Early July I start out trying to meet Frankie Valli. I already got him before but wanted a better photo op and some autographs. I arrive at the spot and sadly never saw Frankie Valli. I did get photo ops with Michael McDonald of the Dobbie Brothers, country singer Sara Evans, and actress Kelli O'Hara. But sadly a bust cause I failed in my main objective.
Photo ops obtained
Next up in mid July, I set out to meet the surviving members of the girl group TLC, best known for their mid 90s hit Waterfalls (which was also parodied by Weird Al as Phony Calls).
This starts early in the morning at the airport. I was the only one there. I then see T-Boz come out the car with her daughter and a male handler. She was very accommodating and signed for me and took a photo! SUCCESS! After she goes in the terminal I see another grapher and a pap arrive and I inform them that they missed her, and they were both shocked! Again, goes to show you that you snooze you lose in combo hunting. I like it much better when I'm not the one that snoozes.
Next up we all wait for Chilli. While waiting the handler that dropped T-Boz off actually came up to me and told me that Chilli would be arriving soon. My reaction was this face
Granted I already knew she was coming, but for a handler to tell me this? Wow I couldn't believe it. Since it's the thought that counts, I thanked him for the info. Eventually Chilli arrives and does autographs and photo ops despite the driver being a bitch. When posing she goes "am I that short you heave to lean down" which cause me to laugh/smile. When the driver leaves I go after Chilli and get a couple more done! T-Boz
Chilli
Autographs
After this weeping success I head to a spot for Dick Cheney. The event was actually free and included some food! On stage was Cheney, his wife, and his daughter. Sadly I had to sit through the event. During the event in 3-4 instances a protester would erupt and demand the arrest of Cheney for crimes against Iraq. It's quite sad you see that yet you never see anyone erupt against Clinton accusing him of crimes against the Serbs
The event ends and I quickly go up to Cheney to get his autograph (already have a photo op from before) and I get him to sign my book. As I try to get another autograph a security guard stops me. Then when I try to get photo ops with his wife and daughter I'm also stopped. When his daughter does photo ops with some girls I point that out to the security guard and go off on him. He then says I can get escorted out or walk out. Since I still planned to wait outside at the spot, I chose to walk out otherwise I would have chosen "escorted out" and marked them with a sharpie
I go outside and turns out I miss Cheney's wife by 2 minutes where another grapher got her to sign. I could have probably had the photo op right there
Despite my shortcomings here, I should add that there were 3 other graphers trying to get Cheney, but none of them did. So a rare moment when I one upped Master combo hunters
Dick Cheney autograph
Video of Protester demanding Cheney's arrest for war crimes
At the end of July me and another friend decided to venture to Lancaster, PA to meet the Beach Boys. Of the members on tour the significant ones were singer Mike Love and also Bruce Johnston. John Stamos was also touring with them.
We arrive at the venue. At the venue we manage to find the hotel. We then decide to try the hotel. First we see Bruce Johnston leave in a cab, sadly by the time we got to him he was in the cab. But upon waiting some more he returned and we got combos! Got him on 3. Upon this score, my reaction was this face
because that meant the day is officially not a bust! Then we wait more and do the same rookie mistake! Mike Love leaves in a cab! Our reactions was this face
Cause we could have potentially been on our way home instead of waiting hours upon hours more. Since I made my point, I then choose to simply stay in the car so it looks like I'm gone, since I don't want to ruin my chances if Mike Love returns. Finally Mike Love does arrive and we rush to hotel properly, and Mike Love is a true class act and is as nice as can be. I consider this my best music score of 2014. Got him on 5.
After this I quickly run away so that security doesn't see me again (in case I ever want to return to this spot). But we never did see the supposed someone who was being called to remove me.
When never saw John Stamos either but decided to quit while ahead and get an early start going back home. Since I have a photo op with Stamos that wasn't a big deal to me.
Sadly, this sweeping victory had a little punch in the face. I made the rookie mistake of not doing enough research on my albums. I later realized one of the 3 things I got Bruce Johnston to sign seems to be before he actually joined the band, invalidating the item
Mike Love
Bruce Johnston
Autographs obtained (invalid item marked as such)
One last meet I want to document from June that I forgot about, Hillary Clinton was doing a book signing at a Costco. The line was pretty decent and you were required to have a Costco membership to attend. Some people actually bought memberships right there and then. And they matched all membership cards with IDs so it was strictly enforced. When I got close they took away my camera saying it was too big
Then just before I got up to her they told me to put my phone away. Essentially that meant no photo ops. When I got up to her she was being nice and chatty and extending her hand to shake mine. I begrudgingly shook her hand. Should have told her if she didn't want to take a photo op she doesn't have to shake my hand. Additionally, the books were only signed "Hillary". Signed Hillary book
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