July 15, 2005

Brian, Amanda, and I went to the party at the Barnes & Noble at the Gateway in Salt Lake City. A radio station was giving away 102 free books at midnight and we thought we’d try our luck. I had pre-ordered a book back in February, but free is always better.

While we waited for midnight, we enjoyed the party – making wands, getting temporary tattoos, trivia pages, and dinner.

We all dressed up for the party too.

Amanda dressed up as a witch trying to dress like a muggle.

And I was dressed as just a witch.

July 16, 2005

At midnight when they announced who had won the free books, Amanda and I had both won a book.

Amanda started reading to us as we walked out to the car.

She kept reading as we drove home.

We stopped at Brian’s house, finished reading chapter 3, and took some pictures of how I was dressed.

I got home and posted some of our pictures on the internet for others to see, and then I got busy reading again.

I have more questions now than I did when I started. And I have a fun time impersonating Kreacher.

I climbed into bed with my book and my Harry Potter blanket. And then read till I couldn’t keep my eyes open any more.

I fell asleep a few pages into chapter six. I woke up again just before 11 am and had to go sign a new lease on my apartment so I won’t have to move at the end of August before I could start reading again. I also had to stop and say hi to a few people. Then it was back to reading.

You know, I thought I’d know more after finishing this chapter. Judging by the title, I thought I would know who the half-blood prince is.

I had to stop and eat at some point. So after finishing chapter 13 I went out and bought a hamburger and fries and brought them back home so I could keep reading.

I think the term “snogging” isn’t used nearly enough in our world.

I swear I know more now than I did before, but I still feel like there are so many unanswered questions.

I had no milk left in my apartment, and was running low on a lot of other things too. It took me over an hour to put the book down long enough to leave and go to Sam’s Club to get food. The people in front of and behind me in the line were both buying the book. The people behind me though, only bought a bag of chicken breasts and the book. That made me smile.

As soon as I got the groceries into the fridge, it was back to reading.

Doby and Kreacher are quite the comedy duo.

July 17, 2005

I couldn’t stay awake any longer. A few pages into chapter 20 I fell asleep again. Of course I was sleeping on the couch because that was where I had been reading, and the light was on, so it wasn’t the best sleep, but it was enough. When I woke up I finished chapter 20 and kept going from there.

When we read through the chapter titles before starting the book, I was so afraid that there would be an important death in this chapter. I was relieved when I realized what really happened.

oh no

Do not read the end of this chapter by yourself in the middle of the night.

From this chapter on, I read with a box of tissues and my hand over my mouth all the way to the end.

It can’t be true. I wanted to believe it was a trick all the way through this chapter. I didn’t want to believe it.

After finishing the book, I was too upset to sleep. It took me over an hour before I could calm down enough. The parties the night before just seem so wrong with the way the book ended. I just want someone to hold me while I cry.