[B5JMS] My first convention (and I met JMS!!!)

Wed Feb 28 05:00:06 EST 2007

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From: "Jeffrey O. Gustafson" <PsicopJeffG at hotmail.com>
Date: 23 Feb 2007 23:20:44 -0800
Lines: 68

This is the first convention I've ever been able to go to, and it is
amazing.

The main highlight, of course, is the chance to meet JMS.  The
convention floor opened at about 3:30 (I'd been there since about
noon), and Joe's scheduled thingee was at 7:00.  After gathering in
all the sights and sounds and taking a bunch of pictures with my
snazzy new camera, I went down to check in my back-pack (it was
slowing me down and the floor was really crowded and the extra bulk
was not helping).  This was about 6:00 or so.  I walked around to the
other side to check out where the room where Joe was doing his
presentation was, and as I'm about to go down, I saw him.

At first I was completely stunned, because, well, what are the
chances, right?  But, it *was* Joe.  Not knowing what to say or how to
say it (I mean, how do you say anything to someone you've been waiting
to meet for nearly fifteen years), I walked up and said something
along the lines of:

"Mr. Straczynski, fwupda gobble duh gaga bwubuduh.  Uhm gqyu zujk blu-
bluhhh Big Fan.  Duhhhm.  Ok."

I vigorously shook his hand, and he appeared slightly more bewildered
than I was scared/shocked/in awe.  He was completely cool about it,
which was awesome.

The panel was cool.  Jan (who I also met this evening) described it
already better than I could.  Joe was low-key, down to Earth, and all
around cool.  He was even on the convention floor milling around with
everyone else.  So cool.

Anyway, after the panel, Joe did a signing, and when we had to leave
the room for another panel, took the whole crowd into the hallway to
continue doing the signing.  I've used the word "cool" a lot, but it
was so damned cool.  I got my copy of Midnight Nation signed, which
means a lot to me, and I think I got to tell him how much his work has
affected me, though I may have been jumbled it again (which is OK, I
was having fun).

What I also really wanted was my picture with JMS.  The picture came
out a little blurry(*), which kind of sucks, especially considering
that every other picture I had taken this evening came out perfectly.
Well, almost very other picture.  Every picture I took of Joe came out
not so good.  I think he's cursed. <g>

Overall, it was so great to finally meet JMS.  If anyone reading this
is nearby a convention or any other event that Joe is going to, it is
well worth it to drop by and say Hi.  I've read for years how awesome
he is in person, and I've had the honor this evening of finding out
first hand.

There is still two more days of convention left, and the program says
Joe is going to be on three panels Saturday, though I think Joe only
mentioned the Sunday gig (I may be wrong).  We'll see.  I've got a
weekend pass, and there is plenty to see and do.

      -The Jeff

Sheridan:"So how did you find out all of this?"
Bester:"I'm a telepath.  Work it out." <*>

*If anyone here is proficient at Photoshop or the like, and would like
to try tweaking my picture (I'm not having much luck), I would be
eternally greatful.

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From: "Bill" <beastmachinery at msn.com>
Date: 24 Feb 2007 19:17:27 -0800
Lines: 35

On Feb 24, 2:20 am, "Jeffrey O. Gustafson" <PsicopJe... at hotmail.com>
wrote:
> This is the first convention I've ever been able to go to, and it is
> amazing.
>
> The main highlight, of course, is the chance to meet JMS.  The
> convention floor opened at about 3:30 (I'd been there since about
> noon), and Joe's scheduled thingee was at 7:00.  After gathering in
> all the sights and sounds and taking a bunch of pictures with my
> snazzy new camera, I went down to check in my back-pack (it was
> slowing me down and the floor was really crowded and the extra bulk
> was not helping).  This was about 6:00 or so.  I walked around to the
> other side to check out where the room where Joe was doing his
> presentation was, and as I'm about to go down, I saw him.
>
> At first I was completely stunned, because, well, what are the
> chances, right?  But, it *was* Joe.  Not knowing what to say or how to
> say it (I mean, how do you say anything to someone you've been waiting
> to meet for nearly fifteen years), I walked up and said something
> along the lines of:
>
> "Mr. Straczynski, fwupda gobble duh gaga bwubuduh.  Uhm gqyu zujk blu-
> bluhhh Big Fan.  Duhhhm.  Ok."
>

ROFFLMFAO! JMS kinda has that effect on people. Or at least the ones
who meet him for the first time. When I met him at Wizard World
Philly, I actually forgot my own name when he asked, "Who do I make
this out to?" I was probably blushing like a little girl, too, when he
complemented my Ranger pin. Next time I meet JMS, I swear I'll be more
coherent!

Bill

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From: Rob Perkins <rperkins at usa.net>
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:04:41 -0800
Lines: 14

On 2/24/07 7:17 PM, in article
1172373447.599263.175520 at v33g2000cwv.googlegroups.com, "Bill"
<beastmachinery at msn.com> wrote:

> ROFFLMFAO! JMS kinda has that effect on people. Or at least the ones
> who meet him for the first time.

