E3 Aftermath

Now that the dust has settled from E3 2012, I'd like to (finally) take a look back at why E3 2012 left me with a disappointing feeling. 

1.) Leaks and pre-E3 reveals

I firmly believe this is the single biggest reason E3 2012 fell flat for me. We knew about The Last of Us. We knew about Gears of War. We knew about Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale. Too many companies are deciding to reveal games and news before E3 ever takes place. I would guess there are a number of reasons for this; namely, quality games risk being overshadowed by the heavy hitters. 

Many mainstream media outlets are beginning to question E3's relevance altogether. This only further strengthens that argument. Can you imagine the excitement and fanboy frenzies that would have ensued had Sony debuted Playstation All-Stars or maybe The Last of Us at their E3 press conference? 

Companies are focusing more and more on staggering their key releases, as well as staggering their hype for each game. This results in a steadier stream of satisfaction, but far fewer instances of sheer euphoria at say, a new Grand Theft Auto game debuting at an E3 press conference. 

2.) Overall disappointment from Nintendo

The company that revolutionized gaming - twice - seems to have lost its way. I'm a diehard Nintendo fan and in years past, I held them on an untouchable pedestal. Mario. Zelda. Metroid. Nintendo has the most iconic franchises in gaming. Period. So it's definitely a disappointment when we see the same ideas recycled time and time again.

Speaking of those three key franchises, only Mario made an appearance at E3 and that was in the form of yet another recycled 2d platformer. The New Super Mario Bros. games are great; however, I feel Nintendo is starting to run them into the ground. Hard to blame them when they continue to sell millions of copies. 

To Nintendo's credit, they held a separate E3 event mere weeks later. They revealed the new 3DS XL and several other titles gamers had been salivating over. 

If Nintendo can draw such an audience and have all the news to themselves, why show top tier games at E3 where you have share the stage with a plethora of other companies? 

3.) E3 shift toward mainstream

In years past, E3 has been for the hardcore gamer; however, in recent years, we've seen a shift to focus on not only the casual gaming market, but mainstream media as well. Microsoft has pushed a number of different video apps for its Xbox 360, as has Sony with the Playstation 3. Sony spent entirely too much time discussing WonderBook, a unique concept born out of the partnership between J.K. Rowling and Sony. Unique as it may be, it had no place being shown at E3 for such a substantial amount of time. 

Nintendo probably focused the least on apps, but their focus on the casual gamer was as present as ever. Titles like Nintendo Land have very little appeal for diehard Zelda, Halo, or Uncharted fans. 

In closing, we all know the video game industry is constantly evolving. Companies like Nintendo are starting to realize they may have more face-time by holding separate events where all eyes turn upon them alone. The aspect that saddens me the most is how the gaming industry seems to have lost the magic. Apple has perfected the art of unveiling new products, so much so that fanboys salivate and work themselves into a fever pitch over more memory, better cameras, and design tweaks. 

Don't get me wrong, each company has had an occasional surprise or a killer blockbuster title to reveal; however, those moments are happening less and less. Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony must find a way to bring back the magic. Whether they choose to do so at E3, or another venue entirely, remains to be seen.

E3 2012

For those of you who don't know, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, is one of the biggest weeks each year for gamers. Fans can count on a steady dose of trailers, release dates, gameplay demos, and roundtable discussions; essentially, everything a hardcore gamer craves. Companies use this opportunity to showcase many of their titles for the upcoming year. In the eyes of fanboys everywhere, E3 can make or break a game. A game that makes a terrible first impression may never see the light of day.

Over the years, E3 has had its ups and downs; however, I can't help but feel E3 2012 was one of the lowest points in recent memory. Whether fair or not, everyone looks to the "Big 3" to set the tone each year: Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony. This year, all three dropped the ball.

Microsoft led things off, but unfortunately, critics and fans alike came away mostly displeased. Halo 4 kicked off the conference and Gears of War: Judgment made a brief appearance. The new Xbox SmartGlass received most of the attention. The service allows users to stream content from tablets and smart phones to the Xbox 360. While this is handy, it certainly isn't new and most of the streamable content is from one of the services already available on the 360 as an app such as Netflix or HuluPlus. Frankly, I've grown increasingly irritated with gimmicks such as Kinect, Wii, and Playstation Move. It's probably an apples to oranges comparison, but I wonder if SmartGlass will follow the same path: great in theory, poor in execution and utility?

Sony held their conference on day 2 and we have another mixed bag. The Playstation 3 content looked incredible, Vita was nowhere to be found, and a new game (technology?) known as WonderBook received more time and attention than almost anything else at Sony's conference. The Last of Us, a new game from Naughty Dog, creators of Uncharted, was easily the highlight. The game looks incredible and features what is sure to be an intricate story set in a post-apocalyptic world. Beyond: Two Souls is the new game from Quantic Dream, the folks behind Heavy Rain (my review here) and it features Ellen Page in the lead role. While Sony delivered on games (at least for PS3 owners), sandwiched in between Beyond: Two Souls and God of War: Ascension was the WonderBook. I absolutely love Harry Potter and think this is a great technology for children; however, this lengthy demonstration had absolutely no place being at a press conference intended for hardcore gamers.

Nintendo wrapped things up by further detailing their next-generation console known as the Wii U (seriously, why won't they change that name?!). Many expected Nintendo to overshadow the other companies as they don't have any new hardware they're ready to showcase; however, in Nintendo's 2nd chance (Wii U debuted at E3 2011) to sell gamers on the Wii U, they failed yet again. To start, certain mainstream outlets aren't even sure if this is a new console or just a new accessory for the original Wii (seriously, a CNN article that has since been edited, originally stated the Wii U was a new controller for Wii). NintendoLand, a new title that is almost certain to be a pack-in, features a variety of *sigh* mini-games to showcase the features of the Wii U. Many of the games focus on the asymmetric gameplay element that allows players on the television screen to do something entirely different than players on the Wii U screen. Pikmin 3 started off the press conference and while it looks great, I doubt it will be the 'killer app' Wii U so desperately needs. The best Wii U games featured at E3 both came from Ubisoft in the form of Rayman Legends and ZombiU.

Speaking of Ubisoft, many gamers feel they had the most successful press conference and they stole the show with a new game known as Watch Dogs. This game looks truly unique and I find myself describing it as a blend of The Matrix and Grand Theft Auto. My explanations won't even do it justice. You'd be much better off to watch the video below.

