't acquired what I needed. A very necessary item called a 'stopemfloppin' for the race. Heading into town, I headed for the lingerie department whereby I was greeted by a very... excitable assistant, who was very nice, but a bit too fond of playing with things that she had no business playing with! All under the guise of 'helping me' find that perfect 'stopemfloppin'. In the end, I told her that it had been some time since someone had helped me dress and that I could manage perfectly well, thank you, before making a hasty retreat.

As I headed for the train home, I learned the trains were cancelled due to a fallen tree, and that I would have to get onto a replacement bus. No problem you'd think wouldn't you? But this is me, and my life is never that straight forward. So after being delayed for an hour already, I got told by the train driver that instead of getting a replacement bus, I could wait for a few minutes until the next train was due (as they'd just about finished clearing the track). Sweet. So, I waited. Then said stupid driver said he was only having a laugh and that we could be waiting a while. We'll see how much he's laughing when his boss finds out! So, by the time I got to where the buses were supposed to be, they had all left and I was left stranded; with pittance in my pocket and no money in my phone. Great! I headed for the bus stop with a hand full of coppers in my purse (that's nickel's and dimes to the US folk). And hope that i'd have enough money to get home. "£2.35" said the bus driver. Crap. He obviously must have seen my face and said, how much have you got on you? "How far will £1.50 take me?" I asked him, thinking I might have to walk the rest of the way. Bless that man's heart, he obviously took pity on me and accepted what I had. And finally I was on my way home after 2 1/2 hours on a journey that takes 15 minutes tops!

For those that haven't given up reading... sorry i'm a bit long- winded today. :o) I completed my Race for life today and raised £164 for Cancer research (see previous blog on the trial and suffering of Cheeky's quest) :P

I've been excitable about this race for months, purely because people have said that there was no way I would have finished the race with all my medical problems. Ha! They obviously don't know me when i'm on a mission... or on a quest. :P The chunky one in pink (thanks to the steroids) is me. Now 5km may not seem a lot to some people, but to me it's like running a marathon, as on good days I struggle to walk up a flight of steps. BUT, when Cheeky is on a quest, pain knows no bounds. *g* I have wanted to do this race for a couple of years now, since my dad and my auntie died of cancer. And I finally got the opportunity. Seeing everyone (2000 women participating) and all the reasons they were running (signs on their backs saying whom they are racing for), did make me emotional before the race. But, I held it together, and with the Rocky Theme tune, and Walk a thousand miles blasting away on my stereo, I was determined to finish it, even if it was on my hands and knees. My best time so far had been 1 hour and ten minutes, and that was (I thought) a fluke, because I was pissed off! Lol. So for the last week i've been trying to get the staff to make me angry to get my mojo going. So between that and the whole day before fiasco, I set off. My friend and her mom were running and were going to meet me at the finish line. A few times along the way I did get a bit upset, so many memories, and feelings go through you when you do something like this. But with my dad with me (so to speak) nothing would stop me. As the Rocky theme belted out I finally saw the finish line in my sights, a good friend spurred me on for the last 10 minutes shouting encouragement from the sidelines. Bless his little cotton socks. Finally I saw the 'finish line' banner and my friends waiting to cheer me on. Excited at seeing them I turned round to wave them thanks and tripped over my own two feet! Did I mention that I was a klutz? Recovering in quick style I sprinted towards the finish line to get my medal and much needed water and was overjoyed at my time of 57 minutes!

Surprised and delighted to have actually finished, I couldn't believe how I held it together, that was until my friends came over to tell me how proud my Dad would have been. Hello floodgates! Lol. We hugged for several minutes remembering why we were racing. My friend who had lost her nan, my other friend who had lost her mom, and me losing my Dad and Aunty. As we cheered the last walkers on, we couldn't stop grinning like Cheshire cats. Gasping for liquid refreshments we headed for the pub for ten minutes, until we all began to seize up, and then it was time to say goodbye to each other and have another cry.

I'm apparently being hoodwinked to do a Santa run in December and am expected to beat my time. That should be very interesting! As I sit here typing up my blog, every muscle aches, but it's a good ache if you know what I mean. So with whumping myself today, and a dentist visit on Tuesday *grabs the Valium* It must be whump Cheeky week. So on researching 'quests' it did fortell that I would have to overcome obstacles and the like. Thankfully I didn't have to jump over the fences at Aintree racecourse as part of my quest. ;) But phase II continues for Shirtless Shep. I hope it's all worth it in the end... Oh my I can't believe that came out of my mouth! Ignore me it must be the medication making me normal. :P

*kicks blog*