Monday, June 11, 2012

That Time I Met John Green at BEA aka Why Can't Jessica Shut Her Yapper?

I am a storyteller.  It's one of the major reasons I blog.  I feel I have a lot of good stories, and I enjoy sharing them.  What follows is a story of epic proportions, one that I will not be able to replicate in awesomeness for a long, long time.  Buckle up and prepare for what will forever be known as...

The Star Penis story.

It's been clearly stated on this blog that I am a John Green fangirl, or rather, a nerdfighter.  If you are a nerdfighter, you know that John's son Henry LOVES sing-a-ma-jigs, and they have made their way into the vlogbrothers videos and thus into vlogbrothers lexicon.  On our recent trip to Japan, I found a miniature sing-a-ma-jig, so I bought it to give to John at BEA.  Of course, I didn't snap a picture of it before this happened, but essentially, it looks like this.

It should also be noted that the one I got in Japan had a couple of tags on it, specifically a purple star-shaped tag RIGHT in the sing-a-ma-jig's... nether regions.  Hubs stated to me on multiple occasions that I should make sure to point out what he called the sing-a-ma-jig's Star Penis to John Green.  Then, he would giggle.  A lot.

Fast forward a few weeks, and I'm at BEA, Day 1.  It's a madhouse of books and totes and people and Gandalf for President buttons, and I'm loving every second of it.  At one point, I'm waiting in line to get a book signed, and JOHN GREEN himself walks right past me.  I shout, "OmiGOD it's John Green!" and proceed to stare at him.  Unabashedly.  With my mouth wide open.  Frozen to the spot.

Smooth.

That afternoon, I walk through the Penguin booth, and there he is again.  John Green out in the wild like a normal person who does normal things.  I figure, this is my chance to make up for the silent staring moment, so I wait patiently for John to finish his conversation.  And then this happens:

Printz Award Winning Author: (leaning toward bag on table) I bet you want me to sign that for you.
Me: No, I just want you to have it. (holds sing-a-ma-jig out toward PAWA like a talisman)
PAWA: (slightly shocked) Really?  That's so nice.
Me: (excitedly and without abandon) My husband would like me to point out to you that since it has that star tag on its crotch, it looks like it has a little star penis.

Yes, my friends.  That is a direct quote from my mouth to John Green's ears.  Not, "Hello, it's nice to meet you."  Not, "I am such an ardent admirer of your books."  Not, "The Fault in Our Stars is one of the most amazing novels I've ever read, and it affects me even months after I read it."

Nope.  I said star penis.

Thankfully, he laughs out loud (LOLed, if you will) and agrees with me.  THEN, he TAKES THE VLOGBROTHERS CAMERA out of his bag and RECORDS MY PRESENT.  THEN HE RECORDS MY FACE.  My initial reaction is to half-cover my face and say, "Oh, it's not going to be in the video, is it?"  to which John's editor, the incomparable Julie Strauss-Gabel hilariously replies, "You really brought this on yourself, you know."

I am such a nerdfighter that I fangirl Julie Strauss-Gabel.

My new BFF John and I share a few more laughs involving him being a Jeffrey Eugenides silent starer, the John Green/Chris Colfer fanfic and how nothing is sacred, and the Author Breakfast the next morning, and then I get a picture with him.
Thank you Susan for capturing the moment so perfectly.

When he put his arm around me to pose, I lose the little bit of cool I've been able to maintain up to this moment because I know how much John Green does not like to touch people, and my hands start shaking uncontrollably.  In fact, they're shaking so much so that I've never been so aware of anything except that he must be aware of it.  Because I'm crazy like that.  So, I smile and thank him and then I RUN LIKE THE WIND from that spot.  Why?

Because I don't want him to see me doing this:
Yeah.

So that's my story.  Hopefully, you'll see my nerdy mug on John's video on Tuesday, but if not, I still think I'll be dining out on this one for years to come.

UPDATE:
The video has been posted.  And I think the 1:30 mark speaks for itself.



In conclusion, I think I'm dead.  Holy smokes.  French the llama.  

21 comments:

  1. THIS.IS.AWESOME. Best BEA story ever!

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    1. Thank you, thank you. My parents are so proud :D

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  2. hahaha I freaking LOVE YOU JESS! Watching you tell this story in person is absolutely hilarious, but your description on here does it quite a bit of justice!

    I bet you're still fangirling, ya? I would be! STILL SO JEALOUS! haha I can't wait to see if you're on the next uploaded videos of theirs!!! If so, MOAR fangirling shall ensue!

    <3
    Em

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    1. I AM still fangirling!! I wanted to get the story out before Tuesday's video, just in case my kookoo bird smile is there.

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  3. Wow you are so lucky! I had the pleasure of meeting John and Hank at the Fault in Our Stars tour but it wasn't the same as getting a picture and sharing laughs over star penises. Plus possibly getting in a vlog brothers video.? Yeah thats awesome. :D

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    1. Thank you!! I'm hoping I don't end up on the cutting room floor, but that's alright if I do. This story tells itself, I swear.

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  4. Oh my god, that is so SWEEEEET! Star penis and all.

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  5. Your mother and I are so proud of you!

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    1. Thanks, Dad. You raised me to be a nerdfighter and you didn't even know it!

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  6. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GOT A PICTURE WITH HIM OMG

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    1. I KNOW, it blows my mind <3 So lucky! Thanks for stopping by!!

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  7. I must agree with everyone - BEST BEA STORY EVER. Ahahahahaha. I'm sitting here giggling at my desk. Thank you for sharing. No, really - thank you. *GRIN*

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    1. Oh, believe me. The pleasure is all on this side of the table <3

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  8. I wanted to just come and say hey I saw you on John's video :). When I met John I told him that Hank & Him were like the boy versions of Elanor & Marianne from Sense & Sensibility. Not awkward at all ;).

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    1. Oh, that's hilarious AND accurate!! I love it. I bet he thought the same thing. He's just so NICE!!

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  9. Truly one of the more surreal moments of my life! Of course, I stood there like a lump on a log, completely useless, but I fully enjoyed your interaction with him AND your subsequent reaction afterwords. It. Was. Awesome. And totally one of the very best moments of my BEA experience! So glad I got to meet you (and John Green) and hang out with you!

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