He had that effect on *me* when he sent a personal reply to me about some
random fannish topic. The e-mail gush I sent back is still something of a
personal embarrassment...

Rob, who acquitted himself better later on with David Brin

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From: Richard Fallstrom <rick.fallstrom at donobi.net>
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:21:26 -0800
Lines: 23

In article <C20658EA.52FC%rperkins at usa.net>, Rob Perkins
<rperkins at usa.net> wrote:

> On 2/24/07 7:17 PM, in article
> 1172373447.599263.175520 at v33g2000cwv.googlegroups.com, "Bill"
> <beastmachinery at msn.com> wrote:
> 
> > ROFFLMFAO! JMS kinda has that effect on people. Or at least the ones
> > who meet him for the first time.
> 
> He had that effect on *me* when he sent a personal reply to me about some
> random fannish topic. The e-mail gush I sent back is still something of a
> personal embarrassment...
> 
> Rob, who acquitted himself better later on with David Brin
> 
> 
And to think I didn't know who David Bischoff was at a Star Trek Con
where I met up with and stammered at (with a microphone) Marina Sirtis.

Rick (sometimes is a GentleRF and sometimes is not)
. 

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From: "AaronJB" <aaronjb at gmail.com>
Date: 25 Feb 2007 04:00:17 -0800
Lines: 15

On Feb 25, 8:21 am, Richard Fallstrom <rick.fallst... at donobi.net>
wrote:
> And to think I didn't know who David Bischoff was at a Star Trek Con
> where I met up with and stammered at (with a microphone) Marina Sirtis.

I think Marina Sirtis would have that effect on me whether I knew who
she was or not ;)

Actually, most people do - it'd be no good me meeting anyone
famous! :)

--
Aaron

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From: mike at corestore.org
Date: 25 Feb 2007 04:35:07 -0800
Lines: 28

On Feb 25, 7:00 am, "AaronJB" <aaro... at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Feb 25, 8:21 am, Richard Fallstrom <rick.fallst... at donobi.net>
> wrote:
>
> > And to think I didn't know who David Bischoff was at a Star Trek Con
> > where I met up with and stammered at (with a microphone) Marina Sirtis.
>
> I think Marina Sirtis would have that effect on me whether I knew who
> she was or not ;)

For me it was Mira... literally bumped into her in the dealer room in
Blackpool, was left completely tongue-tied. She's... radiant and
beautiful and (I suspect) quite used to having that effect on men! In
the end I managed to catch up with her at the end of a signing
session... still dazed and the only thing I could think of to get her
to sign was my video camera!

Same con was where I 'met' JMS informally for the first time... he was
in front of me in the queue, lining up for a plate of chips (fries)
like any other mensch. Didn't say anything as he didn't look exactly
happy; hardly surprising as the whole Claudia thing was in full swing.
Was nice that the (typically polite) British fans gave him his space
and didn't hassle him, I thought.

Mike
http://www.corestore.org

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From: jmsatb5 at aol.com
Date: 27 Feb 2007 03:19:32 -0800
Lines: 42

On Feb 25, 4:35 am, m... at corestore.org wrote:
> Same con was where I 'met' JMS informally for the first time... he was
> in front of me in the queue, lining up for a plate of chips (fries)
> like any other mensch. Didn't say anything as he didn't look exactly
> happy; hardly surprising as the whole Claudia thing was in full swing.
> Was nice that the (typically polite) British fans gave him his space
> and didn't hassle him, I thought.
>

I actually remember that day.  I'd flown into London the day before
going to Blackpool, was jet lagged and didn't get any sleep...came to
Blackpool, figured I'd get some sleep that night only to discover a
fax from Doug with the article in Variety saying that Claudia was
leaving the show, which was the first we'd heard of it.  So there was
no sleep THAT night either...also was on the phone through the day and
evening and found there was little to no room service.

So the next day, with 3 days of no sleep and 24 hours with no food, I
had to skip breakfast to keep dealing with the Claudia situation, then
when I went to get lunch there was a situation in the dealer's room
with some counterfeit merchandise, and I had one shot for food, my
first in almost two days...just half an hour between panels.

I first went into the restaurant and told the waitresst that I had
just half an hour and needed food desperately, I was shaking and faint
from lack of food.  She said she could rustle up a hamburger fast.  I
said fine, that and a salad.  20 minutes goes by.  No food.  She
forgot to put the order in.  I tell her to cancel the hamburger, just
bring me a bowl of soup, anything to keep from falling over.  Ten more
minutes go by and now, just as I have to leave, she finally comes over
with a  half-cooked hamburger that was still cold inside, having
decided that I should have that instead of the soup without even
checking back.  Meaning that I got nothing.  I was furious, said some
unhappy things, shoved it back and walked out...going over to the line
to get some fish and chips to eat as I walked to the panel.

So yeah, I'm not at all surprised I looked rather unhappy at that
moment.

jms