[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Ok, so when are you going to line up at the store????

[OctobersChild48 at aol.com]

Carol:

I picked up  my wristband fairly early (10 a.m.--the store opened at 9)
and managed to  get in the third group. I decided to go to Borders for
my first- (and  last-)ever Potter party. What a letdown! No pumpkin
juice or treacle tarts;  a few activities for children (best costume
contest, etc.--I wasn't wearing  one). I couldn't even concentrate on
"The Great Snape Debate"--I picked up  a copy but there was nowhere to
sit down and read it. (Ever tried sitting  on a carpeted floor and
leaning against a bookshelf when you have virtually  no body fat to
cushion you?) It wasn't fun, so I spent the time wandering  around,
speaking to a few adults wearing "Snape Is Loyal" stickers, but no  one
had anything intelligent to say (Confunded by that diabolical  JKR,
every one of them). I finally walked to the back of the store to  get
in line, almost the last person in my group. The line moved  fairly
quickly and I managed to pass the time in small talk about  how
exciting this one-of-a-kind experience was (*not* the Potter party  but
anticipating the revelations)anticipating the revelations)<WBR>, picked
word or two with the cashier about his "wrong" choice of  Snape
stickers ("He'd better have a good reason; that's all I can  say,"
retorted the cashier.) I drove off with his words in my  mind,
postponed opening the book until I had unrolled my poster and  put
heavy books on it to flatten it, and grabbed a sandwich (I  was
starving, having anticipated refreshments for which you didn't have  to
wait in line or, erm, pay). And then the real fun (or was it  torture?)
began.





Sandy:
 
I can so commiserate. This was actually my second  release party, but first 
at Borders/Waldens. Got there at 9 p.m. for the  carnival they were supposed to 
be having on the parking lot, but they didn't  even get it set up until well 
past 10, and it was so stupid. I was in costume,  but the only adult who was. 
I have plenty of body fat to cushion me, but I  couldn't sit on the floor 
because of my bad knee and back from my accident a few  years ago - can't get down 
or up. I went there anticipating having a lot of fun,  but there was none to 
be had. The only free refreshment was snow cones in one of  two flavors; 
purple or grape. Oh well, I love snow cones and love grape (but  cherry or 
raspberry would have been better). I was fortunate enough to have gone  with a friend, 
and then several people I work with showed up there, so I had  people to talk 
to. But I can still relate because I went to the HBP release  alone and had 
to totally give up trying to find someone to have an intelligent  conversation 
with. I was number 22 in the first group, so got my book quickly  and was home 
by 12:30. I went through the bag of freebies, but haven't unrolled  the 
poster yet. Like you, I ate a sandwich, and then settled in for the  long read, 
having requested Saturday off. It was very disappointing, and  there will never 
again be the opportunity to do it better (I so wanted to  go to Scholastic in 
NY, but no money).
 
Sandy



************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at 
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]