Gathering 2001 Report!
June 20
Started my 385 mile long drive south to the Gathering at around 7:30 a.m. The drive was pretty dull and uneventful. Got to the hotel around 1:15 p.m., about 1 hour sooner than I had expected. During the whole trip, I listened to my mp3 player. I did bring a CD player, but I didn't want to deal with changing CD's while driving.
After sitting around a little, I ran into Norcumi and her mom. We started chatting while waiting for the hotel computers to get back up. Once that occurred, we checked and heading for our separate rooms. I put my backpack in there and went back up to fetch my suitcase from the car. A short while later, I ran into Norcumi again. We started chatting and started talking to Nick (Goliath116) and ran into Zaius as well. After, that, we headed to her room, where did some more talking.
Around 6:30, we headed out for dinner. In the hallway, there was a box full of backpacks. Jokingly, I said, "Look! Free backpacks!" As I made a false grab for one, a hotel employee came out of the room. We took a short walk up to Universal Citywalk and browsed for a spot to eat. Found a spot that served up burgers and managed to find where the movie theater was at. After we finished up eating, we walked back to the hotel. We said good night to each other and headed off to sleep. I watched a small round of TV before crashing for the night.
June 21
Woke up at around 8:30. My breakfast consisted of pop-tarts and room temperature Dr. Pepper. Yummy. After do some minor things, I headed up to the lobby at 9:30. Met up with Norcumi and her mom again. After a chatting for about a hour, Norcumi and I headed for Citywalk. We headed up to the theater and I got the movie tickets for both of us to see Shrek. We had a little time to kill, so we walked around for a little. I stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe store and picked up my something for my mom and a shot glass for myself. Went to the Sam Goody store and my Leatherman tool set off the anti-theft alarm while walking in. After a short bit, we headed back to the movie theater.
We went into the theater and found the screen for Shrek. That movie is funny and we both enjoyed it. After that, we went back to the burger joint and had lunch. Once we got back to the hotel, we ran into some more people that were attending the convention. I ran into Eden, Hudson and a few others.
June 22
After my usual morning routine, I ran my stuff back up to the car, since I was supposed to check into a larger room. I ran into Sketch and a couple of her friends. Found out that all three got their rooming assignment screwed up. They were supposed to get a double bed room, but the hotel overbooked the block. So they got shoved into a single person room. I went to check to see what the story with my room thing was going to be. I ended up being stuck in my single person room for the whole stay. But I had a king size bed and couch with a folding out bed, so that worked out for my roommates.
Around 9:45, I started my first volunteer shift at the registration desk. I got to work with Patrick Toman and Kathy Pogge. The first couple hours were kind of busy, but it was better organized than last years registration desk. While working that, I managed to meet Shing (from Aimee's forum), KWS, and several others. It slowed down around 12:30 and I stuck around until about 1:30.
Went down to browse the art and ran into Norcumi yet again. We went around and did the art show voting. While looking around, I noticed the metal work she had done. One the pieces she had done was of my gargoyle self, which surprised me. As I was leaving, I signed the get well card for Edward Asner. I also bought the last Brooklyn print from Kythera.
After I put that in my room, I ended up near the dealers room and talked to A Fan for a while. While sitting there, I managed to get pictures of Greg W., Thom, Eden, Siryn, and KWS. Ended up guarding the pens that Bill Fagerbakke would be using to sign stuff with. A little while later, got into line and had him sign my Broadway cel. After that, headed over to the opening ceremonies. During it, Myhr asked if anyone was a "con virgin." A second later, someone's kid asked, "Mommy, what's a con virgin?" A lot of us started to laugh at that one. Myhr responded with that, "I forgot there are some youngsters here and they don't understand the word con." Joined up with Norcumi, her mom and their roommate for dinner.
June 23
Got to help out in the video room for about 4 hours. Elisagoyle was running it. A couple times she had to run some minor errands while I tended to the room. Had to close up at 2 so they could do the radio play rehearsal. Did some writing and took some pictures of Karlyl, Kanthara, Steph, and Jade Griffin. Of course, Steph tried to place me. I told her I was the one who ordered the prints from her. She then smiled, "Someone who buys stuff from me!" Headed off for dinner with Norcumi and her mother again.
