August's Aquarius Full Moon...

Whenever I hear the word 'Aquarius' I immediately hear the Fifth Dimension singing. Moving right along...

The August Full Moon in Aquarius is on Saturday, the 13th, at 2:57 PM/EDT. With this Full Moon, as with all Full Moon's, we are in a place of completion. Wrapping up things that we started at the new moon. The extended cycle we started awhile back of looking to past events to help rectify issues in the present is still in effect. Resolution of still festering familial issues (whether conscious or subconscious). The Sun and the Moon are playing opposite one another, so expect emotions to run to the extremes...high, low, hot, or cold.

Being kind to ourselves and seeing to our own needs. That same theme is still present from the past couple of lunar cycles. With emotions being all over the place, balance is key. Leo is still around with Mercury and Venus being in Leo, so there is great potential for drama. Be conscious of what you say and how you say it. Think in more empathic terms and take care with the emotions of others, and of your own.

The two main themes this moon are balance, and honesty. The best recommended course as far as 'balance' is to take care of yourself because if we are centered, and feel good with ourselves, that translates to how we deal with others. If we can be positive and caring with others because we feel good then drama is kept to a minimum. On the 'honesty' side, it is important that you address things fully rather than skirting an issue with a smile as if nothing is wrong. Be sure that whatever that issue is, it is going to surface. Best to deal with it from the beginning rather than squashing it and letting it fester.

So the 'self nurture' cycles continue. I think that's a good rule of thumb all the time. This puts me in mind of a quote from one RuPaul Andre Charles..."If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?"

This Full Moon is called the Full Sturgeon Moon by Native Americans. Here is some information from The Farmer's Almanac on this moon:

• "Full Sturgeon Moon - August: The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon."

At The Front...

Yesterday appeared to be progressing like most days here in the bright and damp south. Intense heat during the day coupled with thick and heavy moisture hanging in the air, followed by slightly cooler evenings with the continuing humidity (which makes the slight dip in temperature virtually unnoticeable). The afternoon/evening of Tuesday, August 9th, showed me a sight I have caught here on the edge of the marsh only once before.

I was in need of some fresh air, and decided to bear with the heat and the wet. I never leave the condo without the camera when I head out for a walk of any length. There always seems to be something to see. I often see the same things here on the marsh in new ways. Sometimes those differences are subtle, but sometimes... My goal was to get some pictures of approaching storm clouds. Since moving east to the Georgia coast, I have developed a fascination with clouds. Maybe it was spawned by years of living under a blanket of smog in Los Angeles...who knows. The clouds here are massive puffs of depth, shadow, and varying shades of blue, pink, amber, and grey (depending on the weather). At times, I get mesmerized by how fast they can move. There is something so hypnotic about how they can shift and morph their shape, small silent explosions roiling out of the huge puffs of cumulus and cumulonimbus.

Through the glass doors to the screened porch, I had noticed a dimming of the sky. It was still day, but slightly overcast. A strengthening breeze had kicked up, as well. That breeze was a chief reason for deciding to take a stroll. I knew it would be toasty out, but the breeze would make it more bearable. There were also storm warning alerts on the TV. Nothing appeared to be out of the usual for that time of day. As I have mentioned before in some of my more recent posts, this time of year it is common for storm warnings to either not pay-off in the end, or for the warnings to be for other areas than ours. Camera in hand, I made my way to the usual spots. The pictures above and below are of my quick sojourn. Nothing very interesting beyond the usual calming view, and sounds of cicadas or the occasional squawk of a heron.

I returned to the condo with a few snappies, and a need for something cold to drink. The TV beeped it's warning again, and Glenn told me that a hefty storm band was headed our way. Sure enough, there was a thick green band moving our way, a heavy nucleic area of yellow and orange at it's heart. If it made it to us, we could be in for a bit of a slam. Interstate 95 is the decider with storms. If a storm is moving towards us, it can dissipate at the 95 because of sea breezes that meet it. It is such a let down when that happens. I curse I-95 on a regular basis at this time of year. The great 'Storm-killer'. However, this storm looked quite formidable, and I had doubts that the 95 would win against it. The great patch of green was moving at quite a clip. Before I knew it the sky grew quite dark causing streetlights to flicker on, and the wind kicked up considerably. I felt myself getting a tad excited. It looked like we were in for some serious weather.

