Harry Potter day is the most magical day of all! I'll start at the beginning. Wednesday night I was up all night because my right arm was killing me. I got all of an hour's sleep. Erin was concerned that maybe there was a heart issue, but I was more concerned about Carpal Tunnel syndrome.
So I went in to work late on Thursday because I made a doctor appointment. After some muscle squeezing they confirmed my worst fears. I have carpel tunnel going on in both arms, from years of computer work. Balls. So now I have to wear a wrist brace thing on my arm while I work and when I sleep. It's humiliating. I can't continue thinking I'm bad ass if I have to wear a wrist-brace on my tattoo arm.
I talked to Erin on the phone and told her the news. She cracked up. Later in the conversation, I told her that I ordered the Harry Potter book and it should arrive on Saturday. She started laughing even harder. I've forced myself to read the first two books, and eventually listen to the audio books in an effort to struggle my through how boring they are to be a part of history when the final one comes out. I don't think they're all that boring when you get to the last couple books, but the first three were turd fests. It took a lot of effort on my part not to give up, but I made it and I was all set to read the last book like every other 12 year old out there. Erin thinks it's stupid that I'd force my self to waste all those hours on something I don't even really care about, so when she heard that I ordered the book she laughed, "So you're going to be sitting around in your pajamas reading Harry Potter with your little wrist brace?" She had a point.
Friday I had the day off since there was no daycare, and I spent it over at my moms fixing her computer situation. It was a nagging thing that I've been putting off for a few weeks since I was so busy. But I went over there with the promise that she'd watch the kids while I work on it. It took most of the day but I managed to get it all up and running, and then I secured her wireless network too.
The whole time I was doing that I was also working on the re-design that you're witnessing now (unless you're reading this through RSS- screw you). I have been mourning the loss of Deadwood, so I thought I'd dedicate my site to it for a while. I finally got it up and running late last night, though there are still a few issues I have to resolve. If you're seeing it on IE 6 or lower you're out of luck. You can still see the site, but not the way I intended with CSS goodness.
I woke up this morning to the sounds of Audrey sweetly screaming in my ear that mom made pancakes. I got up and stumbled out to the kitchen and wolfed them down. I love a Saturday morning pancake. Then, while taking my morning crap, I remembered that the Harry Potter book was going to come today.
Like I said earlier, I didn't really get into the books. It normally amounted to Harry being in serious trouble with people wanting to kill him. And the people in his school trying to protect him. But he'd always go against their instructions and go off exploring and try to solve the mystery on his own. I hated it because I kept fantasizing that someone would get killed because of his stupidity. Surprisingly, in Order of the Pheonix it actually happened, and of course the Half Blood Prince. So I started liking the books, because it was pretty much going against the 'child sleuth' way of writing. With the last book, I was hoping that it was going to be a blood bath with Harry being the final death. I imagined him stretching one hand out to the void while muttering, "... I'm really annoying. " Before expiring in Hermonie's lap. Of course, Hermonie lives. She's sort of the underdog, you gotta root for the underdog.
The book was finaly delivered by the mail carrier today at around noon. I saw him walking up and was awestruck by his amazing resemblance to Steve Jobs. He said, "You Pat Beyer?" I said yes, and he told me to enjoy as he handed me the package. Poor guy must have to greet everyone at the door on Harry Potter day. I imagine screen doors packed with screaming kids he has to paint a smile on his face for. But screw him, I got my book.
But then, as Steve Jobs was walking back to his truck, a red car pulled up to a screeching halt, and a woman marched out toward him, "Hi, I'm with Star Tribune. Have you been delivering any Harry Potter books today?" I was frozen with fear. I was praying that the guy wouldn't point out that he had just delivered a copy to this 33 year old man with a chincy starter-mustache and bed-hair. I didn't want to be etched into history this way. So I slowly backed away from the door. I considered closing the door, but I thought that would draw attention to myself. They mail carrier kept walking across my yard to his truck so I thought I was safe. I darted back toward the porch where Erin was laying, watching TV. I told her what had just happened, and she snapped into action. She grabbed Margo and headed out the door and into the street looking for the woman. She was dead-set on embarrassing me and having me interviewed. I kept yelling at her to get back in the house, and she finally relented after seeing the woman following the mail carrier down the street. Thank God.
After the kids had their naps, we went to target. As we drove past the main doors, I swear I saw planet Dan walk in the front. I told Erin and she started cracking up, "This is totally the day I'm going to embarrass you." she said. I told her I wouldn't be embarrassed. If she went up and talked to him, she's only embarassing herself. "What are you going to say? 'I read your blog!'? You'll look like a moron." She must of realized I was right because when we were in the store she saw him and quickly dropped the idea. Before that I asked what section she thought a famous local blogger would be in, and I guessed candles. Turns out I was partly-right. He might not of been looking for candles since he was in the home/office section, but there were candles on the end-cap. While Erin was off looking for make-up, I waited by an isle and Dan walked up right next to me. He was looking at something on the shelves, but he was all of a foot away. He smelt of lilacs. Audrey was whining about where Mom was, and I saw Dan look at her from the corner of my eye. I caught his attention with my annoying kid. Awesome.
Through the rest of our shopping experience, we kept running into him and I would make jokes of a section of "Us" magazine called, "Stars are just like us". They show candid pictures they've taken of the stars while they're out shopping, with captions like, "She lose their keys!" Or, "They are late getting to the book store!" I was saying things like, "He asks for Target Assistance!" as we saw dan walk past us with a Target employee.
So, all in all today was a pretty exciting Harry Potter day.
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