OK.  I know I've been totally horrible for posting anything but then again no one reads it anyway so....

I am super excited that James will be appearing at the Boston Super Mega Fest in Framingham, MA.  Finally a con in New England that I can drive to.   So, obviously, I will be attending this one.  Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and some new. 

Boston Super Mega Fest

Went to dinner last night at the Spaulding Inn.  This is the inn that the Ghost Hunters, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, purchased last year in NH.  Had a very nice visit with Jason when we arrived.  He is a great guy, very down to earth.  My husband has worked with Jason several times during their TAPS conventions.  (He's a sound engineer.)  Didn't get a chance to see Grant though.  Not sure if he had arrived yet.  I know they are both supposed to be there over the weekend.  They did an awesome job fixing up the inn, it looks great and dinner in the dining room was delicious.  The prices were reasonable as well.   Will definitely go back.

Just heard James will be attending Monster Mania in Cherry Hill, NJ.  Seriously considering going if my husband can watch my daughter that weekend and if I can find a car to get there.   It's ridiculous, five cars in the drive way and only one of them can be used.  I swear we are starting to look like rednecks with all the vehicles in the yard. LOL

Here are some screen caps of High Plains Invaders. (No copy wright infringement intended.) I ordered it OnDemand.  James looks yummy even when he's scruffy.  The movie was OK.  One of the better SciFi channel movies, which isn't saying much but...not bad all in all.   James was great as usual.

Haven't been around to post lately because my mother-in-law (who was more like my mother) passed away in her sleep last Thursday.  We've been planning and attending the funeral this past week and of course since I'm not the natural child, I got shit from my sister-in-law.  I planned the funeral, ordered the flowers, picked out the clothes she was buried in, and picked out the reading s for the funeral mass and then my sister-in-law bitched at me for rediculous reasons.  I am so emotionally drained and angry right now I can't even begin to tell you. 

I'll post again soon with happier news I hope.

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Posted my FX shots and a couple of short video clips over at Flickr.com.

FX Photos & Videos

I didn't take that many pictures.  I wanted to enjoy watching James.  He was awesome.

OK.  Here's my report on the FX Show.  I got in late on Thursday night with the two little kids. We stayed at the International Plaza Resort and Spa.   Friday we hung out at the hotel pool since James wasn't at the show and I had switched my ticket to Saturday.  Friday night we were getting pizza at the hotel's Pizza Hut Express with the kids when I noticed out of the corner of my eye this guy strut by heading to the dining room.  Seeing that strut was all it took.  I freaked.  "OMG I think James Marsters just walked by."  I wasn't sure he was even staying at the hotel because I had heard that he doesn't usually stay at the same hotel as fans (for obvious reasons).  Anyway...I went over to check out where he went and found him as he was entering the dining room for dinner.  He, Steve and a couple of other people were waiting to be seated.  I went right over to him and said hello and that I'd be seeing him the next day at the convention center.  He was very nice and said hello and shook my hand and smiled.  I'm sure I acted like a total spaz.  I could have said so many things and I totally went blank.   So that was my first interaction with James.  Gotta say he looked good.

The next morning I ran into Julie Benz in the hotel coffee shop as we both got our morning java.  She was very nice even though she wasn't quite totally awake yet.  After getting the morning jolt, I headed over to the Convention Center early to make sure I got a good spot in line.  I was anticipating long lines of people waiting to get photos with James.  Getting there early paid off even though the lines weren't as bad as I thought they'd be.  As I stood in line I met another JM fan, Tracey,  who I ended up hanging out with for a portion of the day.  We were about fifth in line to get into the hall so I was able to get to the front of the line for the photographs.  I think there were maybe four or five people in front of me.  While in line I recognized some of the morethanspike.com members (GraySunrise and MarstersGirl78) and introduced myself.  We chatted for a few minutes and then it was time for the photos.   It all happened so fast.  As I walked in to take the photo, James' face lit up as he remembered me from the night before.   (Who could forget the spazzy fan?)  He pulled me right in for a hug (which was dreamy) and then we got down to the business of photos.  The first photo was the standard side by side, for the second one he suggested a hug.  (Like I was going to say no to a second hug?) Right as we were about to take the photo (like an idiot) I said, "My husbands going to love this one."  His reaction was "I"m dead".  I laughed and said "No.  My husband is actually the one who told me to come to this thing."  We laughed and it was over.

