Oh Man

The bad part about DESIGNING the homework is that when it's time for blogging that week you don't have homework to fall back on as a post. *sigh*

So what to write about.... Ummmm....

I had a rough week, well, actually I had a rough Monday that felt like a whole week so the rest of the week was like this extra bit of "skdfhurhuhbvajdfjnfandslvnas" for lack of better words and now I'm happy to be getting on with my three day weekend.

Gryphon's kit made it to him safely. And he says he's enjoyed it so that makes me very happy.

Yesterday was my mom's birthday and we had a dinner for her and I got to spend some time with her.

Tonight Mauricio and I are going to go see Flight of the Conchords and possibly spend some time on the strip being pretend tourists... That's part of the plan anyways. The likelihood of it playing out is entirely different since we'll probably get quickly annoyed at people that are actually tourists. :D The show will be fun though.

Since I'm in a safe place, I'll admit my addiction.

I love the Harry Potter stories. I love the books I love the artwork. I LOVE them. That's why I do this swap. I love the trivia...

I have this goal of collecting the books in different languages (if for nothing else than the other cover arts). I want the UK sets in both the adult and children covers... Maybe I'm a bit obsessed and maybe I'm a bit of a hoarder. BUT this week I bought my first non-English set of books and I'm thrilled to pieces over it.

This is all 7 books in Spanish.

I've always wanted to be bilingual. I've taken (no lie, I've added it all up) 7 years of Spanish classes. I do okay with my Spanish, but I'm not bilingual. My boyfriend is. English is actually his second language. I was doing better with my Spanish before his grandfather died. His grandparents spoke very little English, so I really had to work on my Spanish when we visited them. Now his grandfather has gone, and his grandmother lives in Miami so I don't practice as much. I'm hoping to read through these books and improve my Spanish skills. :D

Both my brother and my boyfriend both though I was silly to bought these, claiming I'll never read them. My boyfriend has, however, softened up and decided it will be a good thing for me to read the books in Spanish.

Here is my "Harry Potter Bookshelf" I'm quite proud of it... Though I seem to be missing "Quidditch Through the Ages" even though I KNOW that I own it. ...

Barely made it...

It has been a busy busy week for me with work and my baby brothers final swim meets. I almost forgot to blog! Not that this post is much of a blog at any rate...

Logan did well at prelims, but finals today he didn't hit quite where he wanted. It was rather crushing. BUT he's okay and he's happy to be done with the sport. He's ready to move on.

My other big event of the day was buying a $24 water polo set for the pool. That made for a fun afternoon. Haha

Anyways good night and I made the dealine and for that I'm greatful.

Potions Homework

Part 1:
Go around your house, outdoors, for a hike, or wherever and take pictures of 5 different plants, herbs, or flowers that might be used in potions.

Make sure to remember your originality marker for these.

Also, include the names of these (if you don't know their name feel free to make one up) and the description of potential use(s) for each.

4 points for each original picture, 2 points if pictures come from the internet, 1 point for each name, 1 point for each description of use.

My originality marker for this assignment is my pink iPod nano.

My 5 Plants and their uses (from left to right):

1. Trunk and leaf of palm - Brewed together they create a draught that increases confidence ensuring victory over ones enemies, though similar to Felix Felix Felicitus this potion is less difficult to make and has adverse side effects such as spontaneous anger outbursts that have lead to some unfortunate events. ... It has been banned by most all potion experts.
2. This grass, when combined with a few other elements (hair of dog, hair of cat, dried/ground strawberries and chopped peanuts) brewed in milk creates an ointment that will cause extreme itchiness and possible swelling to it's unsuspecting victims.
3. Philodendron... While, my Phil O'Dendron has the magical properties of also being able to keep me company, most of them contain toxins that are used in brewing rodenticides.
4. Mr. Plant (Honestly, I've no clue what he really is) - Mr. Plant's leaves have been used in calming solutions that help kee a person's rage levels down. He is a especially popular in office environments because the leaves give of vapors that also have this effect, though in a much much smaller potency.
5. Ms. Ivy herself has no real use in potions. HOWEVER she is used to attract some of the wildlfe that ingredients are cultivated from: lacefly wings, beetles, etc.

Part 2:
Answer the following potions questions:

1. Sneezewort, scurvy grass, and lovage are used to make what?
A: Allergen Solution
B:Confusing Draught
C: Babbling Befuddlement
D: Wandering Agent

2. Porcupine quills are to be added when to a Boil Cure Potion?
A: It is the second ingredient you add
B: Before it is removed from the fire
C: You don't add them, they aren't part of the potion
D: After it is removed from the fire

3. What potion, if brewed correctly, should change color numerous times throughout brewing including deep purple, lilac, and finishing clear?
A: The Draught of Living Death
B: Amortentia
C: Calming Draft
D: Elixir to Induce Euphoria

4. This ingredient in the Draught of Peace, would likely bring you permanent peace since it is poisonous, what is it?
A: Murlap
B: Belladonna
C: Mugwort
D: Hellebore
5. Chopped daisy roots, skinned shrivel-fig, sliced caterpillar, one rat spleen, dash of leech juice are all ingredients to what?
A: Swelling Solution
B: Deflating Draught
C: Shrinking Solution
D: Sleeping Draught

Part 3:
Take a picture of and list the ingredients and/or instructions to make one of your favorite potions that you have created.

This potion must have at the minimum, two ingredients to make it. Be sure to include you originality marker to prove it's yours!!!

For example it could be something as simple as your favorite coffee (with sugar or creme), or it could be an alcoholic mixed drink concoction that you have created. Your potion could also be an actual potion, oil, salve, or something else that you use as well.

My favorite poison...errr.... POTION! I meant Potion!
The Tequila Sunrise
Ingredients: Orange Juice (no pulp), A shot of Tequila, and a Splash of grenadine
Instructions: Mix Orange Juice and Tequila, Pour the grenadine in, allowing it to "float" for the color variations.

Delicious.

Race for the Cure!

Some Photos:

Some highlights:

• No Storm Troopers this year... That I saw anyways.
• Traffic was bad, as expected. During a moment of "road rage" that involved screaming I was informed by Laura, "Lucy, you know if they're not in the same car as you they can't hear you." ...
• Met up with my Mom, Vanessa, Sara, Ellie, Emma, Caitlin, Cheryl and Madison ... We all had a good time.
• Ronni and took turns carrying Laura and Maddy that last mile or so.
• Luke texted me to tell me he ran it in 26 minutes... and then puked.
  
• It was pretty good times.
• We (Ronni, Laura, Maddy and I) had pancakes afterwards. :D