OR: My Adventures in Trying to Get Kevin Eastman's Autograph on Something
Well-- I decided that by golly I was going to NOT be a responsible adult today and go have an Adventure. The Golden Apple was hosting Kevin Eastman at their Melrose store, so I thought "Why not go pick up the free reprint of Ninja Turtles and get his autograph on it?"
I decided to wear my green "Ninja" shirt (the one where he's tying on his mask)-- then I wore a jacket because it was "chilly" (and in case I decided that I would look out of place in a Ninja Turtles shirt-- I shouldn't have worried).
I headed for the store, hitting every damn red light between my place and there. As I finally got close, I could see a LINE outside the store-- and I was in the wrong lane as it was on the left and I was on the right.
Pink's Hot Dogs is on the opposite corner-- I briefly entertained the idea of getting the autograph, then standing in line THERE for one of their famous hot dogs-- but I rethought that idea when I realized I'd not brought any change for the parking meters.
It was now 11:30-- he was signing from 11 until 1. I swear, I cruised around for a HALF-HOUR trying to find a place to park! I even stopped at a Winchel's to get "change"-- ended up with thirty-five cents and what I thought was a plain cake donut and a "small" diet Coke (a gallon-- it was sale day). Kept cruising past the store, as the line grew longer and longer... JUST when I decided to give up, I got a parking space right around the corner and managed with my piddly change to add to minutes already on it and get 59!
It was now about 12:07, and I would have barely an hour to achieve my goal.
When I got to the front, I found out why the line was so long: William Shatner was there as well. The LINE was for him. Don't get me wrong, there was also a line for Eastman and two others, and after buying two comics and a "vintage" Splinter I got in it. And it was SLOW!!! I am not kidding, I thought we'd never move! By the time I'd gotten in it, it was twenty after twelve, and at this rate I'd not get my autograph.
A store employee came at one point and warned us that "this is the cut-off" once it hit 1:00 pm. Naturally I was four people behind that cut-off.
I worried about getting a parking ticket-- I knew I had little time to spare past one-- then I found out there was "free parking" out back. *kicked self repeatedly* Oh well.
Standing there taking pics I realized I "knew" the guy a few people ahead. Took his pic, naturally. At one point he even said "hi" to me (at least he SEEMED to be looking at me-- I said hi back and told him I was trying to get a good shot of him for Mikey's).
Man, it took FOREVER-- but as it crept closer and closer to 1, we got to the corner where we could see around. There was the author of Radical, and Kevin E., and the guy from Kindergoth (only I didn't know THAT until I got to his end)-- and in the far corner was a crowd with cameras and such because Shatner was there giving interviews. The guys were trying to finish up their own autographs, and at one point Kevin said something about working up front (because THEIR space was going to W.S.).
FINALLY I got up close, and was fangirl enough to grin even wider when Kevin gave me a second look and said "Oh, HI!" like he recognized me. Plus he liked the shirt. I wanted to talk more, but we had noticed earlier how people kept standing there and (in the words of the anxious mother in front of me) "telling him their life stories!"-- so I thanked him and moved on.
All in all a rather successful adventure, though it was full of stress at some points. And now.... Pictures! (note: re: Hulk and Spiderman-- WHO runs like that? And Spidey needs to drink more milk, he's got rickets)
