Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince

I’m doing something I’ve never done before in my life.  I bought tickets in advance to see Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 15, 2009!  I originally planned on taking the kids to the 3:10 p.m. show that same day, but when one of my kids couldn’t switch his work schedule to join us, I opted for the midnight show.   Now we’re all pretty excited not only to see the movie, but also because we’re doing something out of the norm for us.  The girls and I are going in pajamas, too!

My boys (now 18) were just at the age where many of their friends were reading the first books when they came out.  They’ve never been avid readers by any stretch of the imagination, but at least one of them read the first four books.  He only reads when something captures and holds his attention, which Rowling does amazingly with these books.  I never read the books until after watching the fourth movie, Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire.  I had to know what happened next, so I bought the last two books the very next day and finished them in less than a month.  I would have finished sooner had I not had a job!

ABC Family channel is having a Harry Potter Weekend event and showing all five movies consecutively.  We’re having our own Harry Potter marathon this weekend (on DVD).  We watched the first two movies last night and will continue with the next three movies this afternoon.  I would skim through the Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince book before the movie, but I want to be surprised by whatever I may have forgotten since reading it over a year ago.

I’m doing something I’ve never done before in my life.  I bought tickets in advance to see Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2009!  I originally planned on taking the kids to the 3:10 p.m. show that same day, but when one of my kids couldn’t switch his work schedule to join us, I opted for the midnight show.   Now we’re all pretty excited not only to see the movie, but also because we’re doing something out of the norm for us.  The girls and I are going in pajamas, too!

My boys (now 18) were just at the age where many of their friends were reading the first books when they came out.  They’ve never been avid readers by any stretch of the imagination, but at least one of them read the first four books.  He only reads when something captures and holds his attention, which Rowling does amazingly with these books.  I never read the books until after watching the fourth movie, Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire.  I had to know what happened next, so I bought the last two books the very next day and finished them in less than a month.  I would have finished sooner had I not had a job!

ABC Family channel is having a Harry Potter Weekend event and showing all five movies consecutively.  We’re having our own Harry Potter marathon this weekend (on DVD).  We watched the first two movies last night and will continue with the next three movies this afternoon.  I would skim through the Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince book before the movie, but I want to be surprised by whatever I may have forgotten since reading it over a year ago.

Writing Book Reviews for Publishing Company

I’ve been hired by Atlantic Publishing Company to read and review three books for publication on several sites.  The books I received in .pdf form to review are:

1. The Secret Power of Blogging
2. Painting the Body Beautiful
3. eBay Income Advanced

I started with Painting the Body Beautiful first to get it out of the way.  It was only 122 pages with very little to read.  It included the steps taken and materials used to, as it says, paint bodies.  A few of the results were stunning, but many weren’t that interesting to me.  There were a few bodies that I think should not have been used as examples for the book, too!  Some bodies are better behind real clothes rather than clothes that have been painted on.  (The same is true for real clothes that look as if they’ve been painted on.)

I’m now reading The Secret Power of Blogging, which had a slow start with information about the definition and history of blogging.  By the fourth chapter, things get a little more interesting – at least for my personal use of blogs.  I have two blogs right now, both on WordPress.  In addition to the blog you are now reading, I have a blog attached to my business website, Sheila Karner Photography.

I will post my reviews of these books as separate entries on this blog before sending them to the publisher.

Senior Pictures – Unvelievable Deal!

ATTENTION: Seniors and friends & family of seniors…..

If you contact me before July 11th to schedule a one-hour photo shoot, I will waive the session fee! That’s right! Receive a one-hour photo session (one location) for FREE if you contact me before JULY 11th to schedule!

NOTE: Additional time can be scheduled beyond the one-hour session at a rate of $25 per half hour.

As always, your photos will be available to order from an online gallery within one week. I will also give you a CD with the photo of your choice to be used in your high school yearbook.

So spread the word and share my site with any seniors you know!

First Father’s Day without Dad

This photo was taken over 20 Father’s Days ago.  Photos and a few old home videos are now the only way for me to see my dad.  It has been seven months since he lost his life to non-small-cell lung cancer, and I still haven’t been able to watch any of the home videos, though.  Today would not be a good day to try.  This is my first Father’s Day without my dad.

It was one year ago this month that we learned of the cancer.  Five months later, he was gone.  I was able to drive from Denver to St. Louis just after the news and to be there when he had his partial hip replacement.  I stayed for two weeks and saw him come home and get around with a walker.  As we drove off to return home from that trip, he was outside standing in the driveway.  That was the last time I saw him standing.

The cancer was already in his lungs, liver, and bones.  Dad went through chemo and radiology for a few months.  We learned in October that all of this had done absolutely nothing.  The cancer had continued to spread.  My whole family had already planned on driving to St. Louis the last week of October, and this happened to be when my dad ended up entering the Hospice program.  We were there to help with the transition from the hospital to home.  Greg had to return to work and the kids to school the next week, so we had to leave knowing that any day could be my dad’s last.  We were prepared to make a quick turn-around at any time.

