OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!

OH MY GOD!!!

Today they had a Episode III ROTS Spectacular with Stars Wars Producer, Rick McCallum. We figured we wouldn't get in because they had it on the schedule for only two shows early in the morning. So, we slept in & took it easy.

About 10:00 am we wondered over to the Convention Center & looked around; saw more cool stuff, like a Luke (or Han, couldn't tell) riding a TaunTaun. Cheryl thinks it was Han,figures.)

Anyway, we wondered into a line and asked what it was for. It was for the "Spectacular". Due to an overwhelming response Rick extended his presentation for all afternoon. Once we got in line it quickly moved to a holding area where we sat a talked to some more nice people from Cinncinnati & Columbus. We only waited for 45 minutes before we got in, which was great considering the people we sat in line with waited since 8:30 this morning.

Once inside they quickly sat everyone, about 2,500. Then, Rick came out & showed us some clips from Episode III that NO ONE has seen!!! (They we extremely strict about all cameras & recording devices.) They showed it on a digital project & it was SPECTACULAR!! Even the sound was the BEST I had ever heard in my life!! You even felt the bass though your body.

Oh My God!! This is the film that ALL OF US (& I don't mean just US at the convention) has been waiting for. It's so wonderfully dark & dramatic, & oh, course, they've out done themselves once again.

They also showed a BEIND THE SCENE type of montage as well, & that was incredible too.

Then Rick answered some questions from the audience. But, by the end of our hour they showed the first segment once again.

IT'S GOING TO BLOW EVERYONE AWAY!!!!!!!!

Opening Cerimonies

Opening Cerimonies
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

Part of the 5,000 people who witnessed the OC.

SWIII Celebration

SWIII Celebration
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

Jazz Band plays for the Opening

Jazz Band plays for the Opening
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

A college Jazz Band from Southern California plays Jazz, Salsa & Swing Star Wars tunes.

Here we go!

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Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

Cheryl waiting with the Gang from Dallas

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Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

Waiting in Line (again) for the Opening Cerimonies

Waiting in Line (again) for the Opening Cerimonies
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

Got in line at around 4:30 pm & doors didn't open until 7:00 pm.

So, at around 4:30 pm on Thursday evening we got in line for the 8:30 PM opening ceremonies. Cheryl's friend called us & was saving a spot farther up front. I left the convention to return our bounty to the hotel & went to pick up dinner for everyone. The line to get into the ceremony was even longer when I got back. (Lines were everywhere, worse than Disneyland.)

We were all waiting for the Official Opening Cerimonies, which was hosted by the Vice-President of Lucas Films, & Mr. Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok). The doors finaly opened just after 8:00 pm. It took almost an hour to get 5,000 people in the huge exhibit hall.

But, it was worth the wait. A jazz band was playing jazzy versions of Star Wars themes. Then shortly after Storm Troopers stormed the stage, Darth Vader entered (voiced by James Earl Jones.)

There were a lot of speeches but, they had a lot of cool presentations. There was a Walk of Star Wars Luminaries, which included stars as Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, & a ton of people that you (well me anyway) would never know outside of their costumes.

Some musical numbers, the One-Man Show, & even an incredble Light saber fight sequence.

Then, there were video greetings from Sam Jackson, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Lee and Ian McDermott with Hayden Christensen.

But, the coolest things were the previewed an upcoming DVD featuring John Williams music edited with scenes from the enitre 6 movies, tying the all together.

It ended with a Big Bang with Confetti flying everywhere.

...and this was just the end of the first day.

The Fetts

The Fetts
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

Boba & Jango.

(FYI, never give your kids a gun. Especially, a laser gun.)

Great Costumes were everywhere.

Cheryl Closing the Deal

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Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

She got 88 Cards for her collection for under 20 buck$. She was very happy!!

Stunt Man Extrordinaire!

Stunt Man Extrordinaire!
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

Nick Gillard, here taking pictures with some fans in the Star Wars Fan Club Lounge.

He taught all of the Jedi & Sith how to fight.

Captured by Leia

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Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

Ohhhhh, Yeah.

(Who's the geek with the gun?)

Han & Leia

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Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

These guys were surrounded by photogs everywhere they went.

Sand People Mother & Child

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Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

The One-Man Star Wars Trilogy Show

The One-Man Star Wars Trilogy Show
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

Initially, I wasn't eager to see this, but with all the lines sooooooo long & kinda stumble in.

To my surprise it was fantastic. This guy is great! He's sooooo funny.

His name is Charlie Ross. He acts out each of the original movies, playing all the parts. If you ever get a chance go see him.

Two Thumbs UP!!

The "M"-pire

The "M"-pire
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

Light & Dark (chocolate) battle to see who rules to "M&M"-pire.

The Spanish Outpost

The Spanish Outpost
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

These guys were cool. The came here from Spain.

Vincente Estrelles Gomez (left) is from Valeencia & his friend, Leon Rodriguez (right) is from Barcelona.

Vincente & I carried on a long conversation even though he spoke no English & I am extremely limited in my Spanish. But, we figured it out.

He was saying that in Barcelona & Valencia they are more into having things like SciFi Clubs, like their 501st Storm Trooper Legion, & not so much in the big cities, like Barcelona.

We struggled though but it was pretty cool.

Thank The Maker!!

Thank The Maker!!
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

This guy has a website ThankYouGeorge.com (I'll link it.) It's a site that lets you acknowledge the creator of this epic saga, George Lucas.

Go to his site & sign the book.

(He gave us one of his cool pins, too)

More found friends

More found friends
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

These guys wee met sitting at Cheryl's Card Table from Oxford, Ohio. (Sorry, I lost your names. Please post them if you visit!!)

Too bad. They were only here for one day.

But, they said they were having a great time!!

Hey = p, check this out!!

Hey = p, check this out!!
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

They're using AlienWare Computers to demo the games.

Pretty COOOOLL!!!

(Check out the glow in the dark eyes on these things!)

Cheryl's Cards

Cheryl's Cards
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

She got a great deal from the vendor. Here are some of her catch.

Cheryl's Cards

Cheryl's Cards
Originally uploaded by JaiJeffrey.

So, Cheryl finally found this vendor with all of these boxes of SW Cards & she sat for hours at this table going through them picking out the ones she was missing from her collection.