Do Parent Bloggers Exploit Their Children for Personal Gain? Yoouuu Betcha!!
Sunday, May 18, 2008 d Wife suspected it when we watched Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day and I did not complain.
d Wife confirmed it the day she suggested we watch Enchanted on pay-per-view and I said "Sure! ok!" and got off the computer right away without a fuss.
"You totally crush on Amy Adams, don't you!"
"What? No, no, she's pretty, I mean, she does look like a Disney princess and all... but no..."
She totally busted me when the song Amy Adams sings from Enchanted was playing on XM Kids and I couldn't wipe the dumb ass smile off my face.
OK, fine. I have a new celebrity crush. So what?
So what?
So what do you do when that celebrity crush appears right next to you in line at LAX as you wait to board your plane to Washington, DC? Huh, hot shot?
Yes. It happened. There she was. The princess. In the flesh. Going straight to first class as I waited to board my peasant economy class seat. After I regained my equilibrium, I thought, "cool, I can get one more good look at her as I make my way to the back of the plane."
But fate felt bad for all the tricks she has played on me recently. Fate threw me a bone today.
Fate changed my seat at the last moment to row 10. Princess was seated in the last first class row. Row 10 is just two rows behind. Fate also made sure I sat in front of the emergency exit, which meant my laptop bag could not be in front of me during flight. Which meant a flight attendant had to take my bag and find a bin on the plane where they could stow it. A bin that happened to be directly across the aisle from you-know-who.
Well, I had to do work, you know? Which meant I needed to get my laptop once we reached cruising altitude. That gave me a few good minutes to convince myself that such an opportunity should not be squandered.
Should I say something? What the hell can I say to her that won't make me come across as a total dork? Think, dammit!!
Waaait a minute! I got it!
I waited for just the right time. I strolled up to the overhead bin and took out my bag. I put it on the floor and opened it to get my laptop out. There she was, not more than 2 feet away from me. It's now or never, champ.
"Excuse me... " I said, a little less confident than I had intended.
She looked up from reading her magazine.
"Um, I just had to tell you that my son will totally flip when I tell him that I met you on an airplane"
She flashed me a big princess smile. "Aww. That's so sweet!"
"Yeah, he's only six, you know?"
"Aww. Thanks!"
"Ok, bye!" *run run run run back to my seat*.
OH my son. You ROCK. You so totally ROCK!
Me and my son. We got this thing for princesses.
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Reader Comments (50)
I know what you both are getting for your next birthdays! What size tierra does a grown man wear anyway?
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[BusyDad] I apologize to everyone who read that and visualized it.
Dude, kids are such an in--like puppies.
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[BusyDad] You must have princesses everywhere following you all the time. You're pushing, close to half a dozen magnets!
How dare you exploit your child like that....You coulda just accidentally dropped a tissue and bent over with your hip to the left....or licked a lip.....or flexed a bicep or something....but your child?...come on man!....
;)
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[BusyDad] Trust me. It was better for everyone that way. Especially her.
I absolutely loved Enchanted! Growing up in NYC, the scene with the pigeons and the cockroaches cleaning the apartment was priceless.
That pick of Marcus at the end is wonderful.
Glad you got to meet your crush.
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[BusyDad] I've been waiting for a reason to post that pic for some time now:) The gods of blogging and crushes decided to hook me up.
Awww.... that is so sweet.
That was such a good movie the first 47 times. But I still manage to break out in song during the Central Park scene.
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[BusyDad] It IS a catchy song. Crush or no crush. Hmm maybe Fury "wants to see it 47 times" too ;)
And why am I smiling reading this? Probably because I'm totally envisioning you with your huge KoolAid smile trapped in those big blue eyes of hers looking like a completely lovestruck fool. It's hilarious!
And you cannot help but smile when 'That's How You Know' is on. No one is immune. NO ONE.
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[BusyDad] I think I omitted a couple stutters and stammers in my retelling of the event. Yeah, probably a stumble too as I ran away.
Niiiiiiiice! That just made my day.
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[BusyDad] Well you know it TOTALLY made mine! I was hoping for mechanical trouble ;)
ha ha ha that is awesome!! Did you drool on her? Cause that totally would not have been cool.
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[BusyDad] Come on, what do you make me out to be? I caught it with my sleeve.
LMAO
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[BusyDad] I'm sure a lot of people were doing that. It was so obvious.
Would have been even better if Fury was with you. Chicks dig the kids.
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[BusyDad] It would have been a whole different and very monumental blog post if he had been there.
Kids are only an in if you are a guy, sorry. Because women with kids are like a poison gas that people cannot wait to get away from. So hey, glad it worked for you! My Sam will flip when I tell him that there is this guy whose blog I read that saw her, too-he thinks she is "hot!"
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[BusyDad] I wish I knew that. I could have gone back again and told her I knew someone else that would flip too. Damn.
Where is the cell phone picture of the back of her head? Oh, don't lie, you know you took one.
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[BusyDad] Sadly I did not! I contemplated it, oh, about 245 times as I stood behind her at the baggage claim.