While there are certainly some amazing games on the horizon, Assassin's Creed 3, Splinter Cell Blacklist, and The Last of Us, I can't help but feel all 3 companies had things on cruise control this year. Watch Dogs looks phenomenal; however, the game was running on a high-end PC and Ubisoft has been slightly evasive as to which consoles the game will make an appearance. This has led many to believe we've actually been given a glimpse at Playstation 4 and Xbox 720 launch titles.

In a subsequent blog post, I hope to outline a few reasons as to why this year's E3 was rather lackluster. In short, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony lacked a true surprise that appeals to gamers. Watch Dogs may turn out to be a phenomenal game, but part of the reason it looks so great is because it was something we hadn't seen before. It wowed us. Unfortunately, E3 2012 did very little to wow video game fans as a whole.

Writing Update

This month, I eclipsed the 65,000 word mark in the first installment of what is currently planned to be a trilogy. Writing a novel certainly isn't all about word count; however, as the number quickly approaches the level of today's popular works, it does create a sense of validation. The writing may be absolutely terrible, but I've managed to weave a tale worth writing about for 65,000 words and more than 200 pages in my word processor.

I've never felt I'm a good writer, yet I do feel I'm a good storyteller. The further I dive into this story, I can only hope my writing skills improve as well. Many authors will tell you to write for yourself and not with the intent of publishing. I definitely write because I enjoy it, but I'd be lying if I told you I didn't want the world to know - and like - my story.

Should I ever be blessed enough to have this published, let it be known here today (5/25/12) that I do have a general framework planned for all three books. I know the major characters who will be involved, I know how it ends, and I know who lives/dies. In fact, one of the reasons I struggled to write early on is because I didn't have a destination. I had an incredibly broad idea about where I wanted the story to go, but I was trying to decide between a few different endings, the messages I wanted to send, feelings I wanted to evoke, etc... Truthfully, the "right" ending had been staring me in the face the whole time. I just didn't want to admit it because I knew how difficult it would be for me to write. I knew, in order to really hit home on the themes I'm aiming for, I had to go in a direction few novels ever approach.

This book has taken me on a journey I never thought possible...even at this early stage. As a younger reader, the themes of good v.s. evil, free-will and destiny, forgiveness, and love seem so simple. Our adult minds know that just isn't the case. I've wrestled with the idea of having characters who are "truly" evil. Can humans even be born evil? Or are they a product of their environment? Both? Can everyone's crimes be forgiven? Do we already have predetermined, unchangeable fates?

These are just a few of the questions I am attempting to explore throughout what I've tentatively called the Sense of Destiny trilogy. This weekend is a holiday weekend and I hope to crank out some quality content pushing me ever closer toward completing the first draft of Kédu. Then the laborious editing process commences.

Logitech Ultrathin Review

The Apple iPad is one of the hottest devices this generation. Sales have been off the charts for each of the three iPads releases thus far. The iPad does a lot of things right. Surfing the web is great. Watching movies is convenient. Typing on the multi-touch screen? Not so much. If there's one flaw with the iPad, for me, it's definitely the typing experience. No matter how responsive the touchscreen or how large the keyboard (the touchscreen keyboard takes up a significant amount of screen real estate), the virtual keys can never replace the tactile feel of actually pressing a button on a true keyboard.

Enter the bluetooth keyboard. One of the most unique things Apple has done as a company is how they've paved the way for hundreds of other companies to start their own business. Zagg, Speck, and Otterbox are companies whose entire existence thrives on many of Apple's devices. Needless to say, when I began my search for a better typing experience, I had a plethora of available options.

After numerous web searches, videos watched, and even a returned product, I finally found a winner with the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover. The name is a little deceiving; no, this isn't a cover for your keyboard. Instead, it's a keyboard that acts as a cover for your iPad 2 or 3rd generation iPad. Much like Apple's own Smart Cover, the magnets snap to the side of the iPad and you can then "close" the case, which is compatible with the iPad's sleep/wake feature. When closed, the device maintains the iPad's sleek look and only adds a small amount of weight. Apple's own bluetooth keyboard may offer a better typing experience, but it's a hassle to carry along with your iPad plus you'll need a separate case/stand to set up the iPad with an ideal viewing angle for typing.

Speaking of the typing experience, which is - after all - the main reason for purchasing a Bluetooth keyboard, I have found it to be incredibly comfortable. It's not perfect because, let's face it, sacrifices have to be made when you're designing a keyboard this sleek and this portable. The keys are slightly smaller than most other keyboards; however, there is still a fair amount of space between each key on the chiclet style keyboard. Because of the decision to go with smaller keys, but more spacing in between, you don't feel as cramped as you would on a keyboard that uses full-sized keys and forces them into a smaller package.

The device also has a small slot near the top of the keyboard that locks the iPad into landscape typing mode, again utilizing magnets. This also serves as an ideal viewing angle for movie watching and general web surfing. You can also type in portrait mode; however, I'm not sure if Logitech actually intends for you to do so. The iPad in portrait fits into the slot, but the magnets don't lock it into place.

A few minor touches really stood out to me. First of all, Logitech has included two text-select buttons, which are fantastic when you're trying to cut/copy a few sentences of text and don't feel like reaching up and down to the iPad screen. Touching and typing may sound like a minor movement, yet almost everyone typing on a wireless iPad keyboard will find themselves reaching for a mouse at some point. You almost have to re-train your brain to alternate typing and touching on the iPad. For this reason, the text-select buttons are great as your fingers never have to leave the keyboard. Speaking of cut/copy, there are shortcut keys for those two functions as well keys to paste, play, pause, volume control, home screen, and device lock. Most of the traditional Mac keyboard shortcuts continue to work here as well (cmd + C copy, etc...).

The device retails for $99 and in case you can't already tell, I'm very pleased. If you're looking for the ultimate protection or a perfect typing experience, then the Ultrathin probably isn't for you. But if you're looking for a sleek, comfortable typing experience that doesn't add a lot of bulk to your iPad, then the Ultrathin is the way to go.

Read more about the Ultrathin on Logitech's Official Website here.

Music of Zelda

I must confess...I've strayed further and further away from Nintendo during the Wii years. Even so, I made sure I purchased a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which included a special 25th anniversary CD featuring some of the all-time greats from Koji Kondo.

