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shiredancerLast night I went to the local premiere of ROTK *quiet shriek*. I did it right and bought the ticket in advance, very much to my own surprise. I usually avoid opening night hoopla because of the lines and crowds -- I *detest* standing in line for movies. But this, as you know, was very special, and I couldn't resist -- and I have a reputation to uphold amongst my grad students!
So I went, and I think I counted about four other adults somewhere close to my age in the whole audience, and this was the biggest theater in Santa Barbara, filled to capacity. It was a Media Event, of course, so the local news station filmed the crowds waiting outside. Fortunately they didn't come anywhere near me. I was leaning against the wall doing crossword puzzles -- I'm fairly certain I was the only one there who went alone. I wore the Arwen Evenstar necklace as my token nod to dressing up for the occasion (much as I love and adore costumes and will don one at the drop of a hat, there is something about movies and other public events that make me shy away from them -- unless *everyone* is wearing one). I arrived at 10 for the 12:01 showing, armed with the crossword puzzle book, a Harry Potter book, and an electronic Hangman game (when you go alone to wait in line for two hours, you do need something to do. I was under no illusion that the hugely excited teens and twenty-somethings were going to be striking up conversations with me!).
Because it was a Media Event, there were antics after they let us in earlier than expected. Somebody blew up a big yellow plastic swimming pool ring, stood up in the balcony, and presented it as The One Ring. They started tossing it all around the theater, and up close I could see that it had all the proper Elvish script on it, quite beautifully done. And then some guy threw off his cloak to reveal himself done up as Gollum -- that is, he had a shaved head and naught on but a loincloth -- and made off with The One Plastic Ring, and caused much mayhem and laughter. There was a lot of laughter in general, including after the movie started -- they just found a lot of humor in some rather inappropriate places. Lots of applause and wolf-whistles and appreciative noises, but not bad enough to disturb. I prefer dead silence for my movies, but... that's what I get on opening night, I guess.
And, Oh. My. God. The movie. I LOVED it. I really, really did. Oh, there are things I can critique, and *lots* to discuss, but I won't do that here, not until everyone I know has seen it and we can *really* dig into it. Preferably at a HobbitCon in January, right? Just suffice it to say for now that I loved it.
And even being at work after less than three hours' sleep, well, I'm pretty pleased with myself for going. And am in a quiet state of euphoria (although that could be sleep deprivation that I'm mistaking here, but who cares...). Now if the constant headache would go away, along with the fecking *mountain* of applications I have to open and sort (our deadline was Monday, tra la la) -- I'd be in nirvana. Or something. Go see it, so we can talk.
So I went, and I think I counted about four other adults somewhere close to my age in the whole audience, and this was the biggest theater in Santa Barbara, filled to capacity. It was a Media Event, of course, so the local news station filmed the crowds waiting outside. Fortunately they didn't come anywhere near me. I was leaning against the wall doing crossword puzzles -- I'm fairly certain I was the only one there who went alone. I wore the Arwen Evenstar necklace as my token nod to dressing up for the occasion (much as I love and adore costumes and will don one at the drop of a hat, there is something about movies and other public events that make me shy away from them -- unless *everyone* is wearing one). I arrived at 10 for the 12:01 showing, armed with the crossword puzzle book, a Harry Potter book, and an electronic Hangman game (when you go alone to wait in line for two hours, you do need something to do. I was under no illusion that the hugely excited teens and twenty-somethings were going to be striking up conversations with me!).
Because it was a Media Event, there were antics after they let us in earlier than expected. Somebody blew up a big yellow plastic swimming pool ring, stood up in the balcony, and presented it as The One Ring. They started tossing it all around the theater, and up close I could see that it had all the proper Elvish script on it, quite beautifully done. And then some guy threw off his cloak to reveal himself done up as Gollum -- that is, he had a shaved head and naught on but a loincloth -- and made off with The One Plastic Ring, and caused much mayhem and laughter. There was a lot of laughter in general, including after the movie started -- they just found a lot of humor in some rather inappropriate places. Lots of applause and wolf-whistles and appreciative noises, but not bad enough to disturb. I prefer dead silence for my movies, but... that's what I get on opening night, I guess.
And, Oh. My. God. The movie. I LOVED it. I really, really did. Oh, there are things I can critique, and *lots* to discuss, but I won't do that here, not until everyone I know has seen it and we can *really* dig into it. Preferably at a HobbitCon in January, right? Just suffice it to say for now that I loved it.
And even being at work after less than three hours' sleep, well, I'm pretty pleased with myself for going. And am in a quiet state of euphoria (although that could be sleep deprivation that I'm mistaking here, but who cares...). Now if the constant headache would go away, along with the fecking *mountain* of applications I have to open and sort (our deadline was Monday, tra la la) -- I'd be in nirvana. Or something. Go see it, so we can talk.
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Date: December 17th, 2003 11:16 am (UTC)Will you be coming all by your onesy, or en famille? DO you know yet?
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Date: December 17th, 2003 11:43 am (UTC)Is there still a spare room open at your house, or will Lisa be using it, or... ?? We're open to whatever.
*Can't wait!* And I loved all your comments about The Movie, too. Oh, there's so much to talk about!
*Smooches*
P.S. I need a mountain or some such spiritual retreat for dawn on Monday the 19th (the actual 50th birthday, y'see) so I can read my birthday poem to the world. Does your neighborhood sport such a convenience??
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Date: December 17th, 2003 01:22 pm (UTC)There's a nice little motel about 3 blocks from my house, where we like to put up our guests (and we WOULD like you to consider yourselves our guests) when there's a few more than we have comfortable room for. It's nice to have you over all for the daytime, and give you your own peaceful space for bed and bath and all. It's part of Estel and My philosophy of Consumer Purchasing. We don't own more house than we really need for the four of us, and then we use the extra funds to expand our house to nearby locations as needed for parties, guesting, and the like. :-) Does that make sense?
Does that work for you? Please allow us to make you comfortable, and if this *doesn't* make you comfortable, let me know!!!
Mountain for dawn. There are plenty of lovely, natural places in the region, but all are about 20 minutes away from my house. The baylands are spectacular at first light, but not High Up Looking Down, but rather Down In the Valley and Ringed by Mountains. in the opposite direction, there are nice hills within 20 minutes, and Grand Vistas in the direction of Sunrise in January. I'll show you those, it's one of my favorite walks. ANd then the very TOP of the hill, with a View from the Bay to the Ocean, that's about 45 minutes of windy roads, but really SPECTACULAR if it's clear. And if it's not clear, really bitingly cold and often sleeting in January.
What do you do when it's pouring rain on your birthday? It's got to be something that's happened some years?
I'm so looking forward to this!
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Date: December 17th, 2003 11:48 am (UTC)Would you mind dropping me a quick email with your snail mail address...I've got some holiday greetings I'd love to send your way!
:-D
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Date: December 18th, 2003 07:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: December 18th, 2003 10:52 am (UTC)Enchanted is a perfect word.
Much love!