Surreal is most definatley the best way to describe the experience. When I met AVA it wasn't surreal really, then again it was a cd signing for WDNTW so it was very impersonal.
One thing Ill never forget is being able to speak to Tom and telling him how I was able to watch :
http://www.amnh.org/calendar/event/Winter-Skies-with-Ted-Williams/
whilst listening to the album and he saying "really? man really? Thats super rad." He seemed genuine enough, granted there were more then a few people who had waited hours to see them. At that moment a really nice dude. I could def see being creeped out by fans when your at his level of fame though. Must really start to take its toll.
When I saw blink at the Borgata, that feeling of anticipation when the house music goes off you watch the lights go out, or in this case, "celebrate good times come on" came on....knowing they were behind that big black curtain....that's surreal.