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Tuesday evening I spent packing, unpacking, and packing again. I sure was anxious. One Puddle Jumper and two 727s later I touched down in Canada. The people in Canadian customs sure were friendly. They have to ask you questions about why you are visiting and what kind of things you are bringing over. They make it sound like theyšre actually interested! I was supposed to meet Alicia and tas in the airport. Amayzingly, I spotted them right off. Ah. My first encounter for the evening. We then proceeded to downtown Toronto to stay with Alicia on THE 27 FLOOR! Toronto is HUGE. We had a great time reading and discussing fanzines. (If you ever need anything from Alicia, just tell her youšll give her some zines.) The next morning it was back to the airport to pick up June and proceed to Stratford. Oh, and in between that, we learned just how hard it is for a Suburban to make U-turns in Toronto, and how someone who doesnšt own a car probably shouldnšt be giving directions. ( ;-) Driving to Stratford provided us with more adventures in map reading. We finally arrived and I was able to hook up with Vicky, Linda, and Maria. At the theater we meet up with Jeanne Devore and several others to watch the play "The Winter's Tale" with Kate Trotter and other Fu alumni, Wayne Best, and Geordie Johnson. Kate was regal queen Hermione. Geordie was hysterical as Autolycus, and Wayne Best was brooding as King Leontes. It was an excellent production. The staging and costuming were inventive and the acting great. After the play, Kate and Wayne joined us for a drink and were very entertaining and gracious. Stratford is beautiful and the theater there is thriving. It would be a dream to stay there for a week and go to a different play each night. The next day, Friday, we had more map adventures as we treked back to Toronto. You really get to know a person when you witness them dealing with driving in the big city. Let me just say this ... I wouldn't want to get on the bad side of Vicky. *g* (love ya Vicky) The studio party was Friday evening and I was just so excited to meet all the other online friends I've made. We got all dressed up, put on our name tags, and stared at each other's chests trying to figure out who we all were. How fun it was to put a face with a name. The room was elegantly decorated and lit. When the guests arrived the energy in the room increased. I was very, very shy and didn't know how to go about finding people. So I just followed out less shy people. I was thrilled that Sandey Grinn actually remembered me from some comments I had made via e-mail regarding his web page. In fact all the actors and crew were gracious and very friendly. I didn't get up to William Dunlop, (Strenlich) because I didn't recognize him! I didn't realize who it was until he had left! He had long hair down past his shoulders and a full beard! As the evening progressed, I got more confident meeting cast and crew, as well as all the names I recognized from the lists and the BBS. Alicia got a very special meeting of Nigel Bennett. It was a meeting I'm sure he didn't forget to soon. I wouldnšt be surprised if he hires a body guard now. ;-) (you'll have to ask Alicia, wink, wink,) Before the evening was over, we had words form Micheal Sloan, a screening of clips from his new movie, Quake, featuring several Fu alumni. Then we were treated to entertainment by Sandey Grinn, who even sang a song with Micheal Sloan. David Carradine sang a song from Rocky Dalton. He kept looking over in Marina's direction with a sweet smile on his face. I didn not get a chance to meet DC that evening. He was swamped. All in all, the evening was a blast.
Oh my. I had to go to work yesterday, (Tuesday) and I'm still majorly jet-lagged. But the good news is I did get my luggage back. Friday night at Fufest was such a blast. It's still kind of a blur though. So many people. I tried to talk to the stars but I'm not very good at small talk. I know I started to have a conversation with Micheal Sloan but I don't remember what I said. I'm afraid it was something quite stupid. Oh well. They were all so gracious and friendly in the face of this bumbling fan. And I thank my newfound friends for showing me a good time that night. Well, I tried to make it up in time for Tai Chi Saturday morning, but Maria was the only one of the four of us who did. When we finally rose we checked out the dealer's room. All of Jeanne's zines were gone, but I did find a copy of DC's autobiography to have him sign later. Barbara Eickoff was showing off her excellent sketches, and the Mah sisteršs also had a table. I decided that I needed to find a bank so with Alicia in tow as my Torontorian guide, we went on a quest for a Bank of Montreal. It took us all the way up Bloor street before we finally found one. At that point we realized we were going to be late for the luncheon. Now I had bought a raffle ticket to sit at DC's table during the luncheon so I was getting a little anxious. But then I told myself that I NEVER win raffles, so I didn't worry. Alicia even suggested we catch lunch elsewhere. Well, we decided to get to the luncheon after all. As we arrived it appeared that most had finished their salad and we searched for an empty place to sit. Tas even saved me a salad. (She didnšt save one for Alicia-she doesn't do veggies) Then Vi cky came running up to me wondering where we had been and if I had bought a raffle ticket yet and if I had it. I did. I had won the raffle to sit at DC's table. And to think we almost went to McDonalds. David was late getting there but he did