5 Flights Up

Bill Weasley

I went back and forth with doing a “what I learned from Bill Weasley” because I feel like I barely know Bill.This is especially apparent in comparison with the rest of the Weasleys (sorry Charlie--ha). I know he’s a good son and husband. A werewolf and a hard worker. But not so much of Bill, as Bill.

But, while we don’t learn much about Bill directly, he does remind us of some things quite prominently. From his relationship with Fleur, we are reminded that relationships are deeper than appearances, the importance of being a good person and son with his relationship with his parents (and especially his mother), and from his experiences with Goblins and at Gringotts the importance of deep respect and politeness. Finally, do not be a prat. as he was so excited to join his mother at Hogwarts to wish Harry good luck before the third task of the Triwizard tournament. 

So thank you Bill, we might barely know you, but you still have taught us well. 

Whoops—

As we work to improve access, equality of access, and diversity some of us will get there faster than others as some have more pressing matters to focus on. For many young girls, their time is mainly taken up walking miles every day to bring clean water home to their families. For them, having a book that describes their personal story or an ancestral connection is first dependent on whether they were in school long enough to know how to read. Other challenges such as those taken on by Malala Yousafzai, deal with female suppression, war and tyranny and of course children who are currently walking hundreds of miles to escape violence, war and famine. 

Not all have the ability to begin to think about education, our stories and our futures as they can only think of reaching tomorrow. But for those that in the midst of this chaos, there is still hope and those who work to bring books to those who don’t have the ease of going whenever they can.

(1)    https://litreactor.com/columns/the-10-most-unusual-libraries-in-the-world

Cedric Diggoy

Cedric Diggory was an important character as he embodied all we missed out on, not knowing more Hufflepuff characters closely. Dumbledore’s speech about how he was a fierce friend, chose to do what’s right over what was easy, and was shown to constantly be his biggest opponent, not hating those who bested him but only trying to better himself. 

It is these Hufflepuff traits that are one of the two main reasons this character has had such a profound impact. Being the complete opposite of boastful, even before Harry told him about the Dragons he tried to stop people hating on Harry, knowing there was enough Hogwarts pride to go around. This extends to the previous year when he catches the golden snitch just moments after the Dementors come onto the Quidditch field and paralyze Harry. He feels this wasn’t a fair win and as Captain, protests against their win to no prevail. A sentiment he carries even during the Quidditch World Cup when his father brags about how ‘’he beat thee Harry Potter!”

One could go on forever about Cedric, it really is no wonder why Cho loved him, (even thou I got the impression that if given both options she would’ve chosen Harry) but what equally sticks out is Cedric’s impact and representation of the innocent victims of war. While the film overall was horrendously shackled together, the scene in the film and book bring me to tears long before his death and their return to Hogwarts. He was just a good person, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. The reaction of his classmates and especially his father and the circumstances were meant to highlight how truly ugly and unnecessary war is. There was no reason for his death, and like most wars even the young men and children who survive physically lose their minds to it. Finally, on a small level, Harry’s guilt and other’s reactions for his survival and Cedric’s death reminds me of the understanding how death happens to those left behind; as while Cedric comes back as a ghost momentarily he thinks only of his parents and unknowingly remains as a force in Harry to stop Voldemort.

Best Friendship Moments

1. Season Two, Episode Twelve: The Injury

When Pam tells “Oscar” how Dwight’s doing in the hospital so that she can discreetly pass the information to Angela who was just eavesdropping on her phone call with Jim.

What adds to this moment is that Pam went out of her way to allow Angela to continue to believe no one knew about their relationship and keep her privacy.

2. Season Two, Episode Fifteen: Boys and Girls

When Jim gets upset with Pam for not going for the Graphic Design internship in NY and telling her “You gotta take a chance on something sometime Pam” and asking if she really is ‘fine’ with her choices. While we feel it’s more related to her engagement to Roy and not just the job, in both instances it is truer friends who push you to do more and be better for yourself.

3. Season Two, Episode Eleven: Booze Cruise

When Jim tells Michael he “used” to have a thing for Pam and describes her as funny, and warm and Michael responds” BFD--engaged ain’t married. Never, ever, ever give up”.

4. Season Nine, Episode: Couple’s Discount

When Darryl tells the homophobic Nail Salon worker how Oscar and him work as a couple, grabs Oscar’s hand, and how “Him and me, all right, we are crazy in love. More in love than your small mind can comprehend. And we have two disposable incomes and no kids, and we’re taking our business elsewhere”.

5. Season Four, Episode Four: Money

Jim and Pam throughout the episode trying to help Dwight feel better in relation to his breakup with Angela; especially at the end when they smile to each other after Dwight uses his ruler to knocks anything of Jim’s hanging over his desk because to them it means ‘Dwight’s Back’.

Pam signing up for just about everything when staying at Beet Farms.

When she won’t help set up Andy with Angela because she doesn’t “see them together”.

Their detailed and positive but not too much review on TripAdvisor, following up with the fact that they really enjoyed their stay.