I've played almost every Zelda game so I knew the music was top-notch, but wow; this disc is simply a masterpiece. I've had it playing in my car for about a week straight now and it's taken me back to a number of previous Zelda games. Scenery and locales I thought I'd forgotten quickly spring forth in my mind when the corresponding tune plays. The track list is as follows.

1. The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Medley
2. Kakariko Village Twilight Princess Theme
3. The Wind Waker Symphonic Movement
4. Gerudo Valley
5. Great Fairy's Fountain Theme
6. Twilight Princess Symphonic Movement
7. The Legend of Zelda Main Theme Medley
8. Ballad of the Goddess from Skyward Sword

The Wind Waker Symphonic Movement is - hands down - my favorite track on the entire score. Wind Waker may not have been my favorite Zelda game, but the music may be the best in the series. If you're a Zelda fan or just a fan of classical music in general, I strongly encourage you to give this special compilation a listen.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Series Review (spoiler-free)

Every child has a cartoon show they grow up loving. From Batman to Rugrats, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Darkwing Duck, we've all had shows influencing our lives in more ways than we'll ever know. For any adults who've revisited their favorite childhood series, they don't always hold up over time. Avatar: The Last Airbender appeals to children, adults, and everyone in between. It's also a series I deeply regret wasn't around for my childhood...because it's incredible.

Upon hearing the concept of The Last Airbender, I found myself instantly intrigued. I browsed through the DVD section a few times, but never made a purchase. After all, what full-time, working adult has time for cartoons right? I thought about catching M. Night Shyamalan's film version instead, but found it was met with incredibly poor reviews from critics and fans alike.

I finally ended up starting the series when I noticed they had made their way to Netflix and found myself perusing through Netflix's library searching for something fresh and new. It certainly didn't hurt when renowned fantasy novelist Pat Rothfuss listed the series on his blog either. I thought I'd watch a few episodes to see what it was all about, but I found myself instantly hooked and ended up watching the entire series over a span of a few weeks.

The Last Airbender tells the story of a young boy named Aang.

For those unfamiliar with the series, this Avatar is in no way related to James Cameron's 2009 film. No, this tells the story of four warring nations: the Earth Kingdom, Water Tribe, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. Within each of these nations, a select few are born with the ability to "bend" an element, respective to their namesake. Bending involves a number of martial art techniques as well as deep meditation and concentration, enabling the bender to manipulate his or her element into a number of different attack, defense, and evasion tactics.

Three of the four nations live quite harmoniously, yet the Fire Nation, in a quest for greed and power, attacked the other nations, upsetting the balance in the world. This launched what became known as the 100 years war. As the title's opening sequence states, "only the Avatar, master of all four elements can stop them." The Avatar alone has the ability to bend all four elements, yet he must train diligently to perfect each of them. As a continuously reborn spirit, Aang also has the ability to channel his predecessors and seek their wisdom throughout the series.

Many of the themes are cliche and you've almost certainly seen them before, but they're put together in such an incredible package it's easy to forget you probably know what's coming. What separates The Last Airbender, and makes it so unique are the Eastern cultural references. They're fairly obvious once you watch the show so I won't outline them all here, but you'll likely find a number of nationalities, beliefs, and faiths represented throughout. The characters are phenomenal and easily relatable. Even though it's a cartoon, they often behave as people would in the real world. The issues and problems they face are real world issues everyone could benefit from revisiting again and again.

Friendship and loyalty are paramount to Aang's success.

I can't recommend this series enough for parents of young children. I look forward to the day when I have a child of my own because we'll definitely be revisiting this series together. The timeless themes of peace, freedom, equality, and friendship ring true throughout the whole series and will be just as applicable to the next generation as they are to the present one. For parents, it's fascinating to see how the parenting of each main character plays a monumental role in who they become. Every main character has a parental conflict they must resolve and the decision plays a crucial role in how each will live the rest of their life.

The writers capped off Aang's story with a 90 minute-plus finale (most episodes are 23-25 minutes) and I have to say it proved to be one of the most satisfying conclusions to any story I've ever heard - be it novel, movie, or television show. The Last Airbender certainly isn't perfect as they are a few head-scratching episodes along the way. They're few and far between, but if I had viewed the show on a weekly basis then I would have likely been disappointed on a few occasions. Overall though, what you'll find here is quite simply fantastic and I don't think I've ever been so emotionally impacted by a series - especially an animated series - in such a way. You truly feel for these characters and hurt when they're in pain, rejoice at their triumphs.

I'm certainly not an anime aficionado so I admit to not knowing how this stacks up to other popular animated series; however, I do know what makes for good entertainment and the The Last Airbender absolutely blew me away. Watching the entire series so quickly proved bittersweet because I didn't want it to end. Luckily, the same writers who brought Aang's story to the world have just launched a new series set in the same universe. The Legend of Korra debuts today, April 14th, on Nickelodeon. If it's anything close to the same quality of The Last Airbender, children across the world (and maybe a few adults too) are in for one amazing ride.

10 out of 10

Journey Review (spoiler-free)

Year after year gamers spend millions and millions of dollars on titles like Gears of War, Call of Duty, and Madden. I've played each of these myself and have enjoyed all three at some point; however, I don't believe anyone out there would deem them original, especially after the countless sequels we see every year. Journey is one of the most unique titles I've ever played and it couldn't be more different from the aforementioned titles. In a few short paragraphs, I'd like to share with you a little about my experience with this title; however, I won't make you wait to learn exactly how I feel. If you own a Playstation 3, buy - this - game.

Journey is a Playstation Network exclusive from That Game Company, the very same folks who brought critically acclaimed titles such as FlOw and Flower to the Playstation 3. Journey blows them both away. Whereas those games were solely about the experience with very loose objectives, Journey offers clearer objectives with an even more emotional experience, spiritual even.

Breathtaking Visuals.

You control an unnamed traveler and must guide him (or her?) to the top of a mountain. That's it. That's the goal of Journey. What's amazing is how the game reveals objectives and gameplay mechanics with minimal information and no spoken voice whatsoever. The creators want you to feel totally engrossed in the experience. There is no HUD with a health bar cluttering the screen or even any text, aside from the very beginning when the game instructs you on how to control your character.