From the time I returned home from my first trip outside, I don't think 20 minutes had passed when the dark clouds swiftly rolled in. They were really booking. Another walk to the marsh was absolutely in order, so I grabbed the camera again. Once out of the front door, I looked up to see the dark many layered clouds billowing overhead. I quickly walked toward the marsh with one goal in mind. To try and catch pictures of something I have only been able to witness once before. An actual storm front.

I was not to be disappointed.

The mixture of blues and greys within the swiftly moving clouds was really beautiful. I could see the headlights of cars get switched on against the approaching dark as they crossed the bridge from Tybee. The wind was getting stronger, and whipped around me, kicking up a stray leaf here and there and rustling the nearby vegetation around. I almost stepped on a small fiddler crab who waved his claws at me in a "Hey, I'm walkin' here!" fashion as he ran around a tree. I saw two different herons flap around looking for a good place to hunker down until things past. I was snapping picture after picture. Thunder started to crack through the rushing of the wind, and lightning made it's approach known with a few warning shots. It was really exhilarating being there underneath and inside it all. I felt kind of a part of it.

Witnessing something like that was so incredibly cool. I know the pictures can't do justice to actually being there, but I am very happy that I was able to be in the right place at the right time.

Gaia is a powerful gal...

Fire & Rain...

Today was a day of extremes. The first half of the day into the afternoon was fiery, the sun's rays heating the ground and air, making it nearly unbearable to be outside. I braved the heat (in the mid to upper-90's), and walked to the corner store rather than drive. Within the first hundred feet or so of the front door, I was bathed in humidity, head to toe. The slightly cooler temperature of shadow was not plentiful as my walk began just beyond high noon. A sun worshiper, I am not. I often joke that I must have vampire blood on some distant branch of my family tree. The brightness and unbearable temperature aside, it felt wonderful to be out. To put my body in motion. To put my legs to use. When I left the perimeter of the condominiums, I was faced with two routes to take to my destination...one shorter along the main road, and one a bit more bucolic along the bike path. As I took the greener and lesser traveled of the two, for whatever reason this Frost poem popped into my head...

The Road Not Taken

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I should be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

By mid afternoon, the sky darkened, and began to distantly grumble. I have a number of posts on my blog relating to rain. Yes, my love for rain is one reason I post about it, but the other (lately) is that we haven't had our usual amount this year. Oh, the carrot is constantly dangled in front of our faces, but an actual rainstorm seems to always be out of reach. The local radars told a different story this time, and we were hit with a huge thunderstorm. The distant grumbles evolved into colossal cracks and booms. A couple sounded like cannon fire, making me nearly jump out of my skin. It was wonderful! Truly exhilirating. I love rain, and thunderstorms doubly so. Since the sun from earlier in my day put me in mind of a poem, I feel the need to follow suit with a poem of the rain. The one I selected is a bit dark, but it's a beautifully written piece...and I really like it.

Rainy Night

by Dorothy Parker

Ghosts of all my lovely sins,

Who attend too well my pillow,

Gay the wanton rain begins;

Hide the limp and tearful willow.

Turn aside your eyes and ears,

Trail away your robes of sorrow,

You shall have my further years -

You shall walk with me tomorrow.

I am sister to the rain,

Fey and sudden and unholy,

Petulant at the windowpane

Quickly lost, remembered slowly.

I have lived with shades, a shade;

I am hung with graveyard flowers.

Let me be tonight arrayed

In the silver of the showers.

Every fragile thing shall rust;

When another April passes

I may be a furry dust,

Sifting through the brittle grasses.

All sweet sins shall be forgot;

Who will live to tell their siring?

Hear me now, nor let me rot

Wistful still, and still aspiring.

Ghosts of dear temptations, heed;

I am frail, be you forgiving.

See you not that I have need

To be living with the living?

Sail, tonight, the Styx's beast;

Glide among the dim processions

Of the exquisite unblesst,

Spirits of my shared transgressions.

Roam with young Persephone.

Plucking poppies for your slumber...

With the morrow, there shall be

One more wraith among your number.

Black Coffee...

