Not throwing away my shot

[rachelmanija]

I waited in line for nine hours yesterday, starting at 6:00 AM, and emerged triumphantly with Hamilton tickets... for my birthday, no less. (October 29.) I hadn't intended that, but couldn't resist when I finally got to the end of the line and saw that it was one of the available dates.

It was a surprisingly non-annoying experience. I was luckily standing with a very cool person, with whom I ended up exchanging phone numbers, a former aerialist who shared my taste for youtube videos of cute animals. We spent some time screening videos of sugar gliders, bats, hedgehogs, etc, until we realized that we were going to be in line for longer than we had thought and had to save our batteries, as we were also trying to get tickets online in case they ran out by the time we got to the head of the line.

While in line, I read Red Havoc Rebel (Red Havoc Panthers Book 2), a paranormal romance by T. S. Joyce (enjoyable but would recommend her hilariously titled and covered but actually quite good Lumberjack Werebear (Saw Bears Series Book 1) over it) and Gail Calwell's New Life, No Instructions: A Memoir (well-written and interesting memoir about having a hip replacement after having polio as a child, but I'd recommend her outstanding first memoir, Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship, about her friendship with another writer, Caroline Knapp, over it). And then my Kindle ran out of battery and that was it for reading. (I did have a backup paper book, The Other Ones by Jean Thesman, about psychic kids, but went back to chatting in line after a chapter or so.)

It soon got very hot (90 degrees) and they moved the line inside the theatre, where they had air conditioning and were playing the soundtrack. When we got inside it was at "The Election of 1800," and by the time we left the audible area it had played all the way through, stopped for a while, then begun again by popular request and was on "Guns and Ships."

I also chatted for a while with a guy who was in line for his eleven-year-old daughter. Who knows, but that might be an experience she remembers fondly for the rest of her life. I told him how I'd somewhat randomly decided to go on a school field trip to see Shakespeare at Ashland, Oregon, and it changed my life. I went in intending to be a biology major and become a veterinarian, and I left intending to be a theatre major. I've never regretted it.

I then went to Thai Town and grabbed take-out Thai food for me and Sherwood (pad se-ew (stir-fried rice noodles with dark soy, egg, and greens), rice with ground pork and dried olives, and greens with crispy pork), and for just me, sticky rice with coconut milk and fresh mango and Corvette-flavored cupcakes (rice flour cupcakes in three somewhat mysterious floral flavors, the color of a pink Corvette (probably rose), a green leaf (probably pandan) and yellow (God knows.) Then Sherwood and I saw Baahubali 2, which was amazing and epic and amazingly epic. I highly recommend it. Here's her review and here's the trailer.

Me in line, 6:00 AM.

Comments

[lydamorehouse]

Congrats on the tickets!!

[laurashapiro]

That sounds like a pretty good day, considering you spent it waiting in line. And emerged with Hamilton tickets! I'm pleased to see a photo of you where you look happy and (dare I say it) healthy. How are you feeling these days?

[rachelmanija]

Better. I'll put up a post with more details eventually. I'm just trying to decide what I want to say in public.

[laurashapiro]

Understood. I'm so glad you're doing better! \o/

[naye]

Whoo, congratulations! Not just Hamilton tickets, but Hamilton birthday tickets? Awesome. (And I'll keep cute animal videos in mind for the next time I'm stuck in a line and introvertely avoiding eye contact. Sounds like more fun than pretending not to exist!)

[lferion]

Yay tickets! What an excellent birthday present!

[monanotlisa]

Wow, nine hours: that's dedication. Glad you were properly rewarded!

[nenya_kanadka]

That sounds like a great day. Though I briefly confused TS Joyce with TS Eliot, which would be a werebear of a different colour entirely.

And actual Thai food again? Is that new? (I don't want to jinx it by asking!!!)

[rachelmanija]

Yes, that's new. ;)

April is the cruelest month... for WEREBEARS.

[mildred_of_midgard]

Do I dare disturb...a werebear? Best not, they're a bit on the tetchy side when you wake them up.

[isis]

Wow, NINE HOURS. I'm impressed. Where are you going to see it - what city?

My husband and I saw Hamilton a year ago April on our anniversary, which was an awesome way to celebrate. I hope you have an equally awesome birthday celebration in October!

[rachelmanija]

Los Angeles, where I live - I was lined up at the theatre that will show it.

[rmc28]

Oh I'm so glad you got tickets :-)

[oracne]

YAY TICKETS!!!

[mildred_of_midgard]

You are overdue for a streak of good things happening. I'm happy this one came along as you were starting to feel better. And tickets for your birthday, too! I'll be looking forward to your write-up in October.

[loligo]

It is so awesome that you got tickets and that you were able to stand in line for 9 hours to get them!

[skygiants]

There is a certain joy in waiting line for a thing with other people who are just as excited about it as you are! I always end up cherishing my Shakespeare in the Park line-sitting experiences.

Congratulations AND Totally Off Topic

[daidoji_gisei]

I'm glad you were able to get the tickets! Everyone that I know who has seen it has raved over it.

Also, I tagged you on FB in reference to an article about therapists using D&D with some of their clients. As it seems to be (to my outsider perspective) a kind of play therapy, I thought you might be interested.

[ironed_orchid]

An excellent birthday present for your future self!

[kore]

Yay, it sounds like you're doing so much better!

[rachelmanija]

I am!

[scioscribe]

Congratulations on the tickets! That's incredible and I'm sure the experience will be amazing. (And you'll have to give us all details, because I'm sure the productions get interesting changes as new cast members come in. Please dutifully observe all Hamilton/Burr interactions for me. :D)

[rachelmanija]

I will definitely post on it when I see it. And yes, I will definitely take careful note of all the Hamilton/Burr interactions. Just for you. ;)

The aerialist in line was a big Laurens fan, by the way.

[brainwane]

Congrats, glad you are doing better, and I'm planning to see Baahubali 2 this week!

[ivy]

Me too! Loved the first part -- thanks for recommending it! I am hoping to take my new roommate, who is a giant film nerd.

[karalee]

That sounds wonderful! So happy for you :)

[gaudior]

Congratulations! Hope you enjoy it lots!

[branna]

That sounds like a great day! Also, your post just made me very hungry.

[julian]

Ho, shit, I didn't even know about Caldwell's book about her friendship with Knapp. (Who died way too young.) Caldwell is damn good. Toootally going on my list.

[brigdh]

Congratulations on the ticket!

And ooh, Baahubali 2! I really need to make plans to see that before it leaves theaters. (I am possibly already too late, alas. But I will try!)

[rurounitriv.livejournal.com]

Persistence paid off! Lucky you, to not only get tickets, but get them for your birthday. Enjoy!

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

Yahoo! I was thinking about you yesterday while listening to the Ham soundtrack. Excellent synchronicity.