Karen and I got to meet Robert Picardo and he made a huge impression on us when we took the Paramount tour in 1996. We were at the back of the line and Avery Brooks was walking the street in uniform, rehearsing his lines. Robert Picardo was sitting reading a newspaper in his Dr. Zimmerman uniform. We almost didn’t recognize him till we passed, but he looked up from his reading, smiled and waved to us. That little gesture endeared him to us and at Vulcon we got a chance to tell him how that simple act of kindness made a lasting impression. He was so pleased.

Anthony Montgomery saw me in Enterprise uniform and called out that he liked the uniform but I didn’t have a gold stripe. I replied that I do graphics and that’s communications. Besides, I didn’t want to take his job. He laughed. He was such fun to talk to - easy going, friendly, and finding joy in everything. 

Linda Park didn’t make it for her photo session. Her plane was late getting in and she only had a day in town. I guess she was doing a turnaround flight. So things were delayed and there was a lot of standing in line but it was so great we could actually TALK to people. Ethan Phillips was there and I bought a great pic of him with Scott that he autographed for me. Then Karen and I had pictures taken with Anthony and Linda and later on with Robert Picardo. I spoke to Robert Beltran a bit. He called me over to ask about my Enterprise uniform. He wanted to know if it was the official one and I told him it was. That started us chatting for a bit and when I moved on, I reached out my hand and he took it. I told him it was a pleasure meeting him. He smiled and thanked me.

I didn’t get to talk to LeVar Burton cause the autograph room was closing down by the time I got around to that. And I really didn’t get to talk much to Linda but did sit in on her discussion. I asked her what Connor's wink was all about during his "death" scene and she said it was because he really had a thing for Archer. Everyone laughed. Someone asked her why Enterprise was canceled. She threw that question back to the audience. People called out Viacom, Berman, politics, etc. and Linda replied that there were multiple reasons. She also told us that she wasn't happy with the final episode because it was all about Riker and Troi and felt like a slap in the face to the Enterprise cast. To her, the finale was the two parter, Terra Prime. Someone asked if Linda was related to Grace Park from Battlestar Galactica. She said no, she was an only child. She is Korean and Park is as common as Smith is in the States.

At that point, we had to leave for our photo op with Robert Picardo, but her session ended shortly after this.

Megacon 2006

This con was so much like Vulkon in accessibility to performers. The big difference - it's geared more toward Anime, role-playing, gaming than it is SF, which didn't bother me in the least. Karen and I were there for the actors anyway.

Autographs were going for $20 a pop and this included getting a photo with the actor. We met John Schneider, Mira Furlan, Marina Sirtis, Mark Lutz (Angel), Cirroc Lofton, Jason Carter (Babylon V), Tony Amendola, and one of our favorites, Alexis Cruz (Stargate SG-1).

We arrived at Megacon just as things were getting started, 10:00am. We were pre-registered so Karen and I got in the line to get our tickets and wristbands, then picked up a bag with the Megacon updated book of things to do and people to see. There were Star Wars freebee comics and announcements of other upcoming events that we gathered in as well.

Once inside the hall (this one was held at the convention center and the hall was quite huge), we made a beeline toward the autograph area. Not many of the guests had arrived yet but Tony Amendola was there and he was our first stop. Since the line was light, we got to talk to Tony for several minutes, which was nice. We both heard him speak at Creation Con but this was our first opportunity to speak with him. I mentioned how much nicer this type of convention was. Tony diplomatically said that Creation Con was "controlled." He also agreed that most of the actors didn't care for the controlled atmosphere but they had to do those cons. He also said he just finished shooting an episode with Bra-Tac and that SG-1 was entering another new season! (I think this makes number 11. ed)

After Tony, we got in line to see John Schneider. He was the main attraction and the line was about 1/2 hour wait. When we finally reached his table, I had to ask him if there was a Scott (Bakula) connection to Jay Schwartz. Jay is John's publicist as well as Scott's. I was surprised to hear the answer was no, that John met Jay at an event and it was later after working with Scott (Kennedy Center Honors) that John learned Jay also handled Scott's publiciy. Karen and I each got an autographed picture, then posed with John as a Megacon volunteer took the picture. John never sat down. he stood in front of his table to sign autographs. I think Karen and I disappeared next to him. John Schneider is 6'3" and I'm 5'3".

By this time, other guests had arrived and we moseyed over to Marina Sirtis' table. She was sleek in a black jumpsuit and we chatted about the drunk scene in First Contact, my favorite Marina Sirtis moment. Karen took a photo of us and we said good-bye as others were waiting their turn.

Next was Mira Furlan. Either she was very tired or very shy. I'm not sure which. There wasn't much response from her until I mentioned Dan Roebuck. Her eyes sparkled a bit then. To get a photo with her, I had to crouch down where she was sitting behind the table. It wasn't a very good pose and we quickly moved along.

