the week that is...COACHELLA : Day 1
this is pretty much a summary of the journal i wrote for my trip to california. due to the length of these events, they will be posted by days.
This is Day 1
day 1
April 29, 2004 : Thursday
Thursday started out like most days for me. I woke up late and went to work. I only stayed there for an hour or so, very short, very brief. I came back home and finished up the rest of what was left of my packing, certain things here and there that i havent packed yet. I waited there until my cousin, Monica, was ready to take me to the airport.
We got to the airport pretty early, mainly because i wanted to get there pretty early to avoid any security hassles. At first i was worried about my carry-on being too big, but that was quickly quelled when i saw how big everyone else's carry-on baggages.
I sat down and waited at gate d8 of the second terminal of Fort Lauderdale Airport. There were alot of businessmen and women around me, all squawking on their cell phones. So I grabbed my own and proceeded to call several people that i know to let them know i wont be around for about a week. Then again most of them already knew about the trip, ive been telling them since i planned i decided to go. The only ones that didnt know are my parents. I planned to surprise them by sending them postcards from my trip. The intercom then went on, and the guy at the counter announced that the flights are a little bit delayed in arriving. It appears that both the weather, and the planes practicing for the air and sea show were causing the delays.
The flight to Atlanta was uneventful. I sat next to this Asian guy who was quiet the whole flight. I just listened to Depeche Mode (Violator Album) on the entire trip to Atlanta.
I got to the Atlanta Airport about 6:30 pm. It is just like my brother-in-law described it. The airport looked like a mall. There were stores, restaurants, and bars everywhere. Well after a bathroom break, i went to look for what gate i will be leaving out of. It was awesome, my gate ended up being in front of a sports bar. I was on the phone with Justin (flunky76) who was already in San Diego and telling him about my flight info, and that i was already about to start drinking.
The flight to San Diego is about 4 hours. The stewardess gave me the menu for the in-flight food service. Looking over it, i noticed there isnt much on there that i can eat. Except for maybe a plain bagel or the kids meal which was a PB'n'J and a cookie. I had that for my dinner meal. YUM. Along with the sandwich i had 2 Miller Lites. They didnt have any other beers but that. Ive never been big on domestic beers, but what can i do. One cool thing about the flight to San D was that no one sat next to me. So I had the whole two seats to myself, plenty of room to move about and stretch. The movie Paycheck was playing. I watched most of it. But for the most part, I just listened to the Ramones and The Cure, until i fell asleep.
I touched down in San D about 9 pm pacific time.
Before landing, the view of the city all lit up was magnificent and breathtaking. Landing was a bit rougher than in Atlanta. San Diego airport is beautiful, very artful design. I remembered seeing it on Mtv's The Real World the week before and i was like...."wow i just saw this place on tv". I was waiting quite a while at the baggage claim though. I didnt know what took so long, but for a moment there i thought my baggage might've went somewhere else.
Justin(flunky76) and Vinny (vinny222)"picked me up at the front of the airport. It was great seeing them again. Vinny i havent seen since New Years for our friend Serena's wedding. It was even greater seeing Justin again, whom i havent seen in several years. Not since that college reunion we had in Gainesville. We went to Vinny's place. Upon arrival i was greeted with some Pacifico beers. We were on the phone with Ralph (ralphjunior) and his brother Alex, who were in a bar in NY. We were making arrangements to do a "universal shot". To those of you who dont know what that is, its basically my friends and i taking shots together, from different places. In this case we were doing an east to west coast one. Vinny took out a bottle of Jack, poured our shots and boom, our nite has begun.
After watching some breakdancing on tape, the three of us went out to this bar called Thrusters there on Pacific Beach. Vinny knew the dj spinning there, thats why we went. The dj was spinning mainly hip-hop music. After several beers, we got a hold of some of our other friends who were in san francisco at the time i believe. JR, Lisa, Alvin, and Lisa's friend Savyon were there. Another "universal shot" was in order. I ordered several shots of jager, and in no time at all...boom. Afterwards we grabbed some pizza across the street. I just shaved the cheeses off of mine and gave them to vinny and justin. The guy in the pizza place tried UF though. I guess he saw Justin's gator hat and was saying " UF sux", while doing the seminole chop. He then said to us "No Spurrier, No championship". We told him how we went to school there, but that didnt phase him. We then left, caught a cab, and went back to Vinny's place. I was ready to pass out when we got back. I guess the trip wore me out. I was going to use my sleeping bag as a blanket. But i fell asleep on the couch, just hugging it unrolled. I woke up freezing in the middle of the nite, and had a difficult time unrolling it while half asleep and drunk. zzzz.
