I am on an emotional high. I am loving every instant of it.
The music from the guy upstairs is drifting into my room, something that would usually annoy me � drive me crazy, and yet it isn't tonight. I am charged. It is an emotional charge, a feeling I haven't had in quite a long while. For those that missed my previous memo, Saturday was spent in S.F. to watch Beauty and the Beast in all its IMAX goodness. But wait, the fun doesn't stop there. I also got to hang out with the absolutely supreme DanceVixen (as if B&tB wasn't cool enough) and do some window shopping. Okay, Jakob. Deep breaths are needed. Here is the day.
Let me start by saying I was awake at 7:45 this morning. That is not something I do often, as many of you know. I got up, staggered online to make sure Galaxy was up and moving, although my real reason was to get her or Kari to yell at me to get ready. About 8:10 or so we were all ready, and we had everything in Galaxy's car for our trip. A quick trip to Starbucks where I acquired a Hot Carmel Apple Cider (Galaxy got something too), and we were off!
I don't remember quite how long the drive took, but I do remember stopping for an Italian soda, and that Orinda slash �East Bay� were our ultimate destination. I gave my mom a ring to see where the Andersons lived, and it turns out we were as close as 15 minutes from their house at times. Didn't really plan to say hi though. Finally, we arrived at Galaxy's grandparent's house.
I was floored. And so was the house. In fact, it was a rather large floor. A huge floor, lots of rooms, spacious, a pool table, and a view to kill for. Vaulted ceilings, stone entryway, cleaning staff, and hi tech toys radiated from this house. No inheritance � Galaxy's grandparents earned this house and lifestyle. I was impressed. We introduced, talked, and planned on a lunch. The original plan was Mongolian BBQ, but after looking at the BART schedule, we realized that the odds of success were slim to none in that regard. So instead, we decided to hit the BART, go to the Metreon, and get food there. At this point, it had only been a maybe as if DanceVixen would be joining us or not. She had wanted to though, so I made a call to her to say hi, and told her what train we would be on. While we got on the Orinda stop, she got on at the Rockridge stop, one stop down from us. We actually got on the same train, and both got off at Powell.
And this is where the fun jumps to a whole new level.
I wish I could explain the feelings I go through when I meet a close Internet friend for the first time. On the whole BART ride, I was hyper to the point it was annoying, and most of it was anticipation. When I get this nervous, I tap my foot, pace around, anything to keep my mind off the fact I am meeting someone I have never seen face to face other than pictures, and have only a voice and personality to base my guess on.
Walking down the Powell Station tracks, I saw a young girl, beautiful indeed, looking around as if she was looking for something. As I drew closer, I realized that it wasn't something, but someone, and that someone happened to be me. It took me about 4 good looks before I could be sure of it, since her hair wasn't quite the way I had it in my head, but then it clicked for both of us, a big hug occurred, and DanceVixen was introduced to Galaxy, Kari, and Jen. It was time for IMAX and food!
Next stop: the Metreon. Let me point out now, that this is my first time without a parent going into a big city. Talk about being overwhelmed. People everywhere, some selling, others protesting, and a man in front of a closed store with a �Jesus loves you� sign walking back and forth as if he was on strike. Two city blocks later, we arrived at the Metreon, and my head was spinning because there was so much to take in. If this is me in S.F., I dread my planned Fall trip to New York to see Tina. Anyway, so we got to the Metreon, which is huge. Not only does it boast an IMAX theater, but also about 8 other screens, an anime shop, a digital toys shop, a discovery channel shop, and a food court, but also a Playstation store, and a few other smaller stores. Let me once again restate how huge this place was. Lunch was our next item, so while Galaxy stood in line for tix, DV, Kari, Jen, and I went and got some lunch and got a table to sit at. I ended up getting 8 dollar tortellini from a caf� that probably specialized in something else, but it was all good. DV had found a sushi place, the lucky girl, and enjoyed California Rolls. During lunch, DV and I hit it off talking wise.
