Note to self: Even a week after being sick, eating Moroccan food is a "silly panda" thing to do (thanks, Alex, for the descriptor). "I didn't have much!" I'll now whine, loudly. No difference.
Anyway, not to sound like a total robotic social calendar machine, but I've been systematically seeing people, night by night, since I got home from this two-week odyssey. It's literally the only way to make sure I see everyone - just fill up the schedule! It's horrible. I hate putting my friends and family on my schedule, or going down the list like this. But there are people I've missed and want to see, and the only way, now, to make sure I see them, is to make sure I see them. And that means scheduling. BAH.
On tonight's docket - Cheryl! (Yes, PotterCasters, HotttCheryl.) Miss I've Read Book 7 And Can't Say Anything About It. Miss I Know If Harry Lives or Dies. Miss I'll Smile Evilly While You Ponder Aloud. UGH!
That aside, I've missed her tons. I know, it seems like hanging with each other in this six-month period would be impossible, like two magpies whose beaks have been taped shut. Sometimes it is like that; I say something about Potter that I know she can't ever, possibly address, never mind answer, so I clap my hand over my mouth and wave my hands in front of my face and apologize. She laughs. We actually came up with an idea for PotterCast, that I hope I can make happen. We'll see. (Probably not.)
We ate the aforementioned Moroccan food and laid upwards on her bed, which is bizarre in her apartment because she has construction paper cutouts of trees on the walls, strung with paper clip garland and chains of used Metro-Cards. It was like laying on our backs in a painting of a forest done by a subway artist (or perhaps a subway itself). Anyway, we laid there and commiserated over our busy schedules. I told all my stories, and the conversation naturally led to where we'd be in 20 years.
Cheryl: "Introducing the Harry Potter books to our children."
Melissa: "Whoa. Yes. We will be. Oh, god, that's exciting."
Cheryl: "And I'll be like, your mother put that comma there!"
I mean. She's planning on announcing her punctuational contributions to her children. How can you not love this woman?
Woah ... It's so incredible that some extremely lucky fans have already read the next book! I can't believe it, everything's happening so fast.
Moroccan food is usually not that bad :-)
Lucky Cheryl who has read the last book! But how difficult this time must be for her: konwing all that happens and not being able to talk about it with anyone.
I have been in this kind of situation for the last 3 books sicne I read the english version as soon as it was out while my husband and friends read the french version a few months later.
On book 6, it was awful knowing that Dumbledore died and not being able to scream and cry!
But I was fortunate since I could speak with other english/american speaking fans over the net, which Cheryl can't even do at that time :-(
Someone other than Jo has read Deathly Hallows... That's terrifying.
It must be unbearable for Cheryl! I don't envy her, I'd rather read the book on July 21st with everyone else.
I would love to have read the book but keeping my mouth shut about it would totally kill me! Poor Cheryl! It's both a blessing and a curse.
that story is absolutely fabulous. I wish my mommy put commas in Harry Potter!
You know Melissa, I am surprised I haven't mentioned this to you before, but you really are an extrodinary writer. I don't mean to be silly, but that blog entry read like a novel. Wow, just, I can't wait to read your book. See you soon =)
You have to have nerves of steel to hang out with her and not just try to wring her for info!!!
If I were editing DH, I would *totally* show my kids what I put into it. I might never get over it.
Yesterday I read an editor describing the HP books as a big "mishmash of ideas," and I took it personally. I don't agree, and the author I have come to know through your interview and podcast is someone I feel so fiercely protective of...I never thought of myself as a fangirl but I totally am for Jo!
Isn't it weird to think that when you show HP to kids in the future they won't have to wait between books?
I have a three year old sister, and my other sister (who is 13) has suggested that when she's old enough for HP we hide the books from her so that she has to wait the same amount of time we did. I'm against this idea, partly because I don't think I could avoid spoiling her, and partly because I'm pretty sure that could be considered child abuse. ;)
Wow, there were no entries for about a month, and now there's loads! There is no way I could sit across from someone who has read Deathly Hallows. God knows what extremes I would do to extract that information. All kidding aside, seems like you have a sweet relationship with (Hott!) Cheryl.
I would never be able to be friends with someone that read Deathly hallows before me. I would end up shaking them until they told me everything that happens in the book.
Melissa -
As much as I have enjoyed the HP series myself, I enjoyed the last seven months reading it to my eight-year-old son even more. Not that I'm any Jim Dale, but I did my best to do voices (I sometimes had a hard time shedding the Dumbledore voice the next day) and I will say that many passages are downright impossible to read outloud without getting very emotional. Now he is up to speed and in the same situation as all of us (except for hotttcheryl) waiting for July 21st. We are planning to dress up and invade our local Borders for that. Sharing HP with your kids is just another bonus we get from Jo's work!
I already loved her for being an editor of Harry Potter, but now that I know she plans to point out her punctuational prowess to her children (I'm a bit of a punctuation snob), I can't help grinning with glee.