Comic-Con 2009 Week: Tuesday, July 21st.
Roleplays <3
"The Alternate Dimension of Space" (New!Star Trek) - Nancy
eFeds <3
My boyfriend's True Glory Wrestling -- In progress.
Roman's Absolute -- Maybe. I need some time.
Superhero Hype RPG's <3
World of Heroes (DC Universe) as Carol Ferris -- COMING SOON!
Woo! It's been a long time since I've updated anything.
And as you can see by the title of this journal entry, you will understand why. The San Diego Comic-Con 2009 was this past week and it was awesome! Because I want to be a writer, I am going to write about each day in separate entries to avoid over-crowding on one. Keep in mind that the entries will also be posted on my LiveJournal and Facebook, so look out for them-- along with pictures! Lots and lots of pictures!
So, shall we begin the madness? I think we shall.
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009...
It was not a day of Comic-Con. However, it was a day of reality coming to life right before my very eyes. Earlier this year, John (Keyser Soze - Glasgow, Scotland) told me he was going to Comic-Con for all four days and would be staying at the US Grant Hotel for that week. I have known him since the TNA e-fed in November 2005. We have talked to each other through MSN Messenger, either with words or me with my microphone. He is like an older brother to me and I am like a little sister to him (he's an only child). This would be our first time meeting in person.
I woke up early morning Tuesday with only four hours of sleep because of all the excitement and adrenaline. I was so happy because I was finally going to meet my brother-like friend in the flesh. Packing up all my things in my red backpack (though it is small like a purse), money, phone, digital camera, bottle of water and John's presents, I asked my dad for a ride to Fashion Valley so I could catch the 20 bus all the way Downtown on 10th and Broadway. During the drive, we listened to our Freestyle Fire CD and jammed out to party/techno music. This only built up my adrenaline that was constantly coursing through my veins. Before we left, my dad wrote me a check for one hundred dollars and I cashed it in for this week. It was a loving gesture and I thanked him so much for everything. Once we were at Fashion Valley, I kissed his cheek, stepped off because the 20 bus was about to leave, and got on it just in the nick of time. Paying for one-way ($2.50), I settled down and we were on our way.
It took about ten or fifteen minutes to reach the last stop, 10th and Broadway in Downtown San Diego. It was around nine thirty in the morning and I started to walk down the sidewalk, pumped and ready to go. Every step I took, I knew I was getting closer to John. Being a San Diegan, I was familiar with many things and knew exactly where the US Grant Hotel was located, on 4th and Broadway. It was a six-block walk on a nice, warm day. When I reached the hotel, I entered through the east entrance and was amazed. The hotel was so beautiful and elegant, I kept wondering "John must have saved up for YEARS to stay here for the week!" The construction and design were thought of by women and upon the hotel grading system, it scored one hundred percent positive. I could understand why! I was so shocked that I got lost for five minutes trying to find the lobby. Pathetic, I know, but at least I got to see a lot more. When I found the lobby, I asked guest reception if they could contact John. He wasn't answering, so I took a seat on one of the many couches and relaxed. While I am fiddling with my digital camera to take a picture of the inside of the hotel, someone approached me. I looked up at him, he smiled and asked "Melissa?"
