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Post by vanynessa on Jan 8, 2008 10:28:47 GMT -5
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Post by vanynessa on Jan 8, 2008 13:58:21 GMT -5
Haha, OMFG that's right Mel........you must have gotten an ear-full!!! I love it (and have improved my vocabulary with words like a$$munch and urghhhh........lol.)   ;D Okay guys, be impressed with my only taking a few days rather than months to post the FIVE MILLION PICTURES I took at the gallery (holy hell I took so many; no wonder Kate questioned me, haha!!!!!) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D THE PHOTO ALBUM OF PURE JOY: s175.photobucket.com/albums/w151/vanynessa/Alec%20Egan%20Artshow/?start=allHere' the links again, to everything:As many of you guys know I went to Portland and met up with Tina (who lives in Portland) to attend Alec Egan's artshow (aka Kate Mulgrew's younger son). I finally have the pictures (all five million of them, good Lord....) posted on photobucket. Here's the link; feel free to take them for whatever, just throw my name up there somewhere if you don't mind (if you post it that is.) Oh, and I was trying VERY hard to focus the pictures on the event and not stick the camera in Kate's face, so there aren't many Kate pics, but there are tons of Alec pics (which is how it should be.....it was HIS night, afterall). *ALSO* I posted the link to the blog and the video that Tina and I made earlier, but just in case you missed it, here it is again (and AGAIN, FORGIVE OUR SILLINESS.......) Here's the link to my blog (aka- the crazy report): It can also be found on totallykate.com. blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=101767977 And here' our somewhat insane little video, hee hee: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUhVtvwNApA ENJOY~!!! |
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Post by vanynessa on Jan 8, 2008 17:33:07 GMT -5
Thanks JF!!! I'm ready for us to get a big group now and meet her together, all her Kate girls....the poets, the scrapbook girls, the playgoers (aka Cindy and Alexis) and everyone else. We can get a group picture!!
I'm glad you liked the photos, Tina.......how'd you like the captions? lol.
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Post by KateJaneway on Jan 9, 2008 2:40:58 GMT -5
(So.... Vanessa gave such a great report that I am going to do my best to live up to her example. So I'm just going to start from the beginning. BTW.... I refer to Vanessa as Nessa... I'm not lazy, that just what I call her now. LOL)
I started the morning getting ready go go pick up Vanessa. I was really excited because not only was I going to be meeting Kate and Alec, but I was also going to be meeting someone that had become one of my best friends. (Thank you Kate for being you, otherwise I may never have met this wonderful person!) I got up early to go to the airport, and on my way I had decided to stop and get some poster board to make a sign so Nessa would know automatically who I was. (and to be a cheeky...hehe!) I had sent Nessa a J/C fan fiction story a long while ago, and she had taken up the nickname of Janeway's and Chakotay's child. (Which I'm still laughing about, cute one Nessa.) Anyway, so I get to the airport and while waiting I made a big red sign that said 'Chenoa Janeway.' I spotted Nessa and held it up....which got a big laugh and a picture of me and the sign.
We had planned to go shopping because nothing in my closet was no where near presentable enough for Kate and Alec. At the time, I somehow don't think jeans would have worked. (Although they actually might have...much to the dismay of my credit card company...HAHA! Too bad for them huh?) I decided to take Nessa downtown and show her my great city. Not to mention the best store in the world, Nordstrom Rack! And to Nessa's excitement, Oregon's no sales tax! Whoot! We shopped for about 6 hours. HA HA! As I am totally a impatient shopper, and think I look horrible in almost anything, it was an event in itself. Four clothing shops and a shoe store later we found our outfits. I proceeded to take Nessa to Kells. As I am Irish, I had to make sure that she experienced my favorite pub. (Which for anyone who comes to Portland...you must go! It is the Northwest's most popular Irish pub and they have AWESOME sweet potato fries!) We had dinner and Nessa waited as I ran across the street to buy a pack of cigarettes. (Sorry, but I was getting so nervous about the following day that I started my old habit up again....Awww, six months of work down the drain, oh well. HA HA!) We proceeded downstairs to the 'smoking room' and sat for another two hours talking about Kate, Voyager, and our favorite topic 'The greatness that is Janeway/Chakotay!'
