This is Chester Dean, and this is my California experience.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The last stop Los Angeles. Leaving San Jose was hard. We took the light train to go to Santa Clara and walked to the Greyhound station... walking all those streets again made me want to stay, I wanted to stay there forever.
But my lifetime dream was going to Los Angeles. My mom and uncle goes there like three times a year since I was a kind and I always wanted to go. And it didn't let me down, I loved it. We crashed at my cousin Jenny's house the entire time we were in LA. I finally got to meet my nieces (Natalie and Mia) and nephew Marco, and saw again my nieces Julie and Sabrina. We spent an amazing time. The first time, ironically, we ended up having tacos and burritos at King Taco... yeah, right... I traveled all the way there to eat Mexican food LOL.
What we mostly did in LA was shopping, so I spent a lot of time in a mall or a shop. But one night my auntie Gelly took us to Hollywood. Another dream come true. Jorge and I took a lot of pictures of the stars... a lady told us "You'll spend the whole night doing that, hope your camera have a lot of space" LOL. Here are my favorite stars.
We then went to the Kodak Theater that was getting ready for the Academy Awards. And the coolest part of the night happened.
- I always loved Johnny Depp's hands because they seemed small and delicate. And now I know just how small his hands are LOL...
- I'm freaking over AL PACINO's hand prints... omg omg omg THE GODFATHER, THE FUCKING DEVIL AL PACINO!
- And the best of BESTS... I'm holding ROBERT DOWNEY Jr's HAND!!! Awww he has small hands too (so does Al). For anyone that doesn't know... Robert Downey Jr. is my favorite actor... so, another fanatic dream come true (ok, I didn't get to meet him... but I at least touched something he touched first LOL).
- Look... his hand is almost the same size as mine hehe they all have small hands haha. Awwww ROBERT DOWNEY JR!!!
@HP Pavillion. My heart skipped a beat when I saw that sign.
When I arrived to the HP Pavillion, my heart stopped when I saw the big screen announcing Linkin Park was playing that night, I couldn't believe all that was really happening. I waited a couple of hours until I was called for the meet and greet. When I was walking the corridors to the room the m&g was going to take place, I started registering the idea that I was going to meet LINKIN PARK, that it was for real, and I had a little panic attack, specially when I entered the room and saw the Linkin Park poster and the table with six chairs and sharpies, my guys were going to be there, sooo close to me. But the guys that work for them and organize the m&g before the guys arrive calmed me down, they told us what to do, gave us advice on what to say and just enjoy the meeting, that they were normal guys like anybody else, that there was no need of being so nervous. They joked with us, took pictures, and made a trivia, I answered the names of every single album the guys have released and won a bracelet and a little plastic bag full of small pins from the LPU :D the coolest bit was that they took a picture of me answering and it looks like I'm showing the finguer to someone but I wasn't hehe.
Me trying to get picked to answer the trivia. It looks like I'm showing the finger to someone because I'm actually holding a guitar pick with two fingers and raising the others LOL.
Then, they told us the guys were about to arrive, then the panic attack came back, I put my iPod on recording and just waited to see how I'd react, because on every dream of my fantasy meeting the band I always passed out, cried, or did something pathetic, I just needed to wait which one of those would happen that night. The door was a double door and both doors were open and I saw Joe clothed fully in black and a pony tail, since Joe isn't Chester, and my reaction was OK, I thought it wouldn't be so hard... Joe didn't enter the room though, then Brad showed up and closed the doors smiling at us, then he kinda opened one and peeked into the room, everyone shouted (including me) and closed the door again, opened it again, everyone shouts, closes it again, then it opens wider and an unknown guy shows up and everyone is like "Boooh" closes the door and then Brad peeks again and everyone shouts, you can see him enjoying the game and having a good time, then the door opens wide again and the janitor walks by carrying a cart and we all laugh hehehe then Brad peeks again and we all shout, closes the door, opens wider and Chester is standing still beside the door with eyes wide open, we all go crazy, I started shaking 'cause I realized MY Chester was there, just some steps from me, the door closes and next time it opens all the guys walk into the room, first only Brad and Chester and my heart was racing.
