I MET EDDIE IZZARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eddie(FTM) · Post by **Eddie(FTM)** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:34 pm

Well, it's not exactly off- topic since he's a TV and so am I... BUT
Here's my story:

OH... MY... GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You'll NEVER believe it! But:

It was ******* amazing!
We got into Tower Records on N. Clark St. at about 2 pm on Friday, and bought his new DVDs. Then we went to lunch at the restaurant downstairs.
This was my mother and me, Cathy, Martha, and Cathy's mother Agnes from Cleveland, Karen from Texas, and Elise, who was already in chicago.
After going back to the hotel for a bit, we got back to Tower at 4- ish.
Cathy had called the store manager and told him we'd be willing to help out in any way we could. So we were an 'elitist' group and got special permissions. We hung out, organised the display cases, talked to fans, got everyone situated and hyped up. At about 5.30 they gave everybody tickets and had them line up outside to get into the Q&A. Our group got to stay in the store and were guaranteed to be last.
We went straight into the Classical music section, where Eddie would be doing the Q&A, and stood immediately in front of the stage. At about 6.30 they let everyone in (there were at least 300 people there). At 6.40 Eddie came in and my group all burst into "Hey Big Spender"-- he sang the song in the movie "Circus". He gave us a very surprised and amused look, then got onstage. He said "You're very close" and backed up. He answered questions for about 20- 30 minutes and then went into the other room to the table while everybody except us lined up. We sat in the room for awhile and then perused the record store. We stood about 20 feet from Eddie and took a few pictures.
Occasionally I'd look over and he was staring at me with that intense look he sometimes gets. I think he thought I was bonkers or something. Hehe
So at about 9.30 we were made to get in line because they weren't going to let anybody else queue up.

So we stood in line with a security guard to make sure nobody got behind us.
They were playing music (BeeGees, Fleetwood Mac, etc) and we all sang along loudly. We finally got up to him near midnight. He was allowed to sign 3 items and they said no posed pictures.
When we got to our turn, we all started singing the song he did in "All the Queen's Men" (Falling in love again) and forgot the words. He was giving us another slightly confused look. A few people in my group went before me. My mum had given me a pair of see- thru lingere- type panties to give Eddie. I put them in my pocket. Elise introduced me by saying "this is my baby brother Benny"-- another Eddie reference. I said "Yeah, but my name's not really Benny." I went up to the table, put my hand in my pocket, and then went "whoops" and tossed the pants on the table.
He gave me a look of "quois?" and picked them up. He said "What's the deal with these?"
I said "Well, you can do whatever you want with them. Hang them on your wall or whatever. They're hers--" I pointed to my mum. Then I pulled out my packet I'd made. I said I'd written a long letter--"You don't have to read it, but, ya know..." told him that my unfinished album was there and handed it to him. He looked at the cover for a minute. And then, "Oh! And an email from Brian May!"
He says, "Brian May?"
I pulled it out. "Yeah." I set it in front of him.
"Brian May??"
"Yeah, from Queen." He started reading the email and was a bit confused by who wrote what. So I leaned over the table and pointed out the format.
"So, you just wrote an email to Brian May, and he wrote you back."
"Yeah! If you just go to his website, BrianMay.com and write him an email, he'll write you back."
"Hmm! Brian May!"
I pulled out my drawings I'd done and he looked at them for a minute. Then I set my stuff to be signed on the table. I said,
"Just make it out to Courtney."
I had 2 DVD jackets (Unrepeatable and Definite Article) and my cigarette case. He asked, "C-o-u-r-t-n-e-y?" I told him yeah. He signed the jackets, "To Courtney, love Eddie x" and then I told him to sign the inside of the case if he could manage, so it wouldn't rub off. He wrote "To Courtney, love Eddie Izzard x"
Then I collected my stuff and said, "Can I shake your hand?"
"Yeah!!"
He set down his pen and held out his hand, which I took. His handshake was very firm and his hands were silky soft, so small and dainty. I went off to the side to wait for Agnes and my mum.
After my mum flirted shamelessly with him, she said "this is my daughter" and pointed to me.
I said, "Yeah, I'm a female transvestite, which apparently don't exist."
He said, "It's nice to meet you!!!" and shook my hand again.
"And I fancy boys, too."
He said, "so, you're a wannabe gay man?" and gave me an adorable smile.
"Yeah!"
"I haven't found anybody else like me, and I've looked. Online and stuff" (meaning no other Female TVs who also like men-- most are TS or fancy women or both).
"Well, there is... If you see "Avengers", there was a woman, I can't think of her name... She was one of Uma Thermon's stunt doubles. But yeah, she was a huge tomboy, had never worn nail polish until that film. And she adored her husband and kids."
"Well, glad to know I'm not the only one!"Shakes my hand again.
"God, I wish I could think of her name. It was something like Agatha, or something if you heard it, you'd go..."
"Yeah,"
"But would you consider yourself to be a tomboy?"
"Emmmmmmm, Well, I play hockey and guitars and stuff..."
"But is tomboy a term you'd generally apply to yourself, or...?"
"Errrrrrrrrr, No. Not really. I'm just a transvestite."
"Well done." That was extremely sincere, very serious. He shook my hand AGAIN!

