Twilight Madness!

I loved reading books when I was a kid, but as an adult I’ve drifted away from reading any type of book. I even tried to start a book club so that it would force me to read a book. It didn’t go to well. I not only didn’t buy the book, but I was too busy to even think about reading (it’s been a long month) and therefore did not attend.

However, in 2009 when my sister, Germaine told me about a this “amazing” love story, I decided to give it a try. After reading the first few pages I was hooked! The love story was romantic and dreamy. The characters were interesting and the movie, had just come out. Twilight madness had just started and I was into it.

Twilight (2008): I didn’t see the movie in theaters. I had recently gotten married a couple of weeks before and was in a whirlwind of my own.  However I did get the DVD immediately after reading the book. I was truly hooked when I saw the actor chosen to play Edward. He wasn’t my type, but that’s what what made reading about him even more fun. He was dreamy and a part of my new fantasy!

New Moon (2009): Nordstrom was offering a unique ticket opportunity if you visited one of their locations in the Los Angeles area on a specific day and purchased $50 or more of the Nordstrom fashion and/or jewelry collection in partnership with Summit Entertainment you will receive a ticket for an advance screening of Twilight Saga: New Moon at 9 pm. Therefore I spent $100 and got 2 tickets. I somehow convinced hubby to attend with me. It was really fun!

A few days before the movie I read online that the New Moon premier was taking place in downtown LA. Really excited I decided I wanted to go! Hubby wasn’t interested and being new to the area I didn’t have many friends, nor did I know anyone who liked Twilight as much as me. While working one day, a few of the girls mentioned how much they liked Twilight too. With 2 new friends in my car, we drove to LA for the big premier. It was complete madness! We got there “on time” yet we were 5 deep!! Between the screaming fans and the photographers trying to get the actors attention, it felt like a screaming match. Fans held posters and Twilight merchandise in the hopes of getting a signature. The light from the flash was constant and we were being pushed around like we were in a moshpit. It was mayhem!! But I loved it! I went home that night even more in love with the Twilight Saga!

Eclipse (2010): Nordstrom was once again offering their special. This time my sister, Germaine flew in from Florida to join me. Since I had so much fun at the New Moon premiere we decided to take our chances and attend. This time it was at the Staples Center. We got their early in the morning and waited in the heat and later the cold night. It was crazy, but we had a blast!! News stations were getting set up and ready for interviews.It was getting really warm so I went back to my car to look for something to help us keep cool. All I found was this tiny umbrella.The staff came around and passed out Vitamin Water to all the fans. The black carpet was all set and the actors were starting to come in. Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen Kellan Lutz as Emmet Cullen Bryce Dallas Howard as VictoriaJulia Jones at Leah ClearwaterBooboo Stewart as SethA few of the wolvesPeter Fachenili as Dr. Carlisle CullenThe author, Stephanie MeyersAnd last but not least, Mr. Robert Pattison as Edward Cullen Later that week G and I attended an advanced screening put on by Nordstrom. We went to the theater early and hung out with our peeps. I got to try on some Twilight inspired gloss.  Posing with our favorite vampire, Edward Cullen.Ready for the movie.

The movie was amazing as we had imagined! They a few days later G found out that the actors will be visiting certain theaters to surprise fans. With a little research, a credit card and some Israeli luck we sat in the theater that Rob and Kristen walked into!!! It was exciting and amazing! A hundred screaming fans yelled in shock and took pictures of this amazing moment. They where so close to where we sat yet so far away! It was great moment that I will remember forever.

Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011): This time my sister won 2 passes for an advanced screening at the Grove. Since we purchased tickets for the midnight premier before we knew we had won an advance screening, we saw it for a 2nd time. This time with an 8 month old baby I knew things would be different. For one, I am no longer just a TwiFan I was now a TwiMom! But after some rearranging of schedules and plans put in to place I once again attend a Twilight premier. This time we where really equipped! For one we knew which side of the fence to be close to, we had a better understanding on dressing in layers and what snacks to bring. We once again had a really good time! One highlight was when Peter Facinelli grabbed my face and gave me a kiss of the cheek. We took some pictures with the cast and even met one of the lead actors (too bad it wasn’t who we really wanted to see) Here are some pictures of our adventures!

Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012): For the final movie my sister flew in once again for the premier. This time we had a master plan! I would wait in line to pick up our bracelets that might or might not get us a glimpse of the actors in the movie. It took me 2 hours in bumper to bumper traffic to arrive to downtown LA. While I waited in line for 3.5 hours just to receive my bracelet (they would not let me pick up my sisters), my cold got worse!  Finally, after 5.5 hours of “working”, I drove to the airport to pick up my sister just to turn around and drive back again to downtown LA so that my sister could pick up her bracelet (which took less than 2 minutes). Beyond hungry and exhausted we headed home for much needed sleep!

90% of the fans who received a bracelet slept in tents outside on the street under a tent that Twilight fans nicknamed TentCity. If I was not sick, a mom and a wife I would totally consider the big slumber party. So instead we read our Twitter feeds and Facebook statuses to get all the updates on TentCity.

We headed over on Sunday to join the fun. We walked in and received a free breakfast from Corner Bakery (bagel, cream cheese and Odwalla OJ). Later on that morning, Time Warner ambassadors came in with freebies (Twilight calendar and t-shirts inside a reusable bag). We left a short while after and headed home.

I found a post on Twitter with our assigned time to line up. We waited in line from 12:30 to 3:30 so that we could be placed in our assigned location. After waiting around while everyone got their spot and press set up, the actors started walking the black carpet.

We saw a ton of actors up close and personal, but the most surreal moment was when Robert Pattison came up to my sister, held her hands and whispered, “It’s okay” as tears of happiness flowed down her cheeks! Below are some of the pictures I TOOK WITHOUT ZOOM!!

I’m hoping to see the final movie on Sunday with my mama friends. I know it will be great! I feel a bit weird not to have gone to the midnight premiere last night, but between the tickets selling out so quickly and frankly no one to go with (my sister moved back to FL this past summer) I’m quite content with the outcome. I’m happy that I don’t have to wait in any more lines and will just walk up to the theater with a ticket in hand to watch Rob on the big screen one more time as Edward beside my TwiMoms.

UPDATE: I saw the movie today and it was epic! I didn’t have time to post this entry before the movie, but it doesn’t matter now. Glad I went during the day (when I was not sleepy) and glad I got to go with my mama friends, because really that is what I am now, a mom!