The Birth of the Professor

Top 10 moments (good or bad) from Vesper's Labor and Delivery:

10: Vesper waking up with intense back labor at midnight on Wednesday March 26(umm I suppose actually Thursday morning then?). Even though its painful she is thrilled because that was the day she was supposed to be induced and she didn't really want to be induced.

9: After waiting 6 hours to go to triage (because we didn't want any chance of being sent home) we go in and luckily they decide at 3cm dilation and 90% effacement they will keep her, and her doctor says she can have an epidural at any time.

8: The whirlpool tub in the bathroom. Sitting in there for a bit was nice, and helped ease the back pain a little. All I have to say is I want one!!!! Unfortunately since back labor sucks, Vesper throws up twice and continues on the rest of the day on ice chips (not in the tub, eww that's gross!).

7: After 12 hours of labor, getting an epidural. Seriously, it was heaven!!! I truly admire those who can go with out one, especially if they have back labor, because it was AWFUL!! Vesper's Dr breaks her water after the epidural is in place.

6: The Angel of Mercy Nurse is the most awesome night nurse. She sponge bathed me and made sure I was cozy and then left Gawain and I alone, something the other nurses had not done the entire day (By this time it was like 8pm on Thursday (if you're counting that's 20 hours of labor by now) and I was only at 7cm and 95% effaced). The Dr (who was not MY Dr) lets me know baby is fine, but if I don't progress, "this baby has to come out somehow......."

5: Being alone with Gawain for awhile. Again A.M. Nurse ROCKS! Gawain and I just napped for awhile while the Dr was performing a c-section or two. When she gets back (around midnight, now 24 hours into labor) she is thrilled that I am finally 9cm and 100% effaced.

4: The epidural wearing off twice. Once around 8pm (luckily I got a boost) and again right before it was time to push. Oh yeah, and having an internal monitor for measuring contractions, that was interesting as well.

3: The Dr. sticking her hand up there and turning the baby the right way. I'm just SO glad I had half an epidural working.

2: 1am: DR: "Oh my goodness you're +3 its time to push, see there is his head!!!" A.M. Nurse and Gawain start coaching me while Dr goes and does one more c-section. When she gets back to catch, both her and A.M. Nurse are impressed with Gawain's coaching skills.

Dr: You are a great doula!

Gawain: I'm not a doula, I'm a Dudela!

And the number one moment from Gawain and Vesper's birth experience:::::::::::

1: Professor X being born at 147am on March 28, 2008. After almost 26 hours of labor and only 40min of pushing (thank goodness!) He popped out weighing 8lbs 15.6oz and measuring 21 in long. (DR: "Vesper look at him!! This is a huge baby!! I"m going to have to come back and see how much he weighs!")

The X-Man has arrived!

I thought that we should take this time to announce the arrival of X-man into the world. Vesper valiantly delivered him at 1:47 AM on March 28th after 25 hours and 47 minutes of labor. (Now all of you know not to mess with Vesper...she'll outlast you any day) I believe the common information to provide is that he weighted in at 8lbs 15.6oz and was 21 inches long. I'm sure Vesper will write a bit later concerning the labor and the new man in our lives. But...in the mean time, please take time to enjoy these pictures.

In which I may be described as "all baby", but dude, Baby is HUGE!!

Inspired by the beautiful shots of my friend and her pregnant belly done by a professional photographer (lucky), I thought I would share some of my own. She is due only a couple of weeks after me, but she looks a lot tiny-er than I look! Not fair! I hope that you will agree, based on recent posts, that its time for Baby X to burst forth!!(at least that's how I feel!) ps: I would link to the said beautiful belly shots of my friend, but no permission and true identities are revealed at her site, so I must refrain in order to protect, trust me when I say they are very cute though!

In the beginning, there were tiny boobs, a semblance of a waistline, and a poofy butt from poofy butted capri pants (or just a poofy butt)

Now there are bigger boobs, no semblance of a waistline, a bamboon butt from my couch in the background, and a huge load of laundry to be folded. At least Froggy is cute!

Beacuse its so bizarre, of course I have to share!

