Harry Potter Party & Magical Soda (NO SPOILERS)
Last night, after we got my wristband at B&N for HP, we went back home. Got some food and hung out until about 10:30pm when we left to go back to the store. I knew they were doing activies from 8pm on and I didn't think that it'd be that big of a thing to get to see the critters and stuff. Boy was I wrong.
The sign outside the building announcing the event.Turns out, we got there and basically stood in a totally unorganized mass of people outside until just before midnight. I got two of the green bracelets, a pair of HP glasses and a poster but that was it. You literally couldn't even get into the store. They wouldn't let anyone inside.
Green HP Bracelet with Owl imprint and the date, "July 16, 2005" and HP glasses.There were other activities and raffles and stuff but I missed out on all of it. Which stinks. And there was exactly
zero organization in getting people in any sort of order for their bracelets. There wasn't a line, there was a teeming mass of people running the entire length of the shopping center. We kind of squeezed in towards the beginning of the line because we were in the first 100. And they were going to let in the first 100 - in no particular order mind you - first.
So we got in and they started letting the line form inside. (Thank gods because it was SO HOT outside.) There were
four news channels there by then. We're in line in the store for a few minutes and suddenly they start counting down from ten. So everyone joins in and at one everyone cheers. It was kind of cute.
The line moved really efficently once you were inside, I'll give them that. It was hell outside - with literally
hundreds if not around a thousand people in no order - but inside they had like twelve registers open and people who's job was to do nothing but supply pre-loaded bags with books ready to go. In a few minutes, I was at the counter. Not one but
two seperate news cameras were filming me making my purchase so there's a distinct possibility I was on the news last night. *laughs* My receipt said 12:08am which shows how fast they were moving inside.
The Busch Garden's people were supposed to have left by 11:30pm but because so few people got to go inside - some people were actually
hiding in the store and the cops had to get them out (!) - they stayed so after we checked out, we could wrap back around and see the displays. They had a herbology one we saw first.
Part of the good-sized Herbology exhibit set up.It was cute. All set up like a little class with tons of plants and stuff. Then they also had a display of different types of wood for wands with tags and their properties.
Wand wood and properties displaysThen we got to head back over and see the lady with the real thing I wanted to see: an owl. Oh, she was so beautiful:
Lovely brown spotted owlI asked the lady if I could take a picture. She said sure. I asked if I should turn off the flash and she told me that she [the owl] was a professional and didn't mind. So I snapped a quick shot. Then another lady says no photos. It'll back up the line she says. I turn around behind me and there's not a single other person waiting to see the owl. Dammit. There was another lady holding an iguana or some lizard, but I was ethralled by the owl. I didn't get to ask her any questions because the second lady's imaginary herds of people waiting to see her so I just started a little more and headed out.
They directed us out the cafe door and because they had some barricades, we had to go down a bit before cutting back over to the parking lot. Meanwhile, I had pulled my book out and was looking at it. This kid sees me and says, "Hey! You've got the book!" And I'm all smiles. He says I'm the first person he saw holding one.
We walk back to the car and Love and Rand were joking they were my guard to get me back to the car without getting mugged for my book. The line was indescribably long. I just can't tell you
how many people were lined up all along the entire length of the shopping center. Past like four other stores and down the corner. It was insane.
I read about a hundred pages last night but I'm not trying to finish it immediately. I'm going to let myself take a couple days and enjoy it. So I'm firmly avoiding anyone who's even remotely mentioning spoilers.
So today then, we had to go drop the car off to get the brakes fixed. *sighs* Afterward we ran around a little and stopped off at Publix to get some lunch. You wouldn't believe what we found.
Cherry Vanilla Dr. PepperThis may not seem like a big thing. But then you don't know the back story. I had been wanting to try it since I first heard about it in January.
But our local bottler was not making it in non-diet. I can't drink diet soda. I get violent migraines from artificial sweeteners. Back in April
Rand brought me back a two-liter from KY. He got it for me on a business trip. It was the one and only time I was able to have it. I was so sad because the diet had a nation-wide release (and taunted me on my store shelves) but they literally weren't making the non-diet in my market.
Until today. When, in a moment of unbelievable amazement, they had some two-liters and one 12-pack on the shelf. Which, needless to say, I bought. I went to the office and asked them to stock more (because it was the only 12-pack they had.) We're actually going to head out to another store as soon as I finish this entry to try to find some more on the odd chance this was a fluke. Better to stock up.
So today is clearly a magical day. Harry Potter AND non-diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. Mmmm...
Whew! That turned into a much longer recap then I planned but there you have it. I'm off to try to find some more yummy soda. Out for now.
~ flowers bloom by :: miss m ::
at 7/16/2005 06:45:00 PM ~
~