I hung out and watched GreySunrise and MarstersGirl get their photos taken and then we all headed over to the autograph line.  GraySunrise was kind enough to let me go through on her ticket so I didn't have to wait in line. (She's done these cons so many times that all the people who work the photos and autograph lines know her.)  She had a gift for James and asked me to take a photo of her giving it to him.  I was so excited to be seeing him I almost forgot to take the picture.  It turned out she had an autographed copy of Barack Obama's book "Lessons From My Father" for James.  When he opened it he almost fell off his chair.  I got the dumbstruck look on film but missed on the jaw drop.  His jaw dropped and so did mine.  He was really bowled over by the gift.   After Grey was done, I had him autograph one of his CD's.  I asked him if he might possibly do another event at SOPAC in NJ, like the Valentines event.  I heard it was amazing.  Especially the production of love letters.  I told him I would love to see him live on stage in a play.  Didn't really get an answer but that's OK.  He wasn't exactly sure where I was talking about when I mention Jersey.  Steve had to tell him I was talking about SOPAC.  I joked that the poor guy travels so much he probably doesn't know where he is half the time.  Then it was over.  Way too fast. 

I met back up with GraySunrise and MarstersGirl again and we headed over to get a good seat for the Women of Whedonverse Q&A.  It was so much fun to see all the actresses from the show.  They discussed their current project and favorite memories from doing Buffy, Angel and Firefly.  Clare Kramer had a baby this last year, Julie Benz has been busy with Dexter, Juliet Landau has so many things going I don't know when she sleeps, Morena Baccarin is doing a play in NYC and also filmed the pilot for the new V series, and Jewel Staite said, "Well, right now I'm working on my tan". LOL.  At the end of the Q&A they presented a video memorial for Andy Hallet and there were a lot of tears in the audience.  What a great guy.  What a loss.  So Sad.

After the girls Q&A I got some lunch and then explored the tradeshow a bit before James' Q&A at 3:00pm.   Got a seat in the second row for James' Q&A and while I loved seeing James, the Q&A was actually kind of boring because no one asked any new questions.  I knew all the answer before he said them.  The one thing that I was totally psyched about  was that I've often wondered what his answer would be if someone asked him, with all of his travels what the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.  I've always thought I'd be disappointed if he didn't answer, the birth of his son.  Well someone asked the question and he did indeed say the birth of his son.  He passed my test. LOL. 

After James' Q&A was over I went to the Juliet Landau / Godhead Q&A.  It was very interesting to hear them discuss the creative process in filming the Godhead video that Juliet directed, produced and appeared in.  Check it out at:   http://godheadhero.com/

The last event of the day was James' concert at the International Plaza Hotel & Resort.  We all (the morethanspike.com group) got there extra early for the show and after getting pizza, we parked ourselves at the door of the ballroom. We watched as the hotel staff prepared for the FX Party that evening and we saw Juliet Landau come in to do her sound check before her performance with Godhead that night.  She was great. Rather than just do her sound check and hit the road, she actually hung out for awhile and socialized with the fans.  Tracey and I by some fluke ended up at the front of the line for the concert and when the doors opened we were able to park ourselves smack dab stage center.  So when James came out I was right in front of him while he performed.  It was impossible for him not to look at me.  He made eye contact four or five times.  It was so cool.  When he sang the chorus of  "Looking At You" he looked me right in the eye.  Swoon.  

I had such a blast.  I can't remember the last time I had so much fun.  I want to go to all the cons now but alas I cannot afford to do that.  I will go to another one sometime though.  Just not sure when.  Thought about Fangoria in June but I thing real life may prevent that from happening.

Well, till next time...

   
Had an amazing time at the FX International Show in Orlando last weekend.  Met James Friday night going into the dining room of the hotel.  I acted like a total spaz I'm sure.  Did the  photo op first thing the next morning and he remembered me from the night before.  He was very nice.  Gave me a hug the moment I walked into the photo booth.  Maybe he does that with everyone but it was my first time so it was a thrill.  

I'm still in FL, workikng on my husbands slow laptop so I will post more when I get home in a few days.  I took pics at the Q&A's and the concert Sat night that I'm hoping to post when I'm on a better computer.

