Cold Spaghetti

I almost didn’t quite believe it when I heard it on NPR this morning. But a quick web search and, yes, it’s true. The New York Times obtained a copy of Deathly Hallows and has published a review of it — complete with plot points and spoilers.

(And no, I did not read it. Not even close.)

What a gross display of self-importance, duplicitous in its planning, insensitive in its delivery, and odious in its intent and meaning. There are several offenses. First, the acquisition of the book, which had to have come through somewhat secretive measures and probably included a generous payoff. This would be a forgivable offense if it had remained there; showing only the pretentiousness of the New York Times. Instead, a journalist read it and wrote a review. Again, they could have shown respect and held the review until the 21st. But, no, the Times showed no restraint and sent it to print days before the release. (I hope Scholastic finds a way to sue their asses.) The final repulsion is that the actual review itself contains plot points and spoilers. Ostentatiously proving to us all that THEY KNEW IT FIRST, before anyone else, because nothing is more important than their opinion of a new book. The actions show tremendous disrespect for a series that is so well-loved (most especially by children! Hello? CHILDREN!) and reads like an insolent triumph over the book publisher and the author.

It should not be too terribly difficult to discover the officials at the New York Times responsible for such assumptions of importance and vulgar indifference. They’ll be the ones wearing long sleeves in the summer’s heat, taking care that their right forearms aren’t exposed to show the Dark Marks burned upon them.

You may look at it and see a Constipated Cookie Monster, but NO. This is an example of Will’s (incredibly impressive) Smiley Faces.
My favorite part is how Will is now signing his name. Similar to his preferred method of wearing underwear, Will signs his name BACKWARDS. (Note, above and below.)

In the picture below, Will is holding up his fantastic picture for the camera. Unfortunately, he’s holding it up so that HE is looking at it, not the camera. That fabulous little creation in the lower right corner? That is an example of how Will draws sea turtles and flowers. Until yesterday’s rain, our front porch was covered in drawings of Will flowers.

New household theory:

The Atlantic has been blessedly quiet thus far this season due to the fact that Mother Nature has invested her efforts into the energies of our daughter, A Serious Force of Nature.
Another theory, one inspired by mint juleps (as I understand), is that the rainier our summer, the less hurricane activity. With that in mind, we welcome the wonderful RAIN RAIN and more RAIN we have had over the past week… bringing with it blessed cool temperatures in the mid 80s. Our house has actually been able to be below 83 degrees during the day, which is unheard of this time of year. It has been so nice! So, even though our pool time has been limited and the kids are stir crazy on school days… rain, STAY!

If a woman is caught receiving money for sex, she is guilty of prostitution and may serve time in jail. A woman who arranges other women to have sex for money is found guilty of racketeering.

But a man who pays women for sex can just apologize. Even more, a man who holds a very public job to uphold and protect the law (from a standpoint very supportive of criminalizing prostitution, incidentally) doesn’t get punished. He gets to look forward to going back to work and chastise media for exposing his children to dirty things.

Yup. We’ve got no need for an equal rights amendment for women in the U.S. Totally unnecessary, ’cause we’ve totally got this equality thing down.

“Will, what did you do in school today?”

(bending down to show me the streaks of red, blue, and yellow) “Painted my hair.”

“I see. Did anyone else paint their hair?”

“No. ‘Cause the teacher said it wouldn’t wash off.”

(Parental note: Dip in the neighbors pool, followed by a good washing in the shower, got most of it out.)

Will is eating quite well: during dinner, finishing everything, and with little complaint. We’ve been struggling with these simple things. Being three is equal to being completely disagreeable to everything, food included. So, two nights ago, he went to bed without dinner after complaining. Magic! Turns out, all we needed to do was be straight with him, let him know our expectations, and stick with it. I’m sure he’ll test us again, but until then: it’s all pudding!

