Seventeen and counting!

December 16, 2003

As I’m sure so many of you are interested in, the other day I went to McMenamins #17! Yes, I was so recently at #16, but it got upped to 17 as I drove down Macadam in Portland, saw the McMenamins I was going to head to next–the Fulton Pub–and I realized that I went there with my Dad a loooong time ago. I knew there was a McMenamins in that area and I always noticed the “Terminator Stout” neon sign in the window, but I guess it just never really registered that the McMenamins I always saw was a McMenamins. I swear, it’s like missing the forest through the trees. Or is it the other way around? Blast. And yes, I realize that there are better and cheaper hobbies. Save for the trip to Lincoln City last summer, I’m not going out of my way to go to any of them…yet. That may change. I thought I would go out of my way to drive over to the Fulton Pub, but having both seen exactly where it was and that I’ve been there before, I feel a little better about going there in the future. I thought I’d have to go all the way up to Northeast Portland to get Nebraska Bitter at the source.

The next few days should be nice. Today I’m headed back downtown to eventually meet up with my sister to do some Christmas shopping. Mostly browsing for me, shopping for her. Things are obviously tight this year for me, so I think my family will understand if I’m not buying them Playstations or 40″ flat panel plasma displays. Tomorrow is the big Return of the King day with my Dad. I could have bought tickets for the “Ring-a-thon” over the the Lloyd Center cinemas, but I had several reasons for not. While I recognize the allure is watching both the extended versions of the first two films on the big screen before watching the premiere of the final chapter at 12:01 AM, I had some issues. First of all, I can’t stand the Lloyd Center cinemas. Well, it’s not that I DISlike them, but there’s nothing special about them. Secondly, they on’t let you bring in any outside food or drink, and I can’t imagine that they would sell much more than the usual popcorn and soda concessions. Yum, popcorn and soda for ten hours. They don’t even let you leave the theater, either, so you can’t leave, get food, and come back. Lastly, spending however long it takes cramped up with another 400 geeks isn’t something I’d like to say that I’ve done. Hygene becomes an issue with some geeks after only a few minutes spent with them, so I can’t imagine getting stuck next to one of the guys who decided NOT to use Dial and Right Guard that day.

Now, that being said, the only circumstance in which I would have agreed to watch all three films on the big screen in a row–and I probably mentioned this before–is if it were playing at the Baghdad Theater. Now, the fact that it’s a McMenamins theater actually has very little to do with it. I’d like to see them there because A) It’s a huge theater, seating almost 700 people including the balcony, B) there’s a restaurant on the premises so I could eat real food, and C) I could take beer in. My issue with the hygene of others can be avoided with enough seating and enough beer and garlic, methinks.

But it’s a moot point since I’m not going anyhow. At 10:20 AM tomorrow morning, though, my Dad and I will watch the last chapter. Only fitting since we saw the first two together on opening day, as well. I’ve already promised my friend Emily that we’d go see it while she’s home for Christmas break since I dragged her to the first film and practically had to hold her back to see the second one. Naturally my sister and my mother want to see it, too, but I’m hoping that the three of us can go together and not separately. I could easily take four showings of the other films, but ROTK is longer than the other two by 30 minutes or so. I guess I’ll just have to see how it shapes up. Of course, if the film is REALLY cool that I may want to see it four times anyway. Yes yes, I know I’m a geek. I’m a recovering geek in many ways, but my inner geekiness still shines through on occasions. Tomorrow is one of said occasions. I can’t believe it’s been two years since the first chapter and I walked out and said “only two more years to go!” Now that time is here. How time flies. A lot has happened in two years….

Thanks for the clarification of the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song, Barbara. I have also heard that it’s a mneumonic device, as well, but I’ve usually read that it’s an urban legend, like the candy cane being representative of the purity and blood of Christ (white/red). For those who are interested you may want to check out the list of Christmas urban legends at my favorite urban legends website, Snopes.com. Naturally all of their findings are based on their own and others’ research, but I’ve always found that they do a spectacular job of researching, and I have no reason to doubt them.

That’s about all I have to say for now. I’m getting ready to head downtown for awhile, and then after that I’m headed back over to my Dad’s house since we have to get such an early start in the morning to get to the theater. I bought the tickets yesterday through Fandango.com and their fantastic online ticket ordering system, and I made sure to buy myself a regular-priced ticket and my father a senior ticket. Hey, it’s $0.50 cheaper! But I just wanted to revel in the fact that my father is old enough to buy senior tickets. The cut off limit is 60, but he’s a mere twelve days away from that date. Today is the first day of Ken-mas, now that I think about it! On the first day of Ken-mas, my father gave to me: a lesson in geometry. I dunno, I’m reaching.

OK, I’m off for the day. I’m quite certain I’ll be writing tomorrow, though, after the movie. Have a good day all.

Posted in Beer, Geekery, General