Harry Potter: What to do?

[tarotgal]

So I found out yesterday that for certain I will be in town on release date. Today on my way home from the Metro (went to a training today for work) I stopped by Borders and reserved the book.

I have been torn, not sure whether to order it online from Amazon.com (even with that $5 gift coupon, shipping would raise the price) or whether to try the store experience again. Last time I ended up waiting hours for the book... but being stuck waiting hours in a bookstore? Um, not so bad :-) Sitting at home after midnight not being able to read the book until the delivery comes at who knows what time? Um, that's bad. So I finally decided to go with the store option again.

They're having another big event (duh). The theme is: Grand Hallows Ball. Yes. A HP party with a theme. They have "Snape, good or evil?" signs up all over the store already, and apparently (among many other things) there will be a "Great Snape Debate". Sitting around for hours listening to people talk about Snape and Harry Potter characters? Why in the world WOULDN'T I want that? Why was I hesitating? Okay, so I won't be able to do anything in the Potter Spelling Bee (I can't spell normal words, let alone magical ones). And I won't be dressing up in ball attire (what would that be, anyway? do I need to start shopping for a pink dress?) but a Snape Debate? Hell yes I'm there!!! I might even just get a bite to eat on my way home from work and go straight over there with my laptop and hang out all evening so I'll be sure not to miss the festivities. After all, this is the last book! *cries*

On a similar note, I still haven't ordered those darn Hogwarts/Hufflepuff patches from Alivans. But as I was looking at the site today, I noticed they have a ton of new products including banners for each house, pimp canes, a Platform 9 3/4 sign, a Hogwarts scarf, a WEASLEY CLOCK!, and... a Marauder's Map Banner! Yes, that's right! A Map Banner honoring Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot & Prongs! Can you GUESS how long it will take me to buy one of those? SQUEE!!!

Comments

[brigidmn.livejournal.com]

I'm lucky with the release date I think. The used bookstore that I frequent is having a midnight thing, but it won't be super crowded, which is awesome. My books are reserved (sis is in Yellowstone, so reserved one for her and I'll ship that out to her). The advantage to the smaller store (and the small town...thank god the release is in the summer when there's not a lot of college students...I swear my town double in size at least during the school year as there's 2 unis and a tech college) is that they hand out tickets for getting the book, plus there's a raffle :). Last year, I won a mobile which rocked.
I'm so excited...already know what I'm going to wear (well, I don't own that much HP stuff)...Property of Azkaban Prison Hoodie even though it's July and Maroon and Gold pants that I got at Target last year.
OMG I can't wait.

[tarotgal]

Oh, that's awesome!! Sounds like the perfect arrangement. I hope you have a good time at the party! Awww, I'm envious of you for that hoodie- it'll be nighttime, right, so maybe it won't be too hot?

[ladykorana.livejournal.com]

For book 6, I didn't pre-order it. I just walked into the closest Meijer 24-hr store and grabbed a book off the pile shortly after midnight. Nowhere near as fun as the party at Barnes & Noble I went to for book 4 (still have my plastic HP glasses from that!), but a lot faster, that's for sure. All the Wal-Marts seemed to have plenty as well.

I'm not planning on pre-ordering book 7 either. Pretty much all the stores around here had stacks available for days after the release. I even found a small stack of HP books in the nearby hardware store! So I'm definitely not worried about finding a copy, just about avoiding spoilers until I'm done reading it. :) The Snape debate sounds like a blast though!

And let me see...I'm wagering you've already put that Marauder's Map banner in your shopping cart at least once by now, if not purchased it altogether. *G* Finding new fannish merchandise is such a thrill. I should know...I've got my eye on a sterling silver 20-inch necklace and the pendant happens to be a certain key to a certain chest that holds the heart of my sexy blacksmith-turned-Smokin' hot Captain. I doubt my willpower will last very long either! And this on the heels of the pink Nintendo DS Lite I bought last month (along with Puzzle Quest and the POTC3 game), or the 30 gig iPod I bought 2 days ago. Bad Kora! ;)

[tarotgal]

And let me see...I'm wagering you've already put that Marauder's Map banner in your shopping cart at least once by now, if not purchased it altogether. *G*
I actually thought I might hold off just a few more days in case they have a July sale. But no matter how long I wait, the moment after I buy it is when everything will go on sale. LOL
Also... I'm sort of torn. I went to Hottopic.com last night and they have the very same map... in pillow form. Hmm. Pillow or banner? The banner is closer to a piece of parchment... but I have so many posters and things on my walls already, and I adore pillows. Plus I could have my Remus & Sirius stuffed animals sitting by the pillow on my couch. But I'd have to be more careful with it, make sure the cats don't get at it (Benji likes to jump onto my couch and knead into my soft pillows). Plus the pillow is more expensive and the banner is more versatile. Gah. I don't know!

Sadly, I don't have a 24-hour Walmart nearby any more. My boyfriend did that for book 5 when it came out (I ordered mine on Amazon.com). The only 24-hour anything we have around here is the grocery store. But I kind of want to go to the party just because I'm a fangirl and this is the last book. I can always sit around and read/write while I'm waiting. Last time I read Buffy books and yaoi anime in the store while waiting. heehee

As for spoilers... I'm definitely not going to be checking e-mail or watching tv or anything until I'm done reading. I'm soooo excited about getting the book but so sad that the series is over! I almost don't want to read it! (My sister refuses to read the end of HBP because she knows Dumbledore's fate and doesn't want to read that. LOL I can't imagine how/if she'll handle this book!)