Look! There is a thing! - Moonridge 2005 report

05:41 pm - Moonridge 2005 report

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Good evening, Ladies and Gents,

Well, Moonridge auction is over for another year. For another year, I had a great time, and pledged way too much money... but it is for a good cause. Before I forget everything, I'll just jump right in.

For those who are new to my Live Journal, last year's reports are

http://www.livejournal.com/users/starwatcher307/17623.html (StarWatcher's Report)

http://www.livejournal.com/users/starwatcher307/17671.html (Arianna's Report)

http://www.livejournal.com/users/starwatcher307/18888.html (Pam's Report)

http://www.livejournal.com/users/starwatcher307/19116.html (Bonnie's Report)



For this year's report, click



Firstly, there was some concern about the weather. Late afternoon on Friday, it rained quite hard for awhile, and when we woke on Saturday, it was still very overcast and dark. But of course we wouldn't let the threat of a little rain (or even a lot of rain) keep us away; we showed up at the gates again at 9:30. I did remember to provide nametags, and a number of people did use them; it led to a lot of falling into each other's arms with hugs, as we "recognized" people that we've only met online. I was happy to put faces to some names (although I'll probably require another couple of meetings before I've made the permanent connection in my memory banks). I was pleased that I actually connected names to faces of several people from last year, and Cascade Con, but it was the third or fourth time I'd met them.

The first difference from last year was a series of small "tent-tops" over the benches. (I don't know the correct term. Shaped like a tent, but only a top, set on four legs at the corners. Awnings on legs? Gazebos? Canopies?) I thought it was because of the rain from the previous day, but apparently it had been planned as shelter from the sun (great idea), because we heard that everyone had to come in early to rescue the tent tops from where they'd blown down in Friday's thunderstorm and put everything back, and clean up the area. There were also sandbags at strategic points because of mudslides that occurred during the thunderstorm. Some areas of Moonridge are quite steeply sloped, and I can see where a hard rain would be a problem. But the rain had wet everything down so that we didn't have to worry about dust, and the air was clean and slightly crisp. The entire day was considerably cooler than last year, and very welcome.

The second difference was that we "pre-registered" for bidding by giving our names and credit card information, and receiving our "bidding paddles" -- white poster-board teddy-bears on handles, with large numbers clearly written on them. (I had lucky number 17. *g*) It did simplify things during the auction, as the helpers were able to write our animals and bids down next to our bid-numbers on a master list, and it was much easier to keep track of what was going on, and tabulate the bids for each person at the end.

The program started, like last year, with a group of local children entertaining us with a selection of songs, some from Mary Poppins, and some that I didn't know. They were very cute, and sang quite well for such young performers. An older (teenage) singer treated us to a couple of solos; her voice was very pure and sweet, and she did a professional-quality job.

I noticed Garett come strolling in toward the end of the program (well, ye-ah!), a few minutes before they started auctioning the first animals, but didn't look at the time. Who cared? He walked casually over to the group of zoo personnel, and I guess got his "assignments" for the day.

Garett wore a short-sleeved shirt, white with pale blue stripes crisscrossing on it, open at the neck, and navy blue shorts -- cargo-style, with pockets on the sides. (He wore similar shorts last year; he must like that style.) For those who enjoy the scruffy look, it seemed that Garett had not shaved for at least a day, and maybe two; he had a definite beginning beard happening. He wore his glasses on top of his head as often as on his face.

In general, Garett seemed more relaxed and comfortable than I expected without the "buffer" of Richard's presence. (Totally my opinion, based on what I saw of his reactions last year when he was around Richard versus when he wasn't.) The numbers of people did seem less than last year, which may have helped, and maybe he's just getting used to doing Moonridge each year. He was very gracious to the fans, chatting during the autographs, and posing for pictures afterward. He also posed with the animals he showcased and their winners (except for the fox, who was too nervous for pictures), so that winning bidders will have a picture of them and animal and Garett. (Other years, it was just bidder plus animal.) While showcasing "his" animals, Garett petted and talked to them, and didn't seem a bit nervous about handling any of them.

