5:15 am. We have been watching people arrive in waves and almost all of them are Twilighters. Finally, a few fully dressed Stormtroopers clomp by and even through their helmets they look a mite intimidated. News vans have been arriving intermittently, setting up for morning show segments and around 5:30am the lights over the sidewalk snap on, waking up most of the people napping. We only get a few more minutes of sitting where we are when suddenly people start bolting up and running. We've been told to move *again!* Instead of being guided in thr order we were all lined up in, people were allowed to run and shove, pushing people who had been waiting since the night before further back in the newly formed "line." Obviously this is untenable for obvious reasons.
The Twilight Moms assert themselves and ask to speak with the Events Coordinator. Needless to say, this situation drags on and we are ignored by quite a few people but I need to mention a gentleman named Russian and the female Elite employee they sent to help resolve the situation. They listen patiently and help get the long suffering Twilight Moms and the others with them back in the front of the line. Luckily, pictures I had taken helped figure out what order we all go in.
At 6:30 four of us get interviewed for CBS Channel 7 news. Very exciting. We head back to the line and take our places, no one sitting down now as we wait to be told we can go. The wait is spent nervously, people milling around waiting for the command and then it comes. Right after we get the go ahead, chaos ensues. Even though people have been told not to run or shove, it's happening all around us. So most Twilighters cling to the person in front of them as we walk as fast as we can. As they promised, once we are inside and up the escalators, getting our badges is almost painless.
Discovering that we still have over an hour to wait for the ticket drawing for autographs is mildly disheartening but it gives us time to freshen up. There is a bit of reunion in the woman's restroom as we fluff our hair, cool down and get liberally spritzed with cotton candy body spray. We chat about theories for Bella in "Breaking Dawn" and eventually wander back out into the Sails Pavilion, not knowing where they will have the drawing. The closer it gets to 9:30, the clumpier the crowd gets. It's hard not to panic a little as I lose sight of my group. Eventually I see a hand with red ribbon at the wrist but it's too late to try to catch up because at that moment we all hear "TWILIGHT!" And I am forced to take back what I thought about the stampede to get in to the pavilion. That was normal. This? This is pure insanity.
Hundreds of people surge forward like a human tsunami and I get told later by my slender best friend she was actually so smooshed she was almost a foot off the floor as the crowd carried her along. The wait is excruciating because we all know that there is no WAY the Con officials planned for this kind of response. Hysterical shrieks erupt from the front of the line every time someone gets a ticket. I chat with a woman who says she has met and gotten Stephenie's autograph. Even though we are in the same position in line I let her go ahead of me. Have I mentioned I hate irony?? She gets a ticket and I don't. I try not to cry because I know there are lot of other people who are disappointed like I am and if we all cried, we would flood the convention center. The last ticket is pulled in under twenty minutes and my group wanders down to the Convention floor to go to the Summit booth. After we find it and get our Twilight freebies we look at each other with a bit of dread. It's time to go stand in line for Hall H.
Once we get outside and see how long the line is, I become the "bag lady" for our group and sit down with our things while they go to stand in line. In under 15 minutes I see them walking up, my sister limping a little. I hand the bags back to Laura and Athena as my sister look at me sheepishly. "I pulled a Bella" she admits. When I probe Laura says they were in line and suddenly Stephanie dropped a little and fell forward on her hands. Turns out she had stepped into a hole where a light should have been. I ask Steph if she's ok and she nods but I am thinking we need to get her ice. She tells me the Elite event staff covered the hole but didn't offer her help so I tell her we'll get help when we get inside.