Helena Bonham Carter, from EW:

There were bits of footage of you in the coming attractions and in TV previews that showed you dueling with Gary Oldman’s Sirius, and also taunting Harry. But those seem to be missing in the final cut of the movie. What happened?
I had a duel with Sirius, during which he makes a strategic mistake. I learned for three weeks how to wand-fight. And I was really good with all my spells! It was really complicated stuff. And then they cut the fight! They just cut it. I can’t believe they cut the fight. All that wand training for nothing. And a wand blister. I told the [producers and director], ”You’ve got to put that in the DVD extras.” I did learn to do my spells. And it’s a good fight, too. I stuck my tongue out at the end.

I can’t believe they cut it, either.

Assorted notes on Phoenix:
— Casting continues to be marvelous. Umbridge was fantastic. Bellatrix, delicious. Kreacher, perfect. (Okay, so CGI cast him, but it was still impressive.)
— The adults are fantastic. The kids… with the exception of the ever-improving Daniel (Equus?!) Radcliffe… need some work.
— Michael Gambon as Dumbledore was much, much improved. But I’m still not sold on him.
— Much of the plot is delivered through flashes in Harry’s mind and covers of The Daily Prophet, which was preferable to Harry’s somewhat cheesy breakthrough on the floor of the Ministry atrium that served as the “tying up loose strings so that we can end it” moment.
— Ministry battle in the Hall of Mysteries was weak. Sirius’s death is so sudden it almost doesn’t make sense… takes away from what a powerful moment it is for Harry and the Order.
— In my brain, her hair is spikey. But I still loved Tonks.

My kids’ new favorite game:

Will builds a tower. Then calls Kate to knock it down. And this is what he says as she approaches it, ready for the crash: “GO GO BABY-ZILLA!”

It didn’t take long at all (I’m knocking on wood as I write this) for Kate to start falling asleep in her crib. It’s the same schedule we’ve had for awhile, it just ends with her going into her crib after stories and songs. She does still fuss a bit — the complicating factor is Will, who then proceeds to sing to her AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS — but it is getting better every night.
Kate still struggles with sitting to eat. She is doing better — and will sit when told, by turning and sitting on top of the high chair tray, rather than in the actual chair.

Elmo may have surpassed Daddy and Will as the number one man in Kate’s life. She talks about EL-MO almost as much as she talks about GA-TO. Although she has perfectly rattled out several impressive words and names (duck, butterfly, kitty-cat, Gladys) she only says them once before going back to raspberries. She may turn into one of those kids that with no warning, suddenly wakes up one day speaking in sentences.

But until then, my predictions.

The end of the story will be something about Harry meeting his mother and knowing her embrace. Either he will die and finally meet her, or, he will be granted some sort of other-worldly experience where he is able to make the physical connection.

Harry’s family has a link to Godric Gryffindor, which he begins to piece together when he visits the place of his birth, Godric’s Hollow.

Snape redeems himself. Dumbledore believed in him, and so do I.

Neither Ron nor Hermione will die.

At least one, and maybe both “major” deaths will occur at in an attempt to save Harry or one of his friends and will account for some sort of redemption for the victim. My vote for the One Most Likely To Be A Goner in Book 7 is Snape. I’m going with the Sidney Carton theme here. I’m also thinking that the story will be something along the lines of Snape dying and THEN Harry understanding Snape’s true nature and why Albus trusted him, etc.

Others on the redemption wagon are Peter Pettigrew (he has a life debt to Harry, so this seems obvious) and Neville (my favorite… who I really, really, really want to remain safe.)

I don’t think Harry will be the one to do Voldemort in… maybe I’m harping on the same theme here, but Snape is a top contender for finishing him off in my mind.

Dumbledore continues to mentor Harry from beyond. The pensieve (over the Star Wars glowing Yoda) is my guess for how.

RAB is Sirirus’s brother. It’ll be a good pick-me-up for Harry to discover that another of the Black family line turned ‘good’ in the end. Kreacher will be involved in figuring out this plot line.

I’m struggling with a ‘Harry is a horcrux idea’. I keep thinking about Dumbledore’s eyes lighting up at the news that Voldemort used Harry’s blood in Book 4 — did Voldemort tap into Harry’s horcrux-qualities when he did this? There is more to the story of Harry’s scar and his parents’ involvement.

Percy has a breakdown, becomes fun, and settles down with Madam Rosmerta. (One can hope!)