Where do I begin. Well first of all, don't expect clever or creative writing, I'm not that good with putting my words, thoughts and feelings down in print. And no pictures since the camera's weren't allowed. I did get some of the gals and pics around LA like The Ivy, CM, etc.

The road trip was long but it was also fun with another angel and soul2soul (and their friend Danielle) We made it to audys house late Sunday night and chatted awhile. She has a beautiful home in the mountains. We took two cars to LA since audy was going to stay the week to visit family so I rode with her.

It was a delight to get to know her for those 8 hours, and even more so being roomies three days. She gave the hotel staff hell when we got crappy service and $$ knocked off at the end. (you go girl) The minute we hit LA and Sunset Blvd, she drove me by his house. Oh don't give me that look you know everyone does it. It was just a nice way of making me feel like I had arrived in Keanuland. I immediately felt his presence. Naturally he was in NY at that time but some workers were there with the garage door open so I got to see the porche as we drove by.

That evening we met up with CK members Carolee and Bethanie for dinner at Cafe Med. (we did the "eat and drink at places Keanu has" thing) After I chilled out from fuming over what I considered rudeness from the owner (didn't like all of us asking for a table outside w/o a reservation) we had a nice dinner. Food was great, albeit expensive. I find out those three days that it's not the only place that drained my bank account. Bethanie and Carolee are terrific ladies, and I was very happy to meet them.

Day two we kinda split up to sight see, angel and them did their thing while audy and I did ours. We went to the Walk of Fame to see his star, but that damn Oscar show coming up had bleachers all up and down that walk and covered his star. Oh well, maybe audy will snap a pic for me next time she's there. We then tried to find out where the party was going to be held. We knew the name, Geisha House and address but just didn't see it. (come to find out they don't have their name on the building) We were misled twice by people saying it was in this particular mall thing, but nothing. So we got wise and took the advice of the security guard who earlier suggested to ask at the information desk there. We did and they directed us to the Restuarant/Club. I think it was about three blocks away from the theatre. Long blocks.

After we located the party place we did lunch at the Ivy. $$$$ for a casear salad and glass of wine, snobby people, but the atmosphere was nice. Maybe if I could have replaced the snobs with fun down to earth people it would have been better. But I still wanted to see the place.

There were Constantine billboards everywhere, that was nice. Anyhoo, we went to pick up Bethanie and went inside for a drink. Her place is so cute and her artwork/paintings around the place were breathtaking. She made one special for audy and now I want one. :) From there we went to Chateau M. and had a couple drinks and snack. Again, mucho $$$$$ But that place was beautiful and we had a very enjoyable time together talking and laughing.

Day three, premiere day, very nervous. I have a lifelong childhood friend who lives in LA that I haven't seen in almost 20 years. She and her hubby came to visit me at the hotel and you can imagine how wonderful it was to see her again. That time with them kept my mind off being nervous. After they left it was time to get ready. I got ready before anyone else did, just incase something went wrong and I had to redo something, you know, the hair, the clothes, etc. So I sipped a bit of wine while waiting to leave. Audy managed to persuade the hotel to drive us to the premiere. We hooked up with Bethanie first who was in the fan crowd hoping to take pics for us. I met Nettie and Wanderalla while we waited to go to will call for our tickets. (separate from our nice WB invitations) Nettie and Wanda it was great meeting you!! Wish we had more time to chat.

We got shuffled inside the theater which I was bummed about. It was my impression thru our WB contact's email that we could be there, on the red carpet, when he arrived, with our camera. (just not inside) Our seats were off to the right section row 5. I then thought he would be sitting up in the VIP boxes which would mean going up a back way, and would not see him. Major depression setting in. I can see it now, come all this way out here, after all this time, all this money, and I don't even see him. Just my luck. But someone from WB sitting behind us told angel and soul2soul the stars would be sitting on the ground level with us. Feeling better now. Before this, Nettie and I tried to hang in the lobby to catch a glimpse of him outside doing his red carpet thing or see him come in. However the ushers kept sending us back inside the seating area. arrghh. Well I didn't go, I just changed sides of the lobby. LOL....I SO could feel his presence though, I knew he was just outside the door from us. I saw his mom but not him.