As I near the end of my pregnancy, I thought I would share with the interweb something truly bizarre. I'm sure every pregnant lady out there has seen this before, but still, you have to admit, its totally weird!!!!! I guess he wants out as much as I want him out! Due date is still set for the 20th. Any bids on size?

(Ummm...I guess its kind of long (17 sec) so you don't have to watch the whole thing...just enough to be weirded out)

Tagged!!

So Marie was so kind to consider Gawain and I to be tagged. The deal is we write 7 things about us that everyone may or may not know. Here I go:

1. I am officially the biggest band geek you know. I started in 6th grade and stayed with it through 12th grade. I can play the trumpet, trombone, baritone, euphonium, and piano. My senior year of high school, I played in the marching band, jazz band, two concert bands, and was an assistant drum major and elected band president. oye.

2. My sister and I used to be obsessed with stealing bathroom signs. This also lumped over into stealing any sign my friends and I could steal when we went to Vegas one time in college. I have since curbed that obsession.

3. I have really really really really really long arms. Its almost embarrassing! They were even measured once. From finger tip to fingertip I have a 6 foot long arm span. I can also do a "rubber girl" impression with my very long arms (think Ace Ventura when he is running through the woods after being shot with African tribal darts and his arms are going numb)(start at 45 sec to see full fledged rubber arm action, and yes I can do that)

4. I have met Dale Chihuly on multiple occasions. He is very nice, but shy. I have also nannied his son on a couple of occasions. He is very bratty and whiny.

5. My favorite job I've ever had was working as a server at Joe's Crab Shack. I had to dance every 30 min (not like a stripper, like doing the Cotton Eyed Joe and the Macarana). It was the most funnest job in the world!!!!!

6. Gawain and I got to go to Vancouver, BC and see U2 perform for their Vertigo tour. My ticket won us the chance to go into the "bomb shelter", or the inner part of the pit to be right next to the stage. It was literally the fence in front of the stage, a crazy couple from Miami, and then us. I am now in love with The Edge.

7. Although I deny that I ever did it on purpose, everyone around me (meaning my sister) swears that when we were little, I used to swing on a see saw on our swing set and call her over and try to hit her on purpose. I think she was just stupid and would walk in front of me when I was swinging. Either way, she got hit on more than one occasion from my swinging on the see saw.

There you have it! Please don't think less of me!

Our Ride On the Magic Mitt Mobile

While in Florida on January 22nd of this year Vesper's dad took us to hear Mitt Romney give a speech at the Jewish Republican Coalition in Boca Raton. Like I'm sure most politicians are, Mitt Romney was quite convincing. (Though, I must say I was quite impressed the Mr. Romney did not refer to notes of any kind during his 45 minutes speech and subsequent question and answer session. I know that such facts have zero baring on his fitness to be President, but worth noting none the less) As interesting as this Jewish political gathering we were a part of was (being not Jewish) that is not what this blog is about. This blog is about what took place after the formal speech. (As a side bar - Vesper and I are still quite ambivalent about which candidate(s) we really like or want to vote for. But Vesper's father on the other hand loves Mitt Romney with a love that will not die, nor will it fade. He hosts phone banks at his home to call other registered republicans in the states that are holding primaries soon to try and persuade them to vote for Mitt. The campaign provides prepaid cellular phones, call lists, and scripts) After the speech, some area campaign rep. comes up to Flint (Vesper's dad) and asks him if he would be willing to drive the Mitt Mobile up to the Orlando area. "The Governor" (the fact that the campaign referred to Mitt as "The Governor" every time he was mentioned was a highlight of the day) was taking a flight up to do some more campaigning, but the Mitt Mobile still needed to get up north. Flint said that he had to work but that Vesper and I weren't doing anything so we'd be able to. After talking it over, and initially resisting, we talked about it and Vesper had friends that she wanted to see in Orlando anyways so we agreed to make the 2 1/2 hour drive north up the turn pike.

