San Diego.

So, sometimes I go on vacation.

This time it just so happened to be to San Diego, a place I have never been. :)
After a long day of driving we made a basic plan of attack for the rest of the weekend.

Wednesday consisted of SEA WORLD!

(Somehow all my Sea World pics got erased. Or put into a different folder on my comp...I can't find them.)

Thursday was Beach day!


(This is La Jolla Cove or something like that. We saw seals and cool looking birds but we didn't swim here. We swam at La Jolla beach and Coronado beach.)

Friday was The Zoo!
The San Diego Zoo should have it's own zip code. I think it actually might.




1-I was excited because all of these ^ animals were awake. The tiger is falling asleep but he wasn't quite there yet. Mr. Panther (black) was a show off and Mr. Jaguar (spotted) looked hungry. It was great.
2-The "Big Cat Trail" was my favorite!
3-That zoo is huge and goes up and down...so much walking and I wore sandals. Bad idea.
4-It really bugs me that I can't find a lot of my pics....GRRRR!
5-After the Zoo we went back to La Jolla beach and played for an hour or so.

Saturday we left.
But before we left entirely, we visited Point Loma.

(I can't find these pics either...looks like I'll be searching my computer for them. Hopefully I'll find them so you can see how pretty the light house is.)

A feeling...

This will be short but I wanted to share it. So, the other day my roommate and I were over in the chapel by our apartment complex. She was playing the piano as I was singing along. It was kind of late, about 9:30p.m. but we'd gone later than that before so neither one of us thought it would be a big deal. As I was singing one of the songs, I started to get nervous and sweaty. I felt like we should leave but I thought I was just being paranoid because of how late it was but I wasn't afraid we would get into any trouble. So I kept singing. But the sweaty, nervous feeling I had just got more intense. I stopped mid-song and told Jackie that I felt like we should leave. She turned around quickly and said "I feel like we should too." We didn't even turn off the lights in the room. We just left through the outside door that is in the room we were in. I can't say why we both felt that way but I can say that I know that it was the Spirit telling us to get out, telling us that something was wrong. I don't know what would've happened had we stayed but it doesn't matter. We were protected and I am so grateful for that.

*My adventures in San Diego will be posted sometime this weekend, I promise!*

Golden Coast

In about 8 hours I will be in a car on my way to San Diego.

I'm REALLY excited.

I've never been there before!

I'll keep you posted. :)

What In The World Was I Thinking?!

So I thought I'd take a chance today and do something I've never done before. But, alas...

Rope swings + Me + shallow water + rocks =

Next time...I'll just watch. :)

David Thewlis

I know, I know, I've already posted something about an actor that I love but honestly now folks, there are a few more I HAVE to introduce you to! For those of you Harry Potter fans you may recognize this man as Professor Lupin from the third installment of the Harry Potter series (movies), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. David Thewlis has impressed me time and again. Though I would love to cover all his roles, I've chosen just a few that I love in particular.

#1: Cyrus Crabb (Dinotopia)

Yes, I do watch the SciFi channel where this lovely little treasure is usually played. The first time I saw it I thought it was kind of odd..a somewhat Jurassic Park knock-off or something, but then I saw it again for the second time and I really really REALLY liked it. Mr. Thewlis shows that he can be a pivotal character who may or may not be so nice. You should really give it a whirl!

#2: Robert Doniger (Timeline)

Boy oh boy did I love this movie-quite a different feel than Dinotopia-and I promise if you watch it, it may confuse you but you'll enjoy it. (Gerard Butler is also in the movie...and Paul Walker!)

Anywho, to me this proved that David knows how to be a little...well, you should just rent it or something and find out for yourself!

#3: Remus Lupin (Harry Potter)

Though I was nine by the time the third book of the H.P. series was released, I didn't take a genuine interest in them until I was about twelve. Once I started, however, I couldn't stop. I was addicted to the books. One of my favorite characters was Remus Lupin. I felt that he was the first real person to give Harry some peace where Harry's parents were concerned. I felt like he was the uncle that Vernon Dursley never was. He was the first professor of Defense Against the Dark arts that Harry had that wasn't completely...batty. He taught Harry so much that no one else had or probably would have. Despite Lupin's one flaw, being a werewolf, he knows good from evil and loves Harry just as much as he loved James. This role is different from the aforementioned roles and shows that David Thewlis can deliver.

He's a talented actor who isn't afraid to take on roles completely different from one another. Can you blame me for enjoying his talents? Plus, the man can pull off the mustache look!

