Will the Madness Ever End?

I think the answer is no.  It's been awhile since my last post, but my madness is getting stronger and I feel the need to share with the world.  I will begin again where I left off and tell you about my adventures at Fan Expo and the quest to find Capaldi in Toronto.

Fan Expo was great!  Heather and I had a lot of fun and were pleasantly surprised at how well the day went.  We got in about 10 minutes earlier than expected, so we were actually on the floor by the time the doors were supposed to open for regular pass people.  After casing the joint for an hour, the time was quickly approaching for John and Joan Cusack's Q & A, so with my previous knowledge I told Heather what time we should line up in order to get good seats.  I was of course correct and we were able to get a sweet spot.  Heather's excitement was building like a kid on Christmas Eve.  Finally the moment came and John walked out onto the stage, and I was right he did look like a security guard, but a hot security guard so it was ok.  Fast forward to our photo ops.  I have to say this was far more organized than it was at Awesome Con. Finally the time had come for Heather to come face to face with her celebrity crush.  I'll be honest I paid for a photo op just to see this moment and it was worth it.  She was so star struck that she forgot to stay for my photo and missed the opporunity to have an extra 2 seconds with him.  In terms of a photo op, Capaldi was way better at this.  John Cusack's was a lot quicker.  Mostly due to the fact that he didn't speak.  Not even a word.  I did however, for some strange reason, get a fist bump.  Perhaps he liked my shirt, my hair, my glasses, who knows.  It will go down as one of the greatest mysteries of my life.  Any way here's the photo...

So that was done.  Heather could check something off her bucket list ( I don't actually know if she has a bucket list, but I assume if she does this would be on it).  As we walked out of the photo op area, I noticed some of the Doctor Who people were at the autograph tables, so Heather and I did a walk by to see who we could see.  This was when I noticed that Michelle Gomez, who plays Missy, didn't have anyone at her table.  So I decided to get an autograph, which turned out to be a great decision because she is so lovely!  We chatted for a bit about her role and then I told her how I got to meet Peter Capaldi in June, which meant the conversation quickly changed to talking about how great Peter is.  Here's the photo I got autographed and of course I chose the one that had the Doctor...

That concludes Fan Expo.  We had a lot of fun, I entered a contest to win a meet and greet with Peter Capaldi for when he was in Toronto a month later, and most importantly we got to spend about 5 seconds with John Cusack. Now to tell you about Peter Capaldi coming to Toronto.  If you have been following this blog from the beginning, you may remember that when I met him back in June he told me he was coming to Toronto towards the end of the year.  He didn't know for what, but he knew he was coming.  Turned out it was October and he would only be here for one day to spend it in a studio doing interview after interview.  There wasn't going to be an opportunity to pay exhorbiants amount of money to meet him.  I was going to have to win a contest if I wanted to see him face to face.  I'm not very good at winning contests, so I was very sad and angry about this.  I felt ripped off!  I mean I knew long before it was ever announced that he was coming becasue the man himself had told me!  So putting my tantrum aside, I decided I would take the day off work because let's be honest, I wouldn't really be working, knowing that Peter Capaldi was in the same city as me. The day arrived and I awoke with a determination like I've never had.  Twitter was ready and I was pretty sure I was following the people that would lead me to my goal.  I arrived at the studio around 10:30 am and noticed there were a few people hanging outside, so I wandered over to see if they were like minded people and they were, but not very chatty.  I noticed another girl standing alone, a bit further down the side walk, and I walked towards her.  Immediately she asked if I was there for Peter.  Of course I answered yes, to which she said she was too.  Great!  We chatted for about 5 minutes when I happened to look up towards a balcony on the side of the studio.  Well wouldn't you know it Peter Capaldi walked out.

