Winter Wonderland

My faithful followers (all four of you) may have noticed that this post was a little off from the regular schedule I’ve been posting at. You see, we received significant snowfall in the Bluegrass, and school was subsequently cancelled. I hate doing work on snow days, even though I’m not doing anything anyway. I just seem to think that snow days put a pause on school, so I pause everything. The thing about a pause is that you eventually have to hit play, as did school. When I got back to school, the realization hit me that I had accomplished nothing, bar the impression I left in the couch. Coming back to posting, two ideas magically popped into my head, winter and procrastination. In true spirit, I’ll do the procrastination one some other time.

Kentucky and the Harry Potter world are “blessed” with the addition of winter in their seasonal cycles. We both deal with the cold and the snow, but more welcome are the breaks from classes and CHRISTMAS! Of course, my birthday’s also in there, but I doubt Harry bothers too much about that, he is pretty busy during the winter. But I digress. The seven winters Harry experiences are pretty eventful, though. He gets his first Christmas, obtaining the integral Invisibility Cloak and sees his parents via Mirror of Erised. Christmas time also brings the Yule Ball, a trip to Hogsmead and Harry’s first kiss. Not only those things, but Harry also gets to see his closest-to-a-father figure mauled by a giant snake, and two years later, the same thing happens to him after finding his parents’ graves! Oh wait, those aren’t uplifting. It seems like even the goodness of Christmas is tainted when the most evil person alive is after you. Who would’ve thought?

So as not to end on a grim note, here are some words from Dobby on Christmas as he receives Harry’s makeshift gift, Uncle Vernon’s socks: “’Socks are Dobby’s favorite clothes, sir! I has seven now, sir…. But sir… they has made a mistake in the shop, Harry Potter, they is giving you two the same!’”

Drive Safely.

Pigpimples

Everyday, millions of people disembark at ungodly hours through sometimes tempestuous conditions in order to make their way to a piece of yellow metal. However, many of these would rather be doing anything else. You see, unlike gold, a school bus is not a happy sight for the majority of people.Such is the American system of education, the young people of our nation enduring what often seems to be long, melancholy hours of learning, only to return home and complete more hours of work, whilst arguing with their siblings. Our mother country, Great Britain has nipped this dreary practice in the bud, having sent its young to boarding school for generations. The magical world follows this boarding school approach, with the young witches and wizards of England attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for seven years, ages 11-17. Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw, with its four houses named for them.
Quick! Pick the best Hogwarts House!
Unless you picked Ravenclaw, you are wrong. Founded by Rowena Ravenclaw, this House values cleverness above all other traits. It's colors are blue and (according to the books) bronze or (according to the movies) silver. Given its maxim that "Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure," Ravenclaw is was home to some of the most brilliant witches and wizards of Britain, bar Hermonie Granger, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall (but really, what have they done?). Within the period of the books, Ravenclaw houses Luna Lovegood, Cho Chang and others. Of course, not everyone is admitted into this fine house, so others had to be in place:

• Gryffindor with its colors of scarlet and gold is home to the brave. Harry Potter, the Weasleys, Hermonie Granger and Albus Dumbledore are among the Gryffindors.
• Hufflepuff has colors of yellow and black and admits those of pure, just hearts. Notable members are Cedric Diggory and Pamona Sprout.
• The final house is Slytherin, which adorns the colors of green and silver and honors the ambitious. Tom Riddle, most of the Blacks, the Malfoys and Severus Snape were all placed in Slytherin.

J.K. Rowling may have known that Gryffindor would make a better house for her purposes, but she probably also knew that Ravenclaw was the best. You see, she may have made Gryffindor's symbol a lion, but lions are lazy, doing nothing but procreate and eat what the females catch. Ravens can fly, a property unique from the other house mascots, and they are very resourceful. These are qualities befitting the greatest house.
This week's words to live by come from my favorite Ravenclaw, Luna Lovegood: "The Crumple-Horned Snorkack can't fly..."

A Free Elf

I wouldn't exactly call myself a fashion savant, but there is one look that I think is truly hot, no matter what season. Here's how to make the look: knit seven or more woolen hats. Next, stack the hats on your head. Then, grab two pairs of hand-made socks, the more colorful, the better. Take one sock from each pair and wear them, and voila, you have perfected the Dobby look. If any of the last few sentences rang a bell, this could be the blog for you.
I will begin my blog talking about the most important character in the Harry Potter universe: Dobby the house elf. Dobby and the notion of house elves enter our lives in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. When we first meet Dobby, he is meddling in Harry's life, stealing friendly letters and antagonizing Uncle Vernon's business meeting. However, Dobby becomes a true friend and integral part of Harry's life, saving it about as much as endangering it. In the movies and the books, Dobby is an important character, as he is a true friend and also provides comic relief. In the novels, he plays a larger role, including taking a position at Hogwarts. As house elves are freed with clothes, Dobby becomes obsessed with odd clothing, especially socks, frequently wearing miss-matched socks and knitting the same for Harry. A pure heart such as Dobby's almost makes me want to join S.P.E.W. Not entirely though, I would love having a little creature clean my room.
Here are my words to live by: "Dobby never meant to kill, only maim or seriously injure."