On Tuesday, July 10th, the kids and I went to Red Bluff Riverside Plaza
Cinema to watch Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  We arrived at
11:00PM, as my 10 year old and 14 year old insisted, a time which I felt
would be too early.  However, I was proven wrong as two cinemas were
completely filled by 11:20.  The kind manager allowed us to go in and get
our seats.  It was really hot outside and I think that everyone was most
grateful.  When we sat down, I began enjoying my hobby of watching Red
Bluff people.  There are just so many of you and some of you are quite
fascinating.  In a group that large, I knew I would end up finding an
interesting person I couldn't resist talking to.
Sure enough...I knew I had found her when she walked in with a small
dragon on her shoulder.  Meet Rachel...
Lord Jonah Voldemort
Jonah Potter
and her dragon, Straybo.  Rachel regularly attends Renaissance Faires and
found her dragon at one last year.  An avid Harry Potter fan, she has read
all the books and even reread them in anticipation of watching the Order of
the Phoenix.  Rachel's dragon was very entertaining, looking around the
room and  lifting its head to have its neck scratched.
Very cool.

As a mother, I was glad to hear that Rachel had read the books.
At our house, we have a rule...you don't watch a movie unless you've read
the book.  Last night, it was obvious that many people don't read the
books, they only watch movies.  Since we were all packed together,
I couldn't help but observe the reactions of two women who sat in front of
me.  I'm guessing they were in their 50's and when the plot shocked them,
they voiced aloud what had just happened, perhaps in an attempt to
process what they had just seen.
"Ohhh! That guy is watching the door!"
If I were a blind person, this seating arrangement would have been
extremely beneficial, as they were pretty consistent at voicing most of the
plot.  However,
 the two young women next to me did not appreciate the
dialogue.  As they listened to the women's reiteration, they put their hands
up as if choking them.  

Most memorable trip to the theater...  Jonah was about 4 years old.  I was
standing in front of the concession stand buying some soda.  
The lady waiting on me asked if I wanted to buy any candy.  "No, thank
you,"  I said.  This wasn't good enough for Jonah, who must have thought
she needed more information and so announced, "We don't need to buy
any candy.  My mom has candy in her purse!"  Little Twerp!  
The lady just looked at me and shook her head, feeling sorry for my
discomfort.  
Why did God give little kids such big mouths?
Reminds me of what happened to some good friends of mine.
They had been trying to potty-train their son and he was pretty resistant to
the whole concept.  One day in a restaurant, he told his mom that he
needed to go to the bathroom.  Delighted, she sent him into the restroom
with his father.  When the two came out, the small boy couldn't wait to get
back to the table to tell his mother the good news.
"Mommy!" he announced in a loud voice, halfway across the restaurant,
"I went potty in the toilet!"
The patrons smiled, chuckling and murmuring such things as, "How cute!"  
"And," he added joyfully, "Daddy went poo poo!"
No one smiled...no one was proud of
Daddy.  No one thought he was cute.
Facial expressions quickly changed from entertainment to distaste.
You know those moments when you wish the ground would
swallow you up?  Yeah, he felt that.

Below: pics of my son...he really gets into a book when he reads it.
Rachel and Straybo
Jonah Potter          Jonah Voldemort      Jonas Dumbledore      Jonah the Hagrid            Jonah Snape

                                                          
                                                                          Have a great week!
Jonas Dumbledore
Jonah the Hagrid
Jonah Severus Snape
A Movie at Midnight...