After speaking with a higher up Mitt Romney campaign rep and getting instructions on where and how to pick up the Mitt Mobile (the Mitt Mobile will further more be referred to as the "MM" to stave off the inevitable onset of carpal tunnel) I envisioned a quick get away so we would have time to make it to Orlando before rush hour traffic and see Vesper's friend before her 3 little ones had to get to bed. This was most certainly not to be. First, we found out there was an appointment to get the oil changed on the MM. That took a good 40 minutes of our time. Then Flint just about begged us to bring the MM by his work so he could take pictures. That cost us another 30 minutes. Now, I must admit, though my heart was blackening by the second with the delays it was a treat to see the huge goofy smile on Flint's face. I haven't seen such a look of joy on his face in quite some time. (He celebrated by lifting a bunch of incidental paraphernalia from the MM) Lastly, and most necessarily, we had to swing by Vesper's folks' place to grab some gear for the road trip. We were in our best and spit-shined from the earlier rally/speech, and that is no state to be in for a road trip. That cost us another half hour.
Now, I would be lying if I didn't say that when we stopped over to get our things for the trip if we didn't stop and make a thorough tour of the MM and catalog everything that we saw.

The above sticker is what greets any visitor upon entering the MM. The thing that made me laugh in this picture were the children's toys in the open cupboards. (Notice the red "Eragon" book) I also thought it was neat he had one of his dad's campaign stickers displayed prominently.

Vesper and I survived mostly on the contents of the small kitchenette that was part of the MM. Though the fridge contained amazingly rancid feta cheese, the rest of the stock was pretty good, and mostly non-perishable.

Have you ever tried to imagine the splendor of the campaign trail? The opulence that the candidates lavish upon themselves whilst lying to the masses? Well, here it is. The master (and only) suite in the MM.


Of course, I couldn't pass up on a shot of the bathroom. Do you notice a flushing mechanism in this picture? I didn't either the first time I gazed upon this washroom, but I was full to bursting so I utilized the room regardless. Well, poor Vesper had to use the facilities later on as well, and as horrible as the smell was in there, I can't help but believe she was secretly very thankful I only engaged in numero uno. (She then proceeded to show me a foot pedal that flushed the toilet. My RV rank was revoked to novice.)

We greatly enjoyed the patriotic air fresheners.

Here is an example of what Flint made off with earlier in the narrative and a very fat looking hand.

Here is where Vesper and I spent the majority of our time on the trip. The amazing cabin of the MM that did not have adjustable chairs. (Let's just say that my pelvis probably could have handled steering duties) Though we did not utilize the TV or the DVD/VCR combo we were entertained by the small figures in the middle of the picture. Can you see them on the dashboard? Need a closer look? Well...here you are.

A Mitt Romney bobble head doll and a bizzare alligator head. I'm not sure if they are supposed to be some sort of commentary on his campaign or his relationship with the press, or perhaps his intentions upon winning the presidency, but anyway you cut it...it's just a tad disturbing. (Also, later on we discovered that Flint has the same bobble head on his desk at work)

Well, when we finally hit the turnpike we figured out why the Romney campaign folks didn't want to make the drive themselves, and were so gracious and thankful when we volunteered to do it. The MM reeled to and fro like a drunken man dropped upon burning coals covered in glass shards and angry piranhas. I kept checking out the trees along the turnpike to ensure that we weren't in the midst of a strong, swirling gale. I also often checked the road to make sure that there weren't any treacherous ruts that were the culprit of our cyclonic sloshing, but there were neither. The MM was simply a hurtling bullet of death and Vesper, our unborn/yet to be fake named child, and I were the gun powder. (If we extend this comparison I suppose the Mitt Romney campaign staffers were the cowards that pulled the trigger.) Though I soon acquired my sea legs Vesper was very tense to downright panicked at times during the trip. Much of the turnpike was under construction and the lanes would narrow or become difficult to navigate. The MM had about 6 inches of clearance on each side going through the toll booths. Also, we would somehow forget at times we were in a garishly painted campaign RV and be startled from time to time when folks would honk manically and wave their limbs at us.
After 90 minutes of the turnpike we mercifully pulled into a rest area to fill up the MM and get some treats. I had to disappoint a couple of different folks who asked if Mitt himself, or one of his sons was on the RV. After putting close to $200 dollars worth of gas into the MM we were off again.
As we neared Orlando we began to get a tad nervous. A campaign staffer was to call us with directions to where specifically we were to drop off the MM and we kept getting passed back and forth between staffers. After many nervous calls and rapidly diminishing patience we finally got a hold of the right person and he gave us the directions we needed. It wasn't that far, but we had to get through the heart of Orlando in rush hour, and it ended up taking an additional hour and a half. By the time we finally go to the Ramada (or whichever forsaken hotel we ended up at) we were absolutely toast. Again, the campaign rep that met us at the forsaken hotel was very gracious and full of the feral energy that only the converted possess. She kept talking about how she was only getting 2-3 hours of sleep now that the Florida primary was so soon, and all I kept thinking was how silly it seemed to give so much life for a political candidate. But, I suppose I should be happy for her since she found a candidate she can believe in so completely.

