Volunteering on Saturday
Part of the morning was spent trying to find a restaurant in Los Angeles that serves real Breakfast, and has Wi-Fi available. I found a few, mainly hotels.
But it didn't really matter - because sleepy headed me, I didn't make it out of the house in time.
I stopped off for lunch at Lickity Split in Hollywood instead.
Yes, they have sandwiches and soups and free Wi-Fi with purchase.
I had an about an hour for lunch and the internet, before it was time for my Volunteer Shift at The Egyptian Theatre .
I was "Captain" today, which meant I didn't see the movie. I stayed in the lobby and helped out at the door.
The movie was French, from 1967 Jacques Tati's Playtime .
And I was there for the 2 o'clock matinee.
Since it was the early afternoon, Hollywood Blvd was very quiet. So once the guests were in watching the movie, I had some down time. So I pulled out my laptop and wrote some blog entries.
Its very different being there in the afternoon. In the evenings, theres lots of tourists and people who drive in from nearby cities sight-seeing on Hollywood Blvd. They always stop at the front door wanting information on the theatre.
But today, in the middle of the afternoon - not a peep from anyone.
But as the 2 pm movie came to a close, things started to get crazy.
My shift was over at 4:30. And at 4:30, there was a private screening of Good Night and Good Luck .
The first 100 Egyptian Theatre Members got a free ticket.
Very soon, the line to get in was down the courtyard.
We were busy making sure the members who came had picked up tickets even tho the screening was free for them.
And we were trying to get everyone to queue up in the line.
I was standing behind the glass doors with other volunteers.
"Gee Donna, you look pretty good. You look perky and healthy." said one.
I explained that it was Saturday, and I hadn't had a radiation treatment since Wednesday due to the holiday. And that usually weekends aren't a problem, I can do social things okay on weekends.. But during the week its another story, because with a radiation appointment that day, I am usually to tired to go out after work.
The first volunteer said to the other "You know she's having radiation treatments. She doesn't need any electrical sockets or to plug anything in anymore."
I laughed and said "Yes, and I glow in the dark too."
Then the first volunteer made another joke about a nuclear reactor or something.
I laughed again and said "Hey, I'm not radioactive !"
The second volunteer didn't know much about Radiation treatments for cancer, so I explained it to him.
Everyday, five days a week. And I am about half-way through. And yes, I do get tired and have to take it somewhat easy.
But so far it hasn't been to big a deal. Just a few minor adjustments in my social schedule. Because I discovered extra coffee doesn't really work - you have to rest. And even sometimes the rest doesn't work because your body is fighting the radiation. So you just have to wait it out, and take things alittle slower.
What the first volunteer didn't notice when he told me I looked perky and healthy - was that I sit down alot. I noticed that if I don't stand - and I sit as much as possible, I don't get worn out as quickly.
Finally, it was time to let the big long line of quests in the door.
Ripping tickets is like a marathon when the line gets this long.
We try to get them all in as quickly as possible.
After it was over, a third volunteer came up to me.
"What happened? Why was everyone so stressed out ? What did it get so chaotic ? Everyone was so tense!"
I answered, kind of Buddha-like, "It was chaotic, because it was chaotic. Thats just what was."
She said "Oh, nothing bad happened?"
"No", I said "That just how it goes sometimes."
She was fine with my somewhat Zen answer.
4:30, and my Captain shift was over. I turned to the other person taking tickets.
"Don't forget to wash you hands before you eat your popcorn. Its flu season."
I got my free volunteer popcorn, and went into the theatre to see Good Night and Good Luck .
Wow - George Clooney really does have a great ability for telling history.
Everything about this movie was a great history lesson.
It was dramatic, but its not a dramatic story. Not alot is given about the character's backgrounds or personalities. Its almost like a documentary.
But it is the telling of what happened in the CBS Newsroom in the 1950s during the McCarthy Hearings.
The movie is in black and white, and is very true to the 1950s style. There are even some real TV commercials from the 1950s in the movie.
What an amazing history lesson.
It talks so much about basic American Rights and Freedoms. The right to a fair trial. Freedom of Speech. Freedom of the Press. Freedom to chose your political party.
I highly recommend that you catch this movie. Bring your kids and explain to them what it all means.