"Yes? ... Wait, John!" We started to laugh upon immediate recognition and hugged each other. We were both on cloud nine with so much excitement and happiness. Let me tell you right now-- his Scottish accent is awesome! He was worried I wouldn't be able to understand him, but I was able to catch everything word for word. Once in a while, I would have to ask him to repeat what he just said because of some words sounding like others (Scottish people say "six" like "sex". *SNORT* Seriously, it's cute and funny!), but overall it was fine. After full introductions and me welcoming him to San Diego, we sat down and I gave him his welcome package of presents. Here's the list:
-Hellsing Hardcover Vol. 1 (Tuesday)
-Immortal Rain Vol. 1 (Tuesday)
-Crossfade Falling Away Album (Tuesday)
-Commission Sketch of Carol Ferris (Saturday)
-Commission Sketch of Leon Kennedy (Sunday)
-Black Sharktooth Necklace (Tuesday)
-Bronze Hearts Pendent (Tuesday)
-World of Writers Non-Fiction (Tuesday)
-Pizza Hut Coupons - Saves $30.00 total (they have 'em in Scotland =P) (Tuesday)
He was taken by surprise. I told him it was a combination of early birthday and Christmas presents, but also thanks for all the support and love he has given me within the past four years. He was especially in love with the black sharktooth necklace and asked me to help him put it on around his neck. I was glad to help, then I took a picture of him wearing it with my camera. We talked for a bit in an attempt to calm ourselves a bit, then we went over to guest reception for him to change his pounds into dollars. We traveled together along the sidewalk to the San Diego Transit Store, talking about the excitement of Comic-Con. It was his first time going and it was my second time, but it was my first time with a four-day pass like him. When we entered the store, we got in line and bought our multi-day passes. He bought a two-day for nine dollars and I bought a four-day for fifteen (I had to go back and forward for that long, so why not?). Once we had them, I gathered specific bus schedules for this week and we headed out.
When he asked me where I would like to show him around, I insisted that we take some buses north to Mira Mesa-- which is where I live within San Diego. We caught the 150 and I allowed him to do some sight-seeing, pointing out specific spots like the Trolley System, Old Town and UTC. He was fascinated by everything. In the midst of keeping track of our location, the two of us talked about our days in Studio 21 (the TNA e-fed), how we portrayed Athena and Joe, the story the two of them shared together alongside Nick Xero. We also talked about our lives, mine in San Diego and his in Glasgow. Apparently the weather is always miserable there. Rain, rain, and more rain. He said I should never go there for vacation, but I think I will anyway. I'm adventurous. *Smile.* We get off of the 150 on UTC and dash for the 921, but the bus already left. So I decided to show him around UTC a little. We stopped by at See's Candies, and because I was so hungry, I wanted something of dark chocolate. He bought it for me and followed up by saying "you spoiled me, so I'm going to spoil you" with a smile. I brought up a sugar free dark chocolate bar and we walked out to check a San Diego Trading Company cart. John was also fascinated by all the items and thought of buying something from these carts this week. We bolted up the stairs and down the grassy hill to catch the 921, and we were off to Mira Mesa. I showed him everything, all the nice places to eat, the cool places to shop, the fun places my friends and I hang out. He took notes about them and said he would try to come here next year for more than one week. I told him to keep his word on that.
Our stop was right next to Szechuan House and we went inside for lunch specials. The restaurant is one I like to take my friends and family to with all of the delicious but inexpensive choices. Because of the heat, we both ordered the sweet and sour chicken special-- his with egg flower soup and fried rice, and mine with hot n' sour soup with steamed rice-- and were content with water for drinks. Twelve dollars even for the total. He paid the bill and I left tip money. With full stomachs, we left and walked down to the marketplace so he could do some shopping. Our first stop was Ross. My mom was already out of work, so no discounts for us, but John was alright with that. He was surprised at how inexpensive and nice the men's apparel section was. With the weather in the high eighties, I wanted to buy either a pair of shorts or a skirt. John suggested a skirt, so I glanced around in the women's skirts section and found a beautiful black skirt with a lovely flowery pattern in yellow threads. When I was about to get my money out to buy it, John had already paid the cashier. "Why did you do that?" I asked him, and he simply said "I promised I would spoil you, didn't it?" He is one of the sweetest people I have ever met...
