Barb by Proxy

Background Noise:The Ching-Ching of 15 hours of OT
Random Thought: Tuesday? It's only fucking Tuesday?
Mood:See above

In my cranky-ass mood, I've decided to imporve my outlook by posting a few pics of what my apartment outlook is--here's the view from my balcony last Saturday. Not only does it make me smile, it makes others weep with jealousy, ergo improving my mood. Two birds, see one stone.

:: Warning, Warning, Guest Author Beginning::

So, Barb wants her pretty pictures? Then i guess she better get 'em:

    

Click to see the full resolution glory.

Since the Guest Author now has to get back to her work hell (how the *#$! is it Tuesday and not, oh, Thursday?!), i'm signing off now.

:: End Guest Author::

Background Noise: Back In Black
Random Thought: If our London trip smiled upon by the PTBs?
Mood:Barely reigned in excitement

Perhaps you are aware that Anne and I are planning an excursion to the other side of the pond next year. We've been hoping to do this for years, but things never worked out. There were work conflicts, miserly savings, unexpected expenses, and that elusive idea of time.

However, we got serious a few weeks ago about pre-planning this trip (hey, I planned our 2002 trip in advance and it worked out fairly well) and said we should go in 2007. Then we heard rumor that the final Harry Potter book would be hitting the shelves in summer of '07 and gasped with excitement that we could read HP7 whilst riding the train north towards Scotland. English Countyside, London Theatre, and Harry. What more could we ask for?

Book 7. 07/07/07

I can see it now: the biggest marketing campaign in the history of publishing, with one very short, very simple, very effective message: Book 7. 07/07/07. Woe betide the marketing departments at Bloomsbury and Scholastic if they don't clinch what's obviously the most perfect storm of circumstance, desire, product and marketing the world may ever know.


But wait, there is rumor that Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix film will be released on 7/13/06. That date is pretty set in stone, so either way we'll enjoy Harry in the UK. But nothing would please us more than to be able to step off a plane on the 6th of July and head toward a bookshop before trekking north on Saturday with those books hot in our hands, only to return to London on the 10th to enjoy some art and culture before attending a showing of HP at the local cinema. We could enjoy England in warm weather, with a real hotel (do real hotels supply hot Austrians?) and more pin money. If we left on the 15th, we'd be back in Chicago by 6 pm on that Sunday.


Please, Bloomsbury, see the stars align for a 07/07/07 release date.

Background Noise: One Way Street
Random Thought: Could it be?
Mood:HP-happy

Is the world ready for M. Night Shyamalan to lead us down the dark and misty path of the supernatural...Oh, wait. That actually makes a bit of sense.






Shyamalan Further Explains Directing a Potter Film

Last week, M. Night Shyamalan told ComingSoon.net that he has put some thought into directing either of the final two Potter films. Today, our friend Melissa from Leaky has informed us that she's conducted an interview with Shyamalan which will be released this Sunday on their Potter podcast, PotterCast.In a preview posted on their site, the director states he would offer the "greatest protection" on the author's work. From the report:"The themes that run through it...the empowering of children, a positive outlook...you name it, it falls in line with my beliefs," he said. "I enjoy the humor in it. When I read the first Harry Potter and was thinking about making it, I had a whole different vibe in my head of it. [There would be] a lot at stake emotionally. The teaching of magic would be desperately needed, there would be a lot riding on it."

Posted by Andrew on Jul 13th 130 Comments Submit News Categories: Movies

Background Noise:Who Do You Love
Random Thought: I'm so glad that it's Friday, and not next Tuesday
Mood:Impatient

For those of you who have misses my rapier wit and rambling tirades on the decline of entertainment, insights into the people I know, and all-out ranting, I fear that I must sidestep the expected posts about vacation and what happened in the world while I was lounging on a boat.

Because Anne is coming to Chicago!

Horrah!

Okay, so it's only for 3 days, but that's something when you haven't seen your BFF in 9 months. Plus, it's step one in my Plan for world domination. (This Plan basically reveolves around me getting Anne to Chicago and attaching a very large rubber band to her ankle so she can't leave, lest she risk damage to her finicky appendages).

Anyway, back to this weekend, that sparkles with the glint of opportunity and shines with the option to do nothing. That's right. In truth we could grab tickets to Wicked and Putnam County, sashay up to all my favorite stores, tour the Sears Tower, the JH Building, or the Museums. We could take a boat cruise. We could do a lot of things that we aren't going to do. For one thing, we'd be tired and poor at the end of that adventure. Plus, we have plenty of time for that when my Plan comes to fruition. For another, there is nobody I'd rather not do things with--we set ourselves on the same speed, and that's nice.

So we'll people watch at a fabulous outdoor table for dinner, see some Soundheim in Grant Park whilst sipping coffee and devouring the NYT. We'll sip cocktails on my balcony and get $1 beers at my favorite bar. We will basically hold our marathon phone conversations in person and back to back for 3 days.

And it will be wonderful.