Celebrity Sighting #14

I was in the bathroom of the airport having my usual "I'm going to be trapped for a a while, I must pee" moment when I saw in the corner of my eye what I thought was my friend Megan. Of course I'm terrible at this considering I think everyone is someone that I'm familiar with. It didn't occur to me until much later that Megan has an international airport about twenty minutes from where she lives, why the hell would she be in my neck of the woods.

So I wander to my place in line to get on the plane(Southwest has that line of Group 1-30 on the right and 31-60 on the left. Being 34 I was prime in my front of line spot and could slip right in. As I do so I think "man that looks like Patton Oswalt I gotta stop staring at.... holy crap that is HIM!" Being at the front of the line I look around to see if anyone else has that flash of "Oh my god...oh mygod..." Yeah, the "Megan" girl was behind me and I saw nothing in her eyes. But I did look around and there was Andy Richter. Wha...Wha...What? By this point I was pissed becasuse if I didn't have my peeing anxiety, I could have spoken to these giants of awesome. 

I get on the plane and wonder, should I do something? Will I regret not saying anything or am I just creepy person trying to touch those who have used artistic talent in ways I could never? Richter was too close to the front and I couldn't say anything without holding up those behind me. My urge to not be "that guy" won out my urge to say hello. And before I couldn even sit down, Oswalt had his eyes closed. Can't do it now. 

So when the plane took off, I was lost in my magazine and praying that my panic attacks would stay at a minimum. Since the Burbank airport is so freaking tiny, they let us off on two parts of the plan and we took stairs down. As I waiting in line roughly one foot from Patton Oswalt, I lock eyes with a guy still seated. I kind of gesture my head forward and he smiles and mouths "Andy Richter" and points to the front. I mouth back "I know!" Finally! Someone in nerd mode like me. 

I was walking parallel with Remy (okay, borderline stalking him) but it's so freaking loud, I can't say anything. In the airport though I muster all I can and say what's in my heart. "I would kick myself if I didn't take this opportunity, but thank you for all of your work." He looks at me and and says "Thank you for saying that."

And that's all I wanted. And I did it! Go me! Time to get my bags. And lo and behold, the best of the Richter Quintuplets waiting as well. I asked him if this was the right spot to get the luggage from flight 244. (Which if Lost has tought me anything, it's everyone knows their flight number.) He said I think so and I say "thanks and by the way, big fan." He said thank you. (Yes. The irony was not lost on me that I told him and not Patton Oswalt that I was a big fan. I can't be That Guy either.) 

So by this point I'm waiting for my bags and bopping my head to the music very pleased with myself. It occurs to me that it's to the song Dreaming by Blondie and that song is totally lame. When I hear he starts to whistle it. Hmmm. Good enough for him. 

I'm just proud that I have this moment to look back on and know that I wasn't a wuss. I also know that I don't need an autograph or picture to get the warm fuzzies. It'll fade with time like happiness from parties and celebrations, but my speaking up is an accomplishment I plan to use for future needs of courage.

License Plate Update # 5

And here we go again:

Louisiana

Maine

Tennessee

Utah

License Plate Update # 4

Alaska and Hawaii.... the freak states both in one week. Yes!

Simpsons Trip Down Memory Lane

I popped in the eleventh (one louder) season of The Simpsons after flying through the twelfth (I didn't notice until I was done) and marvelled at not one, but three moments that blew my mind.

First of all, let me point out that this is the Mel Gibson episode. Now please let me also point out that this episode aired September 26, 1999. Back when VCRs were my recording device, I watched this episode and referenced it constantly. (I even pointed out my misquoting it in The Evolution of a Quote. Plus the shifty eyed dog is classic.) Considering the most recent Mel Gibson racist tirade, I figure that there is no need to point out the complete surreal feeling of watching Mel Gibson be normal and beloved.

I suspect the dog.

Now during the episode the family sans Homer goes on a tour of stars' homes and see where Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche live. Oh me oh my. How the times have changed.  But the real hit for me was the movie scene shoot out of Robert Downey Jr. and police being filmed......with Bart not seeing any cameras. This was the huge moment. Mel Gibson in full A-list role and Robert Downey Jr. a punchline. I find it amazing what eleven years has done.

A few episodes later, a vision of the future has Lisa being elected president beating Chastity Bono. Oops. I guess Bart did manage to change the future.

It blew my mind. I know I should take all this with a grain of salt, but I hate that it shakes me so much that I can say "I remember when" with The Simpsons plotlines. And ones that I had at one point committed to memory. I guess I want to live in Homer's world where it is possible to still get the rights to Indiana Jones.

License Plate Update # 3

What the hell are New Jersey and Florida doing in my home town? Ehh, it's helpful for the game, but still. Not that I'm statist or anything. (Wait, did I use that word correctly? No, I am not a "political trend supporting the the use of states to achieve economic or social goals". Or am I?) You know what I mean.