juneb

Here are the last of my Moonridge pictures. Enjoy!

Here is the final report from Moonridge 2007 - with pictures.

I've never tried to attach pictures here before but I'll give it a whirl. These were all taken at the autograph table.




Garett talking while signing for a fan





Garett signing a stuffed animal



Garett being a good listener.*g*

The Chinese auction was very entertaining. Since Garett wasn't showing the animals he went out of his way to perform during it. As others have said he made a big show out of reading the numbers and then checking them with each winner. With one winner he reached into the bag and handed her the item she won, then he asked "you want the rocks?" - those were the rocks that were put in each bag so they wouldn't blow away. When each person won he would say, "yeah okay....let me check this out" - and he would often use a deeper voice or have a skeptical look on his face. One lady clearly had the winning number and Garett looked at it and announced "Nope!" and started to walk away. The audience was howling at his antics. One lady won more than one item and he proclaimed "she can't win again" - someone shouted mix them up and he replied "I spun them up" - one young boy won two leather pouches and he told him, "you've got two pouches man, awesome!" - with most winners he would pretend they were trying to put something over on him so he turned to one lady and said "I'm watching you" - another lady won more than one item and he told her "if you win again, hand your ticket to the lady standing next to you, okay" - when it came time to pick the winner of the CPAC DVD Rae was standing next to him and wanted it so she told him he better pick her number. Garett shook his said and pointed to his right saying "I feel something on this side." It turned out to be my roomie Sally. Way to go Sally!
When he presented it to her he read the cover "CPAC Documentary" he asked what it was then asked "am I on it?"

When they auctioned off a gift certificate to Sweet Surprise, where they got last years candy basket Garett asked, "is that like an adult shop?"

One lady had so many raffle coupons we actually had to wait a few moments while she went through all of them. Garett made fun of things saying " this is really going well" with a sarcastic tone of voice and when the table was still filled with bags he announced loudly "there's only 80 more to go!"

Rae was writing down the names of the winners, and as she asked for last names Garett could be heard mumbling behind her "address, date of birth, credit card number....mother's name...."

Another time he read the numbers on a ticket wrong and there were two winners. He shrugged it off reminding us all "I'm slysdexic" - when he read the next number he asked the crowd "anyone else got that same ticket??"

A couple of newlyweds won, I believe, and when they told him they were just married he congratulated them.

When he auctioned off a Jim/Blair picture Garett described it as "he's about to smell something.....and I'm about to ask him about it"

A lady sitting next to me won something and got so excited when she jumped up, she dropped her camera right into my tote bag. It's a good thing my bag was there. We were all laughing, caught up in the humor of the moment.

For most of the winners, he congratulated them saying "well played" or "well done"

I was hoping to win a quilted tote bag donated by Janet but alas it went to Chriselora from Scotland. I met Chris and if I couldn't win it at least I know it went to a good home.*g* I did actually win a Sentinel pillow with a picture of Jim and Blair on it and when Garett called my number I was so shocked I jumped up and shouted "Bingo" - Garett presenting me with the pillow was a total blur and then the next I knew I was spelling my last name for Rae.

A Stargate DVD was auctioned off and when Garett sounded confused by the offing someone shouted "it's a different show" - Garett shouted back with a wave of his hand and a sarcastic voice "I know what it is"

At one point he was just doubled over laughing as he continually cracked himself up. Another time, he threw his head back and laughed his high pitched fake laugh. I love when he does it. He did it at Cascade Con when Danny was explaining the humor behind the 8-ball caps made for the cast and crew.

When someone won a pair of spirit animals, he used a high pitched voice as he delivered them to the winner "awwwwwww....they're so cute" - he said "treat them well" as he walked away. Another set of spirit animals went next and Garett announced "these are not as good as those, not even close" - he pretended he was going to throw them to the winner but he walked them over. Someone shouted to him that they could fly and he told them "they don't fly"
something about sewing wings on them, and he replied "yeah, sew some wings, that'll work" rolling eyes.

One of the last items was a t-shirt, signed by Garett. I think it was added at the last minute. My roomie Sally won that also and when asked what it was, Garett told everyone a t-shirt "apparently I signed it" - when he went to check her number, he lost his half of the ticket but he told her "I trust you"

When it was finished he stood at the table with his hand on his hip waving everyone away. "It's over - go now - no seriously - I'm not kidding - it's over - seriously go"

After the auction there was a break in the activities for lunch. A company called "Kujo" was selling different quiches with salad in the picnic area. In 2005 when I went, Garett disappeared during the lunch break and returned some time later, this time he joined the fans on line, waiting for his lunch. He ordered the Quiche Lorraine and when a fan suggested spinach quiche he said "I had spinach for dinner last night, don't want to be Popeye" - he took his lunch to one of the tables and sat down by himself. Two ladies were sitting at the opposite end of the table but there was a whole lot of empty space. Two intrepid ladies, Maaaa and Snycock I believe asked if he wanted to be alone or if he wouldn't mind some company. I think his response was "oh, no, please sit" - by the time I sat down Garett was finished eating and went off to walk around.

