I had FUN with a BLONDE at Monstermania

On September 27 I decided to attend Monstermania in Hunt Valley. I chose that day because I had a flight on Ali Larter who was coming to town for the Baltimore book festival. She finally arrives and I quickly get a photo op. She was in a rush as she didn't even know where she was going. She met up with a driver but turns out that driver was set to meet Lee Meriwether and go to Hunt Valley. While we were all following Larter the driver even tells me "back off" while in an airport but rather than be nasty I simply said "dude, she's not even your girl, you're looking for Lee Mariwether who played Catwoman in Batman, she is older". 

Larter then told us she'd do one more and to please leave her alone as she needs to find out where she's going. As she is on the phone I go ahead and offer her a ride to Baltimore since she can't seem to find her driver and she goes "you're so sweet but no thanks". She called me sweet, HCIT! 

All in all I did get a combo and an extra. So can't complain. 

Ali Larter photo op

Ali Larter autographs

I head off to Monstermania where I had only two wants, Carel Struycken (Lurch from Addams Family and Addams Family values) and Michael Madsen (from Kill Bill and other stuff). I did want Sam Huntington who played Jimmy Olsen in Superman Returns but sadly he was Saturday onlyand I wasn't going to dedicate time and effort for him. He seems to be making rounds so hopefully I get another chance at him. 

First up I go for Carel Struycken who is as nice as can be. Went out of his way to stand and take photos with you. Next up I get Michael Madsen and get a photo op. To cut down on costs did not get any autographs from anybody. I wanted to get an upgrade is Lisa Lorring since she looked better than when I last got her (she lost weight), but decided against spending more money. Either way she does not look like the little girl that played Wednesday Addams. And I figured the only upgrade worth paying for is her as a little girl, which will of course never happen.

Carel Struycken photo op

Michael Madsen photo op

For my final combo related stop for the evening, I attempt for Cyndi Lauper. 

The setup was outside a venue. As far as regulars go you had me, one grapher, and one pap. As far as random people you had one guy and two black girls. 

Now that one woman who worked for the venue tried to tell us that she personally put her in a cab right after she went off stage and told us which train she left in. She was apparently "on her way home". She assured us she wasn't lying. The whole story seemed shady at best. I moved away from everyone and upon some magical research I confirmed that she was in fact not on that train. We were 99.9% sure she was lying, but now we were 110% sure. 

Then a security guard starts bothering people on the public sidewalk trying to tell them they have to leave. When he got to me asking what I'm waiting for (I had a guitar on me so it was obvious) I told him I was just on the sidewalk waiting. He asked for what I said nothing he needs to know. He said that perhaps he could help me. I told him that there's nothing he could help me in and I ended in a "thank you for your concern" and told him to have a good night. Essentially I politely but firmly made it clear that he had no legal authority over me on the sidewalk. Which is factual because nor is he a cop, nor is he secret service. 

As we were waiting Cyndi Lauper finally comes out. I start to mobilize and the security guard tried to tell me I can't approach her and I can't ask. Obviously neither legal nor acceptable for him to say that. I kept moving and demanded "get out of my face" and "stay away from me" and reminded him that I'm on a sidewalk. At this point him and one other guy were trying to block me and I quickly dash right in front of her car. At this point they put their hand on me and got physical and I yell and scream and gesture at them. And I quote:

DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH ME I WILL CALL THE COPS AND I WILL PRESS CHARGES ON YOU 

At this point the pap also takes pictures of the guards. I then point out now we have photos of assault. After which there is no more physicality. 

Cyndi Lauper then says "well there are four people it's ok". She signs my guitar and says "I'll sign this and if he hits me with it I'll beat him up myself" to which I replied "sounds like a plan". She did autographs and photo ops, even though her people were saying no photos. While a photo op wasn't necessary for me since I had it, she looked different (red hair) so I asked for a photo op. She said yes and as I prepared for a self blast. She said further away which I obliged. Besides that I also had the entry of the first Wrestlemania signed in the WWE_E V1. 

