[Groop] Gary G.'s Con Report Day One

[GARY GROSSMANN]

Hi Folks!

Well, as mentioned, Larry actually wrote the earlier reports because
frankly, I was too tired to stay up and write them with him.  I guess I'm
getting old.  So here are my little additions to Larry's report:

>>
> "Hi, I need to check in, my name is..." Larry started.
>
> "LARRY!!!" shouted roommate Gary Grossmann, who only arrived 30 seconds
> after him!  WHAT TIMING!
>
> Gary started to complain that his plane was delayed 20 minutes, but you
> know, Larry IS Mister Grooism for a reason!

I am always VERY impatient to get to the Con (I'm sure you're all shocked to
hear that!) and so a few minor delays had me a little on edge.  But when I
heard about Larry's problems I felt very embarassed about being a little mad
about getting there a half hour or so later than I expected.  It worked out
great.  (For me, not for Larry.)

>
> Well, we met up with Sergio, who as always looked great, was in rare form
> with the guests and in constant demand from fans and pros alike,

Actually, I would say he was in his USUAL form; I want to be like that when
I'm 67.  (But I think it's too late)  I made a new Sergio mask for this year
and had a lot of fun with it, including surprising Sergio.  He did a great
double take when I first put it on and he turned around  and everytime I put
it on over the next 3 days everyone enjoyed it.  I showed him one of the
Italian Groos.  He read some of it and pronounced it a good translation.
Yes, Sergio reads Italian and speaks it fluently. I heard him talking to an
Italian gentleman just as smoothly as he speaks Spanish.

> and saw
> Mark to get the bad news that Caroline wasn't coming (Nooooo).

This was the major disappointment of the Con.  No Carolyn.  She had an
injured foot, so at least it was nothing serious.  I actually saw Mark more
at this Con than just about any other.  Half the time he seemed a little
lost (or maybe it was dazed); I assume from the combination of doing 137
panels and not having Carolyn around to make sure he ate, slept, and soaked
his feet.

> We ran into
> Steve Kuhn and Kaytee, found Nate Piekos' BLAMBOT booth with Chett (but so
> far missing Shane) and also found Scott Hudlow, but NO ERIC!!!"

Larry & I separated, but I found the same folks.  I gave Nate, Chet, and
Scott there Groop Membership cards.  I left Shane's with Nate.  Ah, Shane,
you tricky guy!  I hardly ever see you anymore!  You're never at Blambots
when I come by.  I'm sorry we didn't get to talk more when you came by
Sergio's booth.

>
> We wrangled Sergio up to the Groo Panel,.......TOM LUTH SAVES
> THE DAY!

Well, what can I add?  It was a good panel.  It was interesting to hear the
complexities of writing a cartoon screenplay.  Sergio said the CGI folks
they are in discussion with are the folks who did "Stuart Little." On the
Groo Game, apparently Mark needs to write a letter to the movie company to
get the OK on the Groo Game reprint under some provision of the contract.
So when that gets done and the movie company gives a rubber stamp OK, the
Groo Game reprint is a go.

Oh and I planned to give the Gold Groop Membership cards out during the
panel, but it didn't work out, so I quick gave them out at the end.  The
Groo Crew liked them a lot I think.

>
> We called Eric's cell phone and left the message that it was not his turn
to
> miss the Groo Panel and were wondering where he was. He snuck in a couple
of
> minutes into the panel; his flight was delayed as bad as Larry's, and they
> apparently shut down the airport just after he landed. We know that Groo
was
> somehow involved, don't we?

I take full responsibility for this problem.  I was at the airport with some
Groo stuff just before Eric's plane was supposed to land.  Sorry Eric

>
> Speaking of Tom Luth, he had some hand colored Groo pages with his color
> separation notations for sale, so after Gary bought a fistful of these,
> Larry & Eric each bought a set as well!

Yes I did!!!

>
> We have the Disabled Services handbooks, enough for whover wants them!

I mailed them to myself.  You can start asking for copies and I'll mail them
off probably next week sometime.

>
> Oh, and Stan Sakai is like TWO MILES away from Sergio. Like Sergio it's
good
> to see that  always crowded as well!

Indeed, it would hard for them to be farther away from each other.  (Perhaps
he asks them to do that figuring it will lessen the chances of me coming to
see him.)  Stan was also his usual quiet, delightful self and his wonderful
wife Sharon was also there.  Didn't get to see his daughter Hanna (now 14!)
until Saturday.

Let's see, what else?  Oh, yeah, the booth directly across from Sergio's was
an artist who had one of those models whose sole purpose is to get people
(or at least guys) to stop and look at the art.  ...Yeah, right!  It did
make for nice scenery I must admit.  I had some fun at her expense.  Guys
would stop and ask to take her picture and she would dutifully hold up some
of the art about waist high or so.  I could clearly see that, of course, the
camera was not pointing at the art.  Several times I put on the Sergio mask
and she started laughing.  I went over and apologized, but she was a good
sport and said she didn't care.

That was the first day.  More later.  Take care -Gary G.