Trip to Forks Day 10: Stephenie Meyer is here!

Friday 13 September 13. Scary day? Not so much here. Cloudy all day, good weather for our vampires to be out and about. Started off with walk to Tillicum Park to check in and get breakfast for Forever in Forks group. 

It was heavy misting or light rain for most of the walk. Not unpleasant, didn't get soaked at all, just a little wet. I was one of last ones and good thing walked as no parking available. There wasn't enough seating available either. Met and chatted with a few ladies, in line and at table. The good bag was fun - drawstring backpack style with Bella's engagement ring, TWS inspired soap sample, FiF landyard, sunglasses, slap wrist bracelet, FiF button, Twilight postcard, instructions for scavenger hunt and a hard back book, The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa. 

The rain stopped before got to the park and hadn't started up again so dry walk back to motel. I stopped at the Chinook Pharmacy and General Store to look around more than did the other day. Interesting place. Fabric, toys, over the counter meds, gifts/souvenirs - sort of felt like back in Old West general store. 

Then to First Beach and picnic lunch with Olympic coven. 

Looks a little different from two days ago with thick fog couldn't see the islands at all. They are much closer than thought they would be from pictures of the area. 

The Olympic Coven was delayed getting there because Stephenie Meyer came to town more or less unannounced. She was at the Chamber of Commerce/Visitor info signing and meeting the Olympic Coven. Lunch was good, more meeting and chatting with different folks. Stephenie came to our area but stayed away from the lunch site...word got around. Didn't have a chance to talk with her, but did see her and cried about it. I don't know who the other lady is.

She said that she would be back. She had to go meet with Mayor and open SM Day. Apparently she hadn't been here for several years for this yearly event. We were richly blessed. I ended up leaving for a break since no specific time for bon fire and S'mores. Didn't make it back to First beach for the bon fire and SM visit for variety of reasons. 

Went to the Roundhouse for the music fest for a few minutes. Talked with the Hindi Sisters from The Hillywood Show. Then to the FiF fan fiction discussion. Interesting discussion about stories never heard of and from sounds of won't likely read - sounds like most would be M rated. Back to Roundhouse to see the end of Eclipse parody and then the two Breaking Dawn ones. Hilly and Hannah answered questions after that. Getting tired and had to update this, so I left after a couple of questions. Heard that SM was suppose to show up at the Roundhouse, don't know if she did or not. The Hindi Sisters met SM for the first time during their meet and greet at Sully's Burgers. 

Tomorrow is visit to Hoh Rainforest - aka Bella's First Hunt trip. So off to bed for me. 

Forks Trip Planning Update 1

One month to wait for Stephenie Meyer Days (SMDs) in Forks Washington! Making my lists and checking them twice or more.

Recently found out there are actually two local Forks organizations that put on different aspects of SMDs, so a total of three organizations. It was something of a shock to see The Hillywood Show announcement and check things out and discovered a different schedule. Exchanged some emails with SMD and got things cleared up. The names are similar and wondered if a site got hijacked or something. Neither Twilight Lexicon nor Forever in Forks had mentioned the other organization and events. [Wonder if some bad feelings between the groups. Seen that among our local science fiction community.]

There is the Forever in Forks (FiF) group, web site:  http://www.foreverinforks.com/  . They are the group that plans an annual event in different places. This year they are working with Stephenie Meyer Day to coordinate various activities over the weekend. Last year it was in LA in conjunction with the BD2 movie premier. They pick places associated with the Saga in some way. They do a poll to see what the people’s preferences are. By the time I found out it was decided in Forks Washington for SMD. Last month they had a poll up with location and weekend choices for next year. You pay for a ticket to all of their events or just the big party night. At least for this time there are a few meals included in the price. I decided to do the whole thing for a variety of reasons. The price actually seems reasonable for all that you are getting, better deal than the special gold packages CreationCon usually has at least in my opinion. The movie viewing is the only thing I’m not really interested in. At the party there is an auction and raffle to raise money for a charity, this year it is Stand Up 2 Cancer. They recently announced that there will be an acoustic concert from some of the artists on the soundtracks and one of the actors, Cider Sky, Iko and Tinsel Korey. They are asking for donations to the auction and raffle. I’m thinking about donating a couple of items. I am trying to downsize my collectibles. That night I will really need to keep that in mind.