Once inside Hall H we get seats about 3/4 of the way back and Steph and Laura say they are off to the bathroom. While they are gone Athena and I hear screaming and look behind us to where the black curtain all along the back wall is slowly falling down, making "ping" sounds as the metal bars bend away from the wall and snap. It falls all the way down, Con attendees and Elite officials holding it up as best as they can to make sure no one else gets hurt. This delays the first panel but it eventually starts and is for "The Day the Earth Stood Still" Athena and I are getting wiggly as we both wonder where my sister went! I text her but get no response. Laura finally shows up and whispers that Stephanie got her ankle wrapped and because of Elite's poor treatment of her they were going to comp us all four day passes. Athena and I have the same response. That'd be great if we had planned a four day trip. But she has work and Laura and I have nowhere to stay. Athena suggests that instead, we all get a chance to see Stephenie. Laura leaves and comes back with my sister about the time the "Max Payne" panel starts. Laura and Stephanie sit down and before I can ask how she is my sister bursts into tears and starts apologizing. Through her tears she explains that only she can meet Stephenie. I kiss her head and cry too but only because she looks so sad. I smooth her hair down and tell her to get whatever she wants signed to her but to tell Stephenie how much I love her books. My sister shakes her head but stops protesting because about that time the announcer tells us there has been a change of plans. A ripple goes through the crowd as we all try to guess what that means and then we scream, the entire hall screams... Hugh Jackman walks onto stage and six thousand fangirls lose it. Somehow, Hugh isn't phased one bit.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Comic Con Coverage/Article/Pictures (LJ)
It's 1 am and I'm getting ready to leave Anaheim California for a 2 hour drive into San Diego for Comic-Con International. My best friend Laura and I had already spent six hours on a train getting to Anaheim and were traveling down with my sister Stephanie and her friend Athena. We are all recently new to the Twilight phenomenon and I will proudly admit, I got the other three girls traveling with me addicted as I am.
I brought a couple of outfits to choose from because I had attended all four days of the Con last year and knew that the weather can be fickle. After deciding to do my makeup first I glance down into my travel bag and see a small container of white glitter. The idea hits me like an atom bomb. I quickly shower and as I am getting dry, put on lotion, take the lid off of the glitter and go to town. Remembering tips from drama I grab hair spray and lightly mist every inch of me that is glitter drenched. Then I get my reddest lipstick, some purple eyeshadow, more hairspray for my hair and get dressed. The end result?
IMAGE HERE
Alice Cullen. At this point in the morning I am so excited I don't even mind that I am hardly petite. My sister decides to dress up like Rosalie and when she's ready we get in her car which is packed for the day and pick up her friend Athena. As we drive to San Diego we chatter and listen to hand picked songs burnt onto nine CDs. iTunes has certainly gotten a lot of money from us as we have downloaded our own soundtracks for each book. Some songs are ubiquitous, like "Time is Running Out" by Muse. Others less so like "Washington Square" by the Counting Crows.
We make great time and pull into the parking garage of the San Diego Convention Center around 3 am. When we get to the front, there is a line of people who aren't sure if they're where they are supposed to be. Eventually, we all get moved. A large group of people from the site TwilightMoms.com are sitting in the very front and have been here for hours. Some since 7pm the night before! My group ends up around 25 people back, all wearing red ribbons on our wrists in case we see any one from the Lexicon. I end up being one of the only people dressed up but I don't feel too silly. Not with the amazing array of home made shirts and even one woman wearing a patchwork vest featuring scenes from the upcoming movie! The creativity of the people around me makes the line feel more like a family reunion. Add to that the copies of all three books everywhere you look!
PICTURE HERE
Twilighters are sprawled in in clumps on blankets and pillows, some people sit in chairs, lean on each other or perch on igloos or backpacks. People who aren't sleeping are chatting about the books, theories for "Breaking Dawn" the team they are on, favorite characters and their hopes for the movie.
Con veterans occasionally dole sage advice about badge pickups, autograph ticket drawings and how long the wait for Hall H will *really* be. Regardless of age, gender or geographical distance everyone in line seems to be here for one reason. The chance to see Stephenie and hear more about the Twilight Movie.