Hahaha this made my morning!! You soooo should have worked the son angle a little more for an autograph. Just think, if he would have been with you, I bet you could have gotten a picture.
She is pretty hot. Good call.
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[BusyDad] When I was at baggage claim I called Fury to tell him. He said "aww! I shouda been there!!" I was so so so close to handing the phone over to her and asking her to say hi to the kid who was going to flip that I met her. I chickened out!!
Wow, you met your crush? Awesome! Too bad Fury wasn't with you, I'm sure you guys could have gotten a pic with another princess.
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[BusyDad] I know! I am not someone who is starstruck ever (and I used to run into them all the time when I worked PR for House of Blues). But come on - to meet the ONE (ok, there's like maybe 5, but she has actually topped the list) star you totally crush on is like ... whoa! And if Fury were there, totally. It would have been legit to ask for her pic. Who's gonna say no to a cute 6 yr old boy?
I probably would have done the same thing, and I don't have a crush on her. Not that she isn't really cute...
My dad did this to me when I was younger. Nevermind I was 21, we were at Caesar's Palace and it was Hulk Hogan he wanted to meet. I felt used just the same. *snort*
Just imagine if Fury had been with you on the plane! She wouldn't have been able to resist him!
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[BusyDad] I would be posting a different picture than a google image search pic if that were the case. Damn damn damn dman daman1!!
I used the same technique with my daughters when I met James Doohan at a grocery store in Redmond Washington. It's one of the reasons you have kids in the first place. They're like an all-access pass.
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[BusyDad] haha - they are a totally legit excuse to do many things!
Smooth move! I'm betting that most dads--whether bloggers or not--would take that chance if they had it!
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[BusyDad] I think you're right (thanks for making me seem less stalkerish).
Nothing wrong with exlpoiting the kids every now and then!!!
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[BusyDad] You need some sort of return on investment right?
I love watching Enchanted with my Princess and Amy Adams totally looks like a princess. Plus, redheads are hot :-)
Cool celeb encounter. Kids make great excuses :-)r
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[BusyDad] You just can't look creepy if you are talking about your six year old, right? It's foolproof! Not that I'm creepy. I'm just sayin, just in case...
I thought there was nothing funnier than what I was reading....until I saw the picture at the end of the post and your last line!!! Whoever took that picture was BRILLIANT!
Seriously Busy Dad, how do you do it??
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[BusyDad] I took that pic :) And I have to say that I'm just at the right place at the right time. Blogger's luck!!
This is one of the best posts I've read in ages. Perfect, hilarious, and dude -- the final photo? ROCKS the house. Excellent in every way.
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[BusyDad] Thank you MommyTime! I seriously wrote that in 20 min last night at the hotel. I could NOT let it get away from me. I had to put it on paper while it was fresh. I'm very glad I did :)
that's how you knooooooowww.......hahahaha! Now if both fury AND krypto were there?
so you both have a thing for princesses. Go fig. And you do know that patrick dempsey got her in the end right? she's ok with dorks. Oh, maybe that doesn't help.
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[d Bro] Oh I forgot about Krypto. No one can resist Krypto too. I could make so much money renting them out to single guys.(d Wife, notice I said renting them out? I be good. See? Celebrities do not count, though).
That is too funny. My kids ADORE her as well. Lucky you that you ran into her! I am sure your son got a kick out of you telling him you saw her.
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[BusyDad] He was damn impressed. I only wish he were there. He could have said something MUCH slicker.
Cutest post EVER! Especially the photo of Fury jumping with all the Princesses - awesome! So, maybe it's ok that my son plays with his sister's fairy princess wand, right? Right? Oooooohhhh, you have something for PRINCESSES, not their accesories. I get it.
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[BusyDad] He's just trying to impress them with showing an interest in what's important to them. Smart kid.
Aw, that IS so sweet!
Too bad you didn't have a photo: "Oh, yeah. Here, let me show you a picture of him. Wait, better yet, how about if I use my camera phone to get a picture with you..."
No, no, no - you see? Your words were much, much better.
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[BusyDad] Believe me - my mind raced for a non-stalker way to get a pic with her. It failed :(
You are my hero. You actually said real words and didn't just say "bwid yhiow zawawza" like I would have done if I'd had the guts to talk to a celebrity. I'm such a nerd. Nicole Kidman was in my yoga class a couple weeks ago...right next to me, and I was so preoccupied with acting 'normal' and not letting her see me stare at her that I didn't say a word and rushed out of class before she did! And I don't even have a crush on her-would hate to see how I would have acted if Patrick Dempsey was there instead.
Next time, get a photo for Fury!
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[BusyDad] hahaa! I think a lot of people act "over-normal" with celebrities. I have done that myself (I used to live and work on the west side, which is where they seem to congregate). And in this instance, I considered it, but then thought, what good would that do me? Nothing ventured, no blog post gained.
