Off to See the Wizard

Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration.
-- Charles Dickens

Saturday, November 7, 1998

A few days ago I had this notion: since Jack had his daughters this weekend, we should go see "The Wizard of Oz", now being reissued to theaters. And why not include a visit to the new downtown mall, Pacific Place? So Jack and the girls stopped by my place on the return trip from Olympia, where his younger daughter H---- lives. I was surprised to see them all coming up to the door of my building when I was just locking the apartment door behind me, but Jack wanted to use the facilities and A----- was asking me if I could put her overalls in the washer and dryer! She was only half-kidding -- she had spilled some soda on herself, but it would have taken too long to wash and dry her outfit, so she tied her sweatshirt around her waist.

It was a cool, breezy day. We found parking in a lot not far from Pacific Place, next to a building where Jack has had some contract assignments in the past. I think he gets away without paying for parking there sometimes, but it was too busy downtown to risk it today.

The new mall is rather impressive! A large central atrium with skylight is surrounded by four levels of stores, with the movie theater and restaurants on the top level. There are at least a few stores that aren't found in every mall in the land, like Tiffany's and Restoration Hardware. Jack gave each girl some spending money, and we sent them off for half an hour. This was by way of being a test; he'd have no qualms sending them off on their own at Bellevue Square, but that mall isn't so busy, and he's been there before.

I was hungry, so I got in line at Il Fornaio (means "the Bakery") in the center of the atrium, while Jack grabbed a table and pulled out the book he was reading. The place was jammed! The line moved fairly smoothly, though, for a place that's only been open for a week, and soon enough I got a machiatto for Jack, a grilled ham-and-cheese croissant and mocha for me. By this time the girls were back; it turned out that they really didn't want to cruise the mall together. Too big of an age difference? (14 and 11) or just different shopping styles. So A---- took off on her own and H--- went with Jack and me.

Jack had never been to Brookstone's, a cool gadget store (better than The Sharper Image, I think!) which I remember from growing up. They place a big emphasis on choosing the "best of breed" in each category of tool they stock. Jack enjoyed the massage chair!

There was some toy store that H---- wanted to go to. She thought it was on the third level, but she didn't remember the name of the place! We didn't see anything likely on that level, so we went up to the highest floor to "The Store of Knowledge." This was a quite large store filled with educational and cool stuff for adults and children. We cruised from one end to the other. I was tempted by the Stomp Out Loud video, but I think my nephews might already have it. H---- finally settled on a pack of cards that she could do magic tricks with. I hadn't recalled that the magic tricks she had bought the first time we met had been lost that very day, while Jack and the girls were actually at the parade!

We met A----- in front of the movie theater and went inside. The girls played some video games while Jack and I looked out the large window at the back of the lobby. Most of the auditoriums were up yet another level, accessed by criss-crossing escalators. in the middle of the open space was a small "hut" structure, on wooden posts. We went to get our seats and A---- lagged behind, talking on the pay phone. I was a bit startled when Jack pulled his book out while I was talking to H---- before the movie started! But the lights dimmed and the show began before I had to say something about it. Since we hadn't gone and forced A---- to join us, she still hadn't turned up when the lights went down. She couldn't find us when she came in a few minutes later. She did hear Jack's phone start beeping in the middle, though, and came and sat by us then. (The shame of disturbing the audience with a beeping phone! yikes!)

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I love "The Wizard of Oz"! My sister said it's not like a movie, it's more like a prayer or ritual for those of us who grew up on yearly viewings. The power of Dorothy/Judy longing for her home and family doesn't really affect children as much as it does us "grownups."

I think I have it on laserdisc twice! Once in a regular edition, and once in the special format that lets you go frame by frame, with special audio tracks where they give you background information on the production and effects. I think it even has the script, with notes on what changed between various drafts, and stills of costume tests. Thank heavens they wised up and didn't make Judy Garland wear a blonde wig!

This new release is well worth seeing. Movies do have a different effect with crowd reaction! And the large screen really brings out the details. I saw details of Glinda's costume that I never noticed before.

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Afterwards we were ready for dinner. We decided to go to a favorite U-district Indian restaurant of theirs, the Shalimar. Jack has good parking karma in that neighborhood! He found a place right in front of the restaurant. The food is good there; they have difficulty believing it when Jack asks for his food to be "extra hot," but he really does like that, and eats it right up.

Jack wanted to make sure the girls had enjoyed the day, and part of that seemed to mean giving them plenty of opportunity to spend the money he'd given them earlier (twenty dollars for each). So we walked up the street to a used record store, where I bought three used jazz CDs, and Jack bought several anime videos. The girls still didn't spend their money, though! So I suggested we go to Wizards of the Coast, a few blocks away, where Jack and I had gone a few weeks ago. A place like that is a black hole for money; I was sure they'd have fun there and get that money spent.

We played tank shoot-em-ups, motorcycle and car races, and pinball. H--- saved ten dollars, so she bought a starter pack of Magic cards. So I think all that money got spent.

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Jack dropped me off at my home, and I went on to Vanguard, a monthly gathering of science fiction folks, at Frank and Molly's place. The last time I was there was the day after Jason broke up with me! One thing about having an online journal: you know when things happened.

Molly was asking everyone to take a look at the special paint job she and Frank had done to their study. The walls are covered with purple flames. Very impressive! Andy Hooper, Jerry Kaufman and I discussed Timebinders topics (a fanhistory mailing list we've been on for a while). Orycon and who would be there was generally discussed. Janice Murray said she might have an extra membership for Jack, which would relieve my mind -- they might sell out before I get his bought next Friday! And even better, she offered to come pick me up at the train station Friday morning!