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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Greetings~</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> I made it to my first Groo Fest – Sergio, Mark, Stan <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:stockticker>AND</st1:stockticker> Tom all graciously signed my favorite Groo issue <st1:stockticker>AND</st1:stockticker> I have a picture of all four of them to boot!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(If anyone would like to see it, let me know, and I can email it to you)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This was all achieved by Thursday the 1st day! – I could have gone home right then, because as far as I was concerned I was done!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had accomplished what I had come to achieve!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was beyond thrilled!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In fact, my smile on my face is still here!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Wait…<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Let me check…<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Yep!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Still there!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>:)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN> But, since the hotel was already paid for – and I did have the necklace to this Groo Fest still just a dangling around my neck, I thought, “why not stay awhile longer”. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I am glad I did…<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was able to see much, much more!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>An amazing place – really beyond amazing!</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>The classes/seminars/panels that were offered all surpassed my expectations!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have been to conventions before, but this was much more than any regular run-of-the-mill/ordinary convention.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This was fun!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>No, this was a blast!</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Since I am mainly a Groo fan, and I am not very familiar with any other names in the comic business, I pretty much stuck to the panels that were lead by Mark.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At least this way, I knew they would be somewhat funny since Mark is known for his sense of humor. Besides learning all about the history of DC Comics, Bloggers, Will Eisner, Jack Kirby,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Cartoon Voices, </SPAN>I also learned that Mark was a glutton for punishment (he hosted a record breaking 14 [respectfully] panels during this convention alone – and there were probably more that he sat in on that were just not listed – this man is a machine!)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He was obviously having a great time being the host of so many panels.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My favorite, of course, were all the ones where Sergio w
as
present.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The panels where Sergio and Mark were together were more than magical.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These two could take their “show” on the road, and spread laughter wherever they landed, there is no doubt about that!</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Three of my four days spent in <st1:City><st1:place>San Diego</st1:place></st1:City>, I made my way over to Sergio’s table to buy several of his books he had for sale.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Each time he made me feel more than welcome.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He gladly signed each book and chatted with me as if we were old friends.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My last day I inquired about <st1:City><st1:place>Gary</st1:place></st1:City>’s whereabouts because I wanted to make sure I asked <st1:City><st1:place>Gary</st1:place></st1:City> a question before I left the Groo Fest.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sergio’s face lit up with the mention of <st1:City><st1:place>Gary</st1:place></st1:City>’s name.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He then started asking me if I knew about the “Groop!”<SPAN style="mso-s
pacerun:
yes"> </SPAN>I said that I did, and that I was “…very new to the Groop and also VERY shy, and I had not yet met anyone except <st1:City><st1:place>Gary</st1:place></st1:City>.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He scoffed and laughed at my silliness and continued on talking about how friendly the whole “Groop” was etc.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He was so helpful, cheerful, and charming!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And here I thought I was a fan BEFORE I met him! <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">I did finally catch up with <st1:City><st1:place>Gary</st1:place></st1:City>, and I did ask him one of my many questions – <st1:City><st1:place>Gary</st1:place></st1:City>’s great too by the way!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am sorry that I did not have the courage to meet everyone at this year’s Groo Fest – I think I was constantly lost from the get-go! That place was more than HUGE and more than CROWDED!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I hope everyone who attended will please forgive this cowardly lioness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I will definitely be going to next year’s Groo Fest and I will surely be building up some valor in the meantime to bring along with me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So, with that, I will close with saying thanks for reading this far – here is to next year’s Groo Fest!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Shawn </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>(P.S.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A girl who happens to have a couple of funny parents that thought it would be hilarious to name their daughter a boy’s name – and on quiet nights you can still hear them giggling about it to this day :)</FONT></P></DIV><p>
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