Fanning Out!

So there are a few famous people that cause my heart to pitter patter a bit faster than other humans in my life, one of those being Norman Reedus. Most known for his current role as Daryl Dixon on The Walking Dead, Norman has quite the fan following. 

Knowing my fondness for Mr. Reedus and because she is the best best friend any one could ask for, Brie bought us tickets to Wizard World so that I could meet my Hollywood crush! Neither of us had ever been to a Comic Con type event, so we were slightly overwhelmed with all of the costumed super fans that descended upon the Convention Center!

I would like to consider myself an admirer with a healthy dose of sensibility about myself. I mean, he is just another guy who lives and breathes like the rest of us...right? While I did squeal with excitement when I found out he was going to be in New Orleans and fretted over my outfit/makeup, I am not so obsessed that I found myself overcome with emotion to the point of tears when I met him (the girl behind me in line was one of those people). 

Brie & Me outside the Convention Center | Walking into the weirdness

I am glad I decided to bring his photography book, The Sun Is Coming Up Like A Big Bald Head, to have him autograph instead of taking one of the stock photos they had available. Lots of people give him art work that they have created. He had a lot of it hanging behind him. I saw him give some kids little trinkets too. Nice guy.

When it was my turn in line he had just popped a breath mint in his mouth and after giving Brie and I each a hug (melt!) he started coughing/choking. Eek! After getting a bottle of water it appeared that he was going to survive. He apologized--no need-- and signed the photo I selected which he said was one of his favorites. He told us that the men in the picture are in a band called The Locust out of Brooklyn and that they edited his shoe out of the bottom of the picture. We probably had about a minute and a half of conversation before it was the next person's turn. He is very soft spoken.

 Blurry close up of Norman signing autographs | The sign you stood in line behind for pictures (General v. VIP)

Yup, that happened!

The line for photos formed quickly and was crazy long. To process all of those people they literally rush you through. It's "next, step up, 'click', next....". No real time to chat or make sure you're smiling pretty. I was able to tell him I liked his pin (someone gave him a pin that looked like a King Cake that he pinned on his sweater...which was missing a button) and say that I would be looking for him at Endymion (he is co-marshaling this year!) and he commented back that he was looking forward to seeing what it (Mardi Gras) was all about!

There were plenty of other people and things to see at the convention. Between getting the autograph and the photo-op time, we wandered around checking out the art work, other booths and crazy sites.

Freddy Krueger | Sci-Fi Speed Dating? No thank you! | Weird statue people that I think have something to do with Dr. Who (???)

Besides Norman, there were three other Walking Dead actors there: Glenn-Steven Yuen, Merle-Michael Rooker, and Shane-Jon Bernthal. I did not get any pictures of them.

After we had taken it all in and we had both received not one, but two hugs from Norman, we headed out. Since Sunday was such a beautiful day we stopped by Lucy's for a bite and the traditional King Cake shots! 

The Walking Dead mid-season premiere was that night. Unfortunately the episode focused on only three characters, none of which were Daryl Dixon :(