Life's Pleasant Surprises

[rachelmanija]

Yesterday I went to TCM Chinese (Graumann's Chinese) to see Free Solo, the spectacular documentary about climber Alex Honnold's free solo of El Capitan in Yosemite, and was delighted to discover after the movie that he was there to talk about it! I will review the movie later, but wanted to post this photo separately so my hair doesn't distract from discussion about the film. ;)



Afterward, while trying to find the parking garage, I came across a gallery housing this is MANGA – the Art of NAOKI URASAWA. It's free and very impressive - check it out if you're in LA and it's of interest.

Comments

[cadenzamuse]

That is so cool! Is he about the same in person as he comes across in climbing films?

[rachelmanija]

Yes. ;) I would have loved to spend more time with him, but an entire boys' school had been shipped in for the screening and they were going absolutely berserk with excitement. Me and another woman waited with his National Geographic escort while Alex Honnold organized about two hundred twelve-year-olds to take mass selfies with him.

Both me and the other woman simultaneously said something like, "Maybe he's had enough..." and the National Geographic guy said, "Alex has embraced his role in promoting the film the same way he approaches everything he does, with genuine enthusiasm." So we stuck around until the boys were dragged away by their teachers. The woman had a friendly Pomeranian puppy, and she now has a photo of Alex Honnold cuddling it. And I have this.

[cadenzamuse]

Aww, I have heart-eyes.

[rydra_wong]

while Alex Honnold organized about two hundred twelve-year-olds to take mass selfies with him.

I am in awe and terror of this achievement. Particularly from someone who used to be terrified of talking to people at all.

[rachelmanija]

It was very impressive! Especially since the reason he was doing it was that their teachers were getting completely ignored and they were mobbing him.

I do think the Pomeranian puppy was soothing after that.

[marjorie1170]

Wow! I look forward to the review, too.

[naye]

Fantastic! I'm so glad you got to meet him!

[oracne]

Great pic!

[wpadmirer]

The movie is really good. Scary, but good.

[sartorias]

That hair really is beautiful!

[rachelmanija]

Thank you!

[asakiyume]

Coolio!

[cyphomandra]

Great photo!!

The Urasawa exhibition sounds amazing - and it looks like he did a talk as well? I’m not sure my nerves can handle the film but I’ve enjoyed reading articles about Alex.

[rachelmanija]

Yes. I only heard about the talk today though, dammit.

The film is not that stressful if you go in knowing he survived. It's more suspenseful than terrifying.

[kore]

OMG wow!

[scioscribe]

Aww, that's awesome! I hope he was suitably impressed by your hair. (I'm sure he was.)

[pameladean]

Oh, that's so great. And how splendid that you had just oil-slicked your hair. That's just perfect.

P.

[melebeth]

I love your hair SO MUCH

[minoanmiss]

That *is* a pleasant surprise and a great picture!
[dumb Star Wars joke deleted by the Posting Fairies]

[davidgillon]

Free-climbing El Capitan? Um, rather him than me!

And I think your hair looks even better given the space to see it at sort of IRL distances.

[cofax7]

Brava! I still haven't managed to see that. Maybe this weekend, since it's snowing too hard to go skiing.