After lunch we went to a table where a photographer was making buttons and magnets of pictures he took from the morning animal auction. They were the pictures of the winning bidders with Garett and their animals. I found one of me and Garett that I liked, and one of Garett alone that I bought. He was having a problem with his camera off and on so he didn't have every shot but he had a nice selection of photos. I don't know if it was done last year but it was a nice addition and another chance if you missed getting your picture taken with Garett.

It was now time for the autograph line.

To be continued......

I will be posting some pictures tonight, and since most of my shots are with fans, if anyone would like me to send them to you directly, let me know.

On to the good stuff!!

We arrived at the zoo shortly before 10 and went inside the main building to pay. They had us wait inside for a few minutes until it was time to enter the park. The first person I spotted was Rae setting up the table for the Chinese auction. After checking out the offerings, she sent me on a mission to find rocks to put inside the bags so the bags wouldn't blow away on the table. It was hot but there was a bit of a breeze...of course I brought back stones, not rocks, so I went in search of bigger ones. After completing my task, I returned to where we had seats, and heard someone say that Garett was already there. It was only a little after 10 and I was expecting him closer to 11. Later I heard him say to a staff member that it only took him an hour and 45 mins to get there.

My first siting was Garett coming up the hill with an animal carrier in hand. Staff members were carrying various size carriers as well. First up was Speedy the tortoise. Bidding was brisk and the winners all lined up to have the first pictures taken with Garett. I knew people in almost every grouping so I spent a lot of time walking back and forth. At one point Speedy ended up on the ground and one of the older staff ladies was reaching down to pick him up but Garett gallantly stepped in and said "I'll get him." Our boy definitely has good manners!

When the fan line finished, Garett was given a sign that said "This is for Penny" creating a moment of confusion as Garett tried to figure out who Penny was. I heard him say, "I thought this was Speedy?" it was funny to watch as he stepped back at one point and announced "I'm getting really confused" - one of the staff explained that Penny was a fan and she couldn't be there but she had donated over $1,000 so Garett was to pose with each animal holding a sign up indicating that this picture was for Penny, taken by an official Moonridge photographer.

As others have mentioned, Garett didn't officially show any of the animals, except for Jasmine. The bidding was done quickly so Garett didn't have to stand around too much and the bids were capped at very affordable amounts so more people could contribute. I thought that was a great way to do it. We did speculate as to why Garett didn't show the animals like he usually does and it might be an insurance thing or it might've been the fact that they used a lot of baby animals or maybe ones that were not used to being handled. Garett still found a way of staying involved, making comments from behind the stage and teasing several of the fans he knows by name.

Then came Ringo the Raccoon. As soon as he was placed in Garett's arms, he tried to get away. I don't know if the crowd spooked him or what but he scrambled over Garett's shoulder, digging his hind claws into the upper left side of his chest. He was heading down Garett's back when he finally got a hold of him and pulled him around front where he handed him off to the nearest staffer. Ringo's front claws were caught in his shirt and when he pulled the raccoon up, the back of his shirt came up with it. Those standing nearby got an eyeful of bare Garett skin, front and back. There was nothing he could do about it until he handed off the frisky critter. When he did he had a shy look on his face as he demurely pulled his shirt down.

Pulling the left side of his shirt open, he checked the damage on his shoulder and I could see at least two angry red slashes. One of the staffers handed him an antiseptic pad and he wiped the area then left the pad over it as he called "next" for the next fan to step forward for a picture. A staffer asked how he was and he said "I'm okay" and shrugged it off. He did use it as a joke saying, "see what I do for you"

After Ringo came Jareth the barn owl. The staff held onto him but whenever he got next to Garett he waved his wings and kept slapping Garett in the head. It was so funny as Garett quipped, "never work with kids or animals" - at one point he took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes saying "this is why I wore glasses" - Jareth finally settled down and the pictures were taken, including the one for Penny.

Flower the skunk was up next and Garett squatted down between two little girls. He was asking them their names and while they waited for the photographer to change film he asked if they wanted to pet Flower. He was so sweet and gentle with them....I think they were related to someone on the staff. They were both adorable and ended up in a few of the shots. Garett was so patient and wonderful with all of the young children there.

After handling several animals, Garett pulled a hand wipe packet out of his pocket. He opened it and wiped his hands showing he had several with him. They would come in handy later when he used them to wipe his shirt after the baby hedgehog did his business on him.*g*

When I bid on the Kestral, DJ Josh was playing classic rock music in the background. When I went up to Garett for my picture he was singing along and said "ya gotta love Steve Miller" - I nodded my head in agreement and Sienna perched quietly on his hand so I was able to get my picture without incident.

With the larger animals like Aslan the lynx and Nova, they took group shots with the fans because so many people bid and it was impossible to keep the animals still with so many people around. I remember when Nova came out we could hear the wolves howling down at the bottom of the hill. It was an amazing sound.

That was the end of the morning animal auction!

To be continued.......

I'm finally beginning to recuperate from my wonderful weekend at Moonridge. Monday, June 18th I began my cross-country trek and enjoyed a relaxing two and a half days on the train. I experienced a nice Sentinel moment when we pulled out of Gallup, NM when I spotted a store that was advertising Zuni fetishes.....it made me smile and I was certain it was an omen of good things to come.

