Monday, August 17, 2009

Old School Monday: I

On Mondays, I'm gonna find stuff I've written in the past and post it. I'll do it until I run out of stuff. This one was really recent about Harry Potter 6.

Nothing gratifyingly satisfies a night and then thoroughly dampens 8 o’clock office jobs more than a midnight movie. Though I rolled out of bed 30 minutes later than I should have, my time and $9.50 were well spent at the premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Extraordinary from beginning to end, this film is a huge step-up from its rough beginnings of inexperienced child actors and constant changing of directors. Mostly true to the plot line of the novel by J.K. Rowling (with exception of the random scene during Christmas at the Burrow), the story unfolds a bit more dramatically and darkly than the chapters before. From the amazing digital imaging and the dark tint of the cinematography to the more grown-up look and feel of the characters, Director David Yates has fans captivated in their seats.

As for character development, many characters became much truer to Rowling’s original dictation, such as Ginny Weasley, played by Bonnie Wright, who has grown into the feisty character we all enjoy with new opportunities to show her fiery nature provided by writer Steve Kloves . Her romance with Harry is particularly exciting and long-awaited, and fans will enjoy watching their relationship unravel almost as much as they will enjoy the hilarity of the awkward love triangle shared by Lavender, Ron, and Hermione. Draco Malfoy played by Tom Felton also goes under an amazing transition to maturity, and after all of these years in film, he is really beginning to come into himself as a young actor.

Most amazingly was the new portrayal of Dumbledore. He has been one of the least accurate characters in the previous movies ever since the part was taken over by Michael Gambon after the death of the original headmaster, Richard Harris. However, in Prince, Gambon astonishes everyone with his new likeness to Rowling’s polite and amusing character. I do not know if he finally read the books or if it was a fluke, but the change is flabbergasting. His delivery could not have been better. He is Albus Dumbledore.

Finally dodging away from the amusing moving Wizard paintings and cheap humor provided by the Whomping Willow, Prince is outrageously good. Though some tough criticism has followed the premiere due to what many readers felt was a lack of thoroughness in detail needed to continue on in the story, the movie still broke through with outstanding box office rates with no end in sight. I must admit that I wondered how some things will now play out, but I trust that Kloves and Yates have something hidden in their hats. After all… we still have two more movies.

Friday, August 14, 2009

It's not goodbye, it's just see ya later...

That's what I've been telling myself. I said it aloud a number of times yesterday to myself. It makes it easier. Just had my last lunch with the Team. I'm gonna miss this crazy crew, and I don't know the last time I got this many hugs in a day. The interns all rock too. I'm gonna try to keep in touch with as many people as possible, but it won't be the same as being here with them everyday.

I've learned and grown so much this summer. I'm more comfortable in a work environment, and now I've got corporate experience with upper-level leaders. I met people from all over the nation, and I've discovered that there are places in the world where I can be me, emotions and all. I used to be so afraid to admit my fears and my passions to people for fear of judgment that very few people know the real me. I'm a pretty happy person, but the social butterfly act I give off at school that has 950 friends on Facebook is not really me. I like meeting new people, and I enjoy seeing the world in a different frame of mind, but I know there are people that don't give two shits about the world from my perspective, and I will be weeding those people out of my life in short order.

I'm going back to East Texas after work today, and I hope everyone is ready for a slightly different me. The changes have been subtle but important. Through the years, I've tried to figure out who I am, and this summer I figured it out without meaning to, and maybe that's how it works. Either way, it's been a journey, one that I'm sure I'll pick up where I left off one day because after all... It's not goodbye, it's just see ya later.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

My Last Day

Tomorrow is my last day at Southwest Airlines as an Intern. I then have to return to Tyler for school. I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about that. I'd like to be optimistic and think, "Just a year left!" But if I thought that, I would be lying, cause I've got a year and a half left. It's kind of hard to put "just" in front of that...

It's not going to be all so terrible. I've got great friends, brothers that will stand up for me, and a family that cares. I am so thankful for those things, and I do not take them for granted; however, I feel like my issues with returning fall into two parts: 1) narrow-minded imbeciles and 2) knowing that I can do better.

The first one is easy to explain. East Texas isn't know for its open-mindedness. In fact, it would probably be noted for its exceptionally low tolerance of anything outside the realm of WASP. I always knew that, but this summer has really painted a picture for me of the stark contrast between that area and more urban places in the U.S. Especially when quickly going back and forth between the two, it is all too easy to note.

The second one is only sort of complicated. I have more work experience and internships and campus involvement than most graduates have by the time they graduate, but for some reason, I am supposed to get a piece of paper before I can enter the workforce. That drives me up the wall. Most of the skills I have learned have been through work. A couple of my HRD classes have been helpful, but mostly, I have dug in, found ways to make my job look good on a resume, but I am still stuck going to school. I am taking 18 hours this semester because I do not want to do this forever.

I'm feeling a little bittersweet right now. I'm leaving behind some incredible friends, but I'm also returning to the people I mentioned before. I know life is never perfect, but I know it can be better than this.