photo by Dave Nelson

“Hello,” I said. “Thanks so much for coming here to the con.” “Hi,” he said. “I love coming to this con.” I try to speak to celebrities in a friendly but casual way, as if we sort of know each other through a mutual acquaintance. “You look great. Love the longer hair. The last time I saw you here you had that buzz cut. Your wife must be enjoying the new look!”

When Celebrity Encounters Go Wrong

He looked up from the book he was opening up, my copy of Side Jobs, and said, “Actually, we’re divorced now.” Uh-oh. My hands flew to my face. “Oh no, I am so, so sorry.” Unconsciously, I had taken a step back, as if by stepping back I could rewind time. “I had NO idea.” “Oh, it’s okay. You didn’t know.” He took pity on me and smiled. Thank you, geek gods.

Grand Geek Entrance

Make your guests smile with geeky wedding music. At our reception, the wedding party walked in to the Star Wars theme song. Even the oldest folks recognized that one, so it was an easy way to get our guests laughing and in the right relaxed, personable spirit of things as the real party started.

Cake Toppers

Engagement Scrapbook

Groom Gift

In keeping with the balance of formal and fandom, I surprised my fiancé with a geeky gift he could wear the same day without shouting “NERD” to our muggle families.  I chose these subtle but pleasantly cliché Han/Leia cufflinks from LittleGemGirl.

Special Guest: Loki

A generous friend was willing to sacrifice her beloved life-sized Loki cutout in the name of our geek union. Loki was originally meant as a photo-booth accessory, but when the music started he made an appearance on the dance floor. He didn’t survive all the wobbling and the shuffling, but he served his glorious purpose. Six months later, puzzled and amused guests still ask about the big guy.

When Sean Astin was a guest at Dragon Con in 2010, I chatted with him about the Return of the King parade in New Zealand. I had traveled there in 2003 on a Red Carpet Tour, and showed him this distant picture I snapped of him on the streets of Wellington that day.  At length, we chatted about the expansive beauty of New Zealand. Interesting how fandom has broadened my horizons and given me experiences I never could have imagined. That trip to New Zealand changed my life, and not just because of Tolkien.

My second encounter with Sean was at a One Ring Convention in Pasadena where I got this photo op. He’s one of the most approachable celebrities I’ve ever met. He makes eye contact and seems genuinely interested in whatever you say.

Sean Astin is not your ordinary former child star.

Serial is a spin-off of NPR's This American Life. But don't let the NPR part make you think this is some soothing-voiced drone that is going lull you to sleep in traffic - no. Serial is a gripping crime drama, brilliantly told over the 12-episode season.

On January 13, 1999, a girl named Hae Min Lee, a senior at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore County, Maryland, disappeared. A month later, her body turned up in a city park. She'd been strangled. Her 17-year-old ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, was arrested for the crime, and within a year, he was convicted and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. 

The case against him was largely based on the story of one witness, Adnan’s friend Jay, who testified that he helped Adnan bury Hae's body. But Adnan has always maintained he had nothing to do with Hae’s death. Some people believe he’s telling the truth. Many others don’t.

You will binge this podcast. Each episode will change the way you think about the case and the people involved. Just when you think you know what happened, you don't. And that is what will keep you coming back.