Mark Lutz was alone at his table. He wasn't someone I recognized. I wasn't that much of an Angel viewer. But Mark has done a lot of work and he was interesting to talk to, if briefly. A camera crew came along and wanted to shoot him so I backed out of the way, said good-bye, and went to visit Cirroc Lofton. Karen and I had met Cirroc at Creation Con and we DID get an opportunity to talk to this intelligent and engaging young man. He's working his way through college part time while still involved with other projects. When we reintroduced ourselves this time, Cirroc remembered us! I reached across the table to shake his hand. He took mine and held on, not releasing it as we chatted. Finally, I asked if I could get a picture with him. When Cirroc stood up, I was surprised to see how much he had grown! I put my arm around his waist and he did the same around mine. He's as tall now as John Schneider and he says he still has an inch to grow! As Karen snapped the photo, Cirroc gave me an extra squeeze. I was really drawn to him. Since my memory has been so poor of late, I was glad that Karen remembered in detail the conversation we had with him in LA. It was difficult for me to pull away and move on.

By this time we were getting hungry and wandered over to the carts for sustenance. I had a chicken pita and Karen got a Gyro. We both collapsed in chairs around a table. We relaxed for awhile, forcing ourselves to our feet when we finished eating.

On the way back to the autograph area, we ran into a neighbor we haven't seen in YEARS! His parents still live in the neighborhood but Gary left to strike out on his own. He was running a booth at the con and also was part of a guest panel. He's become a producer/director in Orlando.

Our first table stop was Alexis Cruz. Alexis played Skaara in Stargate SG-1 and was one of only two actors to transition from the movie to the TV show. I told him how much I loved the character and asked if he enjoyed playing him, which, of course, he said yes, very much. Then the next thing I said was how much I disliked the episode where they ascended the entire planet! Alexis responded that he didn't care for it either. It was a hastily written script because they were trying to wrap up the O'Neill episodes and get ready for the transition to the new group. Karen bought an autograph, then she posed with Alexis while I took the photo.

The last table we stopped at this day belonged to Jason Carter and Karen and I fell instantly for him. He was bubbly, outgoing, warm, charismatic. When I was picking out the photo I wanted Jason to autograph, a man in a wheelchair sent someone back to pay Jason's assistant. Apparently he wrote a check because the assistant told me that in 7 years of doing conventions, they had never been stiffed by a bad check from a fan! She thought Science Fiction fans were the most loyal and best fans out there.

In a short period of time, Jason talked about his character, Marcus, from Babylon V, remarking that Marcus was a Christ figure in space. He was a virgin, he fought (as a ranger) for truth, he sacrificed his life for love. He also spoke of his first time on stage when he had to talk to an audience without lines to read! He followed Peter Jurassik onto stage. Peter talked for 45 minutes straight before asking for questions. Jason got on stage and the first words he spoke were, "Are there any questions?" It was hard to believe Jason had ever been tongue-tied.

Jason then asked me for my name. When I told him, "Joy," he replied, "And a joy you are." After autographing the photo I bought, I of course asked for a personal photo with him. Karen was so close to us I didn't think the picture would come out and although it looked in focus, I was making such a funny face I asked Jason if we could take another one. This time, his assistant took the camera and Jason turned me to a frontal hug with a comment about "feeling the joy!" Ok. It sounds crude. But actually, the way he said it with a laugh and sparkle in his eyes, it was more cute than lewd. That sparkle shows in the photo. I still look dorky.

Shortly afterward, we left the con.

It wasn't until we got home and sorted the bag into Karen's pile and my pile that Karen discovered the autograph from Alexis was missing. As exhausted as we were, we convinced her father to drive us all back to the convention hall. Richard parked while Karen and I went back inside to get the photo. Alexis was still there although looked like he was packing up. As Karen started to explain what happened, he interrupted her with, "Karen, right?" He had found the photo and set it aside. He said he was just getting ready to have the con page her and was glad to see her return. Karen told him we were all the way home when we discovered the photo wasn't in the bag. Seeing how anxious Karen was, Alexis gave her a big hug and told us he hoped we didn't live too far away. I hugged him and thanked him for his kindness. We think Alexis set the photo down after autographing it so I could take his picture with Karen and there was no assistant with him to make sure she got the autographed picture. It lay there forgotten until we discovered the loss. Things could easily have gone very differently. But that's not who Alexis is and he has made fans of both of us.

Megacon

Tony Amendola	Karen,John Schneider, Joy	Marina Sirtis	Mira Furlan	Cirroc Lofton
Alexis Cruz	Alexis and Karen	Jason Carter	Jason's Hug

Vulkon

Anthony Montgomery's famous smile	A great Mirror Universe autograph	I pose with a Nelix look alike	TJ poses as Superman	The presentation hall
Ethan Phillips in a candid moment	Scott poses with Ethan as Ferengi from Acquisition	Jo Poses as Scott	A Voyager moment	Robert Picardo
Jo, Robert Picardo, Karen	Linda Park presentation	The Enterprise Group	Robert Beltran	Not bored, just tired