tigra

Really! When I die, I want to reincarnated as one of Michele's cats!

Words of wisdom from Michele, our very own cat whisperer!

I *think* I read that one twice already, and I'm afraid if I read it before the movie comes out, the movie will be a let down. (because unless the movie is 6 hours long, they're going to leave some stuff out!)

I took in an older female stray when I already had two males. She "marked" all over the place- I think she was intimidated by my other two cats, and felt insecure. (I think her previous owner probably threw her out as opposed to her wandering off and getting lost.) I ended up giving her to my mom, and with her, she'd go through streaks. Mostly she was fine but she did have some set backs. Any loose rug or bathmat was a target, so were dirty clothes left on the floor. All I can say is, she was lucky my mom has been smoking for over 40 years and has a severely damaged sense of smell! Oh, and once my mom moved WITH her twice, she knew she had a permanent home.

Once the odor is there, the cat will keep going back to it. The cat can smell it even if you can't. You need special products to get rid of it.

Have you ruled out any medical problems? How old is she and is she your only cat?

If it passes the 4 year check and you're getting a fair price for it, go for it. I think there may be a chart or post on here somewhere talking about what a used Cypres is worth depending on how old it is and what maintenance either needs to or has been done. (batteries every 2 years, 4 years checks, life of unit is 12 years for the original model.)

He took the Horcrux and hid it before he died. The note RAB left in the fake locket said he'd be dead by the time Voldemort read it. Also, someone else pointed out that in Order of the Phoenix, there a scene where the kids are cleaning out the living room in Sirius' house and one of the items they find is a heavy locket they can't open. (I'm re-reading that now. I almost wish I had taken the time to do that before I read Half Blood Prince!)

When I was in management, 5% was reserved for only the best employees and that meant giving someone else only 1%. (We only had so much room in the budget.) I can't remember the last time I saw a 5% raise unless a promotion was involved. Most managers would prefer to do 3% across the board instead- unless one person is really deserving and another is not. In my field, the only way to get more money is to take a job with the competition! (Or accept the job, give notice and see if your current employer is willing to make it worth your while to stay!)

I think with larger companies 3% is about average unless there is a promotion involved.

I'm not so sure about Dumbledore's protection spells. I think the one on Privet Drive lasts until Harry turns 17. It seemed important to Dumbledore that Harry return there one more time. And I feel that Dumbledore expected to die over the course of the school year. Everything he did and tried to teach Harry was in preparation for his death. I don't think he'd make such a point of Harry returning there one more time if the protection spell wasn't there.

What the hell were you doing to the poor guy? I'll never tell. I will say this though. Never do something to someone that you don't expect done in return. Sort of like payback. "Oh you think I like this? Well why don't you tell me how good it feels..." Used the strap on, huh?

Well, the part about Snape being in love with Lily sort of just came to me, but it fits. Weren't both Lily and Snape in Slughorn's special "club" while they were in school?

I don't think Draco will be reformed, but like many of the so called death eaters, he is weak and spineless. He'll never be good, nor will he ever be pure evil. He is simply too weak to be either. I re-read the whole death and chase scene last night. Snape went out of his way NOT to harm Harry as he pursued them. He easily deflected all of Harry's hexes and was actually almost coaching him. He also stopped Draco's Crucio hex. He SAID it was because Harry was for the "Dark Lord" but in truth, Voldemort would be happy to be rid of Harry no matter who did it. He was protecting Harry AND he was protecting Draco from becoming a murderer. I also think Snape was in love with Lily Potter and that is why he is now loyal to Dumbeldore. He hated James but loved Lily. Since he was pretty much directly responsible for her death, he was/ is devastated with guilt. That also explains his conflicting feelings about Harry- he's sworn to protect him. At the same time, when he looks at him, he's reminded of the man he hated and the woman he loved and the the fact the he caused both their deaths. (And does he hate Harry just a little bit because the woman he loved died protecting him?) Is he trying to make Harry tough enough for what he has to face? Good points about Mundungus. That really is the only possible reason to bring him back into the story. And while a Horcrux can only be created by an act of murder, isn't there another way a powerful wizard like Dumbledore could preserve a part of his soul as he's dying? I'm thinking the dummy locket which Harry is now carrying around as his talisman.

A tib/fib fracture usually IS what people refer to as a broken ankle.

Actually, I think "little shit" is a relatively mild term for an 18 year old who behaves in this manner. I *might* feel differently if it was a 6 year old, I'm not sure. We're really NOT talking about a child here!

It WAS a little shorter than I expected. Might make it easier for them to make a movie out of it though.

I think SNAPE will die while either protecting or somehow helping Harry defeat Voldemort. Much as I can't see Harry moving on and having a normal life with Ginny, I'm not ready to think about him dying either! I read the prophesy as one of them dying in the effort to kill the other. (Sort of like The Highlander- There can be only one!)

I never said you were an asshole, I simply questioned your demeanor when you walked in to the shop since none of us were there and we only heard your side. You might want to put yourself in his shoes for a minute. You walk in at closing time and ask him to measure you for a rig when you are putting the order in through someone else. He obviously doesn't know you and you're asking for a favor at a really bad time. He said "No" and he had his reasons. Regardless, you go on the internet and complain about him and Square 1. So, who is the jerk in this situation?

So is the person who wrote the letter- the letter said something like "By the time you see this I'll be dead." But Harry's gotten help in the past from "beyond the grave". Also, many of the death eaters stay with Voldemort more out of fear than loyalty. If Regulus learned his secret and betrayed him, and if we suspect that things aren't as they appear with Snape, couldn't there be other death eaters willing to turn on Voldemort if they thought Harry had a shot at winning? I also think Harry's going to have a problem with the aurors in the final book. While they aren't evil (at least not on Voldemort's level) they've already shown signs of abusing their authority, something that will continue to escalate. Harry will find himself having to work against and around the ministry to do what needs to be done.

Like I said, there's a time and place for both and I try to do both. I get a lot out of jumping with "low timers" and I also get a lot out of slowing down and doing smaller dives. But I can also give more to the low timers if I challenge and improve myself on more advanced dives. And I haven't learned all I can from the "dirt dive 8 times, get there, etc." kind of dives you described so very well. (I'm one of the ones people wait for more often than not! )

Makes sense on many different levels. Also leads me to believe he'll have some inside help when it comes time for his final confrontation. I'm looking forward to the last book but dreading it at the same time because I don't want it to be over! Amazing how a book (or series of them) can pull you in so completely!

I *think* RAB is Regulus Black. (I don't think that's spoling anything really.......)

Its an important question for an organizor to ask if he/ she doesn't know the people he/ she is jumping with.