Chances are high you will come across a fellow traveler or two as you make the trek across the vast desert. No matchmaking. No connecting. Just there. You can choose to carry out your quest alone and ignore the traveler or you can stick together, side by side for the entire game. There are minor benefits to traveling with a companion yet they aren't significant enough to hamper your experience should you choose to go it alone.

Journey does a lot of things well. There are three particular components every video game needs and Journey does all exceptionally well: pacing, music, and visuals.

The game can be completed in two hours (or less if you're in a hurry), which may seem too short even with the game's $15 price tag. Trust me...it's worth it. First, this isn't a game you'll want to rush through. Pacing is everything and the sense of reward upon discovering a new locale or improving your character's ability will have you exploring every inch of this breathtaking desert. Secondly, you'll want to play through the game more than once. There are minor rewards for beating the game multiple times, which I won't spoil here. Because the game is so short, I didn't hesitate to jump back in for another play-through.

The score is fantastic and isn't just a complement to the game; it's part of the game. As great as the music is, the visuals round out the package with a graphical showcase rivaling even the finest looking Playstation 3 games. The gentle flutter of your cloak. A subtle path in the sand. Little details like this persist throughout your entire adventure.

I have never played a perfect game; yet, I can truthfully say any qualms one may have with Journey are guaranteed to be levied at the type of game rather than its actual execution. This isn't my favorite game of all time or even the best game I've ever played, but I can't think of a single change I would have made to this epic tale. I am fairly confident this will be a timeless classic we'll long to return to years from now. In an industry overrun with killstreaks and headshots, Journey is a breath of fresh air. Besides the fact it's wholly original and incredibly breathtaking, Journey will evoke feelings and emotions you've never felt in a video game before.

10 out of 10.

Mass Effect 3 Review (Minor Spoilers)

Upon completing Mass Effect 2, I instantly heralded Bioware's masterpiece as one of the best games I had ever played. The game combines RPG elements, 3rd person shooting, and adventure in a unique way, but I wouldn't call it "great" in any of those categories. No...it's the story that makes the Mass Effect series into such a beloved trilogy.The final installment of Commander Shepard's journey sends the series out in style by once again delivering one of the best games I've ever played.

As a whole, the series is one of the most ambitious projects I've ever seen in gaming. For those who have yet to play any of the games (seriously...what are you waiting for?), the most unique aspect of Mass Effect is the choices you make throughout each game. Bioware implemented a system that allows players to transport saves and characters over from Mass Effect 1, into Mass Effect 2, and again into Mass Effect 3*.  If you allow a character to die in Mass Effect 2, they won't appear in Mass Effect 3. Elect to destroy a certain place in one game and it will have repercussions in the following games. This creates an open system where a plethora of different scenarios can play out for a given player. Only Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain comes anywhere close to such a system...and it was done on a much smaller scale. Throughout each game, you'll be forced to make tough choices. Sure, many are black and white with a clear good and evil path in mind, yet there are a few decisions you'll agonize over. 

*Playstation 3 (PS3) gamers do not have the option of playing the original Mass Effect as it not available for the system; however, Bioware included an interactive comic with PS3 copies of Mass Effect 2 allowing players to learn the gist of the story and to even make a few important choices that impacts future games. 

Gamers around the world have been with these characters for quite some time so it's only natural to have such a strong attachment to many of the characters and locales. Mass Effect 3 strikes a particularly strong chord when the series prime antagonists begin to attack Earth. Commander Shepard must then navigate through political boundaries and take on age-old prejudices in an attempt to unite the galaxy. 

The overall mechanics and feel of the game receive minor improvements and fine-tuning. The shooting mechanics are drastically improved over Mass Effect 2 and it's one of the very first things I noticed. I played as an Adept in Mass Effect 2 and relied primarily on biotics (think "the force") to take out my foes. This time I went with a Sentinel and had the best of both worlds using a mixture of gunplay and biotics. Because of the improvement in gunplay, I strongly preferred playing as the Sentinel rather than the Adept. 

The story is once again top-notch and delivers in almost every way. The ending is where Mass Effect 3 has seemed to hit a snag with fans (as endings to beloved trilogies so often do). Quite a few fans have expressed their extreme displeasure with the series ending. Some have even went as far as starting a petition pleading with Bioware to alter the ending (which I find ridiculous). Others have come up with theories of their own attempting to cast the ending in a different light. I won't say much more for fear of spoiling things, but I must say I didn't have this reaction to the ending. In fact, I would argue most gamers won't take issue with the ending...until they view the other endings. I'll just leave it at that.

My one gripe with the ending centered around more of a design and gameplay issue rather than a story-driven issue. It should be no surprise that you are faced with yet another choice in the games final moments. Depending on how you played the game, there is potential for 3 different choices at the end. My issue isn't with the choices themselves; rather, it's how you choose the choices. Maybe I was so caught up in the moment, but the way to perform each action was honestly unclear to me. Upon making the choice, there is no "are you certain this the choice you want to make?" or "turn back now!" No...the choice is made and then you get to watch how things play out from that moment. 

Despite the issues with the ending, Mass Effect 3 is an incredibly ambitious piece of art that will be played for generations to come. Emotional moments stick and characters remain etched in your mind. Choices are debated and your decisions can prove costly. Everything (not hyperbole) hangs in the balance and falls on the shoulder of one man (or woman, depending on your character). As an avid gamer, I can offer Mass Effect 3 no higher compliment than to say it has earned a permanent spot on my video game shelf. 

9.5 out of 10.

Losing an Organ (Part 3)

At this point, you're probably sick and tired of hearing about my appendectomy. I'm nearly a month removed from the surgery and recovering well. I thought about ending this series with part 2; however, one question plagued my mind throughout this entire process and I just knew I had to blog about it. This will be the final installment of Losing an Organ.

The question: why would God give us an organ we don't need?

Not only did I ask myself this question, others around me asked the same. At first, I didn't have an answer. Frankly, I still don't have a concrete answer to the question yet I feel more at peace with the understanding I've arrived at.

There's certainly a scientific aspect to all this so it should come as no surprise that I quickly conducted a google search once I returned home from the hospital: "What is the purpose of the appendix?"


Turns out, this question isn't easily answered even among scientists and doctors. There are a variety of theories on what the appendix actually does. I won't bore you with them all here, but many agree it's somehow involved with the digestion process. So while no one can come to a clear agreement, most agree the appendix does (or did) serve some purpose. Even so, why would we have an organ we can live completely fine without? Losing a kidney makes sense. The other picks up the slack. Same with losing an eye or an arm. Yet organs like the appendix and gall bladder can be removed with seemingly no side effects.