I told the girl beside me to look up and when she did, she immediately screamed his name.  God bless her for that because he then looked down and waved.  We waved back.  He waved some more and then turned to someone next to him to say something, but pointed in our direction.  That person then yelled down and told us to stay there they were coming down.  What!?  Fantastic!  The young college kids around me were full of questions and wondering what was happening.  I explained, I think they are coming down to see us, just as the nice lady had said.  Then suddenly like a magic gennie the lady appeared in the parking lot and motioned for the 5 of us to come over.  The kids were still a bit confused, but I trudged on ahead not caring what trap lay before me.  I was pretty sure my reward was going to Peter Capaldi.  And I was right!  I came around the corner of some cars and there he was!  And not just him, but Pearl Mackie as well!  So there I was face to face with the man I had met exactly 4 months ago to the day.  I didn't need to win a contest, I had determination!

Once again this man was nothing, but gracious.  When I approached him, he shook my hand and asked if I had met Pearl.  Nope, I hadn't met her before.  The kids had finally caught up at this point, so they immediately started talking to him and asking for photos.  He was so nice that he posed for photos with everyone.  The kids even asked if they could do it again, but without his sunglasses and he of course said yes.  Then it was my turn, so I asked if I could have a selfie and he said yes. He asked if I wanted sunglasses or no sunglasses, I opted for the sunglasses.  When I went to pull my phone out to take the picture I had forgotten that I had the picture of him and I from Washington as my lock screen.  Embrassing!  I laughed and said, Oh I actually met you before.  He looked at the photo and immediately said, Washington!  Damn, I'm impressed he could tell from the photo where it was taken.  I said yeah and he commented about how crazy that day was and thanked ME for coming to do that.  Uhmm, you're welcome?  I should be thanking you.  Anyway, we take the photo....

Unlike my Washington photo, he's the Doctor in this one.  Which is what I wanted.  I then stood off to the side while he was taking a photo with another girl and realized I was standing beside Pearl.  Right, Pearl!  So, I asked if I could take a photo...

She is fabulous!  I can't wait to see her as the new companion because she was so great to meet.  I asked her if she was nervous about taking on the new role and she said at first, but it had been a lot of fun.  At which point, Peter who was drawing a picture for someone chimes in and says "She's great!"  The kids then asked if they could have group photos and they both said sure, so I got in on that action too...

Then that was it.  I immediately sent my picture of Peter and I to the Husband, who said he laughed out loud becasue he thought I would probably see Capaldi, but not actually get to meet him again.  I told him to never doubt my powers.  We spent about 10 minutes in that parking lot and had an experience that I will never forget.  An experience I'm pretty sure we have Peter to thank for because it really looked like he had asked to come down to meet us.  I stuck around for awhile and waited for one of my students to show up, who is also a fan.  I stayed with her for a bit and while we were waiting Peter popped out the front door of the building to take photos and sign some autographs.  More of a crowd had gathered at this point, so he really didn't have much time to talk to people, but my student got a photo with him and a quick shout out video to the fans in Brazil.  At this point, I was starting to feel like a stalker, so I left. But my student stayed for the rest of the day and got another opportunity to see him and to meet Pearl.  Once again, she said it was really quick because more people had gathered.  I'm glad that I got there when I did because it truly sounds like no one else had the experience that I got.

And that concludes the stalking adventures of 2016.  I know it was a horrible year for celebrity deaths, but for me it will go down as one of the best.  I got to fist bump John Cusack, finally talk to one of my favourite musicians, Jim Cuddy, and meet Peter Capaldi not once, but twice.  What will 2017 hold?  Well for starters another trip to Awesome Con to meet my Doctor, David Tennant and a trip to Ottawa Comic Con to meet.... wait for it.... Peter Capaldi again.  So will this madness ever end?  Not anytime soon!

Always...

I'm going to go back in time for a moment and talk about Alan Rickman.  Last night I went with The Husband to see "Eye in the Sky", the last movie we will see Alan Rickman in.  It's strange.  I really didn't think I would be emotional over seeing him in his final movie (technically "Alice Through the Looking Glass" is his final movie, but we don't see him, so I'm considering this as the final one).  What I was thinking was,  yeah this is the last time I will see him on the big screen, but I have all of his movies, so it's not like I won't see him again.  So as I sat there waiting for him to appear, I was fine.  Not feeling sad at all.  Then there he was and a smile came to my face followed by a little tear in my left eye.

