It’s a crazy idea, but it just might work. Plan: Go to Portland, Oregon and attend the Leverage Con-Con to celebrate my graduation. I wanted something zany, different and a bit off the wall to commemorate two years of throwing the spinning plates of grad school classes, SuperMom-ing to my Fab Four, and substitute teaching without permanently damaging anyone’s psyche. For the most part. A few chips never hurt anyone, right? Surrounded by piles of papers for my teaching portfolio, I decided that this was “A Plan That Just Might Work”. I called the Vicki Lawrence to my Carol Burnett and asked her if she’d go on this celebratory adventure with me. She was in. She didn’t know jack about the show Leverage, or the characters, or the writers I revered. But she was in. Mothers are like that. They support their children’s wild hairs with a shrug of the shoulders and a suitcase in hand. All aboard the Leverage Fun Train.
The next few weeks were full of planes, bus shuttles and automobile route planning. Schedules were printed and updates of suitcase status were frequent. My phone would ring.
My Mom: “How many shoes are you bringing?”
Me: “As many as my suitcase will hold.”
My Mom: “You can never have too many shoes.”
Both of us at the same time: “Agreed.”
The day after we bought our plane tickets I received an email. The Con-Con was cancelled.
Now what?
With a heavy heart I called my Mom with the news.
“Maybe it was meant to be that I don’t go Mom.”
My mother was unusually quiet. She didn’t say much, just acknowledged that our built up excitement for a trip together was popped like a party balloon. We hung up.
The next morning she called with resolve and announced we were going to Portland anyway, Con or no Con. The helium tank was once again turned on and we were giddy with plans. I happened to hop on Twitter and noticed one of the fans I followed from Leverage mentioned a group was still getting together in Portland to have their own Leverage convention called FanCon. I checked out the Facebook page and indicated my interest in some of the activities they had planned. A few days later I checked the activities again. Whoa. A locations walking tour with co-producer Rachel Olschan. A surprise from Dean Devlin, producer, director, and founder of Electric Entertainment. A Leverage set tour with JOHN ROGERS. John. Rogers. Fan girl squeal. I immediately called my Mom.
Me (screaming like a Showcase Showdown winner on “The Price is Right”) : “Baaaaahhhhhh, John Rogers is doing a set tour. Baaaaaaahhhhh.”
My Mom: “Who’s John Rogers? Is he the guy with the long hair you went to see sing for your birthday? The country guy?”
At this point I am pacing around my kitchen like a person who hasn’t taken their Ritalin dose for the day.
Me: “No, no. He’s the co-creator and writer for Leverage.”
I breathe into a paper bag.
Metaphorically speaking.
My Mom: “Okay, well, sign us up for whatever you want to do. I’m along for the ride.”
I’ve watched Leverage on TNT since Season 1. I caught the show a few episodes into the first season and went online to TNT’s website to catch up on the ones I missed. Being the research nerd I am I looked at the actors’ bios and the interviews featured on TNT’s page. One was with the creators of the show, John Rogers and Chris Downey. I was hooked. I began to follow John’s blog, “Kung Fu Monkey” and the different cast and crew members from the show on Twitter. I especially loved reading all the different writers’ tweets. These people love their jobs and it adds to the awesomesauce that show already possesses. My geekiness was fueled even more when I bought Season 1 and Season 2 on DVD. I listened to the commentary for each episode. The writer(s) for the episode would usually be joined by the director and JOHN ROGERS (cue Beatles fangirl admiration), and they would discuss character arcs, backstories, pipe, evil speeches of evil and other wondrous word play involved in the show’s storyline. Hand me a bag of Cheetos, I was an addict.
We arrived in Portland to glorious sunshine and checked into The Governor Hotel, host site to the first Leverage convention and a location used several times on the show. There was a meet and greet dinner that night, and as I was getting ready, my mother asked if I thought John Rogers would be there. I immediately burned my forehead with my curling iron. That’s gonna leave a mark. So now added to my nervous state I had a Mikhail Gorbachev size burn on my forehead. Okay, so it wasn’t that big, but it felt like it. At least I wasn’t breaking out in stalker-like hives like Woogie from “Something About Mary”. The dinner was a lovely affair at Jake’s and my Mom and I met wonderful Portland native and fellow Leverage fan, Linda. She offered to take us sightseeing around Portland after the locations walk Saturday morning. Small town friendliness in a big city. After dinner we proceeded to our room and collapsed into travel deprived sleep.
