*This really is the journal I have my notes in. The notes are really the notes form my journal. The pictures really are from our trip, but they really aren't in my journal. They really are on my computer, tho. Really.*~Lynda*

I think it was at least a month before the premier that we were excited about going-even tho we didn't buy our plane tixx until about 2 weeks before.

Our (then) roommate, Christian, took us to the airport at the butt-crack of dawn (it was still dark even), in the rain, very fast. I've decided I'm quite the dork when it comes to speeding. I just don't dig it. But I suppose that's actually a good thing.

The airport wait was uneventful. I just remember being excited.

(Abbey & I had been babbling about how we couldn't wait to meet Kelly (Spencer-Foodchain Records), Cyndi (Pagan-Bianca's sponsee), Robin (Perine-photographer), Vickie (Roberts-Bianca's sister), Jade (Robledo-Foodchain), etc. We also couldn't wait to see Blaire, Linda, Angele, Gerry, Polly and Andrew again. Plus, we were curious as to who the premiere would pull out. We were hoping Kevin (Baldes-of rock group Lit) would be there so we could see him again, too. I was hoping that Taime Downe (Faster Pussycat) & Rikki Rockett (Poison) might be there, if they weren't on tour. They weren't there but Joshua Todd (formerly of Buckcherry) was. Oh, and we were giddy when thinking that Coyote Shivers might be there.

I took my usual pre-flight Bonine & struggled on the plane between sleeping, snacking, and watching Motley Crue on the little tv on the back of the seat in front of us (except for space, Jet Blue rules!)

Sun 22 June 2003

We got to the airport in Long Beach-it's really small (but serves it purpose, obviously). It was about 10 AM-ish when we got there. We went to the on-site Alamo to rent our car. They gave us a choice between 2 makes (neither of which I remember), but we didn't know what either was, so we asked for the cooler colour.
"White or silver" she said.

"Silver!" Abbey & I said simultaneously.

I wish I could remember what kind of car it was cos it was great, but....oh well.

The drive to my friend Wendy's was about 30+ minutes, and pretty easy. 

All of our driving that week was pretty easy-no bad traffic. I think we were just lucky. 

The rest of Sunday was pretty laid back. We sat around & watched tv (a rarity for us) & Abbey read Harry Potter #5. Later, we went to the 4 N' 20 to eat; then it was off to the mall for light leisurely shopping.

That night we were forced to watch the season finale of Queer As Folk-something we were quite against since we haven't seen any of the rest of this season (we don't have Showtime).

I made a few phone calls to people to let them know we were in town & tried to arrange some meetings.
That was about it...

Mon 23 June 2003

We slept late-that was nice. We hung around Wendy's apt for a while (I felt bad cos Wendy worked almost all day each day we were there so we didn't really get to hang out.)

After we got up and going, we went down Ventura (passing several hundred sushi places) and stopped at the Mystic Eye to buy some gifts for Cyndi and Bianca.
We got Cyndi some odds & ends that were of good luck & protection purposes, and I bought Bianca a pretty little Sacred Heart bracelet to leave at her "parking spot".

That night, we went to Robin Perine's house to meet her & Mushu (sweet dog). She's really nice & her house is amazing. Through talking, I found out some exciting tidbits (well, to me):
1) she shot the 1st Marilyn Manson album pixx (which are actually some of my fav's)
2) she shot the Backyard Babies (*note, I have 3 more facts I learned, but I don't wanna post them in case Robin doesn't want me to-they're just of people she knows that I think are cool)
So, yeah, we hung out & talked with her & went thru her portfolio & such. It was cool.

Tue 24 June 2003

more sleeping late...

We went in search of a non-sushi restaurant (where we could also get veggie-friendly food) & wound up at  California Pizza Kitchen (figures-we have 2 of those here in Rawklanta)

After that, we went to "Bianca's Serious" to spend some serious money (good thing I had my parents card to back me up). I got a cool flames purse, a hat that makes me think of Jeff Solomon (of Tsar), some pin-stripe capri's (I didn't think I would ever own any of these-well, not since the 80s), & some absolutely horrible, & thus great, black lace pants with Poison-green material underneath! We was our 1st poster promoting the premiere in the window, so that was cool. 

