I mentioned here that I’m listening to the last Harry Potter book on CD. I read it when it came out, but I always enjoy listening to Jim Dale read them too me later. If you haven’t read it - stop reading NOW. I’m about to discuss a key element that you may not want to know about. (I’m looking at you, MrZ.)

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I’ve finally gotten around to listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on CD. I’m only about halfway through and have been surprised by how much I missed the first time around. I always catch so much more when I listen to it because Jim Dale gives such life to the words. It’s really amazing. I wouldn’t recommend listening instead of reading, but I would definitely recommend listening after you’ve read the books. I’ve listened to Jim Dale read all of them to me and it completely expands my love of the books. If that love could have possibly grown more.

He even does a good job of giving the standard characters different voices when/if they have to use the Polyjuice potion. Yet, somehow, I’m still able to know who is who. It’s amazing.

Have you listened to any of the readings? Are you as in love with Jim Dale’s interpretation as I am?

This post is in response to my daily prompt posted here

I’ve thought long and hard about the best way I’ve ever spent my money. My first thought was rather materialistic and uninspirational: TiVo. I mean, it has changed our lives. We can now ALL watch the shows we want to watch when we’re all ready to watch them. It’s the most amazing thing ever. But I decided even I’m not that obsessed with television to call it the best dollar I’ve ever spent.

I considered the noble ways I’ve spent my money and the charities I’ve donated to. Unfortunately, I don’t actually know first hand how that money was spent, so it’s hard for me to get behind those ideas.

I’ve thought about amazing vacations and romantic dates. I’ve considered great hair cuts and cute shoes. I even spent a few minutes thinking about the amazing food I’ve eaten in my life and how, in fact, some of those meals are frequent participants in my dreams.

But - my final answer is this: the Books-A-Million gift card I used on the first three Harry Potter books. I first wrote about it here so I don’t need to go through the story of how I came to buy the books. However, I will elaborate on why it was the best purchase I ever made. First? They’re damn good books. That’s the easy reason. But the real reason would be this: If I listed some of my fondest memories in the last several years, some of my happiest nights or wonderful outings with my family and/or friends, there would be a huge majority of them related to Harry Potter. There have been several midnight book releases and several midnight movie tickets. It is the one series of books that LilZ, MrZ, and I have all read. I just feel like, for such an offhanded purchase, it brought so much fun into my life as a Mom.

What about you?

Well - time to go to work! My life isn’t quite back to “normal” because my friend from Seattle went home and left her daughter for Stace and I to share this week. I got Sunday and Monday night so she was here all day yesterday. I had the day off and since I finished the book before she and LilZ even woke up, I got to visit with her some, which was great. And LilZ spent the time he had with her getting her addicted to Veronica Mars - which is equally great. Her Mom will love me for that, I’m sure.

I would love to have taken today off too - since I only have limited time with her - but since I’m GOING TO BLOGHER ON THURSDAY (Damn, that crept up on me) I might need to try to get work done and get prepared sometime before the plane takes off. So - she and LilZ will spend the day together today. Which is actually what she wants, I think the time I force her to hang out with me may be kind of boring. I should start talking about my love of maps, that ought to spark things up a bit.

I’m suffering from a Harry Potter hangover today. I read the last 80 pages or so again last night, just to go over some of the parts I may have skimmed because they were so action-packed and I wanted to see what happened. Periodically I catch myself thinking things like, “Next release I’ll do this to my costume…” and then it hits me. This is the end. The story is over. It’s very surreal to put 8 years of your life into the anticipation of something and then it ends with one turn of one page at the end of one book.

I’m going to leave my Harry Potter decorations up for awhile. I figure at least until LilZ finishes the book (I think he’s halfway through now) and then he and I do a podcast together about it. But - I must warn you - I’m going to publish all of the spoiler comments from the podcasts. I’ll still be moderating to keep the spoilers out of the other entries - but there are some GREAT comments on those podcasts and I want everyone to see them. So - I wouldn’t read the comments on the podcasts until you’ve finished the book because some people bring up stuff from later in the book past the point of the podcast.

I’ve got several non-Harry Potter entries set to publish sometime today - to the thrill of those of you who have totally been bored to death over here the last few days. Of course - those entries aren’t that exciting. Except for, of course, the Thanksgiving Dinner I attended at 3:30am Sunday morning. That’s kinda exciting. Unless, of course, you attended one too.

I’m done. I finished a few minutes ago, and the kids are still asleep so I’m uploading another of my fabulously rambling podcasts showing my immediate thoughts after closing the book. Don’t listen unless you’re done. Now - off to my email and my comments waiting to be moderated.

WARNING: Comments may contain spoilers. Don’t read the comments unless you’ve read the WHOLE BOOK.