I went back to the video room to run it while Elisagoyle went off to the radio play. We watched some Slayers, then started watching Utena. Elisagoyle came back and then we watched 4 episodes of 3 X 3 Eyes. After that, it was back to Utena. We ended up with Jen's kids. After a bit, we found out Elisagoyle was the only staff around. Around 11:40, she took the kids off to sleep and had me kick everyone out of the video room around midnight. So much for getting to bed early like I planned.
June 24
Got to work in the con suite for a couple hours. I did some minor writing of a fiction bit I had started working on down there. I sat around until about 11:30, when a few folks decided to start showing up. My shift ended at 12, but I hung around until 12:30, when I went down to sign out. Since I wasn't needed, I stumbled by the video room and managed to catch the last half of MIA.
I hung around the video room for a little and then headed off to the autographing session. When I got to the line, I was right behind Steph and a couple people up from her was Pogo and Aimee. Of course, I had to show off to Steph the "Got Character?" shirt that I had bought. She was happy to see that. We ended up chatting a bit while the line slowly moved.
I managed to get signatures from everyone but Keith David and Jeff Bennett. But I did manage to get Thom to sign my Goliath and Lexington cel. A bit later on, I did manage to get Greg W. to sign it. While in line getting some of the background people to sign my stuff, the auction started.
I only bid on two items. The first was a cel from "Eye of The Beholder." It has Goliath fighting with the werewolf and Elisa in the background with her gun drawn. The other item was the "Art Bible," which was signed by quite a few folks. This showed sketches of the characters from different views and other things that was shown in the series. I paid for my items and then took them to my car. Felt they would be safer in my trunk versus my room. Also, the safe in the room didn't look big enough to hold them.
Headed up to the banquet and sat at a table with Norcumi, her mom and roommate and 4 others. While waiting to find out who was going to be the guest at our table, we chatted about who were hoping to get. We were wishing for either Greg, Thom or Crispin. We managed to get Thom. A little while after dinner began, a small gag war broke out.
First Thom went to Greg Weisman's table, acting like a waiter and asked if everything was fine. He didn't
get much of a laugh. He then went to Crispin Freeman's table and did it and got a much bigger laugh.
Crispin came back and told Thom he was under arrest for impersonating a voice actor. Thom went back
and told Crispin that his credit card was declined and had to leave.
Crispin came back did his impression of Broadway
with the line, "You made one mistake Dracon, you messed with my
partner." After a few, Thom went back and told Crispin that he was Don Johnson's suit and he
wanted it back. After a few minutes, Crispin Freeman came and told Thom: "I've done a lot of thinking
about this and yes I will marry you!" He then kissed Thom.
Too bad I didn't have my camera out for that. Thom decided he had been bested,
almost.
During the desert round, Thom walked over and walked Crispin Freeman's girlfriend to our table and sat
her down. Crispin came over and sat in Thom's lap and said, "How dare you take my man from me!"
After a bit, the Masquerade and cosplay started. There were really nifty costumes and acts that were done. I took something like 3 rolls of film. I sat next to Nick and Norcumi. I headed down to bed after the dance started so I could get some sleep.
June 25 - The last day.
Just before what few things that were going to be open, my roommates had to check-out. We went up to the desk to get the bill for the past few nights. The good news is they only charged for a single person room for the past three nights despite there being 3 of us in there. That ended up saving them about $50 each.
Went to the Starship Troopers and 3 X 3 Eyes Q&A panels. Sadly, I didn't have anything with me for them to sign. Doh! Just before the panels had started, I filled out a pre-registration for the 2002 Gathering. It was nice of those folks the voice actors and others who worked on those shows to come on down (the ones who could make it that is).
Just after that, was the closing ceremonies. A little after that, I got the Demona cel I bought from Jen. Also said goodbye to a few folks.
Came back and I attempted to take a nap. I packed away some stuff to my car since I was leaving in the morning. While doing that, I missed the brief power outage. I stopped by the Sam Goody's and bought a couple DVD's and a CD. We came back and said our goodbye's. All and all, I had a blast.
June 26
Checked out and started my drive home at 7 a.m. I got home around 1 p.m. Same bland boring drive on the way back like the way down. Again, listened to my mp3 player.
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The pictures.