The topic was my journal and her journal of all things, and who we know reads them, why we thought they read them, and what they do once they have read them. Conversation then went into H.S. and out friends, as well as what trouble they have been causing as of late. Somehow, we got onto crushes, and I got to hear about some of the ones we talked about, as well as a few other ones. One story deserves another, so I tossed out onto the table my crush I had on Ashley Junior year, and the fact I never had the guts to ask her to Jr. Prom. Our conversation was cut short by time, however, and we tossed our boxes in favor of scampering up to the IMAX for good seats for the show.
And damn did we have good seats.
Almost in the middle vertically, almost in the middle horizontally, I would kill me for my ticket and seat. o.O Yes though, it was seriously that awesome. The scenes where the Beast would growl and roar, he took up the entire screen and it was all I could do to not shrink back. (I also got to see the preview of The Lion King, which means I will be returning start of next year for sure, if just to see that.) The movie was as beautiful as I remember, and I still felt a tear or two slide down my cheek during the ballroom scene. For some reason, the knowledge of what will happen makes that scene a major downer and very emotional. When the movie ended, our evening had just began.
We came out of the theater charged. The movie was amazing, and I have decided that anything looks better on an IMAX. Twice as much for a ticket, three times better. Seems like a good deal. So anyway, coming out of the theater, we went down a level and Jakob found his way to the Anime store, which really was small and more of a showcase, but fun all the same. DV was with me, and we looked at all the Gundam things, and I was able to point out a few cool series to her. Eventually Kari, Jen, and Galaxy found their way over, and we left and went down another set of stairs. We the ducked into the Discovery store.
We proceeded to spend the next hour and a half there simply looking at all the toys. The only reason we kept looking was everything was too expensive to buy. Although, I do have to admit that it is a very effective strategy, and it did keep us children from picking up the breakables. After that it was outside into the S.F. night and over to the BART station, where we went to a mall attached to the Powell St. Station. Eight floors, we covered three of them, and it was simply amazing. The escalators spiraled upward, the white walls looked high class, the dress shop we were in had dresses and fabric I had never seen before (nor had the others apparently), and by the time we hit the third floor, our stomachs, bodies, and legs said that it was about time.
We walked back down to the BART station, and I bought my ticket. Of course, I (being the moron I can be at times) put $20 on my ticket. That was the down side. On the up side, it never expires, and I do have a keepsake of this trip.
While in the BART heading back, DV and I got to talking about relationships, a topic that as of late has given me plenty of things to talk about. Before we knew it, we were topside at Rockridge, and I was standing and giving her a hug goodbye.
...I don't know when I'll see her again, but it better be soon. She roXored me, big time. She's one of those people I would go out of my way just to chill for a weekend with. And yes, she really is that awesome. ^_^
The last 30 seconds of the BART ride (time between stations) was quiet, and when we got out to walk to Galaxy's car, it was amazing. I had this wonderful feeling and I know it was because I was having fun with my friends in the big city and nothing could stop me. Kind of a sense of power I suppose. So we drove back to Galaxy's grandparents' house, and went with her grandpa to a small Chinese restaurant with some of the most killer Lemon Chicken to date. From there, we went back to the house, and I got to go to the back porch.
I will be returning there with a camera.
The view was amazing. You could see from Vallejo to the refineries to most of Marin county, to Napa and Sonoma. Your ears pop coming up the street to their house. You could see life in general, and I will be doing a spew on it based on a voicemail I left myself. I will probably do that Sunday (aka: later today / late tonight). It was cold, but you could see for miles, and you could see all the lights, and despite the light pollution, it looked so pretty and so perfect.
One of these days, I will be a light out there, a nobody in the big city, just livin' it up.
Galaxy came out for a bit and we talked, and I wanted to say a few things and didn't, instead just focusing on the night and the city lights. Her grandparents came out, and shared some of the locations with me, and you could see the haze from behind the ridge where Oakland should be. It was beautiful and amazing.
By the time we left, we were all excited, Kari and Jen got to try a massaging chair, I had some prose to make, Galaxy got to see her grandparents, I got to meet the illustrious DanceVixen for the first time, and we all got to see Beauty and the Beast on IMAX.
It was incredible. I am still charged. I loved every minute of it. And I'd do it all again too.
Tale as old as time...
In response to "S.F. X-Perience":