Live blogging from Midnight Madness

It's 9:30 and we're in the cafe at Barnes and Noble. Lots of people here, some in costume. I see a few Harrys, some Hermiones, generic witches and wizards. We brought the Dumbledore costume, but no one has donned it yet.

It's unreal how excited people are about this. On the NYTimes webpage there were pictures of Potter parties all over the place. I wish I were in the city. Apparently in SoHo there is a full scale model of the Whomping Willow, and in Union Squire there is a very realistic looking Hagrid.

I've been thinking about how excited the Kid and his friends are, and I realized that they are the generation that really grew up with Harry Potter. The Kid started reading the books in second grade, and now at 15 he's almost the same age.

It's about 10:20 now and the crowd is still growing. The line to pick up wristbands is very, very long. I'm very glad we got our earlier. We are in the "B" group-the groups go all the way through the alphabet and then into numbers, I think. Could be a very long night for some folks.

I temporarily lost possession of my computer and my table to a gaggle of teenage boys. After wandering around for a while I reclaimed my computer and found a new table. The number of boys at the other table is growing.

I tried listening to JK Rowling, but it's too noisy in here, and I didn't bring any earphones. Next to me a group is playing "Apples to Apples, the HP version" but, honestly it doesn't sound like they are having nearly as much fun as we have when we play Apples to Apples.

At the risk of sounding cranky, it seems to me that B&N could've sprung for some better costumes for their employees. Most of them are pretty lame.

There is someone walking around upstairs who totally has Lucius Malfoy's hair. She really should have dressed up! I'm regretting not getting out my witch costume now, but I think the Kid would have objected to me being that conspicuous. Once we got here it became very clear that I was on my own. I sort of miss being here with a kid --the small k kind.

11:00 now and the costume contest is about to begin.

Just a minute ago two parishioners walked up behind me and my pseudonymous blog. Fortunately, I don't think they really noticed what I had on the computer. I had not foreseen that possibility when I decided to blog here tonight.

Oh, good, I don't have to move to see the costumes...I am reluctant to give up my table in the cafe at this point.

BTW, it's freezing in here!

Apparently the Kid's friend who has my Dumbledore costume decided not to participate in the contest. Too bad, because I think he would've won. But it was mostly younger kids.

Crap. The Kid just called me---he and his friends went outside to get a drink from the drink machine and they won't let them back in. Signing off to see if I can rescue them.

Okay, it's 11:25 and I'm back. They finally let the kids back in after they started lining people up at their stations around the store. I'm letting him stand in line...he has the bracelet anyway. But I only paid for two hours of internet and it will probably be up soon.

This is my third "Midnight Madness, " each at a different location. Again, at the risk of sounding cranky, this one is the least well done of the three. I would've thought with the last book they would've gone all out. Then again, they probably knew they didn't have too.

It turns out the Kid's friend wasn't in the costume contest b/c they were shut out then. Too bad. The prize was getting to get the first book.

I'm so pathetic...I just paid for more internet....it was only $3.99 but still...

A few minutes ago a guy standing behind me said, "Are you blogging this? Cool."

Not sure why they made people get in line 45 minutes before the books will be released. There are a lot of people here, but not so many that it would take that long to get people in line. They just closed the cafe, too. I know it's beyond their regular hours, but they are losing a lot of business.

WHY does it have to be so cold in here?! I have on a long sleeve shirt and jeans, and I'm freezing.

The Harry Potter glasses they are passing out are WHITE. What were they thinking?

Fifteen minutes to go, and it's starting to quiet down.

I'm sure this running commentary is the most boring blog post ever, but it's kind of fun, and I don't have anyone to talk to.

I'm starting to yawn now. I really really want to stay up and read but I know I will fall asleep not long after I sit down....no matter whether I read in the kitchen or the living room or in my bed. That being the case, I might as well go to bed where I'll be comfortable!

Just over 5 minutes to go now! The anticipation is palpable. Will there ever be another book that causes excitement like this?

Two minutes to go!

Okay, the countdown is about to begin, and people are yelling. This is it!!!!

Now how long will it take the Kid to get through the line?

The first people in line just got their books and they are being cheered. But really some people are going to have a pretty long wait. They do have their checkout lines pretty well organized.

It does appear that being a "B" is a distinct advantage. Okay, the Kid wants me to get in line with him; he's worried about using my debit card without me.

UPDATE: 12:45, and we're home with our books. We were out of the store with books in hand by 12:10, and I have to say it was pretty funny watching 3 teenage boys literally running to the car with their books. In the 30 minutes it took us to drop off the friends and get home, the Kid read 32 pages and said "oh holy crap" at least three times.

So I'm off to read now...