The Humpy Dance is your chance, do the HUMP!

Well, that little ditty would be totally random if it wasn't in fact HUMP DAY. (Gotta love those long weekends, right?!) Actually, well, it's almost over. I had every intention of getting this post up sooner, but a serious case of writer's block prolonged an assignment I was working on earlier, so here we are. 

(What's this dude UP to these days anyway?)

So let's play a little get-to-know-you game. The blog is always me me me—crying, whining, overeating, ranting, falling asleep at bars—and quite frankly I'm getting a little bored with myself. I want to hear from YOU every once in a while. In TWO words or less, answer these short questions. Por ejemplo:

Fave nail polish: Navy

First kiss: Bobby Gordon

Fave alcoholic bev: vodka

Fave non-alcoholic bev: coffee

What are you doing right this second: Biting nails

Yoga or pilates: Yoga, duh

Pet peeve: Smarty pants

BBQ or Sour cream flavor: Tie! 

Bagels: Nope

Fave accent: British

Who makes you LOL: brother

Fave summertime footwear: wedges

Something you lack: willpower

Ice cream: PB chocolate

Childhood hero: Summer Sanders

Breakfast this am: Naan

YOUR TURN! I DARE someone who's never commented before to just do it! C'mon! Please?

Has your idol ever let you down?

When I was backstage at the Jingle Ball concert on Friday, I saw a teenage girl burst into tears because she didn't get a picture with Adam Lambert when he walked by. I heard her say, "He was right there! He could have stopped for a second!" In Adam's defense, he was incredibly nice to his fans from what I could see (well, not me—he rejected me twice when I asked to get a quick video of him! ha), and it's impossible to stop for everyone, but I do know how that girl felt. (Random side note: I noticed he had very large pores. Maybe he should ease up on the makeup?)

In middle school, I was OB-SESSED with UK basketball player, Walter McCarty. I have no idea why really, especially because I was at the age where most girls picked their favorite athlete based on how cute they were. (Google Walter if you don't know what he looks like). One time after a UK game, I somehow snuck back by the dressing rooms and waited in a hallway I had heard the players would come out of so that I could get Walter's autograph. After waiting a couple hours and still no sight of my idol, I started to get worried that I wasn't going to get to meet him. And then, it happened. He was walking towards me (note: no one else was around), and I held out my pen and paper and sweetly asked, "Walter, could you sign this?" as he passed. Umm...yeah..he just kept on walking. My heart was shattered into a million pieces. The waterworks started, and even though my parents were pissed and worried about what I had been doing for hours after the game, they stopped being mad when they saw how broken-hearted I was. 

I got home and declared that I was going to write Walter a letter to tell him how awful he had been to me. Whenever I feel strongly about something or someone, I always say that I'm going to write a letter. I said the same thing the day John Kerry lost the presidential election to Bush. Of course, I never actually follow through with it, but I always feel empowered somehow by making the statement. (You got lucky, Walter).

Ok, so back to Friday night. There was one celebrity that blew me away with his sweetness and down-to-earth personality—Pitbull. 

Ok, not the best angle of me, again, but I'm putting my vanity aside for a moment. I don't know much of Pitbull's music, other than that "I know you want me" me song, but he totally won me over that night. He answered every question in the press room with enthusiasm, and stopped to take pictures with everyone that asked—which was a lot. I know he's not the hugest celeb in the world, but I really don't think he would act differently even if he was a big time A-lister. He was just so cool and fun and actually, a lot better looking in person. This pic doesn't do him justice, although I'm not really down with the facial hair on his chin. Needless to say, Pitbull's got a new fan in me! 

As much as my Walter McCarty experience totally sucked at the time, it was awesome when I got to meet my other childhood idol, Summer Sanders, last year. Read the recap here. So tell me, have you ever been let down by your idol? 

Who was your childhood idol?

I was a competitive swimmer when I was younger and I was beyond obsessed with Summer Sanders. (She was an Olympic swimmer who won an insane number of medals for anyone who may not know). I wanted to be just like her. Well, that didn't happen. I didn't go to Stanford for college like she did (I seriously thought I would until I got old enough to realize my SAT scores wouldn't cut it, not even close), and I certainly do not have a case full of Olympic medals just chillin' in my apartment. But aside from her amazing talent, I loved her because she just seemed like a nice person.

Well, last winter Jenn and I attended a PUMA fashion event that Summer was going to be hosting. I was so. freaking. excited. But then I got nervous. What if she isn't nice at all? What if she's nothing like the person I created her to be in my head all those years? Then I started talking myself out of even trying to meet her. Ohh, look, she's busy talking to so many people, there's no way I can interrupt. But when I mentioned my childhood obsession to the publicist for PUMA, she said, "Oh, I'll bring her right over!" And she did. She took Summer away from the swarm of people she was talking to to meet ME.

As soon and Summer said hi I just started rambling about how much I loooved her. (I had had a few glasses of wine by this point, naturally). I joked about not being smart enough to get into Stanford, and she laughed and said, "Oh believe me, I really wasn't either!"


We chatted for a solid ten minutes, and Summer lived up to all my expectations and more. She was so nice and really cool, too. She told me that she isn't in the pool nearly as much as she'd like to be these days, but enjoys running and yoga (hey, me too!). And look at her arms. Aren't they perfection? She said they got so sculpted by toting around her tot all day long. Now, normally I hate when celebrities say things like "I stay in shape by chasing my kid around on the playground," but Summer could have said she worshipped Satan at that moment and I wouldn't have batted an eyelash.

It really is amazing to meet one of your idols. Luke actually met one of his last year when we were in Paris—Steve Merchant (the genius behind the British Office). We were at dinner when Steve walked by our table to go to the restroom. Luke turned to me and said, "OK, Ellen, get the camera ready. When he comes out of the restroom, I am going to ask if he will get a picture with me. You cannot f**k this up. Please do not f**k this up," in a very serious (/scary) tone.

Steve was really cool and agreed to get a quick picture taken. As soon as I took the picture and looked at it, my face froze in horror. It was blurry. Holy shit, holy shit, Luke's going to kill me! Thankfully, Steve said, "Hey, let's get another one just in case." My second attempt was much better. Thank you Steve Merchant for saving my life.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I had a lot of fun recalling those memories though. What about you: Who are your idols? What would you do if you ever got to meet them? Or have you already?