Both Tim Russ and Robert Picardo were very nice, and absolutely hilarious. As I mentioned briefly before, Tim Russ is very knowledgable about Vulcan culture, and we had a fantastic chat about the language, fashion, and history. Hopefully I will see both of them again.
Robert Picardo and I:
In all of these pictures, I have this goofy trying-not-to-smile smile because I was incredibly self conscious about it. Now that I have braces, I feel like the metal-queen. I absolutely love having braces, and had wanted to get them from the time I was in grade three. I used to roll tin foil into tiny strips and put them in my mouth to see what having braces would look like. But I digress.
I didn't have enough money to get a photo with William Shatner at Comic Con, but I did get some pictures taken with his cut-out at his show a few days earlier:
Last, but certainly not least - I had the wonderful opportunity to have my picture taken with Jonathan Frakes and his wonderful, untameable hair.
If you look closely, you will see my TNG combadge.
A few days ago, I found out who is going to be at the 2012 Central Canadian Comic Con in my city - Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner and... Walter Koenig! I am so excited that I can hardly breath. This year, I am going to make sure that I have enough money to pay for pictures with all of them.
Brent Spiner was supposed to be at least year's Con, but something came up and he couldn't make it. I am glad he had decided to come back this year.
A couple of days ago I had the privilege of seeing William Shatner's show, "How Time Flies", from the ninth row. As soon as he walked out onto the stage, I swear my heart stopped. I could feel it. The show lasted about three hours, and was absolutely amazing.
Before the show, I stopped of at the merchandise table to get a T-shirt. I did not expect for there to be a triple vinyl version of Seeking Major Tom, and a limited edition poster (which I quickly bought!). There were also copies of his book, "Shatner Rules", and his CD - but I had already gotten those days before.
Waiting non-patiently for the show to resume
A lot of what he told us is also explained in his book. I sat there, watching him speak with my SLR camera and a piece of random receipt paper - upon which I was writing notes. I took pictures, when I could, and wrote down my favorite parts.
He spoke about a six year old boy who showed up outside while he was living on the road in a truck. "One morning, a six-year-old boy knocks on the door, and says, 'Are you Captain Kirk?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Can I see your space ship?' I said, 'Sure come in." He brought the boy inside, and showed him the shower, "where I beam up" and the stove, where the controls were. He says that somewhere, there is a middle aged guy who believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was on the Enterprise with Captain Kirk.
Looking sharp in a pinstripe suit
After taking off his jacket to show us how to fold it properly
He also spoke a lot about horses, a special passion of his. He spoke about Great Dane, his black stallion, and how he lived and died. He had agreed to breed him, but was saddened by it when he found that he had been "incarcerated". Great Dane later got founder, and had to be put down. He later spoke of Great Dane's son, "Call Me Ringo".
He recalled riding a three year old horse as an amateur rider, and having it rear. He accidentally leaned back and brought the horse back with him, and quickly thought of the stories where people had been crushed by their horses. Luckily, the horse went to the side at the last minute, and only landed on his leg.
Heavenly suspenders
Showing off is what the Shat does best
He broke his leg, and an ambulance was called. "Every Rescue 911 I did, they tied the gurney down!" In the hospital, to check if he had inner bleeding, he had to pee in a bottle. "Captain Kirk is peeing in a bottle." A nurse comes and opens the curtains, looks at him, and says (gasp) "I'm your biggest fan!".
And here's a few more interesting little bits of information:
The tour bus was rented from a company called Star Fleet.
William Shatner sold his Kidney Stone for $100,000.00 to donate to Habitat for Humanity
He states that he got his stereotyped acting style on Broadway when he had to start speaking gibberish and yelling to stop people from leaving the audience when his fellow actor kept freezing up in an attempt to get fired.
At an important show with agents and everything, he replaced a piece of paper that is fellow actor was to rip in half powerfully and angrily with a piece of parchment paper. Parchment paper doesn't rip.
He was an assistant manager twice, hired because he had a degree (which he just barely got). He was promptly fired both times, and has never had a job other than acting since then.
According to William Shatner, the four sweetest words in the English language are "Say goodbye to Grandpa"
Koko the Gorilla grabbed him by the balls.
Signing to Koko... "I love you"
And then Koko reached down and grabbed him by the balls.
At one point he quotes a philosopher by saying "nothing is everything"... and follows up by yelling "what the fuck does he mean by that!?" He also uses the word onomatopoeia.
I could go on, but you would be reading for hours, and I would be typing for days. I would highly recommend purchasing the book "Shatner Rules" for more.
As an epic conclusion to the show, William Shatner asked us (rhetorically, I would imagine) what Canadians loved most. After people from the crowd shouted "Beer!" he corrected us - we all love hockey. With this, he sang his rendition of "The Good Ol'Hockey Game" by Stompin' Tom Connors, which I recorded on a terrible camera like I was drunk. See the video and all of it's terrible quality below. And remember - "We don't know anything. We know nothing. We see glimmers."
I was checking facebook last week, and my gaze was drawn to a tiny post in the corner of the screen - I couldn't believe my eyes.
William Shatner.
Coming to my city.
In October.
Immediately, I went on google to verify. Surely enough, there is was - How Time Flies: An Evening with William Shatner. Vancouver, Regina, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Montreal. Tickets went on sale that Friday. Luckily, I was getting paid that Friday - and I was committed to getting those 400 dollar VIP tickets.
But I didn't. Basically, the VIP package included front row seats, a private meet and greet, souvenirs, photo opportunities, and an after party. I ended up getting regular tickets - I don't like parties, and I wasn't about to spend three hundred dollars for a picture (but now that I think about it, I totally would and should have!).
So later in October, I will be sitting in the ninth row - swooning and listening to his anecdotes. Not only that, but he is going to sing. And by sing I mean talk in an extremely sexy way, to music. I will be taking pictures from the crowd, and maybe there will be some souvenirs available to buy.
Me and my thrifty decisions! Why didn't I get the VIP? It is illogical, however, to dwell on such things as it creates unnecessary distress about something that cannot be changed. Acceptance leads to peace and contentment. The important thing is, I am going to see William Shatner!
I am so excited. The day I found out he was coming, I jumped dramatically to the floor and rolled around flailing. The day I actually picked up my tickets, I did the same thing but with added sound effects - and possible some frothing at the mouth.
You make me rabid, William Shatner. I will see you, and assault you with my eyes. And my camera.
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