Now at this point I'm going to step into the TARDIS and take you back to an earlier moment I mentioned and give you some more insight into my fan-girlness.  The moment was waiting for Alan Rickman to appear on stage in London.  I sat there full of anticipation and worry.  I was determined that this would be the night that his understudy would go on and I wouldn't actually get to see him.  However, the next thing you heard was his distinct baritone voice from offstage.  A smile so big you could have seen it a mile away appeared on my face.  Then there he was walking out on to the stage.  We were sitting in the front row of the balcony and I sat forward in my seat trying to get closer (and stayed that way until the old lady behind me asked me to sit back).  As I saw him in real life for the first time, tears came to my eyes.  This had never happened before.  I was shocked but suddenly understood why all those teenage girls were crying over seeing the Backstreet Boys.  I used to laugh at them, but now I got it.  I think it was the first time in my life that I had experienced "tears of joy".

So back to present day and the movie.  As I sat watching, I tried to really take in every moment Rickman appeared on screen, really savour what I was seeing and hearing, knowing that I will never see him this big again.  A small smile would come to my face every time he appeared.  Then an hour and a half later the movie was over and the credits started to roll.  That was when on a black screen I saw "In loving memory of Alan Rickman" and I cried.  Not full on sobbing, but enough that I needed to wait a bit before we left the theatre.  Even as I type those words tears have returned to my eyes.  Why was I so sad over a person I didn't know?  I turned to the husband and said, "I don't know why I'm crying."  He said, "You met him of course it's going to hit you."  He was right.

I had often wondered what it would feel like the day I would hear that one of my obsessions had passed.  Sadly, now I know.  I didn't want to talk about that day in this blog because I legitimately felt like I had lost someone I knew.  It's crazy, but I think if you are reading this blog, you are either my friend and you already know how crazy I am, or you are someone like me and you understand what it means to be a fan.  So on that day I had received two texts from two friends asking if I was OK.  I thought that's strange.  I wondered why they were asking.  I also noticed I had a bunch of facebook notifications.  I checked the notifications and as I was crossing the street to work I read Alan Rickman had died.  My heart sank and when I walked in the door to work I immediately called my husband.  He consoled me as if I had just lost a friend.  I'm not going to lie, I was in shock.  I couldn't focus on work at all and I may have gone to my office and shed some tears.  Friends continued to text and send messages and people I hadn't spoken to for years posted comments to my facebook page.  It made me realize that I clearly talk about my obsessions way to much, but also just how much of an Alan Rickman fan I am.  There was something about him that touched my life and I clearly wanted others to experience that.  I think that's what it is when you are a passionate fan.  You love something or someone so much that you want others to know about it.  Whether it's an actor, a TV show, or a sports team fans are passionate people.  I'm a passionate person.

OK so that was a major side step from the path I was following, but I felt like I needed to share my feelings for Alan Rickman.  I have had two other actors since Alan Rickman, that I have become fanatical about.  One is Hugh Laurie, the other is Peter Capaldi.  So in my next post, I'm going to tell you about how Peter Capaldi came into my life and how my co-workers probably wish he never had.

To stalk or not to stalk, that is the question....

Alan Rickman was the first celebrity I ever met.  As I said before I may have changed the dates of my trip to England to coincide with the end of his play "Private Lives", but my intention was to simply see him in the play and worship from afar.  That was all I knew I could do, until a co-worker at the time had told me to go to the stage door after the show and meet him.  I laughed and said to her... what is this magical door that Alan Rickman will emerge from.  Co-worker assured me that he would and I would meet him.  Of course I didn't believe her, but I thought  I should at least research this.  So to the Internet I went and it was there that I discovered all of these fans who had indeed met him.  Co-worker was right!  There was a magical door!  However, having never come face to face with one of my British loves, I wasn't sure I could do it.  It wasn't until he came on stage that I knew I had to or I would forever regret my decision.  Of course I was a blundering fool when I met him, but now that he is gone, I'm glad that I went.