We had the next day to ourselves. This left time for exploration of Portland by two women who have no sense of direction. We soon discovered that All Roads Lead To Nordstrom’s. No matter what we were trying to find, we’d end up with those red flags flying in our sight line. It became our running mantra. We consulted our list from Friendly Native Linda and started our day at Kenny and Zuke’s with a blintz from the heavens breakfast. From there we moved on to a three hour tour of Powell’s, The City of Books. Did I mention my Mom and I are voracious readers? Several books and hilarious inappropriate magnets later, we headed back to the hotel, via the Nordstrom Bypass. The afternoon was spent (literally and monetarily) doing the Mom Makeover. The Bobbi Brown counter and Prima Hair Salon will never be the same. Hugs all around, from everyone, for my mother as we left both places. My Mom was just glowing with her new fab self. The Fun Train Never Stops.
The walking tour dawned bright, sunny and warm. Thank you Portland weather. I knew right out of the gates that I would like Rachel Olschan and her team of Jose and Paola. They had maps with tiny, typed, hot pink Post-It notes for each episode, with detailed information, strategically placed in the correct location, for each person. A work of art in my OCD eyes. The tour was relaxed and we were treated to interesting behind the scenes stories for each stop on the map. The trio from the show who led the tours could not have been more genuine or personable. Did I mention with weather was sublime? As we were walking on the tour with Friendly Native Linda we met Genevieve, the Anthropologist from Montreal. She’s a Leverage fan too. We invited her to join our merry band for a visit to Multnomah Falls and she accepted.
The falls were nothing short of spectacular. We made it back to the city in time for the screening at The Living Room Theater, it was a private viewing of the Season 4 premiere of Leverage. It was especially cool, as the show will not air until June 26 on TNT. Actress Gina Bellman and Costume Designer Nadine Haders gave a quick, warm welcome and we settled in to view the familiar funny team of five and swallowed the tearful lumps in our throats during the poignant scenes during the episode. After the show was finished, we were greeted with a wonderful surprise panel for Q and A with JOHN ROGERS, writer M. Scott Veach, stunt coordinator Kevin Jackson, actors Aldis Hodge and Timothy Hutton and producer Rachel Olschan. It was a pinch me moment. Every person on the panel was gracious in answering questions, but Kevin Jackson’s answer about what he loved about working on Leverage was so heartfelt, it made me tear up a bit. He truly conveyed the family atmosphere on the set. I was trying to work up enough nerve to ask John Rogers a question. Nearing the end of the Q and A time I took the plunge. My heart was thudding right through my chest as I gingerly raised my hand. The question I asked he had mentioned on his blog and in the Season 3 DVD commentaries, so I believe it’s OK for me to write about. I asked him if it was true that he could recite all of Shakespeare’s works, based on locations in his high school gym. He uses a Roman Room technique to remember them. He smiled and said he was rusty and would need some practice. Tim Hutton added they would make a video and post it when John was ready to do it. Double rainbow win.
After we filed out of the screening JOHN ROGERS stood in the hallway and graciously signed Leverage posters that were given at the screening. My mother kept nudging me to go forward. M. Scott Veach, a writer from the show, kindly agreed to take a picture with me and I remarked in nerd wonderment that JOHN ROGERS was standing right over there and I was geeking out. He replied that he geeked out every day he walked into John’s office. I’m sure he said it to make me feel better, he also must have an amazing memory because he remembered my Twitter name. I had tweeted him how much I liked one of the episodes he wrote in Season 3 and he was nice enough to tweet me back. So, with my poster in my hand, I approached John Rogers and asked if he would sign it and take a picture with me. I am sure I was babbling. I have no idea what I said. My Mom snapped the picture and then Friendly Native Linda, Mom, Anthropologist Genevieve and I walked to Oba for dinner. I will neither confirm nor deny that I did a little dance, with my hands in the air, while walking in the crosswalk. I may or may not have yelled, “I took a picture with JOHN ROGERS!” at the car waiting in the intersection. They honked at my exuberance. Or my crazy. I’m going with first choice.
