The latest Harry Potter movie was totally worth the wait! I, however, couldn't wait any longer than I had to so I went to see the midnight show just to be one of the first of the hundreds of movie goers in Bemidji, Minnesota to see it. Originally this movie was scheduled to be released during the 2008 Christmas season, but because of the vampire movie "Twilight," the studio (Warner Bros.) postponed the release of "Half Blood Prince" until the summer of 2009.

I was fortunate enough to know the right people to get tickets for the midnight show as July 14th was turning into the 15th and opening day was upon us here in the states. Thanks to Johnny Lee of Mix 103.7 FM in Bemidji for hooking up my friends Missy (the biggest Snape fan I've ever met), Samantha, Bozley and I up with tickets to see the sold out show at the Bemidji Amigo Theater. By the way, Bemidji is a very small city in Northern Minnesota with a population of roughly 13,000 or more and the only movie theater in town sold out three shows for the opening of HP6. Amazing! Thanks to JLW, we felt like VIP's at a movie premier!

I must say, I've always enjoyed the storyline of JK Rowling's series of books and the special effects of the movies. This movie didn't disappoint on either of those two things. I have only read the first book, sorry Ms. Rowling. I went to all of the movies after that, so I cannot say that this movie follows the 6th book in the series closely. Only a true Harry Potter book reader can give an honest review of how the movie and book mesh.

The action and characters were all well defined, and as I said, the storyline was easy to follow and action packed. Two of my favorite characters were Emma Watson's "Hermione Granger" and Alan Rickman's "Severus Snape." Hermione is just as spunky and outspoken as she has always been since day one, and Snape, well, he's as mysterious and dark as predicted, but even more so now (you'll just have to watch this movie...I'm not going to spoil it for you). Some characters, who you thought you knew before, may just surprise you by their actions, or possibly by their non-actions. Pleasantly there's even some moments that make you laugh, especially if you've lived through those awkward teenage years.

A note to parents about HP6, there are some scary parts that could easily startle children under the age of 10. Parents should see it first to get a good judgement of what they think their kids can handle. My friend who I went with has two children ages 6 and 4. As we were leaving the theater she said they won't see it until it comes out on DVD so she can explain it as they watch it, and so she can fast forward through some of the movie.

And, Ms. Rowling would be thrilled to know that this movie may just intrigue other non-readers like myself to go out and buy the books in order to delve deeper into the details of her characters and the subplots not included in the movies. (Sorry "Twilight" fans, but Rowling trumps Stephanie Meyer when it comes to character development and "Harry Potter" was cast a million times better from it's inception).

I left the movie theater this morning wanting more Harry Potter. Tomorrow I'll be buying book #7 just so I can get an idea of what's to come. Congratulations to Warner Bros. and JK Rowling on another big hit! They have once again succeeded in their partnership.

I am going to make this prediction: this movie will set new box office records that only the next Harry Potter movie can break.

Yesterday music fans around the world lost an icon, a legend. The "King of Pop" Michael Jackson passed away. I will always remember him as the soft-spoken, talented singer/songwriter/dancer extraordinaire that captured my heart when I was in grade school. I had posters plastered on my wall and owned every one of his albums(yes, on vinyl).

But how will he really be remembered? Will people think of him as the eccentric who stood trial for something so disgusting I won't even mention it here in as many words? Or will people think of him as I do now. All I know is that fame can have a negative impact on any one person; there are plenty of examples out there, choose one.

I guess I never really thought of it, until yesterday afternoon what impact Michael Jackson had on my own life. It was because of him that I learned to break dance and moonwalk, that I created my own single sequined glove (that talent would show up again when I handmade my Winter Carnival dress & sewed sequins on the sleeves by hand), and that I loved music so much I would listen to it 24 hours a day with 99.5 FM WLOL on even when I slept...of course waiting to hear a MJ song. He was also an inspiration in the fashion industry...I so badly wanted one of those Members Only jackets or a red leather jacket with a million zippers on it. I drove my mother crazy wanting to see him in concert and when MJ wouldn't come to the Twin Cities (because it was Prince's stomping ground) I was devastated, I cried for days (just ask my dad).

And still today, his music brings people together. One of my best friends in grade school Amy & I were so excited to see the music video for "Say, Say, Say" on Friday Night Videos because it featured my favorite MJ & her favorite Paul McCartney. I still remember that video today. I got a message from her on my Facebook page about that song just this morning...once again, his music continues to bring people together.