I don't believe there's a clear cut answer on this. For believers, we know God created humanity and his creation was perfect, flawless. Sin entered the world and changed everything. Once immortal, humans gave into temptation and became mortal. Not only were our emotions and spirits flawed, our bodies became flawed as well. Women must now endure great pain during childbearing. Our bones break. Viruses make us sick. Diseases plague thousands. At the very moment sin entered the world (or even over thousands of years), perhaps some of our organs started to deteriorate, ceasing to work as they should.

This is but another theory as this is likely one of those questions that can never be answered fully. The thought I keep back to is this: maybe God left these flawed organs there as a reminder of our mortality.


I've no idea where my appendix is now. Incinerated? In some lab being examined? What I know for sure is it's no longer present in body. As of now, my heart still beats. My lungs give me breath. Yet one day...they too will join my appendix. Deteriorated. Flawed. No longer needed.

Losing an Organ (Part 2)

Fortunately, I noticed the signs early enough the appendix hadn't ruptured. The surgeons were also optimistic they could perform the appendectomy laparoscopically. Those two factors significantly shorten the recovery time post-surgery. I'm sure many of you have had surgery before; however, this was my first time so I was constantly making observations about the way things are performed. First and foremost, I'm still incredibly amazed by the fact we live in a world were I can have an organ stop working, I pay a total stranger to remove it, and then have total strangers provide me with 24/7 care for as long as I need it.

My wife is a nurse at the University of Kentucky hospital so it's only natural that I had the surgery performed there. I came away incredibly impressed at the overall quality of the hospital, the entire staff, and the efficiency of the whole process. Of course, there's always a waiting game when it comes to surgery, but the entire day still seems like a blur to me. I went into the ER around 11am and was take straight back to a room. By 8pm that evening, I was being prepared for surgery. Being "prepared" for surgery includes a number of unpleasant details I will spare you. If you're not sure what I'm referring to then hopefully you'll never have to find out.

The effects of anesthesia are different for each person. Some report large blocks of time they're unable to remember. Others slur their words and speak with no emotional filter at all. I remember every moment leading up to the surgery and I remember the moment I started to come to. As they wheeled me into the operating room, they began to place the heart monitors on my chest. They placed a mask on my face and boom, I was gone. Totally oblivious to the world and everything around me. No count to 10. No look at the ceiling for 5 seconds. Just completely gone.

For doctors and nurses who work with this sort of technology every day, this doesn't seem like a big deal. I try to talk to my wife about this sort of thing, but she looks at me like I'm crazy. For someone on the outside though, the entire medial field is truly a phenomenon. As I sat in the hospital bed, my thoughts drifted to the inevitable bill sure to arrive in the mail a few weeks upon my return home. I looked around the room and started to think about just how much it cost to provide me care. I thought about the nurses and technicians, the equipment, and even the hospital bed itself. All were of outstanding quality. Then I thought about the service provided by the surgeon and her team. What would I be willing to pay for all of it? Anything. That's right...anything. When you really get to the heart of the matter, everyone at that hospital has a hand in saving my life.

We often take these sorts of things for granted because surgeries and hospitals are so common in our 2012 world. But isn't it true these people saved my life? In another time and place, my life would have ended at the age of 25. The appendix would have ruptured and almost certainly taken my life. But in today's world, I'll be going back to work next week. So combined with insurance and my own personal funds, I'll pay off my debt to the University of Kentucky over the next several weeks. But is a debt like this ever truly repaid? I never even got a chance to thank the surgeon who performed the appendectomy, she was quickly off to perform another procedure, likely saving another life. My hospital bed is now empty and the nurses prepare to care for the next patient in need. I can't possibly take the time to thank them all...but I hope they all know just how appreciative I am.

I didn't say anything too off the wall as the drugs wore off. One nurse said I just kept saying "thank you." I wouldn't have it any other way.

Losing an Organ (Part 1)

As of Friday, February 10, 2012, I had never broken a bone, never had surgery, and never lost an organ. By Saturday, February 11, two of those claims suddenly became untrue. As of today, I no longer have an appendix and have had my first (hopefully last) surgery. I'm sure many of you out there have had operations before, perhaps even an appendectomy. However, based on all the observations I've made the past few days, I felt compelled to blog about my overall experience. I quickly realized I would not be able to fit all my thoughts into one blog post. So here is the 1st part of what is sure to be 2 or 3 more posts regarding my recent appendectomy.

I suppose this appendix gone bad actually started several weeks ago. Those of you who know me personally know that I've weighed roughly the exact same weight since high school. I graduated from high school roughly 8 years ago and have fluctuated maybe 5 pounds during those 8 years, always settling back around what I weighed back in 2004. Throughout the month of January and into the month of February, I began to notice the dreaded tightness in the waist. Pants that fit mere weeks ago were now just a bit too smug for me. I chalked it up to too much feasting over the holidays, a sedentary workplace, and my love for sweets. I cut back and started to exercise more. This seemed to be helping, yet I still noticed a pudginess in my stomach that wasn't there before. I exercised more and thought nothing of it. Simply the reality of getting older...or so I thought.

Last Thursday evening, I ate a salad for dinner and felt particularly bloated afterward. I didn't eat anything for the rest of the evening and hoped the sensation would go away. I took a few antacid tablets anticipating they would settle my stomach. I woke up Friday morning and felt strong cramps around my "bladder area." The beginning of a kidney stone? Bladder infection? I had no clue. I called into work and let them know I wasn't feeling well and planned on working half a day. I slept a few more hours and went into work around 11. Throughout the day the cramps got worse. Friday evening, they were unbearable. The worst part? I began to notice a sharper pain in my lower right abdomen. That's when it hit me...appendicitis.

I tried my best to sleep through the night, hoping the pain would cease, praying my diagnosis was inaccurate. By 11am Saturday morning, I knew I had to see a doctor. Rather than go to a standard walk-in clinic, I went straight to the ER. Prior to going in, I spoke with one of my in-laws who's an ER doctor. His quick phone diagnosis? Classic signs of appendicitis. At this point, I felt pretty certain both of us were right; so much so that I packed up my iPad, phone charger, and a book before I set out for the ER.

