Geek alert! Geek alert!

9:18am Arrive at Apple Store in Glendale Galleria, and hour later than I wanted (my alarm didn’t go off). The store itself doesn’t open until 10am but there are 18 people lined up in the corridor in front of it. Not bad, I thought, until a mall security guard informed me that the actual end of the line was much further away, down the hall around a corner out a door and onto a walkway leading to the parking garage. Oh. I followed the line outside where I became the third person in line. Ahead of me I would estimate about 50 people. I brought a camping chair to sit on instead of the brick walk, which proved to be a smart idea. However, had I arrived only 4 people sooner I would be forced to sit on the carpet inside. I’m writing this comfortably in the shade, but the sun has yet to rise to its fullest height. I’ll be fetching sunglasses and sunscreen from the car.

As I’m sitting down I’m listening to a woman from the first 18 who came out to smoke. She told about getting here at 6:50am, just before mall security allowed people to park in the garage. People had shown up as early as 4am and were turned away until the mall doors opened at 6. She also related rumors that this location had a stock of 300 phones, that all stores were stocked heavier on the 8GB models, and that each person could buy a limit of two. (ATT stores are selling one per customer.) An Apple Store employee wheeled a cart of free Starbucks coffee and bagels, and assured that they’d be passing out water later.

9:57am 18 people have lined up behind me. Mall staff have cordoned us off with road cones and informed us of the nearest restrooms. People are talking on cellphones, using laptops, reading, writing. We’re a peaceful bunch.

10:55am It’s hard to tell how many people are in line as people keep stepping out of it, but I’m at about the 75 mark, with another 40 or 50 behind me. The sun has risen over the building enough for me to fetch sunscreen and sunglasses.

11:10am While bonding with my line peeps, it was divulged that I am waiting in front of the first EVER Apple Store! How cool is that?? They’re supposed to be very customer service friendly.

12:13pm Had to return to the car to retrieve my umbrella, cuz my line peeps were concerned that my face was getting red, despite the 50 spf. One of my peeps gave me some gaff tape to fasten it to the concrete railing.

1:06pm An Apple employee is passing out bottles of SmartWater. A line peep was saying that any Apple employee who’s worked there for over a year gets a free iPhone AND service. For real? Should I just apply now and get it over with?

2:21pm Mall police finally realized that they could get my portion of the line out of the blazing sun by pushing the entire line back about 50 feet, off the sky-walk and into the parking garage. Much cooler and no more umbrella! I haven’t walked the length of the line in a while but I’d say that it’s at least doubled since I got in line 5 hours ago. I also think I’m at the halfway point in the day, before I’ll have one in my hot little hand. Getting jealous yet??

3:49pm Finally got food (Mongolian BBQ)! Black shades drawn over the Apple store windows, as they closed from 2-6 to prepare. People have been trying to count the numbers in line, and I’d guess I’m now in the first third. Someone’s Mom called the store to ask how many they had in stock and she was told 250. I’m optimistic... and hungry! Time to eat!

3:04pm A mini van just pulled up and two people in line went over to it and removed the rear bucket seats, so they wouldn’t have to sit on the greasy concrete.

4:16pm Math time. An Apple employee just walked by, confirming that I am 73rd in line. He also said that there are 228 available inside (!). He did NOT say how many of each (4 and 8GB). So worst case, if the 72 people in front of me each buy 2 8GB models, that means 145 of the 228 would have to be 8GBs in order for me to get mine. What are the chances??

4:58pm Crunch time. We’re all gathered and chatty again. Whenever someone stops to ask what we’re lined up for, we now say it’s for the new Harry Potter book, or the Pepsi machine around the corner. More SmartWater from the Apply Gang, which tells me they’re done setting up. We estimate about 45 extra minutes after they reopen before I get the goods.

5:42pm Folding the chair back up. Everyone is giddy. Punchy. We’re all going to throw our old phones in a big pile outside the mall and light them on fire. Kidding! They’ve lifted the shades to the store revealing two HUGE iPhones in the window, that actually work! I think they’re actually flat-screens turned vertically with a kicky border, but they look cool!

6:17pm I’m physically entering the store. All of the employees start cheering, as they continue ringing up customers, answering questions, restocking accessory shelves as soon as they’re depleted, and walking around showing off phones to whomever needs a peek.

6:22pm “One 8GB iPhone, please!” I say to the clerk. He cheerfully takes one from the mound next to him, places it into a custom-designed shopping bag and ushers me to a cashier, standing there with a Pocket PC. He swipes the card, tells me the total. The scorching hot VISA card goes back into the wallet, I sign the small screen and give him my email address so that he can email me my receipt. Snap, Crackle, Pop.

7:00pm I leave the Apple Store with the additional purchase of a protective cover, cuz dis shit ain’t gonna survive no fall onto concrete, yo.