Friday, November 30, 2001

Harry Potter

Harry Potter

The thought of moving again gave me knots in my stomach. Moving is a chore, especially with the two large suitcases. We are both getting warn out from all of the touring around, seeing museums, and other sites of interest, but when your clothes are put in the wardrobe and your toiletries are set out, and you know you can return for a nap whenever you want, it is not too bad. However, the thought of moving, packing everything again, shifting you space and having to reorient yourself of where obstacles are in the dark for bathroom night calls, can get weary. The thought of staying here three extra days sounded like a much better idea when we had first arrived. Don’t get me wrong, I could stay in Amsterdam for years and be very content, but only if I were able to stay in one place.

Without too much of a hassle, the move was made and it is over. The hotel is similar to an old Best Western, nothing to speak of. Ron likes the view better since there are trees changing colors out the window and there is a church steeple in the distance. He liked it so much he lay on the bed to admire it and did so for about five minutes before falling into a deep sleep for a mid morning nap. The view is better I will admit, but the towels and complimentary toiletries at the other place were luxurious and the day’s stay was cheaper. We were able to get more channels on the television in English and the bed was extra large. This room has one outlet. We have a choice of watching an old movie on the only channel in English or I get to type on the computer. The bath towels are not much larger than dishtowels and they are the same material. The complimentary shampoo is someone’s left over bottle that they forgot. But for the ten minutes a day that Ron is awake in the room and it is light out, the view is better here.

Waking from his nap, we trucked off to see Harry Potter. The cinema is three stories tall with fourteen movie screens. Not only do they check and take your ticket at the front, they also check your ticket at the door of the theater you are entering. There is no way to sneak from one movie to another to get in a double feature and they assign the row that you sit in, but stop short of the seat. It is all auditorium seating and the seats are quite spacious and comfortable.

The movie was wonderful, especially if you have read the book. It is exactly like you picture it in your mind, but better. The music really adds to the pleasure of the whole experience. The acting is superb and the special effects are accomplished with genius. If you have not read the book, you will be equally impressed and should not be under the false impression that this is only a child’s movie. The three hundred in today’s audience were all adults and not one had a child for cover.

When we came out of the theater, it was dark already at 5:00. The movie was two and a half hours long. The air was filled with mist, the Christmas lights were on over the streets and the canals, and people were hustling and bustling in the streets with their packages of newly purchased items. It was a magical moment that put me into the romance of the Christmas season, as we walked aimlessly up and down the canals. It was a perfect ending of the day after seeing such a magical movie.

It may be awhile before you hear from me again. Now don’t sigh with relief! Monday, we will be heading to Germany and will only be there for three days, so I may not have time to find an Internet café while we are there.

My friend Rick sent me this joke and I thought it was funny, so I am sharing it with everyone. Very few of you have voted for the computer name, so you are holding up the works. Even if you did not enter a name, you are entitled to vote. Finalists were in a previous part.

Top Ten Signs that you are "Webbed Out" 10. Your opening line is, "So what's your home page address?" 9. Your best friend is someone you've never met. 8. You see a beautiful sunset, and you half expect to see "Enhanced for Netscape 6" on one of

the clouds. 7. You are overcome with disbelief, anger and finally depressed when you encounter a Web

page with no links. 6. You feel driven to consult the "Cool Page of the Day" on your wedding day. 5. You are diving on a dark and rainy night when you hydroplane on a puddle, sending your car

careening toward the flimsy guardrail that separates you from the precipice of a rocky cliff

and certain death and you're looking for the "Back" button. 4. You visit "The Really Big Button that Doesn't Do Anything" again and again and again. 3. Your dog has his own Web page 2. So does your hamster. And the No. 1 sign that you have overdosed on the WWW 1. When you're in a college library reading a magazine or an assigned reference book, you have

an ungodly urge to click on the underlined passages.

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