I brought a couple of outfits to choose from because I had attended all four days of the Con last year and knew that the weather can be fickle. After deciding to do my makeup first I glance down into my travel bag and see a small container of white glitter. The idea hits me like an atom bomb. I quickly shower and as I am getting dry, put on lotion, take the lid off of the glitter and go to town. Remembering tips from drama I grab hair spray and lightly mist every inch of me that is glitter drenched. Then I get my reddest lipstick, some purple eyeshadow, more hairspray for my hair and get dressed. The end result?
IMAGE HERE
Alice Cullen. At this point in the morning I am so excited I don't even mind that I am hardly petite. My sister decides to dress up like Rosalie and when she's ready we get in her car which is packed for the day and pick up her friend Athena. As we drive to San Diego we chatter and listen to hand picked songs burnt onto nine CDs. iTunes has certainly gotten a lot of money from us as we have downloaded our own soundtracks for each book. Some songs are ubiquitous, like "Time is Running Out" by Muse. Others less so like "Washington Square" by the Counting Crows.
We make great time and pull into the parking garage of the San Diego Convention Center around 3 am. When we get to the front, there is a line of people who aren't sure if they're where they are supposed to be. Eventually, we all get moved. A large group of people from the site TwilightMoms.com are sitting in the very front and have been here for hours. Some since 7pm the night before! My group ends up around 25 people back, all wearing red ribbons on our wrists in case we see any one from the Lexicon. I end up being one of the only people dressed up but I don't feel too silly. Not with the amazing array of home made shirts and even one woman wearing a patchwork vest featuring scenes from the upcoming movie! The creativity of the people around me makes the line feel more like a family reunion. Add to that the copies of all three books everywhere you look!
PICTURE HERE
Twilighters are sprawled in in clumps on blankets and pillows, some people sit in chairs, lean on each other or perch on igloos or backpacks. People who aren't sleeping are chatting about the books, theories for "Breaking Dawn" the team they are on, favorite characters and their hopes for the movie.
Con veterans occasionally dole sage advice about badge pickups, autograph ticket drawings and how long the wait for Hall H will *really* be. Regardless of age, gender or geographical distance everyone in line seems to be here for one reason. The chance to see Stephenie and hear more about the Twilight Movie.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Unfit for normal humans (LJ)
I feel guilty because I can't tell you all how often I blog in my mind. I'll be doing housework or making jewelry and suddenly, well crafted phrases will begin to toss themselves about in my mind like pieces of torn lettuce that dance artistically through food commercials and make you wonder, "who makes a salad under a waterfall??"
Which means that in the end, by the time I get to my keyboard, I have this whole salad in my brain and eventually give up on trying to sort through the mix and pick out the pertinent points.
Lately, due to the fires here in California, I have had a deuce of a time with my asthma. Asthma does lots of undesirable things such as diminish your ability to breathe, alter your mood, make you tired and take a normal productive day and turn it to shite.
In spite of this I have been eating oatmeal for breakfast and exercising in the pool when the air quality isn't in the "deadly" range. But the sheer exhaustion is wearing on me because I am used to getting up and getting things done. The last two weeks I have been getting up, staring morosely at my computer and giving up and going back to bed. I'm not depressed which is good, but the work it's taking to take a deep breath and enjoy the day is getting harder.
My room has made leaps and bounds as far as cleanliness goes. So much of what I have left to do is just FINDING SPACE for things. I mean, this is what the boxes look like:
Christmas decorations, acrylic paint, oil paints and supplies, yarn, lap loom, half finished weaving, stuffed animals, CD's, cassette tapes, wires, more wires, hey look some wires, blank paper, stickers, decoupage supplies, (i.e. paper) glue, thumbtacks, un-sharpened pencils, old keyboard, OMFG wires, floppy disks, Zip disks, usb drives, glitter, scrap booking crap, cards, memory album stuff (cards, photos, ticket stubs, passes etc) photos, negatives, slides, 8 trillion Neopets trading cards, handmade ceramic items, silk flowers, jars, important paperwork, 29 sketchbooks, regular books, DVDs, VHS cassettes, buttons, miniatures, rulers, remotes, shipping material, tape, collectable coins, blank wood projects (boxes, small collectible items) picture frames and GOD KNOWS WHAT ELSE.