Finally we left and went to attempt to find the gallery, as we wanted to make sure we knew where we were going in the morning. (d**n Map quest is all I have to say! I am sooooo emailing them!) We got lost twice and the FINALLY, on our third try (third time's a charm, right?) we found it. Whoot! We got out and look in. Some of Alec's art was out, so it was nice to kinda get the feel for the place. So with nerves high as ever, we left and went back to my house to get some sleep. (Yeah...like that was going to really happen! Pssshhhhat!) We stayed up for another couple hours watching videos on youtube, charging up our camera's, getting our clothes together.... and basically attempting not to freak out! LOL! To calm ourselves I put in 'Resolutions' and we finally started yawning, so we went to sleep with lovely J/C and Voyager on the mind. (I have no idea how I even slept, really.)
The next morning we were so excited that we woke BEFORE the alarm....Haha! I think we got about 4 hours of sleep. Which was SOOO enough for me! So we made our way To the gallery....(Hey, we needed to make sure we could find it in the daylight too. LOL d**n Map quest!) We strolled by and saw a couple people in the gallery working away. I had no clue who they were, but did have a sneaky suspicion one was Alec. We went across the street and had coffee and croissants...(Mmmm.... yum.... Fresh made too! Not the crappy ones you get at a grocery store....but enough about the freaking bread. HA HA!) Which reminds me I have some video of us there that I didn't put on the youtube video I made...hummm. Edit time. *sigh* Just more footage of us being total dorks! LOL Just what we need! We talked some more about things like art, and just really basking in being together for this. (Nessa is a truly wonderful person. In this day and age it is hard to really find those great friends and I will be forever grateful that she shared this fantastic experience with me. And Voyager/Kate aside... We found that we have sooo much in common and I know I have found a true friend for life. Okay I'm done being cheesy.HA HA) Soon we left and not only did we see Alec, AND Nessa got the courage to talk to the owner, but we also found what we dubbed 'our coffee shop.' Whoot!
I took Nessa to get some Voyager books. (Which they did not have BTW....grrrrrr.) I had a great event in the parking garage.... which I had warned Nessa of my 'road rage', which was severely magnified by 100%, as I now had a countdown of four hours before we needed to leave for the Art show, and as I am a girl with a serious amount of hair. It takes FOREVER to get ready for work, let alone an art show with Kate Mulgrew! So needless to say.... some swearing was involved. (For more details...see Vanessa's blog.)
We finally got back and got ready. After many outfit changes from Nessa, and tending to the burn I had given myself on my forehead from my curling iron... (Figures. *rolls eyes*) It was finally time to leave! YAY! The drive there went by too fast. My stomach tightened as we got out of the car and headed toward the gallery. We found a bench outside, where we waited for my friend Timmy. (And btw....thank you god for the good weather! No rain! Whoot!) So therefor no rain, means we could sit across the street and attempt to look completely casual as we watched Kate setting up. I noticed Kate look over at us, we instantly became very interested in our shoes. LOL (We are dorks) I found it somewhat uncomfortable, under the watchful eye of Kate, so we left to walk in the direction where Timmy would be coming from.
We walked by the gallery one last time, which was completely unrecognizable from what it had been only a few hours before. The flowers were gorgeous! The room looked incredible, which only made me more nervous. (What if I spilled wine? OMG! I'm such a klutz...I could soooo see that happening. LOL!) So we went and had dinner and Nessa and I played a round of pool. Timmy was great in trying to diffuse my internal freak out I was having. I was so irritated the last couple days because time was slowly crawling by, and now it was speeding along faster than I go driving down I-5! I could NOT sit still! Poor Timmy was getting my version of what is dubbed the 'Janeway death glare,' as he SLOWLY took his freaking time drinking his beer. (Gaaaa! Men!) I spoke up, and asked what time it was. He took the hint downed his beer, which gave Nessa and I time for one last 'freak-out' moment before starting next door.
