The Weekend I Got My Photo with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny (part 3)

After the photo op w/David, our group went back downstairs to the autograph area to find the volunteer who said she would help us get our place back in line since we had the "VIP" Gold badges.

 V-I-P is for V-I-Me!

We were super concerned that she wouldn't come thru...and then she put us at THE FRONT OF THE LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crazy awesome! And I wasn't ready emotionally so I stammered a little in front of Gillian Anderson. Gillian Anderson. I got to speak to her. Yeah. So, what if I was a little nervous! :p I did manage to get out more than the last time I met her in Dallas when I could barely even breathe. I told her about how amazing she was in Streetcar when I got a chance to see her run in NYC. And I had her sign a photo. Y'all....she is so ridiculously gorgeous. I need to know her secret because...it's crazy. 

This Is What I Made For Her To Sign 😁 

Immediately after this we had to get in line for David's autograph which was right next to hers 😏 and also super long.

Above Pic From Twitter (can't remember who it belongs to)--Posted on Friday, Aug 19th, 2016

So I got to meet David for a SECOND time that day and I didn't even die, y'all!!! 🙌😍 I actually managed to speak again and he had a conversation with me about his Aunt Constance. And, I got him to sign in my X-Files book right next to where I'd gotten Gillian's the year before in Dallas (an idea I stole from the super smart Andrea, who also just happens to be my frennnnnnnd 😘).

Yeah, That's Right

 After that, we headed upstairs to the ballrooms where the panel would be...which we of course had VIP access for...

And good thing, too, because the line was LOOOOOOOOOONG!!!! But it was kinda cool because we got a chance to meet other fans and get excited all over again. **always a silver lining** 😀

(((Cont. in Part 4)))

The Weekend I Got My Photo with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny (part 2)

Okay, please don't laugh at what you're about to read because it's pure unadulterated cheesiness as my 17 year old self had her dream come true.

I

Met

David

Freaking

Duchovny

and it was everything I hoped it would be 😍😍😍😍

Here goes:

In line, and it's super short because his time slot was almost up. Panic attack. HAHA! Okay, a little, but there really wasn't time to panic. Then we got close enough I could hear his voice. 😳

 Then we were inside the curtains and I could see him. Then....

IT WAS MY TURN.

I set my backpack down on the table and he looked my direction. I am literally getting giddy again just thinking about the fact that this all really happened. The table was on the right hand side of the booth/cubicle thing and he was standing in the left corner. I stepped towards him and he moved towards me to close the gap and extended his hand. Before I could even process that he was shaking my hand, he guided me towards the photo marker and asked my name. Everyone I knew who had met him before all told me the same thing: He is really sweet and genuine with fans.

They were so right. And I was so grateful for that 😂

I told him my name and he said...I have no clue what he said because he was putting his arm around me and touching my shoulder. I put my hand on his back and (I can't believe I remember this) I apologized for shaking and he laughed and said I wasn't and there was no need to be nervous. 😉 RIGHT! 

The photographer gave us a count and snapped the photo and that was that. 

THAT. JUST. HAPPENED.

(((Cont. in part 3)))

The Weekend I Got My Photo with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny (part 1)

aka the day my teenage dream came true... 😏

I had planned since May to go to the Chicago Wizard World convention when I found out David Duchovny would be going. And I was ridiculously excited. But then...on a morning in June...my world got flipped upside down and I think my head did a 360 on my body when I saw on Facebook a leak to one of the groups I'm in that Gillian would be joining him there.

WHAT? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...........IS THIS REAL????

So people started freaking out and contacting the people running the convention and they could not comment because it wasn't set in stone.

And then just a few short hours later. It. Was. Confirmed!!!!

I am not ashamed to admit that I started running around my house screaming into my phone as I immediately called my husband to tell him to change our summer budget because I would be getting the VIP pass 😂

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and something I honestly never thought would be a reality.

So, I was excited. Just a little bit.

Fast forward to August 19th, leaving work at lunch to go on my DREAM TRIP!

