I never watch the morning talk shows (unless I just happen to catch a couple minutes), and I never, ever watch the The Early Show. In college I got into the habit of watching The Today Show while eating breakfast, and I’ve been a loyal (if only occasional) viewer since. But I was glad to have caught it today, because it gave me the idea–TEN WHOLE MONTHS IN ADVANCE–for my sons’ next birthday party. It will be a Quidditch Match! Obviously no one will be flying, but even without that, doesn’t it sound intriguing??

**Sidenote: If you haven’t read Harry Potter or seen any of the Harry Potter movies and don’t know what I’m talking about, the best I can give you is, ‘Get with it–you’re missing soooo much!**

Apparently there is a college Quidditch craze sweeping the nation, with organized teams at sixty-five colleges, and that number growing. Rather than flying, you must run around with a souped-up H.P. style broom between your legs, and you wear team t-shirts, shorts, and capes! The three goal posts (can’t remember what those are called) stick up out of the ground, and the Chasers try to get the Quaffle through the hoops while the Keepers try to keep it out. Meanwhile, the Beaters are pelting everyone with Bludgers. The creme de la creme is that the Snitch is actually a person dressed in gold/yellow running about with a sock or something hanging off him. To win and get an extra fifty points, you must capture the sock.

Now, admittedly, played at the college level, this sounds a little ridiculous (it looks it too–watch the segment here), but for a bunch of seven and nine year old boys, this sounds fantastic. I think my dad could totally get into the game if offered the chance of pelting these poor defenseless boys with beach balls. So many possibilities! Capes and brooms, and someone in a golden outfit! Fantastic!

We are back from a trip to the lake just in time to wrap up a busy Spring Break. Now it’s the final push (9 weeks) until summer… (yikes!) The puppy has been keeping us busy and is quite the little sweetheart. Today is my first day with her without any of the boys and so far, so good. No accidents, no problems.

After spending an hour last night perusing Disney World options, my husband gave me a project for the day: use the Disney customizable process engine to fiddle with dates, park options, dining options, amenities, etc. We’re in the early stages yet, researching our options, hoping maybe to schedule around Disney’s winter holiday celebration. Any suggestions would be welcome.

I haven’t been to Disney World (& Epcot) since I was in the fourth grade. And I’ve never been to Disney Land. I’ve looked at the park map for the Magic Kingdom, and so many things have changed. It’ll probably seem all new to me too, and of course I’ve never been to Animal Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Even though this vacation is still in the nebulous stages, it’s exciting for me to have one vacation, at least, taking shape. I like to know what I can look forward to, vacation-wise, and up till now, 2008 has looked bleak indeed.

I watched two very good movies this past week, and while I’m quite late in getting my reviews out (they both came out some time ago), I couldn’t resist. The first was Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton. Touted as a Wizard of Oz sort of movie, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I really, really enjoyed it. The story was told in a series of flashbacks, which I thought was handled beautifully. I’m not familiar with Billy Crudup, the son in the movie, but I loved his voice and freckles. Recommended.

Number two was the 1999 version of Mansfield Park with Francis O’ Connor. I thought she made for an absolutely lovely (if somewhat lacking in frailty) Fanny Price. Much of the story was left out, but it would have to be to keep the movie at a suitable length. All of the characters (Jane Austen wrote so very many into her novels) were well-cast, and the whole movie was very enjoyable indeed. Also recommended.

In books, I’m sad to say, I haven’t done much lately. Not since Silent in the Sanctuary. Right now I’m reading Earthly Pleasures by Karen Neches and enjoying the sheer creativity of it–it’s a novel about how things really work in Heaven. Hopefully I can finish it this week as I have The Secret of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig on hold at the library.