This story of epic adventure started as they usually do... three women obsessed with road trips, the conlife, and everything Doctor Who saw that all of these were available in one place. St Louis. Thank you Wizard World. Don't mind if we do. Long story a little less long, we each sold a couple of vital organs for fundage (WW isn't known for their reasonable pricing. A bit more known for their Rumplestilskin-esque demands of payment. But obviously I pay it so can't say much.) and spun some straw into gold and set on our way.
The trip up was relatively quiet. Nothing to report there. Tabatha and I met our con companion, Lana Always River, (My con bestie. so glad we met in line for Matt that fateful con) in the parking deck and the trio was reunited.
First order of business was checking into our hotel. Now, due to the fact that our hotel had a strict dress code, we assumed we would be staying somewhere relatively posh. And for such a decent price too! Go me! So.... yeah.... Have you ever seen The Shining? I'm both excited and surprised to say that we did manage not to be killed while staying in this hotel... I can't say that every guest manages to get so lucky. It was one of the creepier/stranger hotels I'd ever stayed in; and I've stayed in some doozies. It was like every horror movie that ever took place in a hotel converged and took form long enough for me to find it and decide to book a room in it. How can you have a dress code for the lobby when your rooms not only look like kill rooms but also haven't been updated since the 50s? The 1850s. Good luck trying to figure out the thermostat. Which I'm not even positive there was one. There was a knob with numbers 1-16 (the degree of which you'd like to be murdered?) on it and then there were some windows you could open that led directly to the roof (which I'm pretty sure it was the same roof I saw Daredevil parkour across a few times in hells kitchen). And there was a step into the bathroom. What is that?! Thank goodness I'm not elderly or handicap. Come one, people. And since we planned to Cosplay for the weekend and this didn't meet the dress code of this fine killing establishment, we were forced to take the back elevator which smelled like the rotting corpses it was more than likely used to transport.
After we checked into Murder, Inc. we walked over to the convention center (which was the one thing the kill house had going for it... it was pretty close to everywhere we needed to be) and checked in for the weekend.
Day 1: (Friday) There really wasn't anything or anyone specific we wanted to see on Friday, so we spent the evening walking through the venders and looking around. Lana was wearing an AMAZING River Song cosplay (as always) and was stopped many times for compliments and photos. I found the perfect gift for baby Chelsea. If you are ever looking for awesome gifts for the nerd in your life, I highly recommend Divastitch 12. She does amazing work. Look her up.
After we scour the con for a couple of hours, (and take the time for a little rule breaking)
Day 2: (Saturday) Doctor Day! The day that shall forever be knows as the day that I stood between Ten and Eleven. David Tennant and Matt Smith. Two of my favorite men on the planet. David will ALWAYS be my Doctor, but Matt is a close second. I love them both.
This epic day started relatively like usual. We all wake up ecstatic not to have succumbed to the murder hotel and begin our Cosplay preparations. For this particular occasion, I had decided to attempt a female version of the tenth Doctor. My mother, being as amazing as she is, HAND MADE my skirt and vest. All I did was find the fabric. She did an amazing job! I also bought some converse wedges to go with the ensemble. They were super cute! But NOT super fun to walk the entire day around a con on concrete floors in. Thank goodness for my Toms and how easily they fit in my con bag. And might I add I had SERIOUSLY taken precautions with my poor feet. My mom had given me some gauze and medical tape. My feet looked like Frankenstein's monster before the bandages were removed. Yet still, they betrayed me. (Another side note, surprisingly basically no one understood my cosplay even though I feel like it is fairly obvious what I was going for. "Are you Amy?" ummmm no. "Are you Donna?" not so much. And it is shocking how many people read the Am I Ginger button and then looked at me to access then would answer, 'yeah I'd say you are." First of all, like I don't KNOW I'm a flipping ginger, weirdo. Secondly, do you EVEN watch the show? (and these were doctor who fans... well supposedly) But I digress.
We arrive a few hours before we have anything scheduled due to David's flight being delayed. (And luckily we had plenty of time because halfway to the venue I realized I forgotten deodorant and had to go back to the hotel and then apply. Wasn't about some BO when standing between two of the doctors.) We decided to all three sit for a Caricature and it turned out really cute!! I have no idea why I was drawn to look like Maggie from Walking Dead when I actually tend to more favor a walker but I'll take it!
First order of business for the day was the most epic of events. The Doctor sandwich photo. Standing in line knowing this amazing moment was about to take place was almost too much to take! After watching Lana's epic moment with the Doctors it was my turn for amazingness. As I walked up David noted my Cosplay and said, "Look at you!" to which I wanted to say "Look at YOU, sir." Matt said, "You look great!" as I was pulled in between them for the most awesome of moments. And it is an AMAZING picture if I do say so myself. It was posted on David Tennant's FB page and received over 19k likes so you know... Yeah, best moment EVER commemorated in the best photo ever.
Immediately after our photo Lana and I stood in line for salt blocks formed into disgusting pretzels and ran down to the panel room to try and secure seats for the Matt Smith panel. MeanwhileTab waited in line for her epic photo with David and Billie. As we arrive to the panel room we find that the Daredevil panel is in progress (featuring my BF Charlie Cox whom I've loved since Stardust and Boardwalk Empire). We asked the WW attendant at the door if the room will be cleared between panels and are shocked to find the answer is no. So you guarantee seats for the VIPs but you are using the honesty system and just HOPING people will vacate? Yeah.. good luck with that.