arrive with Marina. Like I said before, I'm not to good at small talk so I pretty much sat and watched him eat. He did share some stories with us and talked about some upcoming projects a bit. I'm glad that a couple others at the table weren't as dumbfounded as I was. You could also that there was much affection between David and Marina and that she seemed to watch out for him. Some time after lunch we headed to the Question/Answer Panel. Michael Sloan, David and Marina, Mike Dawson, Sandey Grinn, Rob Moses attended, as well as Victoria Snow, who had not been at the other functions. It was a lively and interesting session. Michael Sloan stated that he would personally do novelizations of all the episodes if WB would go for it. They discussed movie possibilities, and stories that they would have liked to have seen. All present gave reports on what they had been up to during the past year and gave details of upcoming projects. It seems that David Carradine has been very busy. A couple of the things I'm looking forward to is the movie "American Reel", and a documentary on the origins of Martial Arts. After the panel session we proceeded to the autograph session. I had two of DC's books signed. He has a neat signature. He usually writes peace, his name and a yin/yang symbol. The cast and crew present were very friendly and accomodating. I got between Rob Moses and Ho Chow for a picture and just as the shutter snapped, Rob surprised me with a kiss! I REALLY hope that one turns out. I just can't get over how very friendly all these people were! After dinner we went to the auction and raffle MC'd by Sandey Grinn. Even if you had no intention of bidding on anything, Sandey made it memorable and entertaining. We laughed until our sides hurt. Get this man a show! Alicia and I did try to pool our resources and bid but alas, there seemed to be people with more money than we had. Still, it was a blast. After the raffle MS showed an old episode of the tv series"Dracula", staring Fu alum Geordie Johnson and guest starring Marina Anderson-Carradine. That was fun. We also watched a Fu episode with narration from MS. Afterwards several fuies retired for the evening while others went upstairs to the Festival Suite for more video screenings and munchies. Alicia and I checked that out for a time before deciding to share a bottle of Port and brainstorming fic ideas. At about 4 a.m. we decided to see if the Festival Suite was still open. The program DID say open from midnight until 8 am. Well, it was NOT. So we wandered the hotel, drank a pot of coffe before collapsing. Only three hours later we jumped out of bed to get ready for the locations tour. We visited many locations outside of Toronto and it was interesting to see how a crew would have to be inventive to set up a shot. For instance, where do you place the cameras so you donšt get powerlines in a scene that is supposed to be an ancient Chinese village? The tour was interesting but LONG on the bus. We wouldnšt have survived without pam. (pam, come out of lurkdom for heaven's sake!) We also had a little excitement when our bus got a flat tire. Not too worry, it was repaired quickly. Back at the hotel, after dinner we were treated to a fantastic Kung Fu demonstration. With a few closing remarks from David Carradine, Valerie Bristor, and Jeanne DeVore, who was so proud of the money raised for the Cancer Society, Fu Fest was officially over. I stayed and chatted with Sue Murin and her husband for a while, then decided to go to bed. Then Vicky and Elise returned form the hockey game, bursting with excitement at meeting Chris Potter. She said she believed that Chris had every intention of getting to at least some of Fufest but that other things got in the way. After hearing the juicy details we went to check out the lounge where MS and SG were holding court. Many hours later, I decided that instead of try to get a couple hours sleep and risk missing my 5 am shuttle to the airport, I would simply stay up until then. I conned Alicia into staying up with me. 5 am arrived sooner than expected and, after some goodbyes, I was on my way. Now I won't bore you with those details, but I missed a flight, no thanks to St. Louis, and lost my luggage, but I finally did make it home to the DRY heat of NM. I don't know how to sum up the trip. I had SUCH a great time. The cast and crew were so gracious. Sandey Grinn seemed to be a favorite judging from the entourage that was constantly around him. He really, really needs to do a one man show somewhere. MS seems to be a very genuine human being who really loves this show he created. Why else would he go to the trouble of coming to this two years after KFTLC has been cancelled. The rest were just a joy to be around. Mostly though, Išll cherish meeting so many of my online friends. I got to meet some fanfic heros of mine in Tracy, Bertie, Susan, Jeanne, Liz, Monica, Barbara, Carol, and Brooke (who I can't BELIEVE is SO YOUNG!). I got to finally meet Dawn Marie, Kara, Marge, Sue and Ed. Alicia, Terri(tas), Vicky, Linda, Maria, Pam, June, Elise, Janet, you will all be in my heart. I miss the hotel, little pots of coffee, the wonderful food, Drago the waiter, and your warm, wonderful, witty, fun company. Unbelievably, there are those who I wanted to meet but somehow didn't get to connect. I hope there will be a next time. Fufest Œ98 was a wonderful, terrific, exciting time. The only thing greater than the trip itself was flying back into my little town on that puddle jumper, and being smothered by hugs and kisses from my children.
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