The Fun Train rolled on. The set tour was the next day, led by JOHN ROGERS. It is one thing to see a set on your television as you watch a show, it is another level of surreal to be standing on the set and listening to one of the creators of the show talk about it. As we gathered on the set that housed the bar on the show JOHN ROGERS asked who had the Shakespeare question from yesterday. I raised my wobbly hand and my mother pushed me forward. Again. He then launched into a discussion of how he came to acquire this skill of retaining “useless bits of information” using a technique called the Roman Room. He added that attaching filthy images to remember large amounts of information was immensely helpful. Then he did it. He spouted off all of Shakespeare’s works according to locations in his high school gym. Give that man a bottle of the finest whiskey. Bravo! At the end of the set tour Rachel Olschan announced John had to leave to scout locations. Linda sidled up to me and told me to get out my Leverage mug for him to sign. I had carried it in my purse from Wisconsin with a homemade bag of cheese curds. Okay, okay so I didn’t have the curds. Months before my birthday, I had posted a picture on my Facebook wall saying that I’d love to have the writers of Leverage sign a mug for me and I’d use it for writing pens when I wrote my first book. My Mom remembered and gave it to me for my birthday in January. Here I was, mug in hand, asking THEE JOHN ROGERS, a talented writer whose work I admire, to sign my Leverage mug. As he signed his name, Linda leaned forward and told him my name. He asked if it was one “n” or two for Jen. I managed to reply and then he inscribed these words across the top:
Jen, type faster!
I was ridiculously thrilled. After the tour we had brunch at Mother’s Bistro & Bar with Linda and Genevieve. Linda dropped us off at the top of hill near The Governor hotel and we walked back, Leverage posters in hand. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but JOHN ROGERS and his group of location scouting peers. Seriously. They arrived and walked in nearly at the same time as us. John took a seat in the lobby chair and I looked at him, waved my autographed Leverage poster and room key card, and exclaimed, “I’m not stalking you. I am actually staying here!” I kept right on walking and as the elevator doors closed I looked at my Mom and squeaked, “JOHN. ROGERS.”
That evening, as we packed to go home, my Mom remarked that it was really neat John Roberts signed my mug. I hung my head down and sighed.
Me: “Rogers.”
My Mom: “Oh, you know what I meant.”
She had been mixing up the names of the cast members of Leverage all weekend. This would send Linda, Genevieve and I into hysterical laughter. Christian Kane was “Christopher”. Gina Bellman was “Jenna”. Aldis Hodge was…”Elvis”. My mother never got Tim Hutton’s name wrong, though. That’s all I’m going to say about that.
So our Carol Burnett variety show of a vacation was over. It was a memory making trip with my Mom that I will never forget. So long Portland, keep it weird.
Welcome to Portland.
Jose, one of the Leverage walking tour guides and storyteller extraordinaire. Don't touch the wire.
Leverage set tour. Linda, Genevieve, Mom and I.
Coffee. It's what's for dinner. Deliciously good times with my Mom in Portland.
Fangirl squeal. Picture with John Rogers.
Final question: "Mom, who is this man?"
LOVE YOUR BLOG POST!!! So happy for you for all the fangirl moments! Thanks for sharing, and the pics were great. I'm a #grifter & a #kaniac - and a fellow (gonnabe) writer too!
Posted by: Beamsbydidi.blogspot.com | 06/12/2011 at 07:22 PM
My Mom and I found Portland to be a big city with a small town heart. Good luck in your writing and thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. :)
-Jen
Posted by: Jen Erickson | 06/12/2011 at 07:42 PM
Awesome story telling! We want before pics of mom's makeover!
Posted by: Lori Lamb | 06/12/2011 at 08:42 PM
Love your recap, your excitement and fun pulls the reader in :).
I remember you from the set tour and thought it was so cool when Rogers signed your mug.
As a fellow member of the OCD club I just have to point out that it's Kevin Jackson not Keith (hope you take that in the helpful vein it was meant in).
Posted by: Sage K | 06/12/2011 at 08:48 PM
Great story Jennifer! I am so glad you had such a lovely time and I hope your mum did too! Keep up the writing!
