I sort of hated the picture of me at first, (with the camera's extra 10lbs. being delivered right to my chin) Ug. However, I also knew I loved the moment. Now, the more I look at myself, I have to say...I look pretty damned pleased. And why yes, I do have a rather post-coital-y moment look on my face. *smirk*

The reason, you ask? *inquiring minds want to know...*

When it's my turn at the photo-op, (Sunday 4/3/05, approx. 11am) I walk up to James, and tell him that I really liked the concert and that he seemed really relaxed all weekend. He says, "Yeah, I am." Then I ask if I can get a picture like the one he'd just taken - that is, standing between his legs. He says, "Sure," and spreads 'em. *grin*

I get into position, *pauses to think of those words in context to James - okay, done now* he puts his arms around me, and the picture is taken. I thank him, or he thanks me (although I'm not nervous at this point seeing James or being near him, I still get James-fog from the encounters! Must be the JM magic! Damn him!) I go to pick up my purse, and Craig says, "Wait, someone had their eyes closed." I'm not unhappy in the slightest *smirk* James says, "I think that was me," so, get back into position, *ah...such lovely words* and I turn to look back over my shoulder at him and teasingly say, "Hey, do that again..." James  laughs, and that's the picture!

Have to admit, that was the one time the whole weekend, that left me weak in the knees and all fangirl squealish - that moment right afterwards. Went to find April and her friends and tell them (and anybody else who would listen) what had just happened. April is all like, "Another bad picture," referencing the one that she took with Andy Hallett, where she thinks she looks fat, and I'm like, "I don't care! I don't care!" because at the moment I'm all about the SQUEE!

Now for the report:

Houston Day 1 - March 31, 2005 - Thursday

I had a great time seeing all my old (not OLD!) friends from MTS, and making new ones, as well as those on some of the other boards.

We (April, Rick, & I) left O'Hare at around noon on Thursday, and got into Houston about 3pm. April is now becoming an old hand at flying, though Rick hadn't for over 20 years. It was a beautiful, calm, and uneventful flight; just the way I like 'em. Got to the airport, and took a shuttle to the Avis-rent-a-car place. Nice to drive something newer (by far!) than either of us do. Also got to experience the joy *cough* of Satellite radio. Stations like Fungus (punk), Fred, Ethel, Lucy, (really), etc. I can't say I'm too impressed overall, none of us were. We eventually switched to find local Houston stations; sort of went back and forth. Personally, I wouldn't pay for Satellite.

(Oh, and whoever you were who actually called Rick, 'mr. spikealicious' over the weekend...hee good job!)

We settled into the Sheraton on the all-so-exclusive (lol) 10th floor. I didn't even know what that meant when I booked it, only that I thought breakfast buffet was included. Then come to find out, it was a lot less than that; still, worked out well when I didn't have time to go down and eat a meal in the morning or evening. Not that the accomodations were luxurious, (I've been in larger rooms by far), but the bed was comfy, though I don't appreciate a toilet that reminds me of those in kindergarten rooms - dinky and 20" off the floor. Sheesh! Still, small potatoes.

After settling in, (April was off and running asap, trying to find her peep, that is, anybody not us - we went downstairs for a while. I ran into Berry, and asked if she wanted to to go to dinner in downtown Houston, but she was waiting for the 7pm mts & mobsters meet-up.

Then, ran into another April, who I knew for a while, but met at M.R. and her friend, Sam. We asked them if they wanted to go to dinner with us, and they did. The five of us walked around Houston, not far from Minute Maid stadium. Can't recall what streets we were on, but
the buildings were quite pretty, with paintings on the sides.

