by Captain Wolf
To understand my connection with Apollo Smile it is important to go
back to
the beginning.... the end of February 1999 to be exact. See this is
when it
all began, a few weeks earlier I found an article about Apollo in a
video
game mag, to make this portion of the story a little shorter I simply
found
her e-mail addy and I mailed her. A little game of e-mail tag ensued
and
resulted in my joining her mailing list and getting some stuff in an
envelope with her tour schedule on it. The closest her tour would come
to my
hometown, Niagara Falls, New York: the toxic waste capital of the
world, was
Toronto, Ontairio, Canada at the end of August. Over the next few
months I
scraped what meager funds were at my disposal together and eventually
made
my way to Toronto.
Captain Wolf's place.
Saturday, August 28, 1999. 4:30am E.S.T.
I wake slightly early not from excitement, but from the call of nature,
but
the excitement was there as well. Squeezing in my morning workout and
breakfast I get ready and at 6:30am I make my way to the bus station.
United States/Canadian border.
Just past 7:00am E.S.T.
I get to bus station and about 7:00am the bus arrives, after a tense
stop at
the border, I begin the long hard journey to Toronto. Very pretty
scenery
along the way and by about 9:00am the bus reaches the city and the bus
station.
Toronto, Ontairio, Canada.
9:00am E.S.T.
The bus station is only about 25 minutes on foot to my final
destination so
I had no trouble getting there. I did take the time check my
suuroundings
and bring a map so as not to get too lost. I reach the Metro Toronto
Convention Center (Centre?) about 9:25am.
The Metro Toronto Convention Center, Ground floor.
About 9:30am E.S.T.
When I arrive and enter the beautiful facility I was greeted by a long
ass
line of equally eager fanboys and fangirls trying to get in as well.
During
my wait I start taking to a guy behind me, then I notice a trio of
teenage
girls in cute schoolgirl-type costumes, not wanting to miss the chance
I get
a photo of the girls. I tried to get a pic of the guy after noticing he
was
wearing a costume as well but sadly it didn't come out.
Dealer's Floor.
Just past 10:00am E.S.T.
After paying my way and getting my v.i.p. pass I begin my journey
through
the convention. What I saw was a vast market area for selling stuff,
space
set aside for autograph sessions, an area for artists, and some
leftover
space for corporate weasels to show off their wears. It was very
exciting
and this was only the beginning.
Dealer's Floor, near "the booth."
About 10:30am E.S.T.
As made my way through the dealer's area I casually look to my left and
notice,"the sign," a large stand up banner with Asian writing on it
that I
immediately recognized. Totally by accident, I had found Apollo Smile's
merchandise booth, and I saw Douglas and Peter standing there. Instead
of
eagerly rushing over to the booth I go the other way, shaking like a
leaf,
after a moment or three I regain my composure and venture over to the
booth.
Seemed pleasant enough, lots of stuff for sale, I am about to give this
table the once over when a cute little blonde in a bright red outfit
shows
up, with a doll in one hand and a Diet Coke in the other. She quickly
notices me and I'm wondering,"Is this her?"
I then say,"You know you bear a striking resemblance to the girl in
these
pictures here."
"That's me silly!" The little cutie replied in her mousy little voice.
It was official, I had finally met Apollo Smile, what threw me off was
the
fact that her hair was down. I then deliver her a vocal message from
Drew
Dubois and she immediately knew who I was talking about. I then tell
her who
I was and she was happy to finally meet me as well. I then buy her
album and
the infamous "Hello Kitty" photo and she kind enough to sign both,
using the
name most of Apollo's fans know me by since I already had an autograph
with
my real name. We then pose for some photos and I get one of her
wielding a
toy lightsaber I had brought with me. Then I hit her with the big one,
I had
asked her about that snack food she liked so much, something called
pocky.
Then I go,"Question: Yes I talk like that, would it look something like
this?"
And then I reveal from the small duffel I had brought with me not one,
but
two boxes of the stuff, chocolate pocky to be exact. I offer to give
her
both but she insisted I keep one so I did. Before I forget, I also get
a
button from Peter, I put it on and asked if I looked like a suck-up.
They
tried to reassure me but that feeling still lingered........ for about
an
hour and a half.
Theater 1, Ground Floor.
Just before "High Noon."
After my first meeting with Apollo and her crew I prowl around the
convention for while, at 11:35am I look over at their booth and noticed
Apollo had vanished.... time to move. It took some walking but I
finally
found the theater where Apollo was performing her show. I manage to get
a
second row seat when I spotted that a guy in the front row had some
stuff in
the seat next to him. I ask him if anyone was sitting there, he said no
and
was kind enough to let me sit there after he removed his stuff. A few
minutes later, the show began with Apollo coming out from behind a
curtain
and scattered a cloud of purple glitter on a few people a few seats to
my
left. Funny thing, this was the very first time I got to hear her music
after hearing all the stories about how cool it was, I was not
disappointed.
Yeah it was just her, a mike, a tape machine, and a few weapons thrown
in
for flavor, but I loved it! I tell someone later in the day,"If I
wasn't fan
before, I am now!"
Dealer's Floor, later that afternoon.
After the show I was in a state of total euphoria, I made my way back
to her
booth and let her know how much I loved the show. She was way too nice
and
didn't seem to mind that I practically hung out at their booth for the
rest
of the day. She seems to be under the impression that I'm going to join
The
Groove Army when it eventually gets set up, I think it's a pretty safe
assumption. At the end of the day, and I'm on my way back to the bus
station, I do something I would never have had the nerve to do that
morning......
I gave her a great big hug.
I was so happy, not only did I get to meet Apollo Smile, but it was the
first time I ever met an e-mail buddy in person. It's a day I'll
remember
for a good while.
Bus Station.
6:35pm E.S.T.
After leaving the convention, and getting a bite of dinner, I board the
bus
back to the states. A very long trip, with my head full of crescent
fresh
memories and lots of Apollo stuff in my duffel. I look forward to
meeting
her again, whenever that may be.