After a series of pokes and prods, blood tests and CT scans, a doctor came back into my room with the results. "Looks like you were both right. You have appendicitis and you're appendix is probably coming out today."

Pottermore, As Good As A New Book?

Back in June 2011, Warner Bros. whipped the Harry Potter fandom into a frenzy when they started teasing a new project from Potter author J.K. Rowling. Speculation ranged from a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) to a Harry Potter social network. Popular HP fansites such as Mugglenet and The Leaky Cauldron were involved so any service in direct competition to a fansite seemed unlikely. All Rowling's camp would reveal is that it was NOT an 8th book; however, they claimed it to be equally as exciting as a new book release. 

This statement further fanned the flames and ignited longstanding potterphiles into euphoric excitement. Rather than being wrapped up in the excitement, I awaited the announcement with cautious optimism. Pottermore was sure to be interesting and unique; however, I certainly didn't expect it to approach anything close to another HP book.

Pottermore began a staggered launch in mid-August with users gaining access to the site by participating in the "Magical Quill Challenge." Me being a huge HP fan, I completed the Magical Quill Challenge and got into the second wave. To my surprise, I was sorted into Ravenclaw. I always thought myself a Gryffindor, but I can't complain with Ravenclaw. The sorting itself left a little to be desired, but more on that later.

For those unfamiliar with Pottermore, the official website states as follows: "Pottermore is an exciting new website from J.K. Rowling that can be enjoyed alongside the Harry Potter books. You can explore the series like never before and discover exclusive new writing from the author. It is FREE to join and use, and is designed to be safe for people of all ages." 

Pottermore also promises to be the exclusive outlet to obtain the Harry Potter books in ebook format. 

The main draw for the site and dedicated Potter fans is the original content from J.K. Rowling herself. Currently, only Sorcerer's Stone (SS) is available on the website. This isn't a word for word copy of SS; rather, it is an interactive companion to be read alongside the hard copy. There are pictures, collectables to find, and secrets to unlock. The most treasured secrets (though easily unlocked) are select tidbits from Rowling regarding a character's backstory, a particular writing choice on her part, etc... For a huge Potter fan like myself, this information is gold. 

Additionally, users can compete for house points, brew potions, learn spells, and even duel against fellow witches and wizards.

Unfortunately, Pottermore seems to have hit a snag. The website was expected to launch to all users in October 2011, yet it still remains closed to the general public as of February 1, 2012. My hunch is that the beta testing didn't go as smooth as WB hoped. I have to hand it to them for conducting extensive testing and offering multiple opportunities for beta users to share feedback. 

There were a few points I decided to share with WB. Perhaps it's simply a sign of my age and maturity, but I have found Pottermore to be rather underwhelming for the adult Potter fan. 

Let's start with the original content from J.K. Rowling. Even though I absolutely love the content itself, I find it a little disconcerting that Rowling seems to have opted against the idea of releasing a hard copy encyclopedia and is instead publishing the information solely through the Pottermore website. For years Potter fans have longed for an encyclopedia containing all the backstory that has been shrouded in mystery for more than a decade. As an adult, I would strongly prefer to have this information readily available in one place. Currently, the only way to obtain the information is to click through the interactive story of SS. Even if Rowling and Scholastic only released it in ebook format with a basic font and spacing, I would prefer that over the current method.

Secondly, there should be at least some sort of incentive for obtaining house points. At the moment, the house points only serve as bragging rights to the other houses. I don't expect a signed copy from J.K. Rowling, but Pottermore should definitely consider offering small trinkets for users who reach certain levels or complete specific tasks. A bookmark, HP poster, or even a free ebook are just a few ideas. In a world of jobs, school, cell phones, Facebook, gaming, literature...Pottermore has to offer at least a small reason for users to spend valuable seconds of their time brewing virtual potions on a website. 

Additionally, the sorting ceremony needs tweaking as well. Pottermore has clearly implemented a mathematical formula to keep the houses even. There are currently just under 686,000 users on Pottermore with each of the 4 houses containing between 170,000-172,000 members. Although not confirmed by WB, this appears to indicate someone could score "mostly Ravenclaw" and "somewhat Slytherin," but if Slytherin needs a boost in number, the user would be sorted into Slytherin even though they are truly more of a Ravenclaw. While I understand why they chose to keep the houses even, I'm a little confused as to why they wouldn't simply allow a "true" sorting and then weight the points depending on a house's total numbers. For the most part, the questions themselves are fantastic. They were written by Rowling herself and it shows. 

Unfortunately, there are a small number of questions that seem completely unrelated to a specific house. I encountered two of these questions during my sorting: Heads or tails? and Moon or stars? Both questions offer only two possible "answers" and I see no way how they could be related to one of the 4 Hogwarts Houses. To make matters worse...the sorting is final. Users cannot be re-sorted once the Sorting Hat makes a decision. I suppose users could register a new user name under a different email address, but that seems more trouble than it's worth and near impossible at the present time (due to the closed beta).

Finally, Pottermore needs a mobile application. If WB wants this to truly succeed, users need to have Pottermore access anytime and anywhere. If you don't have flash (which is essentially any Apple device), then you'll only have limited access to Pottermore. WB needs to offer a feature-rich application containing all the same tools and functions of the website.

It may sound like I'm being overly harsh, but I should definitely point out how grateful I am to WB and J.K. Rowling for caring about the fans enough to put together such a project. Harry Potter would have been relevant for generations to come even without Pottermore, yet this is just nod to the fans and a catalyst to carry HP to future generations. The website itself features a great design and has been carefully crafted in a way that accommodates almost anyone. The potential, support, and resources are there for something much greater than what is currently available. In no way do I expect to spend hours a day on Pottermore; however, I would love to see significant changes giving a working adult reason to visit the site once or twice per week. I will continue to keep an eye on Pottermore.com for any announcements regarding the official launch.

Review: Mockingjay (*minor spoilers*)

Unlike my hiatus between reading The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, I wasted no time in starting the final piece of Suzanne Collins' post-apocalyptic trilogy, Mockingjay. 

To be quite frank, there's very little of the story I can divulge here without spoiling significant plot points in the book. Let me just say, this installment has an entirely different feel from the previous two. The series' landscape series changes drastically and the series' protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, must decide what part she will play in the shaping of Panem. 

