She was there!!! I finally met her!!! 
Ah, what a day. After braving the rain (it actually was fairly good weather on the way to Van Nuys; going back was pouring) and hoping the car wouldn’t take a dump on me, I arrived at the convention. Since I know a lot of the committee members (being on the original Gallifrey One committee and seven or eight after that) I pretty much bulled my way into the Green Room and Con Ops and nosed around. Naturally, half the staff did not know where or when Amber was signing…typical.
I finally found out that the non-Who guests were signing in the main hotel, as opposed to the “tower” part of the Airtel. She was also participating in the charity auction (benefits going to the Starlight Starbright Foundation for children with cancer).
I shuttled between the autograph table and the auction, met some old friends, who I had actually seen only a month before, because one of our mutual old friends had passed away around New Year’s…bummer. At least this occasion was much happier… Actually, the previous night of the convention, Saturday, there was a “wake” for Michael, where people gathered to reminisce and stuff. I caught some – minor – flack for only showing up because of
Amber. I was, like, ”Duhhhhh!” Of course, they all knew I was at both the impromptu wake right after we all heard the news, and his funeral service. And, frankly, Michael would be the first one to go, ”Duhhhhh! Like I wouldn’t show up just for Amber, either!” I passed through the Con Suite a couple of times, peaked in the video room (they were screening the Jon Pertwee classic “Invasion of the Dinosaurs”) and another room where they were showing upcoming trailers (the Fantastic Four movie looks awesome!) and generally nosed around.
I saw an older lady sitting at the autograph table with some boxes, and I instinctively realized who this must be: Diane. I said, “You must be Diane,” and she looked both pleased and confused, wondering if we had met before. I said no, we hadn’t, but I had heard so much about her from the Kitten board, from many of Amber’s past appearances. She was rather pleased, and we chatted for a couple of minutes. I asked if Danielle was here as well, and she said Danielle was in graduate school. I nodded and related that my oldest kid was just starting college, and we commiserated on the true indicators of age…
Diane said that Amber was probably at the auction at that moment, so I thanked her, said I’d be back, and headed over.
And there she was… 
standing at the front of the room, which was thankfully not that huge, with the usual auctioneer, as well as Bob May, which true fans know was the voice of the Lost in Space Robot. I’m telling you, somebody needs to reinvent the camera, because pictures do not do her justice. She is gorgeous! 
Oh my God. She was wearing low-cut jeans, a red (I think) blouse and a beige jacket. (I had bought a disposable camera for the occasion, and I will post the pictures after I get this developed.)
So, after stuffing my tongue back in my mouth (and discreetly getting rid of the carpet fuzz) I sat down. At one point, Amber was holding a three-ring binder of Dr. Who trading cards in plastic sleeves to be auctioned. She was walking down the aisle, holding it out so people could see the cards. I caught her eye to “have a gander at the cards” 
but she correctly deduced my real purpose and said “I think he just wants to see me!” which got a big laugh. I turned and snapped my fingers: “Damn, busted again!” Dave, a old friend of mine sitting in the back, shouted out, “Go ahead, Matt; Maribeth [my wife] can only kill you once!” That got a laugh too. Exactly what he was egging me on to do, I’m not entirely sure…
She also auctioned off a couple of items, including two autographed pictures of her, one the bare back shot from “Restless.” “This one’s for the dads,” she added. No kidding. The bidding started at five dollars, and I was one of about three who shouted “Ten!” Amber giggled and mimed bidding. She raised her arm frantically, which pulled her blouse up, and revealed a nice stretch of AmberTummy. 
Sigh. Unfortunately, I was not fast enough to get shot of this. I didn’t the pics, because they went well out of my price range fast. And wouldn’t you know it, to jack the price up a little more, she said that she would give a kiss to the highest bidder. So, Robbie, another friend, said bid higher, and finally one, but deferred the kiss for herself, and asked Amber to kiss an older gentleman friend of Robbie’s. Amber did, and the gentleman was (pleasantly, I think) shocked! Amber quipped “Was my breath that bad?” 
So, after her part of the auction was done, she went to her autograph table. Being friendly with the committee, I formed part of her unofficial entourage. I was one of the first ones to her table. I said hi to Diane again, and she mentioned that I had known who she was before Amber arrived! Bill, one of the committee members, who had emailed me yesterday about Amber, mentioned me to Amber and Diane, telling them how far I drove today to see her. She was really pleased.
She had a number of items on the table to be sold for autographs, including the Triangle, Hush and the “Together Forever” sets. I couldn’t afford those. I finally settled for the bare back photo (after much soul searching; as Dave said, Maribeth could only kill me once.) She noticed my badge, which said “CaptMurdock,” and I explained that it was my name on the Kitten board. She brightened at that, and I added that the next time she saw Xita she could ask her about me. She asked me if I posted there a lot, and I said that I’ve written some stories. She raised her eyebrows and asked “Slash fiction?” I replied that I wasn’t sure that stories about a canon couple (which Willow and Tara were) constituted “slash” under the classic definition (like Kirk/Spock). 
She laughed. I told her that the latest one was done in the Trek universe, which she expressed amazement at that. One guy standing near us asked “That’s some wacky spell gone awry?” and I said no, and explained it as an “uber-fic.” I’m not sure I got the concept across, being short of time. She did ask which uniforms, and I assured her that I did not stick her in the bouffant and miniskirt. She signed my pic, I got a couple of pictures of the two of us, and my day was made.
The autograph line was not long (Gallifrey is not a huge convention) and so, after dawdling off (and stashing my pic in the car for safekeeping) and I wandered back in, saw the table was almost clear, and stepped in line again. She recognized me, and I said that I just wanted to tell her my quick-and-dirty idea for a title for her still-untitled movie (no news there, it’s still untitled, and she’s still editing and stuff). ”Murder Most Fool.” She rolled it around her tongue a couple of times, said it was interesting. I shrugged and said she could use it if she wants, just rub the serial numbers off. She giggled at that.
I sort of hung around the table (I wasn’t a pest, I promise…I know better than that.) I got a soda for the staff member who was helping man the table (and who, it turned, was the contact to the Bensons from the committee.) I wish I could say I was the one who got the lunch for Amber and Diane (some kind of sandwich and fries – Amber picked over the fries, while Diane ate parts of the sandwich.
I’ll stick in here something: Amber looked great. Well, of course, but what I mean is, she didn’t have the rather exhausted look I’ve seen in some photos and heard from some of your reports. I mentioned to Diane as I was leaving that I hoped she would keep Amber from working too hard. Amber responded that “she’s the one who works too hard; she’s the one who kicks my butt.” I said that I needed to leave before the rain got going hard again (too late) and before she had the restraining order against me filled out. She laughed and shook her head, and I went home.
Sigh. What a sweetie. What a cutie. I think I’ve fallen in love with her all over again. 
CaptMurdock, signing off.
_________________
"Many such journeys are possible. Let me be your gateway."
It´s great to read that you had a fun day. And yes Diane is working too hard. 
Jes 
at: 4/5/05 3:58 pm
from the essence of Amberhol that radiates from her every pore. 