I suppose I should mention that other animals than the ones listed below were displayed and auctioned - a red-tailed hawk, a bald eagle, a golden eagle, a porcupine, a tortoise, a kestrel, a pelican, a saw-whet owl, a great horned owl, and a spotted skunk. But who cares, right? (Except for Moonridge Zoo, of course, raising the funds. *g*) So, I'm only detailing the animals that Garett showcased. Garett's presentation animals were --

JORGA (pronounced 'Georgia') the GRAY FOX was very nervous and wandering all over at the end of a leash, but Garett was very calm and patient; he talked to it, and pet it, and it got a little quieter.

ELVIRA the OPOSSUM was very 'clingy'. Garett carried it in his arms like a baby, with her head over his shoulder, although she was a bit squirmy, and often tucked her head and nose under his chin once in awhile, to a chorus of "Aawww!" from the audience. (Or at least the TS fans.)

HOLLYBEARY the BABY BEAR was a very young cub; the handlers brought out several baby bottles of milk to feed him or keep him occupied if necessary. Garett sat on a log next to the handler, and the bear climbed into Garett's lap and started nuzzling his arms, then sucking on them. Garett ended up with two very wet, slimy (I assume) arms; he asked for a towel and, when one wasn't available, made a great show of wiping them on the bear's fur afterward.

JASMINE the SNAKE was next. She was no less active than last year, but did not try to burrow under Garett's shirt this time, although she seemed to have a stranglehold on his neck once or twice. The Garett / Jasmine "dance" was just as lively this year, with considerable twisting and turning on Garett's part as he tried to keep hold of her, but the feeling seemed far less frantic than last year.

NOVA the WOLF came after that, and this year it was Nova. Garett sat on the log and pet her constantly, and talked with her, and she seemed to recognize him, nuzzling his neck and licking his chin. He held and continued to pet Nova while he posed for pictures with the winners and wolf.

After that, we had a break in the auction while Garett signed autographs. As I said above, he was very gracious, with a smile and a couple of comments or questions for every fan, and didn't quibble about signing multiple items for those who asked. (Guilty! But I got a couple of things signed for next year's auction.) I had gotten the impression - from where, I don't know - that Garett wouldn't be posing for personal pictures of him and the fans this year. I was a bit disappointed, of course, but he had been posing with the winning bidders, and such things are certainly his choice. But I was wrong. After the autographs were all signed, and the crowd was kind of thinning out, Garett came out from behind the signing table and said, "So, who wanted pictures?" (Like he had to ask?)

So, we all lined up again and waited for our moment of glory. Even without Richard, Garett was a bit of a ham. One camera-holder had a bit of difficulty fitting Garett and a very short fan in the frame, and complained, "You're too tall!" Garett quipped, "That's the first time anyone has ever said that to me," and then he stood with bent knees so that his head was about level with the fan's. After that, he voluntarily, with suitable mugging, did the bent-knees bit for a couple of more fan-pictures. Once, when the camera-holder was taking some time in figuring out an unfamiliar instrument and he'd been holding the pose for a couple of minutes, he play-growled for her to hurry, that "my thigh muscles are starting to hurt!" He mugged for the crowd, trying to face the "right" camera, turning his head back and forth like the little saw-whet owl we saw yesterday. Again, Garett was endlessly patient with the fans, although he tease-griped a few times, and he made sure that everyone in line had her picture taken with him.

The afternoon session started with a reprise of the children's chorale. (By then we had maybe double the number of attendees from the morning session, so it was new to a large part of the audience.) Then the auction started again. During the afternoon, there were fewer animals to showcase, and Garett did only two --

DILLINGER the RACCOON was all over him. Garett carried the animal in his arms like he had the opossum, but the raccoon was a less-accommodating playmate; it climbed all over Garett, trying to escape down his front, climbing over his shoulders and down his back (scratching Garett in the process, I believe, from his comments and the faces he made), and generally being a difficult armful. The "dance" between Garett and Dillinger was almost as amusing as that between Garett and Jasmine.

CASCADE the COUGAR, although he came out with two handlers and two chains around his neck, gave no problems. Garett sat on the log again, while Cascade prowled (at the limits of the chain) around the area. But several times Cascade stood on the log next to Garett and allowed petting, and gave him purrs and licks. One time Cascade came up behind Garett, shoved his head right next to Garett's, then stretched forward and rubbed his head under Garett's chin, purring all the while. We all went "Aawww!" again. (We couldn't hear the purring, but Garett told us he was.)

