neverwhere

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin. :)

I met my beloved

trianne at her Hollywood hotel (which turned out to be directly across the street from the venue, what luck) around 3pm, and then we walked over to the American Legion building and met up with some of her friends (

baranduin, if you're reading this, thank you for putting up with me!), and a plethora of random LJ people. So many LJers! I even met some BNFs, like

piccalo and

undone27, who seemed very surprised that I knew who they were, since they hadn't a clue who *I* was. (You know you're (in)famous when even non-Fandom fans know you. ;-) Everyone in the queue was tingling with excitement, and we all squealed loudly when some people from Access Hollywood turned their cameras on us and filmed up and down the line. The outside of the building had a large 'Return of the One Party' light thingy shining on the wall, and a Beacon of Gondor on the roof, which was apparently so realistic the fire marshalls came to investigate it.

Once we were inside I got separated from the rest of the group, but that didn't turn out to be a bad thing at all, as I got to meet a VIP. I had put the silk wrap I wanted to wear indoors in my bag, and somehow it became tangled in the zipper; as I was trying to get it out a tall, slightly balding man very graciously offered to help me. As he was fiddling with the zip, I noticed he was wearing all the Elven rings, as well as all three of the 'Good Luck from TheOneRing.net' pins that TORN had made for PJ and crew. I asked him timidly 'Are you the creator of all the gorgeous Badali jewelry?' and he replied 'That's me' with an enormous smile, which made me go all flustered and squee just a little. He was so nice! 'I'm very pleased to meet you' he said, and shook my hand. Isn't that a neat little story? I think so. ;-)

Lalalala some other not very interesting stuff happened, then the OSCAR CEREMONY! Oh frabjuous day, what an incredible experience it was to be in a room with a thousand screaming Ringers, all of us orgasming with glee everytime LOTR won an Oscar. Trinny and I actually started crying with happiness, isn't that amazing? After the ceremony Quickbeam (our fabulous MC who kept changing outfits during the advert breaks -- he makes one SEXY Elrond, and a frighteningly attractive Eowyn) said a marvelous toast, which I think is online now, and we cheered and thanked Tolkien for giving us gift of LOTR. And then...PETER S. BEAGLE came on stage. That's right, the genius who wrote The Last Unicorn was there. I actually screamed 'OHMYGOD so loudly I made people even five or six rows in front of me turn around in their seats and stare. *laughs* I think I embaressed Trinny, I was panting and squealing and so beside myself with joy. Aiya, how I wish

ashfae could have been there to squeal with me.

Some time passed...and then the good stuff really began. Trinny had a place right in front of the stage saved for me (bless her), and while our feet ached we waited for THE BOYS to arrive. And lo, there were Boys. And they ~~snogged~~ fondled each other. And it was good. *grins*

Unfortunately I seemed to have lost the really good photos -- I don't know where they are, I've searched everywhere and so I must assume I dropped them somewhere and didn't realize until too late. WOE. I had some incredible pictures, especially of the DomLijah, and the most amazing photo of Fran laughing. Am extremely upset about their loss.

But anyway.

John Rhys-Davies was the first to appear, and he was his usual charming self, playfully asking us what we're going to do with our lives now -- 'surely you can't wait for The Hobbit', which of course started everyone chanting HOB-BIT HOB-BIT and screaming like insane monkeys. And then Elijah appeared! At first he hung out by the side door, smoking and drinking copiously (what a naughty boy, who wants to take turns spanking him? ;-), then he came onstage to introduce one of his favourite bands, A World Without Sundays. As Undone said behind me, 'he's just guaranteed these guys a gold record', which of course is true, as every fangirl is going to buy their album this week. Including me. But only because they really did rock. *grins*
Elijah was so adorable, hanging out by the stage door, bopping along and shaking his head, and sometimes even singing along. And then, from out of nowhere comes DOM, bursting onto the stage, grabbing a tambourine and basically taking over, because he's just that kind of guy. And just to make all his worshipping fans pass out from an overdose of lust, he begins to sing. I was standing in between two diehard Domfans and they were pratically orgasming all over me. Which seemed like a perfectly natural reaction, really, as Dom is a TOTAL ROCK STAR and even I was feeling the Power of the DomLust. (The purple tie certainly helped a bit.) Mmmmmm. When the band left, Elijah (I swear this happened) groped and was groped in return by the hot bandmates, and I think even Dom got a snog from the lead singer. AIII SO HOT. (I was standing right under the very pretty bass player, and sometimes it was difficult to keep my eyes from wandering back to his tight leather trousers, regardless of whomever else was onstage...*giggles*)

And then...PJ ARRIVED! PJPJPJPJPJPJPJPJJJJ! Peter and Fran and Phillipa and Barrie and Jim and Richard and Ngila and everyone else came onstage, waving their Oscars and cheering almost as jubilantly as we were.