Right next door, we checked out Old Navy for more clothes since he didn't buy anything at Ross. He wanted to see if there were better options here, and he found 'em. His knowledge of fashion wasn't that great-- he said so himself-- so he asked me for help. With the weather being in the eighties this week, I suggested a t-shirt and shorts. We found the t-shirts section right next to the cargo shorts section, so we started to pair them up one at a time. When I saw a black "Carpe Diem" t-shirt and he found a pair of brown cargo shorts, we put them together and I sent him off to change. When he came out, I smiled. I made him look fashionably San Diegan. *Giggle.* He loved them and bought them, then we went to Pier 1 Imports right next door. It was my first time in that store to be honest, but it was great. He said he needed to buy presents for his family and friends back home, so he found a lovely black-framed mirror with a candle holder attached. He accompanied that with an island orchard candle, which smelled so nice I bought a bottle of island orchard hand lotion for my household. After careful packaging, we headed for the 20 bus and went straight to Downtown on express-- no stops on Fashion Valley. More talking ensued between us and a lot of laughing too. We were already so close and it made us both so happy.
Returning to the US Grant Hotel, we took the elevator to the tenth floor and entered his hotel room. It was just as lovely as everything around us. The bathroom was HUGE! You could fit a small party of people in there! The bed-- oh, let's not even started... it was king size and so comfortable. Out of eleven floors, we had a lovely view of Downtown on the west side. HDTV, room service, complimentary fruit, cookies and spring water. It was paradise. John said he was breathless when he saw this was where he was going to be sleeping for the week. Pulling out my camera, I started to record videos of him and his awesome Scottish accent. The writer behind Samoa Joe, LAX, Hal Jordan, The Joker, and more-- so cool! Settling down, we talked about where to go. He wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo and Old Town, but said because of the trip to Mira Mesa, he's content with skipping Old Town. He suggested going to the zoo tomorrow before Preview Night, but I said we needed to go now. Preparing ourselves with cameras, water bottles, money and cookies, we took the elevator back to the lobby and caught the 7 bus to the zoo.
Now, this is where we have A LOT of fun. Around five thirty, we arrive and pay for one-day admissions. The both of us haven't been to a zoo in over eight years, so we transformed into children. It was absolutely funny and awesome at the same time. With a map in hand, we headed for the Sky Tram to take us from the entrance to the other side of the zoo. Once there, we followed the signs with various animals. Deers, hogs, birds, monkeys, polar bears, alligators, tigers... I'll let the photos show you every animal we came across. *Smile.* We were definitely like little kids, snapping photos here and there. We took so many that we had to change batteries. Pretty funny if you ask me, but well worth it. After the tigers (which I do not have any pictures of because they were eating meat), we came across a gift shop. Here, I bought a rubber green snake for my nephew Antonio J because he loves snakes so much, but then I saw this really cute tiger plushie. I am a HUGE lover of tigers and John noticed this, so he bought it for me. It is so freakin' adorable. I named him Tiger Soze. In return, I bought him cookies n' cream dipping dots ice cream. Yum!
With good photos and almost three hours of fun, we decided to return Downtown and check out Horton Plaza across the street from the US Grant Hotel. Knowing Horton Plaza, it is a HUGE place of shopping locations. Victoria's Secret, The Walking Company, Panda Inn, Sam Goody's-- name it, Horton Plaza probably has it. Being around eight in the evening, we decided to get dinner first. We discovered a nice restaurant called O'Brothers Organic Burgers and decided to enjoy dinner there. We were within happy hours, so sliders (x4) and fries were five dollars each! With them, we bought organic soda-- he got a cola and I got an orange. The entire meal was delicious and light! I believe it's just as good as Carls Jr. and Jack in the Box. After that, we headed back to his room to drop off his things and relax. It was around nine thirty, so I had to return home and get some sleep, as did he. He accompanied me to the blue line trolley (right behind the hotel) and waited until it arrived. We hugged and then I got on board, arriving home around ten thirty-eleven at night. However, hyperness and insomnia struck me, so I was unable to sleep that night without giggling and thinking about tomorrow... Preview Night.
Stay tuned for Comic-Con 2009 Week: Wednesday, July 22nd!
~Mel (MadRhapsody) <3