One of my newer ways of redirecting my focus from my husband's problems in order to de-stress is autograph collecting. However I am just collecting SW-related autos since there are few others out there I actually want.

I got my first SW auto last year at Dragon*Con...shocking I know since I have been going to Cons off and on for a while. But for some reason, I was always too shy to approach some celebrity at a table -- despite the fact that they are there for precisely that reason! I think the real reason I shied away is that I just did not know what to say. I still don't, for the most part.

As a Dragon*Con volunteer, I have had the pleasure of meeting and helping several Star Wars actors including Dave Prowse, Jake Lloyd, Ray Park, and more. Yet when I approached Peter Mayhew at his table, I was tongue-tied. I barely said a word. Luckily, when I went to Tony Daniels' table, he was not present, so I was able to talk with his manager a bit, who then introduced me to Mr. Daniels and broke the ice.

One pleasure I did have, though, was meeting Mark Hamill at San Diego Comic Con. (I was able to go to SDCC thanks to many many friends and relatives.) Despite the long, long line of fans, he was very open and made me feel calm by actually sang to me when he found out I was from Ohio.

I do prefer to get my autographs in person, but finances leave me unable to do much travelling...and some celebrities are just unable to find in small-town Ohio. I also prefer personalized signatures, since I am collecting for myself and not to sell. However, I have lately started to collect through-the-mail. I have purchased a few autographs, but only after I know they are authentic and from reputable dealers. A few gifts have come my way also.

I now have 31 autographs in my collection. Not many, compared to many other collections out there, but my new obsession is just beginning.

-George Lucas
-Adam Savage
-Jamie Hyneman
-Grant Imahara
-Torry Belecci
-Kari Byron(by association) (yes the Mythbusters are SW-realted since 4 of
the 5 worked for LFL at one point or another)
-Mark Hamill
-Dave Prowse
-Jeremy Bulloch
-Matt Wood
-Garrick Hagon
-Daniel Logan
-Ray Park
-Matt Lanter
-Tom Kane
-James Arnold Taylor
-Anthony Forrest
-Ewan McGregor
-Denis Lawson
-Michael Culver
-Steve Sansweet
-James Earl Jones
-Peter Mayhew
-Bonnie Piesse
-Temuera Morrison
-Anthony Daniels
-Kenny Baker
-Jimmy Smits
-Silas Carson
-Jay Lag'aia
-John Williams