Oh. THAT HAPPENED.

You know, I could use this space to talk about the overwhelming response I received from my last blog post. (I will say: y'all are awesome and I am still BLOWN AWAY by... everything. Thank you.)

Or I could talk about how Ginger has been in Israel for what seems like SO LOOOOONG and how glad I am to have her finally back in gchat and cell phone range.

I could talk about how EXCITED I AM FOR SPRING: warm weather, flip flops, softball games, fun trips, sunshine, and just... everything. I'm excited.



BUT. Let's talk about what's really important here.

People: I SAW JIMMY FALLON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean, Jimmy Fallon, y'all. My FAVORITE celebrity-type person. He was HERE. In TEXAS. And I saw him. If you know me? You know this is pretty HUGE.

Basically: I was in Austin for SXSW Interactive (the far nerdier/geekier sister of SXSW Film or Music) last week. And I found out on Sunday that THE Jimmy Fallon would be moderating a panel. That very day.

My reaction: say "WHAT" about 20 times (no exaggeration) and then do everything in my power to get to said panel.




And I was. IN THE FOURTH ROW. Where I grinned and giggled my way through the presentation, and took (again, no exaggeration) 56 pictures and videos.

I mean, I was basically the Zeppelin kid from "Almost Famous."

They're here. Zeppelin are here. They are here.

Sigh. Jimmy FALLON was here.

And I saw him.

Before I Fly

I have spent the entirety of my evening laundrying and librarying and now I need to be PACKING but that comes naturally after BLOGGING. But this will be short, because… well, the packing! It needs to be done!

Packing, Val? Yes, PACKING, virtual blogging world, who now thinks I’m crazy for essentially talking to myself. Packing because I’m hitting the road tomorrow to Houston so I can catch a flight on Friday morning out to the Valley of the Sun, where you just didn’t think it could get any hotter but OH YES, it just did: PHOENIX! Ginger and I will be having ourselves a good old “Love Actually”-style reunion at the airport, I am sure. (Except with less cheek-kissing and more sidehugging.)

So Joey and I were recently discussing which celebrities we would hang out with if we could. Our “posses,” if you will. In Joey’s words, “The two main criteria in choosing your celebrity posse are: (a) you think you could be real friends and (b) all the members of your posse should be able to get along with each other.” I’m woefully late in posting my choices, but here they are nonetheless:

Kristen Bell: She is hilarious in real life and just very spunky and quick-witted and all around awesome. Check out this video of her and Piz (aka Chris Lowell) “interviewing” each other and just generally being really down-to-earth and again, hilarious.

Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd: Because they just go together. They are a set. Billy and Dom are completely clever and hysterical, and they are just about my favorite thing about the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Watching them in the behind-the-scenes footage and listening to them on the movie commentary really just… makes my life. I mean really:



Plus, Billy and I share the same birthday! We'd just be all flying around the world, having more champagne, because it'd be the 28th again.

Jimmy Fallon: Again with the hilarity. But I just can’t help it! He makes me absolutely giggle, and also seems really just…normal. His impressions are genius and I just find him to be all around wonderful.

This posse would go really well together, because everyone would just be cracking everybody else up, but without being all “stand up” about it. It’d just be all natural and chill, with the occasional Jimmy Stewart impression from Jimmy or prank call from Dom. You just can’t beat it.

And hey- don't go thinking I just picked my favorites actors and actresses and called it a posse! Respect the sanctity of my thought process, people. I mean, do you see Kate Winslet or Rachel McAdams or Ryan Reynolds or Lauren Graham or John Kraskinski up there? No. They didn't flow with my posse. But also: Krasinski just got engaged and I'm still a little miffed with him, so no way does that kid get to roll with us.

Okay, well I guess that’s about it, then! I need to keep moving or I will never get all my little three-ounce bottles into a clear plastic Ziploc.

I now leave you with my very own GUEST BLOG that I was so flattered to be asked to contribute to Katie while she is away in Europe. I wrote up a little something-something about Veronica Mars, so if you get a minute, I’d be honored if you’d head over to read it! Just trying to spread the V. Mars love around!

Veronica: If I ever die, do me a favor. Go on Oprah and tell the world that I loved kittens.

Now

It amazes me that everything can be happening all at once. Other people are existing and living and going, even if I can’t see them. The rest of the world is there, doing things, even if I’m not there to witness it. At this moment, people are standing in line at the grocery store, are watching a movie, are walking through the woods. And in other countries, people are sleeping and getting on the subway and walking past the Louvre without looking up. It's all happening.

