Phoenix Comic Con: Day 2 - Saving All of Time and Space

Day 2:
     Geek shirts worn: Live Fast, Die Red & Aluminum Falcon
     Blisters: 1
     Worst question: "What's your favorite episode?"
     Best question: "With the release of TNG on blu ray, are they going to fix the problem in season ___, 
          episode ____ where the torpedoes fire out of the phaser banks?"
     Best conversation overheard: Debate on the Klingon ridges.

Today the goal was autographs and Star Trek panels. My brother-in-law, Yoda, had sent me all of his TNG action figures. So, I brought the Troi, the Worf and the Data to be signed.

I decided that Marina Sirtis was the autograph I could not leave without, and that was the first line I got in. Actually, I started the line for her autograph...I was first. As it got closer and closer to her appearance, I realised my rookie mistake. I should have gotten in the Michael Dorn line, or let some others go first. But here I was in line for the most important signature, with no knowledge of how this works, or what everyone else was doing. Idiot! I started to panic. What would I say? Would she recognize that I liked her best, because I was first in her line? Suppose she was a jerk? What was I even doing here?

Fortunately, 3of8 stood in line with me, even though I had told him he didn't have to. When I started to hyperventilate and cry, he coached me through some "combat breathing." Breathe in while counting to 4, hold for 4, breathe out while counting to 4. There was nothing to be done about the crying...and yes, I'm serious. I cried. But only a little. I still felt ridiculous.

I'd like to say that butterflies held the curtain open for her and she appeared like an angel surrounded by woodland creatures drawn to her siren's song, but it was more like she burst through the curtain as if she was now in charge of the entire exhibit hall, and nobody better fuck with her. I found it kind of soothing, in a way. She cleared the table saying "I need more room, I've got like a billion photos...I'll just use some of Spiner's table. He's got like two." and she proceeded to carefully place all of her photos on her (and Spiner's) table. She looked up at me and said,"Sorry, I'm anal." as she arranged and rearranged her photos. To which I replied, "No worries, I'm totally OCD myself, so I understand the importance of proper placement and organization." In my head I was screaming "HOLY CRAP! I SPOKE TO HER, AND NOT ONLY DID I NOT EMBARRASS MYSELF, I FOUND COMMON GROUND WITH MARINA FUCKING SIRTIS!!! I CAN TOTALLY DO THIS!"

Her handler summoned me over and asked what I wanted her to sign, but before I could answer, Ms. Sirtis held up a finger and said "hold on" to me, and started to talk to the handler. I turned to 3of8 and whispered, "She just yelled at me! SQUEEE!!!!"

Finally, it was time. From what I can remember of the conversation, it went something like this:

MS: Who should I make this out to?

ME: Jenny Lee. My mom is from the south and I have one of those weird, southern, two word first names. (OK, she probably didn't need to know all that.)

As she was signing my Counselor Troi action figure (and yes, I get the irony of a psychiatrist "action" figure) I added,"My brother-in-law gave me his action figures when I finally came out of the turbo lift and admitted I was a trekkie." 

MS: (giggles)Thank you for waiting.

ME: I waited 37 years for this, what’s a few more minutes?

MS: Well it was lovely to meet you, love.

ME: You too! Thank you!

I then got in the Micheal Dorn line, which was much less eventful.

MD: Who should I make this out to?

ME: (Holding up Troi action figure, with my name spelled correctly.) Jenny Lee (I'd like to mention here that the guys from FanboyHQ had stressed the importance of not putting away your autograph until it was dry. I cannot thank them enough for that valuable advice!)

MD: Well here you go!

ME: Thank you. And I mean "thank you" for all of your work on Star Trek. I really enjoyed it.

MD: It was my pleasure.

I did it. Nothing too horrifying and embarrassing. I feel like I did the right thing, by not trying too hard to stand out (except for a few "blips") and what I got was the autographs that I wanted, and a warm, fuzzy memory that I could enjoy without embarrassment. Mission accomplished.

Data and Riker had saved us seats for the Levar Burton panel, and we just camped out there all day. Levar Burton was nice, but that was before he became my "mortal enemy." Everyone asked him about "Reading Rainbow" and I learned that the visor was actually screwed into his head! Marina Sirtis was a fireball, and I think I love her more. Unfortunately, I was all prepared to step up to the mic and ask her a question, but I was "scooped" by someone asking the same question. Michael Dorn was lovely too. I liked that they all told off the self-important bloggers, but each made a point of thanking the true fans.

We also sat through the women of sci-fi with Dina Meyer (Starship Troopers), Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Eureka), Debrah Farentino (Eureka) and ERIN FUCKING GRAY!!!! (And if you don't know which sci-fi show she was in, you are banned from my blog. Seriously. Banned.) That was a surprisingly fun panel.

At some point, while in line at women's restroom, I had to break up a fight between a Dr. Who and a TARDIS. The Doctor was having some suspender issues, and asked her TARDIS to help clip them on in the back. During this maneuver, the metal clip broke.

Doctor: OMG!!! YOU BROKE MY SUSPENDERS!!!

TARDIS: I did not! I was trying to help, and the clip broke.

Doctor: YOU RUINED MY COSTUME!!!

TARDIS: It's fine. Your jacket will cover it!

Doctor: OMG! I worked so hard, and you ruined it!

TARDIS: I was trying to help!

I finally stepped in, asked if anyone had a safety pin, and fixed the Doctor's suspenders. I'm pretty proud of my role in preventing a disruption in all of time and space, though I wonder if it turned out so well in the alternate universe.

        *I'm calling him "Yoda," 'cause he's my geek guru, and he helped me prepare for my first con. Yes, I know that Yoda is from Star Wars. I thought it was clear that I do not discriminate. Besides, it's my blog and I say it's o.k.