I'm still excited and shouting but hadn't lose it, you know? That's when I knew I could make it without making the fool of myself crying, freaking out or dying of a heart attack as I alwas thought I would. All the guys go to their seats, Chester's on my left side, I can't take my eyes off him, I just CAN'T, he starts humming and drumming with his sharpies like a little kid, I'm smiling like an idiot while he's being adorable, I'm recording everything and the video shows how I start shaking as Chester looks right to me and smiles at me, like knowing just how much I adore him and was expecting him to be nice to me not to be traumatized for life LOL when he smiled at me, I felt this urge to cry but controlled myself. Actually, I think I was reacting quite well, not overreacting, not being too fangirly, showing just what was needed to show of enthusiasm.
Yes, all those sounds like someone having a stroke... it's me :D
Before I even noticed I had to go get my stuff signed and meet the guys for the first time. First it was Rob, he has this face like a scared little puppy you just want to hug him and tell him everything's gonna be ok. He looked at me and since I had managed not to have a heart attack, I felt ready to talk to my boys, so I said "Hiii" and he said "Hi, how are you?" and I told him I was more than perfect and that I was waiting for this moment for ten years and he said "Wow, ten years? Really? That's a long time" I explained him I was from Mexico and didn't have a chance to go the time they were there and he said "Oh, then I hope you have a great time tonight" I said thanks and he said "Good luck and have fun" that was prolly the longest conversation I had with any of the boys. Oh and he shook my hand.
Next in line was MIKE :D he was looking at the other side, so when he turned to me he flashed me with a beautiful smile, seriously, he was like hyper happy that night, he even stretched his hand to me before I even asked for it, so I took it and shook it as eagerly as he was shaking my hand, "Have you seen our show before" while he's signing my book, I said no and told him I've waited for this for ten years and wished me good luck for the night. He kept smiling, OMG, he's seriously BEAUTIFUL when he smiles and his eyes disappear behind a curve that makes him look just ADORABLE. My mom was already with Rob, she said she didn't speak English and Rob said "I don't know Spanish but the guy in the last seat does... -points to brad- HIM" and I turned to Rob and said "Oh my mom loves you, by the way" he laughed and I think he actually blushed hehehe.
Then it was Joe, he already signed my book (the concert's program) and I said Hi and since I didn't notice he had signed it already I just looked at him, he smiled and looked at me too like asking me what was I waiting to keep moving and when he noticed I didn't know he had already signed my book he pointed out to his signature and I was like "Oh, sorry, thank you" and he said "No problem". I kept walking and now it was Phoenix's turn, I don't know why, HE made me starstruck, I just said "You ROCK" and he smiled and said "Oh thank you" and shook my hand and then signed my book, I couldn't say anything else. Which is funny 'cause of ALL the guys, I never thought I would get shy-er with Phoenix, like... he's not my favorite from them all (which DUH is Chester), I thought I'd even lose it with Rob, but not Phoenix. But since I follow him on Twitter, the idea I had of Phoenix changed a lot, and he really rocks, and he really is worth starstrucking for, and I admire him even MORE now. He's incredible, so yes... I got starstruck by Phoenix and couldn't speak.
The exact moment I was saying "Hi" to Chester in person for the very first time in my life (but hopefully, not last). A life changing moment for me.