Now here is the amazing part. We walked in, I behind Nessa, to a crowd of mix sophistication and funky eclectic. The air had the buzz of the persona, I only thought existed in the movies. Let alone being included in. I did not even have time to look for Alec or Kate, before I knew it she was already in front of me, thanking me for being there. At that moment it truly hit me that this was Kate. Not 'Janeway Kate', not "convention Kate', but really just Kate. A very proud mother and gracious hostess. As her question snapped me out of my revere, "Would you care for some wine? Red, white, or blue?" (Ha Ha! I love Kate! Have I mentioned that yet?!? Well I should have!) We all said 'white' and waited for Kate to come back to us. Nessa and I discovered that night that we really don't need words to express our excitement with each other, as we both gave each other the biggest grins, and knew what the other was thinking! Kate comes back glasses and wine in tow....she proceeds to fill our glasses and went back to tending to her other guests. Nessa and I turned to each other and mouthed "I love her!" and then went off to check out the art. Soon, Nessa went in search of Alec to get permission to take her pictures, (Thank you Alec!) as Timmy and I started perusing. The night went in such a blur to me. I met so many fascinating people, most of which were friends of Kate and Alec.
Alec is quite amazing. He made sure to take the time to explain his work, I learned quite a bit about art, and was fascinated by his own interpretation of it. Alec is intelligent, witty, and completely adorable! Kate did an amazing job raising this talented young man, and should be (and is) proud of him. Nessa and I stood looking at our favorite pieces, talking about how we would just love to have one, when out of the corner of my eye I see someone sitting down next to us. I had to do a double-take as I realized it was Kate. (OMG! Can we say blood pressure raising threw the roof!) Kate then looks at Nessa and asks, "Can I ask why you are taking so many pictures?" As I noticed Nessa attempting to collect herself from the question, (LOL I could practically see the wheels in her brain screaming 'WHAT?!?") so without thinking I jumped in and put my hand on Kate shoulder and said, "Don't worry Kate, she's just a pathological picture taker." (LOL!! I made Kate grin!) Tension now broken, Nessa explained to Kate that she has a love of photography and the camera never leaves her hand. (Very composed by the way Nessa, good job keeping cool.)
Kate then asked our opinion of the art. (OMG! Was she serious?!? How was one suppost to even think strait...let alone come up with something clever with her standing a foot away from me!) My eyes widened as I stood there thinking of how NOT to embarrass myself, while Nessa told her her thoughs. As my mind SCREAMED at me to say SOMETHING half way intelligent! I believe I said something along the lines of...."Well, I like the purple." (*rolls eyes* Note to self:.... Reasearch 'art talk' and 'art expressions' next time before attempting to engage in an intelligent conversation with Kate Mulgrew.) Moving right along...we told her which one's were our favorite, which Kate and I both have the same favorites! (Hahahaha!!! Kate and I RULE!!) She told us which one she bought, (Actress in the City, BTW.) and told us stories of when she was young and collected art. Inside I was thinking Kate would be excellent in working retail, as I was now on a mission to by some art!! (As I could say no to Kate! How could one even do that! SOOO NOT!)
Anyway, Nessa asked Kate why some of the paintings were untitled, and so Kate said she would go get the artist for us. Alec then comes over and captivates us with his reasoning behind the paintings. If I wasn't sold with Kate, I was now. The passion Alec has for his work was memorizing. I was taken, and now have a great admiration for art. And because life is also....funny, funny, funny... and Nessa had better timing then I, she bought my favorite painting. (Which is totally cool, as I now have an excuse to go to North Carolina and 'oogle' her painting. LOL) It was quite adorable to see Alec's face when Nessa said she was buying it! (If you haven't seen the video of it, you so must!) I was so happy for her, and a bit jealous, but happy nonetheless. (YAY NESSA!!!) Alec went to get Annie, (Art gallery owner, and an awesome person!) she marked that the painting, showing it was now sold and took Nessa and I to the back.... so Nessa could claim her prize. By the time the signing was done, Kate and Alec had both come over. Kate gave Nessa a big hug, then Nessa asked if she could get a picture with all of us. Kate said "of course" and we all squeezed together for our group photo. As we parted I was now on my mission to find my painting.
