Bat-Weekend

“You got lucky, babe…”
--Tom Petty

Last weekend, we had a great time as I was invited by brother Mark to SCREAMING TIKI CON.

The cool thing was that the cast from Batman’s 1966 show were there: Malachi Thorne (False Face), Julie Newmar (Catwoman and Pictured with Mark and Me), Yvonne Craig (Batgirl), Lee Meriwether (Movie Catwoman), and of course Adam West (uh…you know, Batman!).

It was a riot to be honest.

Boba Fett and Chewbacca actors were there as well; along with a delightful Noel Neill (Superman Movie Serial and TV show Lois Lane--who I was chatting with for quite a bit) and Margo Kidder (who I avoided).

The guy who draws Patrick The Wolf Boy was there and did a sketch of me as Batman, Mark as Hulk, and Mark’s friend Brad as Kid Flash (uh…I dunno…but HE likes him and it WAS cool). The creator of Ghost Rider was there. The creator of Franklin Richards Son of a Genius was there. The artist for The Batman comic (based on the animated show) was there. All were kind enough (along with some cash) to give an autograph.

I told the comic crowd and Jim at Acme and they were impressed.

I had a nice drive out to visit Mark in Youngstown, Ohio: beautiful scenery and a nice chill in the air. It was fun and the new Saturn and the new IPOD made the drive enjoyable. If you ever make the trip, watch out for the police in Indiana. They are hiding everywhere. No tickets for me, thankfully.

In Ohio, we had some great beers as well, as I loved the Great Lakes Octoberfest on tap and Mark and Mary made sure to supply me with some Great Lakes Nosferatu for home. It is a fantastic Stock (or Pub) Ale. Great Lakes is brewed in Cleveland and we all know that Cleveland Rocks.

What made the weekend even more unique was we had dinner with Adam West and the Batman cast. Julie Newmar took advantage to leave when she felt insulted or something. Oh and prior to the dinner, I insulted Lee Meriwether by saying she did not look a day “younger” when I meant to say “older.”

Sometimes I should just shut up.

She politely seemed to forget about it and posed for a picture with me, which was cool.

Adam West sang the Adam West Song (from Family Guy) when persuaded by Mark. I asked what was his favorite episode of Batman and he said he liked the first one with Frank Gorshin as the Riddler and Jill St. John. Hell, who wouldn’t like Jill St. John?

We also saw the Bat-copter, the Bat-cycle, the Bat-shield, the Robot from Lost in Space, and R2D2.

The celebrities seemed genuinely kind, although I think Newmar may be a bit odd. In the picture above she told me to “stick out your chest, Big Boy!”

I remarked, “Only if you stick out yours first…”

Then she laughed. She gave Mark and me a card for her website in which you can write in personal fantasies. A bit out there for me.

Actually, she was cool. She was kind enough to sign a picture for Jen and for me and for Mark.

I really cannot think of anything that would top this weekend as it was a childhood fantasy come true for me.

The Batman show and the character literally changed my life, as I have obsessively collected Bat-Items for decades.

Mark and Mary were wonderful hosts and their cats Louie (who let me pet him—shy as he is), Clyde (the world’s friendliest cat), and Sammy (the Kitten with a huge personality) were fun.

So thanks Mark and Mary—this blog is dedicated to you.

What a great gift! Thanks again!

Meet The Families

“It's a lonely life I live and I live this life to go… And if I leave you with one thing it's just that I want

You to know…

I'll still be loving you tonight.”

--Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull from the song “Still Loving You Tonight” from the album Catfish Rising.

Kind of hard, I am sure, to meet the parents.

Any new relationship has various peaks and valleys, and trust me; I have discovered that fairly quickly for the last three years.

I either have to protect myself or protect others. I suppose a protective attitude is very Batman-esque, but one must remember that Batman is a “character.”

Two months ago, Jen met my parents. We had a great time at a lunch when the folks landed, and then we had an even better/closer time at Medici’s. Jen was very gracious for the opportunity.

I met her father and mother about three months after we dated when Jen moved into her new home and we had an “after moving” dinner of Pizza and beverages. They were kind to me and very welcoming.

Two weeks ago, Jen’s grandfather passed away and I met the family at an after-service dinner. I met cousins, uncles, aunts, brothers-in-law, and assorted folks somehow related to Jen. It was very nerve-racking prior to my arriving in the car as I imagined every mondo-bizzaro scenario possible, but it turned out quite pleasant and quite nice.