Settled on a rest. named The Twisted Fork, which at first glance didn't appear anything special (sort of was looking for something atmospheric, and not generic) but inside it really was rather cool. Not only that, but the food was really, really good. There's just something about eating fresh shrimp and mexican dishes nearer to the place than they originate that makes them seem all the better. Never can get as good of seafood in the midwest, even if it's only a few days from ocean/gulf to store. Or at least, that seems to be my perception. Especially where I'm at. Funny thing is that although I'm only a couple of miles from Lake Michigan, the Lake Perch around here, comes from Canada. LOL

Anyway, after dinner it was 9:30, we go to the parking lot, and it's locked up! It said it closed at 10:00pm, so you can imagine, we're freaking. We were 20 miles from our hotel. Luckily, there was an open entrance on the other side. Then we had to find the car, and even in a mostly empty lot, it was still confusing.

Got back to the hotel, and went to bed fairly shortly thereafter.

Stay tuned for our trip to Galveston, Karaoke, and James Leary - that perverted guy! Clem, oh Clem!

Houston Day 2 - April 1, 2005 - Friday

We get up fairly early, and meet the other April (who wound up being called April2 to distinguish her from my April) and her friend Sam for breakfast, then take off for Galveston. It's April Fool's Day, and I'm surrounded by Aprils! LOL

It's quite a long trip - about an hour and a half. I know we're getting close when we start to see pelicans, palmtrees, and pyramids? Yes, as we're going over the landbridge connecting to Galveston Island, we see the three pyramids of Moody Gardens - Turquoise, Pink, & Silver off in the distance to our right. What a sight!

We head into town, and the historic district called The Strand, after London's Strand, of course. All the buildings in this area have been preserved from the Victorian Era, and are just beautiful. The curbs are extremely high, even having steps up to the street - I supposed it has something to do with possible flooding, but April said it was probably due to the horse and buggy era, and that would make more sense, as you would be able to step out right at the correct spot onto the sidewalk. The Strand is definitely touristy, with lots of shops, restaurants, etc. The girls take off in one direction, I take off in another, and Rick decides to investigate the huge surplus store - and I mean huge! for fishing gear, caps, etc.

Cobblestone streets, and a trolley, also give a certain feel for the place. The trolley tours all around Galveston Island. Unfortunately, we never did get to take it, as we kept thinking we were all going to meet up every half-hour or so, to drive to the beach side of the island, but kept increasing the time.

Rick and I walked down to Pier 21, so he could try to find a fishing charter to take the next day, when April & I were doing the con. He had the perfect one booked - 4 hours on the bay for only $25, but they called to cancel the week before, when their boat was in the shop. Unfortunately, all others were like 36 hours long, or cost over $300 - nothing in between what-so-ever. We also see lots of brown and white pelicans, as well as see (but the tour is closed) the once famous pirate ship, Elissa, docked over on the pier.

After finally all meeting up, we drove to the other side of the island, and had lunch in a restaurant called, Fish Tales (it had a revolving fish tail on it's roof). The food was good, but it had been better the night before at The Twisted Fork. Still, a nice quite good though. We walked along the seawall a bit, but it was too sandy and windy to enjoy, so we decided to go over to Moody Gardens for a bit, before heading back to Houston. Inside the different pyramids at Moody Gardens, is an aquarium, a tropical rainforest (not sure about the other).

As soon as you drive onto the site (which has it's own hotel) you def. feel like you're somewhere tropical with the beautifully landscaped, and palm tree, lined roadway to the Visitor's Center. It's getting late, and also, didn't want to spend $31 pp at M.G. on this trip, so we just go into the visitor's center and gift store. Here, my Buffy Befuddled brain takes over, when I spot a basketful of stakes! I pick out one, that has a wedge sticking out from the top...like a place to sign one's name perhaps?

April says, "Mom, it's a gardening stake!" Oh. I knew that. Really. *sigh* I buy it anyway, but it's not really that pretty, plus I had all this other stuff for JM to sign. Later, wind up tearing out the rectangle (suppose it was to put the name of a plant on it) so April can use it with her 'Faith' costume.

Did I mention flamincos? There are a ton of them behind this glassed in area (which leads to one of the pyramids) and I am entranced to be up to them that close (yes, I have seen them before, but they're so purdy!) and take a lot of pics.