Can you see the great fatigue in our countenances?

We soon got our blessedly small rental car after dropping off the MM and had a splendidly relaxing dinner and evening alone. Unfortunately we were now over an hour away from Vesper's friend's home, so we rescheduled for breakfast the next day and wrapped up the day checking into a Holiday Inn or our own east of Kissimmee, were I proceeded to drink Vesper's contacts and contact solution the next morning. But that is a story for another day.
All in all I'm not sure what word I would used to describe the experience that we had transporting the MM. Exhausting would probably be the most apt one. It also felt a bit strange to talk about the campaign and pass out Mitt Romney stickers to those who asked since I really didn't (and don't) care one way or the other if he wins the nomination. I guess I felt like I was play acting, or deceiving these folks a little bit. I never said anything pro or con Romney (though the thought did cross my mind to be negative for the shock value of it), but it still felt like I was somewhat of a proxy for "The Governor" during the 5 1/2 hours we were in possession of the MM. Despite all of that, at least Vesper and I got a day that we will never forget instead of sitting around her parents house all day.

Where my girls at? From the front to back!

Once upon a time there were 5 very cute, smart, and popular blond haired blue eyed friends. They were the talk of the town and the life of every party. Every boy wanted them and every girl wanted to be them (in our minds anyway). They all eventually found guys that they allowed to marry them and there was much rejoicing. They would have only been TRULY happy if they all lived in 5 houses right in a row, but for now they would just have to find comfort and solice in their husbands/kids/pets.

Here we are in all our glory in front of our FAVORITE place RED ROBIN!

Just yummy sugar shots while we wait for our fries from RED ROBIN!

Small One about to go crazy because we aren't at RED ROBIN yet!

Flash forward about 5 years. It was now the 48th day of my (that is Vesper's) cycle and I was wondering where in the heck was my period??? I had taken a pregnancy test about a week and a half before and it had been negative (again!). I just wanted Aunt Flo to hurry up and come so I could get on with my life. On this particular morning, Gawain had gotten up to walk Froggy, and I decided that I would waste one more pregnancy test. This is what it said:

I was completely bewildered! Didn't it just say that I was't pregnant last week? I kind of walked in a fog that day and told Gawain after work. He was thrilled! I also was tricky and called Isabel to ask her who her OB/GYN was so that I would have a good one to go too. The next day I took my last pregnancy test, just to be sure. It was still positive!

A bean shaped thing growing inside Vesper that has a heartbeat!

I went to visit three of my four best girlfriends later that week. Small One looked so cute! She was pregnant with her second little boy and her 1st one was an absolute angel! Caboose also looked so happy. It been almost 4 years since I'd seen her and her 2 little boys were so cute and fun to play with. I was also extremely happy to see The Beast. She and her husband were letting me stay with them and we had a lot of fun cooking and torturing her husband (not cooking him, cooking for him!). I didn't tell them then since I hadn't had a dr. confirm that I was indeed with child, but I thought it was fun that Small One and I were pregnant at the same time.

We wish Mom could have been here to enjoy RED ROBIN with us!

A couple of months later, Small One and her hubby called to have me settle a bet for them. In the course of the phone call I let them know the "good news" and they also let me know that Mom was with child again. She hadn't been able to come to our little reunion seeing as she had just moved clear across the country and had 3 little ones and 2 huge dogs to look after. I was especially amused at her news because our due dates were within 2 weeks of each other!

A couple weeks after that, Caboose called to let me know that she was going to have a baby too! She was due only 2 days after Mom! At this, I was just like, this is SO weird!!! 4 out of 5 of us are preggers!!!!!! I would tell the Beast to hurry up and get pregnant, but she is v. busy studying v. hard at grad school to become an occupational therapist. Plus she's only got like 8 days b/c Small One is being induced on the 20th.