We're in our seats, waiting, and of course the movie is not going to start on time. Keanu must run late alot. hehehe. Soon I hear one of the girls, I think audy, say "there he is." Yes he was in the aisle after the section to the left of us. Many people around him. I got to watch him from afar a few minutes, talking, shaking hands, hugging people. etc. Mum, Karnina, Rob and Rebecca were around. Audy kept telling me "go, go to him" I was frozen, just staring at him, but somehow found myself inching my way. The aisle of seats across from us only had one person sitting there, at the very end closest to where he was, so I headed thru there, slowly. I did get a lot closer (he was then inside an aisle of seats talking to someone, standing) when an usher (me to usher: "I'm just looking.") sent me and everyone back to our seats because the movie was about to start. Keanu had his bag of popcorn and we saw him take a seat several rows back from us in that mid section. During the whole movie I kept thinking "he's just over there watching this with us"Oh btw, the movie was awesome, loved it and he did such an outstanding job. The audience applauded at the beginning, during a couple other kick ass scenes, then at the end when his name came up in the credits. I felt so happy and proud for him. I won't give any spoilers but I loved one scene, where he was getting Angela ready to take her dip in that tub. Such a cute moment between them and his reaction to her question. The audience laughed loud. Anyway, I must and will see this movie again very soon. Of course after the movie ended the audience applauded. I looked back but didn't see him, even while we were headed out I didn't see him. (did he leave to the party already? Before the movie ended?)

Once outside we waited to see him leave, we saw everyone else, Erwin Stoff, Rob and Rebecca etc. But when it looked like the place was empty and he would be coming out, they made us all leave the area. So we headed to the Geisha House. We arrived and everyone went in thru a side door and up some stairs. Dear God that place was jammed packed, could barely move. I thought "no way we can ever find him in here, IF he even comes) First good sign he'd be there was seeing Rob and Rebecca. As we walked by I shook Robs hand "Rob Mailhouse nice to meet you, you don't know me but I know you and just wanted to say hi" He smiled and said hi, very nice. We continued on thru the crowd. I saw the director Francis, Shia, Djimon, Erwin Stoff, then suddenly I see Cheryl. She was headed the opposite directon so we decided that's the area he would be in. It wasn't long after that when audy spotted him . His reserved area had two (or more can't remember) tables with long booth seating along the wall. The other side were chairs. I see him, clear as day, right there on the edge of a short platform talking to a man. His area was quite crowded with family and friends. But there was a clear path in front of me right to him, it was meant to be. I watched him for a minute, then took a deep breath and walked over to him for my moment. I can't recall exact words, but basically went like this: "Excuse me Keanu, so sorry to interrupt." He was very sweet and said "it's okay" I handed him my CK card and briefly told him I was the webmistress of a popular Keanu fansite and traveled from Texas in hopes of meeting him. He took the card and said something like wow or cool or whatever it was. I was just in a daze so who knows, I just heard that voice that's all I remember. So we shook hands, I told him how much I respected him and his work and that the movie tonight was great. He thanked me and said glad you enjoyed it, blah blah. Then "I'm not gonna keep you but before I go, may I have a hug?" He smiled and said "of course, hugs and kisses hugs and kisses" and he leaned over and hugged me. (and hugged him right back). After the hug I said "you've made me very happy tonight." As I left I tapped my card which was still in his hand and said "if you're ever online stop by, it's very respectful." He said "Okay I will." I said bye and started to walk away but turned and saw that he put the card in his inside coat pocket. I didn't go far since it was a wall of people, so I got to take him in a few minutes longer watching him chat with everyone. He looked like he was in a good mood. And did I mention so freaking gorgeous? I just have no words to describe. I still feel his large but soft hand in mine and the hug will be with me forever. I just love his lean look too, the hair and beard were just perfect and his suit was dashing.

