Tales From The Expo - Part 3 Sunday, April 19
Morning Amazingly enough, Bri rises first this morning, and calls to get both Neon and I out of bed. Again having no idea of the time, I stumble into the shower, which today manages to keep an almost constant temperature! After getting dressed in FMU t-shirts and Expo shirts, we meet in Neon's room before heading down to the lobby for checkout. The rolls are gone and all the coffee thingies are empty...what a place, here! I've just been so impressed by Days Inn! Apparently everyone else has gone, except for the three of us. I lug the bags out to the car and we take turns taking pictures of each other with each others cameras.

hotel 11:30am We decide to drive down to the city today to save time, since we have to leave earlier today to get to the airport.

Noon We arrive just in time for the opening! Another long line. As we walk to the end of the line, I see a friend from work, and stop to chat a bit, gradually just acting like we're in line right there...heh heh! :-P

12:15pm We're in! My friend wanders off to see the exhibits and stuff, while we head right to the stage, sitting about 6 or 7 rows back. I notice that the Official fan club now has posters again, and go to ask for one, since I didn't get one yesterday. They won't give me one, since my reciept is in the car with all the stuff from yesterday, and they say they don't remember me...it's a conspiracy, I tell you! I go back to the stage posterless.

12:45 Mitch Pileggi! Kewlness! He truly seems like a nice guy, and appears a bit nervous about his wife's approaching labor. And he broke his yo-yo! A helpful fan lends him his to use during his talk. he shows off his bald head before putting on a cap to block the light from his eyes, and laughingly denies a plea from some girls to remove his shirt. Fun to see him IRL!

1:30 Tom Braidwood! The man himself! Frohike! Woohoo! Interesting things to say about being assistant director and actor on the show. A great story about an old lady who wandered unknowingly into the store while they were filming the beginning of "Chinga".

2:15 Trivia contest on the stage, so I run to grab an overpriced sandwich and warm $2.00 Pepsi at the consession stand. Just as I shove the last bite into my mouth, I see Neon buying some nachos, so I wait for her before heading back. As we get back, Bri runs up a few rows and pulls a few folks out of their seats amd says "Look! It's Matt and Colleen!". From #The Phile Cabinet! Also FMU members. Matt is #100, Coll's number escapes me at the moment. They and Tilla join us for...

2:45 The man I've really been waiting to see, Dean Haglund! I've heard so much about how great his shows are, and he doesn't disappoint! He is funny as hell, and I'm laughing like crazy the whole time he's on. He calls Mitch Pileggi onstage to do sound effects for one routine! I make a note to be sure and go to see his act whenever he's in Chicago. If you have the chance, go see him!

3:45 Auction onstage. We won't have time to see Steven Williams. Fortunately, we saw him yesterday. We wander around a bit more, then say goodbye to the expo...

4:00 Lucky we left as early as we did, because traffic is REALLY backed up going to the airport. The first few miles are fine, but as we get to where I90 and I94 split, traffic comes to a halt.

5:00 Finally arrive at O'Hare. Park the car, grab Bri's and neon's bags and head for the United terminal. Neon's flight is leaving at gate 27, Bri's at gate 31. Allllll the way down at the end, but at least they're together...

5:15 WRONG! Neon's flight has been moved to gate 2! Allllll the way down at the other end of the terminal! For joy!

5:30 Neon checks in. We take pics, hug, say goodbyes. It was so much fun to meet her! She really is as nice as she seems!

6:00 Alllllll the way back to the other end for Bri's flight. Hugs, goodbyes. Bri is also as nice as she seems, and nowhere near as scary as some folks seem to think! I head home soon so I can be home in time to tape Sunday's ep.

6:30 Heading back to the parking lot, I'm walking down the moving sidewalk, and I just happen to look up, when....WHOA!!!! Coming on the sidewalk going the other way is Tom Braidwood! I say something along the lines of "OHMIGOD!" and he sort of jumps a bit, and looks up at me. Probably grinning like a complete idiot, I say "Hi!". He smiles and nods. Then he's gone. This all takes place in like 2 seconds actual time, since we're headed in opposite directions on moving sidewalks. I turn to the people behind me, saying "Damn! Was that cool or what?" They appear to have no idea who he was or how close to greatness they were. I contemplate running back to find him and get an autograph, but I figure he just spent like 3 hours signing his name over and over, and he'd probably sic the Chinga doll on me or something...

Well, thats it! A great weekend for me, folks! The expo was fun, call it a 'B', but the company was fantastic! 'A+' all the way! I hope we all get to do it again sometime soon! I miss you guys already... Boggs April 22, 1998 Back to Part Two Back to Part One Back to Neon's Home Page