A crazy pregnant lady!!!!

I'm so happy for all of us! I only truly wish that we lived in five houses all in a row so that our kids could play and The Beast could do cognitive testing on all of them. That would truly be a perfect world. And also if we lived by a lake with a boat to zoom around in....

Congrats to everyone(you too Beast..I know you'll been done with school soon and that is really AWESOME!)

If only Charlie would have known about the 5 of us....he could have paid us in cute clothes and unlimited trips to RED ROBIN!

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Also, Congrats to Isabel on getting her own column! I'm excited to read her words of wisdom!

I'm with stupid, or How I almost died last night

So I must admit that I am blond. I feel I am not the typical blond, but I do have blond moments. These moments I am never very proud of.

Last night, Gawain and I bought a car! A new(er) car! Our first new(er) car! I wish that was what this post is about but its not.

Gawain was VERY nice and let me drive the new(er) car home from the dealership. Halfway home the dealership called and said "Wait you didn't give us a down payment!" Everyone was very excited when we left so both they and I totally forgot! I said I would turn around and come pay it right then.

When I got back in the car after paying the down payment, it was completely dark and I felt a little nervous because I was downtown, in an area I'm not very familiar with, and I am terrified of driving up hills in a stick, especially a new(er) car stick. But i decided I could do it, I would do it, and I would make it without getting lost!

It started to rain on the way home (typical) and I figured out how to work the wipers. This new(er) car was so fancy! I even programed my fav. radio stations and was rocking out to the music. Our old car had had the radio stolen from it so for the past 3 years I usually just drove around in silence. This was AWESOME!!! I only wished that the buttons were lit up better so I could tell what was the volume knob and what was the station knob.

The first 20 min of the drive home were uneventful. I went the normal way, going down a tiny freeway and through a darker industrial part of town. As I turned onto a street closer to ours, a car pulled out right in front of me and started acting all weird. It got in the lane next to mine and slowed down. I figured it wanted to admire my new(er) car in all of its awesomeness. As it kept acting this weird way and slowing down and speeding up next to me, all the way down the road, I started a very tiny freak out. We had opted not to get the security system, rationalizing that we could definitely find one cheaper than $700. What if this car was trying to follow me home to steal my precious new(er) car!?

I turned on my street, thankfully without being pursued, and got to my house. As I turned up my driveway, I noticed how terribly dark it was tonight. I was glad the neighbor we shared our driveway with wasn't home so I didn't have to maneuver too fancifully around her car with my new(er) car. As I got closer to our garage, I realized, with horror, that I should definitely have died at some point on my longish way home, and perhaps worse, wrecked the new(er) car!

I didn't have my lights on for the whole 10 mile journey from downtown to my house.

I just sat in the car for a second, thinking how completely stupid I was, trying to make up excuses for why I hadn't turned the lights on. I know I had been anxious about driving alone, downtown, at night, in the rain, where I might have to drive up hills in a stick, but still, that was NO EXCUSE for not turning the lights on. No wonder that car was acting so weird. The new(er) car is black so it was probably hard for him to see and that's why he turned out in front of me! I felt very embarrassed, too embarrassed to share my stupidity with Gawain, so hopefully he still loves me and wants to talk to me after reading this.

I hate how you learn things from making mistakes. I hate to make mistakes. But I'm glad in a very weird and shameful way that I made that mistake, so I NEVER forget to turn the lights on ever again!!!

IF YOU DON'T COOPERATE, I'LL NEVER BUY A CAR FROM YOU AGAIN!!

SO

I used to nanny for a family of three boys. When I quit nanny-ing for them, the boys were 15, 13, and 8. I know.

Mr. and Mrs. X were about to leave to go on a trip to someplace extremly fabulous and outside of the country. It was around 8ish in the morning. Mrs. X was having a problem locating the keys to the van that I was to drive the boys around in while they were gone. She had finally given up and decided she was just going to have to have another set made at the dealership. The following is their conversation (i only was able to witness Mrs. X's side of the conversation so I had to embelish the other side a tiny bit).

Mrs. X: Hi, I've lost my keys and I need to have another set made. When will they be done?