We left Serious & drove (a lot cos we were lost) to Cyndi's & hung out & talked with her a lot. We talked about Bianca & such. It was a nice, laid back, personal bit of time. Cyndi has a special place in my heart (in our hearts) & that only enhanced it. We gave her the bag of stuff we made her. She says she always sleeps with it in her pillow case. She gave us a pair of shoes that had belonged to Bianca. She also gave us charms from some earrings Bianca had given her, and some Betty posters.

I can't tell you what a thrill & honour it is to have these shoes. (I wear them mostly). And it's astounding to think Cyndi thought we should have them. I wear the charm on my necklace along with a St. Christopher charm I bought at Mystic Eye & a mood star my mom gave me.

Click to view photo's: Cyndi and Abbey, Cyndi & Lynda

That night, we ate ourselves happily & miserably STUFFED at the 4 N' 20. Then, we met up with my friend Jeff Whalen (of Tsar) at Ye Rustic Inn, a little pub where their taste in overhead music wasn't too thrilling & was actually repetitive. Jeff's best friend Dylan (of former band Champion). his friend Oz, & others were there.

After the bar, we went over to Jeff's to hang out a bit, and he played some of the new Tsar material for us (which I totally dug). But, once again, my heart broke cos I had to leave him again. I don't wanna talk about that, tho.

When we got back to Wendy's, I was  a little emotional, so I exercised & played a bit of pool (kinda weird as a loner). It still bewilders me that I'm still SO bad at pool, despite playing it more now than before...

Wed 25 June 203

The premiere! The main reason we were there!

Early in the day, Abbey spazzed out & wanted to shop, so we wound up at City Walk. She got some cool shirts & we found the A.P. with the small Betty Blowtorch feature in it.

After that, we went back to the apt & got ready. We met Blaire & Linda at Hollywood Forever-it was my first time meeting Bianca. Linda was putting the finishing cosmetic touches on the angel. It's such a beautiful spot. And Bianca's is one of the most decorated in the whole cemetery (decorated by those who love her), with the exception of a young Mexican girl who's birthday was coming up. It was obvious that she is well-loved as well.

Click to view photo's:   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9    

Strangely, Dee Dee Ramone is near Bianca, and he hardly had anything left for him... anyway, Blaire, Linda, Abbey & I walked around looking at the stones & mausoleums & such. They left, and Abbey & I stayed a little longer to visit with Bianca. We left her little gifts, and then left.

We went to Amoeba Music. I've never been to one before & think it kicks ass. I bought some Hanoi Roxx, Betty, and Marc Bolan/T. Rex.

Oh wait! First, we had gone to the Arclight theater to kinda see what was going on and all. We decided to look for food, but did something more vital-shopped for music.

After Amoeba, we went back to Arclight & hung around a bit. Cyndi & Robin were there with their friends, whom they introduced us to. Then, Linda, Blaire, Gerry & Angele showed up (gawd do I love them & was so excited to see them again!) Eventually, Polly & Andrew showed up. Between all of them, we started meeting all sorts of people: Flames Evil (ex-Betty roadie), Punky, Leah, & Chris (Blare Bitch Project), Bob & Susan (Gerry & Angele's friends), Carol (ex-Blowtorch girl), etc. I was standing there & this woman bounces up & asks if I'm Lynda. I'm kinda taken aback-yes. She introduces herself as Vickie (Bink's sis). Then, we all go in & watch the movie (Kelly had been kind enuff to hook us up w/ tixx-which were in the very front row).

