JKRowling updated her website recently with several interesting tidbits.

1. Her comments about her third child "racing Harry's next adventure into the world" seems to indicate that based on her current progress, Book Six may be finished about the same time the baby is due. Of course that's all speculation on the fans' part. But if this is the case, she'll then probably finish the book late next year, which will make a 2005 publication date improbable, since the manuscript will have to be edited, printed, and promotional strategies readied. So I guess my initial projection of Goblet of Fire Movie for 2005 and Book Six for 2006 is still a possibility.

2. Godric's Hollow is a village.

3. The core of Hermione's wand is dragon heartstring. And the wood is Vine.

4. JKR found a Celtic chart listing certain trees corresponding to one's birthdate. She seems to unconsciously have gotten Harry's correct based on the chart, but she deliberately used that reference for Ron's (Ash) and Hermione's wands. Warner Brothers' Mr. Ollivander got my wand wood correct too, based on the chart. I was given a Holly wand with a Phoenix Feather core there. =) Here's the chart, taken from JKR's site:

December 24 - January 20 = Birch (Beth)
January 21 - February 17 = Rowan (Luis)
February 18 - March 17 = Ash (Nion)
March 18 - April 14 = Alder (Fearn)
April 15 - May 12 = Willow (Saille)
May 13 - June 9 = Hawthorn (Huath)
June 10 - July 7 = Oak (Duir)
July 8 - August 4 = Holly (Tinne)
August 5 - September 1 = Hazel (Coll)
September 2 - September 29 = Vine (Muin)
September 30 - October 27 = Ivy (Gort)
October 28 - November 24 = Reed (Ngetal)
November 25 - December 23 = Elder (Ruis)

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The new term at Hogwarts Philippines has started. I'm conducting one Muggle Studies class on Muggle Technology. My students seem enthusiastic... I just hope they remain so until the end of term. =p

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Took the bus to work this morning, as Dad doesn't have work on Saturdays anymore. I was ready for a peaceful ride with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson for company, interrupted perhaps by an occassional great song (which will be scarce, as the bus driver was tuned in to a jologs station). But that was not to be. The bus was full of passengers, and in no time, 2 girls took the vacant spaces beside me.

Believe me, I wanted to concentrate on Holmes' discourse about Professor Moriarty and his criminal undertakings. I badly wanted to finish that chapter before getting to the office, but the voices of the two girls made it difficult to concentrate on the complex thoughts of the great detective. I closed the book, looked out the window and resigned myself to listening to what they were talking about. I know, I know. It's rude. But what can I do? They talk too loud!

Girl number 1 was talking about her childhood crushes. The Boy who liked her since 1st grade, and who gifted her with packs of Skittles up to when they were in 6th grade. The rich Chinese boy who gave her a bouquet of rose-shaped chocolates and stuffed toys in high school. She didn't really like this boy, but he always insisted that she take the gifts every time she refused. The was this other Boy she liked then, but who liked someone else. Her story was interrupted by a little voice inside my head saying "Hey, that never happened to me when I was in grade school or high school! *insert melodramatic and regretful sigh*" I wanted to physically stamp my foot to shut the voice up. "It never happened because you were stuck in an exclusive all-girls' Catholic school for 11 freaking years, and you attended only one soireé, and never paid attention to school dances, and never bothered to socialize with your neighbors!" Now that shut the voice up.

Girl number 2 talked about how once, a suitor got up the courage to go to her house to serenade her. But she hurled insults at the poor creature and told him to go home. Apparently, since she was a kid, she psyched herself up that her first boyfriend will be her last... which led her to reject her bevy of suitors, even if she remotely liked some of them. And she talked about how she was regretting that now... because no one else seems to want to try anymore. The little voice inside my head was back. "Awwww. That's a pity. But hey! She was like..." The voice was interrupted by the conductor, calling out my stop. I got off the bus, walked to the office and braced myself for, hopefully, a more interesting day.

.:chronicled by senator skywalker at 6:52:00 PM:.
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