Engineering Manager? Moi?

A couple weeks ago, dear blogland, I mentioned that I may have some exciting work news for you which made me feel like I should dress snazzier. Well, the cat's out of the bag so I can finally share it!

I have officially been named the new Engineering Manager at Parallax! 

I'm very excited at the opportunity and the challenges it will bring. It's also going to allow me to put all of my leadership training from college to good use!

Also, I have an amazing boyfriend who is cooking a delicious dinner for me tonight to celebrate. 

Life is good. :)

The Pa-arty's Oooover...

And just like that, it's done. Last night was the final midnight premiere of anything Harry Potter. And while Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was very, very good, I can't help but feeling a little...blue.

My love affair with Harry goes back to when Sorcerer's Stone was first released. It was 1998 and I was 12 years old. My mom had brought the book home on a recommendation from a friend and meant it to be for my brother or sister (seven and nine, respectively). However, as soon as she mentioned that it was about wizards, I snatched it up and devoured it in days.

The book that started it all...

And so the obsession began. I essentially grew up with Harry, anxiously awaiting the release of each book and attending midnight release parties when they came in vogue. I would re-read each installment until the bindings started to wear, pretty much lived on Mugglenet, and basically drove my family nuts with my incessant gushing about the series.

The first movie was released when I was a sophomore in high school, and fortunately I had friends who were just as excited as I was. They weren't doing midnight releases then, so we popped into the first showing we could that Friday night. We brought Bertie Bots Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, stuffed owls, plastic Potter glasses and had the time of our lives. Before I knew it I was buying robes and house sweaters to complete my nerd-tastic ensemble. 

Now here I am at 25 and all that excitement, all that anticipation is gone. There's nothing new to look forward to. I'll never be in a midnight release line again. And while it may seem completely melodramatic, that's rather disappointing for me. 

Just look how excited queues make me!

Trust me, the final installment was really very good. You should definitely see it. I'm definitely going to see this movie about eight more times in theatres (and don't you dare think I'm retiring my Ravenclaw house uniform) but it's just a very odd feeling to now look back on Harry Potter with nothing but nostalgia.

But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.

So to commemorate this event fellow Potterheads, new or old, I propose a toast: To the magic that's kept us enthralled for the past 13 years. To the books that kept us up all night reading. To Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. To the fond memories we've shared. To Snitches, wands, Puking Pastilles, muggles and butterbeer. And most of all...

To Harry Potter, the boy who lived.

Locked & Loaded for Fun & Sun in Florida!

Steven's brother is getting married on Saturday, so we're heading back to Florida. w00t.

We've also got plans for some boating, beaching and we may throw some pooling in for good measure. However, after my tryst at the river last weekend, I noticed that my bathing suits were in pretty sorry shape. Elastic stretched out, fading fabric, really just no fun at all.

This year, work was very nice to give us fiscal year end bonus, and after a couple days of consulting with this generosity, this sum told me that it wanted to become new swimwear. Isn't that just the nicest?

So yesterday I moseyed on over to my favorite swimsuit shop, Le Target. I immediately found one I wanted when I spotted this saucy black number with comic book print. I kid you not, insta win for yours truly.

And I may feel a little bit like a super hero wearing it...

I also picked up a Converse One Star Number, I can't find a picture of it, but it's similar to the one here (but in black & white).

Then, since I was already there, I might as well pick up some other items, right? Of course! Gas is expensive, and you really should make the most out of every mile driven. Let that be a lesson, kids.

Alright, so since I've been feeling "fashionable" lately, I picked up a new dress for work. (Plus, I may have exciting work news for you soon, which may make me feel like I need to dress snazzier.) It's a nice light fabric, so it will breathe nicely here in the Sacramento heat AND it's uber cute.

Hooray professionalism!

Then for funsies I picked up some rockin' aqua shorts because, well, why not?

Fun, fun, fun, fun...

I also splurged on various tank tops to mix & match with since I've been in a "tank top" mood lately. I mean, the high IS 102 today. Just sayin'.

I <3 Target. It was a serious drain on finances when I worked there, since half the time I worked as the operator which also doubled as being the fitting room attendant. Needless to say I would amass quite the collection from what was discarded by shoppers. It's MUCH safer to only pop in a couple times a month.