Car Guy: mumblemumblemumble

Mrs. X: I'm not going to be able to come to the dealership today, I'm leaving to go out of town today. Is it ok if I send someone else? Also, is it possible to have the keys made today?

Car Guys: mumblemumblemumble

Mrs. X: No, we are both going out of town. Can't I just have someone else come down?

Car Guy: mumblemumblemumble

Mrs. X:(starting to sound impatient): Look, I am leaving the country in less than an hour. I need those keys TODAY or else my nanny isn't going to have a car to drive my children around in.

Car Guy: mumblemumblemumble

Mrs. X: (sounding flat out angry now) No I don't understand! If you don't get those keys made today I will return the van immediately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. X: we need to leave right now!!!

Car Guy: mumblemumblemumble

Mrs. X: (livid): YOU LISTEN HERE! I NEED THOSE KEYS TODAY!!! RIGHT NOW!!!! OTHERWISE MY NANNY ISN'T GOING TO HAVE A CAR TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN AROUND IN!! IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, I AM GOING TO RETURN THE VAN AND I WILL NEVER BUY A CAR FROM YOUR DEALERSHIP EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Car Guy: (i'm sure totally confused, bewildered, panicky) mumblemumblemumble

Mr. X: (walking up the stairs to the front door)I'm leaving with out you!

Mrs. X: THIS IS TOTAL B. S.(except she totally said it)!!!!!!I'M NEVER BUYING A CAR FROM YOU EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!! (hangs up phone in a huff)

Although they are very wealthy,they didn't usually have to break out the "I'm richer than you and should therefore have and get whatever I want" pimp slap except for very special occasions. It was all I could do to hold back the enormous need, not desire, but need to roll all over the floor laughing at how ridiculous Mrs. X was acting on this VERY special occasion.

Now, a couple of points must be noted, first off, she never even said who she was. Secondly, she had accidently packed the car keys with her youngest son's stuff who was going on an over night trip with his school, so they totally turned up the next day. Thirdly, b/c they have a bunch of minions doing what ever they want, they totally had an extra set of keys made for them while they were gone. Evidently before they left on their private jet, she hurridly wrote a note giving who ever the permission to take the van down and have keys made AND had it notarized for authenticity.

I sure wish I could throw tantrums like that. I suppose that just explains where her kids got it from.

Here are the boys at 13, 10, and 6. Don't let their good looks fool you, when they want to be, they are the Devil's spawn. Times 1,000,000,000,000.

Any other ex-nannys with crazy stories out there?

THE MUSIC WAS SO LOUD I PUKED ALL OVER MYSELF!!

This week was officially Harry Potter week for Vesper and I. We saw the new movie and events on Tuesday night, and on Friday the 13th (insert scream here) we attended a Harry and the Potters wizard rock show at the Seattle Public Library with Isabel, The King, and Baboo. Also attending were a couple of my old coworkers and their friends. So, with our group of 10 we were set to help battle the forces of evil, namely, Lord Voldemort.

To ensure top performance and enjoyment of the show Vesper and I met Isabel, The King, and Baboo at the Westlake Center foodcourt. After fueling up we then made the 5 block stroll to the Library. The doors opened for the show (Which was in a library! How cool is that?) at 7pm and we arrived at 6:30PM. The line was already starting to snake around the building by the time we got there.

There were the usual cast of dressed up characters in attendance. From the Professor McGonagall hand puppet to a pair of fully garbed house elves. I guess it only makes sense since all 700-800 of us were there to see a trio of rockers dressed up like Harry Potter 4th year, Harry Potter 7th year, and baby Hagrid. Once we got inside while merchandise was being purchased and the crowd was waiting for the show to begin I wandered around and took some pictures.

(I know that this isn't a Harry Potter get-up, but I enjoyed the sperm guitars attempting to impregnate a LP)

(Vesper and I both appreciated that this kid even nailed the Stan Shunpike expression)

The Seattle Public library is a great venue to have a show. The main floor that we were all on is a series of diamond windows (I'm sure there's a proper word for the structure, but I don't know it) and our beautiful city was the backdrop for the show. Now, I know Harry and the Potters plays shows in libraries and other civic buildings all over the country, but I have to imagine that there is no better venue, or crowd (they mentioned it was their largest of this tour) they encounter.