I arrived Thursday morning in LA, two hours late and just barely caught another train that would take me up the coast into Santa Barbara where I was meeting my roomie Sally aka Shiredancer. Never having met, we described what we were wearing and it wasn't long before she found me. As soon as we saw each other, I felt like I knew her forever. It is so amazing when that happens and it is one of the best things about reaching out and connecting with other fans. It's all about the friends you meet!

We walked around the Santa Barbara wharf area which was just gorgeous and we drove around after that. I've always wanted to visit Santa Barbara and Sally gave me a grand tour of some of the more interesting places. Of course with only a few hours we just barely scratched the surface. I'll have to return someday with a little more time so I can really go exploring. We ate dinner on the pier at a nice Seafood place called Moby Dick's. Sally's husband Peter and daughter Claire joined us and we all had a great time. After dinner we walked up and down the streets looking at shops, restaurants and the old Spanish architecture that is predominate on almost every building. The gardens all around were in full bloom and I found myself taking plenty of pictures.

Thursday night I enjoyed the hospitality of Sally and her family as we prepared for our two days at Moonridge. Peter made sure the car was ready to climb the mountain Friday morning and armed with a stack of detailed maps we were ready to go. A quick stop for some Chai Latte's (thanks for getting me hooked on those things, lol) and breakfast rolls and we were on our way. Sally was a great pilot and I played co-pilot as we made our way up the winding mountain road that would take us to the Best Western Chateau. A large group of fans were staying there and it was just down the road from the zoo. After checking in and dumping the bags, we bumped into Lisa Adolf and Lucy Doty in the lobby. Sally nudged me and said "they look like Sentinel fans" and sure enough they were.*g* It was like that all weekend!

Next, we ventured off into the town of Moonridge which is only a few blocks long. We did some shopping, some sightseeing and killed time until the others were ready for dinner. I was looking forward to meeting everyone, especially Rae from the UK, who was bringing me my absolute favorite candy (Cadbury Flake), and Janet aka The Quilt Lady as Garett named her, who had my copy of Moonridge 2006 that I bought in the online auction. Everyone welcomed us warmly into the group as we also met Ande, Starwatcher, Snycock, Maaaaa, Gerri, Marilyn and Chriselora.

After dinner we moved outside onto the patio and sat around as our group continued to grow. We were joined by Litgal, Pamster, Luna, Ackablonded, and another Sally to name a few. We just kept going around the table introducing ourselves whenever someone new joined us. While we were talking, Ande got a call from someone at the zoo saying they just heard from Richard and he would be joining us after all and literally 20 women squealed with delight. The conversation around the table was sometimes Sentinel related and sometimes not but it was always lively and very funny. Around 8:00 Sally went back to our room to prepare for her belly-dancing performance. It was her tribute to the writers of all the stories she enjoyed and a way to say thanks. Unfortunately some had to return to where they were staying since most had been traveling and were still adapting to the time change, but our core group moved into the bar to watch. Sally is a professional dancer and has been dancing for almost 30 yrs....she wowed us with her talent.

We continued hanging out and talking until 11pm and then we finally had to say goodnight. Tomorrow was the big day at Moonridge and we all wanted to get an early start.

To be continued.....

I know some of you are eagerly awaiting Moonridge reports and I'll be posting mine tonight. I still have to scan my pictures. I've been going to bed early catching up on sleep so I will start earlier tonight and get it done. I also need to make sure I have my quotes right so I must check my video one more time. I will definitely have something, if not tonight, then definitely tomorrow.

Got in late last night or actually it was early this morning since I got home at 2am. I'm jet lagged and at work so it will be a while longer until I can start posting about my Moonridge 2007 experience, but let me just say, it was a total BLAST!

It's been a while since I last posted. Right now I am taking care of last minute details before I leave Monday afternoon to begin my three day trek across country. I'll arrive in LA Thursday morning and end up in Santa
Barbara where I will meet Sally, my roomie at Moonridge. I'm also looking
forward to meeting everyone at the Best Western Friday night before spending
the day at Moonridge with Garett and the animals. My thanks to Aly and her merry elves for doing such a wonderful job and tallying up the proceeds. All
I can say is "this fandom ROCKS!"

Hey Pat - thanks for friending me. I've friended you
too. And thanks for the story recs. I love Legions
stories too and I also read Sideline which was
excellent as well.

I would just like to wish everyone on LJ, a very
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hey Bev, yoo-hoo (waves hands wildly) I came upon a picture of mine
that I think you might be interested in. It was taken in Feb 05!
I need your e-mail address.

I thought I would do more reading on LJ and not so much posting, but now I actually have something to say! Tomorrow night a bunch of ladies are going to gather in NYC and have a TS festival. Much nonsense and silliness will definitely be on the agenda. The ladies and I are welcoming Patty (the newbie) to our group. Details to follow!

Okay so I'm new here. Eventually I'll get the hang
of it. I am looking forward to connecting with friends
and meeting new friends.

My thanks to Sara for the use of of my Userpic Icon.