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I Met Some Star Trek Stars: My Cincinnati Comic Expo Experience
- Date of Event: September 21, 2019
- Location of Event: Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, OH
I went to the Cincinnati ComicCon again.This was the second time I’ve been to this con.It’s pretty cool.I saw a few celebrities but the ones I really wanted to see and did were Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura on Star Trek) and Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data on Star Trek:The Next Generation, it’s four movies, the Independence Day movies, and the upcoming Picard series).Both were very nice.As of next year, Nichelle is apparently not making personal appearances anymore so this was my chance to meet her. I’m glad I did.She had a great turnout, as she should.Brent I was supposed to meet last year but he had to cancel. I’m glad I met him today.I told him how much a fan I am and that I think the Star Trek Nemesis movie (the last Star Trek movie with The Next Generation cast) is underrated and under appreciated. He thanked me and agreed with me.I also said I’m looking forward to the Picard show, and he said he was looking forward to seeing it too. The last thing he said to me was “Be well”.Another cool day for me. Especially since I’m a Star Trek fan.I get to do it again tomorrow when I see Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, and others in concert at Riverbend Music Center, just outside Cincinnati.I consider that place my home away from home.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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I Met Dee!! My Scarefest Weekend Experience
- Date of Event: September 14, 2019
- Location of Event: Central Bank Center in Lexington, KY
I went to Scarefest 2019 today in Lexington, Kentucky.There were several cool celebrities there like Lee Majors (who I have met twice, very nice man), Bruce Campbell, Clu Gulager, Mick Foley, and others.But I went there specifically to meet one of my biggest heroes: Dee Snider!!Dee signed all of my stuff.We conversed.He insisted I take pictures of him signing my stuff.He was funny. He was sooo nice to me.I had tweeted Dee on and off a bunch for a few years, and one day this year, I sent him a few pics of the stuff I have of his work (CDs, DVDs) saying I need to figure out what to bring to this event for him to sign.He was blown away by it.Instead of just saying oh that’s cool Lucas or words to that effect, Dee said “You’re hardcore. Bring what you got and I’ll sign all of it”. And he did.I’ve been a fan for 21 years.I sadly never got to see his band Twisted Sister in concert, but I did finally see Dee in 2017 in Northfield, Ohio.And I saw him in Kettering, Ohio this summer with Kings Of Chaos.It was an honor meeting Dee today.He went above and beyond for me, and he didn’t have to.But I will forever appreciate his kindness and generosity.And thank you to Danny Stanton for helping make this happen for me as well.The last thing I said to Dee was that I’m a fan for life. And I am.Another big highlight in my life.This is what I live for.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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Mostly Terrible Experience: My Experience at a Certain Expo
- Date of Event: August 24, 2019
- Location of Event: Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, TN
This has left SUCH a bad taste in my mouth!!!!
Every time I said something honest on this event’s page, and people agreed with me, the posts got deleted.But yet I’m the villain for saying how terrible the event was run.I’ve been beyond furious about this all week!Again, It looks as if I had fun by the pictures below, but other than these very brief moments, it was a bad experience.Chuck Norris, Lee Majors, and Richard Petty are class acts.Very gracious to their fans.And all the other celebrities that were there seemed cool.But the event was poorly run, disorganized, misinformation, lies, many “cancellations” (if they were ever scheduled at all. I don’t think they were.)It took 90 minutes just to get inside.Now, I understand these events can be chaotic (I’ve been to a few), but nothing like this.And schedules change, but not like this.Of all the events I’ve ever been to, this was the worst and if this event ever happens again, I will not be attending.The only upside of this is the pictures you see below here, the fact they were nice to me, and I found out that even though Knoxville, Tennessee is a bit of a drive, it’s not a terrible drive.I hope to enjoy the rest of my vacation, although so far, I haven’t enjoyed much of it.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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I Met Arnold Again!! Arnold Sports Festival 2019
- Date of Event: March 3, 2019
- Location of Event: Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH
I was not going to attend the Arnold Sports Festival this year, until I found out that Arnold Schwarzenegger was going to take pictures with fans.
So I could not resist.
It was brief, as photo ops are, but getting my picture taken with Arnold may be the most important picture I’ll ever get with a famous person.
He’s been a hero of mine since I was a kid.
So this means a lot to me.
I’d met him twice briefly at the festival in 2016, but did not get my picture taken with him.
Glad I got that done.
I also got to see Arnold speak at two seminars.
Of these festivals I’ve been to (this is my 4th), this was the most I’d seen Arnold.
It’s just great to see how he conducts himself.
He’s super professional, very nice, humble but confident, and is very intelligent.
I’ll always be a fan.
Thank you sir!!
