Q2 Final Blog Post

I was inspired by one of Maya's former blog posts to start reading The Tales of Beedle the Bard. As I read, I was so happy to see that there was commentary by Albus Dumbledore. The worst part of the series was when he died- I cried. (I never cry at books.) Harry Potter is one of my favorite series out there. This also tied in well to some of my other blogs, as I read the 6th and 7th books for previous posts over Thanksgiving break.

There were many different stories that made you feel as though you had grown up in the wizarding world. Some of my favorites included "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump" and the story that was a huge part of the seventh HP book, "The Tale of the Three Brothers".

It was interesting to read the full version, as in the seventh book it only gives you a brief verbal explanation of the story. In our Muggle world, classic bedtime stories teach us life lessons and morals that we should adhere to and uphold. Stories such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Chicken Little, Old Mother Hubbard, and the Boy Who Cried Wolf teach small children to appreciate what they have and to be strong morally and not lie. In "The Tale of the Three Brothers", wizarding children are taught the same things- albeit with the addition of magic. Inevitably, you cannot escape a lot of things (In this case, death), but if you lead a virtuous, not greedy life, you can live happily and peacefully until your end.

I was glad to have another dose of the wizarding world- HP is basically amazing.

Q2 Blog Post #9

For my ninth blog post, I read an article on Carl Pohlad, the owner of the Minnesota Twins. He died Monday in his home here in Edina. He was 93.

The article states that he was always a hard-worker, and smart too. As a kid, he "organized a group of boys to pick cockleburs out of cornfields for 25 cents an hour, pocketing a nickel from each as commission." He was a child of the Great Depression, and took that with him as he became an adult.

He married a woman named Eloise, who died recently in 2003. One of his greatest accomplishments was that "in 1986, Pohlad sold MEI Inc., a Pepsi-Cola bottling company, for more than $600 million." In 1992 he also "sold Marquette Bank to First Bank System, now U.S. Bancorp, for $230 million." He kept the rights to the Marquette name, building another banking entity, and in 2001, Pohlad sold Marquette to Wells Fargo for an estimated $1 billion in cash and stock. He was a savvy businessman, and knew what he was doing.

The article also states that "The Twins, which Pohlad acquired in 1984 for about $38 million, are worth more than $300 million, according to estimates."

It was also good to hear that the Pohlad family has given over $10 million dollars annually to charities.

Being a Twins fan myself, I was sad to hear that Pohlad had died. I am friends with his great-niece, and she said her family had been expecting it for a while. Pohlad lived a long, prosperous, and successful life- that is mostly all that anyone could want, right?

Stacey

Q2 Blog Post #8

For my eighth blog I read Midnight Sun, the version of Twilight from Edward's perspective. It is online on Stephenie Meyer's website.

What interested me in this manuscript, other than the fact that it was more Twilight, was that someone leaked it too early. Meyer wrote a foreword of sorts stating how she had given these drafts to people she trusted, and one of them had betrayed her trust. She put Midnight Sun on the internet for everyone to see, because she was so upset with the fact that it had already been seen by so many- and it wasn't anywhere close to "her best work". She called it "sloppy" writing, although I disagree myself. She felt like she couldn't finish it, as well.

Reading Midnight Sun was interesting, because Bella's perspective is completely and utterly clueless about Edward's thoughts and feelings when they first meet. Seeing how Edward had to cope with his mixed emotions for Bella was really very interesting.

I read this right after seeing the movie as well, so it was like a refresher almost from reading the original novel such a long time ago. The way that Edward was portrayed in the movie was very different from what Midnight Sun and Twilight made me think of him. The movie made him seem awkward rather than intense and almost intimidating. Bella's character was almost exactly what I saw in my head, so that was a nice surprise. Jasper was a little off as well, but I now understand that he always looks like he is in pain because he is- he is thirsty.

I adore this series.

Stacey

Q2 Blog Post #7

**Do not read if you want to read the Twilight Series.

For my seventh post I reread Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. I got so into it again that I read it from start to finish without putting it down.

What I really like about the Twilight series is that it lets you wander into a world completely different from your own. The way Meyer writes makes you feel like you are a shadow following Bella and Edward around, completely immersed in their lives, and not your own.

In Breaking Dawn, Bella and Edward are finally married and go to a honeymoon on a private island. They soon find out that Bella's most prominent wish as a human was not a wise choice, as she is pregnant- and they don't know what the baby will be (human or vampire). To keep her child, Bella enlists the help of Rosalie (who had always wanted to be able to be human and have children). As Bella becomes more and more pregnant, it is evident that the baby is killing her. Until they find out that Bella needs to drink blood, despite the fact that she is still a human, to help the baby. She is seconds from death when the baby's air flow gets cut off and breaks her spine, and Edward has to fight to save her with his venom. She has Renesmee, a baby girl, and Jacob happens to imprint on her.

Long story short, they get reported to the Volturi because they think Renesmee is something illegal, but she isn't, so they have others stay to witness that she is fine. The volturi come, and Bella is able to save everyone with her shield.

This book is honestly so good. The humor is mixed perfectly with seriousness, and it really is plain fun to read.

I kind of wish that Edward and Bella were real, because they are so likeable. I would love to be a part of the Cullen family, because they are such inviting characters. I am sad that the series is over!

Stacey