Thanks for the update MB.  I'd heard about the troubles with access but have not personally experienced any.  Good to know we have some new cousins on board too.

Oh PLEASE!  Find that guy a plastic surgeon before he scares his mate to death...again.  

Bob, Bob what a silly question!  Of course I knee'd you.  A friend in knee'd is a friend indeed.    Dawn

Joe,
I purposely flew back well before the holiday in anticipation of flight delays due to heightened security.  Hum, heightened security.  Didn't seem to do much good did it.   Makes you wonder if the fest organizers could do any better.    Dawn ( who went through Orange Co/John Wayne)

Have to agree with ProfStokes....Thayer David was great as the Professor.  This chess scene with Julia was classy.  I particularly like this scene for the Professor's way of making Julia squirm.  Yes, I'm a Julia fan and I like scenes that occasionally take her to task.  It is quite obvious that he knows quite a bit more than B or J acknowledges, but as J99 says, B put the squash on letting the Professor in on the details.  Makes you wonder what Stokes COULD have done had they taken him into confidence and how different the storylines could have been with his knowledge of the occult.  Dawn

OK, here comes the newbie viewpoint.  What a fabulous weekend!  My daughter Laura, who will soon appear on the board under Midnite's nickname LeBrat, had a great time too.  

We arrived early and had a chance to visit with Nancybe and Lynn from the Julia List and get our bearings.  Disneyland on day one was my day to spend with just LeBrat.  When fest activites got underway that night, I took my cues from former fest attendees.  It was marvelous to meet so many from the boards and the lists.  Midnite, ProfStokes, Bobubas, Minja, Teresa, Vlad, Ben, j99, Bette, and so many others...it was fun.

The evening at the piano will be well remembered.  Bob, about that knee....  

There were several highlights including the Professor's music video.  I'm anxious to see it myself. (Missed it by minutes, drat!)  I believe that the most fun, though, was the company I kept during the weekend.  The cozy breakfasts on the veranda with JListers and Boards members, the evenings at the bar, dinner out with friends, the piano scene, and of course, Disney's California Adventure on Monday.  Midnite, I certainly hope Cassandra's curse doesn't follow you all year!  
The photographic evidence of that day alone will be priceless.  

In all, it was a most memorable weekend on the left coast.  J99 and Bette have been good internet pals and now I have faces and voices to conjure up when I see their posts.  

What I took away from fest?  That the weekend is all about the people and our mutual fascination at the unique show known as Dark Shadows.  No matter which characters pique your interests, we can all agree that it was a show ahead of its time!

I have never been an autograph hound but I am a picture buff.  The professional stills as well as private photos will be my prized possessions.  This combined with beautiful memories of some great people will sustain me...for about a year.  

Dawn

Great shot there Midnite!  And J99, we do look good, despite the wine.