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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My Louisville Supercon 2018 Experience
- Date of Event: December 1, 2018
- Location of Event: Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY
I went to Louisville Supercon today.I met and saw a bunch of people.Some of whom I got pictures with and autographs from.All were very nice.I met William Shatner, Walter Koenig, Alice Cooper (super nice man), Richard Dreyfuss (He asked me where I was from and I said Ashland. He was curious as to where that was in Kentucky. I told him it was east of Louisville. He then gave me a quote that was said by President Abraham Lincoln, which is “I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky.” Don’t ask me why he said that but I thought it was great he said it to me.), Jerry Lawler (who let me hold his crown), Scott Steiner (Yes he was cool to me. He has a rep for being a jerk but he was cool to me.), Allan Oppenheimer (actor/voice actor who did the voice of Skeletor and many others. He even did the Skeletor voice for me, saying “Lucas, I’m not nice”!!!), Jonathan Frakes, John De Lancie, Levar Burton, and Ricou Browning (The Gill Man in all the underwater sequences of the Creature From The Black Lagoon trilogy.)I saw many others, including Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, Ralph Macchio, Henry Winkler, Kevin Conroy (voice of Batman on Batman The Animated Series and various animated films), wrestlers Sgt. Slaughter, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson (who literally parked a few cars away from me as I was getting out of my car to go in), Mark Henry, Booker T, Kane, managers Jim Cornette (who I had met before) and Teddy Long, artist Neal Adams, and many more.I didn’t meet everyone but I mostly got what I wanted.Fun day!!Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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I Saw Captain Kirk: William Shatner Q&A After Star Trek 2 Screening
- Date of Event: September 22, 2018
- Location of Event: Taft Theatre in Cincinnati, OH
Another great night in my life happened!I saw William Shatner in person in Cincinnati at The Taft Theatre.He is doing a series of shows where Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan (one of my favorite movies ever) plays and then he comes out afterwards and talks for an hour, tells stories, and answers questions submitted to him by fans at the venue.He had so many stories to tell.He talked about how he once played a trick on Deforest Kelley (Dr. McCoy), in which Deforest was heating bagels in a toaster, and he got Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) to distract him so that he (Shatner) could remove the bagels from the toaster so that when Deforest came back, the bagels would be gone.He did this twice in a row. He did this because Deforest told him that he was afraid his memory was not too good.You had to be there to laugh.He told a story about a cop pulling him over one night/morning while he was driving to location on the Star Trek 2 movie in uniform.The cop asked him where he was going so fast to. Shatner told the cop “I have to get to my spaceship”.He even brought a fan on stage to try to explain to him Time and Space, which was fun.Again, you had to be there.One fan submitted question was “Boxers or Briefs?” He paused for several seconds and said “Depends”, and went on a funny Depends rant.Such a great night.My life sucks most of the time (always broke and working, don’t sleep well), but nights like this make me glad I’m here.Another one of the greatest events I’ll ever attend.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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I Met Chewy: My Cincinnati Comic Expo 2018 Experience
- Date of Event: September 15, 2018
- Location of Event: Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, OH
I went to the Cincinnati Comic Expo today.A lot of fun.I met Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca of the Star Wars movies-Awesome!!), saw some other celebrities and cool items, and had some cool Star Wars pictures taken of me.There was a lot going on there and I didn’t experience everything by any means, but it was a very fun day.I’m a geek and proud of it.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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A Long But Rewarding Day: My Lexington Comic & Toy Convention 2018 Experience
- Date of Convention: March 10, 2018
- Location of Convention: Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY
Well, aside from having to wait in line much too many times and being disorganized, Lexington ComicCon was fun.I wish I could’ve accomplished more, but I accomplished a lot.I met my hero Chuck Norris twice!!! On his birthday, no less.The first time to get his autograph and give him his birthday card I bought for him.And I got my picture taken with him later.Very kind man. All smiles, very appreciative, and when I told him he was the highlight of Expendables 2 for me (one of my favorite movies), he told me it was a lot of fun to do.He did appreciate the card. I wasn’t sure if security would allow it, but I saw someone before me had given him one, also.He definitely had the biggest turnout of fans, and deservedly so, in my opinion.He’s not done many of these types of events, so for him to be there was HUGE.I first met wrestling manager Jim Cornette.I almost missed his photo op.He was walking away, and I came up behind him shouting his name. He turned around and I introduced myself, and he was very gracious and cool.I told him I had already paid for the photo, and he said, oh let’s go back and get it done.He soon invited me over to his merch table to hang out, but I was not able to until near the end of my day. But when I did, again, he was beyond cool.I had some email exchanges with him recently over some DVDs I had bought from his website that were incomplete.He sent me complete ones later. He told me he appreciated me telling him.I bought a couple of other wrestling DVDs from him and he signed them, as well as the picture.Everyone I talked to was cool, but he was the most sociable one.I told him he was one of the last people I was seeing before heading home, and then work.I told him where I came from, and he told me to be careful driving home twice.Again, great guy.I also met Jonathan Frakes, who played Commander Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation.My encounter with him was very brief, unfortunately, but still, I’m glad I met him.He gave me a fist bump and when I told him it was a pleasure