1. Reading Harry Potter is like visiting old friends that you haven't seen in while. You get to see how they're feeling and what's going on in their lives.
2. I always catch something new every time I read HP. JK is a wonderfully thorough writer, and she has beautifully integrated symbols, ideas, and foreshadowing throughout all seven books.
3. I always actually laugh out loud. Not every book can make me laugh every time I read it. The series is hilarious, and JK has mastered the difficult task of humor writing. Fred and George are the most well-written comic relief characters I have ever seen.
4. Neville Longbottom.
5.I like to catch inconsistencies in the series. Even though JK is incredibly thorough, she still misses a few things, such as the password to Dumbledore's office being "lemon drop" in Chamber of Secrets mistaken for "sherbet lemon" in Goblet of Fire. (I was incredibly excited when I discovered this).
6. Harry Potter was the first chapter book I read by myself in the second grade. My mom started reading it out loud but I got inpatient and stole it from her nightstand and read it by myself. I had to take the AR test in the "big kids" classroom in my two-room elementary school.
7. I grew up with Harry Potter. I was with him from the beginning and again at the end. The dedication for the Deathly Hallows might have made me cry.
8. I read to escape. I've never found a more complete world in which to escape.
9. There will always be people I can relate to through Harry Potter. Having the same obsession as someone else is the fastest way to make friends.
10. It's how I keep the magic alive.
and for Professor Minskoff:
https://twitter.com/awkward_addy
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
How to Keep from Going Crazy in Caldwell over Spring Break
It's starting to look like Spring around the College of Idaho, and with Spring comes the wonderful realization that Spring break is approaching. A whole week off from crazy professors, tedious homework assignments, and the underlying feeling of dread when you realize you forgot to do your online Spanish homework for the second time in a row. But what to do with a whole week of freedom? The end of March isn't exactly swimsuit season in Caldwell, so a nice trip to Lake Lowell is probably out. Getting far away from Caldwell and the sugar beet refinery is probably preferable, but what if you can't escape the campus because you live in China or North Dakota or some equally foreign land? I give you seven ideas for Spring Break activities right here in little ole Caldwell:
1. Find a New Hang Out
Believe it or not, Caldwell has some pretty cool coffee shops. There is Imelda's, which is right next to the campus, across the street from Anderson. Most of the students are aware of this little restaurant but perhaps have never ventured inside. Then there's The Bird Stop, a cute little coffee house on Arthur Street that is actually pretty cool. They sometimes have live music or an open mic and they're working on getting a lunch menufr together. You could also walk through the historical district of down town Caldwell (which deserves its own category) to the Caldwell Public Library. You could work on your break-assigned essay in a new environment or even (gasp!) read a book! The Flying M in Boise is an obvious must.
2. Take a Hike
No really. The Boise foothills and the Owyhee mountains are great places to spend an afternoon. Go find the waterfall up Jump Creek, or climb up to Table Rock at night to see the automated beauty of Boise at night.
3. Grab a Burger
Caldwell is home to three amazing burger joints. Jack's Drive-In, Hamburger Connection, and The Gem Stop serve quality burgers and frickin' fantastic milkshakes (be sure to try the pink elephant from Jack's). Take advantage of the caf being closed and go get some real food.
4. Hold a Marathon
A week off from school means the lobby of your dorm might be more vacant than usual (unless you live in Voorhees, but then the people living in the lobby will probably approve of this plan). This is an opportune time to get together for some trilogy time. Star Wars, LOTR, Indiana Jones... heck, you could watch all 8 Harry Potter movies in a week (I've done it). Get some friends, get some popcorn, make some memories.
5. Play Your Favorite Video Game from Start to Finish
I recently started playing Pokemon for the first time ever. My starter just evolved; brb need to go work on my pokedex.
6. Netflix
Breaking Bad. How I Met Your Mother. Psych. Dr. Who. Avatar: the Last Air Bender. 30 Rock. Lost. Whatever. Start a show, become a fan, get inside jokes on the Internet.
ALSO! Netflix is adding Adventure Time and Regular Show as well as some Adult Swim content at the end of March. Mathematical.
7. Start an Art Project
Especially for those of you trapped in PEAK and unable to take any art or writing classes. Start a project! A week is a long time to spend perfecting a poem or painting a masterpiece portrait of the squirrels on campus. Utilize this time to your artistic advantage.
1. Find a New Hang Out
Believe it or not, Caldwell has some pretty cool coffee shops. There is Imelda's, which is right next to the campus, across the street from Anderson. Most of the students are aware of this little restaurant but perhaps have never ventured inside. Then there's The Bird Stop, a cute little coffee house on Arthur Street that is actually pretty cool. They sometimes have live music or an open mic and they're working on getting a lunch menufr together. You could also walk through the historical district of down town Caldwell (which deserves its own category) to the Caldwell Public Library. You could work on your break-assigned essay in a new environment or even (gasp!) read a book! The Flying M in Boise is an obvious must.
2. Take a Hike
No really. The Boise foothills and the Owyhee mountains are great places to spend an afternoon. Go find the waterfall up Jump Creek, or climb up to Table Rock at night to see the automated beauty of Boise at night.
3. Grab a Burger
Caldwell is home to three amazing burger joints. Jack's Drive-In, Hamburger Connection, and The Gem Stop serve quality burgers and frickin' fantastic milkshakes (be sure to try the pink elephant from Jack's). Take advantage of the caf being closed and go get some real food.
4. Hold a Marathon
A week off from school means the lobby of your dorm might be more vacant than usual (unless you live in Voorhees, but then the people living in the lobby will probably approve of this plan). This is an opportune time to get together for some trilogy time. Star Wars, LOTR, Indiana Jones... heck, you could watch all 8 Harry Potter movies in a week (I've done it). Get some friends, get some popcorn, make some memories.
5. Play Your Favorite Video Game from Start to Finish
I recently started playing Pokemon for the first time ever. My starter just evolved; brb need to go work on my pokedex.
6. Netflix
Breaking Bad. How I Met Your Mother. Psych. Dr. Who. Avatar: the Last Air Bender. 30 Rock. Lost. Whatever. Start a show, become a fan, get inside jokes on the Internet.
ALSO! Netflix is adding Adventure Time and Regular Show as well as some Adult Swim content at the end of March. Mathematical.
7. Start an Art Project
Especially for those of you trapped in PEAK and unable to take any art or writing classes. Start a project! A week is a long time to spend perfecting a poem or painting a masterpiece portrait of the squirrels on campus. Utilize this time to your artistic advantage.
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