Until later...

Looking forward to seeing this movie. My hubby has been huge Salvador Dali fan since his art classes in college and has introduced me to his amazing artwork. He was a very strange but talented man. I'm anxious to see how well Rob Pattinson does playing Dali.I understand there are some pretty mature and graphic scenes in this film however, so all those little Twilight fan girls better stay away from this one. I think it may be a bit much for some of them.

A little over a week and I will finally be able to get the long awaited photo with James that I've been dying for.  I tried six years ago at Vulkon but they didn't have any photo ops (stupid organizers) and there was no way he was going to be able to get around to everyone for pictures at the banquet they had.  This is the best we got. Group shots at the tables.  Well at least it was something.  Thanks to the guy in the back row who printed copies of this pic for everyone. (I don't remember his name. Sorry.)


So anyway after some minor turmoil on my part after James dropped Friday from the schedule and some e-mailing back and forth about whether I can use my ticket and photo op on Saturday instead, I think I've finally got it all straightened out. That plus I had to argue with my brother in law a bit about the switch because he was supposed to meet me at the airport on Thursday night.   And the best part.  I now get to go to the concert on Saturday Night!!!!  Woo Hoo!! Yippee!!   My brother-in-law is going to have to wait til 9:00pm to head out but too bad. 

I'm also looking forward to meeting some of the girls from the morethanspike.com site.  Hope they don't think I'm some nut case after my freakout post when I found out that James wasn't going on Friday after all.  Oh well.

I am in so depressed right now.  I just read on E! that Andy Hallett passed away from heart failure at 33.  33!?  That should not be possible.  He was so young.  God. I can't believe it.  I knew he had had heart troubles right about the time that Angel went off the air but I had hoped he'd recovered.   I met Andy once at a fan convention.  I went to see James Marsters but I gotta tell you seeing Andy was the highlight of my weekend.  I will never forget the Q&A he did.  He was so funny.  His impression of Paul Lynd was spot on. I also remember his story about buying a school bus when he was a kid and driving it through Osterville, MA.  I laughed so hard when he told that story.  He had such a talent to make people happy. I remember he was late getting to the con because his flight was delayed and he was exhausted but he was a trooper.  He was so sweet to all his fans and even agreed to take a picture with me even though he probably wanted to do nothing more than sleep.  He was a wonderful person. 

My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

Clip I found on YouTube of Andy from 2002 Friends of Science Fiction convention.  What a great guy.

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I heard that they are planning on making a movie out of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.   The guy who wrote Braveheart is writing the script.
I think it would be so awesome if James got to play the Frank/Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall characters.  It would be a duel role where he'd get to play a good guy and the villain.   I just love Diana's books and hope if the movie is made that they don't totally destroy the story.  I think I've read each book about four times.  The only down side I can see in James playing the roles is he'd have to ride a horse and he says he doesn't ride. Hmmm

I feel lousy.  I have been sick on and off with the flu and sinus infections for over a month now and it has to end. NOW.  I'm so out of it I totally forgot to check on James Q&A for March and I don't even want to think about going to FX International which I now have tickets for.    Turns out he's doing a concert on Saturday night but I was planning on heading out before then.  Don't know if I want to drag my brother-in-law and two little ones around for an extra day just so I can hear James sing for an hour.  As much as I love the guy I don't know if I want to go.  I'm actually a little anxious about the whole thing.  Not exactly my environment, these trade show/conventions.  Too many people.  The more I think about it the more I think I'm just going to go get my photo and autograph and hit the road.  

I hope he does another event in NJ sometime.  I'd much rather go to one of those.  I think they are probably more economically viable as well.  Once you add up the many different fees for tickets, autographs, photographs, concert tickets at one of these other cons and you're actually spending more than if you did one of James' events.  I'm really kicking myself for not going to the mone in February.  It was 15 minutes from my cousins house. I wouldn't even of had to book a hotel for crying out loud.  OH right.  Couldn't go because I HAD THE FRIGGIN FLU!!!  

OK, done venting.  Time to take more medicine and go to bed.

OMG.  I just found these pictures online.  Does James look hot or what?!  (Wipes drool from lip.)  Check out all the pics at http://www.whedon.info/.  There is also a clip of the conference at the Dragonball Evolution website.