I was very captivated by two of them. One, untitled and the other was his 'self portrait.' I have to say I was so torn. I wanted both! (Grrrrr! Stupid decisions! I am so indecisive, I take hours picking out shoes, let along art!) I stood at one, Nessa had gone off talking with Alec, and I was slowly sipping my wine, having an internal conversation with myself, and attempting to decide.... when I feel an arm around my waist. I automatically assumed it was Nessa, I was shocked when I looked over to find that the owner of the arm was not Nessa but was indeed, Kate!!!! (Ahhhhhh! Yeah, I know!) She did it with such sly grace and comfort, it was as if we were old friends, ( I could only wish!) but I instantly felt a nice clam settle over me. I put my arm around her waist (as if I have done it a million times before) and she stood there with me (for about five minutes) attempting to help me decide. (There are moments in your life that you know you will remember forever, and this was one of them.)
Alec then came over, and Kate excused herself and went back to her guests. I told Alec that I was still deciding, and then I told him about the one's I was considering. I looked for Nessa who was across the room, and pointed to the one's I wanted. She confirmed what I was already thinking, with a loud shout of, "that one!" which Alec and I were standing by. (self portrait). I then turned to him and asked his opinion. He told me that he thought I should get the 'self portrait,' which I considered it for about, ohhhh..... all of a nano second and then told him, 'Alright. That's it then.' Alec got a big grin, and then proceeded to give me a great big hug! ("Hello Ommm, Alec....can't breathe!" LOL) He let me go and then once again went to get Annie. Nessa was now across the room, and as I spotted her I yelled that I got one. As we made our way toward one another, I saw Kate had seen what had just transpired, and as I hugged Nessa, heard Kate say, "these are the small things that make it worthwhile". (Awe...how sweet was that! Good thing I have hearing like that of a Vulcan! Ha ha, yeah *sigh*....gotta love Trek humor!)
After Annie had stickered MY painting!!! (HA! MINE!! Whoot!) I made my way back to Alec. I, in my attempt to be funny, went up to him and told him since I bought his painting, and I was too lazy to walk back to my car for the cigarettes that I had left in there. (Stupid, Stupid, STUPID!! I had forgotten the ultimate rule of one must have a cigg after each of the following.....*cough* great sex... (Okay any sex).....great food, and buying great art! Especially when you are a broke barista and will now be saving ALL your my tips for the next year to pay for my recent purchase!) So....I asked to bum a smoke so I could bask in my moment. He laughed and gave me one. I asked him if he lived here in Portland, and he said yes, as I told him I lived here too, he told me, "Wow, we should hang out sometime!" ("Ommmm...Hello God.... I just want to say......THANK YOU!") I told him that would be great! And then went out for my well deserved cigarette.
I went back inside still very much in awe, and went to find Nessa. I found her filming everyone by the wine, I filled up on some, and then we made our way over to my painting. After some more filming of us and OUR painting, sometime later Kate made her way back over to us and I told her, very proudly, that I had bought a painting. Kate then said, "Awe..." And gave me a big hug! (Okay, I can officially die happy now!) She congratulated us on our very first art purchases and said, "Well I think this deserves a round of high-fives!" (Seriously...can it get ANY better!!) Kate said we now needed a picture of us with the artist. Alec came over and took a picture with Nessa, he made a particular hand gesture, and I noticed a confused eye-brow raise from Kate. Then as Alec and I set up for ours, Kate grabbed his hand, and asked, "What are you doing? What does that even mean?!" (LOL....totally mother and son moment! Again, we'll keep Alec's hand gesture meaning between us. LOL.)
Alec then left and Nessa and I had quite a long conversation with Kate about what we did for a living. Nessa told her about her kick ass job, (she is a cool chemical biologist) then I told her that I worked at Starbucks. (Yup, lame. BUT, I can steam her a badass cappuccino anytime!) I did however, throw in that I was an English major and was hoping to someday be a writer......Nessa just HAD to throw in that I wrote her a poem, which I and my friend, read to her at a convention. (Okay kill me now! Yup just open up the Earth and swallow me whole! Not that I am embarrassed! God NO! I was quite proud of the poem, I do however, cringe at the remembrance of the amount of stuttering I did when I asked if I could read it to her....argh!) *slaps forehead*(Sorry.... replayed it in my mind.)