(One view of the city. On many of the other shots taken within the library, you can see the city in the background.)

(The crowd milling around before the show.)

After a while chants of "Harry, Harry" began to break out and before long everyone's wizard heroes emerged on stage.

As you can see the Harrys emerged in full Hogwarts gear. Their opening number was "Voldermort Can't Stop the Rock". After the opener they had a "2 year old baby Hargrid" join them on the drums to fill out their 3-piece punk group. Due to the immense wizard heat they were putting off the sweaters were quickly shed and madness, only the likes of which you see when a rock show is played in a library, ensued.

(Notice the mic chord wrapped around the head of the Harry on the left)

If pictures aren't enough for you we even took a couple of quick videos with our camera. The sound was removed because it was all fuzz. (This show was LOUD. And, like all mediocre sound systems, the treble was far too high. The high-hat and crash cymbal were out for blood...dribbling from our ear drums.) Video

Isabel and family took off about an hour into the show because, quite frankly, Baboo was uber-tired and I'm sure that the piercing treble was not good for his tender little ears. But, those who stuck around (Us and my old coworkers) were in for quite the treat. Seeking to live up to the good Harry Potter name, the Harrys stuck around a signed merchandise and took photos with those who were patient enough to get to them, and not bothered by sweaty fake wizards.

(From left to right: Ms. Logic, Vesper, HP4, Gawain)

(Note from Vesper: How cool for HP4 that he is having people clamoring for his autograph and a picture! How cool for us, his fans, that we actually get to meet one of the lead singers of a band, get an autograph, and get a pic taken! I bet I could never in my lifetime get to do that with The Edge.)

All in all the show was a grand time. Lots of crowd participation, and humorous lyrics based on the books. If you have read the Harry Potter books and Harry and the Potters ever make it to your neck of the woods, attendance is a must. You will have a blast.

(From left to right: Ms Logic, Vesper, Gawain, Meg, Phinneas, Vivika, Matthew. And honestly, the person who took this picture is lame. Who doesn't get the entire name of the library?)

Flight of the Phoenix

To commemorate going to the 12:01AM showing of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” at the IMAX theater in Seattle I decided to keep a running journal of the evenings events. (ala Bill Simmons) Between the beautiful weather, using a flex car convertible Mini Cooper, Jihan and Staton joining us, and the rabid Harry Potter fans I had high hopes for an entertaining evening. (As a note I would like to point out that all of the driving portions of this journal were recorded after the fact.) (To view all the photos from this night's adventures visit Flickr)

8:00 PM – Left the house for the movie. Still feeling a bit surly from my nap. It feels like it might be one of those times where it takes a couple of hours to shake it off.

8:06 PM – Just noticed that our car has an ungodly amount of sap on it. Why do some trees pee so much?

8:30 PM – Finally got into the car. I think Vesper may start lactating she is so excited for the Mini Cooper. (She has wanted to buy one FOREVER and this is the first time that we have ever driven one.) 8:50 PM - Just passed one of our favorite store front displays on 99. Behold! The lightup wheelchair! 8:56 PM – Almost caused an accident taking a picture of Vesper driving the Mini Cooper. For some reason on the one picture I decide to take straight on of her the flash goes off, momentarily blinding her.

9:03 PM – This is one of those warm summer nights where the air just feels wonderful.

9:08 PM – Still feeling surly. I’m not sure what it’s going to take to pull me out of this.

9:21 PM – Listening to “Black Holes and Revelations” by Muse on 4th and Seneca downtown with the top down. The air temperature 87 degrees, a warm breeze is blowing, and the city looks beautiful. It doesn’t get much better than this.

9:28 PM – Got back to the Flexcar spot in time and the gas gauge is just this side of a quarter full. Love it when that happens.

9:37 PM – While driving from Belltown to Seattle Center Vesper squeals and noticed that they’ve turned the 7-11 into a Kwik-E Mart. 9:46 PM – Back at the Kwik-E Mart taking pictures. I can’t believe how much glee I’m getting from a bunch of cut-outs of Simpsons characters and Krusty-O’s cereal. 9:52 PM – We are in line at the IMAX and raring to go. We can’t wait until Jihan and Staton get here. Their ETA is currently 11PM. 9:56 PM – Some dufus in plain clothes is walking up and down the line trying to sell pizzas in unmarked boxes. $1 for an entire pizza. $.25 for a slice. No thanks. I prefer a sedate and orderly digestive tract.

