I finally updated What’s in a Name! And it has a luvverly new layout! I still have quite a ways to go, but I figured it was silly to wait until I finished the new sections, and just posted the revised alphabetical list. Chock-ful of Book 6 goodness!

The second half of the Mighty Fine Shindig Post!

We awoke Sunday morning to find that our tents had not only survived the night, but that the rain had stopped! Those of us that slept in the house (because I arrived early, I was able to claim one of the huge leather couches. So comfy!) We had another bountiful breakfast of Living Legend Eggs, and we shared mutual horror over the concept of Lox cream cheese.

In the trivia bee, I improved significantly from last year. Last year, I was knocked out in the first round. My question was “What does Shepherd Book say about spices?” I couldn’t remember the quote exactly, though I now know that it’s “A man can live on packaged food from now ’til Judgement Day if he has enough rosemary” (or marjoram in the shooting script). This year, I made top five in both rounds! In the first, I and two of my fellow top-fivers were knocked out with “What job has a ‘prodigious death rate’.” The answer was “terraforming crews” (Shindig). In the second, Kristin gave me a question that she said she wouldn’t have given anyone else: “What is the name of the unfilmed ’15th Episode’.” I knew it was three words long, the middle word was “or”, and the other two were opposites, but I couldn’t remember the title. I guessed “Live or Die”, and I was disgusted with myself when Kristin revealed it was “Dead or Alive.” Ah well!

Then came Charades, which were one of the highlights of last year’s Shindig. They didn’t get nearly as out-of-control as they did last year, but they were still a hoot, especially when we opened the floor to memorable events from the previous Shindig. Suze ended up acting out her own meta-Charade: “Sami is subjected to Suze and Bonnet Bob (her parents) acting out Mal and Nandi’s Love Scene in Heart of Gold.” Jason pulled off an admirable “Priscilla falls off the fence, trying to be River in Objects in Space.” Jimmy proudly continued our tradition of male spongebathers. Prizes were given out, and I won one of Suze’s lovely floral bonnets! Crazy fun for the whole family!

As the Shindig wound to a close, we took the tents down, scrambled for leftover swag (I got a movie poster and a Serenity bandana), then loaded up the cars. I managed to swing a ride with Steve. Those that wanted to stay (the vast majority of us) caravanned to the theatre. 50 tickets for Serenity, please! We privately squealed when we saw that the ticket seller’s name was “Ric”. But alas! We learned afterwards that when Courtney and Ryan were taking a smoking break, they overheard Ric discouraging theatregoers from seeing the movie! What a jerk! He is unworthy of sharing the name of the true hero of Canton. I guess the “k” makes all the difference.

After the movie, Steve gave me a ride to the R5 station, and I was able to take the train back to Philly. All in all, a mighty fine Shindig!

HOLY COW. DOLORES UMBRIDGE WORKS AT FRESH GROCER, AND HER NAME IS KATHLEEN.

I wish I’d had my camera with me, so that I could discreetly take a picture. She was maybe 5 feet tall, with short, thinning, curly, mousy-brown hair. Her back was curved. She had an enormous flap/pouch/goiter/whatever of skin on her neck (the size of her head) and her lower lip jutted out, making her look like a bullfrog. I kept expecting her to turn to me, smile, and say “Hem hem.” Totally surreal.

Two weeks of Lost reruns starting next week.

10/19 – … And Found (new!)
10/26 – Adrift (rerun)
11/2 – Orientation (rerun)
11/9 – Abandoned (new!)

Lost fans, take this opportunity to give Veronica Mars a chance! It’s on at the same time, on UPN. Season 1 just came out on DVD!

Hmph. I was gathering up a big group of Firefly virgins to see Serenity this evening, only to have them cancel on me. Teh w03. I hope The Bridge still has it next week.

I’m back from Harrisburg, and with a huge update for the tnm.n Photography Section! Haha, and my friends were wondering what I was doing on my computer while we were watching movies and such. I uploaded photos from my week in Colorado late in the summer, and the pictures I took before nearly passing out one day in East Texas.

The massive post detailling our madcap exploits will come soon. Of course, I should probably write the second half of the Shindig post before that, so it might not be tonight.