I remember one in the Seattle area years ago, before the 6.8. My first thought was a train going by, but there weren't any trains close by at all. It was so loud.
I have never heard an earthquake before and have felt plenty. A few years ago we were house hunting and were upstairs in this horrible house and the windows started shaking and we all stepped into a doorway and then left as soon as it was over. I took it as a sign from above that it wasn't the house for us.
I didn't feel anything in San Jose. pinkplasticdoll that's how I felt, too. Then I felt my first one (3.1 or something) and I was just "oh, that was an earthquake?".