meeting him, he said “likewise”.He did a Q&A later, which someone filmed and I retweeted and shared the link on Facebook, but I wasn’t able to go because I chose to walk around more and get some more stuff.Next up was Wrestler/Actor Kevin Nash.I’ve been a fan of his for some time.Very smart and funny guy. Very tall, too.I first got my picture with him, and later went to his merch table so that he could sign the picture.Again, cool guy.When you see the picture, you’ll notice I’m not smiling. It’s only because I was trying to imitate his friend Scott Hall, who I’m also a fan of.I also met wrestler Booker T. I wasn’t sure if I would meet him, but I figured why not?His line wasn’t huge, and I’m a fan of his, too.I had seen him in person twice before at two different wrestling shows.He was very talkative, not only to me, but to anyone else he met. I got my picture taken with him, as well an autographed picture.Again, great guy.The last person I met was actor Billy Dee Williams.He’s most famous for playing Lando Calrissian in two Star Wars movies.Again, nice guy, soft spoken.I had to ask him if he thought he may star in Star Wars Episode 9. He said “I don’t think so” (Edit: He did star in Episode 9 later on.).I’m glad I was able to meet him because his photo op schedule initially was after I was going to be gone, but luckily, it got moved to right before I was going to leave.So that worked out great.I initially just got an autographed picture from him, but later got my picture taken with him.Again, I wasn’t able to see everyone. But I accomplished a lot and in the end, it was a great day.It’s not everyday you get to meet heroes of yours. And even give one of them a birthday card.Wow!!!Oh and my cousin Zachary went with me and he had fun too.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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I Met a Hero: My Lexington Comic & Toy Convention 2017 Experience
- Date of Convention: March 13, 2017
- Location of Convention: Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY
Well I met another hero of mine Sunday.Mr. Lee Majors, star of The Six Million Dollar Man, The Fall Guy, The Big Valley, Raven, several movies and TV guest spots, and most recently, Ash vs Evil Dead.Lee was appearing at the Lexington ComicCon in Kentucky.He was taking pictures with fans, signing autographs, and doing a Q&A with fans.I first got my picture taken with him, in which he called me boss (Wow!), and I thanked him for everything that he’s done. And he said thank you back to me.I then went to his Q&A shortly thereafter, where I was able to go fanboy on him, telling him that two of his shows, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Fall Guy, were on in reruns in the mid to late 90s, 5 days a week, and that I watched and recorded them.I told him both of these shows were two positive things in my life when I was in my early teens.He told me “Thank you” and then jokingly said “So you were the one watching?”The emcee jokingly said that I helped pay for Lee’s mortgage back then, and I said I was happy to do it, too.I asked Lee about working with wrestler Andre The Giant on a two part episode of Six Mil, and he had a lot of good, funny stories about him.Lee also talked about Kentucky a lot, saying “Go Wildcats” at the start of his Q&A.He’s not from Kentucky, but he grew up in Middlesboro, and graduated from Eastern Kentucky University.He said that when he went back to Eastern a few years ago to speak at a graduation, that he had a better turnout than Mitch McConnell did there that same day at Eastern.All in all, he had a lot of great stories.He later was doing a signing, which I also attended, because I wanted him to sign the picture that was taken of me and him.When I got to him, he said hi and then said “Oh I remember you”. Then he signed the picture, and while he was doing this, I told him that I meant what I said at his Q&A.He also told me that he had not noticed my Six Mil shirt when the pic was taken, but he liked it.Before I left, I told him I loved him, and he said “Thanks Lucas”.For me, as a fan of his since I was 13 or 14, this was a perfect day.I was so happy.And he could not have been more nice and professional.Lee Majors is a class act.I also saw several other great people there I’m a fan of, including several wrestlers and a few other actors, but Lee was the reason I was there.Perfect day.I will include pics from the event, including the one of me and Lee.Love and PeacePhoto Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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3rd Time Around: Arnold Sports Festival 2017
Well I didn’t get a picture or autograph, but I still saw one of my biggest heroes ever for the third time.Arnold Schwarzenegger!!I went to his annual seminar on March 5, which always happens on the last day of his 4-day Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio.This festival was started by Arnold and a local Ohio businessman, Jim Lorimer, in the 1970s.It encompasses bodybuilding, wrestling, MMA, archery, and basically any sport you can think of.Hundreds of thousands of people come to this each year.It has expanded to several other parts of the world, but its main hub is always Columbus, Ohio.Arnold’s seminar is the best way to actually see him.He appears at several events throughout the week, but with this, he sits down and tells stories about his life, career, and talks motivation.One of his longtime friends and former bodybuilder himself and actor, Franco Columbo, was there, too.He actually walked by me to get to his seat in the audience, which was cool.He eventually got on stage with Arnold and talked some as well, which was great.Arnold did say that the sequel to his movie Twins is being written. This has been in the works for sometime, so to hear him say this in a public forum was cool.He has a drama coming out on video next month called Aftermath, which was actually shot in Columbus. Check it out when it’s released. It looks really good.Arnold said all is good with his life.If I could be as successful and as happy as he is, even in the smallest way, then I can say I’ve done well.I’ve been a fan of this man since I was 8 or 9 years old (I’ll be 35 this year. The same day he turns 70. July 30th.)He’s still getting new fans, too.A boy, 9-years-old I believe, told Arnold that he is his biggest fan and asked him who would win in a fight of Terminator vs. Robocop? Arnold asked the boy “Who do you think?” The boy said “Terminator?” And Arnold said “Alright”.Very nice man.I’ll always be a fan.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