Sometimes walking through a crowd of people, I ponder what all these other people are doing out in about at the same moment I am. Why are they here and not at home? When I’m on a road trip and see a lot of cars out and about on the highway, I think, “Now what are they doing? Where are they going? I mean, I am traveling to the Beach House for vacation, but where on earth could they be going?” Or if I have to drive around town really late at night, I think, “Well I have an excuse, I had to run to the store, but what ever are they doing out on the road at this moment? It’s so late!” In my tiny little brain, I guess I can’t comprehend that they too had to go to the store, or they fell asleep at their friend’s house but really need to go back home to sleep because they have to leave for work in the morning, or they just happened to see a really late movie. Maybe? Something like that? What are they doing?

I do like to think about the possibilities of what others could be doing. Especially famous people. Even though for me and you people like Reese Witherspoon and Adam Sandler only exist in movies and on Extra, they are living their lives as well. Maybe right at this very second Halle Berry’s baby is spitting up on her and she has to hand the baby off to her model boyfriend because she just needs a shower! Perhaps Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are lounging on the couch watching old episodes of Alias, because Jennifer wants Ben to at least watch the episode where she finally takes down ST6, even if he won't watch the whole series with her. Maybe Hayden Panettiere is getting into a car and she’s trying to pull the seatbelt across her but it has done that thing where it catches and it won’t let you pull it anymore, and it’s stuck, and why isn’t this working?!

Maybe at the moment I was writing this blog entry, you were brushing your teeth and thinking about what to wear to work tomorrow. Maybe you were trying to study but you kept getting distracted because your roommate was watching America’s Next Top Model. Maybe you were doing the dishes. Maybe you were having a late dinner at Taco Bell even though you’d rather be eating somewhere else but you’re there because you wanted to hang out with your friends and that’s the only place everyone could agree on. Maybe.

I am sitting here at my computer. I am a little bit tired. I am wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I am here. I am now.

Top 10 Overrated Celebrities

(Not even going to mention the Paris or Britneys of the world. Even though this list is perfect for them, I would just prefer to pretend that they don't exist.)

10. Jessica Alba- There sure is a lot of talk about her body, and how she is so hot (she just won the Teen Choice Award for "Choice Hottie"). And as far as I can tell, that's the only reason people are still casting her in movies. She isn't particularly talented, and the movie producers seem to be realizing this, casting her in fairly one dimensional roles, or in high-profile films that don't require a great deal of acting abilities ("Into the Blue," "Fantastic Four"). Jessica is indeed terribly gorgeous, but beyond that I just can't seem to figure out why we are so fascinated by her.

9. Chris Rock- I guess some of his stand up is funny, but why is this man still making movies? "I Think I Love My Wife"...."Head of State"...."Down To Earth".... Shall I continue? I thought not.

8. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt- A two for one! Okay, I like do like them, I really do. In fact, I think "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" is hilarious. And although I really don't think they ask for the attention that they receive, we would all agree that it's Just. Too. Much. They do some great things, like drawing attention to overseas adoption and building houses in New Orleans. But ever since they became the First Couple of Hollywood, America has been Brad and Angie crazy. I know they are good looking- in fact, sometimes they are so good looking they kind of freak me out. They are just everywhere, doing everything, and we are all transfixed by their every move.

7. Julia Roberts- She is great, and I love a lot of her movies. But she has been the number one actress for ages now! I just don't understand why we find her so captivating, or how she got so incredibly famous. She seems kind of like a lot of other actresses, doesn't she?

6. James Dean- Gosh, I love James Dean, but for some reason (most likely his fatal car accident and 2 post-humous Oscar nominations...), this guy has been turned into some sort of god. He is quoted and referenced, and you can find posters and calendars of him at even the most main stream stores. But I doubt that the majority of the people in my generation who idolize him have even seen one of his movies. Speaking of his movies, many are surprised to hear that he really only starred in three movies ("East of Eden," "Giant," and "Rebel Without a Cause") before dying at the age of 24. He was an great actor for sure, but let's lighten up on the hero worship.

.

5. Ben Stiller- I don't think it's a secret that Ben Stiller has fairly limited acting abilities. We all know that he plays only two roles: obnoxious idiot ("Zoolander," "Dodgeball") and loveable everyman ("Meet the Parents," "Along Came Polly"). Yet he has become a film staple, appearing in (seemingly) every comedy for the past five or so years. I guess he is mildly funny, but he is "funny" by doing the same gags every time! The guys that he pairs up with are much funnier than him (Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson), so maybe he should just try being the straight man.

.

4. Cameron Diaz- I don't get it. She is just not a good actress! Have you seen "The Holiday?" Her 'freak out' at the beginning of the movie was laughable; like something you might see at a beginner's improv class. I've never thought her voice fit her character in "Shrek," and still don't know why they cast her. She really hasn't been good in... anything, and yet we continue to flock to her movies for some unknown reason- maybe she will get better? Cameron is a really pretty person with an infectious (and loud) laugh who has had some extremely good luck in her career.