PJ gave a great speech, thanking the fans for their support, talking about his relationship with TORn, the struggle to make the films, the agony and ectasy of it all, and thanked each of his crew members in turn, asking them to come up to the mic and say their own words about what it was like making the films. Phillipa apologized to all the ladies, saying that she kept writing Aragorn with his shirt off but Peter kept putting it back on, to which Ngila later replied that she was the only one who got to see all the boys naked. (Lucky bitch.) All the Oscar winners said nice things about working with PJ, and the work they did for the films, although I can't remember any of it -- I'm sure someone has every speech written down, but that person isn't me.

PJ telling the amusing story about Elijah sitting in a room in New York, thinking that he's being interviewed by a German reporter, only it's Dom in a silly accent, asking the most outrageous questions which make the poor boy squirm. And it's going to be on the ROTK dvd! Along with a BLOOPER REEL! I am SO excited about that.

PJ and his Oscar Posse were probably onstage for about 45 minutes, then they all had to leave and make appearances at other parties. Although they had the most fun at ours. *beams proudly*

I can't remember if he was the grand-nephew or the great-grandson, but this boy is the Tolkien heir, and although you can't tell from this photo, he was exceedingly pretty. He was forced onstage at some point to say a few words, and he was endearingly shy, complenting TORn for their wonderful party and being rather Hugh Grant-ish, with his blustering speech. Twas very cute.

Just when we were all wondering, 'Where the hell is Billy', HERE COMES BILLY.

Doing a sound check like a pro. Awwwww.

Just look at that smile. I am helpless before that smile. *swoooooon*

At first he just came onstage to apologize for being so late, wished us well and then toodled off again. Then everyone started chanting 'Sing! Sing! Sing!'...and he reappeared with a shiny green guitar. WOOOHOOOO!

Oh Jean, oh Jean, you let me get lucky wi'you!

Needless to say, as soon as he opened his mouth I turned into a quivering puddle of orgasmic goo.

I may have lost my photos of Dom the Bad Ass Rock God, but I'd rather have BILLEH the Rock God any day. Ohmysweetjeebusyes. (That smirk! Guhhhh.)

ILOVEYOUILOVEYOUILOVEYOU!

Why yes, this is my favourite picture. I was right there. Next to the Billeh. HE WAS SINGING JUST TO ME. That's right, just deal with it girls, Billy loves me. MEEEEEEE. *swooncrashthud* *flails* *billygasm*

Anyway. Where was I? Oh yes. Billy just performed the one song (but what a song it was!) and ~~passed into the West~~ left the party. Nothing else happened for a little while, until Bruce, Sala and Lawrence showed up. Sala took over the microphone and began swearing like a Corsair -- 'It's our motherfucking niiiiiiight!' etc etc, while Lawrence looked on with mild disgust and Bruce laughed embarassedly. Sadly, almost as soon as they arrived (and before Sean and other could finally arrive) the venue owners shut the party down. Sniff!

All the remaining boys (including the rather cute stuntman in the middle there -- Jeff? I think he played Shagrat) gave us a traditional Maori sendoff, which I thought was an utterly perfect (and appropriate) way to end the evening, and the whole LOTR experience. God bless the Kiwis. :)

And that's it really. I said goodnight to Trianne, and drove home, remembering what an incredible, unbelievable experience I had, and would never forget.

None of this would have been possible without the generosity of

llanerch -- thank you so much Rhi, for all that you have given me. I can never repay you for your unending kindness. *kisses*

What a night. Clean Sweep! PJ! DomLijah! BILLEH! And best of all,

trianne, without whom my party experience would have been incomplete. I love you so much, my dearest Trinny. :)

I will always remember this perfect, perfect night.