And then... there he was, the MOST AMAZING HANDSOME TALENTED MAN IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE!!! Chester Charles Bennington. I didn't say anything at first, he smiled at me again, like KNOWING something so I smiled, I said "Hi" and shook his hand, it was soooo soft, I loved the feeling hehehe. Then I told him "I'm... the... Chester Dean" and he kinda opened his eyes a bit wider and smiled wider too "Oh glad to meet you, thank you for everything you've done -signs my book- hope you have a great time tonight" I smile and told him I was going to have the best time but then I leaned a little on the table and showed him the design of a tattoo "Can you do me a liiiittle favor? could you sign this? it's a tattoo I'm getting" he looks at it and says "Oh cool" and then signs in it, way bigger than his normal signature to make it look good with the size of the tattoo, sooo cute. I thanked him and he shook my hand. I couldn't believe I was meeting HIM... Chester freaking Bennington. It was a dream come true, he's my biggest idol in the entire universe and I'm not kidding.
Now it was Brad's time, he already signed while I was drooling and being all stupid about Chester hehehe. I said thanks and walked away, but then he started talking in Spanish with my Mom which was pretty funny, he told us both to have fun in Spanish. All I remember of Brad was his smile, he had the smile of a boy, a boy that was thinking on something devilish to do LOL. He was amazing. He was the only one that didn't shake my hand, though.
Then it was time for the group picture. I forgot I had Chester's present on my jeans' pocket, he was some steps away, so I breathed and took courage to actually call him "Chester... Chester" he was distracted so he turned and say "Uhm?" with the most adorable face in the world. I told him "This is for you" and handed him the small golden box in my hand, he looked at it and said "Oh thank you" awwww. Don't know why I did't hug him or asked for a picture... I was just shocked and couldn't think straight. Then, he walked right next to me for the picture... and here it is.
The best night of my life. After that, they said goodbye and walked out of the room and I was left there feeling like the luckiest girl in the entire world. Then, we all walked out and it was time to go to our seats for the concert.
The concert was... was... TOO FUCKING AMAZING!. When they walked out to the stage my heart beated so fast I thought I was going to die. For TEN years I waited for that moment... that moment of Chester walking out on stage, taking the mic on his hands and start singing. He was so energetic, he shouted, jumped and danced around. The stage wasn't the normal square stage... and he never left one single side unattended, he walked around and gave everyone what they wanted... HIM. Every time he was close to where I was at, I felt something I can't even put into words. And yes, I'm sorry... but I focused mostly on him hahaha.
When they played Waiting For The End, the typical fangirl moment happened and I cried like a fucking baby. Everything hit me, all those nights dreaming about them, all those times watching their videos, listening to their albums or watching their DVD's... all those years summed into one night, one show. THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE. I'm so thankful to them for making me so happy, they've gave me the best memories a girl could ask for and that one was THE BEST.
When they sang In The End I went nuts, because, when I knew about the band, Crawling, One Step Closer and Papercut were already singles... but In The End was the next single and I remember waiting for the video premiere and all that jazz, and it brought back a lot of memories. At the end of the show, they played Papercut, New Divide, Crawling and finished with One Step Closer... it was like walking down Memory Lane. They ended the show of my life with songs that literally marked my life. I loved it. I loved every second of it. Even though I felt the show ended in a heartbeat, I never felt hours had passed, it passed too quickly.
I walked out of the place wanting another show already, you can never have enough hehe. The best live show I've ever seen.... it was THE NIGHT OF MY LIFE.
Do you know the way to San Jose?
I've been away so long. I may go wrong and lose my way.
Do you know the way to San Jose?
I'm going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose.
L.A. is a great big freeway.
Put a hundred down and buy a car.
In a week, maybe two, they'll make you a star
Weeks turn into years. How quck they pass
And all the stars that never were
Are parking cars and pumping gas
You can really breathe in San Jose
They've got a lot of space. There'll be a place where I can stay
I was born and raised in San Jose
I'm going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose
Ok, I wasn't born nor raised in San Jose... but I loved it and could easily see myself living there. I've been in a lot of places in Mexico, been in San Francisco and L.A. But I've never liked a place like I liked San Jose. Such a wonderful place.
I became addicted to Denny's. I'm a sucker for Pancakes, and being able to eat as many as I wanted for only four bucks was amazing. We had breakfast and dinner at Denny's. We arrived late, so we only went to Denny's for dinner and headed back to our hotel to sleep.
