Oh, Patrick Stewart! You Make Me Sad.

I won't say I'm a fan girl. I don't obsess. I don't squee. I have a healthy appreciation for certain celebrities and many of them are from geeky sci-fi like Star Trek, Star Wars, Star Gate. Things like that. Most of all I love Patrick Stewart. I liked him before Star Trek. I liked him after Star Trek. I like his bald head and I could listen to his snoozy British accent all day long.

But, I've got to say, I'm disappointed in the celebs right now. Yeah. Even Wil Wheaton who I praise up down left and right for his work on TableTop and other shows.

You see, here's the thing: I desperately want to go to a con. Dragon*Con. Gen Con. Even Comic Con. Scott is keen on getting to PaizoCon. We never have money to go. Sure we could afford the tickets if we budget carefully, but then add travel. hotel, and eating expenses in and there's no way. At least, not right now and probably not anytime soon. And for the most part, I'm okay with that.

Except for the case of MegaCon. MegaCon takes place in Orlando. Orlando, my friends, is not that far from here and we could conceivably make a say trip to go to at least one of the days. There are many great things to do and see at a convention and the panels this year sound fantastic! But one of the things I would love to do is get a chance to meet, greet and maybe get a photo of or with some of the celebs.

And guys, Patrick Stewart is going to be there this year! Shiny bald head and everything! And Wil Wheaton and Brent Spinner and practically every TNG cast memeber! It's like a freaking reunion! And I'd go. I swear I'd go. I'd find the money.

But...

As I was scrolling though the Media Guest list, I started to notice something. Most every single actor charges for autographs and photos ops. Patrick Stewart? Charges $75 for and autograph! $85 and up for photo ops! I was outraged. Disappointed. Shocked and Appalled. The other starts aren't that much better. Most of them hover right around $40 and up. That's more than a one day ticket!

Now I have no idea whether conventions pay stars to appear or if they just agree to show up. I'm leaning towards "they get paid to appear." Do these stars, most of whom are still working and/or earning residuals, (I'm pretty sure that's the right term) need money that badly? I can't honestly believe that they are just appearing at a convention out of the goodness of their hearts or because they love it that much. Maybe they do and I'll be the first to write an apology if these guys get nothing for their time except what they make in autograph and photo op fees.

Sure nobody is forcing fans to cough up money to pay for an autograph, but come on! And I get that if they were just signing things willy-nilly they'd never get away but seriously, if you go to Disney, you only get to meet and get autographs from the characters at certain times of the day. Can't conventions do that? Give an couple one hour blocks scattered throughout the course of the day and that's that. If a fan misses out then it isn't the celebrity's fault, it's the fan's for not getting in line sooner.

Am I crazy for thinking this way? I'm all for making a buck! Heck, I could really make use of some buck making schemes here, but it just seems so...jaded and cynical and sad for celebrities to be charging fans for an autograph.

So yeah, I still love you guys, but I'm disappointed in you Patrick Stewart. You too, Wil.

Speaking of the Forks...

Remember I was telling you about the Celtic Parade the other day? I saved the best for last or for later (Okay, truthfully, I was really, really busy this weekend what with the festival, company and cookie booths so I didn’t actually have a chance to sit down at the computer to write. Don’t judge. It happens even to the best of us or the laziest – I’m both so I get extra credit).

My town loves to celebrate. On any given weekend there is some kind of festival or gathering or reenactment (seriously, pirates take over our town almost daily). A Celtic festival the weekend before St. Patrick’s day seems a rather odd occurrence but given this way we get to celebrate Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Vikings (there was a Viking, I’m sure of it).

The parade started off a typical, regular parade. Lots of green, lots of marching bands, lots of bagpipes and kilts. And then this:

That, my friends, is a squadron of Storm Troopers, in kilts, escorting Darth Vader also in a kilt, along the parade route.

Ashleigh, Cyra and I squeed in shock, delight, amazement – every good adjective out there that we could possibly squee in, we squeed! As they walked past, I snapped as many photos as my broken little camera would allow. The rest of the parade was anticlimactic in comparison.

As the parade finished, the girls and I began walking toward the town field where all the cool festivals are held. Low and behold, as we approached we realized that the head of the parade was just starting to round the corner back onto the street in front of us.

On this side of the parade the crowds were already dispersed and the parade walkers were starting to slow down and straggle.

“Let’s watch it again,” I said to the girls.

The both frowned at me.

“I want to get better pictures of the Storm Troopers.”

That immediately gained approval and we once again positioned ourselves along the street. And then my friends, I can only say that I will probably go down in history of town parades for the actions I then took.

The squadron of Storm Troopers rounded the corner and approached. And I noticed what I hadn't the first time around: Dark Helmet!

As the Storm Troopers drew nearer, I shoved Cyra out in front of three or four of them, jumped into the middle of the street and begged for a photo. They happily complied.

Then Darth Vader came. Once again, I pushed Cyra out into the street. The few spectators lining the street nearby laughed at my antics but I got a photo.

Then came Boba Fett and another picture.

By this time Ashleigh was laughing so hard she could barely breath but she gasped out, “I should have jumped in there with Cyra!”

(On a side note – Ashleigh has hated getting pictures taken with people dressed up in characters since she could walk. I’ve learned not to ask anymore.)

“What?” I said. “Let’s go.”

My friends, we chased – CHASED – the squadron down the street. As soon as we got close enough Cyra screamed for Darth Vader to stop for another photo. I shoved the girls into the street once again and snapped two quick photos with Vader. At that point, the Celtic Princess Leia told us that they would all be at the festival and we should look for them there.

 At the festival we ran into the same three Storm Troopers that stopped to take a picture with Cyra and they posed for another set of photos with both girls. Sadly, Vader had already doffed his costume, but my day had already been made 100 times over!