"A morning without coffee is like sleep." ~ Author Unknown

Morning Mud, Bean Juice, Plasma, Go Go Juice, Cuppa, Java, Cup of Joe...Coffee has many colorful monikers. I personally use 'Java' most of the time, but do have my occasional 'Cup of Joe'. Whatever you want to call it, it is my main addiction these days. I dig the bitter drink. A lot. I like it strong and untainted. If I can see through it, I'll take a pass. The thicker, the better.

"In America you can buy bucket-sized cups of coffee in any flavour you like other than coffee flavour." ~ Author Unknown

Currently we appear to be deep into an age of designer coffees, Starbucks being the most widely spread. Lattes, Cappucinos, ice blendeds. 'Half caff, extra foam, low-fat, mocha...coffee'? Would you like some coffee with your coffee? Honestly, I wonder...if one of those multi-layered beverages were put together sans coffee, would the drinker even notice. I find myself in a minority when it comes to coffee. One of (what seems to be) a dwindling number who actually drink coffee in it's naked form. Freshly brewed, hot, and rich. As I said, it's my one main addiction these days. I quit smoking awhile ago. Yes, I do crave a cig with my java from time to time, but those cravings are momentary. I enjoy my coffee all by its lonesome. Either in a diner (they usually have the best), or at home where I know it will be just the way I like it. Do I drink an entire pot? Absolutely. Especially when I'm writing. (I just started my first cup of a fresh pot a few minutes ago...)

Initially, I had started putting together a post about coffee that leaned in a completely different direction than the one this one is headed in. Why I hadn't discovered this coffee based interest earlier...well, it has peaked my creative interest, and I plan to give it a go myself. Coffee painting.

I was unable to find any definitive information on the history of coffee painting. It appears that the origins of its use as an artistic medium can be credited to the Thai people who are known for their use of tea in painting, and the Chinese who are said to have used it as a background tint in their paintings. I am kind of surprised that I didn't think of using it as a paint medium on my own. I consider myself to be somewhat experimental when it comes to my art. Having a tendency to make stuff up as I go along, using coffee as a tint or otherwise is right up my alley.

There are several coffee artists out there on the 'World Wide Web'. Some are dabblers, and some are more proficient. There are some really great and varied examples of coffee artwork above. I not only find them impressive, but inspiring. (Just inserting a note here: I did try to locate artist info on all of the pieces I have included in my blog post. If an un-credited artist happens to see my blog, I have included your work mearly as example/reference. I do not claim to own the posted art.) The artists of the paintings in the upper row are as follows: the one on your left is by Katie of the site 'Caricatures By Katie', and the ones center and to the right are by 'Alex n' Radish'. On the lower row, the painting to the right is called 'Teufel Cafe' and is by artist Ryan Lewis. I couldn't locate the artists for the painting on the left, but the one in the center brings me to this next artist.

Karen Eland is a professional coffee artist who hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma. A childhood portrait class, and a love of coffee inspired her to use espresso as a painting medium. All of the above paintings are by Karen, and you can see more at her official web site. She has definitely mastered the layering art necessary to create the rich depths of coffee painting. Her renderings of classic paintings are quite good, and I appreciate her special alterations/additions.

The theme of 'Coffee' also plays into other forms of art like those pictured above. Nail Art, or sculpture - whether it's a bacon coffee cup, or a lotus fashioned from a paper Starbuck's cup (Artist: Alfred Ng) . I love those coffee sack chairs, but alas they are apparently only available to residents of Ireland. The abstract glass sculpture of the two kissing faces forming out of two cups of spilled coffee...really neat (Artist: Tsang Cheung Shing). The last piece of the above collection is a lit wall art structure constructed of coffee filters. Such creativity.

There is a more common group of coffee artists out there. Baristas. ('Coffee servers' to those unfamiliar with the term.) A lot of people who frequent trendy coffee houses probably get lattes topped with this particular art form on a regular basis and don't really notice. Whether it's flowers, swans, animal faces, or abstract swirls, coffee house baristas are creating works of art with every order. The video below shows some basic guide lines for topping a latte with flowers.

Not that hard, really. There are more 'How To' videos available on the net, but I think it looks pretty simple to find ones own way with designs. If I worked in a coffee house, I would definitely be playing around with some designs of my own.