The story continues right where Catching Fire left off and it takes plenty of twists and turns throughout. We are introduced to new characters (more on that later), new locales, and new obstacles for Katniss. Parts of the story are somewhat slow-paced, but it makes sense with what's occurring. Once the core conflict begins, it builds rapidly and we're left with an incredibly intense climax ending in one the series' best twists.

One writing style variation I noticed with Mockingjay is how choppy sections of the story came across on paper. This could be because I plowed through this volume rather rapidly; however, my gut tells me otherwise. Rather, I think it more likely this was a specific stylistic choice by the author. Again, without giving too much away, Katniss suffers from a series of post-war effects resulting from the violence, loss, and the sheer emotional roller coaster that takes place throughout the series. 

Continuing with the series' tradition, Katniss conveys the events in first person throughout Mockingjay. She's broken,confused, and at times, completely detached from reality. This all but confirms the theory that the somewhat choppy writing is intentional. Of course Katniss is going to have trouble recollecting the events that take place throughout this war-torn world of Panem. 

My biggest gripe is in the sheer magnitude of new, flat characters. Finnick, Johanna, and Betee all return; however, other newcomers are glazed over and we barely get a chance to know them. Near the middle portion of the book, I found myself constantly asking "who?" as I attempted to recall the character's origin and relationship to Katniss. There were several points in the book when I truly had no recollection of certain characters. 

Yet again, I'm hesitant to judge too harshly for this perceived flaw. I remind myself of the 1st person narrative and how this is Katniss' story. Perhaps the characters are coming and going just as fast for her as they are for the reader. She's been continuously manipulated so I'm inclined to believe she's simply struggling to trust those around her. Because of her mental state, she can ill-afford to spend time making friends with her new companions. Regardless of Collins' intent, I found the choppiness more tolerable than the "faceless" characters parading around with Katniss during the series' climax.

Collins' anti-war theme rings like a trumpet throughout Mockingjay. Characters we've come to know and love suffer from severe post-traumatic stress. Some disappear altogether leaving us empty because of their absence. Beloved characters die. Others barely want to live. War.

I enjoyed the ending yet it's far from a "feel good" ending. In fact, the brief epilogue is a minor attempt to assuage the pain that takes place in series' final moments. Even the epilogue leaves a hollow sensation in your stomach because the reader truly comes to understand the magnitude of the barbaric Hunger Games.

Finishing the series has given me a greater appreciation for the first installment and although my qualms still stand, I can certainly see why this series has garnered such a following. Count me among that number. I'll be one of the first in line when The Hunger Games hits the big screen this March.

4.5 out of 5.

Review: Catching Fire (*minor spoilers*)

Roughly one month after completing The Hunger Games, I decided to continue with Suzanne Collins' 2nd installment in her 3-part series. Although giving the first book a 4 out of 5, I admitted I was somewhat disappointed. As a result, I didn't begin book 2 immediately. Looking back, I wish I'd read Catching Fire sooner because I found it to be equally entertaining and slightly more unpredictable.

The story kicks off shortly after the end of book 1. Katniss must slowly come to terms with the fact that she is a rallying point for many citizens of Panem. By committing one specific act near the end of The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen took a stand against the Capitol...without even realizing it. As a result, President Snow makes a personal visit to Katniss' new home in Victor's Village. Snow is briefly mentioned in the first book, but we really get a chance to see just how evil he is in Catching Fire. 

In short, he's incredibly displeased and issues a rather daunting ultimatum for Katniss, which I won't spoil here. We get to know Gale even more as a character, Peeta and Haymitch return, along with several new characters who I found interesting and effective. Finnick, Johanna, and Beetee are a few of the fresh new faces for Catching Fire. All three have intriguing backstories, yet they refrain from stealing the spotlight of other fan favorites.

I won't give everything away here, but let's just say this installment surprised me much more than book 1. Some of the tropes are familiar; however, I was still pleased with the payoff more often than not. There's one very surprising twist midway through the book that I truly didn't see coming. "Cruel" and "despicable" are just a couple of the words that come to mind. Overall, the book manages to keep the same dark tone as the original. The characters are again one of the strongest points of the series. Katniss remains as brooding as ever with an even more somber outlook for her future. 

I never realized it while reading The Hunger Games, but Collins true purpose becomes indisputable throughout Catching Fire. The entire series is anti-war, anti-violent, and pro-peace. Despite the countless acts of violence, Collins boldly states her claim that war can never lead to true peace.

Catching Fire ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger and I have to say, I felt much more compelled to read book 3 after finishing this time. I began Mockingjay almost immediately and will have a review up soon. 

Ultimately, Catching Fire was ever so slightly stronger due to its ability to surprise on several different occasions; that, combined with the series' staples, gives it a slightly higher overall score. I can't wait to see how Katniss' story ends.

4.5 out of 5.

Review: The Hunger Games (*minor spoilers*)

As with any book that garners significant media attention, I found myself intrigued by what I heard about The Hunger Games. My hype and expectations for the series were quite high starting out. The Harry Potter series is truly what turned me on to reading more than a decade ago and many of my fellow Potter fans spoke highly of The Hunger Games. As a result, I decided to check it out.

Suzanne Collins' first installment of her post-apocalyptic trilogy tells the story of Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year old resident of District 12 (what used to be parts of Appalachia). Katniss comes off as a confident, sometimes even brash, teenage girl with a keen eye for hunting game. She and her best friend Gale routinely break the law, slipping under the District 12 fence to do what they do best: hunt.

Unfortunately for Katniss, my previous sentence was not a typo. Hunting any sort of game is considered a punishable offense according to the Capitol. This post-apocalyptic world isn't a pleasant one and the Capitol is hardly a peaceful ruling body. The 12 districts are forced to provide them with natural resources, yet the Capitol takes it a step further. Every year, they demand each district participate in what is aptly named, The Reaping. All 12 distrcits must send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the dreaded Hunger Games, a sickening fight to the death between children. The unfortunate "winners" are then given the title of Tribute. Only one can leave the Hunger Games alive and thus, claim the title of victor...but at what cost?

I'll leave the rest of the story to you. As for my take on the book, I was honestly a little let down; however, I would still highly recommend it. Let me explain. Firstly, my expectations were probably too high going into the series. I expected something epic and what I got was just a solid, well-written novel with an intriguing story.

