akirali

**For maximum effect, each of these dates should be followed by the Law & Order DOINK-DOINK when you read it in your head**

Wednesday September 6th
At about 1:30 I start to feel sick. The symptoms feel rather familiar, and I'm reminded of the illness that inspired this post. I leave work an hour early because I can't continue talking on the phone to customers for fear of losing my voice. Also, the headache and fatigue are setting in and I can't concentrate on my work. I get home and stop at Eckerd to pick some preventive medicines and last minute toiletries for my trip. I get home and sleep for a while to try and cut this sickness off at the pass. I wake up, finish my packing, and call Samling to solidify the plans for the next day.

Thursday September 7th
To say I couldn't sleep would be an understatement. I set my alarm for 3:20 am and my taxi was coming at 4:00. I was up and dressed by 3:15. I made it to the airport in plenty of time, but was still feeling shitty and sick. After a bit of terminal confusion, I got to my gate and waited. I started reading one of the six comic book trade collections I bought for the trip. I spent $75.00 on comic books to read on the trip. Ubergeek, thy name is Akira. I'd love to say more about my flight, but I slept for the majority of it.
I landed in SeaTac Airport at about Noon PST. After crisscrossing and passing each other on opposite sides of baggage claim, I finally spotted Samling. This is gonna sound lame and fictitious, but all of those symptoms I was feeling the day before started to melt away. On our way from the airport she pointed out several interesting spots as well as the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. We stopped for lunch at a Red Robin and after a little more driving around we stopped at a comic shop. I'm in town less than two hours and I'm already fed and buying comics, my hostess was showing me quite the time . After lunch and comics, we stopped as a little beachfront and walked around for a bit. It was then that I saw that beaches in the Pacific Northwest have more rocks than sand.
After a quick stop at her place to drop off my bags and to meet three sane cats and one cracked out kitten (who took quite the shine to me), we stopped by school to pick up her daughter. She is an adorable little girl. We stopped at Wal*Mart for a little bit before heading back to the homestead. I met Samling's roommate. His tech knowledge gives me brain envy . Around this time, Howdypardner stopped by. We all chatted for a bit while out hostess cooked up some tasty fried chicken, rice & broccoli.
After a big day, we all decided to get to bed. Besides, the kid was trying to sleep, and she had school the next day. Against my several protests, Samling insisted that I take her bed and that she sleep on the couch. My chivalry was turned down flat, so to the bed I went.

Friday September 8th
Samling and I started the day by taking her daughter to school. She really didn't want mommy to leave, but eventually we were able to take our leave of her. Then we made our way to West Seattle to pick up Howdypardner for a trip downtown. We started our trip at the pier. The ladies shopped for pirate booty and I hunted for a bathroom. We also visited Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe and looked at mummies and two faced animals. After a little more aimless wondering, we walked through Pike Place. I saw the flying fish, got some banging ass spring rolls, geeked the fuck out with Howdypardner over the Zelda ocarinas for sale. I swear, if they weren't $50 a pop, I would've been all over those. Later we went to the lower level and, yet another comic store. Those girls know how to treat a guy right I came up pretty big while I was there. I picked up a recent book my store was sold out of, the last issue I needed to complete my Emma Frost run (1-18 are now bagged and boarded in my short box ) Another trip to West Seattle to drop off Howdy and we were on our way to pick up the little one from school.
Then, the three of us (myself, Samling and her daughter) headed out towards Olympia to meet her mom and drop the kid off for the weekend. Apparently her mom liked me, and I made a good impression. We stopped off in town and I picked up a book for my friend Cinna. We also had some nice Indian cuisine.
Once we got back home, I played Guitar Hero with Samling's roommate for a bit while she baked some cookies. We made an early night out of it because she had work the next morning.

Saturday September 9th
I woke up at 6:15 am because I forgot to tell my mother that my plane landed ok the other day, and because she forgot that there is a 3 hour time difference.
Samling left for work and Howdypardner picked me up for breakfast. We hit up an IHOP in (I believe) Renton. After that we went to her brother's place where I met him, his wife, and their lovely daughter. We watched an episode of a hilarious show called Little Brittan, and I geeked out huge when Tony Head showed up in one of the skits
Next we went out to Admiral Point where I took some of the few pics I took on the trip. Next we went to the beach and tried to skip rocks and play charades for a while. We were pretty mediocre at both. Samling arrived and they ladies exchanged control of me. Samling and I went out to lunch at a place I forget the name of ("The Celtic" something or other).
Next on the agenda: Seattle Science Center. We park in the lot and I get to see Samling's Butterfly and Dinosaur impersonations. She's quite talented We went to the Science Fiction Museum and geeked right the fuck out. From Kirk's chair, to the models used in *batteries not included, to the 1:1 scale models of Ripley's Power Loader and the Xenomorph Queen, it was a geek's wet dream.
After that we went to the Experience Music Project. For someone like me who enjoys all kinds of music, and especially likes to study the evolution of popular music, it was a great place to visit. I had tears of joy in my eyes when we walked through the "First 10 Years Of Hip-Hop" exhibit. Krylons, fat caps, Kangols, fat gold chains, and the original handwritten lyrics to "The Breaks" will do that to a boy. The Sound Lab was tons of fun and reminded me of my days as an aspiring producer/engineer. And the Jimi exhibit. What can be said of it other than it is spec-fucking-tacular. At this point we were both bushed, so we headed back to homebase to recharge and eat leftover Indian.
Next we went out to Tawnya's party and I met some fine SG Seattle-ers including, Freckle, Estrada, it_thing_hard_on, Trevallion, SupremePizzaMan and tons of others that I know I'm blanking on. Sorry guys. But it was great to meet you all
Next, back home and sleep, for my plane left Sunday afternoon.

Sunday September 10th
Last day. No fun at all. I really didn't want to leave so soon. I had a great time and wished that I could have stayed longer, but I have this whole "work" thing to go to apparently. Samling made me a filling plate of French Toast and we drove off to the airport. I missed her the second I walked into the airport.
More sleeping occurred on the plane, but not as much as on the way out. I was able to put a modest dent in my Essential Moon Knight (Doug Moench was fucking awesome on this character). Touched down back in Philly about 11:45 EST, and was home about 30 minutes later.

I had a great time out in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. One of the best vacations in recent memory. And "recent memory" is going back to high school here. I had the best hostess anyone could want. Samling is an awesome girl, and even though I talk to her quite often I'm gonna miss her. It was great meeting Howdypardner and sharing some Zelda geek out moments and introducing her to J-Zone, Ef@mm, and other cool music. All of the SG Seattle folks were great and made me feel right at home, I felt very welcome even though I was essentially crashing in from the east coast.