Those DESPICABLE people decided to GO WEST

Couple of days after the Bookends ordeal I set out to meet Russel Brand. Had a flight on him and everything. So I go to the airport. There was a pap there and we set the parameters. We designated point A to point B to which I can beg and plead for my photo op in case he says no. After that I need to back off so he can have his shots. We also designated the point to which I can go back to asking/begging him. So all this is established as we wait for the witching hour! 

 That hour would not come anytime soon! Turns out his plane landed in Pittsburgh due to thunderstorms 

To boot I did not park in the economy lot since I figured I wouldn't be more than 1-2 hours! Big mistake there! To make matters worse, about 3 planes landed before his plane finally landed! It truly sucked having hopes raised up only to be crushed multiple times. His plane was about 2.5 hours late 

When the witching hour finally came I see Russel Brand and he stops for a photo op! Things are looking good! I ask for mine and he's as nice as can be. After that he gets papped like mad. When I tried asking for the autograph he shot me down. While he's walking to his car I run to pay for my parking before it adds another $5 to my parking bill. Total was $20 which was $10 more than I would have paid if the plane was on time (and was a few minutes away from being $25). 

After my parking is paid I try persisting more for the autograph, but sadly to no avail. 

To make matters worse turns out the person Brand took a photo op with was none other than actor Dane Cook  He was on the EXACT same flight as Russel Brand and none of us noticed! The FUCK! Could have had TWO photo ops! Guess all our eyes were just so focused on the prize. Do I have Cook to thank for stopping Brand? Very possibly. 

Despite a lot of shortcomings, namely spending more time at the airport than I desired to, paying more for parking than I planned to, not getting an autograph, and missing a good random in Dane Cook, I would say this was a successful trek cause the main objective was accomplished. 

Russel Brand Photo Op


About a week later I planned to go to an event about 20 minutes from my house to virgilize the greatest modern day US politician, Ron Paul. Already had a photo op with him so this would be primarily an autograph mission. But then a flight for the Pet Shop Boys popped up! I always prefer to go for people I have no photo ops with over people I do have photo ops with, unless of course you're talking about mega A level names like Arnold, Stallone, or Ford in which case the autograph trumps most other photo ops. So here I chose to go to the airport. 

At the airport was me, one grapher, and one pap. Me and the grapher wait for them and we see their vehicle pull up. They come out and we start by asking Neil Tennant he goes "one is plenty" and signs one each. I try asking for a photo op and he goes no photos. Next up is Chris Lowe who was a little nicer about signing as he signed two each but as he signs he lashes out on us "how did you know we were coming here, who told you we were here, how did you know". When I try for a photo op he hides his face. I ask him and I explain that I don't want to pap him that I want a photo of me and him. He goes "no thank you" as he walks away. The other grapher begs and pleads Neil for another autograph which he does. I quickly mooch on that begging as I get my other photo completed. I try to beg for photo ops a little more but to no avail. 

When inside the other grapher went begging for more autos and does get a Chris but as he is begging and pleading Neil to complete his photo but I decide to intervene and say that it's over. I am all for begging and pleading but you also have to know when it's not going to happen. 

I thought I could possibly get a side by side walking photo op when they got papped, but that was worthless. Neil covered his face and Chris put on a hoodie. So photo op wise this was a big bust 

I rush back to the Ron Paul event but I missed the book signing. I tried him at a private reception he was doing but he only did photo ops there. There was another opportunity for Ron Paul but it wasn't for couple of hours later. At this point I decided to call it. Definitely not the best day for combo hunting, but I didn't walk away with nothing. 

Pet Shop Boys autographs

KISS and Billy Crystal at Bookends in NJ

So I set out to the September 10 signings at bookends. They had both Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley in the afternoon and Billy Crystal in the evening. This would be only my second time at bookends, shockingly enough (the first time I went there was my first time meeting Jesse Ventura). 

Sadly, they actually said no posed photo ops for KISS. A bad sign. 

We arrive early at about 3 AM and there's already people camping outside to buy the book (which go on sale at 8 AM)! We elect to take a nap in the car. Parked it at the meters at the back of the bookstore. The fee is 25 cents an hour with a 12 hour limit. Yes I repeat, that's $1 for every four hours. It was really refreshing cause you don't see too much of that anymore. 

We wake up to buy the books around 8 AM then secure our spots in line. I buy 5 books. I go nap for a little bit more. Soon after I wake up, go to the bathroom, chat up with people I know and wait for the witching hour. While there I see a deaf NYC grapher I know named Raul. I help Raul buy his book and decide to pull aand tag along with him. I inform Joresky about what I'm doing but he's too chicken to venture with me. The policeman said Raul sits while I stand, which I of course had no issue with. At that point I had a total of 6 books as I bought an extra one. So I was with all the handicaps hoping for anything more than signed book. Raul is what I call magical, cause he has many impossible to get photo ops, including Alec Baldwin who never does photo ops.  

Now the way it worked they were getting the handicaps first then going downstairs to take care of the long ass line. The first batch of people were let downstairs while we were still waiting. Now there was this old lady in front of me who would pitch a fit if I tried to get in front of her. Problem is she is doing nothing to advance herself  And she would be a thorn in my ass for the next few minutes. Thanks to her being so slow I would miss Paul Stanley who would go downstairs! But I focus on Gene Simmons who I get to sign my books. Raul manages to score a photo op! I on the other hand beg and plead like a motherfucker to no avail. He is taken downstairs soon after. Now I argue with the policeman and store owners that I didn't get Paul. They wanted to send my books downstairs but I would have nothing of that saying I didn't pay money for that. After some argument they let us down and I was at the end of the downstairs line. Raul of course shoots for the rather ambitious photo op in between Gene and Paul. 