So, when I am not scanning literally over 15 years worth of art into my computer for filing or use, I am sorting photos, tossing old junk, detangling wires and wondering why the economy sucks. (More on this later)
I HAVE updated my Etsy account but I am unsure of how to promote myself. Do I ask my friends to ask their friends to look at my shop? Do I make a MySpace account just to whore and spam? (not what I want) Do I suck it up and start e-mailing EVERYONE I know and don't??
My boss at the Ad agency is still battling with her husband's brain and lung cancer so I know that her focusing on his health is more important than getting me a job, but it also leaves me to wonder where else can I use my talents to earn money??
It's confusing and confuddling. I AM an artist, but I WANT to earn money!!
At least I just need to hold on until Fall semester. I am taking 2 English classes and an Edu class to get closer to my BA in English.
Yes dear readers, you may wipe the spit off of your screen... I am going BACK to my original major!
I'm not sure what else to say here other than, I want some energy, some clean air and for my jewelry to sell!
Which means that in the end, by the time I get to my keyboard, I have this whole salad in my brain and eventually give up on trying to sort through the mix and pick out the pertinent points.
Lately, due to the fires here in California, I have had a deuce of a time with my asthma. Asthma does lots of undesirable things such as diminish your ability to breathe, alter your mood, make you tired and take a normal productive day and turn it to shite.
In spite of this I have been eating oatmeal for breakfast and exercising in the pool when the air quality isn't in the "deadly" range. But the sheer exhaustion is wearing on me because I am used to getting up and getting things done. The last two weeks I have been getting up, staring morosely at my computer and giving up and going back to bed. I'm not depressed which is good, but the work it's taking to take a deep breath and enjoy the day is getting harder.
My room has made leaps and bounds as far as cleanliness goes. So much of what I have left to do is just FINDING SPACE for things. I mean, this is what the boxes look like:
Christmas decorations, acrylic paint, oil paints and supplies, yarn, lap loom, half finished weaving, stuffed animals, CD's, cassette tapes, wires, more wires, hey look some wires, blank paper, stickers, decoupage supplies, (i.e. paper) glue, thumbtacks, un-sharpened pencils, old keyboard, OMFG wires, floppy disks, Zip disks, usb drives, glitter, scrap booking crap, cards, memory album stuff (cards, photos, ticket stubs, passes etc) photos, negatives, slides, 8 trillion Neopets trading cards, handmade ceramic items, silk flowers, jars, important paperwork, 29 sketchbooks, regular books, DVDs, VHS cassettes, buttons, miniatures, rulers, remotes, shipping material, tape, collectable coins, blank wood projects (boxes, small collectible items) picture frames and GOD KNOWS WHAT ELSE.
So, when I am not scanning literally over 15 years worth of art into my computer for filing or use, I am sorting photos, tossing old junk, detangling wires and wondering why the economy sucks. (More on this later)
I HAVE updated my Etsy account but I am unsure of how to promote myself. Do I ask my friends to ask their friends to look at my shop? Do I make a MySpace account just to whore and spam? (not what I want) Do I suck it up and start e-mailing EVERYONE I know and don't??
My boss at the Ad agency is still battling with her husband's brain and lung cancer so I know that her focusing on his health is more important than getting me a job, but it also leaves me to wonder where else can I use my talents to earn money??
It's confusing and confuddling. I AM an artist, but I WANT to earn money!!
At least I just need to hold on until Fall semester. I am taking 2 English classes and an Edu class to get closer to my BA in English.
Yes dear readers, you may wipe the spit off of your screen... I am going BACK to my original major!