In the next day or so I plan on picking up some water color paper, and a couple of soft brushes. I want to do some serious experimenting with coffee, probably starting with some nature images around the marsh. I've always wanted to master trees...in a style that fits my own. As an artist, I prefer to create something from within myself rather than mirrorring someone elses work. To each his own, I suppose...

But for the moment, I'm going to enjoy another cup of coffee that is just how Agent Cooper would like it..."black as midnight on a moonless night".

A New Moon in Leo...Several Days Late...

This past Saturday (July 30, 2011) we had a New Moon in the sign of Leo at 2:40 PM/EST. New Moons always signify a new beginning. A fresh start. This is always good news to me. I am always up for approaching a new chapter with a new perspective. I am a Leo (my Birthday is July 27th), so this particular moon had me hopeful and curious. I had been feeling a sense of agitation over the last few weeks. Low volume, but there nonetheless. I was looking forward to seeing what this moon might give me to get me out of my slightly down period.

We Leo's have many fine attributes. We are very loyal, warmhearted, and generous. We are also very creative. Leos are Lions, and are dominant, independent, self-confident...hmm...as I am writing this, I am starting to get a bit introspective. This actually reads to this last New Moon in Leo. This is a time to look inwardly to become more in tune with our 'true self'. To focus on who we are and how we want to be seen by others. To be the best person possible. It calls to our individual creativity, and our expression of that element of ourselves. It's basically an 'up' time. BUT (there always seems to be one of those) there is also an under lying agitation that could crop up. Working on staying on the 'up' side is key to avoiding that.

I am all about working to be the most positive and caring person I can be. I am also all about my creative self, and being in this state of rejuvenation is right on time. I have a book that isn't going to write itself, and I need a huge dose of creative juices. In the coming weeks I will focus on what I need to do, and work on letting it flow. OH! But wait...that's not all for the next few weeks...

Tuesday (August 2, 2011) at 11:50 PM/EST, Mercury went retrograde. Yes, it's that time again. Usually when these retrograde deals are in effect, my life gets kind of...wonky. If you don't know what Retrograde means, it is when a planet gives a false sense of it moving in a backward motion. It's first position is when it appears to be standing still. Then it appears to move backwards through all of the signs, at which time it seems to once again stand still, and then shift back to forward motion when it goes back through the signs. Hmm...that's not a very complete explanation...let me explain it this way. Because of the Earth's rotation, the various heavenly bodies appear to move from east to west. All planets to seem to pass the Earth in this east to west fashion, but the planets farthest from us actually drift to the east in a much slower manner as is normal. Because Earth completes it's orbit at a faster pace, we do overtake those outer planets periodically. At the beginning of a retrograde cycle, the planet appears to stand still, then move west, stand still again, and move back to the east. A Mercury retrograde lasts about 22 days. Have fun for the next three weeks...

From what I have gleaned from my various reads on the subject, this retrograde cycle starts in the sign of Virgo, switching back to Leo on the 8th. Everyone says not to fear these cycles, but most are prone to. Just be wary. These are prime times for mistakes to happen. After all Mercury is the 'Trickster'. Just stay focused, and things should be fine. That's what I tell myself anyway...

That is all until the next Full Moon on August 13th...

An Over Due Day...

Here on the Georgia coast, temperatures have been high. The mid to upper 90's is the norm this week, and as always the humidity doesn't make the heat any easier to bear. On top of dealing with the scorching temperatures, I have been having some serious pain and stiffness issues with my right hand. My RA seems to have backed off for awhile now, but I recently was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It is always something. It is the Carpal Tunnel that has kept me away from my blog over the last little bit. I have had to take a small break from two of my favorite things...writing on my blog, and taking photos of the world of the outside. Thankfully, my hand is seeing a bit of an improvement, and I am now able to do both. Here's hoping that this respite will turn into a more extended break.

Daily we get predictions of possible scattered thunderstorms, which is common for this time of year. Our rainfall is quite low this go round, which is not the norm. The marsh grasses are currently a beautiful shade of green. I am assuming that living on the coast is showing a plus side...we may not have received the usual rainfall, but the waters of the Bull River are keeping things moist for the native plant life. The pictures in this entry were taken yesterday on a long missed trip to the outside. The first couple of shots have been seen on my blog from many different angles, exhibiting many different colors through the seasons. These are of the current summer time scene.