I'd given one of the staff my camera to take pictures, and Eddie let everyone line up behind him. He took a picture and the other camera's flash didn't go, so I got another one with everybody. Between pics, I put my hand on Eddie's shoulder briefly, and completely without realising it, and then took it off.
Then Eddie stood up to take a picture with me. He put his arm gently around my back (!) and I snaked my arm around his waist.
My camera had turned off cos it'd been on for too long. I said, "Oh, it's shut itself off again. **** the camera!"
Eddie let out a slight giggle at that, the shoulder- shaking kind, and then we got the picture. He kind of slowly let go and I took a pic of him and my mum with her camera.
We all backed off and watched while he signed the backdrop, then yelled "Thank you, Eddie" and he and his manager walked off.
We went down to the restaurant and Agnes pulled me aside. She touched my arm and said, "You had a moment. I'm very proud of you. You know what he meant when he said 'well done'."

He had meant, of course, well done for being so open and honest, and comfortable and sure of yourself at such a young age, and for having the balls to come out to everybody and not give a manure what anybody thought.
The whole time he was talking to me, he was staring deep into my eyes, with that intense look. The eyes, windows to the soul... Filled with this _expression of concentration, deep, intense interest, and intrigue. He never looked away, even for a second; I don't think he even blinked. I couldn't look away. I just stared back into those clear blue eyes.

So, it was an absolutely perfect night, all in all, even though we were all exhausted for standing up 8 hours straight.
We had talked with his manager, who told us what he'd be doing and when, and how he felt about stuff, as well as inside feelings and thoughts he had.
And I'd had my moment.
I got the longest, most sincere and special conversation, gotten the only signature with his last name as far as I know, and talked to him very last, to be the most well- remembered guest.
I'm not bragging; I'm extremely grateful and it was a million times more than I'd expected.
Eddie was so sweet and polite, even though he was obviously very tired. He was courteous and generous with his time. He broke his own rules and was amazing.
I love this man, and I think you can see why.
If you can ever get to meet him, I obviously recommend it.

Eddie(FTM) · Post by **Eddie(FTM)** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:36 pm

Eddie(FTM) · Post by **Eddie(FTM)** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:38 pm

AND that all is just the icing on the cake!
My friend in New York, who was at the next Q&A wrote me the following two emails:

hey! i was at the nyc signing....and guess what? someone asked eddie something related to his being a TV....so he answered and then mentioned that he met a female transvestite in (and then he pondered) "hmmmm....chicago!" he said....then he said "she is a female tranvestite and she likes blokes...." i knew he was talking about you abs! i couldn't wait to get back to tell you! if you're online now, please let me know you got this email!

and:

let me see....what was the question they asked him....it had to do with being a transvestite and doing his standup....how he works it into his standup...and i can't remember how he wound up mentioning the part about the female transvestite, but said "i met this female transvestite...innnn...." and then he looked up at the ceiling, trying to remember "....chicago!" "she's a female transvestite....and she likes blokes.."

If he mentions me on TV (he's on Conan tonight, Late Late on the 22nd, and Carson Daly on the 30th) I will PASS OUT!

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 12:59 am

Hi Eddie--
That's an amazing account. I was starting to get out of breath just reading it; you have more energy than I do. Anyway, you pushed a little, and you got through to something more personal. Like that second-to-last picture link, of you and Eddie.
A

Eddie(FTM) · Post by **Eddie(FTM)** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 1:04 am

Thanks!
And... I just got an email from his manager, saying he read my email today. Nothing about his reaction or anything, just that he read it.
I'm excited. At least he knows how grateful I am to have talked to him :-D
Glad you like the pic!
--Eddie

Alexandra · Post by **Alexandra** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 3:18 am

Lucky you!

I just wanted to mention that Eddie Izzard released 3 new DVDs recently here in the USA from past shows that were previously unavailable. I've watched one and will check out the other two soon. Great stuff.

If anyone is new to Eddie Izzard, THE DVD to rent (or buy) is "Dress to Kill". Izzard won an Emmy for his performance. I can't think of a present day comic as funny as Izzard. The fact he's a crossdresser is a bonus. You won't regret having watched it.

Eddie(FTM) · Post by **Eddie(FTM)** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:11 am

Yes...
Dress to Kill is fabulous (in fact, he won two Emmys

). My favourite is Definite Article, I'd say. Sadly, though, my new copy of the DVD won't play. A few of my friends are having similar problems. I'm hoping it's just a coincidence, otherwise... A recall would have to be issued or something. I don't want to trade mine, because the cover is signed. I'll have to see if I can trade just the disc, otherwise just buy a new copy.

Eloise Goth · Post by **Eloise Goth** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:45 am

I am now officially jealous!! Mr Izzard is a comic hero of mine - I hold him in the same regard as Spike Milligan.

Eddie(FTM) · Post by **Eddie(FTM)** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:51 am

Have you ever seen him live? He's a really incredible guy. So sweet to all his fans.
If you at all can, get out and meet him. He's a spectacular individual.

Alexandra · Post by **Alexandra** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 7:45 am

eddie,

there's two reasons why your DVD may not play. One: I don't know where you're at but an "out of region" DVD will not play in DVD player from other regions of the world. So some UK DVDs won't play in USA DVD players and vise versa. Likewise, an Asian DVD won't play in the ones in USA/UK and so on.

(for techs: it has nothing to do with NTSB vs PAL or SECAM, but rather a anti-piracy trick to prevent USA DVDs from being stolen and copies made elsewhere for distribution outside the USA and/or the UK.)

USA is region #1 (there is often a marking on the case identifying the region -- usually its on the DVD case -- a small circle with a "1" in the center or a diamond . . . again in code to discourage piracy. If you're here in the USA and you have a number besides a 1, it won't play.

Another reason it may not play is due to the age of your DVD player -- theres been some compatibilly problems with older DVD players and anti-piracy protections in the disk. The newer DVD players don't have this problem.

hmmm . . . I'll choose cake LOL!