We have dinner back at the hotel - and yay to their Bayou Wraps, April and I had that everytime we ate there...very good! Then we head off to Karaoke. It was fun. GraySunrise is sitting in front of Rick and I, and she asks me (think it was her) if I had a tkt. for Andy. Winds up that someone (a Platinum) had to cut their trip short by one day, and has an Andy tkt. for Sunday. I find the person (Mary, I think) thank her, buy her a coke (her choice) and her and I talk to Fernando. I'm giving the tkt. to April.

What can I say about Karaoke (Andy, Johnathan, and someone else is doing the judging)? Some of it (maybe 1/4) was absolutely wonderful. Another 1/4 was quite good. Another 1/4 still bearable, but the last 1/4 (and sheesh, there were like at least 25 singers!!! - compared to Cleveland, where they had around 10-12) should never leave the confines of their own showers. Either that, or I could even sing...believe me, you don't want that!

So, besides hearing April, who did quite a good job with Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics, (if I do say so myself) and who is more familiar w/ the Marilyn Manson (don't ask!) version, and a few other noteworthy ones - that American Idol guy (don't recall his name) who was unbelievable, and of course, Broadway Bob...could've lived w/ a much shorter Karaoke production.

By the time it was over and Leary was finally about to show Stunt Cocks, and do his comedy gig, Rick and I were so tired.

I've seen S.C. once before, and I just cracked up all over again. I think part of it was b'cuz I was so overtired, but also b'cuz it is just so blatantly absurd. Good, God!

After Leary's one man comedy show, we retired to our rooms. (April told me that April2 & Sam wanted her to spend the night in their room, and so she did) A few minutes later, I get a call.

Me: "Hello?"

Voice: "Are you missing your money by any chance?"

Me, looking around, perplexed: "Who's this?"

Voice: "Fernando, I just found your wallet downstairs, some nice person just turned it into me."

So...yep, dunderhead me, winds up taking off the wallet from around her neck (I blame extreme tiredness) in the auditorium, and put it on my lap, I guess...then just drop it. Credit Cards, travelers cheques, cash, license! God! Thank goodness it was found and I got it back.

I'm grateful, to say the least, when Fernando brings it up to me.

Too bad that whoever found Mindy's daughter's binder (who lost autographs, pictures, cards, etc.) wasn't as honest.

Houston Day 3 - April 2, 2005 - Saturday

I call Rick, who is in Galveston, fishing off the pier, and ask him if he has a hotel room yet. He answers not yet, and I yell at him and tell him to find something, for goodness sakes! When I get back to the room, he's left a message, but when I call the motel he's at, nobody answers and I worry. I call multiple times and still no answer. Finally, he calls me back around 3:00am, and tells me after he checked in, he went back out to the pier to do some more fishing. Okay...worry me to death, why doesn't he? He had taken a car charger, but it wound up not fitting the phone, and he didn't have the reg. charger, and his battery was low. Dumbass! I'd brought both chargers...one for him, and one for me, b'cuz I knew he'd be going to overnight in Galveston. *Sigh...*

Houston Day 4 - April 3, 2005 - Sunday

Like an idiot, even though I had opportunity to go to sleep early, and the whole room, and a wonderful down covered king-sized bed to myself, I don't fall asleep until almost 4:00am.

Wake up at around 8:00 or 8:30 (don't recall) whenever both the alarm rings and the wake-up call comes. I feel queasy...not from the idea of seeing James, but the lack of sleep. Decide to head down to the end of the 10th floor hallway, and take advantage of our 'Concierge Floor' deal thing. Grab a few things, head back to the room. Spill coffee on the Sheraton's robe, trying to get the key in the lock, and balance the plate. Oops. Shower, surf-gel my hair...but only after calling April (who has spent the night in April2 & Sam's room again), to bring it upstairs. So, not bothering with drying/setting my hair this time...I've spent so much time in the past doing so, only to have it look like nothing in the picture anyway, so why bother. Go with the white blouse/yellow tank top thing, rather than the black. Blue jeans, gym shoes...good to go. Of course, spent time on the make-up. Think I dabbed on April's $50 Amor-Amor perfume...but not sure. Simple necklace that I love (from my mom), dangly silver earrings that I've been wearing for days already (see above story about mr. spikealicious piercing my left ear), I'm good to go.

