Jun 30
2012
When Billy learned that Stan Lee would be at the 2012 Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, there was no question that we would be paying to stand in line for a few hours to get his autograph. Mr. Lee ended up being about an hour late but once the line started moving it was pretty quick. Our time with Mr. Lee was very short, but Billy had time enough to tell him something along the lines of “Thank you for making my childhood as awesome as it was”. And managed to get his Marvel Encyclopedia autographed.
Seeing how happy Billy was to get Mr. Lee’s autograph, and realizing that at 89 years young dear Stan would not likely be making any more appearances in Calgary, I decided to purchase a “Stan Lee Photo Op.”
Lots more standing in line and waiting ensued.
As we neared the front of the line, it hit me that we were going to have our photo taken with STAN LEE! The mastermind behind so many iconic characters. A legend! I became emotional (as I am wont to do) and started to cry. As we were ushered into the photo area, I gave Mr. Lee a hug and a kiss and cried some more (OMG I JUST GAVE STAN LEE A HUG AND A KISS AND HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND ME!!) Then, without enough warning to regain my composure, the photographer clicked the shutter and immortalized my emotions for ever.
It’s a great picture of Mr. Lee. It’s a great picture of Billy. For me? well, It is the immortalization of my emotional moment with Stan Lee (and certainly one of the least flattering photos of me that has ever been taken)
Despite the horrible photo of me – It’s certainly an opportunity I am very happy not to have missed.
Apr 21
2012
The Bruce Springsteen tickets went on sale at 10am (Atlantic) this morning. The website said the only way to get grandstand tickets (as opposed to General Admission) was to stand in line at the box office or to charge by phone. Being in Calgary, I woke up at 6:30am in order to be ready to start dialing in for tickets.
I dialed and dialed and redialed for a bit over 2 hours. The phone never rang. No real person ever answered the phone. I was greeted by the “Hello Bonjour” false alarm recording lady about 15 times. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Hangup. Redial. Repeat.
After these 2 hours of dialing and redialing, I called my mother in Moncton and told her I couldn’t get through. She offered to drive down to the box office and stand in line to try to get our tickets. She called me back less than an hour later to say she had our tickets in hand – there was no lineup; She walked right in and bought the tickets.
My flight leaves Calgary at 7am on August 23rd.
See you at the show on the 26th!
Apr 14
2012
I seem to have a thing for music from Jersey boys (Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen) but I would never describe myself as a Springsteen fan.
When I was 10, when I didn’t know much about much, when I listened to whatever mom, dad, or my godfather listened to, if you would have asked me back then, I would have told you I was a big Springsteen fan. This is the year that my parents won a trip to Montreal to see the Human Rights Now!, an Amnesty International concert – featuring, among others, non other than The Boss himself.
I seem to remember my parents dropping me and my sister off with our aunt; as they were trying to leave, I was crying. I wasn’t crying because they were leaving. I was crying because they were going to see Bruce Springsteen – and they weren’t taking me. “I WANT TO SEE BRUU-UU-UUU-UUUCE”. The fact that it was a prize trip for two, on a 12 hour liquor licensed bus ride from Moncton to Montreal did little to ease my pain.
I never really forgave them for not taking me.
One of these is of Bruce Springsteen. (you can click to make the photo bigger, but I’m not sure it will help in identifying which one is The Boss)
When I was about 15, that age when you start making real honest to goodness no break-’em deals with your parents, I seized an opportunity (was this the true start of my Life List?) and made a deal with my dad: If ever I had a chance to see Bruce Springsteen in concert – he would pay for my ticket. I’ve reminded him of this deal many times in the past 19 years.
Yesterday – Friday the 13th of April 2012 – a press release was issued: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band would be playing a show in Moncton on August 26, 2012.
My Hometown.
I’m finally going to see Bruce Springsteen. I am on the path to forgiveness.
Apr 14
2012
I decided to start this little website (journal/diary/blog/reminiscences/call-it-what-you-will) because I wanted a place where I could share stories regarding some of the items on my lifelist.
I’ll be able to post pictures and give a little bit more detail regarding the things I’ve done and the things I want to do.
If there’s something in particular that you’d like to have me write about – don’t hesitate to drop me a quick e-mail. You can add comments to existing stories by clicking on the name of the post or clicking the “comment” link at the bottom of each post.
Look around. Comment. Carpe Diem!