 Have you ever seen a happier person in your life????

WATCH THE DAY UNFOLD ;)

I got stuck in Midland because of bad weather in Houston (my connecting flight) so I had to find a later connecting flight but the airline was amazing and got me all taken care of.

LOL

Finally, I made it to Chicago where I was met at the airport by one of the sweetest people in the world, Andrea, and her adorable mom! We stayed at the Hilton right there at O'Hare which meant we were super close to the convention. Then, it was off to the land of sweet dreams in my favorite Gillian t-shirt 😏

The next morning was surreal. I was getting ready to go and finally meet David Freaking Duchovny. I had met Gillian the year before (when I was 50lbs heavier, mind you) but meeting Gillian WHEN SHE IS WITH David???? 😳😱 No words.

I remembered how much I was shaking when I met her, so I made sure to bring Oasis to calm down. And y'all....if there was ever a testimony to something working, it's that! I wasn't shaking at all when I met David just 2 hours later!!!! 

Train Ride to the Convention

WE MADE IT!!!!

Time to freak out!

So then we got in line to make our first paid event, autograph with Gillian Anderson. It did not start well...

We got the attention of one of the volunteers at the convention and told her our predicament. Missing our photo op with David was not an option...but neither was missing out on Gillian's autograph. So the sweet woman who helped us told us to go ahead and get our photo done with David and then come back and find her and she would take care of us. And, boy, did she ever!!!!

(((Cont. in part 2)))

DFW Summer Visit - Part 3

Thursday, June 29th After packing up the hotel room, the kids and I went to get our Krispy Kreme fix since we don't have these (or any major donut chain) in Midland. The people working there were so sweet and patient the kids :) 

And, yes, we all got our free hot and fresh donut off the conveyor ;)

Heaven ;)

After grabbing some yummy goodness for ourselves, we headed to Gigi's house in east Dallas to share! Such a great morning with her and Landri literally spent 45 minutes, just her and Gigi, in the bedroom going through EVERY. SINGLE. PIECE of jewelry Gigi has. What Landri doesn't know is that her mommy used to do spend hours herself in that room going through all those same pieces and trying on every ring just like she did. Made my heart so happy <3 

And while they were doing that, Braden was playing her piano and giving me the third degree about my childhood LOL! Until, we found her old UNO game!!!! 

We played 5 hands and Gigi was the only one who didn't win...The kids thought that was hilarious, but she was not pleased!!!! Not that we are competitive or anything...Bahahahaha!

Once we left her house, we headed to Arlington and grabbed a bite at Burger King in north Arlington where I attempted to wear the kids out on their indoor playground before hitting the road. 

Spoiler Alert: It didn't work.

DFW Summer Visit - Part 2

Wednesday June 28th Nana drove down to Arlington to spend the day with us, and what a fantastic day it was! We went to Alley Cats and the kids got to go bowling for the first time ever and OMGOODNESS did they LOVE it!!!!

#bowlingisawesome

  

They Adore Her

After a few games, we headed to the arcade where more fun was had by all. 

Especially on Skee Ball (LOL)

Also Space Invaders...

Once they had enough fun (lol), we headed to grab lunch at Souper Salad, one of Braden's favorite restaurants and ironically the exact same spot I had my last meal before he was born. (((An irony that never hit me before until we got there.)))

THEN...

NOW...

After we finished our meal, we went across the parking lot to the mall so they could ride the carousel and burn off some energy walking around (hahaha!!).

Relaxing :)

They thought these glass elevators were the coolest thing they'd ever seen!

We then did a little bit of driving around Arlington to show the kids the hospital where they were born. Once Jay got out of class, we all went to dinner at one of our most favorite DFW restaurants, El Fenix. 

And to top off the amazing day, we ended with a cone at Braum's and drive around where we used to live to show them our first apartment, where we used to grocery shop, etc. It was an amazing trip down memory lane...OMGOSH, we love and miss Arlington SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!!!!!!!!