This weekend, Jen invited me for dinner with her closest friends. We dined on Mexican delights (Steak Fajita Quesada’s) from La Pordillos in town.

So now I wait for the approval nod from the friends.

Jen has met Mike McG., a gentleman I work with at the school who is among my closest friends. It seems wherever we go, like last night, Jen meets someone who is a current student, a former student, a current parent, a former parent, an associate, or a neighborhood friend of mine.

Karma is a great thing because I am fairly decent to all and they give me compliments. The kids get extra-credit for saying nice junk or if their parents do so, of course. Hey, it is only fair.

The only weird thing is at times I feel like I am in a situation comedy; and I have a feeling Jen does as well.

You know, you walk into somewhere at watch the chance awkward moments; like if the former wife shows up at a gathering you have been invited to.

Let me tell you, the hilarity prevails.

That last line was sarcasm, for those not in the know.

Still we manage to enjoy the company, accept the compliments, and deal with the rediscovery of meeting someone anew.

I am reminded of an episode of NYPD Blues when Medavoy is talking to Kelly about divorce and Kelly tells Greg that he decided that the only way he could be happy again was to divorce Laurie. Kelly admitted the divorce was difficult and he lost sleep over it and wondered quite a bit, but in the end, he made the right choice.

I remember at the time I watched it thinking nothing really particular about it. It must have made an impression on me, though, because I so clearly remember that scene.

Eleven years later, it makes perfect sense.

Meeting of the Minds

“Smile your little smile,
Sip some beer (i.e. tea) with me awhile;
Brush away that black cloud from your shoulder…”
--Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull from the song “One Brown Mouse” from the LP Heavy Horses, 1978.

The older I have grown, the more I believe in the chance meetings of people that truly make the world smaller than it is.

Tonight, Jon of Medici’s emailed me about picking up an OCTOBERFEST mug. The mug is filled with beer (and trust me, it is filled with 40 plus ounces of beer for $15.00 and as a patron I kept the mug) that is a bargain at any price because it has the Medici’s logo on it. As a true Wednesday Warrior (the beer club that I was the THIRD participant of) I felt the necessity to partake in the festivities.

While I sat at the bar, I was noticing these four folks to my right. The man closest to me was studying the various Unibrou beers.

I said to this kind man that the La Fin Du Monde was my favorite and he spoke in a heavy German accent to me as he said “I cannot get this in Canada, which is where I live.”

After beer chat (he was drinking the Old Rasputin Stout and I recommended the Thelonius Monk or the Alpha Kings) he chatted with me about his accent. His name is Peter, he was born in Austria, he has traveled the world over as a civil engineer, he married his wife who was from Canada, his wife’s sister married a man from Normal and they were here for a visit, the man his wife’s sister married was a math teacher in town who knew Uncle Dan and the former Canadian wife was a secretary in Normal’s district and knew Dan and Aunt Dar, and he loved Illinois. We chatted about travel, Europe, the ways of life, the universe and everything. He was an engaging conversationalist.

Jen’s grandfather recently passed and I was invited to the family gathering in Minier for dinner at a German restaurant. Peter mentioned it and I told him I had just been there for the first time and loved the food. Peter commented that it was the best German food he had ever had in the United States.

Jen’s family is German and they have a fondness for German food.

He mentioned the dish he had, which was the same Jen ate Thursday evening, complete with red cabbage. Mine had Sauerkraut, two types of German Sausage, and pork tenderloin. Peter commented on the beers and we had a fun and frank discussion on the best Weizen’s from Germany.

As Peter told me about the Alps, and Munich, the French beaches, and England (which I knew a bit about), I thought this was one of the rare and fun moments in time. Peter has been retired for nine years and he has seen much. He commented on how the United States and Canada were essentially the same. He talked of his past and seeing sights I can only dream of seeing.

His food arrived and I wished to interrupt these good people no further, although they offered me a portion of their pizza. I politely declined.

I readied myself to leave, offered my hand to Peter and thanked him for his engaging conversation. “Peter,” I said, “You are truly a gentleman. Thank you for your conversation and your kindness.”

“Eric,” he said, “you are a gentleman as well. We would be great friends if I were younger or you were older. I respect your profession and your kindness. I wish you well my young friend. You have a good heart and a strong mind.”

Lesson learned: whenever we think ill of the world, we meet folks who make us understand what a glorious place it is. The world is truly smaller today, and I think my meeting was inspired by fate.

Thank you, Peter.