So now fast forward a few years (over 11 to be precise), and a new older British man love,
Hugh Laurie.

Now I knew about Hugh long before his days as Dr. House and was always a fan, but it was his portrayal as House that made me love him.  What an amazing talent this man is.  He's a comedian, a writer, an actor, and a musician.  What can't this man do?!  As all the loves before him, I had to have everything he ever made, which included his two albums.  As any good musician knows you must tour when you put out an album.  Hugh is no exception to this rule, so you can imagine my excitement when it was announced he would be playing in Toronto on Oct. 20, 2013. Of course I bought tickets.  I was going to take my lovely husband, who bless his soul supports my crazy old British man fetish, but instead took my bestfriend.  I think the hubby didn't want to see me in full fan girl mode, but his loss because it was an amazing show.  Here are some pictures...

 And a video...

 

Anyway, after the show I had the same internal debate, to stalk or not to stalk.  It would be easy, his tour bus was across the street, but for some reason I wasn't sure.  As Bestfriend and I walked away I asked him if we could check out the bus and see if anyone else was waiting.  Of course there was.  So we waited and waited and waited until this happend...

Finally there he was and again I was a blundering fool, but he signed my ticket stub and my bestfriend snapped some pics.  We walked away and I couldn't stop smiling or shaking.  Again this was a moment that I will remember forever.

Hugh Laurie was the second celebrity I met (I have friends who say stalk, but hey tomato, tomatoe).  Peter Capaldi will be the third.  In my next installment I'll tell you the tale of how I hated Doctor Who as a child, but now can't get enough of it.  Strange I know!

 

Let's start from the beginning...

As with any good story, I must start from the beginning.  I have a love for all things British, especially when it comes to older British men.  There's a long list of actors I have loved over the years, and it all started when I first saw Rocky Horror Picture Show.

There was no turning back after seeing this classic cult movie. I would be hooked for the rest of my life and instantly became a fan of Tim Curry.  The first older British man I loved.

Seriously, look at him.  How can you not love him?  From "It", "Legend", and "Clue" the man was incredible.  My obsession grew to the point that I owned his records (and I didn't even own a turn table), and horrible movies that he made (Lovers Knot).  I had to get my hands on everything.  But as I look back on this love affair, it really sounds all minor compared to my later loves.  I guess one might say he was my gateway drug.  The drug that led me to the likes of Anthony Stewart Head...

That's right, Giles from Buffy (Which led to a whole other obsession that I will talk about on another day) David Bowie...

and this man...

Alan Rickman.  You can imagine my devastation the week we lost both Bowie and Rickman, but let's not talk about that.  From the four men above, Alan Rickman was my biggest obsession.  I realized this as I received many texts and messages of condolences the day he died.  I clearly talk about my obsessions way too much (and now apparently blog about it).  However, there was a reason I loved Alan Rickman more, not only was it because he was such a great actor, but on Feb. 28, 2002 I got the opportunity to meet the man himself.  What an amazing moment and one that I will remember until the day I die.  He was every bit the gentleman that people say he was, making sure that everyone who wanted a photo and an autograph got one.  It only made me love him more and led to a vast DVD and Blu-Ray collection of just about every movie he ever made.  I think Alan Rickman was a turning point for me in my love of older British men.  My friends might joke and say it was the point I became a stalker (just because I changed the dates of my trip to London to see Rickman in a play and stood by the stage door after), but I say it was the moment I truly became a fan girl.  So as I prepare to meet my current obsession, Peter Capaldi, I have decided to document it.  Mostly because I think I have driven my friends and family crazy by talking about it so much, but to also get a chance to share my tale with other fan girls and boys like me.  So sit back and enjoy!