There will be Quidditch matches taking place in Oxford, just as the Olympic torch comes through the city, on July 8 and 9, right before the 2012 London Summer Olympic games begin.  Teams from the US, UK, Australia, and France will compete in these matches of total awesomeness.  Sending all these players to Oxford is not cheap, so jerseys are on sale to help fundraise.  And let me tell you, they are BEAUTIFUL.  I want them all. 

The stars and stripes of Team USA are gorgeous.

I may be American, but I’m an Anglophile at heart, and I would love to wear the Union Jack of Team UK proudly.

Why not say, “Bonjour!” to this stylish design for Team France?

Remember that Team Australia could really use your help for their long trip, and I find the shapes and colors on this jersey very cool.

Please send the links around and consider buying one of these fabulous jerseys to support the players and help bring Quidditch to an international audience.

Today I played in my first Quidditch tournament.  Our team has existed since last spring, but a lot of our regular players couldn’t make it, so it was sort of thrown together this week and we had exactly seven players, meaning no substitutes.  We didn’t win any of our three matches, but we had an amazing time.  We had some great plays and our seeker made an awesome snitch snatch.  We were exhausted, we were inexperienced, but I still feel good about how we played because I think we did demonstrate skill for a relatively new team that never practiced with all of our players together.  Our chasers could pass, shoot, and catch.  One of our beaters, who has always served as a referee and rules expert, played for the first time since we were short on people, and she managed to make some great hits.  We were enjoying ourselves too much to be very concerned about losing.  I also snitched a match and it was incredible.  I am completely wiped out, yet so exhilarated.  I love this sport and I love this community.  I can’t wait for the next Quidditch season and I’m excited to be joining a new Quidditch scene next year.

A Magical Prom Proposal

This is how my friend Jeffrey asked me to our senior prom today.  He left this in my senior mailbox in school.  Of course, I said yes.  We were just in Once Upon a Mattress together, in which I was the Queen and he was my partner in crime, the Wizard.  Fitting.  I loved it, Jeffrey.  You know me too well.  This was perfect.  I can’t wait to go to prom with you.

Today is March 1.  Happy Birthday to my favorite literary character, Ronald Bilius Weasley.  Ron made me proud to be a ginger.  His sense of humor, loyalty, and bravery have always struck a chord with me.  He is simply the best friend anyone could ever hope to have.  Ron always rushes to Harry and Hermione’s defense, even if it gets him detention.  He speaks his mind, often in a hilarious way that expresses what everyone else is thinking.  Ron is not at all a sidekick; he’s a hero.  From playing the best game of wizard’s chess Hogwarts had seen in many years to proving himself on the Quidditch pitch to destroying a Horcrux to finally openly agreeing with Hermione’s belief in house-elf freedom and sharing that amazing kiss with her, Ron has made me laugh and cry more than any other character.  It was the first time I read about a redheaded character who was meant to be admirable and as a girl who relates to Hermione, I have been in love with Ron since he first sat down in the same compartment as Harry on the Hogwarts Express.

Happy Birthday, Ron.  Weasley is our king.

Thank you, Disney and Pixar for making it cool to have this kind of hair.  So often gingers are portrayed in a negative light, and when they’re in a positive one, the hair is always so tame, straight, and smooth.  This is what a fiery, powerful ginger looks like.  This is what my hair looks like.  It’s red, it’s curly, it’s wild, and I like it that way.  I’m so excited for this film.  Scotland, feminism, redhead, and a whole bunch of actors I love.  Can’t wait.

“Sorry we influenced an entire generation!”

What really annoys me is that Alan Rickman wasn’t nominated for Best Supporting Actor.  He deserved that Oscar.

My life has meaning again.  I can’t even describe how excited I am.  Harry Potter was my childhood.  Jo taught me everything and made me who I am.  I know that this is going to be very different, but I also know that it is going to be very spectacular and that Jo will change my life again with her brilliance. 

Thank you for continuing to share your talent with the world and for giving us stories that touch our hearts.

I know it’s late, but I wanted to share my Halloween 2011 costume.  I’ve been a Potter character every year since I was about seven and since I’ve already been all of the major characters, I’ve started getting a little more obscure.  I utilized my red hair this year and put together this costume.  I was Fawkes the phoenix.  And I could fly.

This is one of the most beautiful images I have ever seen, when the last ship is leaving Middle-earth at the end of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.