Trying to take another crack at blogging again. Despite being in between jobs right now, you think that I would have been blogging more. Unemployed I may be, but many things have been going on and have been keeping me busy, including working on my college degree. This is a temporary state, but I must take it as a blessing in disguise as my grades are undoubtedly improving. It's a shame that I was laid off because I really liked my job and I am hoping to get into another medical billing position as soon as possible. I'm doing what I can now which is searching, applying, resume revising, and collecting unemployment this time. Something I was a bit embarrassed to do, but has really helped with paying for physical therapy, doctor's visits, and insurance payments. For the time being, it will have to do. At least I am sustaining my well being.
Last month, our family went to Orlando for a week. We had been in the Disney World Parks before on previous trips to Florida, however this trip was a week devoted to Universal Studios. The main attraction, if not the whole reason for the trip, was The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! What made the trip even more spectacular was that the very last last LAST Harry Potter Movie, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part II, otherwise known as HP7, opened the week we were down there. (More on that in a bit.)
This video is the first night that we were in Florida. During the week we had a batch of horrible thunderstorms. I have never heard lighting so loud before in my life. Out of nowhere at 38 seconds it was like a BOMB went off. Startled me so much, the camera shook. HAHA! Poor Erica was not having any of it. She hates storms.
Luckily no horrible storms while we were actually in the park. There was a passing rain shower during one of the days we were in the Harry Potter Park, but it was brief and honestly, refreshing.
We referred to it as Harry Potter World when my sister, my fellow Potter fans, and I realized it is shorter and easier to yell, “HARRY POTTER WORLD!”, when you realize that it's that freaking awesome. The scenery was so fitting and everything felt like you were really walking through a magical realm of a world you came to love through your entire childhood from the book and movie series. Every little detail, the architecture, the convincing snow laden rooftops and crocked chimneys of Hogsmeade, (which really made you wish for snow, or at least a pleasant breeze in the Florida heat), the exteriors of the shops, and of course the Hogwarts castle was absolutely mind blowing. When you stepped back from the hustle and bustle of the tourism, which I allowed my self to do from time to time, and just quiet everything around you and take in the complete awe of it, you find the peaceful childhood bliss with everything you grew up with. Looking up at the Hogwarts castle made you want to get your wands ready (which I have a wand now, thank you very much) and transfer your credits to a new school.
The Butterbeer was delicious, but kinda not what I thought it would taste like? I expected more of a butterscotch or butter like taste. Especially since the original recipe calls for real butter. It really tasted like frothy, thick, vanilla cream soda. Nevertheless, it tasted great! What I really enjoyed more though was the pumpkin fizz, pumpkin juice, and pear cider. We ate a hardy and scrumptious meal at The Three Broomsticks. There were a few rides inside the park, but the one that we had waited this whole time for was The Harry Potter Experience ride. The wait was an unbelievably hot two hours. But once we finally made it inside and through the castle, it proved to be all worth it. Each sight was more “spellbinding” than the next. The ride was incredible and unlike any ride I have been on. A magic broom flight that swings you through actual sets and in front of a convincing projection type technology that has you believe you are flying high above a Quidditch field with Harry Potter himself. Looking back, I'm still baffled with how realistic that technology worked.
A capella singers within the park
What you get when you combine Glee with Harry Potter
...Probably safe to say that the Hippogriff song was stuck in my head for quite a while.
The pièce de résistance was being able to watch the movie that the trip was for. The night the movie game out at midnight, there was a line stretched out the walk, so much so that the local news came by to cover the story. We, however, were not amongst that crowd. The people who were there for the midnight showing, which I can't imagine how much ahead of time one would pre-order those tickets, were treated to going to the Harry Potter World park after the movie until 5am in the morning! There had to be no lines for anything! And all the butterbeer one could drink...jealous. But we went the next night...or later that day...if you want to be technical, and joined in the spectacle. There were those who dressed up, even a motor chaired, bearded Hagrid was in our theater. I wanted to dress up too, however when I realized that the cloaks, each with their own appropriate coordinated house colors were $100 each, I decided not too. I had my wand which was good enough for me. I bought the Luna Lovegood wand. It is in the design of a petite flower and I thought the delicate craftsmanship of that design suited my personality. Erica got Voldemort's wand. Not the Elder wand that he uses in the last films, but they had that one as well. I wish they had Bellatrix's wand. I'm a Helena Bonham Carter fan and I want Bellatrix's wand someday. (I'm a dorky fan, I get it. XP I don't care! hehe!)
I am not ruining anything for those who have not seen the series end by saying that the ending was a perfectly satisfactory, nostalgic ending to one of the best long running movie series in history. I loved our crowd. When the opening title blasted on the screen, Erica let out a WHOOT and set the whole audience into cheers, whistles, and clapping. It was a joyous connection, but one that we all knew was the end. From then on, at every appropriate joke, kiss, diss, or triumph, it was met with equal cheers and of course, audible sniffles and tears at the end. I admit, I cried! It was part nostalgia or part of just being in the moment and letting a movie with all of it's emotion take you back through your childhood to that moment. It was amazing, and that is all I'm going to say. You won't be disappointed. They were happy tears...honest.
I could go on about the rest of our excursions through the different parks within Universal Studios, but really the whole trip was so great. I got to spend time with my family and we explored other attractions in Orlando including Ripley's Believe it or Not. We also went to some pretty cool restaurants. “Joe's Crab Shack” was so great! Can always appreciated a restaurant that will gather all their waiters and waitresses around to dance to their own version of Thriller. Random, but entertaining as hell. As well as the doomed birthday customers including a guy that had to wear coconut bra and forced to do his own little dance. Hah!
The thing that I loved most, next to Harry Potter World, was that there was a tiny museum and gift shop devoted to I Love Lucy! I was in heaven, snapped a ton of pictures, and just went ga-ga! Last week in fact, Lucille Ball would have been 100 years old on August 6. Ever since I was little she has been my idol and she really was an amazing woman and not only because she was hilariously funny. She was a supreme businesswoman and a pioneer being the first female television mogul. She was the first woman to run a major television Studio. Desilu Studios was home to shows like Star Trek, The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Mission: Impossible. She was meticulous in her craft, always honest with her audience, and a master of her art. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY!
The rest of the trip was relaxing in our condo and down at the pool. I got so burned the first day we went to the park, though. (Lesson learned. You can get burned just walking around in 98 degree weather. DOY!) We swam in the pool often meeting fun characters and for me, be able to pool side read. I finished an entire book on my trip. Not to mention that I also finished (and passed) my course in psychology. I felt bad if I had to ask them to put my studies on pause, afraid of what catching up I would have to do so late in the course. I toughed through it and was actually proud of the work I got done while vacationing. It wasn’t easy, but I still miraculously got time to pleasure read.
After sending out the postcards, (some from the Owl Post post office within in the park) packing up, and obsessively checking under the bed ten times, reality was hitting that we were going home. To tell the truth, I was getting pretty home sick toward the end of our trip. I missed seeing our dogs and felt weird that I couldn’t completely relax knowing we weren't there for them. Shadow is old, Quincy is our new and rambunctious puppy, and Tucker...well Tucker is a basket case. I was afraid that Quincy may have thought that we had abandoned him. I was hoping Tucker and Shadow would fill him in on the situation. Ha. It was fantastic for all four of us to lay on the floor and watch them go wild with kisses and roll all over the place with us when we returned home.
I hope you enjoy the tiny snip-its of videos and pictures from our trip. I promise that I will be more diligent with writing as soon as I can. Thanks again for reading!
Katie
xoxo