This is Day 1
day 1
April 29, 2004 : Thursday
Thursday started out like most days for me. I woke up late and went to work. I only stayed there for an hour or so, very short, very brief. I came back home and finished up the rest of what was left of my packing, certain things here and there that i havent packed yet. I waited there until my cousin, Monica, was ready to take me to the airport.
We got to the airport pretty early, mainly because i wanted to get there pretty early to avoid any security hassles. At first i was worried about my carry-on being too big, but that was quickly quelled when i saw how big everyone else's carry-on baggages.
I sat down and waited at gate d8 of the second terminal of Fort Lauderdale Airport. There were alot of businessmen and women around me, all squawking on their cell phones. So I grabbed my own and proceeded to call several people that i know to let them know i wont be around for about a week. Then again most of them already knew about the trip, ive been telling them since i planned i decided to go. The only ones that didnt know are my parents. I planned to surprise them by sending them postcards from my trip. The intercom then went on, and the guy at the counter announced that the flights are a little bit delayed in arriving. It appears that both the weather, and the planes practicing for the air and sea show were causing the delays.
The flight to Atlanta was uneventful. I sat next to this Asian guy who was quiet the whole flight. I just listened to Depeche Mode (Violator Album) on the entire trip to Atlanta.
I got to the Atlanta Airport about 6:30 pm. It is just like my brother-in-law described it. The airport looked like a mall. There were stores, restaurants, and bars everywhere. Well after a bathroom break, i went to look for what gate i will be leaving out of. It was awesome, my gate ended up being in front of a sports bar. I was on the phone with Justin (flunky76) who was already in San Diego and telling him about my flight info, and that i was already about to start drinking.
The flight to San Diego is about 4 hours. The stewardess gave me the menu for the in-flight food service. Looking over it, i noticed there isnt much on there that i can eat. Except for maybe a plain bagel or the kids meal which was a PB'n'J and a cookie. I had that for my dinner meal. YUM. Along with the sandwich i had 2 Miller Lites. They didnt have any other beers but that. Ive never been big on domestic beers, but what can i do. One cool thing about the flight to San D was that no one sat next to me. So I had the whole two seats to myself, plenty of room to move about and stretch. The movie Paycheck was playing. I watched most of it. But for the most part, I just listened to the Ramones and The Cure, until i fell asleep.
I touched down in San D about 9 pm pacific time.
Before landing, the view of the city all lit up was magnificent and breathtaking. Landing was a bit rougher than in Atlanta. San Diego airport is beautiful, very artful design. I remembered seeing it on Mtv's The Real World the week before and i was like...."wow i just saw this place on tv". I was waiting quite a while at the baggage claim though. I didnt know what took so long, but for a moment there i thought my baggage might've went somewhere else.
Justin(flunky76) and Vinny (vinny222)"picked me up at the front of the airport. It was great seeing them again. Vinny i havent seen since New Years for our friend Serena's wedding. It was even greater seeing Justin again, whom i havent seen in several years. Not since that college reunion we had in Gainesville. We went to Vinny's place. Upon arrival i was greeted with some Pacifico beers. We were on the phone with Ralph (ralphjunior) and his brother Alex, who were in a bar in NY. We were making arrangements to do a "universal shot". To those of you who dont know what that is, its basically my friends and i taking shots together, from different places. In this case we were doing an east to west coast one. Vinny took out a bottle of Jack, poured our shots and boom, our nite has begun.
After watching some breakdancing on tape, the three of us went out to this bar called Thrusters there on Pacific Beach. Vinny knew the dj spinning there, thats why we went. The dj was spinning mainly hip-hop music. After several beers, we got a hold of some of our other friends who were in san francisco at the time i believe. JR, Lisa, Alvin, and Lisa's friend Savyon were there. Another "universal shot" was in order. I ordered several shots of jager, and in no time at all...boom. Afterwards we grabbed some pizza across the street. I just shaved the cheeses off of mine and gave them to vinny and justin. The guy in the pizza place tried UF though. I guess he saw Justin's gator hat and was saying " UF sux", while doing the seminole chop. He then said to us "No Spurrier, No championship". We told him how we went to school there, but that didnt phase him. We then left, caught a cab, and went back to Vinny's place. I was ready to pass out when we got back. I guess the trip wore me out. I was going to use my sleeping bag as a blanket. But i fell asleep on the couch, just hugging it unrolled. I woke up freezing in the middle of the nite, and had a difficult time unrolling it while half asleep and drunk. zzzz.