Part I - And it all started with a pair of cheap black boots
Sometimes I like to leave bits of me behind. So after my visit to California, the Avocado House was reminded of stay by these black boots I'd forgotten. Two months later, the boots found their way back via Lauren, who works at Roadtrip Nation with Mariana (my fellow roadtripper) and Maya (our series director/awesome The Colourist drummer lady).
It was Saturday afternoon at SxSW. From dessert with Dana and Liz at my darling Halcyon I walked to 301 Brazos St to fetch my shoes from Lauren. I was curious as always and asked who they were interviewing today. The answer: Perez. My response: What? Her answer: Perez Hilton.... Of course I asked if I could tag along.
So I entered a strange empty warehouse with Lauren and the Roadtrip Nation gang. With me following, our group was six which raised some eyebrows, but we forged on amongst the make-shift construction.
They took us to Snoop Dogg's dressing room lit with a chemical green tinge and red couches. I said my hellos and waited with nervous excitement for Perez, a man I didn't know much about except for the fact that he was pretty famous. After a considerable wait where we all teetered around like cats ready to pounce, Perez walked in. His entry so swift and quiet that I barely notice, besides the split-second silence in the room.
First my eyes are drawn to the school-bus yellow, rubber buttons on his shirt. So in comes this man dressed as a black and yellow phone with pink shorts, displaying white terriers, and blue, red and yellow hi-top sneakers. His hair is arranged like a baby cockatiel, doing nothing to help his round face.
Appearances aside, Perez was definitely an intriguing man. He was personable and ready to dish out advice. Unfortunately, we only had 10 minutes to discuss the ways of the world, so take-home lessons from Perez: Don't get a credit card unless you can pay it off every month. Make life fun even if you're in a situation that might not be.
Part II - Breaking the Bloggers' Code: Thou shall not gate-crash another bloggers birthday party!
After our short, sweet interview, we were all given a special VIP stamp for later that night when Perez would throw THE party of SxSW. Hours later when it came time to make my big entry into the celebrity world, I was emphatically turned away - repeatedly. Initially, I followed orders like a sad puppy and stood in line, but when I realised it could be hours before anyone was allowed in, I decided to take action. Sneaky action. Lillie and Liz gave up on my cause and left me to party elsewhere, but I thought I had a real chance at creeping past the lone security guy guarding a rather large entrance. Let's call him Larry.
So when a man came up to talk to Larry, I didn't think twice. One step over the yellow tape and I was in. Then quick, not panicked steps, and I was further in. Unfortunately I hear Larry yell at me to stop and feel his hand grasp my shoulder. I wince but keep propelling myself forward and Larry finds himself grabbing smokey air. Thank you to everyone else who tried storming in after me and providing Larry with another distraction. I continued Alias-style, stripping my purple coat and beanie off to blend in with the party-goers.
Next step was to find some allies. Maya and Dana were already there so I wandered in search of my friends, grabbing a chocolate cupcake along the way. After uniting with them, I shared my enthralling tale of danger and adventure, but learned that the party wasn't so exciting after all. The evening did get better when the music acts started pumping out, the likes of Alphabeat, Agnes ("Release Me"), Estelle, Snoop Dogg and Courtney Love with Hole. By the time Love was introduced, the crowd had become a large group. We left when our ears couldn't stand the pain anymore. Excited, exhausted we entered the early morning chill.
And that is how you live a day in the black boots of Su-Yin Chan.
If only I wore those boots all the time.