I'm not sure what else to say here other than, I want some energy, some clean air and for my jewelry to sell!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
TimeCapsules, Mouse Poop, Ex's of All sorts... (LJ)
Well, today being the 30th I realised I HAD to clean out my storage shed or pay another $64 and to be honest? I have already kissed over 5k goodbye in the course of 6 years and that money could have been a new laptop, a server sized Mac Pro, or a diamond ring for my 30th b-day. Instead it has been whittled away on a storage locker full of chipped furniture, hand me down dishes from dead relatives, other people's beds, couches, bikes etc, and boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes of paperwork.
Un-ironically, it is almost all art. The next hefty part of it is my writing and then cards, letters and legal documents ranging from old check stubs and w2's to my birth certificate and report cards k-college.
So much of it is like a punch in the face. I can actually trace everything from metal illness, breakups, beatings, molestation and illness in the lines of faltering confidence (as reported by my teachers) lowering grades, decline of friendships.
And no, a lot of it isn't my fault!
But not to dwell on only negative stuff, I found letters from my sister with intricately illustrated envelopes from the year I was away in a private college. There are cards from holidays, but my favorites are cards just because with declarations of love from my parents.
One of the sweetest, and strangest cards I have is from a girl I met while in San Diego. In the card (ostensibly presented for my 22d birthday) she thanks me for being self confident and helping her see her own self worth and God's Love. The reason that's strange to me is because that was the year I was literally falling apart at the seams due to Bi-Polar Disorder coming to full fruition in my life.
I combed back through one of the boxes of cards, yearbooks and autograph books (the ones you sign at the end of the year) and over and over again people were saying thank you! O__O Thank you? To me? I guess so! For being kind, for lending a helping hand or sympathetic ear, for just being there. And I have people stop me in stores, in restaurants, at the college I go to now and say "Jennifer?!??! Do you remember me?? I'm so and so and we went to school together!" And then to my utter surprise they say something kind about me.
Why? What do people see? I have literally had complete strangers say I have a kind, helping spirit... If this is true, am I blind? Or is there something flawed in me? I tend to see the negative. My sarcasm, my annoyance, my jerky habits. And I mean in general, you know like when you get cut off in traffic, your first instinct isn't to say "Oh, cool"
I wonder if other people are wrong or I just can't or somehow won't see my positive aspects?
Un-ironically, it is almost all art. The next hefty part of it is my writing and then cards, letters and legal documents ranging from old check stubs and w2's to my birth certificate and report cards k-college.
So much of it is like a punch in the face. I can actually trace everything from metal illness, breakups, beatings, molestation and illness in the lines of faltering confidence (as reported by my teachers) lowering grades, decline of friendships.
And no, a lot of it isn't my fault!
But not to dwell on only negative stuff, I found letters from my sister with intricately illustrated envelopes from the year I was away in a private college. There are cards from holidays, but my favorites are cards just because with declarations of love from my parents.
One of the sweetest, and strangest cards I have is from a girl I met while in San Diego. In the card (ostensibly presented for my 22d birthday) she thanks me for being self confident and helping her see her own self worth and God's Love. The reason that's strange to me is because that was the year I was literally falling apart at the seams due to Bi-Polar Disorder coming to full fruition in my life.
I combed back through one of the boxes of cards, yearbooks and autograph books (the ones you sign at the end of the year) and over and over again people were saying thank you! O__O Thank you? To me? I guess so! For being kind, for lending a helping hand or sympathetic ear, for just being there. And I have people stop me in stores, in restaurants, at the college I go to now and say "Jennifer?!??! Do you remember me?? I'm so and so and we went to school together!" And then to my utter surprise they say something kind about me.
Why? What do people see? I have literally had complete strangers say I have a kind, helping spirit... If this is true, am I blind? Or is there something flawed in me? I tend to see the negative. My sarcasm, my annoyance, my jerky habits. And I mean in general, you know like when you get cut off in traffic, your first instinct isn't to say "Oh, cool"
I wonder if other people are wrong or I just can't or somehow won't see my positive aspects?
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