Audy found me and we wandered around a bit then she headed back to where he was and disappeared into his crowd. I'm standing there thinking she's saying hi and will be back. Nope, I was still standing there minutes later. So I finally worked my way to where I could see thru the crowd and she was sitting there talking to a pretty blonde. I called to her and she told me to come sit down. She introduced me to her friend who I can't say the name but she knows chicks and CK and hugged me hello. Audy and her became pals at a becky gig. So I planted myself down in a most primo location for Keanu viewing. He was sitting there, on the booth side, chatting and smoking with a very pretty brunette. audy's friend was next to her, then audy, and I next to audy but facing Keanu. The music was very loud so I didn't hear him talk or even audy most of the time. But I watched him when I could w/o being too obvious. Who am I kidding, I couldn't stop looking at him. This lasted about an hour, me chicks, right there drinking him in. He was animated, smiling, talking, smoking his cigs, and sipping his drink. At one point he let out that loud yell he does now and then. Audy and I just looked at each other and smiled. So cute. Must have been part of his story he was telling to brunette. As he chatted people would go up to him, he would graciously stand to greet them. Karina stood inches from me, she looked great as did mum who was with her b/f, curly hair dude. She later came from the other table and sat next to Keanu for a few minutes and chatted. Then brunette asked if I had a pen which I did and let her borrow it. Don't have any idea what she wrote, ahem, but she gave it to him. She left and audys pal moved over to Keanu to talk to him, but only a few seconds before others came and got his time. Within a few minutes he got up and went to the edge again, where I had met him, Cheryl was next to him. We're thinking he was about to leave. audy wanted to say something to him and went over to him. As I waited for her, there at the edge two feet away from Keanu, I noticed I was next to Kenny Funk. (oh and that other cute friend Emil was there) I introduced myself to him. We shook hands and I told him how I recognized him, from having a site and his pictures in my gallery. He was quite funny and very nice. "Do I look taller and more handsome in person?" LOL, yes I said. We chatted just a few more seconds, told him it was nice to meet someone who's pictures I've seen all this time. Audy was finished, we FINALLY got to the bar and got a drink and swept the place looking for our friends to leave. Couldn't find them. By the time we were back by his area everyone was gone. We went back down the stairs to the outside, where we saw Gwen S. and Gavin R. going to their limo. They had stopped to sign a few autographs. I didn't bother since I was on a Keanu cloud. We hailed a cab (that's so much fun to do, did it twice) took the short ride back to hotel hell. audy and I went and had a drink in the outside sofa room and she let me relive the moment with her. We didn't get to sleep til 3am and woke up at 7am. I was dead exhausted but it was a "good" tired. I just couldn't bare the thought of that two day long drive home. I just wanted to get home fast where I could just think and dream of my Keanu moments. I called and booked a flight for massive amounts of money, took a cab to LAX (not cheap either) and came home one happy and content fan. I did angel and them a favor too by flying home since they wanted to stay for the becky roxy gig to see Keanu whom I heard showed up. I thought he would but I had my turn and needed to get home.

As I said in the previous post, I'm grateful to angel for giving me the opportunity. Audy I so owe you. She didn't care one bit about meeting him since she has met him before and her mission was for me to finally get the chance. That selfless act on her part has made her a very special person in my life. I will always be grateful audy! And always a friend. I miss you!!!

Some parts of the "memory" are still quite clear others have always been a tad foggy, I suppose because I was in a daze talking to him. The important stuff remains vivid, like the handshake, the hug, the "hugs and kisses", seeing him standing there so tall and handsome, sitting at the table chatting, smoking, drinking etc. It was a night I will never forget, my dream come true thanks to many. As grateful as I am for that encounter, when you meet Keanu, once is not enough. I hope I get the chance again some day, if not I will treasure this always.