Jim goes and tries to talk to Dwight after Angela agrees to go out with Andy and tells him how he couldn’t sleep, couldn’t taste food and how it’s something “he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy” and that includes Dwight.

6. Season Three, Episode Four: Grief Counseling

When Pam and Dwight both go out of their way to prep the bird funeral; Pam creating a decorated casket out of a tissue box and Dwight playing a song on his recorder.

7. Season Three, Episode Twelve: Traveling Salesman

When Angela asks Pam to go out for a coffee so she can gush about “Noelle and Kurt” aka her and Dwight. Even if Angela was unsure if Pam knew who they were really talking about, it doesn’t matter; Angela had great personal news and she wanted to share it with Pam.  

8. Season Seven, Episode Ten: China

When Dwight “lets” Pam win in regards to the standards of the building after he overheard Pam telling Him how she felt like a failure as she failed art school, and being a salesman.

9. Season Nine, Episode Sixteen: Moving On

While driving Toby home from the doctor after getting strangled by the Scranton Strangler, she calls him brave, twice.

“You offered your neck in search of the truth. The proud neck of justice—isn’t that the expression? Well, anyway, it was—it was very brave. It really was quite brave.”

10. Season Seven, Episode Twelve: Classy Christmas, Part 2

When after Michael storms away from Holly because he’s upset that Holly would have a long-distance relationship with AJ and not with him, Holly does to follow Michael but Erin blocks her.

Good friends know when you need your space and will help and protect you to get what you need.

Tough, Tattered and Tiny

A food desert, simply put, is an area in a community where at best residents and others in the community “best” access to food may be a local convenience store. Similarly, as technology has changed our world to more internet-based and virtual there are fewer libraries that are more spread out. While only hitting on a few of the benefits of libraries, these libraries have grown in the absence of traditional libraries. They’re small, partially funded by people’s unwanted or previously read books where you can take and leave books as you please and allows those who don’t have access to wider libraries to still keep the *free* possibility of reading open. A barrier that an enthusiastic reader such as myself cannot ignore.

 The most common, and smallest, are similar to those influenced or constructed by www.LittleFreeLibrary.org; that sells various little libraries that can be customized, eco-friendly and even some that also work as benches. While not ideal, these libraries can also serve as a viewpoint of the local community; are they sharing information about learning how to knit, how to join law enforcement, gaining citizenship? Are there more kids or adults, fashionistas or environmental advocates? Both? For those who cannot access a traditional local library, and even those that can; these smallest libraries are simply fabulous and I would encourage anyone to check out a book, check in a book or make a donation.

Best Conference Room Meetings

1. Season Three, Episode Four: Grief Counseling

When Pam and Ryan, and then Kevin tell fake grief stories based on movies.

2. Season Five, Episode Three: Business Ethics

Michael: Spent an entire week watching YouTube, in particular the Cookie Monster sings Chocolate Rain.

Oscar: Will sometimes take a long lunch.

Kelly: Downloads pirated music onto her work computer.

Meredith: For the past six years, Meredith was sleeping with a supplier in exchange for discounts on office supplies and Outback Steakhouse coupons.

3. Season Seven, Episode Thirteen: Ultimatum

⦁ Creed wanting to learn how to do a cartwheel (Ditto). ⦁ Kevin not knowing how to eat broccoli.

4. Season Seven, Episode Nineteen: Garage Sale Conference room meeting where Oscar, Ryan, Jim and Pam all work with Michael to plan the perfect proposal to Holly.

5. Season Two, Episode Twenty: Drug Testing When Pam sets up Jim to tell “the story about a friend who got caught up in the world of drugs” knowing per jinx he couldn’t speak. 

6. Season Four, Episode Four: Money When Michael is supposed to be teaching everyone PowerPoint but forgot, then the meeting get sidelined to the universally confusing question: Is whom a real word, and if so, when do you use it?

7. Season Six, Episode Twenty-Five: The Chump

When the meeting gets refocused on how to shoot Bin-Laden, Hitler and Toby with only two bullets.

8. Season Four, Episode Four: Money The Conference room meeting held at Michael’s other job as a telemarketer at the Lipaphedrine Diet-pill Company--they love him.

9. Season Two, Episode Twenty-One: Conflict Resolution  When Michael mediates between Angela and Oscar through the five mediation techniques.

10. Season Four, Episode Seven: Survivor Man

The Conference room meeting, that wasn't. Jim is trying to end the all the birthday parties as they waste time, but almost gets tricked into having a conference meeting about it per Pam's suggestion.

Questions Left Unanswered

1. Season Five, Episode Eight: Business Trip

Where does Darryl go after Kelly breaks up with him via text. There is a lot of support for the idea that he is walking away happy and is thrilled that he didn’t have to break up with Kelly (further evidenced by how he has Val break up with him), but WHERE DOES HE GO!! This is the middle of the work day, why was this part and only this part included. Did I miss something, I continue to remain so confused.