After she left in her car the whole thing ended then the first security guard told me to have a good night. And I yelled and screamed "IF YOU EVER TOUCH ME ONE MORE TIME I WILL PRESS CHARGES THIS IS YOUR WARNING"

He tries to outright lie saying "no one touched you" and the pap told me that if I want to press charges I should do it now and that he would be a witness. 

I said I'll forgive him but only this once, and we all left. As I left in the car the pap text'd me saying "that assaulted you just for asking for an autograph"



Red haired Cyndi Lauper photo op

Signed Guitar

Signed WWE_E V1 Wrestlemania entry

I was able to BUST the Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Show!

On September 19 I decided to attend the Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Show in Hunt Valley, MD. I chose that day because Ray Parker Jr, who sang the Ghostbusters theme song, was doing a concert. So I could hit multiple birds with one stone. 

I had three wants from that con: Robert Loggia (Elfego Baca: Six Gun Law, Scarface, Independence Day), Johnny Crawford (The Rifleman, original Mickey Mouse Club), and Diana Sowle (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory). 

I managed to mooch my way in. I see 2 of my 3 wants sitting side by side. A good start. 

I first go to Robert Loggia. I get him to sign my Elfego Baca/Swamp Fox Disney Treasures DVD set. Get a photo op. 

Next I go for Johnny Crawford. I make sure that a photo op is included in the package and he goes "no photos". My reaction is this face  I end up telling him that's the main want of mine and that's why I came and I had to do some pleading. He ends up getting up to take a photo op then takes a cowboy cloth and covers his face with it  I go "aww c'mon". He then takes it off and tries to decide which side is his "good side" to decide which side I should stand on. He takes a shot then decides he wants a second shot without his glasses. 

All in all a very unusual encounter at a convention. I cannot believe I had to do some pleading for a photo op - IN A PAID SETTING! WTF  One reason I like going to conventions is the fact that things are guaranteed and there's no pleading required. Now even there you have to plead? Either way I got the combo which is what's important. Then I look for Diana Sowle. Sadly, it seems with every Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Show at least one person I want doesn't show up. And this time it was her! The staff even tells me she would be there Friday but as Joresky found out she was not. Apparently she had food poisoning. No idea if she showed up Saturday. Hopefully she makes Chiller and I can get her there. 

After getting the combos I wanted, I looked around for some deals, found a deal where I was able to score FOUR vinyls for $1! That's pretty damn tough to beat. So I chose four I could potentially get signed and I was out of there. 

I got a tip for some Warren Buffet info. I go to the spot sadly none of us see him leave. So that was a total bust. 

Then it was off to the concert for Ray Parker Jr. I meet up with one grapher. I suggest the possibility that he will do a meet and greet after the show. He tells me that this venue never does that. But I point out that Ray Parker has been to Chiller so it's possible. The show ends and we mooch our way into the venue. And sure enough they announce he will be signing! The guy tells me "good call". We line up and he's doing a signing with two other Jazz musicians that are  names for me, namely CJ Chenier and Joe Sample. Though they are perfectly valid combos since they have entries on wikipedia. They were all as nice as can be, doing combos with everyone, multiple takes, no security around, it was heaven! Why can't all of them be like that. I got signed an 8x10 and my Ghostbusters laserdisc (already signed by multiple people). I went behind Ray to get a the group shot. So I have one group shot and I can crop it out to be just a Ray Parker photo op. 

When this ended the other grapher was marveling at how, in his own words, this took " so little work" and "so little effort". I can of course agree with that notion cause more often than not it is such hard work and so much effort to get combos, the times it is easy and the celeb is nice really do seem special. 

Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Show photo ops

Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Show autographs

Photo ops from Ray Parker Jr signing table

Ray Parker Jr photo op

Ray Parker Jr autographs