The End of the Line

Hey, look--text in a blog--what a novel idea! THis blog has really become picture-heavy during my time in the line. I thought I'd take some time to ponder for a bit as the line draws toa close.

I've quoted him on this too many times already, but Jerome compares the end of the line to high school graduation (although I'd have to go with college; I was so ready to leave high school when it was over that there was little regret). There's the same excitement--finally seeing the movie is graduation--yet also the same sadness--leaving friends that we've lived with daily. We've endured moonings, eggings, teenagers threatening to beat us up (or telling us that Star Trek rocks--tell us something we don't alreay know), and fireworks taped to a tent. Together, we've made fast food runs at every restaurant in the surrounding twenty miles, and we've given tips on which Burger Kings were giving out the toys and which ones became bitter as soon as they saw a customer in a Star Wars shirt. We've smiled for the media until our cheeks became rubberized, and we've hung a stuffed Jar-Jar from the main tent. This is the end of the line.

We were offered sneak preview tickets to ROTS last night--first for $40, then for free. But these people don't understand the spirit of the line, the whole point that we're here. Or the fact that, having waited three weeks, I certainly won't pay $40 when I can wait one more day.

But the real point is the community. I want to see it with my friends, with the hardcore fans that will truly appreciate the movie and fully understand it. I want to be a part of the same community that when we watched AOTC together at midnight three years ago, everyone laughed at Palpatine's clasic line, "I love democracy." I went again to AOTC the next morning to a packed-out theater and after that line, you could hear crickets chirping; the atmosphere was gone. That is why I am here. To see this movie that we've waited three weeks, three years, twenty-eight years, our lives, for, and to see it with these people who have also been waiting this long.

One guy, Brian, commented in an email that he's trying to use me to inspire his girlfriend that there *are* female geeks out there. And I never thought that was unusual! We have a large group of ladies in our fan club, which is great. I grew up loving Star Wars--I didn't have any of the toys--man, was I jealous of girls with brothers--but in high school, my two (female) best friends were both into Star Wars as much as I was. It wasn't until college that I found out that that was kind of unusual! You just can't beat the mix of adventure, imagination, romance, and humor in the SW saga, particularly in the original Trilogy.

That's all the thoughts from Pink Seven this morning...

A New Hope...

...for geeks everywhere: there are women who enjoy Star Wars!

Just a few of the Lovely Ladies of DFW Fanforce!

We've had at least seven others come out, as well. Our club shall be the envy of geeks everywhere!!

Good Morning, Ewok Village: Part Deux

And more tents join the fun--sixteen now!


(That's my husband Alex holding up our DFW Fanforce banner.)

We're getting media out here pretty regularly now. It's a little hard to concentrate on my schoolwork with all this hoopla! We've all been talking about how excited and yet how sad we are that this is almost over. Jerome put it well when he said it was like graduating high school--looking forward to the movie, but going to miss hanging out with everyone.

Nuggets of Truth:
* You know you're a true geek when... ...the only time you've ever tanned has been in line for Star Wars.
* The Skywalker Whine Theory: the whining gene is carried in the right hand; as soon as Anakin and Luke lose their right hands, they snap out of it.

See more Tales from the Line at the DFW Fanforce forum... including fireworks attacks and mooning incidents.

Yoda, You Seek Yoda

Anaka and her cuddly Star Wars friends:


And proof that I am actually at the theater: our Grand Prize Yoda protecting me from hecklers.


I'll be uploading further entertaining photos of our time in line later this week. I'm currently working on title-ing the existing photos and compiling them into a web album. Also, our C3 photos are coming along--we have two out of (seven or nine?) albums completed so far. It takes awhile to title all these things!!

Just three days left... and now I can't even leave when I need to, since my vehicle is overheating. Guess I'll be sticking it out here for good!

Snuggly, Yoda Is

Jerome and Yoda share some quality time.

Oola-la-la!

The lovely Helen enchants us with her sinuous curves as she undulates to Star Wars music--with a lightsaber, no less! Today we were enthralled by her performance twice, and the GameStop crew came by with game consoles and Star Wars swag.



Now the evening's off to a normal weekend pace with plenty of teenage hecklers gawking at us--all in a night's work for us geeks. They tend to ask, with disdain, what on earth we do out here. What do we do? Why, we're teaching Jerome how to juggle. Heck, why not? We have hours and hours on our hands...

I Shall Call it... Mini-Tie

Yet more evidence that life in line is great--a guy from Lego stopped by this afternoon to give us free Lego Star Wars Mini Tie Fighters! Yippee! Use the brick, Luke...

Jeff also stopped by to bring our spiffy-keen Line-Up Shirts. You want this... don't you?

Now That's Podcasting

We had a podcast from the line last night--check it out! The guys from SwitchedOn came and blathered about Star Wars with us, despite heinous wind in the mikes. They're talking about coming out again and having another mike for we line-geeks.

Afterward, there was much dueling with Force FX lightsabers. One duel between Brian and Brandon was particularly funny... Check out the video. Here's Norman and Brian with their sabers:

I've just turned in my final assignment for the semester--whew! No more school! ...until Monday, when Maymester begins. Right--why did I sign up for that again? I finished everything here form my laptop in line--I've now logged 218 hours and am still first, woohoo! Still having a blast, hanging out with friends, and making new ones.

Alex and I are super excited about the 26th now--we have tickets to see an advance screening of Serenity--that won't come out until September! I know, you're drooling. We can't wait!!

(shout out to Brian for coming up with the title for this post..)