Now the second witching hour is upon us! It was all or nothing. I have 5 books that need Paul and 1 more that need both. I start by handing my books to Paul. After this Raul scores a Paul photo op! The handler who yells at everybody saying "no photo ops" was the one that told me to snap the shot  told you he was magic. I then quickly ask Paul for a photo op which he does! Then Raul manages to go BEHIND THE TABLE and the cop allows it! WTF! That guy is truly magic. I snap what was probably the only dual photo op taken at that book signing! And behind the table no less. After this I quickly ask Gene if I could have a photo op and he agrees! Victory was mine and more proof that persistence does pay off! I could not believe what I had just pulled! I beat the system and it was nothing short of a miracle! 

After this I showed Raul to the bus station so he could get back to Manhattan. While outside, me and Joresky, and others all chilled and talked about what happened inside and how brutal it was. Joresky was of course upset he didn't get photo ops. One guy who said his brother was apparently a huge fan of mine was also there. He talked about how he loves my posts and then took a photo op with me! HCIT! As a guy who puts a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into my combos, the rare times I take photo ops with fans I apparently have is always cool. 

We did wait for KISS to leave but they did nothing for no one. 

Video from downstairs, ending at the point when I take Raul's solo shot with Paul

Paul Stanley

Gene Simmons

Four of the KISS books I got signed (sold two already, ebaying two more of mine plus one of Joresky's books, undecided if I'm keeping one or two for myself) 

After this we head to Burger King and have a meal, which was nice and relaxing after the stressful time at bookends.

We return to bookends and the line is still small. Either way Billy Crystal won't be anywhere close to the draw that KISS was, so we hope the photo op situation would be better. 

While in line a few spots behind us we see one of the Jersey boys who cost us our Bill Murray shot  I so wanted to punch that guy in the face, but I had to constantly remind myself how much money it would potentially cost to do so. I also chatted with one guy I know from wrestling cons who essentially put a knife through my heart when he told me about his meeting with Randy Savage at a sports show in 1995. Apparently he was $10 a combo and $5 for extras. Wow just wow 

Now the witching hour draws near for Billy Crystal. And what do they announce? NO POSED PHOTOS! Now really, this is just an asshole move! I can understand with KISS but Billy didn't have so much of a line! Why could they not allow photo ops? If I want a signed book I can simply call the bookstore, give them my credit card number, and they can mail me a signed book. I do not have to waste my time and effort coming to a book signing for that! Of course that doesn't stop me from asking but the cop shrugs me off. All was not lost though as Billy said "hang around later" which gives me hope that I might still get the photo op. 

We wait till after the signing and we're about 7 or 8 people waiting. Me and others yell/beg for Billy to come over. He signed a couple of autographs and we finally score photo ops  He didn't want a self blast saying "I don't do that" so I handed someone my camera. I scored photo ops with two actors I did not have from The Princess Bride in a span of two days! 

Billy Crystal photo op

Billy Crystal autograph

While this day was a smashing success for me as I got combos with everybody, it was so so so close to being a failure at each and every turn. I personally don't think I'll be visiting that bookstore again anytime soon, because quite honestly I probably won't be able to pull off miracles each and every time. To best describe my experience, it was like having 10 heart attacks throughout the day and pulling through after each and every one of them. While it felt great being "alive and well" after the 10th heart attack, having 10 heart attacks is not a pleasant experience and not one I want to relive. Although looking at the results I obviously can't say I regret putting myself through that.

Various meets including a first time WWE HOFer meet

It was early September and it was awesome relaxing without worrying about combos. But then actor, comedian, and WWE Hall of Famer Drew Carey was in town. So I had to go meet him. 

He was ultra nice as can be. I asked him for the photo op and he goes "hold on let me put my glasses". Took a picture and signed me 3 items no problem! I got him on two 8x10s and on the inside cover of the WWE_E V1. Since my first shot was a bit blurry after he took care of other people I asked for a retake which he did no problem. At the end he even asked to make sure he took care of everybody. How I wish more celebrities were like that. 

Photo op

Autographs

Next up I was getting ready for the bookends signings on September 10, where I planned to meet Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Billy Crystal. But I had a little pre meeting haul before that. Clair Danes and other actors were in town, and I wanted to virgilize Clair Danes (already have a photo op). Apparently she signed going in so I wanted to go try. One grapher I knew was there and as luck would have it no one left yet! I thought I was going to be late but I wasn't. YES!!

There was also one other guy I'd never seen before who tried to tell me in his British accent that "everyone was gone" which was totally laughable. About 30 seconds later the first person came out. I had no idea who it was at the time, but it was Mandy Patinkin from Princess Bride, Dick Tracy, among others! Awesome score especially since it's yet another addition to my Princess Bride collection. Damn I should have started a laserdisc He did photo ops no problem. 

Next up was Damian Lewis and he was nice as can be. Did photo ops no problem. Same with Morena Baccarin (who was pregnant). 

Finally Claire Danes comes out and does nothing for no one 

While I did fail in my primary objective, I got 3 photo ops I didn't have, one of which I care to have and two pretty good "you never know" names. So I would say success overall. 

Mandy Patinkin

Full list of photo ops

After this, it was off to bookends in New Jersey!