I know it’s been a little while since our last update but we are trying to recover from the last few days at the Flashback Weekend convention. What’s making it harder is the fact that our A/C is on the fritz (thanks Four Seasons!). This is just sucking any motivation I have right out of me. We plan on getting a whole new system, but are trying to wait it out until next year. But then if I have to go through any more 90 degree days, not sure I’ll make it. So whatever deity I need to pray to or make a sacrifice to, to get the temps down to the ’60s any sooner, just let me know!

But Flashback was a blast as always. Kudos to Mike, Mia, and the rest of the Flashback gang as usual, for putting on a great show. There were tons of people wandering the dealer room all three days, which is always a good sign. When you see a pretty decent size line waiting to get in on a Sunday, that really says a lot about the show. We didn’t get to take as many photos as we’d hoped, missing out on the Jason panel, which was the one I wanted to see the most. I really hope during the Q&A, someone asked them about their stunt work instead of just the same old questions of wearing the famous hockey mask. Nothing against those movies, but these guys have decades and decades in the stunt business and probably have stories that would make your bones ache! If you see one of these guys, or any number of these stunt men that have made a name playing a character like Jason, ask them out their stunt career and some of their work. I bet you’ll hear some real good stories.

I did get to chat for a bit with Heather Wixson, who is one of the hosts at Flashback. But earlier this year, she published her first book, Monster Squad, which we reviewed on our site too. It’s a great book and she was great to talk to. She mention that she is currently working on volume 2, so stay tuned for that!

We were set up right across from Ray Santiago and Dana DeLorenzo. Sometimes being across from a guest, you get to see some things that maybe you didn’t want to. Kind of like seeing too much behind the curtain. But in the decades that I’ve been going to conventions, I have to say that in my top ten nicest celebrities, DeLorenzo is right there. Santiago was very friendly too, don’t get me wrong. But DeLorenzo had her A-game on with each and every person I saw go up to her. She would hug them and talk to them like they were an old friend. Even if it was an act, the fan walked away with a smile and a great experience. As much as I still hate the whole autograph pricing thing, at least she was giving a little something more than a scribble on a 8×10. I’ve seen some celebs over the years that could take a lesson from her.

One surprise I got over the weekend was seeing someone that I hadn’t see in about 27 years. Back in 1990, on my first trip to New York for a Fango con, I took my neighbor kid, who was probably around 16 at the time, who was a huge horror fan. He had a friend that was also going out to the show, who was going on their own and we were going to meet up with. His friend’s name was Paul. I seen him a couple of times after the con, but that was about it. Then Saturday, walking back to my table, I hear someone call my name. I turn around and see this dealer looking at me as he comes around from his table, and I immediately recognize the face, though the name was a little fuzzy. Turns out he’s been doing a few local shows here and there and he recognized me as I walked by. Small world this horror community is, that we could reconnect through our mutual passion, close to three decades later.

Of course, I couldn’t say anything about this show without mentioning one of the best cosplay I have  ever seen in my life. Artist Mitch O’Connell was a dealer at the show and brought his son Aiden dressed up as Ray Milland and Rosey Grier from The Thing With Two Heads. Right down to the jacket he was wearing, it was just incredible. Major kudos to Mitch for raising his son right! And to make it even better, he took home first place in the costume contest, as well as he should.

Besides those highlights, like most conventions these days, it really came down to just being able to hang out with my fellow convention family and friends and have a great time. From our late night horror chats, to just being able to see friends that we hadn’t seen in a month or two, it makes these little reunions all the more special. Now we get to wait another three weeks before most of us head to Indianapolis for the HorrorHound Weekend. This time it is in a new hotel and I’m having an anxiety attack just thinking of the potential issues of doing a con for the first time in a new hotel! Hoping for the best, expecting the worse. That’s pretty much how I get through my days!

See you at the next one!