My biggest qualm with the book is a simple one: predictability. There were very few times I was shocked by an event or surprised at some of the "twists" throughout. Although incredibly brave and smart in her own right, Katniss is not a terribly good judge of people. Self-admittedly, she struggles with communicating her feelings throughout the book and is a terrible public speaker (also self-admitted). So while I saw almost everything before it was about to happen, Katniss seems stunned at the most obvious plot twists.

In her defense, you can never be too trusting in an arena full of 23 other teenagers whose only hope for freedom is to slit your throat. For that reason, I can forgive Katniss and understand Collins' reasoning in writing Katniss as such a cautious protagonist.

Aside from that, Katniss is a character I absolutely loved to read. The story is told through her eyes and you instantly relate to her from the very first page. Her strong bond with her younger sister Prim. Her longing for her deceased father. And her struggling relationship with her mother. There's something here for anyone to relate.

Katniss isn't the only strong character. Peeta Mellark is probably my favorite character of the entire series thus far. He keeps Katniss guessing throughout. Haymitch Abernathy and Cinna are two other characters you'll quickly grow to love or hate.

From a technical standpoint, The Hunger Games is a quick read and one most young adults should have no problem reading. Katniss isn't overly wordy and Collins does an excellent job of letting you see the bleak world through her eyes. As with many young adult novels, the primary concern for allowing a child to read or not is definitely subject matter. Many young people - children, even - die gruesome deaths throughout the Hunger Games. I expected Collins to shy away from this due to the young adult focus of the series; however, she stays true to her story and lets the reader in on all the grizzly details.

The Hunger Games will certainly draw comparisons to Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga, mainly due to the complicated love triangle persistent in each series. However, that is where the comparisons should end. The Hunger Games is a tragic, unique tale that stands on its own as a bleak, all the while riveting, account of a seriously disturbing world. Part of what makes The Hunger Games so great is its ability to take part of the world we know, and totally twist it into a chilling future. The environment may be different; yet humans still find a way to live, love, and ultimately, a way to overcome. Expect to see this series catch even more fire (pun intended) as it hits the silver screen in March of this year.

4 out of 5.

Return

Yes I'm back. Things have been crazy for me lately and I've been very busy with work and school; however, with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 releasing in just over a month...I couldn't say away much longer.

First of all, I never got to wrap up my take on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida. Here are my final thoughts:

• The Forbidden Journey ride was better than I originally gave it credit for. It's actually quite scary and I'm interested to see how the younger audience reacts to it. 
• Take a deep breath before you get on because you're bound to miss something. The ride throws so much at you so fast; I believe that's why I felt a little disappointed after the first ride. After riding it multiple times though, I was able to absorb each aspect of the ride in better detail.
• The queue leading up to the Forbidden Journey ride is simply phenomenal. You truly feel as if you've stepped into the world of Harry Potter.
• The food was definitely one of the highlights. Butterbeer is awesome. Pumpkin Juice was better than I expected. 
• Chocolate frogs were a disappointment. 
• The shops are incredibly detailed and offer an incredible selection of merchandise. If you're a big HP fan, you definitely have to restrain from overspending.
• They need more room and they know it. I really feel this is just the beginning of something much bigger for Universal.

As for Deathly Hallows part 1, I absolutely cannot wait. I'm still finalizing my plans, but I will most definitely be going to a midnight showing. I also plan on reading book 7 one more time before the film releases. Expect more soon. In the meantime, go check out the Deathly Hallows trailers...simply AMAZING.

Forbidden Journey round 2

I enjoyed the ride much better the second time around. The first time through, I was overcome with such excitement that I missed half of what was going on. I nearly lost my phone midway through the ride, which didn't help matters.

The second time though, I really had a chance to relax and take it all in. The ride has its flaws, but it's much better than I originally thought. You can expect a full review when I return home.

Pumpkin Juice

You know the cider you have every year around Christmas time? Tastes like that only cold.

I don't even like pumpkin but I enjoyed this. Definitely has a slight pumpkin flavor but it's mixed with apple flavors as well.

Hogwarts

>> Not sure how much blogging I will be able to do as our hotel doesn't have free WIFI :( I have tried to attach a video of our first glimpse of Hogwarts; however, I'm not sure if it will come through or not.
>>
>> My quick thoughts on the park...Harry Potter needs a park all to his own. I have loved nearly everything I've seen, but it's only left me wanting more (maybe a wee bit greedy).
>>
>> My quick thoughts on everything I experienced today. More detail to come later.
>>
>> Forbidden Journey ride: Above average but not quite perfect
>>
>> Butterbeer: Absolutely AMAZING!
>>
>> Chocolate Frogs: Frogs are just plain chocolate. The cards are pretty cool. Way overpriced at $10.
>>
>> Shops: Amazing detail, but they need more room. There were lines just to get into the shops. Prices weren't too outlandish, but definitely way above average. I had to splurge on a sweet Gryffindor hoodie.
>>
>> Dragon's Challenge: Still the same, great roller coaster that was formally known as Dueling Dragons (queue was an upgrade, but I think they could have done better)
>>
>> Disappointed that they were sold out of the Ash Wand (for my birth month). I'll probably look to pick one up online.
>>
>> Still looking forward to eating at the Three Broomsticks, sending a letter via Owl Post (special postmark), experiencing Ollivander's, and definitely riding the Forbidden Journey ride once more.
>>
>> Hope the video works. Look for more soon (if not then, definitely when I return).

Edit: I'll post the video later.
>>

Dear Mr. Francis...

...you have been accepted, into Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That's right, tomorrow my family and I will depart for Orlando, Florida to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Saying that I'm pumped for this trip is a drastic understatement.

I have literally been counting down the days since the park was announced. As a matter of fact, I've actually been dreaming of a Harry Potter theme park long before Universal even made the official announcement.

SO, I would love to tell you that I haven't been blogging recently because I've been hard at work on my novel; however, that isn't the case. Sadly, I haven't worked on it much at all. The truth is that I have been working really hard to find a new job. I've actually started working in a part-time position and have had multiple interviews for a specific full-time position. Much of my time has been devoted to those two goals, as well as grad school

With all that being said, you can look forward to a plethora of quality blog posts over the next few days. They may not be long, but I can assure you they will be interesting (at least if you're a Harry Potter fan, and let's face it, if you aren't a fan...you should be). You can expect to see updates ranging from my first butterbeer, my wand selection, and of course...a review of the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. So, with that being said, I hope you will follow my blog over the next week to see what all Universal's new park has to offer.