My intentions to conduct future blog interviews via Skype or phone were short-lived. The time investment is not something I want to do right now. So I went back to sending out questions via email when it came to my next interviewee, Melanie P. She’s a fellow Harry Pothead, but also a friend who I’ve enjoyed staying in touch with since we moved from LA. We met when we hung out in the same circle of friends, but soon became actual friends ourselves. We often were the only two girls hanging out with a bunch of guys, so it was vital that the other was there. Even more so when we’d watch the guys play basketball and often were recruited to keep score and run the timer (not very diligently, I must confess). However, the Harry Potter craze (starting with Hogwarts costumes for Halloween one year) sealed the friendship, and we’ve been embarking on adventures ever since.

When we moved to Seattle in 2006, Melanie was one of our first visitors. She’s come up several times since, but we’ve also met up in Vegas, Vancouver and Orlando – in addition to seeing each other in LA. She’s one of those friends who lives far away, but I feel like I see her a lot. During the seasons of “America’s Next Top Model,” Melanie and I schedule Skype dates to talk about who’s too cocky, who has potential, and who simply has a nice personality. Although we’re both not as committed to the show anymore, scheduling Skype dates still allows us to catch up with each other.

The Harry Potter craze has definitely bonded Melanie and I (and Abby), and more than once now, I’ve been so thankful for our times together when I’ve needed distractions. Since we’re all in the career world, it’s refreshing to have an outlet that allows us to be a little silly. Our vacation to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (aka Harry Potter Land) last year was definitely a highlight of all our adventures. It was hot and humid in Orlando, but the weather didn’t dampen our experience in Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.

But beyond the robes and striped scarves, we’ve cemented a friendship that I greatly treasure. Melanie is kind-hearted, compassionate, thoughtful and honest. When we talk, I appreciate that she shares what’s on her heart – and, in turn, asks me how I’m doing. Her personality is not overbearing, and I’m comfortable being quiet with her if I need. She’s fun, easy-going and always up for an adventure – as you can tell from her answers below. You heard from her last year when I shared her post on our time at Harry Potter Land, but here she is again…

1. One goal you’re striving for… To save up enough money and enough vacation time to take a 2 week Mediterranean cruise (and find a few friends to go with me)

2. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? AUSTRALIA! I want to swim in the Great Barrier Reef with the sea turtles!!

3. You’re stranded on an island and you have two books, two music albums and two movies with you. Which would they be?
Book 1: A Guide to Getting Off A Deserted Island
Book 2: Man vs. Wild: Survival Techniques from the Most Dangerous Places on Earth by Bear Grylls
Album 1: Michael Buble’s 1st album (it’ll calm me down if I’m feeling panicky)
Album 2: Relient K’s Five Score and Seven Years Ago (this will keep my spirits lifted as I wait for my rescue team to come save me)
Movie 1: You’ve Got Mail
Movie 2: Tangled (maybe hearing Zac Levi’s voice will keep my mind off of me being stranded on an island)

4. If you could go back in time and visit yourself in a previous time, when would it be and what would you tell yourself? I would go back to my sophomore year in college and tell myself to study abroad for a year. Back then, I was too lazy to write an essay about it for the application process, so I never did it, but I should have.

5. Which Harry Potter character do you most identify with and why? Tonks, because we both love Professor Lupin.

6. What is one thing you always have to have with you and why? My chapstick and my eyedrops, pretty much for obvious reasons

7. One thing you want to do before you die is… Live in a different country for at least 6-12 months and get familiar with their local culture

8. If you could choose any magical item from the world of Harry Potter, what would it be and why? Would a wand be too obvious a choice? hahha… I thought about Felix Felicis, the invisibility cloak, a flying broom, etc… and as cool as ALL of those things are, when it comes down to what would REALLY be useful to me in my everyday life, I think it’d be the source of everyone’s magic… which would be a wand :) It was either that, or a house elf to help me cook and clean… :P LOL… but then I thought about SPEW [Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare], and decided against that idea, haha…

9. If you could change any one aspect of your personality, what would it be? I would love to be more witty. I’m not really quick with the clever quips, and I’d like to be :)

10. Describe something about yourself that surprises you. Occasionally, I display mild symptoms of OCD. Not in the way Matt and Kevin are about cleanliness and germs. But more like in the way I lay things out or line things up. Like at work, I always find myself straightening the sheets that are hanging on my walls, or straightening the papers that are organized on my desk. And I can always tell when something has been moved, and I’ll move it back to the way I had it. Back when I worked at Sony, I had my Harry Potter wand on a shelf against my wall, and one of my friends would always walk in and move the wand so that it was partially hanging off the edge of the shelf, and leave it there. He’d get a kick out of me not being able to leave it like that, and it would make him laugh that I’d always have to get up out of my chair to correct the positioning of the wand on top of my shelf… :P Lol… but these are just mild bouts of OCD…

11. If you could channel the strength and spirit of a historical figure, who would it be and why? Lucille Ball [is she a historical figure... hahaha... :) ] If I could channel her spirit, everyone around me would be laughing and smiles would be contageous :)

12. What’s a hobby or skill that you’ve always wanted to learn? To play the cello.

13. What’s your dream job? My dream job is to write reviews on luxury Resorts and Spas so that I can get paid to eat and get massages :)

14. The thought that usually pops in your head when you wake up is… “Snooze”.

(Drinking Butterbeer at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in July 2010; Hollywood Walk of Fame at the prints of Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint in September 2007; Harry Potter party in July 2011)