Posted by: RikkiSixx | 06/12/2011 at 09:43 PM
Lori- My Mom knows where I live. No before pictures. :) Actually, she looked great even before her makeover.
Sage- Thank you for your comment, so nicely given. I am my Mother's daughter apparently! ;)
Rikki- Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment and for all of your work with the events that were so memorable for my Mom and I.
Posted by: Jen Erickson | 06/13/2011 at 03:15 AM
Thank you for being a part of them! It was a joint effort! :D
Posted by: RikkiSixx | 06/13/2011 at 11:05 AM
How exciting!!!! Thank you for posting about your trip. I felt like I was there with you & your mom! Rogers just kills me. I don't think that I would have been as calm, cool, & collected as you were.
I LOVE that Tim was the only name she never got wrong. Aldis = Elvis. *giggles*
Oh & a picture with Old Nate!!! Excellent!!!
Posted by: Raputathebuta | 06/14/2011 at 06:01 PM
Dear Raputathebuta (is that a vegetable?), Thank you for leaving your kind comment about the post. I was not cool, calm and collected. I was a babbling broad who burned her forehead with a curling iron fangirl. My Mom's name mix-up had us in stitches all weekend. She embraced my crazy adventure and is ready for our next one!
Posted by: Jen Erickson | 06/15/2011 at 07:46 AM
Thank you so much for this, Jenn. We had a blast and we are so happy you guys had a good time. :)
Posted by: Paolaferrari14 | 06/16/2011 at 12:23 PM
Paola, thank you so much for reading the post and leaving a comment! I am still in awe of the detail you put into the walking tour maps. I love that. Thank you for all of your work in that fantastic Leverage weekend! I wish my midwestern accent made everything sound as chic as your Italian one.
Posted by: Jen Erickson | 06/16/2011 at 01:55 PM
After I accidently discover your blog or how to get to it I love it. It is like reading a book and I know the charactors in it. I will have to practice more on getting on the blog because I am missing so much and I love your writting. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Ruthir | 06/17/2011 at 04:50 AM
Ruth, it seems I am blessed with a family full of women who love to have fun. You know you ARE one of those characters! Thanks for stopping by and for your encouragement. Looking forward to you and Lee visiting again in a few weeks!
Posted by: Jen Erickson | 06/17/2011 at 06:16 AM
Former Portlander here and Leverage fanatic since its premiere. Loved your account as well as the travelogue of Portland. Was blessed enough to live just above the Pearl District so you made me homesick describing your wanderings through the area. (And Powell's? well, it's religious site to me -- and, yes, I'm a Christian and, yes, I believe God will understand because He/She''s the one I thank for Powell's.).
Your description of being a babbling idiot reminds me of how my sister was around The Pioneer Woman, a blogger who has written a best-selling cookbook that has been featured on numerous TV shows, including Today. We went to her book-signing in Kansas City, MO., and I -- swear to God -- had to interpret her babble to said Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. What a hoot, since my sister is a very articulate journalist. If I ever met Tim Hutton, whom I've adored since I first saw Ordinary People --- MONTHS before he won his Oscar --- I'd be amazed if I could produce anything vaguely decipherable..
I will say you seemed to hit most of the highlights of Portland in your short visit and how blessed you were to share it with your Mom.
P.S. I, too, have a photo of me with Umbrella Man; about 4 years before I moved to Portland. And that's enough said about that.
Posted by: Talea55 | 06/18/2011 at 07:30 PM
Talea55, or Talea, or 55 (like the ketchup, I think about food alot, can you tell?),
Thank you for reading the post and leaving comments that had me laughing. I follow The Pioneer Woman on Twitter and she is witty awesomeness. It makes me feel better to know even an articulate journalist like your sister gets fangirl geeky. I've said it before, but I truly loved Portland. Friendly people, foodie heaven and we walked everywhere. Bliss. Let me know how it goes if you ever get the chance to meet Tim Hutton! Bring a family member to interpret for you, just in case. They are quite handy. :)
Posted by: Jen Erickson | 06/19/2011 at 11:03 AM
This couple is the cutest and their love-themed shoot is to die for. http://www.logo-genie.com
Posted by: Marven Niffi | 07/04/2011 at 03:38 AM