So we walk into the room, which is completely full, and find some standing room off to the side to watch Charlie and Elden answer fan questions. Did learn something I kinda wish I hadn't... When asked what the most annoying habit the other had when filming Elden replied "Don't stand down wind from Charlie when he's been drinking a protein shake." No! Don't tell me that the most perfect rear in the world is smelly!! You really don't want to imagine farts and stench when looking at someone so beautiful. But hey... it happens. Glad to know my future husband will get along with the GENTRY'S like gangbusters.
After the daredevil panel, we get some awesome seats towards the front (thanks to Lana) and we watch the William Shatner panel. It was actually very entertaining. He LOVES to tell stories.
After the Shatner panel, thanks to Lana again, we were able to get FRONT ROW seats for the Matt Smith panel and David and Billie panel. I was able to take some amazing pictures.
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| That's right, Matt. It's me. . |
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| Love that smile! |
(And when Tabatha got up to the panel room after her photo EVEN though she was VIP they wouldn't let her in! Not for the longest time! We were so mad! I'm so glad she was able to get a good seat but I hate that she couldn't sit with us)
Due to the David time restraint and WW overbooking David with pictures and autographs, we then run to get in line for David's autograph. By the time we are able to get up to his table, they've made it where he isn't signing personalization's. Which is fine, at least I was able to see him, but it would have been nice. Side note, I was carrying my converse and wearing my Toms and two separate people running David's auto line were like "We've got a pair of shoes to sign." ummmm no you don't. These were expensive. I'll take a free 8X10 please.
After our autographs, we immediately head out to dinner and basically shut the place down with the amount of food and water we consume. The con life can be draining.
After dinner we head back to Murder's Incorporated to get some sleep before a busy and wonderful final day at the con.
Day 3: (Sunday) Last day. Boo! But also, good. My body couldn't take much more con wear and tear. First order of business for the day was to secure our Charlie autograph. His line was crazy so we purchased the ticket but planned to get it later in the day. So Lana and I head over to the Matt Smith autograph line and are pretty close to the front! I hit record on my voice memo and recorded my conversation with Matt. It was much longer and friendlier than previous autographs discussions. He started with "Nice outfit. Looking good." You too, Mr Smith. You too. You can tell Matt is getting more comfortable with the cons and fans. It was a great experience.
After the autograph we meet back up with Tabatha and get a game plan for our photo ops while we drink a most delicious lemonade.
For some reason two of the photo ops I had purchased were at the exact same time. Charlie Cox and Billie Piper. I was getting Charlie solo but Lana and I were both getting the Billie picture so working out what to do was a mess. Thankfully everyone in line was very accommodating and nice about all of our line jumping. I decided to get the Charlie picture first and then run over to the Billie line and met up with Lana. Meanwhile Tabatha was lining up for the Matt Smith photo which was immediately after the two photographs.
Let me just tell you how ADORABLE/sexy hot Charlie Cox is. This was his first US (maybe ever) con and you could tell he was having the time of his life. He seemed genuinely happy/surprised that people wanted to meet him and get pics and autographs. It was so sweet. I was wearing my Amy Cosplay which is the police girl one and as I walk up he asks, "Am I in trouble?" to which I replied, "you could be." (In a more seductive type pf voice.) Wait, what? What did you just say Stephanie? I basically told Charlie Cox that he could be in "trouble" if he wanted to be. He laughed and I made an idiotic face and the photo will forever immortalize that I hit on Charlie right there in the photo room. And he seemed decently happy about it ;-) He was over the top nice. Shook hands. Made sure he talked for a second to everyone. Things generally not done in the photo room and saved for the autograph table. I SO recommend meeting CC anytime you get a chance.
After the picture I immediately run back around to meet Lana who is at the front of the Billie line waiting on me. We walk in and get our picture with Rose Tyler herself who says we look great when she sees our cosplay. She was very very sweet and not to mention gorgeous.
After THAT photo we go back around and meet Tabatha at the front of the Matt line. She so wonderfully got a place in the front of the line for Lana and I even though she had to go to the back once we got there because she didn't have a Matt VIP. Kudos to her! Great friend :-)
I made Lana go first because I like watching my friends get their pics almost as much as I like getting mine. I don't know what happened but I somehow turned into Yurtle the Turtle when they snapped the picture. I don't know where my neck went. After the photo Matt said it was great to see me again. Sigh.
Next we head directly over to Charlie's table for autographs and are ecstatic to see he barely has a line now. So glad we waited. The guy directly in front of me had so many things to tell Charlie. So so many things. But once again I have to give Charlie credit. He was so very nice and never seemed agitated even when the guy was saying kinda strange things. Once again I recorded my convo with Charlie which was friendly and decently lengthy. He's such a sweetie. Who happens to be a mega babe. He said it was good to see me again and he asked if I had seen the doctor who guys (as if I didn't know they were there lol). SO cute. "Wait, what? Charlie, do you mean to tell me that the doctor's are here? Shut your beautiful mouth!" I told him I couldn't wait to see him at dragon con and he said when is that? I told him labor day weekend and he asked"Am I going to that?" I responded "Apparently." and he started laughing and said "If you could just send me my whole schedule that would be wonderful." It was so cute. And miraculously someone was taking a picture of Charlie and it happened to be when I was standing in front of him so I have an amazing picture of him looking right at me and smiling. Thank you, person!
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| cue music to "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel ;-P |
After the autograph we grab some lunch and then head to the parking deck to change and set out on the road home. It was SUCH an amazing weekend with two amazing friends! I can't wait until Dragon Con when we do it all again! (and Charlie hopefully shows up)
Until then! Peace, Love, and Over-Salty Pretzels
#bewarethefallout2
#wantsomepretzelwiththatsalt
#noreallyiknowiamginger
#conlife
That pic of Matt looking right at you, though.
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