As I walked past one of my main stroll landmarks, the old dock remains, I took a moment to search for the tiny Fiddler Crabs that inhabit the mud flat just next to the bank. What I saw was rather interesting. There were quite a few of the crabs facing the rays of the sun. They were all flexing their claws out then in. It looked like some bizarre sun worship ritual. Below is a less than professional short video I took of some of them.

Glenn (my boyfriend) would later tell me that those were male Fiddler Crabs. Apparently, flexing their claws is a way of attracting mates. I guess they are showing off the size of their crab guns. It looks like that is the crab world's version of size does matter.

It felt really good to be out of doors and relatively pain free. Taking pictures was a doable act again, so I took advantage of the time. The above photographs of the marsh by my home were taken in the evening. Earlier, I had ventured over to the park I enjoy visiting...some of those photos are below.

It's a tree filled park with a canopy of branches. Hardly anyone is ever there...which is why I enjoy visiting it. It is located on the far edge of the island.

The pine needle, leaf, and twig covered floor has a weird spongy feel to it. I chalk it up to layer upon layer of tree fallout, coupled with ground moisture. As you can see from the above photo, the sun is able to punch through, but for the most part moisture hangs thickly in the air away from the drying sun rays. That's probably why mosquito's seem to like hanging out there, too. The closer I got to the jungle like foliage that skirts the edge of the park, the more the annoying little buggers buzzed around me. It was in the mid-90's, and it was very hot, but the tree branches above kept the intense rays of the sun at bay. Hot, but bearable enough to stroll around and snap some pics.

It was meditative in it's way, just like all of my other visits to the park. It is quiet except for the sounds of nature. The rustlings created by the breezes blowing through, plus a variety of unseen birds and cicadas.

I snapped the picture below of the tree stump because with the way the shadows were falling, it looked like the long missing tree was casting a phantom shadow.

It was so good to be able to engage in some of my usual activities. It was definitely good for my head. Very therapeutic.

I capped off my day by preparing some fresh berries. It was a good day.

Now to do some catching up on my blog posts...

Harry Potter, The Final Installment...

Sitting in a slightly manky, virtually empty theater, I waited for the lights to dim. Wednesday was my birthday, and seeing the final installment of the Harry Potter saga on a big screen was one of my presents. To say that I had waited with anticipation to see this last film, well...big understatement. Settling into the dingy and old theater seat, the time crept up on 3:00 PM, Thursday afternoon, when the movie was scheduled to start. After several previews, that is. Finally those ended, and the theater darkened for the main attraction..."Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part 2".

Was the movie enjoyable? Yes. Were the effects spectacular? Yes. Was I left with a feeling of satisfaction when the end credits began to roll? Uhm...not really. I shall explain, but I feel it necessary to inform anyone who hasn't seen the film (or read the book), to not read further if they want to approach 'Hallows' with a fresh perspective. I will be giving at least one major spoiler. Okay...you have been warned...moving right along...

(A battered Harry in a crumbling Hogwarts)

The opening hits the ground running. Voldemort has the coveted Elder Wand (one of the Deathly Hallows...Harry has the other two: the resurrection stone, and the invisibility cloak), and our intrepid trio is well into their quest for the Horcruxes. (Horcruxes being objects that Voldemort used to house portions of his soul. Harry and company were searching out all of the Horcruxes to destroy them...it was the only way that Voldemort could be killed.) I wish that I had watched part one again before seeing part two. I have seen all of the movies, but I have also read all of the books. It was hard at first to get grounded. I couldn't remember what had happened/was included in the first half of the two films, and my mind was a bit of a jumble as it tried to sort out the film from the book. Yes, I knew what was happening whether it was featured in the film or not, but I couldn't get a comfortable grasp on the film's continuity. The frustration was present throughout, but not at a volume that ruined my experience.

