To boldly go..

I am dating a sci-fi geek.

Adam is a fan of all thing space and spaceship-y.  He loves nothing better than to discuss the innermost workings of any sci-fi show and it's characters.

If you know me at all, you are well aware of the fact that I am not a sci-fi person by any stretch of the imagination.  I'm not opposed, but I have just not had the urge to watch any of the shows or movies.  I prefer to spend my time enjoying programs that are anchored on Earth and revolve around things that are familiar, rather than on distant planets or galaxies. 

That's just me, but I am trying to be open minded and get to know some of Adam's interests.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that a new Star Trek movie came out on Thursday.  Adam wanted to share this movie and experience with me, so opening night has been on my calendar for months. 

He and I had obviously discussed how I had never seen an entire episode of the series or any of the movies.  All I knew was the smallest bits of pop culture trivia associated with the franchise.  Plus, J.J. Abrams directed the movie.  I trust him completely, as he has given me hours or great television with Felicity and Lost.  I was excited.

I do have to say that I had been enjoying driving him crazy all week by saying phrases such as "I hope that the lady with the buns on her head is in the movie" or "are those little bear critters gonna be in this one?"  I think my favorite one was when I asked if the "green Muppet guy" was going to play a big part.  I know just enough about Star Trek and Star Wars to be able to annoy him with those kinds of statements.  He was not amused, but I was.

Before the show, we met some friends and had Indian food. I had never tried that particular type of food before that night.  Honestly, I did not care for it.  I want to try it again and see if I simply had the wrong thing.  It was nice to try something new, though.

Our entire group of nine met at the theater about forty five minutes before showtime.  Because it was opening night, there was a long line of people waiting to get inside when we arrived.  I was hoping that there would be all kinds of freaky fans to take pictures of, but I only saw two people who were dressed for the occasion.  One little elderly lady was dressed up and she was adorable.  I got a picture of her, but it unfortunately did not come out well enough to share.

Before we knew it, it was time for the crazy hoard of people lined up outside the theater to enter.  It was a mad scramble for seats. I am not sure who, but somebody in our group made the decision that we had to sit in the middle of the theater.  It's not like the IMax screen has any bad views, but we simply had to sit smack dab in the center. 

There were tons of empty seats in the upper part of the theater, but they were not in the middle section.  After surveying the scene, we ended up sitting TWO FREAKIN ROWS up from the screen.

We got seated and then I ran out to hit the restroom before the beginning of the movie.  As I was walking back inside, I started feeling a little nauseous.  I sat down and hoped that it would subside.  

The previews started and I began to think that these seats were not going to be that bad. Sure, I am a sit in the back of the theater person.  Yet there are people who enjoy sitting at the bottom of the screen and like looking straight up at it, right?

And then the movie started...

I made it a few minutes before I started feeling really sick.  Again, I hoped that it would subside because I was pretty well landlocked because of our positioning in the row.

It was fun to observe Adam watching the movie.  His reactions and excitement reminded me of last summer when I saw the Sex and the City movie on the big screen.  It was really cute to see him enjoying the events unfolding on the screen no more than ten feet from our noses. 

I tried to watch and get into the movie, but I kept feeling worse.

The plot itself seemed like a good one.  I know nothing about space travel, galaxies, beaming people up, how people breathe in space, why gravity is not making these characters float around or anything else on the screen.   It would have been nice to have known something or had an interpreter.  It's not my cup of tea, but I was trying to support my boyfriend and share an experience with him.

Through most of the movie, I had been trying to focus on a particular certain spot on the screen to keep from getting sick from the motion.  This plan was not working.  I tried closing my eyes for a minute or two to see if that helped.  It kinda did.

Yes, kids.. I fell asleep during the Star Trek movie.

Dead asleep.  We are talking snoring and drool asleep.

Not good.

Something woke me up and I realized that I had been out for a while. I tend to fall asleep when watching tv, but it is usually at my house with my DVR and not at the opening night of a blockbuster movie.

When the movie ended and my friends were excitedly discussing and making plans to see it again, it came out that I had slept through part of the movie.  They were shocked. I was mortified.

I wanted to watch the movie.  I wanted to like the movie.  In fact, I wanted to love it.  I wanted to run home, thrilled by my newfound love of the genre and beg to watch old episodes.

That night, none of that happened.  I had a boyfriend who was disappointed in me, plus a group of friends who thought I was crazy.  It was totally not the evening that I had planned.

Honestly, I kinda feared that it might cause some problems with Adam.  I did not sleep well that night and felt awful about the incident.  The nausea was also still there, which did not help. He was not mad at me or anything, but was just kinda hurt that I fell asleep.

At work the next day, I tried to figure out how to make it better.  After a while, it came to me.  I took takeout over to Adam's house and we watched the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.  I made it through the whole episode completely coherent and awake!

