Family and Fangirling

Look at me go! Once a week success so far!

This past week my family came down to visit which kept me thoroughly occupied! Luckily, thanks to a magnificent coordinator at work, I was able to get off work during the days that they were visiting. We got a lot accomplished during the time they spent down here, including a visit to Universal Studios (which was my first) primarily to visit the Harry Potter section of the park. We may have emerged from Hogsmeade slightly nauseated but we (well, without a doubt me, but I assume the others as well) had no regrets about any of it.  Word to the wise, don't go on Forbidden Journey (the ride inside Hogwarts) on an empty stomach.  You'll feel just as bad as if you had just eaten a full meal, except...there's nothing there. Eat enough to anchor your stomach and you'll be good.

If that isn't too much information...

Hakuna matata though, everyone's stomachs stayed inside of their bodies. The ride itself is fairly smooth, and it's a pretty cool blend between simulation and live-action. Even if you don't think you can handle the ride, definitely wait in line with the rest of your party and then when you get to the last employee (for this ride it's right when you see the sorting hat) ask to walk through to the exit. It happens frequently, especially for rider swaps. The bonus is that you'll still be able to see everything that's inside the castle. Which is also awesome.

I'm even more excited for when they add Diagon Alley which is supposed to happen in the next year. I'm very excited to go back and explore the rest of the park.  We did a little of that after we finished the Harry Potter section, but we were all feeling the heat and only hit a couple more of the rides as we exited the park. The water rides in particular look especially fun.  Part of our group went on some of them, and I'm excited to return to ride them myself.

That's mostly what's happened since I last posted.  I'm typing from my laptop at the moment, and the pictures are on my phone, so maybe on my lunchbreak tomorrow I'll post a picture spam. I've had the past two days off which has been wonderful.  I've gotten a lot of reading done, which is always a plus.  I'm always getting more out of the library even though I have higher priority books that I actually own, but do a great job of accidentally ignoring. FOR EXAMPLE!

I'm going to veer off topic for a minute because I'm so excited about it. (well, you know, this is my blog, so I guess it can't really be called going off topic.) Some of you that know me well might watch, or have heard about The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (LBD) and how much I love it. For those of you who don't know, or who I haven't coerced into watching it, LBD is a YouTube adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  They came in bi-weekly installments that were 'video diaries' from Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bennet as well as some of the other characters in the book.  ( http://www.lizziebennet.com/) The series was in one word, fabtastic.  It was well-written, well-planned, and well-acted.  It also stayed true to the main content of the book while seamlessly adapting it as if it were happening in today's world. The series also used social media platforms, such as twitter, to enhance the story. As far as I know, there's nothing out there like that. Especially that actually interacts with its fans in real time.  I mean, that operates like it actually exists, as if it's real. And, well, it kind of is. I followed the series tooth and nail...even though I knew what was going to happen...yeah yeah. (for those of you who are reading this that were in Mount Union's choir, this is what Natalie and I were screaming* about twice a week.)

*and for those of you who weren't in choir, as those who stood near us can verify, I do mean literal screaming. not terribly loud screaming. but noticeable raising of voices that was not in the name of music making.

The series ended at the close of the school year, and they announced they were going to have a summer project as well as another full adaptation that would be announced at the end of July.  The summer project was a spin-off of LBD called Welcome to Sanditon.  It's based on an unfinished novel also by Jane Austen.

BUT THE REASON WHY I'M MENTIONING THIS AT ALL is because a couple days ago they announced the new full adaptation. It's going to be for Emma (also by Jane Austen). I AM VERY EXCITED. So Emma is now bumped up on my reading list and I don't know whether or not to finish the other half of Sense and Sensibility first or just go ahead and drop everything to read Emma.

*sigh* the struggles of a book-lover.

So I'm posting about it to tell you that I am excited and if you're excited too TELL ME SO WE CAN BE EXCITED TOGETHER. I mean, that goes for *anything* that I fangirl over, but this is fresh in my mind and if you haven't read it either, we can read it together and hem and haw! It'll be like a virtual bookclub!

So there's that. :)

Oh also since getting this job down here I talk more. I talk a lot and much faster than before. As if before it wasn't bad enough. Just an FYI if you want updates on how I've 'changed.' I'm reading last week's post and I should probably also inform you of the following

1. I'm not sick anymore, aside from the occasional sniffle.
2. I won't hear back about Candlelight Cast Choir until August 14th. Don't worry. When I know, you'll know.


Um that's all I think? Right right. okay.

Faith, trust, and pixie dust,
-Stephanie