CARLY SMITH'S REPORT
FOR DEL TORO FILMS AND THE DOUG JONES EXPERIENCE
Well,
this has certainly been an interesting trip.
FYI, I've
met Doug two other times (first at the showing of My
Name is Jerry - see here
for my write-up - and then at the Detroit convention),
and he actually remembers that I'm from the NE corner
of Indiana, right smack dab in the middle between Indianapolis,
Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland.
We left
at 5:30ish and picked up my fellow fan-sapiens in Toledo
(they live in Detroit). Heidi brought a GPS, which is
an infintismally wonderful thing, as I have no sense
of direction whatsoever and have trouble telling right
from left. However, we found out that the GPS does not
get a signal while going through PA's Blue Mountains.
It took us awhile to figure this out, and in the meantime,
we wandered around tiny mountain towns out in the middle
of BFE while Jane the GPS lady told us to turn right
and plummet off the mountainside and into the valley
hundreds of feet below. All the time, the four of us-
not small people by any means - were stuffed into my
little Volkswagon Beetle like sardines (and let's face
it, we probably smelled pretty similar). I don't know
about the rest of them, but my butt went completely
flat. Not kidding. Like someone took an iron to my cheeks.
So Heidi
whipped out the map and figured it out, enough that
we could get out of the hills and somewhere where there's
cellular towers. By the way, if you ever have the chance
to drive those mountains ... do it! After I stopped
freaking out about being lost and had an inkling of
where to go, I could enjoy the scenery. Absolutely gorgeous.
We got
to Philly ahead of schedule, actually (because I have
a lead foot). Then we sat in traffic for an hour. Yaaaay.
It took
us FOREVER to find our hotel. I'm a cheap college kid,
so I went for the inexpensive Joisey hotel. (We've been
saying that aaall weekend ... not "New Jersey,"
but "Joisey.") Maybe that was a mistake, because
I didn't realize how expensive parking and taxis would
be.
ANYWHO
... SKIPPING AHEAD TO THE INTERESTING STUFF...
Now, I
don't know how to put this on "the right way,"
so just click these links to get to my little videos:
My
little introduction
Yes, I called you dirty girls. Keep in mind, I consider
myself one, as well.
I forgot
the cake. But I took donuts. While Doug was talking
to someone else, I offered one to James Dodd. He told
me he was full, but he took one a minute later. I think
he was trying to decide if I'd poisoned them or anything.
THE
BOSIE
You guys
are mean. You shoulda just told me there's no real way
to put a Bosie into words.
HM, you
are a goddess for inventing this wonderful thing. I
think the closest thing to this is what the Hindus call
Nirvana: no thoughts, just good feelings. All the stress
from the trip, all my worries about school, my career
(I'm a theatre major), and my health and weight problems
disappeared. Bosie
and the rest
I took
gifts. I can't help it, I'm a gifter. I just saw those
and went ..."Hmmm ... Doug would LOVE those ..."
I feel
sorry for Mr. Dodd - we were over loving on Doug, and
as you can see, he's just sitting there, ignored. This
guy is awesome! Has anybody else met him? What a major
sweetheart.
We had
to come back later, because there was a long line forming.
But when we came back, Doug opened my gifts. While watching
this movie later, Matt and I were cracking up that Mr.
Dodd started listening to the music box...
Ask and
ye shall receive: I asked if we could hang out with
the tall, skinny guy, and we got a breakfast date. And
we were delighted that Mr. Dodd came along! He's such
a wonderfully sweet man. Next time y'all go to comic
conventions, don't ignore this guy. He's way too nice,
and hilarious.
