Scene from a Rave - visiting Toronto
Photo by JaMmCatLast weekend was another whirlwind trip to Toronto and back. Caught the redeye on Thursday night through Boston, got into Toronto about noon. The flight from SFO to BOS was terrible - it was a 757, and the seat I was in had previously been used by a herd of elephants. I normally catch a little sleep on these overnight flights, but this time sleep eluded me. Grabbed some food in Boston, than onto an ERJ for the hop to Toronto. The ERJs are never full, and I had both seats (B+C) to myself. Simple, but comfy interiors and I slept for a good bit of the short flight. Arrived in Toronto, and through customs quickly - I finally managed to answer all the questions without tripping over something like 'where are you coming from?' (that's ... such a complicated question! It /always/ gets me) Transited downtown, dropped my stuff of at Darq's place, as I was staying with her, then walked to Rock Oasis where I met up with Lisa and Sarah for climbing.
Rock Oasis differs from Planet Granite considerably. Smaller, straighter routes with less surface transitions, but (IMO) more technical climbs. They are also less generous with their rating. A 5.10c at PG may only be a 5.10a at RO, and that's generally true across the board. Did several climbs, didn't complete a few because I just didn't know how to do it. Did one climb that was unrated, but looked a lot of fun. Took a bit of work, and involved going around a corner for a bit and then back, but after working at it I made it to the top. Lisa tells me that when they went back on Wednesday, it'd been rated - as a 5.10c. I don't agree (I'd call it a 5.10b myself) but, it's not an easy climb and I did it, and it was FUN! ;-)
Dinner with Darq at Ethiopian. It's like the only Ethiopian place in Toronto, but it's good, even if they don't have Tej (how does an Ethiopian restaurant have alcohol and not have Tej?), then back to her place and watched Neverending Story. We both fell asleep towards the end of the movie.
Saturday went down to brunch, said hi to people - Starwolf, Edolon, and Raverfox are the names I can recall, others were there that I'm failing at their names.
Met up with Sarah and Lisa, hit the Apple store up where I got a new case for my iPhone, then onto dinner at Jack Astor's, where I had the world's worst milkshake, but otherwise good. Time to get ready for the rave: Tetris-Print pants, Kandi, and my orbit. Also, a bra, even though I never wear one normally. This was smart of me. Caught the streetcar to The Bop.
Totally confused the door people at the rave. The guy started to pat me down, when they realized I was a girl, and they had a momentary oops moment, and the gal did a very cursory pat-down, before waving me in, but forgetting to give me a wristband. Started out okay, did some dancing, but my mind was distracted. I was expecting Sarah and Lisa to show up, so kinda waiting for them. Took a break, stepped outside for a bit, came back in, but was in a bad place and tired, and was thinking about going back to Darq's to sleep, but ended up meditating in a corner for a bit, calming and centering myself, then was able to get back out and dance, and had a really good time. Played with my orbit a lot, sometimes on the dance floor in front of the stage, sometimes up on the stage. I preferred the latter. Less crowded, and I'm playing with a spinning piece of plastic that'll bite people if it touches them. Less crowded is good. ;-) A couple times security asked people to get off the stage, but I wasn't ever asked. (to be honest, I think he mostly cared about those who were infront of the DJ - I was off to the side, not in front of the DJ, and generally tried to not be in the way). Saw a good number of people I'd met last time I was in Toronto - mostly furry ravers, but a few non-furs I'd seen too. Except for the crash I had about 2 hours in, I had an awesome rave. Lots of dancing, learned a couple new moves with my orbit. I got a few compliments on my pants, lots on my orbit - I had people actually ask/tell me to pull my orbit out a few times when I had put it away - even had more than a few cameras pointed at me throughout the night, although so far only one of those photos has surfaced.
I have to admit, I love trance, but cheesecore can be lots of fun, and Nocturnal Commissions throws a good rave. I so wish I could make it back for their next one (New Years Eve) but that seems unlikely.
After the rave, walked back to Darq's and dropped right off to sleep for four hours. Got breakfast, then met up with Lisa and Sarah to spend a little time with them before heading home, and onto the airport. In packing, I forgot my stick at Darq's place. D'oh. Using my spare right now.
Flight home was mildly eventful. The ERJ was again comfy, got some sleep in, then had ~35 minutes to get all the way from one end of ORD to the other, very doable but means I'll be the last one boarding potentially. While walking, I look up at the monitors and they change from 'ON TIME' to a 3 hour delay. Our plane had mechanical difficulties - a leak - so we had to wait for a replacement. Our plane was supposed to be a 767 (which I recall as being fairly nice), but instead we ended up on a very-full 757 again. This time my seat had a real cushion, but I was in the front of exit row, against the window, so my seat barely reclined at all. Still, at this point, I was tired enough I still slept for some of the flight. The 3 hour delay also meant I got back to San Francisco after BART shut down for the night, but thankfully I was able to get a ride through Joyce and Andrea.
Just over 48 hours in Toronto again, but had a pretty good time. I know more of the furry and raver community there than I do in this area now, I think - admittedly, many of the people I knew there are in both communities.
Only downside to visiting Toronto is all the interpersonal drama I get caught up in the middle of while I'm there. You wouldn't think 48 hours would be long enough, but the instant I land, I'm in the middle of it.