Well, I missed my bus so I'm back. The story I tried to post earlier was this:

Last night at dinner there were 3 people who'd been to the Jensen meet and greet and one person who'd been to the Jared meet and greet. Jared was apparently all about the pregnancy talking about how Gen wanted the baby to be born in the US (rather than Canada) and she wants a natural birth and how they're searching for a midwife and doula.

One of the people at the Jensen meet and greet was a woman on 2 weeks leave from the military. She mentioned how much she and the other SPN fans in the military appreciated how well they handled their weapons - for example, that they clear a room properly. And Jensen said that he's got a friend in Washington with a shooting range and they all like to go down there to shoot stuff. And then he produces his iphone - he's got a video of him on the range. He brings it over, asks everyone to "gather round" (twist my arm) and shows them video of him at the shooting range firing a handgun (of some sort) and then of him firing an m4. He's wearing a single layer - yes, a tight tee shirt and one of the ladies present can't help herself and said (outloud): he's so pretty! And then immediately realized that "he" was standing right there!

Mortifying.

Someone asked him when would they ever use an m4 on the show and he said that they wouldn't.

BTW, I got in touch with my bank and yes, the charges from the con drew the attention of the fraud squad. They froze my account. They claim that the fraudsters left me a message or tried to contact me but there were no messages on my voicemail from any such people.

At least I can access my funds now.

Love your stories, sumi. Glad you had such a good time!

Weapons related:

At the Js q&a, somebody asked them if there were any weapons that they wished that they could use on the show. (M4s were brought up again.) But the first thing was the grenade launcher that's been sitting in the Impala's trunk since season 1. Jensen got a little grumpy about it. (Very Deanesque.)

He also mentioned that he once spent weeks practicing with throwing knives in his trailer only to have the scene cut.

Back at Amy's panel, someone had asked her about her big fight scene with Julia McNiven. She talked about the training and how she took the prop knife everywhere to practice her knife handling. She said that at night at her hotel she'd be reading facebook and twirling that knife. When she was done shooting it was the one prop that she was really sad to have to leave behind.

sumi, thanks so much for the up-close, in-person account (It's so much better for me through a like-minded filter).

I assume most of you know Dana's story about Tricia Helfer, meeting her at a con right after Katrina? Worried about family, Dana just sort of fell apart in the autograph line, and Helfer came around the table to hug her and pat her back and sympathize and calm her down.

Someone posted a similar story about Richard Speight. Her dad died this summer. One of the things they had bonded over was Band of Brothers, and she had brought his boxed set as well as her own, hoping to get one of them signed by Speight. She started crying before she got to him, handed him the box but couldn't speak. He coached her through it, asked if he could sign it to her dad, what his name was, checked the spelling, asked if he could sign her copy too, then put down his pen and came around the table to hug her. In addition, on her way out of the room she passed Matt Cohen, who was encouraging her to smile even if she didn't feel like it, sharing that making the attemtpt to appear positive helped him feel more positive, and encouraging her.

At some point, in the lobby or a restaurant, Mark Pellegrino overheard her discussing insomnia and recommended some things that had worked for him after his mother's death.

These people, man. I honestly am starting to believe that interacting with fans does as much for actors who don't have a large presence in the industry as it does for fans of this show that's spent most of its existance in industry obscurity.

The Brits had been to the Vancouver con. They saw the shooting of this week's episode. And at one point they saw Metallicar - all by herself. . . completely unguarded. So they went over, took pictures and then tried the door.

Unlocked.

They got in.

The keys were in the ignition.

They were VERY VERY STRONG. And did not drive off with her.

They took the pictures to their autograph session with Jensen. He called Cliff (the security dude) over and said, "hey, take a look at this." Jensen told them that they should have driven off with the car. (We think that Grand Theft Auto in a foreign country is kind of a bad idea. . . although Canada is no Singapore.)

I do remember Dana's experience with Tricia Helfer. Lovely person. And that woman's story is equally lovely.

This

Weapons related:

made me laugh, because it's like the opposite of an egg warning for ita.

Beverly - that's an excellent story. You know, the guys who appear at the cons mostly know each other through the cons and it's amazing what good chemistry they have with each other.

If only the writers could come up with a way to have Richard and Matt in the same episode. . . possibly in their 1970s lounge lizard incarnations. It would ROCK.

BTW, Richard Speight was asked if they would bring Gabriel back how would he want him to bring him back. And he said - he wouldn't but that he thinks that the fact that Gabriel was hiding in plain sight as the Trickster means that somewhere there is a REAL Trickster and he would love to come back as the REAL Trickster. I think that would be great. I hope that something like that happens.

made me laugh, because it's like the opposite of an egg warning for ita.

Yes, that is what it's for!

Speaking of ita and her foibles: some of you may recall that Jensen had incurred a weapons related injury during the Frontierland shoot. He injured his hand trying to "fan" the revolver which has a sticky trigger. Well, in something they shot this season he had to do something similar and reinjured the hand. (No bandages in sight, though.) It might be more of a bruise type thing.

Richard Speight was asked if they would bring Gabriel back how would he want him to bring him back. And he said - he wouldn't

I am so happy to hear that. I got nothing against the character or Speight himself--he seems a treat. I just want Gabe dead. Bring him back in flashbacks only, please.

Sounds like you had an amazing time, sumi. Good onya.

eta: ha! General ha!