Tony Scarpa did a little introduction before the movie.  The movie was great-I'm sure everyone there was a little biased over it tho. I mean, we were all there for Betty Blowtorch...we even talked about wondering what non-Betty people would think about it. It had it's humour, charm, explicitness, pain, & most abundantly: rock!
I gotta admit, I wasn't expecting to see the news bits of the demolished car in which Bianca was killed. It probably hit hardest. And we found out, from the movie, that Dave (Gara) almost went with them. To think...I don't want to. It makes me teary-eyed. (We love Dave, & see him almost every week).

There were a few other emotional spots, but that was definitely the toughest. Luckily, Tony brings the mood back up before ending the movie. It kind of makes me think of Betty Blowtorch & her amazing true life adventures: the legacy lives on even after Bianca's tragic passing.

After the movie, we were tossed back and forth meeting new people. We met Tony (Scarpa).

Judy Molish was there & briefly said 'hi' & thanked us for the site before she, & we, were tossed about some more.

And we FINALLY met Kelly (Spencer). I totally love that chick, so that was a highlight! Really. She's been so great to us (as has everyone else). The after party was where all this happened.

Click to view photo's:   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13     

And guess what?! Coyote was there! I made the mistake of telling Linda we're smitten & she told him! He was all cute & bashful about it. Then we met his cutie patootie wife Pauley who was stoked to hear we knew their friend Kevin (Lawson-local Atl artist).

As the party dwindled, we bid our farewells (some reluctantly again-of course) & left. 

Side notes: I wore the pants & hat from Serious & Bianca's shoes. Vickie gave us a purse Bianca used to use (Abbey carries it sometimes).

Thursday, 26 June 2003

...more sleeping late...

As the day dragged on, we decided we couldn't sit in Wendy's non-air-conditioned apt, so we went where it was cool-we went back to visit Bianca. When we got there, we realised that the baggie that everyone was leaving letters in had gotten wet & water was leaking in, so I began a 45 minute quest to find a sturdy, small, sealable box-then I had to find stickers for it cos it was just too plain for Bianca. I went to Mexico (which, oddly enuff, is just further down the road from the cemetery) to 2 stores-nothing. Back up the road to a gas station-nothing...food mart-nothing...Rite Aid-finally! Sheesh! But at least everyone's stuff is hopefully protected now!

When I got back, Abbey had been hanging out with Mia X, so we 3 hung out for a little bit. Then Casper showed up in his "hookah" & the four of us hung out & talked-or all 5 of us if you felt like Mia said: we were hanging out with Bianca. We were there almost 4 hours before we left near the cemetery's closing hours.

Friday 27 June 2003

...Last of late sleeping...we got up & packed, then went to Foodchain Records. Kelly invited us to the offices & for lunch. They have the hugest pixx of Betty Blowtorch & Bianca on their walls. Kelly gave us a small tour & showed us the American flag Bianca made: Freedom to Rock! She also gave us the cool Betty Blowtorch/Jagermeister shot glasses. Then she let us look at the newly finished artwork for the newest Supagroup CD (Foodchain signed them-they were one of Bianca's fav's). She also gave us some Supagroup posters that were 2 days off the print (the band hadn't even seen them yet) & a stack of new Betty postcards.

Mia X came, and the 4 of use went to Cravings for lunch-where the hostess looked remotely like Ginger Spice & the waitress was a little absent-in more than one way. After lunch, the waitress confirmed Kelly's suspicions by doing a double-take at Mia, & we went back to the offices before saying goodbye.

We went to visit Bianca one last time (on that trip). This time I left 2 of my "prized" personal items: a black band w/ silver stars that Abbey gave me for my bday over a year ago, & a pair of lightning bolt earrings that I've worn for over 3 years. We watched the tribute for Bianca, & then we said our thank you's and good-bye's.

We decided to head back to Long Beach. We stopped at Star Buck's & then decided to go to the mall nearby.

Something told me to check the flight departure time again & I'm glad I did. We thought we left at 12 AM. We were actually leaving at 9 PM, & it was nearing 7 PM! So, we went into Long Beach, dropped off the card, & had another uneventful airport wait.

Another Bonine & four hours later, we were home...