@Denny's to get some eggs, pancakes, hot coco and nachos LOL
The day after, we woke up not so early and went back to Denny's for breakfast. After that we packed our things to go to the HP Pavillion for Linkin Park's concert. I had never taken a Light Train before, so it was once again a new experience for me.
Everything was Linkin Park that day...
We were at Guish and had to go to Santa Clara... but we didn't know heh, so we missed our stop and left at the next station, there a really nice man told us we were in the wrong way, so we took it back and got down in Santa Clara. There we walked to the Greyhound station to get our tickets to LA for the next day.
After that we walked to the HP Pavillion that was just some blocks away. I regret the fact that I didn't take pictures of San Jose (I didn't want to waste my camera's battery for the concert). But San Jose has become my favorite place in the universe. I have to come back, I'd do anything to live there someday. I just loved it.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
This was my first trip to California, so I'm pretty excited and I'll write a little bit about everything I did. I visited San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles and loved every bit of them, specially San Jose.
- First stop... San Francisco.
- Do you know the way to San Jose?
- The Linkin Park Experience...
- Everybody comes to... Hollywood!
First stop... San Francisco. I hate flying, so my nerves were a little bit crushed, the landing in San Francisco was kinda shitty, but as soon as I stepped out of the plane I knew I was going to love the experience. I always wanted to go to the States and didn't have a chance before.
@San Francisco's airport looking crappy.
We (my mom and friend Jorge) arrived to San Francisco around 12 pm and Jorge's cousin was already waiting for us with his girlfriend Bree (both really really nice people). We went to our hotel right away to check in, but we had to cross the Golden Gates bridge to get there and I freaking LOVED IT. Our hotel wasn't the nicest hotel on earth but it was cheap and looked pretty. I was freezing my butt there but I even loved the weather. That night we just went to bed.
The day after, Rodrigo promised to take us out and look around. We went shopping and I found the coolest leather jacket on earth (it was cheap too hehe) it wasn't as warmth as I needed it to be, but as soon as I bought it I never took it off even if I was freezing.
You can see in my face I was suffering the cold, but looks goes first hehe.
I also saw The Cheesecake Factory for the first time in my life, and as a Big Bang Theory fan I had to fangirl about it.
We were there for a while. I don't remember the name of the street but it was pretty cool. I had never seen stores that allowed dogs in them (Mexico doesn't allow people to walk their dogs at their shops LOL) so it was pretty amazing being in a place so different to my normal thing.
After that we went to the Golden Gates bridge to take some pictures. You're not a tourist if you don't go there and take a bunch of pictures.
- My mom, the prettiest woman on earth :)
- That's me and my Rockstar complex, specially with my jacket hehe.
- Jorge and I rocking out the Golden Gates.
- Jorge, Bree, Rodrigo and I. They were amazing.
After that we kept shopping. There were so many STUPID things I had never seen before (only on TV or movies and stuff like that) it felt funny to see them for the first time and even if I'm 25 years old I felt like I was only 5.
- I saw steam coming out of the drain/sewer. I was like "Uh like in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" LOLAnd, I fell in love every two steps on the street. There were hotties EVERYWHERE. I like blonde guys with green eyes (not so commong where I live), so I was like in heaven, lots of blondes LOL.
- A homeless person with a cart. I had never seen one, and saw two in San Francisco. And indeed I thought "Oh my god, like in the movies".
- A homeless with a sign. He was with his dog and the sign said "We're starving" and had to give him money. People over her only ask for money or do things for you to give them money, no signs though.
- So many Skycrapers in one place. I live in a small city, there are really few tall buildings. But there I had to break my neck to see the top of a building.
@ The AT&T Park - We wanted to go to the slide but it was closed.
Around 7 pm, Rodrigo drove us all the way to San Jose. I don't remember much of the drive because it was night, I was probably exhausted and... I seriously don't know why I don't remember much hehe.