Every day I waited for “the call”.  Every day I learned that he continued to hold on.  The nurses didn’t understand it and commented that he must be waiting for something or someone.  Two weeks later, I felt very strongly that I just needed to go and be there.  Once more, I dropped everything and made the drive to St. Louis.  The morning after I arrived in St. Louis, I made it to the house in time for my dad’s last breath.  My sister had been on the couch near him when I knocked on the door.  She saw that he was breathing.  I came into the house, and my sister and I started talking.  We thought dad was sleeping, but my sister looked over and said, “He’s not breathing.”

That’s all I can write about that.  After some time, we both started making phone calls.  Greg pulled the boys from school, and they were there by that night.  I went through the rest of the week half numb and remained that way for several weeks it seems.  Dad was only 59 years old.  Too young.

Possible E. Coli Contamination in Nestle Cookie Dough

As of 6/18/09, there have been five confirmed cases of E. Coli in Colorado, and four of the patients have eaten Nestle cookie dough raw in the week preceeding their illness. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says 66 cases from 28 states have been identified. The cases in Colorado are in Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, and Weld Counties.

High School Senior Photos – Economy Holding You Back?

  It’s the end of another school year, and this year’s high school juniors are bringing home information about their senior year.  You will probably find an envelope filled with brochures, postcards, and flyers from local photographers chomping at the bit to get your senior portrait business.  You may be shocked when you see the prices quoted in this barage of information.  Well, push your jaw back into place as I let you in on a money-saving secret.

Current economy considered, this is the best time to choose a photographer in the early stages of growing a business.  Sheila Karner Photography, LLC is in that early stage!  In fact, through June 20, you can get 90 minutes for $99 – that’s a 90-minute photo session outdoors for just $99 with no outrageous photo package fees.  All images are made available online in a password-protected gallery to view and order a la carte at very affordable prices.  If you can’t book that soon, don’t worry!  Be among the first five students to book a one-hour photo session with Sheila Karner Photography and receive $50 off the normal session fee of $150, plus 10% off your entire portrait order.

How can I afford to offer my services at such discounted rates?  The question should be, “How can I afford not to offer my services at such discounted rates?”  Since I am in the early stages of growing my business, I need to build my portfolio.  So in return for your help in this respect, I can help you keep more money in your bank!

So before you decide to book the photographer with the fancy postcard advertisement, check out Sheila Karner Photography.  I have a few bells and whistles of my own.  They may not be as big and shiny, but they still make noise!

HomeAway (VRBO.com Parent Company) Press Release

Vacation Rentals Growing in Popularity Among Travelers Looking for Better Value

New HomeAway Report Reveals Travelers Choosing Vacation Rentals for More Family Vacations, Weekend Getaways and Even Business Trips

Story Highlights:

· Travelers are considering vacation rentals for everything from weekend getaways (65 percent) to business trips (20 percent)
· 66 percent of vacation rental property owners have offered special deals this year
· One in five owners new to the vacation rental market cited economic conditions as the reason why they started renting out their vacation home

AUSTIN, TEXAS, May 21, 2009 – Vacation rental homes and condominiums are becoming even more attractive to consumers looking for greater value from their travel dollar, according to HomeAway – the world’s leading online vacation rental marketplace – which today released the first edition of its new quarterly “HomeAway Vacation Rental Marketplace Report.”

According to the report, approximately 66 percent of vacation rental property owners are offering or have offered special deals or incentives at some point this year in response to the current economic climate.

· 27% discount rental rates by a specific dollar amount
· 24% offer a set percent off the normal rental rate
· 16% offer a free night with the purchase of a specific number of nights
· 15% offer free cleaning services
· 11% do not require a minimum stay
· 7% offer a complimentary product or service, such as tickets to a local attraction

While travelers may come across some unique deals this summer including pre-arrival grocery shopping services and complimentary meals or gift  askets upon arrival, 34 percent of  owners surveyed did not offer special deals or incentives. By way of explanation, one of those owners said, “I didn’t offer anything but a great house, in a great location, at a very reasonable price.”

“With or without deals or special offers, there is an underlying value to vacation rentals,” said Mike Butler, chief commercial officer of HomeAway.  Vacation rental homes enable you to rent a whole home for less than the cost of a hotel room and then even stretch your travel budget further by taking advantage of the full kitchens and extra amenities.”