2. Season Nine, Episode Twenty: Paper Airplane

They never gave an explanation for how Angela got so poor overnight. Yes, she was separated from the Senator, but she wasn’t poor before and she continued to work while married to the. So even if he really was that big of an asshole it doesn’t explain how or why she ended up so poor.

3. Season Five, Episode Seven: Customer Survey

What is the evidence that Dunder Mifflin is a front for the Mob

4. Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Two: Goodbye Michael

Okay Phyllis, to clean the mittens you told us 1) we can’t get them wet, 2) they can’t be dry cleaned but they have to be “hand washed without water” à how am I supposed to do that!?!?

And is it the same for your oven mitt

5. Season Six, Episode Twenty: New Leads

How did the rest of the staff (Meredith, Angela, Kevin, Oscar, Creed) react when they realized the Sales staff was going to offer them 2% of their quarter sales and not just an apology

6. Multiple Episodes: How many Chad Flenderson novels did Toby write?

7.  Season Five, Episode Five: Crime Aid

Who got David Wallace’s timeshare during the fundraiser?

8. Season Nine, Episode Twenty-Two: A.A.R.M.

What are the time limits on the other summoning bags?

9: Season Five, Episode Twelve: The Duel

We only know about Rule 17 (Don’t turn your back on bears, men you have wronged, or the dominant turkey during mating season) but what about the other Shrute Rules. There are 39 more and while also being interesting, I also do not wish to be eaten in my sleep. Though my guess that only matters if I am a Shrute.

10. Season Two, Episode Seventeen: Dwight’s Speech

What does Creed say in Chinese? There is some speculation that it translates simply to " My China friends hello” but, I don’t know. It’s Creed, and the finger pointing at the camera at the end makes me question if there is more.

1st book: HP

If I ever had to choose a favorite book, it would be Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Bought by my mother because of it’s rampant success in England, it was and still is a very important book for me. The series was the first new-generations understanding of youth activism, feminism, equality and kindness. But the first book was, for lack of a better word as this word doesn’t seem to do it justice, home. I, like all great books, was taken out of my world to another place where I found friends and a family, and security. It gave me confidence, hope and connection while pushing me and allowing me to feel safe, all at the same time.

But Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is not my favorite books because of the story, a particular character or author, time period or residual feeling of inspiration. While it is one that continues to connect to me, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is my favorite book just because it is my home, my base and my beginning of reading. While I read before Harry Potter and surely would’ve read without it, the first chapter can always make me smile and bring me back to really beginning to love reading and experiencing that other world and how much books can bring joy, compassion and comfort. This book, that will always be my favorite book, represents more than even the world of Harry Potter represents to me with the characters and connections; it does in fact just represents me and my child hood and my love of reading and excitement to learn. 

All of the Harry Potter books will always have a place with me, but Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first and the strongest and the one that can always bring me back to the places I love. Happy National Book Month

Les cousins, 1959 (dir. Claude Chabrol) 

Hope in all it’s agony

The Blindside

2009 was the YEAR for Sandra Bullock movie-wise. All About Steve was hysterical and the immigration scene at the end of The Proposal was brilliant even thou the rest of the movie is a bit cliché but of course the main movie of that year was The Blind Side. While some controversy exists from real-life Michael Oar’s feeling that the book and film placed too much emphasis on the Touhy’s efforts and not enough understanding of his own (along with dumbing him down), this was still a great movie that portrayed fostering’s ups and downs both for families and children in the system, racism, adoption, family-values, Christian values, love and acceptance all in ways that didn’t come off cliché or too happily-ever-after even thou it was a real story and we got a seemingly unrealistic, but true ending.  

The campiest part of this story is how Michael is able to bring his grades up in order to get into college. While true, it is a unique situation that reminds us not everything real in life comes of real in a story. But campy and true, this small part is the overall story of Michael Oher: keep trying, find your way in and ask for help. A good overall lesson for those who feel they have fallen behind or lost their way. But if I were to pick one thing to take away from this is the scene where “Big Mike” gets called Michael, because he doesn’t actually like to be called Big Mike. A short scene, just a few lines but with a big impact and understanding if you (like Leigh Anne) are willing to be open-minded and pay attention.

Lean on Pete

Lean on Pete is another story about family and loss and heartache but—oof--does it have a different feel. While during The Blind Side we see Michael Oher slowly rise up, Charley falls, falls and falls catching every heartbreak that can occur, and how life can slowly becoming crushing, especially when it seems someone has no one.

While overall the movie crushed me and its dark it is important to look at the idea of the film and for Charley was a focus on hope. He leaned on the horse Pete and by the end, we are left with the idea that things will be alright. Now, those I saw the film with had different opinions than I did about this, to them he really will be okay while I think he’ll survive but be severely traumatized, but maybe they’re right and we're supposed to believe regardless of all the missteps and bad fortune that things can turn around if we keep believing and striving for good and how if we don’t need those people to help us up, we should be those people to help others up