#6 Piano Lessons

So this item on my list, I am proud to say, I actually started a few weeks ago but I am just now sitting down to write about it. One day I pulled out Darren's keyboard, cleared some space in the living room for it and brought over two stools. And then that was it. LoL.
Darren tinkered around on it a few times but we didn't have any sheet music or any lesson books. One day while we were at Darren's mom's house a week or so later, we asked her to borrow some. Of course, she had a whole filing cabinet full of all the lesson, recital and technique books saved for all the levels. I took all the level 1s and two Christmas books.
I was extremely pleased and quite surprised at how quickly I picked the basics back up. Within an hour or so I had re-taught myself to play When the Saints Go Marching and We Wish Your a Merry Christmas. Since we borrowed the lesson books, I have been practicing for at least 30 minutes almost everyday.
I still have ALOT of work to do though. My goal is to be able to play Linus and Lucy by next Christmas and to play one duet with Darren!

#10 Harry Potter

In 1998, J.K. Rowling released her first novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and everyone lost their ever loving minds. I was 11 at the time and already an avid reader. But I read short stories by Stephen King and forensic murder novels by Harlan Coben. So when everyone, including my mother and even my little brother, started to obsess over this book about a little boy who could do magic, I couldn't have cared less.

Regardless of my disdain, J.K. kept the books coming. She released two more novels in 1999 and another in 2000. Finally, in 2001, the moment all "Potterheads" had been waiting for: they made the movie! If you were alive and sane during these years I am sure I don't need to tell you anything else about Harry Potter. It literally took over the world. So, needless to say, I saw the damn movie...
And, ok, I admit... it was good! Really good! I loved the magic and the wonder of the wizardly world! The characters and costumes were so creative. The cast and music had a huge impact on the feel of the film. I finally understood what all the fuss was about.

 

By 2007, J.K. Rowling wrote 7 novels total. By 2011, there were corresponding films for all of them. Over the years, I saw all 8 films (Deathly Hollows took two films to make) but I still hadn't read the novels. Telling people you have never read Harry Potter is always an issue. Like, honestly a serious issue for some people. I can only compare it to how I feel when someone tells me they have never seen any of the Star Wars movies. So, I get it. Especially since I am such an avid reader and Harry Potter is a series that people who don't even like to read have read! Adults. Children. All races and backgrounds. Everyone loves Harry Potter.

 



So while I was making my 30 before 30 list I decided it is high time I fully convert to a Potterhead and read all the damn books already. Luckily my mom and dad bought me the entire series for Christmas this year. I decided to spend the last day of 2015 in bed with all three animals and read the entire first novel in a couple of hours.

Naturally I loved it! Since I have already seen all the movies I know what's going to happen. But as I always feel about watching a movie based on a novel, the book is always so much more descriptive and gives you such better background knowledge. I think they did a pretty good job keeping the first film as close to the book as possible, even all of the dialogue.

Anyways, I am excited to check another item off my list and to indulge into the next six novels!