Looking to a Vacation Home for Extra Income

While a vacation rental affords travelers many benefits, it can also provide a steady stream of revenue for the owners. In fact, Butler said more and  ore owners are renting out their properties to generate extra income. The HomeAway report found that the economy played an important role among owners who began to rent their vacation homes to travelers in the past 12 months.  One in five owners (21 percent) new to the vacation rental market  ited economic conditions, including the need to generate additional income, a recent job loss, the inability to sell the home or the risk of foreclosure,  as the reason why they started renting out their vacation home. In addition to citing economic conditions as a factor, many owners new to renting their vacation homes are entering the market to generate a profit.

“The research suggests that in the past, many second home owners entered the rental market with a desire to cover all their expenses, but now listing their properties to cover expenses is an economic necessity,” said Butler.

About HomeAway, Inc.

HomeAway is the worldwide leader of online vacation rentals, representing nearly 400,000 vacation rental home listings across more than 120 countries. The company has contributed significantly to the popularity of the vacation rental industry, making it easier than ever for both owners to advertise and profit from their second homes and for millions of travelers to find the perfect vacation rental. The HomeAway sites include HomeAway.com, VRBO.com, VacationRentals.com, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk, OwnersDirect.co.uk, FeWodirekt. de, Abritel.fr and Homelidays.com.

HomeAway is funded by Austin Ventures, Institutional Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, Technology Crossover Ventures and Trident Capital. The company is based in Austin, Texas and has offices in London and Ashtead in England; Kassel, Germany; and Marseille and Paris, France.

Shopping

Have I ever mentioned how much I loathe shopping? If I could spend as much as I wanted, I might like it a little, but that’s just part of the issue. I don’t mind shopping the discount stores to get around the prices. I couldn’t even tell you what the popular labels are these days, and frankly couldn’t care less! However, I do care about style and still won’t go out looking like Steve Erkel’s long lost cousin. Luckily, dressing with some sense of fashion doesn’t have to come at a high cost if you know where to look. So far, my boys have never revered popular labels as important, and my girls are following the same path as well. I must be doing something right there!

Aside from the absolutely insane prices of clothes these days, almost nothing seems to fit right. Of course, it doesn’t help that I’m extremely picky about the way things fit. Having long legs and a short torso doesn’t help either. Jeans either reveal things that should not be revealed at this stage of the game or they come up so high that the waistband can be used as an underwire! And shirts… I now realize that the “grandma arms” have arrived. I tried on a breezy cotton short-sleeved shirt in a small, which fit my body nicely. However, I thought I might have to amputate my arms to get out of the darn thing! I then tried it on in a medium. The arms were perfect, but when I raised my arms, the shirt was so wide, it looked like a maternity shirt. (Despite some misunderstandings or miscommunications somewhere, I am not, nor will I ever again be, pregnant. )

So mall crawls for us are for quirky boutique purchases and the food court only. Ali and I walked into Gap yesterday and walked back out after seeing the price of a pair of jean shorts (not the bootie shorts either). For about one third of a whole pair of jeans, they wanted $49.50! I’m sorry, if you are spending this amount of money on about 1.5 yards of denim and some notions, you are seriously due for a psychiatric evaluation! We went to Old Navy next where the prices were much better, but they only have even sizes. The zero was too tight, and the 2 was too loose. Off to JCPenney, where more disappointment set in. For a store that had such a huge selection of jeans in the winter, their denim selection for spring/summer is pathetic. We did find one pair of denim shorts in a size 1 that fit, though. Final price? Just $14.50! Next stop: Target, Kohls, & Marshall’s (in that order).

The final part of shopping that I don’t care for is the amount of time it takes. Shopping by myself isn’t as bad because I know exactly what I want and how I want it to fit. Miranda would buy everything, but Ali is picky like me. Waiting on her decisions sometimes is exhausting, but I do understand her frustrations.

Hopefully today will bring better results. There may be a “Shopping – Part II” to follow.

Photography – Family, High School Seniors, Weddings

See my website: Sheila Karner Photography

Recycling – A Personal Thought (Female Related)

Warning: This post contains information of a personal nature, and while written as generic as possible, some may find the material repulsive or otherwise offensive.

When our local garbage company began offering to pick up recycling, I quickly purchased a separate trash receptacle for the kitchen for metal, glass, and plastic. All cardboard boxes are flattened and tucked behind the trash can to be taken to the appropriate recycle bin in the garage when the trash is taken out. I’m surprised and disheartened NOT to see recycle bins at the curb in front of more houses on our street. I would estimate less than 10% do.

There is one thing that I do not recycle, and that is of a personal nature once per month. People urge the use of cloth diapers, and the use of washable towels instead of paper towels. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to use the cloth rags used in ancient days when women received their reminder of their ability to bear children! This is one thing I will not give up. I know there are items with cardboard applicators, but they are often difficult at best. Don’t even mention the items with no applicator at all. I refuse to go there, either! The plastic applicators don’t have a recycle symbol on them anyway. I would think this would be unsanitary even if rinsed. Aside from boiling to sanitize, I don’t see how this would be acceptable. Can you imagine the family asking what’s cooking?