The Yarn Harlot in Brooklyn Saturday night.
I don’t know what my problem is. I’ve met famous people and had no problems talking to them. On one notable occasion, Frank McCourt was quieter than I was. (Dude, shut UP, there was nothing wrong with me – his wife was quite chatty.) But put me in front of someone I think is very cool and really want to impress, and I clam up. I’m totally tongue-tied and have nothing to say, and I come off seeming incredibly stupid. Actually, I’m just remembering the last time this happened: when I met Victor Garber, right after his success in Titanic. I was very tongue-tied then, too, in spite of Victor being the most gracious human being in the universe. Perhaps I only have this problem when meeting Canadians.
I saw the Yarn Harlot speak at my local Barnes & Noble Saturday night, and as I’ve mentioned before, I was just a touch excited. She’s like the Dooce of the knitting blogosphere, and you guessed it, I froze when it came time to meet her. It didn’t matter that I had spent about an hour chatting with perfect strangers before the reading (and meeting, completely by accident or fate, someone I had Blogrolled the previous afternoon: Spinning Spider Jenny. Hi, Jenny!). I was able to squeak out an “EvilJulie.com,” and Steph remembered that she had emailed me after my description of the tour I took Aimee on, and I think I said some other things, but I can’t for the life of me remember them. She signed a book for me and one for Jordana, and then I left, feeling completely disoriented. This is evidenced by the picture at the top of the post, the only one I took, which was while she was speaking. Did I think to get a picture of her with my sock, even though I had my camera slung over my shoulder? No. Did I think of anything funny and witty to say at all, to make me memorable? No. Did I look like an idiot? I’m thinking the answer to that one is probably yes.
And then…oh, yes, there’s an “and then”…I compounded it. I went to the booth she was at for yesterday’s Knit Out, and stopped by to say “hi.” Did I redeem myself? Um, no. There were several knitters there and we talked a bit about our Stich n Bitches, and I made some inane comments about drunk knitting at a place where there is also drunk bocce going on (Union Hall in Brooklyn, come see us on Wednesday nights!) in an attempt to be funny. And really, I am not. Apparently in the face of blog celebrities, I am lame. I regress to elementary school age when I really wanted to hang out with the cool kids but had no idea how to do so. *sigh*
But Steph is really cool and very nice, even to people like me who forget how to act normal in her presence. I laughed harder Saturday night than I have in ages, and managed to get some knitting done at the same time.
« grrrr. Who caved? »
you probably could have redeemed yourself by giving her a beer, or something.
not to make you feel worse, of course.
I probably wouldn’t have done much better. I will probably never get the chance, either, since even if she DOES add atlanta to her tour, I’ll probably be in NC by then.
dammit.
at least you didn’t drool on her!
I don’t understand it. When you met me, you weren’t tongue tied at all! Maybe it was the being Queen fans and all. Yeah, that’s it.
I’m also having trouble envisioning you at a loss for words.
Vince~Amazing, isn’t it? That I could ever be quiet? I was a very quiet kid, actually, but then my 4th grade teacher pulled me out of my shell. As she always said afterward, “I’ve created a monster.” I think part of it was also that you and I comment regularly on each other’s blogs and occasionally even email or talk on the phone. Steph has emailed me on a couple of occasions, normally in response to something I’ve commented on her blog. Because in blog comments, I can manage to be witty. *smacks self on head*
ESC~I thought of that Saturday night. Like “Goddammit, I should have brought her some Brooklyn Brewery!” But alas, I did not. Because I don’t know how to be normal.
Hi Julie,
Am back to the land of Vermont, where apparently a bear stepped on my colius and impatiens plants and had fun trying to tip over our mailbox while I was gone.
It was so nice to meet you. I’d love to meet up when I come into Brooklyn again – which is generally more or less frequent. Did you finish the Jaywalker sock you were working on? I think somehow those blue toenails need to peek through.
I’ll be checking your blog for, among other things, your political thoughts as we seem to be in the same sphere.
Off to post something on the blog…Cheers, Spider
Blue toenails? How cute are you!
aren’t Julie’s toenails ALWAYS blue?
I think I was tongue tied the last time I was with a harlot
I know I’d be so much worse–I’m horrible at talking to anyone slightly famous, as proven by all the times I met various local politicians and semi-celebrities while working for my local Public Access TV station.
The only one who didn’t tongue-tie me was one of the morning DJs of the good classic rock station in town, during the on-air auction we ran every year as our main fundraiser.
Pissed off the director of the segment really bad, because the DJ kept hitting on me while he was supposed to be making with the begging for the pledges. Yeah, it was live TV. SO glad I wasn’t in front of the camera.
Serra~That sounds like quality programming.
Seamus~I think generally that’s the point of being with a harlot.
ESC~No. Sometimes they’re purple. Or beige. I’m versatile.
Cupcake~Very cute. But you knew that.
Jenny~I wrote it on your blog, but I’ll also write it over here: anytime you’re in Brooklyn, feel free to call me – I would love to hang out and discuss fiber and cats and bears and spiders.
Getting flustered with celebs happens to all of us. I’m sure you were fine.
When I first started working in the biz, I was such a fan!!! Then it eased up and I became somewhat jaded. Of course when Gilby Clarke and or Denis Leary show up, I MAY still become a blithering idiot. You never know!!!
It always seems to happen that only afterwards you think of something smart to say. Next time!
Lisa~Rick used to play softball with Gilby Clarke when he lived in LA.
But I’m totally with you on Denis Leary…he’s another one who would reduce me to a blithering idiot.
Esther~Why is that? Why can I always think of 50 funny things to say *after* the conversation is over? Or 50 insults/comebacks for the one thrown in my face three hours too late?
As a Canadian I must say it would only take about an hour before you served me a cup of shut the hell up, so that can’t be it.
OMG Julie!!! When do I get to meet you and Rick and hear EVERY delicious Gilby detail???? Not to mention that I really wanted to hang out with you prior to that little bit of knowledge
If it’s any consolation, Julie,
1. I was thrilled to meet you, and thought you were dead funny.
2. From what I could see of Steph’s face as you were chatting, she seemed totally engaged in the conversation, and thought you were dead funny as well.
3. All of the pictures I’ve found of you are really cute. Meanwhile, all of the pictures of me look like my bloated unattractive cousins on a bender — not a sexy Hunter S. Thompson-style bender, either, but more like a Drunk Grandma in a Quilted Nylon Housecoat-style bender. Seriously. At the end of the day, you were funny and you looked like a million bucks at the same time.
Very cool to meet you, btw.
Bakerina~I just laughed so hard at the drunk grandma image that soda almost came out my nose. You did NOT look like a drunk grandma! Very cool to meet you as well, and since we live in the same city, we should do it again sometime.
Lisa~Come to the birthday party and Rick will regale you with tales of Gilby. It’s a promise.
Tot~I could never hand you a cup of shut the hell up. I loves me some Tot.