I did not follow much of it, but it made a lot more sense than the movie.  He was there, pausing the DVD and trying to explain some of my problem spots.  It is so cute to listen to him explaining it to me.  I was probably staring at him with glassed over eyes, but I was making an effort.  We have looked online for some kind of Star Trek 101-type video or website, but I have not found one.  If you know of something that will help, please leave me a comment.

I really am making an effort.  I want to share his love for this franchise, but I just don't know if it is in me.

I am definitely going to try.

Only after I have had a good nap, though.

Stay tuned...

Comments

[Stacey]

That sounds like me with the SO - I don't care for Star Trek, though I don't mind the early Star Wars. He loves them all. It's lovely you're giving it a try; I mostly just mock my SO, with similar questions that you ask - "are those little bear critters gonna be in this one?" sounds like something I would ask :)

[mandycharlie]

I can't watch films that close to the screen. But you tried and you did your best. My hubby would have fallen fast asleep if he couldn't have coped, its not a bad thing. I still love him for his falling asleep abilities, even after twenty years..

You will know if he is the One.. just give it time.

xx

[Stacey _CrimsonPurl]

I am sorry..I was giggling thru this whole post but most concerned with you not feeling well thinking it was the Indian food (which I don't care for either...but will try and give it another chance). Did you tell him you weren't feeling good either??

Great "making up" you did! I say you get a silver (not gold) star for effort!! :)

Shoot...I just which I had a boyfriend :(

Look forward to seeing you this week to catch up some more!!

[DPUTiger]

Even those of us with strong stomachs can get motion-sick sitting two rows from the screen. Don't blame it on the movie, blame it on the seats.

And if he wants to you to go again to test this theory, then go. Just make sure you sit farther away from the screen.

[Debra]

I remember sleeping through several movies in years past. I think you handled it well. Sometimes just watching more and more of it, makes you get into it. It worked for me with country music.. good luck!

[Enid Shaw]

I agree with the above comments, but don't get worried should you not understand/enjoy sci-fi. We can't all be alike......just imagine how utterly boring that be:)
Also, check out the reason for nausea. We just got you back posting and don't want you disappearing again!!!

take care,

[Jane Prater]

Re: Indian food. YOu had the wrong thing. This food is God's gift.

Re sci-fi: Ignore the sci and focus on the fi. You need to rent the series Firefly or maybe the movie Serenity. It is cowboys in space. American hero values, typical relationship issues and some special effects. Inara dresses incredibly. Think heroes and monsters, not space when you watch Star Trek. Adam will have to get the CD and then you can watch a movie about guys bucking the system, not sci-fi.

You are too young to fall asleep during a movie. Must have been a virus.

[Jen]

The ubernerd in me wants to point out that there is almost as big a rift between Trekkies and Wars fans as there is between knitters and crocheters. I can sit through an episode of startrek and like the movie, but I' never going to be just *into* it, ya know? Jane has it right, the -fi part is the better half (I'm a wars nut myself).

[PlazaJen]

Yeah, two rows back is no way to see a movie - any movie. I saw "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "Saving Private Ryan" from the second row and will never, ever, sit there again.
And in the end, if sci-fi isn't your bag, you can always knit through it! I'd recommend Firefly followed by Serenity as a nice entry into the genre. Nathan Fillion is the cheese on my cracker! :)
Oh and on the Indian food... try Tiki Masala Chicken..... it's my fave.

[Knit Witch]

That is hilarious!!! Well, I tell you what - Wayne and Adam can watch sci fi together and you and I will knit. Come to Blue Ridge!!! :)

[Nicole]

I have gotten sick sitting that close to an iMax screen as well. :( Closing your eyes may have been the best solution.

My fiance' loves the Star Trek so I went to see the movie. The huge crush I have on Zachary Quinto helps. I've also see Next Generation, Enterprise, and a couple of the movies. They're not my fav but if I have some good knitting I can get through it. :)

[Alicia P]

LOL! Sorry but that is so funny! I would do the exact same thing. I have three boys now though and they are into Star Wars...I am very confused most of the time and keep getting "those" looks. If you find a 101 anywhere pass it on. :)

[Rachel]

http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/intro/index.html

Try that for a 101 babe! Not sure if it's what you are looking for but it might help. Just read through and then at the bottom there's a little thing to take you through to the next page. Much love to you and A.

[Tvini]

I'm amazed you got through the pilot of Next Gen. The entire first season was a stinker.

I'm allowed to say that, since I've been practicing the Vulcan salute since age 8 and have seen every episode of every series.

So sorry you were having a bad evening. I really enjoyed the movie, but I saw it more than once on iMAX and it was definitely better further up and to the sides than it would have been at the front. You gave it your best shot, nothing to be ashamed of. Try again when the DVD comes out!

[Tvini]

I found another review of Trek from a non-sci-fi-watching gay guy with a boyfriend interested in seeing it. Maybe it'll help! http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2009/05/do-gay-martians-have-right-to-marry.html

[kontan]

I struggle to handle iMax...two rows back would have made me ill. I don't enjoy 3-D either so go fig. Can't believe you fell asleep though *snicker*