Alan Rickman

Can you blame me for absolutely adoring Alan Rickman? He's a talented, BRITISH actor who knows how to deliver. I'm never disappointed when I see him in a movie.

NEVER!

There are three contrasting roles I would like to focus on today.

#1-Alexander Dane (Galaxy Quest) *Mr. Funny Man*
For those of you who have never seen this movie. GO WATCH IT. If you ever had doubt about dear old Al's funny side, they will vanish after you watch this movie. He's incredible and SO FUNNY!

I'll tell you this, if all you know about Alan Rickman is that he plays Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movie series...this role will BLOW YOUR MIND.

#2-Colonel Christopher Brandon (Sense and Sensibility) *Mr. Heart Throb*
Okay, so maybe "heart throb" isn't the best way to describe this role but all I know is that this is the movie that made me fall in LOVE with Alan Rickman. He's gentle, virtuous, dashing and HELLO! He's a man in uniform, does it get any better? I think not.
Anyway, this shows a much more serious but softer side of Alan Rickman (in comparison to Mr. Funny Man ^) Colonel Brandon is one of the only men (if not THE only man) in this story who doesn't shoot himself in the foot. You have Mr. Willoughby *gag* and "the elusive Mr. F" (Mr. Ferrars) and they are kind of idiots (though Mr. 'F' isn't an idiot for long). BUT Colonel Brandon? Nope. He's true through and through to himself. And my heart :) *Sigh*

And now, the role you've all been waiting for. DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!

#3-Severus Snape (Harry Potter and the *all of them*) *Mr. Scares the Living Daylights Out Of Anyone He Comes In Contact With*
He really does scare the bejeebers out of me in this movie but HE IS SO GOOD AT IT that I can't resist loving him more. When I saw him as the sallow skinned, greasy haired, pompous, self-righteous, meanie-head Professor Severus Snape my respect for him shot up to infinity (okay so that doesn't make much sense but whatever.)
I suppose I should share with you why this role in particular made me have so much respect for this man. My definition of a good actor is when they can play very different roles well. Alan Rickman did the job justice. You hate his eerie blood chilling smirk and you're supposed to! This role proved to me that Alan Rickman can be the funny man and the valiant heart throb AND the villain. He can take on these roles and blow everyone else out of the water! It takes a good actor to deliver the way he delivers and like I've said he can REALLY deliver.
I think I also love Alan Rickman for his portrayal of Snape because I liked Snape throughout the books. Well, I guess I should say I was a "believer" in Snape, not that I liked him so to speak. Yes, there were times when I really wanted to kick him where it counts for being so cruel. I mean, honestly, what kind of a person can be that cruel to anyone? But I always knew that there was something. Something that would be Snape's redeeming quality. And I was right! (When I discovered that I was right I almost cried! Okay, so I did cry because the reason for his redeeming quality is just so tender... go read the books.)

So there you have it. Three contrasting characters, one phenomenal actor and one extremely dedicated fan (ME!)

Harry Potter

YES.

I LOVE Harry Potter.
Why?
Um, HELLO!? Are you alive? Have you read the books? SEESH! The intricate story that J.K. Rowling was so clever to weave is PHENOMENAL! The characters, ALL of the characters have depth and personality. Even silly, obnoxious, annoying little Peeves has a history! The Harry Potter Series is filled to the brim with suspense, love, good vs. evil, surprise, heartache, loss, gain, happiness, victory, whit, charm and above all else, MAGIC!

The first time I ever read these books they made me laugh, cry, jump (with excitement or fear) and learn to love through even the darkest of times. As I'm reading/listening to them again the result is still the same. I feel like a little piece of myself, a piece that was lost, has been found. (That's kind of pathetic I suppose but you know what? I don't care!)
If you haven't read the book (they MUST be read before you watch the movies...MUST!) then you are:
a) not from this planet
b) a crazy person
c) someone who thinks they are too good for them-YOU ARE NOT
(Harsh? Sure, but truth hurts!)
or
d) You belong to Slytherin House and hate everything

Seriously, I can't express to you the magic you can FEEL when you read this series. You may not love every sentence of all 7 books but I GUARANTEE that you will enjoy, if not FALL IN LOVE WITH, the story as a whole.

Read it. I promise you won't regret it.
(^Look at those dirty looks they're giving you! GO! GO READ! You'll receive 50 points for your House if you do!)