If you know me at all it might be a little weird how I pick my obsessions. Take Hudson Leick. We're talking about a minor actress with a few perhaps notable roles. A devoted following definitely, but nothing there that really makes her any different than any other of dozens or hundreds of other small- time actresses. So why did I choose to be a fan? A set of coincidences plus the adoration that other fans have for her. I won't go into it any more other than say it was mostly chance and it could have easily been almost anybody.

But, now that I've made that choice, I stick with it, in much the same way that I stick with other subjects that I've decided I'll be obsessed with. Like GURPS. I decided that it will be my main RPG, so I get all the books and all novels related to those source books and associated products (as long as they have "information content", written materials have information content, things like bumper stickers do not). So with Ms Leick that means that I'll try to see her at conventions and collect memorabilia and make small contributions to that community.

My problem is that I don't like to get emotionally obsessed with anything. Heck, I don't like being strongly emotional. So I create this rules and make choices that I have to stick with. And since I have to stick with those choices, that frees me from having to be emotionally attached to continue with an obsession. Maybe it's strange, but that's the way I am. And that's what finds me in Milwaukee on another hot and humid Friday.

My brother Chris woke up early and went out, but by the time I was getting ready to go he had come back to go see Ms Leick with me. What a nice brother he is, knowing that I don't like doing things by myself and supporting my crazy activities. Anyway, we almost missed it. It was supposed to be in this one hotel room but it was moved, though no indication of where. So we went back to the Convention Center, ask information which points us to the guest information center where they keep track of the special guests and their events. From there we find the correct room which is in another hotel which takes a while to find, basically circling around the Convention Center until we see it.

Gen Con is done differently than other cons that I'm used to. For one thing, just about every event (other than demos and some seminars) costs money. When I went to Origins in San Jose it was the same thing and I did the same thing at Gen Con that I did at Origins, I didn't play any of the games. Sure, it's not much money, but it rankles me. The unique thing Gen Con does is no rooms are scheduled in advanced. Well, other than the dealers room and things like that. But for every event you have to go the information desk to find out where the event is held. Maybe there are other ways to get that information easily, because it seems inefficient for thousands of people to constantly have to go to information for event locations. It does mean though that events can move around at a moment's notice. Such as was the case with Ms Leick's talk.

So it was supposed to be at 11:00, Ms Leick and Alexandra Tydings (who played the sexy and California-chic Aphrodite on "Hercules" and "Xena"). We got to the correct room a little after 11:30 and fortunately the event had been postponed until noon. So we stood in a small line, which kept growing and eventually the whole room of some 200 people was relatively full. Ok, 100 people showing up is not that great considering 25000 people at Gen Con and other guests had lots of people. But that's the way it is for lesser known guests.

As Chris and I were waiting in line, not saying anything for once, I listened to a conversation by the people up ahead. They were all happy at having the opportunity to see Ms Leick and there was surprise that the line was still so short and how hard it was to find the place. The funny part was that they were surprised that Mike Ownby wasn't there as he seems to attend every convention, representing the Hudson Leick Official Fan Club. I thought it was funny because, yes he is there a lot, but he is getting way overworked for someone who is just supporting a hobby. I do admire his dedication though.