10:02 PM – Got antsy and walked up to the front of the line. The 2 girls in front got here at 3:30 this afternoon, when it was still 93 degrees outside. (The temperature would be like if Topeka had a high temp of 783 degrees. This heat is just unheard of prior to August) They said they were the only ones in the line until 5PM or so. 10:06-10:15 PM – Walking around taking pictures. There is a very Halloween feel to a lot of the female costume wearers tonight. The theme seems to be “Slaggy Hogwarts Girl Extraordinaire”.

10:18 PM - Is that a seance?

10:23 PM – Just got done speaking with Jamie. She’s the one in the red Gryffindor Quidditch robes, Quidditch arm guards, sweet broom, goggles, Gryffindor sweater and boots. Let me tell you, they teach some good things at the drama department a Western Washington University. She made everything on her body except the Gryffindor patch on her robes and the goggles. - Broom: Walking stick procured from her Scout master father combined with straightened wreaths from Jo-Ann’s.
- Arm Guards: Made them from scratch herself.
- Robe: Bought a sewing machine for the express purpose of making these robes.
- Sweater: Knitted it herself.
- Simply an insane amount of time poured into a Harry Potter outfit.

10:30 PM – We have our first tired tuckus alert. Had to run back to the car to get a jacket for Vesper to sit on. My underlying surliness is still present. I’ve been awake for 3 ½ hours.

10:46 PM – Vesper is bored enough to make videos on my cell phone of us disapparating. (Here they are on YouTube -- Vesper – Gawain) Surliness, petulance, and impatience are unleashed. Glad the Vesper loves me enough to put up with my crap. The movies turn out pretty well though.

10:50 PM – We have identified a Class-1 Alpha-Bitch directly behind us in line. We cannot understand why none of her teeny-bopper friends is pimp-slapping her.

10:55 PM – Everyone starts cheering as line the begins to move, then stands around for 13 minutes to wait for the line to move again.

10:57 PM – Apparently Jihan and Staton feel asleep and lost track of the time. They are just leaving Bellevue for Seattle now.

10:59 PM – Determine that no matter what it is time for the surliness to depart.

11:07 PM – Alpha-Bitch’s toy wand sounds suspiciously like a light saber when swished and flicked.

11:08 PM – Line starts moving for real. Surliness gone, a blessing for everyone involved.

11:10 PM – Going to a movie at IMAX is so much more fun than going to a regular theater. Since they don’t show feature films very often, when they do they go all out. (See pictures below) The decorations, staff and facilities, were awesome. It’s also very nice to be able to listen to real music and not have to watch the same stupid ‘20’ before the movie. 11:15 PM – Vesper and I have to split. She’ll wait for J&S outside while I go and find seats.

11:18 PM – That was quick. J&S have arrived.

11:20 PM – I have finally ceased to sweat.

11:30 PM – These IMAX 3D glasses are righteous! 11:45 PM – I may have knocked over my popcorn, glasses, and almost the soda; but I caught a Dumbledore’s Army hat for my love.

11:50 PM – Wow. The stats on this (and I imagine all) IMAX theater are impressive. All figures are for Order of the Phoenix.
- 12,000 watts of sound.
- 18 miles of film
- The film weights 1,000 lbs.
- The screen is 6 stories high.

12:01 AM – The previews begin.

12:03 AM – I almost feel nauseous watching this “Dinosaurs Alive” preview in 3D. Seriously disorienting.

12:05 AM – Okay. Now I’m used to it.

12:06 AM – The movie has begun!!

2:24 AM – The movie is over. Overall it was great. The entire trip to and fight at the Ministry of Magic was in 3D. Once I got used to the 3D it was pretty incredible. The threstrals looked kind of funky in 3D though.

3:04:23 AM – Climb on top of bed and underneath ceiling fan.

3:04:27 AM – Fast asleep.

6:15AM – Please kill me! Don't make me wake up! I want to die!