The Line Party

A couple of updates, first:

I guess the Megaplex DIDN’T get permission to show the films on more than one screen and were going to go behind Newline’s back. Newline e-mailed them and told them if they sold any more than 500 tickets (more than one theater’s worth) that they’d yank their copy of the films. So, one theater, around 500 tickets or so– the first 100 people in line should be able to get tickets. Looks like the three of us that are buying are within the top 40 so we should be good to go, barring that anything crazy happens and we get screwed over.

Also, though I communicated this to most of you, the price is now $35, which includes a card that’s good for $12.50 of stuff at the theater’s food court… maybe enough to get you a meal or something.

That being said, here’s how it’s going–

Got down to the line just after 3pm, there were a few tents up and and a bunch of people sitting around (probably 25-30). I grabbed my newly aquired camp chairs and, being a newbie to the whole line party/camping thing, sort of apprehensively staked a spot with the chairs. I looked around as I was setting up my chairs and made eye contact with a guy sitting near the beginning of the line, who looked like a regular guy. He just grinned knowingly and said “Welcome.” Hehe… it’s great how you instantly have a connection with everyone there because they’re all there for the same reason– they love the movies.

So shortly after I set up my chairs it started raining, doh. I called Shawn and had him bring down the tent, and after a little struggle to set it up in the wind and a haste attempt to weigh it down, Mar, Shawn and I relaxed and chilled for a while. Then Mar took off and Melissa showed up, having just gotten off work. She decided that since she didn’t have any plans and this was pretty cool that she’d hang for a while– so she drove me to pick up a pizza and she, Shawn and I chilled for a bit. Dan showed up for a few minutes before he had to go to class, then Mel showed up later around 8:30 or so. Right before Melissa, Mel, and Shawn left, Steve showed up with his 5′ Lovesac to spend the night. Dan also stopped by after class to hang out for an hour or 2.

Man, I thought I would be pretty bored but just the excitement for the whole thing makes it fun to hang out there rather than boring. A guy that’s camped next to us named Dustin was pretty conversational and we spent a lot of time talking to him about LOTR, video games, Harry Potter (with Melissa, of course), etc. He’s married and probably about 26 or 27, cool guy. Actually, most of the people there were adults, no kids really. Maybe some in their late teens, that’s as young as they got unless they were someone in line’s kid.

Crashed around midnight last night, didn’t sleep too bad. Someone had just fired up the Two Towers as we were going to bed, and people were playing board games well into the night. Far from the best sleep I’ve had but good enough– this may be the only time I ever pull a stunt like this, hehe.

All in all it’s been suprisingly fun. Star 102.7 is down there broadcasting now (Laura from their morning show is camping out for tickets along with some of her relatives)– she’s geekin’ it up with us. And geeking it up we are 😉 Melissa mentioned that it had become a family affair, and I said “Yep– we’re geekin’ it up, and we’re geekin’ it up together.” What else are families for if not to support you in your geekyness?

There are more tents up now than there were when this photo was taken, but that’s us in the teal colored tent 😉

A double rainbow at the end of the the first wave of rain. It didn’t rain too hard but just enough that you’d want a tent. The thunder and lightning was cool too.

Anyways, I’ll be back again after work for the rest of the haul… good times 🙂