Arrive on the second floor, get ushered into a room. I sit by the April's...and then I hear it...the stories I've been hearing about the 'crazy lady.' She's nattering on *princess of lies,' I call her. Oh shit, I think...there is no way in hell, I'm going to either follow behind her act or go right before with her incessant babbling making me crazy...or worse...have James in any way associate me with her. Uh-uh...no way. There is some empty seats a few rows back. I sit with a lovely young pregnant woman. She also knows of 'crazy lady.' She was listening to her, and heard her tell a story (as her own) that some other woman at the banquet had related the night before. Anyway...for some reason my name comes up in that row...prob. from the April's, and they all look back at me. Crazy lady looks at me, suspiciously. I shrugh, and explain that I went back to sit with my 'friend.' My new 'friend' confirms this. LOL I love my new 'friend.'  Really!

So...the nice story of the two-times I got to be all snuggly-wuggly is above, so won't reiterate that.

We all get our pictures within a relatively short time. I don't like the way I look - it's grown on me though. I know that I won't be having James sign it, in any case. It's fun to see everyone's photos the same day.

After photo-ops, Rick has come back, and April leaves with him...they're heading back to Galveston, and her search for the perfect cowboy hat! (if not a cowboy...lol)

They've changed the times for the Q&A's because the photo ops didn't start on time. Run into Berry around lunchtime, and before Q&A's. We lunch together, and share a Bayou Wrap, and she treats me. Thanks, Kate! You're a sweetheart!

I walk into the Q&A and it's Jonathan Woodward. Nothing against him, but I don't want to sit that long. Take the opportunity to go catch a smoke. It's right around 1:30, so I figure James, Amber, & Andy won't be getting on until around 2:00. Go catch the smoke, yak to my some people out there, and head in around 20 minutes later. Shit! James, Amber, & Andy are already on! Double Shit! Seems they weren't starting on the right time at all. Guess. J.W. had either started later, or ended late!

Anyway, there are plenty of empty seats up closer, so I help myself to bit better seat a few rows up. Goodbye, big-haired ladies, and people with tall tripods obstructing my view completely!

Amber, Andy, & James are just great together. They compliment, and crack each other up.

Someone asks them (don't recall who the question was directed at) about fanfiction. Andy says one of his friends sent him a link (he says you'd have to know his friend to understand their relationship...or something to that effect, so guessing it's pretty funny) to a fanfiction. He says it's about him and Angel. Also involved is a shower, three fingers and a bar of soap. OMG...I was in hysterics. In fact, days after, I was still laughing at inopportune times. I am so freakin' sorry they didn't let anybody record that day!  

He says he goes to work and he can't look at David in the face. David is like, "What's going on?" Andy is like, "Never mind, talk to me next week."

But...the best part of this Q&A comes when someone asks James if he's ever (or does) ever read it, and not only does he answer in the affirmative, but says that some of it is really good. That the writers seem to really know the characters, and that they're very brave with the stories; things that Joss couldn't/didn't do.

I'm smiling like an idiot. In the past, when I'd spoken to James about writing in Chicago, (and gave a story I'd written) I remember saying something like, "You'll probably never read this..." (I also had a letter, so I was sort of talking about both), and he said, "No, I read everything I get." Could've knocked me over. Holy shit!

This is also the time James said to me, "Feels good to be heard, doesn't it? Your God given right!" When I told him how he inspired me, etc. See Flashback for story.