I pray that his soul is in a better place, where it's peaceful and no paparazzi can bother him. As for the things he was accused of doing in his later years, that's for God to judge him for. Remember him how you wish, but God blessed Michael Jackson with so many talents. It would be sad to forget the positive impact he had on generations of music fans.

I created quit a stir tonight on Twitter after Game 4 between the Red Wings & the Penguins wrapped up. As my husband Brian and I were watching the post game show, he pipes up, "What the (H-E-double hockey sticks) is Don Cherry wearing?" I turn around and see he is "Donned" in a blue jacket with big yellow daisies randomly placed all over it. Daisies, really? Oh, my!

Before I tell you what my Tweet said, I need to clarify that I originally posted it as Barry Melrose. Sorry to get those two guys mixed up. They each have their own sense of fashion, if you can call it that.

Okay, so me, being the Twitter fool I am, decided that this would make for a very funny post:

WTH was Don Cherry wearing tonight? Oh, wait, that shouldn't surprise me...but really, daisies Dude? There's no flowers in hockey!!!!

The following is a list of the great re-Tweets and replies to my initial Don Cherry Tweet:

@MNHeadhunter @kellyschultz "There's no flowers in hockey!!!!" OMG, that is awesome (26 minutes ago from TweetDeck in reply to kellyschultz)

@ddahlen @kellyschultz Looks like Barry is just Don Cherry in training. (28 minutes ago from Power Twitter in reply to kellyschultz)

@TheFrogPad @kellyschultz well I hope you enjoyed the end of the Pens game! Hockey waaaaaay better than baseball IMHO (44 minutes ago from TwitterFon in reply to kellyschultz)

@kevinbinversie @kellyschultz Speak the true sister! #nhl (about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck in reply to kellyschultz)

Then I decided to make another "funny" but bring in the other hockey broadcaster who is known as being a spiffy dresser, Barry Melrose. So I Tweeted the following:

@kellyschultz Don Cherry or Barry Melrose...what's the difference, really? They are the fashionistas of the hockey broadcast world.

I got a few more replies...all of which made me chuckle:

@JamieMcCarty RT @kellyschultz Don Cherry or Barry Melrose...what's the difference, really? They are the fashionistas of the hockey broadcast world. (2 minutes ago from web)

@popstat @kellyschultz the difference is that my retinas don't get color-shocked when Melrose is onscreen (12 minutes ago from web in reply to kellyschultz)

@NJHockeyMom @kellyschultz hair vs jackets (16 minutes ago from UberTwitter in reply to kellyschultz)

@RedHouseMedia @kellyschultz Don Cherry wins in a heartbeat. Growing up in Gilbert he was our voice of hockey. And he always leaned to the Canadians (17 minutes ago from TwitterBerry)

And it didn't end there, I just couldn't resist replying to @ddahlen's comment above with the following Tweet:

@kellyschultz haha! Thanks, my hubby corrected me. Those 2 guys are like brothers separated at birth. Oops, sorry for my mix-up. LOL!

I never knew that bringing up Don Cherry or Barry Melrose would create such great laughs and get the response it did. Thanks to all for your replies and re-Tweets. You made my night!

And the Penguins made it interesting tonight with the 4-2 win. Series tied...I LOVE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!!

...what kind of impact someone has on your life until they leave.

It's amazing really. How come it takes a going away party to realize the impact someone has had in your life and the lives of others around you. Today at the Caribou Coffee in Bemidji we said good bye to one of the finest servers our store has had since we opened...and she has been there since day one. That person is Stephanie Kirk. I can't remember a day going by at 'Bou where a customer hasn't asked "where's Steph?" or "is Stephanie working today?" One of our regular customers, Dan, even said he was going to stop coming to Caribou because Steph is leaving. That says it all. She will be missed.



I baked cupcakes for Steph's party, but I didn't want to just bake any ordinary cupcakes. Luckily on the back of the box of Betty Crocker confetti cake mix there was a photo of ice cream cone cupcakes. They were so easy to make, well, except when it came to frosting them. I ended up waiting until I got to 'Bou to frost them.



I know that where ever Steph and her husband end up going in their lives, they will have the same impact on the people they encounter there.



I'll miss those days opening up Caribou with Steph, sipping a cup of French roast and reading the newspaper...just to dig out the Target ad.

Good luck & God bless my friend! I'll just have to visit you at your new Caribou Coffee in Lino Lakes.

Thanks to my amazingly smart & web-savvy husband, I finally have my very own blog. I'll be writing more interesting things on here than I do on Twitter or Facebook...because I'm long-winded and 140 characters just isn't enough to say what I want to say.

Happy reading!