(McGonagal casts the spell to rouse Hogwarts' stone guardians)

With the death of Dumbledore, Snape has taken over as headmaster, and Deatheaters and Dementors are everywhere. At the point in the film where Harry returns to Hogwarts in search of the final Horcrux, one of my favorite moments in the film takes place. McGonagal kicks Snape's ass. I know it was in the book, but seeing it on the big screen was awesome! It was brilliant seeing Professor McGonagal (Maggie Smith) flick that wand around with precision, Snape (Alan Rickman) flying out the window. She is such a bad ass!

I'm going to jump over to the scenes where Voldemort, his army of Deatheaters, and his Giant allies, have managed to punch through the magic barrier around Hogwarts. The battle is well done. (Another of the great ass kicking moments is here when Mrs. Weasley blows up Beatrix LeStrange.) The good and the bad are dying throughout the castle, and in the process much of Hogwarts is being reduced to rubble. It was all very effective, and I braced myself for the casualties to come. For me these moments fell flat. Seeing the prone and lifeless forms of Tonks and Lupin was sad, but it didn't get me like the book did. Even watching Ron go into a fit of hysterical tears over his brother Fred didn't really get to me, either. I am by no means a person to not be sensitive to moving scenes in a film, but...maybe my expectations were too high. Could anything have been done differently to make it more gut wrenching? Would seeing even one of the casualties fall have made a difference? I don't know. Maybe. Then again, I don't think the actual moments of their deaths was mentioned in the book. I seem to remember that we don't know of their deaths until their lifeless forms are scene in the great hall. Hmm...

(Harry and Voldemort locked in battle)

The final specific moment I want to mention is when Harry and Voldemort lock wands in their final battle. They engage in another round of Priori Incantatem, when their wands get linked by the simultaneous energy beams they produce. Their wills are battling away against one another, while Ron and Hermione try to kill Voldemort's pet snake, Nigiri...the last Horcrux. The big death moment of Tom Riddle a.k.a. Voldemort is...so incredibly disappointing. The sword of Godrick Gryffindor manifests in front of Neville Longbottom, who cuts the snake in half before it can attack Ron and Hermione. Cut to the big duel between Riddle and Potter. Tom gets a worried look on his snake-like visage; Harry registers the change and realizes that Nigiri has been killed; the energy beams between Tom and Harry stop. At that point, I was waiting for the final blows between the two of them to happen. An 'Avada Kedavra' from the big V, and an 'Expelliarmus' from lightning bolt scar boy. Instead? Voldemort just kind of collapses back, looks to the sky, disintegrates, and blows away in a wind. What the...that's it?! This was the big moment?! The biggest of the big...and it was lack luster. It should have been a big showdown, but there wasn't much there. Satisfied, I was not.

(Voldemort and his Deatheaters attack the magical barrier protecting Hogwarts)

I am glad I saw this final film on the big screen. The Harry Potter movies have been the only films I have gone to the theater to see for a number of years now. I have specifically mentioned a few scenes, some good, some not so good. I am not fanatical about it, but in many ways I am definitely a Potter purist. My main critique of this film would be that it was very entertaining and not a complete disappointment, but there were points during the plot thread that should have been punched up a lot more than they were. The final battle being the chief one. I have to say that I am very happy that the movie didn't end with the final battle, and the look at the trio nineteen years into the future follows. Seeing them all married with children acted as a much more satisfying ending to it all. If the film had ended with the battle, it would have rendered all that preceded ineffectual.

In the next few days to come, I am sure that I will continue to ponder what I saw today. Going back and watching part one is also on the agenda. Do I think my opinions will change? No, I really don't think they will. Do I recommend the film? Sure. Don't get me wrong, it is a good film. It's just that after my commitment to the series, I was counting on great. On a scale from one to ten? Hmm...let's see...I would say about a seven, or a seven and a half. If the final battle had been more dramatic (as I think about it more and more, I would love to pop the director in the back of the head for it), then my rating would be a tad higher. After all, the whole series (film and books) led up to that one moment. To that single battle. Oh well...tis done and done.

My Harry Potter experience has been so much fun. I felt a part of that fictional world, and felt I knew each character personally. It is a journey I am happy to have embarked on, and to have seen to the finish. The books left me more than satisfied, right up to the very end. It is the books that I gravitate to anyway. The movies were all very good, but each of the tomes were so wonderful. They held the true magic for me.

Cheers to you, Harry Potter!