There is the Stephenie Meyer Day (SMD), web site: http://stepheniemeyerday.com .  This year they are working with the FiF group and coordinating events. This group offers a more immersive experience into the Saga world. To help with that they work with a group of actors to recreate the main characters, The Olympic Coven. Most of the events are free; actually so far the only ones that cost money involve meals and the prom. I’ve already volunteered to help them during the events on Thursday and Friday. It will be nice to have something to do at the prom since I don’t dance. Volunteering will also be a way to really meet people. I told them of my local science fiction experience volunteering and that my job is customer service and cashiering. The volunteer supervisor mentioned having buttons for us – chaperon for the prom. That got me thinking of doing a Mrs Cope costume, old enough and might be kind of fun. I may get a chance to flirt with Edward as a bonus, all in keeping with the characters of course. I will need a bad red wig and need to read Bella’s initial description and see if I have the appropriate clothes. Staci, the lead organizer, has been very patient in answering my questions and explaining things and offering help to make sure I have a good time. I’m looking forward to meeting her. Maybe we will have a chance to sit and talk about our differing experiences in running events.

The third group is Stephenie Meyer Days 2013 (SMD13), web site: http://www.stepheniemeyerdays21013.com  Their mission is to provide events honoring Stephenie Meyer and spotlight local businesses. With the similar names, hopefully a little understandable how one might think something funny with one or the other. The events are more like what I think of as street fair happenings. There are some duplication of events, costume contests and they have at least their own Alice and Bella for photo ops. The Hillywood Show ladies will be their guest. I am looking forward to seeing the Hindi ladies again. There are some other fun events that I may have a hard time juggling time between all the happenings.

The Hillywood Show web site: http://www.thehillywoodshow.com     

The Olympic Coven portion of SMD: http://stepheniemeyerday.com/#!/?page_id=2 

The next thing to talk about is The Forks Motel, http://forksmotel.com  They are the official motel for the FiF group. I called in early July and all the rooms were reserved already, not surprising. The gentleman that I spoke with took my name and number and requirements for their waiting list. I didn’t really expect I’d get a call, figured there were a fair number already on the list. Then out of blue there was a message left for me from Sherry – a reservation had been cancelled for a three queen bed with full kitchen. The price was only $10 more a night than the reservation I had in Port Angeles and it was in Forks and worth it. We chatted a bit and mentioned didn’t have confirmed roommates and likely only one, but three beds and kitchen would be useful. Two days later Sherry called again…there was a two queen beds room available at a big savings over the suite. WOW. I am really impressed at the service level. There was additional savings. I really need to send them a San Francisco gift, maybe some sourdough bread or Ghirardelli chocolate.

This past Saturday I heard back from both of my possible travel companions and neither can come. Good thing the room was changed from three beds to two. I’m kind of sad that I won’t have a traveling companion. Neither one being able to come was not a total surprise as I had begun to think this whole trip is something that I’m suppose to do alone – something of a quest or walkabout, to walk by faith with practical preparation done ahead of time. I am trying to keep myself open to possibilities. I am at peace with this so far, so I must be walking the path the Lord intends. I do not intend to share much more of this personal aspect of the trip. I have a written journal for that. I plan on posting to this blog on a daily basis once the trip starts. Those postings will be to share in the adventure part of the trip, pictures, places stop, other exciting things. I need to try out posting pictures. I am thinking of a Flickr account to download all the photo’s each day and post the better ones here. Check back for update and link for that if decide to go that route. Three weeks and counting for this wonderful trip to begin.

Information about The Hillywood Show

The Hillywood Show is the creation of two sisters, Hilly and Hannah Hindi, using one camera for their parodies and sketches.  They do most of the makeup and costumes along with script writing, directing and filming.  They have done parodies of all the Twilight movies, one or two Harry Potter ones, a Dark Knight, Runaways, and The Vampire Diaries.   They have over a dozen Hillywood Show episodes with characters like Jack Sparrow, Sweeny Todd, Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice.  There are several holiday themed parodies - Christmas and Hillyween.

Fan donations are greatly appreciated.  They have received funds from the Abby Weyr Support Starving Artists Foundation.  There are some DVD, T-Shirts that are sold as well.  And they are well worth the price.  They put on a great show.  Their actors closely resemble the movie and TV shows actors.  They are both dancers, so most all of the parodies are musicals with great group dances.  The Twilight movie parodies hit all the major points of the movies, so spend about 10 minutes watching the parodies is a good quick review.  

I had the pleasure of seeing them the first time at a Twilight CreationCon in Sacramento, September 2010.  That was the last time the full crew of five attended a con in our area, and close to last one ever.  The crew played Bella, Edward, Alice, Jasper and Jacob.  For the con, they would do little sketches as a way to introduce the next actor.  It was great!  To me that was the show and made it worth while to attend.  I had a chance to talk with them.  Sweetest young ladies ever.  Their mother helps at the table and is a really nice lady.  She looks more like an older sister than their mother and the sisters look like twins.  I saw them one more time at another Twilight CreationCon in our area, it was just the ladies, no more little intro sketches.  Sad.

So go over to the web site link page and click on The Hillywood Show and discover the fun for yourself.  Their most recent one is on Harry Potter, Deathly Hallows part 2.  Enjoy!