Day 2 Of SWCV

Dead tired we got the Wampa packed and headed to the OCCC for Day 2. We get back in line to head in. We head straight tot he 501st room (yes we spent alot of time with them) to see what time we need to be ready for the "walk-though" with the Wampa. I get my Droid Hunt badge. Basically the troopers from the 501st on Saturday were running off to hunt for us that got the badges. They ask you "how long have you had these droids?" then you had to give them the badge. In return you get a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes.

Back out to the exhibition hall. we wonder for a bit taking pics of people and getting our pics with the Slave Leias. We headed to check out some booths and displays we missed the day before. Then we head back toward the 501st room so I can head outside for a break. We hit the 501st room and Jeremy calls me over and there standing in her Imperial Officer uniform is Adrianne Curry. I had joked with my dad the week before about how I'd get a pic with her but I wasn't sure she would be there. Well look where it got me. I walked up and asked if I could get a pic with her and she of course agreed. I told her my dad would be very jealous of me and she put her arm around my shoulder and said "aww so sorry daddy." I also was wearing my Daddy's Little Girl shirt. Kinda just added to it.

After I calmed down from that we were off to get the Wampa out of the van for his debut at CV. If you've never been to OCCC that place is freaking huge. So this was one of our longest back and forth walks. We got Jeremy suited up out in the parking lot when it started to rain. Off we went. I had to keep up with him to get doors and clear a path. I also had my lightsaber on me that I had handmade. We started off towards the 501st room but not before we were stopped about 100 times for pics. We had to apologize to a few people since we were in a rush. As we headed around the corner I spotted the troops and yelled out is anyone looking for a Wampa. And if that didn't work, all 7 and a half feet of the fuzzball behind me got their attention. We were greeted by the handler for the walk-through that now turned into a plain photo-op due to stilt issues. They were more then happy to change their plans. I spoke with the handler as to a few things, like I had tons of water for him and I wanted to stay close in case he needed me. I stayed about 5-10 feet away, ready for my handler duties but far enough out that I wouldn't effect the pics. I took a few pics and shot some video. The crowd was huge. He was a hit. After about 20 minutes the handler called it time to end it. We were escorted to a hidden back hall where he could get out of the costume and rehydrate and eat some power bars. We chilled for a bit, till Jeremy took the legs and stilts back to the van and I guarded the rest of the costume. I chatted with the handler a bit and thanked her for her help and understanding. She was a very nice lady. We had people coming up and just snapping pics of the body and a guy came over to shot video. A family with their baby stopped over and the baby loved the suit and was giggling to his hearts content. That just made me light up.

When Jeremy got back with the cart he got an idea of strapping the body, arms and head to the cart and we would walk it around. That was a brillant idea. It got so much attention it wasn't even funny. We at some point thought it would be funny to stick the lightsaber in its neck. So there my ligthsaber stayed like the proverbial sword in the stone. People would come get their pics taken while gripping the saber like they had attacked it. We hung out with the Rebel Legion for a bit where I found a spot to sit on the ground. We left there after some pic opts to head out. People kept stopping us so we decided to just park it. Where I did again on the floor right next to the Wampa. We were smack in the middle of the 2 main aisles of the main hall. A guy dressed as Jason trooper since it was Friday the 13th came over to take some photos with the Wampa like he head cut off his head. Which was easy since the head wasn't attached. As I was sitting there I see Peter Mayhew walk by. You may know him better as Chewbecca. The main is alot taller then me when I'm standing but when I was sitting on the floor I almost fell over looking up at him. Then Anthony Daniels spotted the Wampa. Yes this is C3PO. He came over to join us and then ended up doing an interview right over the Wampa and it's cart. Jeremy got a pic with him. And then we were off again for the day.

We ran out for some food where people came up to talk to us about the Wampa. Then it was off for some supplies to do some repairs on the Wampa and to get me a new shirt for a costume change. We worked till the wee hours of the morning fixing things. I gave the wampa a mani pedi. And then we cut up my $5 shirt to look like it had blaster holes. Then we finally were granted sleep.

On a side note, one of the other handlers came up to me and said to me "I want to shake our hand. It's awesome what you helped make and how well you take care of him." I thanked her and once again I was very bashful. I knew people would come up to him but to just come up to about the video we put together and helping him out was an awesome feeling. I kinda became my own celebrity.