Perhaps it's hindsight but wow, did Richard Harris sound and look feeble in this film. You can certainly tell he wasn't feeling at all well during filming. He was a good enough actor in his day, but I was truly surprised when they cast someone his age as Dumbledore. In the books it seems pretty clear Dumbledore's quite spry and vigorous. I hope it's true they've cast Ian McKellan as a replacement. He is much more my idea of a mischievious and quirky wizard, not the ancient, avuncular ponderousness Harris brought to the role. Though it'll be strange if he plays both of the two important wizard characters of the literary world onscreen.

It's funny, I seem to be surrounded by the idea of magic right now. I'm catching up on Season 5 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Saturday afternoons, watching the current Season 7, and rereading my 1974 Christmas gift of the Narnia Chronicles. Magic everywhere.

Speaking of which, my ultra plutonium deluxe megamaxi extended version of The Fellowship of the Ring finally arrived and I amused myself by playing the interviews with the cast members. When I have time and can justify it I'll watch the movie with the extra scenes, but I cannot justify it until after my recital on December 7th, a day that might live in infamy around here if I don't get on the stick and practice every day.

I hate to admit to this, I really do. I have gotten a grip on History again, I'm doing my reading and studying for my third test (which is either Tuesday, or possibly the following Tuesday, there's no telling as the professor isn't keeping to the original schedule). But piano? I'm not practicing enough. I can't. I ought to, and I'll be ever so sorry if I don't, but I'm stubbornly undermining my first long flush of achievement. I've had three weeks in which to improve, but I've been focused on History and work and...well, this is why I never graduated the first time. If it's something I sincerely don't want to do, am not interested in, and dislike doing I simply make excuses not to do it. Then it all ends in tears.

Only not this time. This time I'm bulling through it. No Sims and no more movies, no more DVDs or videos, no tv at all except for Buffy. I can't read for pleasure at home, period. I can read on the train and at lunch during the weekday. I have got to cut back on diary time as well; no more daily entries for a while. It's just an excuse not to practice, all of it. I've got three weeks to get my act together. And if I don't show improvement in my playing I don't know what sort of grade I'll get in piano, so it's not just fear of being embarrassingly bad at my recital that's motivating me. Because there's no regular testing like there is in History it's easy to put off practicing but it'll bite me on the butt if I don't shape up now. This really isn't the way I wanted to finish my degree, feeling guilty and dreading deadlines. I wanted to give a wonderful recital, mistakes and all, to show what a magical thing it is to be given a second chance at making music.

Except magic doesn't just happen. Magic is hard work. There is prosaic groundwork to be laid or there's nowhere for the magic to take place. Harry goes to Hogwarts to learn wizardry and faces monsters. Frodo heads into the heart of Mordor after conquering fear and a heartfelt desire for the burden to be someone else's problem. The Pevensies wade into battle despite being little kids instead of great queens and kings. Buffy and Willow go through terrible personal darkness but come out the other side believing the world deserves to be saved, so they do it, one demon at a time. No magic works without courage, loyalty, love, and plain old hard work, not to mention a handful of faithful friends.

Kind of like you guys. So hey, I'm going to go practice for a while. See you in few days.

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