3. Sidney Poitier- I almost feel bad writing this, but it's true. He is just completely overrated, and everyone, including Sidney (especially Sidney!) treats him as God's gift to acting who can do no wrong. He has done some exceptional work (I loved him in "In the Heat of the Night") and he certainly did a lot for black actors in Hollywood. But he has gotten so incredibly pretentious and smug, when he should have just remained gracious and unassuming.

2. Scarlett Johanssen- Wow, I am really tired of her. Has she not been in pretty much every other movie the past couple years? Because it sure seems that way. I guess she is pretty, but I have yet to be blown away by her acting abilities. Her accent was laughable in "The Prestige," and no one seems too impressed by her in "The Nanny Diaries." Maybe it's about time for the Scarlett obsession to end?

1. Marilyn Monroe- Blasphemy, I know, but hear me out. The idolization of Marilyn Monroe by girls in their teens and twenties as some kind of inspiration is baffling. What is she so famous for (to them), and what did she accomplish? Other than being extremely pretty and starring in a string of films, she is still predominantly known as a pin-up, and her face now adorns many a MySpace background and college dorm wall. Her fans know that she died young, and they know the picture of her dress blowing up around her, and that probably is the extent of it. Sadly, Marilyn isn't remembered for being an actress, she is remembered for being a Playboy model and a victim of a drug overdose.

Brushes with the (semi) Famous

Some people I know have legitimately met famous people. They've had actual conversations with these people. My own encounters have been few, and though you probably don't even know who I refer to, they are celebrities to me. They aren't even real encounters, unless you count an autograph signing, a MySpace page, and an email. But I do. Oh, I really do.

The first has to do with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. And yes, I am a fan. Though let me clarify: I am not a fan of the mythology, creatures, languages, and races. I am a fan of the movies themselves: the actors, the crew, the behind-the-scenes stories, and the adventure of spending years on 12 hours worth of films. Granted, that doesn't make me much less of a dork, but it's an important difference.

Anyway, it was the spring of 2004, just after the release of the movie, and I was in Oxford, England. And soon I learned that Andy Serkis, voice and movement behind the character of Gollum/Smeagol would also be in Oxford, for a book signing. Long story short, we arrived there hours early, stood in line in the rain, and finally made it in for our autographs. I babbled about being a fan, we took pictures, and that was that. Andy has gone on to be in 13 Going on 30, King Kong, and The Prestige, but his name still elicites blank stares when I mention my encounter.

I only mention my experience with Jenna Fischer of The Office because I am that crazy about the celebrities that I am a fan of. This one isn't even that much of an experience, but I'm including it regardless. Jenna keeps up a really interesting MySpace page, and last Halloween she invited anyone who had dressed up as something Office-related to send her a picture. Since I had dressed up as 3 hole punch Jim (you'd have to watch the show), I uploaded a picture and sent it off to her. And I'll be gosh darned if she didn't make a slide show of all those crazy Office folk and include me in it! Few people understood how exciting this was, but one friend understood completely, saying this was thrilling because it meant Jenna had actually seen my face! Looking back, I realize how weird that sounds, but that's just what it means to be a fan!

My last celebrity encounter was actually just yesterday. Let me first explain who I'm talking about. His name is Jason Marsden, and if you were to enter his name into imdb, there would undoubtedly be a lot of things you recognized, most notably various TGIF shows. You know who he is-- that one guy! He played a rich guy vying for DJ's affections on Full House, Eric's best friend on Boy Meets World, and JT's best friend slash Dana's boyfriend on Step By Step. He has also done a ton of voiceover work, including Tino from the criminally clever cartoon series "The Weekenders." But most importantly, he is the voice of Max Goof, from A Goofy Movie. He played Goofy's son. I know- it's big.

A few weekends ago I was surfing the net and found an email address for him, one that people swore was really him, and I wrote him a fan letter, trying not to sound to dorky or in awe. Not sure I was actually able to do that, but the point is that he actually wrote me back! I was shocked, and might have started shaking a little bit as I read it. It was pretty short, but he shared some very interesting information. For instance, like me, he is a fan of Heroes, and loves Harry Potter. Two peas in a pod, me and Jason!

So there you have it. All my weird celebrity fandom moments, the few that there are. I'm proud of my handful of "encounters" with famous people (at least in my mind). And I think that meeting, or hearing from, a celebrity that you are a genuine fan of is way more exciting than meeting a person that everyone knows, but who you have no special connection with. I would much rather have a glimpse of an Office or Lord of the Rings castmember than have a celebrity sighting of a Jessica Simpson-type any day.