Harry Potter, knitting, and my feud with UPS (a rare light-hearted post)

I got mail this week! WAHOO! and what an ordeal it was!

The details are boring. The thrust is this: if you're planning to mail me anything other than a letter (which can be sent through the normal mail fairly safely), use DHL, and make sure it wasn't made in China (I'll have to pay a lot of money to get it) or it isn't food (I may or may not get it, and I may or may not have to pay for it). Also, you should know that my mom is awesome. AND, that's the world's most expensive candy corn and it took me at least 10 pieces to get them stuck on my teeth right. I feel richer and more wasteful than I have since getting here. 
I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in under 30 hours of receiving it, and that included two full work days. I... I have too much to say.
I've also been excitedly knitting, since about four skeins of sock weight yarn got through customs. I'm having fun making this pattern for someone, although I have to confess I'm less pleased with the color combination now that I'm mid-project than I was when I picked the yarn out. I think, mostly, because it's one I've used before, and I usually try to be a little more original than that. Oh well. You'll get over it, mystery-gift-recipient ;).