Of course, publicly, he always said he didn't. So...I just figured either he was being polite in person, or, from what I understand now, couldn't admit to it, as he was still under contract, yadda, yadda.

Last year, having said in public (well, posted) that I had given him stories, I got totally slammed by someone. Won't go into it, but it really hit me hard at the time. So...I'm only saying this, here, not on the boards. Of course, doesn't mean he's actually read mine, or even if he did...doesn't have to mean he thought mine were any good. He could think I'm a right hack, for that matter.

Nevertheless, what James has said on this day, is quite precious to me. It makes me feel...justified, recognized, and damnit...just freakin' happy!!! SQUEE FUCKIN' A SQUEE!!!

Oh, and to the person(s) who slammed me last year, should they be reading this to you I say... "Neener, neener, neener!" And, in the words of Spike, to what he thinks is The First, "A knife now is it? Well , you can't hurt me, you're....you're..." Actually, nothing, is what you are: Nothing.

Okay, got that out of my system. Besides the stuff about the fanfiction, I was so glad to hear James (on both days, mind you)come out a bit stronger in favor of Spike, how he played the character, and disagreeing with some of Joss' choices.

Thank God!  It's about freakin' time. I'm so glad James felt free to say what he wants to now. Nothing radical mind you, just that he thought Joss just liked to something like - take down a notch  - any character whom Joss thought was getting too popular. 

James said he felt he really had to try to keep making Spike likeable, and someone the audience would be able to root for, identify with, when the writers were doing so much to make him unlikeable. Same on Angel, by Joss having Spike and Angel hold hands, and all that slashy stuff. *eyeroll*

After the Q&A, I run up to room to get the present.

James must've been talking about the coat, b'cuz when I got up to the autograph table on Sunday, the girl who passed it to him said, "Oh, this is what you were just talking about." He then went into a whole spiel about how this was the real deal, and how he broke in that coat. Also, how when he went over on Angel, he asked Steve Tartaglia and some other guy to help break that one in. I remarked, that yes, it felt really soft, but now I couldn't touch it without smearing the ink! (He had signed partly over the leather). Still, now that it's dry, I can still pet it to my heart's content.

Already posted this over in the musician/James done good thread regarding his concert in Houston, but I'll post here as well.

I gave James a coffee table book, by a luthier who has made guitars for many musicians such as: Curt Cobain, Christie Hynde (Pretenders), Phoebe Snow, Ry Cooder, Hoyt Axton, Steven Bishop, David, Hidalgo, etc., etc.

His name is Danny Ferrington, and in fact, he made all the instruments for the movie Ladykillers with Tom Hanks. After seeing the DVD special on him, knew I wanted to find the book (can't remember if they mentioned it, or I just found out,when I looked at his site) for James.

James seemed really touched by it. The book also had a CD to go along with it (within the front cover) of 20 different musicians, all playing guitars (instrumental only) that Danny Ferrington was commissioned to make for them.

It really was a beautiful book, with a ton of beautiful pictures of the guitars, and even how the guitars are put together, the process.

In fact, both April & mr. spikealicious acted a wee bit jealous over the fact that bought this for James. April's comment was, "Bet if I was still playing the guitar, you wouldn't have bought me a nice book like that!" Okay, let's forget for a moment all the nice things I do buy her! LOL Hubby's comment was, "What did you buy me?" Sheesh!

Anyway, James was still talking about the coat (see above post) and the woman helping him, passed along the next person's item for him to sign. I had to tell her to wait, and give him the book. I sort of told him in brief, about Danny Ferrington, and his connection with the Coen Brother's movie, etc. He started to open it to look at it, just when Motesigan (if you were in Houston, you'll know where that comes from - ) tells me to move along or something like that. Darn him!

Anyway, James says he'll have to definitely look at it later, then he looks up at me, and says, "This is a really nice gift. Thank you."

