I lied to every one of my friends :(

It's true (finally). I said that I was not going to read Hogan's new book because it had nothing to do with his wrestling career. But after meeting him, it felt appropriate to just take a gander.

And now after 2 days I am more than halfway through his book, AND it does include discussions on his wrestling career-but not as detailed as I had hoped. At least they are there though. It's a quick and interesting read (especially for 26 year old Hulkamaniacs!)

So do yourself a favor and pick it up because no one will be borrowing my copy since it's signed. (those same rules apply to my signed copy of Twin Peaks and my copy of Black Sails in the Sunset sorry friends)

-a.

Whatcha' Gonna Do!? (Part 3)

It finally happened. After twenty-six years of waiting I have finally met my favorite living person. I've daydreamed of this day, it usually ended with us grabbing lunch and watching his greatest matches in one sitting, while discussing the cool behind-the-scenes drama regarding the outcome of each match. Not to be picky but sadly it did not happen that way--but it was still AWESOME!

Normally I'm early or right on time to something, but yesterday I swore that I had to return to Barnes & Noble with my ticket at 4:30 pm. At 3:52pm I happened to look at my ticket to see it read: "If you are numbers 1-250 you must be on line by 4 pm."

Without thinking I ran out my house and drove as fast (and safe) as possible to the bookstore. Luckily for me the book store is five minutes away, but still this is the moment I've waited so long for that it was so stupid of me to confuse the time to be there by.

I took the first parking space I could find and ran for the line. They were just letting numbers 20-100 inside. I got in line and was led upstairs, where they placed us in numerical order.

Anticipation set in over the course of sixty-plus minutes of waiting.

Finally it was time, people were cheering and all I could see was a pink bandanna, and Jimmy Hart walk by. Then before I knew it the line was moving...quickly.

I asked the nice people behind me if they'd be so kind as to take a few pictures of me with the Hulkster. They were happy to oblige, and I was even happier that they were happy to oblige.

Then it happened, I was face to face with the Icon Hulk Hogan. Naturally for such an event I wore my Hulkamania shirt. He dropped his marker and said "I like the shirt, bro" and went to shake my hand. SO I said in my coolest voice: "I like YOU, a lot!"
Then our handshake was over and he was already signing, so I figured that I should fill the silence, and I did by saying: "I have been such a huge fan of yours since I was a little kid. This is so BADASS!" The Hulkster slammed my book shut, and extended his hand another time for hand shake #2! I was super jazzed to touch palms, and he said "Thank you for coming down." (PSsssshhh, what is he thanking me for? I didn't bodyslam Andre the Giant) So this little man inside of me who has been trained to speak with sultans said: "Thank you, a thousand times!"

Then that was it--

Or was it? Then I got to shake hands with "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart, who thanked me for stopping by, and I told him that I love him.

Then security and the kind staff at Barnes & Noble made me move away because they needed that area clear. And that was that. It was surreal, badass, and super awesome simultaneously. What a cocktail of emotion.

Whatcha' Gonna Do!? (Part 2)

I just woke up from a nap. That's now two nights of little sleep. Probably because I'm so excited to meet the 6 time WWF and 6 time WCW World Champion HULK HOGAN!

I got up at 6am today (thanks to my dad) and raced to the Barnes & Noble near my house to wait on line. I was relieved to see about twelve Hulkamaniacs already waiting. All I had to do was endure 2.5 hours of standing and I'd definitely meet the man who slaughtered Sgt. Slaughter.

Well I did it. 2.5 hours later the manager of Barnes & Noble came out and handed us tickets that ensure our spot in line to meet him. I got #29, so I guess people ahead of me got extra tickets, but whatever #29 is way better than #413.

I'm leaving in less than an hour to go back and wait on line. It's an exciting time to be alive. Now they said we cannot pose for pictures with "Hollywood" but I'll ask the nice lady who discussed books with me all morning if she'd snap a picture of him signing my book, and me being nervous/excited.

I'm so jazzed, I feel as if I could leg drop Mercury!

Part 3 comes tomorrow.

Whatcha' Gonna Do!? (Part 1)

I set very high goals for myself as a child. 1) Get a dog. 2) Get an in-ground pool. 3) Get a house that includes stairs. (basements do NOT count!) and 4) Meet Hulk Hogan.

I never lost that Hulkamaniac inside of me. He stayed strong saying his prayers, taking his vitamins, training (well not really), and believing in himself (also not really). But nonetheless he stayed strong. And finally the week of my 26th birthday I shall meet the Icon Hulk Hogan at a local Barnes & Noble.

Tomorrow is the day. I'm more excited than when Marty Jannety returned after having Shawn Michael's smash his face into glass at the Barbershop corner, I'm more dazzled than the "Million Dollar Man," Bobby "the Brain" Heenan, and Andre combined when they saw Miss Elizabeth remove her skirt at SummerSlam, and dare I say more pumped than when the Hulkster body slammed Andre the Giant at WreslteMania III.

How will this turn out? I'd like to say "epic" but that's an understatement.

Part 2 comes tomorrow.