Harry Potter Mania, Plus BIG Good News
Finally home, went to two different bookstore parties and bought copies for me and for my sister. She meet me at the second party and we had a good visit. Haven't seen her enough lately with all that's going on. I have resisted all spoilers, other than listening to JK Rowling read the first chapter live from London online at midnight British time. I think that's more of a fair teaser than a spoiler. It is odd, because usually I love to know things in advance, but this time I really wanted to savor reading the final book for myself and being surprised. There were some jerks hollering outside the bar a few doors down from Borders in the fake, little town set up of the shopping area, that were trying to ruin the ending. Annoying, but I doubt they have really read any of it. I am about to go and read until I fall asleep.
I've been so busy with the summer school job I ended up taking in the inner city for July that I haven't been updating or commenting on LJ much this month and I also failed to complete the reread I usually do of all the books before I read the next one. If I wasn't worried about being spoiled by the radio or tv in some way, I might go ahead and reread the last couple of books before I start on the new one. I am a quick reader and I need to rest tomorrow anyway, so having a new book to read is perfect!
I had very good news this week. Now that my friends and family have been told and I've signed the contract, I can post it here without jinxing it. I've been hired for fall in a school district that I'm happy with and feel good about, so that's wonderful. I'm so pleased and it is a big weight off my mind. I will save the nice big poster Borders gave me tonight for my new classroom. Now that I have a job for sure, I'm thinking about going to a con for BSG sometime this fall. I think it is too late to plan a trip to Dragon Con. Possibly the Chicago con in October, right before my birthday. However, in the way that life often goes, the same day I signed the contract, I had to go to the doctor. The bad cold I'd had for over a week had just started to go away when I developed this very painful, swollen, hot lump in my armpit. It is a swollen lymph node apparently (Five times the normal size, oh joy) and I'm on massive doses of antibiotics, which are making me queasy. If they don't shrink it enough, I may have to have it opened up or removed the doctor said. Not words I was pleased to hear, believe me. I can be brave about many other things, not medical stuff though. I hate being sick and going to the doctor makes me a nervous wreck.
So, I shall be spending the weekend resting, drinking lots of water and eating blueberries and other things that are supposed to help with infection while I read "Dealthy Hallows" and hoping the painful swelling goes down before Monday. Anyone have any other suggestions for things I should eat? She said I could try hot or cold compresses as well, but so far they haven't done much to help. Not moving my arm much at all is all that seems to help with the pain. I could take over the counter pain meds. The doctor also said that I should go to the ER over the weekend if the pain got much worse or it enlarged more because that would be a bad sign, so I'm sort of afraid to take anything. I want to know if it gets worse!
I've seen the new HP movie of course and meant to do a review. One of these days! I liked it and it really got me excited for the final book, which I hadn't even been thinking about before that point with all the job search stress. Also, went to see it with my sister and her new boyfriend. She's been dating him since January or so and this was the first time I got to meet him. I was thrilled that he seems very sweet and kind and treated her well. I approve and, of course, he gets extra points for being a Potter fan and a self proclaimed nerd to boot. I'm so happy for her.
One last funny thing. My arm hurts so badly when I lift if that I couldn't do my hair very well this am. Not that I ever spend a lot of time on it, god knows. I usually wear it in a high ponytail at school, since the site isn't cooled very well and I get really hot. It's just easier if it is out of the way. Today, I styled it in a low ponytail at the side of my head, so that my hair sort of lay in a tail on my shoulder/down my front, which still hurt to do. My African-American female students, who are ten and eleven, just went nuts over it. They were fascinated and said, "Miss L., why didn't you do your hair?" "What's wrong with your hair?" and other amusing things. Two of them were so interested that they got up and started tugging on it--trying to see how it was held in place I think! Apparently, they hadn't realised my hair was so long or something. It was actually really funny and I teased them and said, "So you think it looks bad today?" No, it seemed. The change was just fascinating for some reason, which was cute. I've really enjoyed this job. It has been a big change from the other types of places I've worked and variety is good. Only one more week to go before it is over. I'm teaching them a dance routine to the Five times song from Schoolhouse Rock for next week's finale, that I think it going to be neat. I really hope I feel better than I have this week. We are taking them to the local amusement park on the last day and there's no way I'll be able to go if I feel as bad as I have the last two days.
I'd better lay down and read for a bit and then get some sleep. I've been told that the BBQ tomorrow is actually a surprise congratulations party for me, which is so sweet of my adopted mom, so I want to feel well enough to enjoy it. Happy Reading, those of you who are also Harry fans!