I tell him he's welcome, (my insides all puddle-like now ) and that was my last interaction with him. *sigh*

I think it would be wonderful if James every commissioned Danny Ferrington to make a guitar for him. In fact, as I'm writing this now, after having read the reports from the Cavern, Leeds, and Liverpool, and the talk of the 'borrowed' Taylor guitar James (and the concert goers) favor, I spent an hour online trying to find contact information for Danny Ferrington. I finally did, (and lo & behold the guy lives in the same neck of the woods as James does) so I sent Steve Himber an email with the contact information, in case he would.

A half-hour or so later, I'm once again outside, and I see Steve Himber carrying the James-goody box. I call out, "Hey, don't let that Red Bull spill on everything," b'cuz I know somebody bought him a case), and lo-and-behold, right next to him, but whom I didn't even see at first, is James himself, leaving.

"Bye, James..." *sniff*

See, smoking isn't just a bad habit, it's also a way to see James twice more than if I'd been inside being smoke-free. LOL

Later that afternoon I go to see CHANCE, but I'm so tired I walk out...and run smack-dab into Amber. I apologize for leaving, assuring her I love the movie, own the movie, but I'm just so tired, I need coffee. She's totally gracious, and tells me to go get my coffee. LOL  I come back in time to listen to her speak about the movie afterwards, and to hear some of Camden Toy's presentation.

I spend some time with my MTS friends in the lounge. Take a few minute break to catch Spike singing to Buffy in the OMWF sing-a-long. Of course, 'crazy lady' is there, singing off key, before and after all the words, not to mention the dialogue. I don't stay. Go back, and smooze with my friends a bit, Rick and April return from Galveston. Rick's tired, and isn't up for much more than going to bed. April finds her friends, and goes to the Pajama Party Dance hosted by Camden Toy. It's cute, he comes in with his silk robe, a girl on each arm, reminding me of Hugh Hefner. I go in with Mindy and her daughter, dance a song or two with Sheila, but it's not really happening...there only seems to be a handful of people. I think I meet Vicki arond this time. She's a reader of mine, and she's met April the night before, she's even told her that 'I'm so cool.' And April thinks Vicki is so cool...so wouldn't it go to reason, that she would believe someone who rates cool in her book about me? Nah...didn't think so.

We leave the following day around 1:30-2:00 to turn in our rental car, and go do the security check-in-must-be-two-hours-before-take-off- thing...and it's a pretty relaxed affair all in all. From start to finish, it was a really nice little family vacation for all of us, and convention/friends/James lovin' experience for me!

Shout out to (and I hope I didn't miss anybody I talked to, but forgot their names...but I probably did) :

Sheila, Gray Sunrise, Bookworm, (always good to see your wonderful, familiar faces) Melanie, (see remembered your name!) Anne & Emma (Sweet Baby James) - you two crack me up! Mindy, (and your lovely daughter, Katie) I'm glad we got to spend some time together. To my pregnant friend who 'saved' the day at the photo-op...don't think she posts, and unfortunately, forgot her name, - but I enjoyed our hour-long conversations.  Vicki...what can I say? You're a trip! AMJ from Germany, really enjoyed talking to you over many days as we met outside for cigarettes. I hope we get to meet again. Berry, nice to see you  as well, and spend some time talking. You've always been supportive, ever since I first posted on BBB, and I appreciate it! April2 and Sam...you have no idea how glad I was to have you take April under your wings (okay, so you tired to corrupt her... lol) at her age, she'd much rather be with people closer to her own age...I'm glad you guys all got along, and were able to go with us to Galveston and to dinner. Kiss Me Jane, glad to have finally gotten to meet you, and thanks for the unexpected compliment about the writing. Kerry, enjoyed meeting you, too...fun to be in the same, 'We can't see for the big-haired ladies, and tripod, camera-toting maniacs for a while.' LOL Hello also to Youg Lady...we didn't talk much there, but we've talked since we returned. Also, hi to shopgirl from the mob.

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DETROIT (Ypsilanti, really)

Thursday - June 2, 2005