For those who are curious, as Alyjude mentioned in her report, I did a lot of bidding. I now "own" parts of the hawk, the bald eagle, the snake, the baby bear, the cougar, the wolf, the raccoon, the snake, the pelican, and the mother grizzly (from the online auction).

Then the animal auction was over, and it was time for the official "appreciation time". Our DJ/MC announced that there would be a special presentation, and then there was a pause while someone tried to figure out who would do it. The honor was offered to Aly, but she declined, so Marilyn from Cascade Con stepped up and presented a "giant" check to Garett for Moonridge. She announced that the final totals from the online auction weren't in yet (so I don't know what number was on the "check"), but that we had raised in excess of $15,000. Garett seemed very moved, and told us that he's really enjoyed being here this year, then took a closer look at the check. He peered more closely at the check, then joked, "Oh, that's great. Fifteen thousand dollars for Garett Maggart." Marilyn kind of nudged him and told the audience, "Really, it's made out to Friends of Moonridge Zoo." Then Garett took a "closer" look and announced, "Oh, I see. In the NAME OF Garett Maggart. Too bad; I could've had fun with that." Then he got serious again, and thanked us for our generosity, and hoped we'd had as much fun as he had.

Right after that, Lucy from RFBC presented a $200 check from French fans. Again, he was very appreciative, and said, "That's amazing. Tell them thank you." So, French fans, Garett noticed, and was grateful.

Then the Cascade Con group - Suki, Barb, Marilyn, and Terri - presented $1000 "from Cascade Con." (From the auction? I assume so, though that wasn't made clear. I also assume that an equal amount was or will be donated to Richard's Pacific Marine Mammal Center, since that was announced at the Con.) Along with the check was a box of golf balls, so that Garett wouldn't go away empty-handed. Again, he seemed very appreciative, and amazed at the amount of money that was donated. He made another speech, and told us how much he'd enjoyed being here, and at Cascade Con in February. He said that he didn't like some cons because everyone was... and he made a claw-hand gesture poking directly at his face, to indicate how hemmed-in he sometimes feels. But he said he didn't get that feeling from Cascade Con or Moonridge, and he thanked us all for our participation and the generous donations we'd made.

Finally, he had earlier been asked to pose with the Sentinel quilt that was part of our online auction. So, while one of the Moonridge people held it up, he stood next to it and posed nicely, then mugged for the camera.

And then the auction part was over. A special "feeding tour" had been arranged and, while people were gathering for that, Garett said goodbye to the Moonridge folks and slipped out without fanfare.

But, unbeknownst to his fans, Garett had donated six autographed shirts - three black T-shirts from Demon Under Glass and three blue scrub-shirts - for the live auction that was scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM. Thinking that everything was over, most Sentinel fans also drifted away to find a good meal and rest. However, I was following the feeding tour, so the two people I came with couldn't leave. While waiting Rae 2412 discovered the shirts on the table where the live auction items were being displayed, so we stayed. *big evil grin*

We waited and waited, and finally the first shirt was up for auction. Rae went for the opening bid of $20.00. Neither Ande or I would bid against her (because we were the only three fans left, and there were enough shirts for all of us), and nobody else bid against her. I imagine the rest of the crowd was puzzled; who is this Garett Maggart and why would his autograph make people want to buy a simple T-shirt? So, Rae got her shirt for only $20.00.

But, after that, the coordinator must have decided that the shirts wouldn't sell, and she put them "backstage". My group was dismayed, but we decided to wait till the end of the auction and request them to bring the shirts back out. But, all of a sudden, it started pouring rain. Everyone rushed to get the auction items under shelter, while we all huddled under the awnings. As one of the Moonridge people passed by, we grabbed her and explained that we had been prepared to bid on all of Garett's shirts, but that we hadn't wanted to bid against our friend. She said she'd check with Betsy Henke. In a few minutes she came back, carrying the other five shirts and said, "All of them, twenty dollars each. If you want them, they're yours." Well, DUH! We clutched our treasures to our chests and dashed to the registration tent to pay for our prizes, then headed home. (But, there's hope for the rest of you, yet - three of the shirts will be donated to the online auction next year.)

So, that was Moonridge 2005. I did get a lot of good pictures again, and now I know what I'm doing and will be able to edit them for the web much more quickly. But it will still probably be a month or so; please be patient.

StarWatcher
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