The evening went on and Nessa and I continued to mingle and converse with everyone. I somehow lost Nessa, and went in search of my friend when someone grabbed me by the wrist. I turn to see that Kate is AGAIN, the owner of the hand. (Okay... again God, THANK YOU!!!) Kate leaned in and softly said..."I want you ladies to do me a favor......." (Ommmm...ANYTHING my mind screams!!!!), "Okay." I reply shakily. "You see that bar across the street?" .... "Yes." I nod. "The one with the OPEN sign?" ..... I follow her other hand that is not attached to me with my eyes, as she points, and again, I nod...."Go over there, now. Just you two ladies. Do that for me.........just you two. Go now." ...."Okay." I say, as we part and I go now to find my partner in crime. I find Nessa talking to someone, I cannot remember the person, as I was now on a mission from Kate herself, and anything else was irrelevant. I pull a reluctant Nessa out of the gallery, and explain what had just happened.
I finally got her into the bar, and comprehension clicked as we entered that we were indeed about to be hanging out with Kate! (WOW! I can't even describe the feeling of honor that had been presented to us!) I automatically sat with the ladies I had seen at the gallery, which was also accompanied by famous actor Kevin Tighe. (Who we have dubbed to just calling him...'famous actor Kevin.') We sat an introduced ourselves. Becky and Vicki..... who are Kate's best friends.....OMG total dolls! They were incredibly sweet and down to earth, as was Kevin. We got to watch as they debated on whether, we would be staying at the bar we were currently at, as it was packed, or if we should find a new one. As Kevin went in search of a bigger venue for the group, we got to know, Vicki and Becky some more. Soon, Kevin had returned and said that there was a restaurant that was completely empty and would stay open as long as we wanted. (OMG...'as long as we wanted?!?' How long could this night go on?!? My mind was now laughing as I thought about how VERY lucky we were!)
The rest of the evening went by too quickly, as we talked about many things....Art, politics, movies, hair, relationships.....WOW! I went out for a cigarette as I was soooo overwhelmed by the sheer joy I was experiencing. I smoked with Alec for a bit, then he went back in and Robert Egan came out. I honestly had NO CLUE who he was. He asked me for a cigarette, to which I obliged. He asked if they were menthol, and I said, "Hell no! That's just sick!" To which he laughed and concurred. We got into a pleasant conversation, of where each of us lived, what we did, then he asked the inevitable, "So how do you know Alec?" (LOL!! d**n! Can't a Trekker get a break! Again, not ashamed, but it was Alec's night and we wanted it to be all about him.) Yet, I told him that I got an email and decided to come. As he gave me a inquiring raised eyebrow....I conceded, and told him I was a fan of Kate. He smiled and said..."Ahhhhh...." and let it drop from there. I asked him then how he knew Alec.... (Hahaha!! Good one Tina! You dolt!) "Alec's actually my son." is what I heard next, I nodded my understanding and looked down at my shoes. (And THEN proceeded to put my foot into my mouth, as I am such an idiot! I take it back....KILL ME NOW! Urg!)
I then changed the topic to the weather.
Alec came outside soon after and told Robert come come back in. We then power smoked our cigarettes, then returned to the warmth inside. I sat and grinned at a still very pleased Nessa, and watched as a very touching moment unfolded between father, mother and son. Alec proposed a toast to his parents, I sat completely humbled and silent as I blinked back my tears, once again, captivated by this brilliant young man.
All too soon, the night came to an end. Alec's friends were the first to go, and soon we were all getting ready to leave. Nessa snagged some awesome truffles, (Mmmm...chocolate! I wonder how much these are? Ahhhh.... not the time!) We departed going by the gallery for one more picture of us to end the night, when I notice Kate getting into the car beside us. She then thanked us, told us to be safe..... (Awwwww, I feel like I'm being mothered by Kate! How sweet is that!), and god bless. We took our pictures and headed off to my car arm and arm, watching as Kate left, and the greatest night of our lives came to a miraculous close.
**Well, that's it. I forgot to add in that Timmy left at some point soon into the beginning, which was seriously fine, as I was completely and utterly distracted! LOL!!! I hope you all enjoyed! I know I did!**
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