So how long did you ponder in your seat before getting up to go for it? Did you try to get a free upgrade? Perhaps you could have been next to her. Nice angle though with the 6 year old son. It's better than the my nephew angle with a pocketed left hand! ;) Milk it while it lasts, cause in a few years when he no longer goes for princess flicks, it won't be as impressive unless she makes some serious flicks between now and then!
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[BusyDad] 1st class was full. Otherwise, I might have faked a panic attack or something that would warrant me getting more space. There was a guy sitting next to her though. He was totally oblivious. It makes me sad when one squanders a golden opportunity like that!!
HA! I knew it! Now set up my meeting with John Cusack!
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[d Hubby] I totally would if I could. What's good for me is good for you. And it was GOOD for me.
That is pretty cool though. Yay for the hubs!
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[d Hubby] :) and I didn't get my butt kicked for this post. Wow, life is good.
I'm jealous. I have a crush on Amy Adams, too. I mean, shoot, my girls would've loved to have met her!
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[BusyDad] Well, ahem, we should organize some sort of tracking her down because, you know, we love our kids so much and don't want to disappoint them, you know?
Hehehe. I ordered a PPV all day ticket Sunday for my daughter and I sat down and watched it with her. I agree, Amy is very lovely indeed (and those dresses fit her very nicely too).
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[BusyDad] All day ticket? *ahh sigh*
Amy Adams is a looker, agreed. I'm going to have to put her on the radar. Its not exploitation; its called funding for juniors college fund :)
Have a good day.
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[BusyDad] With the amount that the average blogger can make from blogging, I'd say it's more like funding for junior's college calculus textbook.
I saw Junebug twice just to hear Amy Adams say, "You did not!" over and over. I have a mad girl crush on her. Perfect line!!
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[BusyDad] Thank you :) I thought real hard on that one! I really need to catch up on all her movies, TV shows, early commercial work, screentests, high school plays...
You think she really believed that you have a son?
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[BusyDad] The way I was stumbling a drooling? Not for a second.
Just watched it today for the first time with Nukegirl. The house will be filled with tiara's, wings and flowy dresses by July 4th, just watch.
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[BusyDad] Don't let Fury know.
Kids rock for getting attention from the fairer sex. Not that I would ever do that or anything...
I saw Dwight Yoakam on my last flight to LAX, but I would take a princess over an over the hill country singer any day!
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[BusyDad] Yeah MAN! They SO ROCK! ... or so I have heard. I actually might have flipped meeting Dwight. He's actually one of my favorites! BUT, I'm glad fate threw this cute actress into my plane instead.
That picture is AWESOME! We're all allowed to have one celebrity crush...or maybe three or four. hee hee.
I'm proud of ya, BD. She's nice and sweet.
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[BusyDad] I did good eh? Now that I've actually had an encounter, maybe it's time d wife and I sat down and discussed this laminated list thing.
Hilarious post! Way to get the courage to say something! So many perks to being a Dad. . .
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[BusyDad] This being just about the best one. Thanks for dropping by!
D wife is too funny... maybe the dogs might be better at a set up with Cusack (mind you, Must Love Dogs was a bit of a snoozer).
Enchanted, well, I loved the movie, but until that was released I thought my daughter had a pretty unique name. Now that all goes to hell.
Like she really needs further encouragement that she really is indeed a princess.
BTW, that shot of Fury with the princesses, just priceless. Little G said "I wanna go D-ERE!!!!"
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[BusyDad] Haha - Little G knows a good thing when he sees it, doesn't he?
I love this post. Especially the last line.
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[BusyDad] :) Yeah, we 're suckers for poofy shoulders.
Damn, you get all the good sightings in Cali! Up here in Seattle I might see someone like Bill Gates on a plane (ok, ok, not likely but some other Microsoft Millionare maybe) and that's ok and all, but it is not some hot starlet. You should have gently poked her shoulder and ran off as fast as possible!
You showed a real pair by saying anything though. I am impressed. Out.
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[BusyDad] Poking and running was definitely on the list for consideration. It might not have garnered as positive a response though. But I would have been able to say I touched her. Oh well, next time. Because, oh yes, I am a wily stalker ;)
At least you're crushing on someone like Amy Adams who at least appears innocent versus someone that looks like Angelina Jolie. Maybe if my husband crushed on her, he'd let me get red hair!
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[BusyDad] AND a princess dress!
Dude, you should have asked for a kiss. I'm sure d Wife would understand!
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[BusyDad] Too bad Amy probably wouldn't :(
ahh using your son to catch the hottie
Classic... Soon that cute little boy will actually have a real crush, that is when you have to watch out!
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[BusyDad] Signs point to him overtaking me in virtually every category by the age of 10.
Bwahahahahahaha! I love it. Caught red handed.
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[BusyDad] "Stealth" is not a word you would find in my bio.
How awesome if he would have been with you. You could have totally pimped some pictures.
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[BusyDad] I can't even imagine the blissful post that would have spawned.
Bet it's just killing you that Fury wasn't WITH you because that sooo would have been the excuse. And we all know that Fury is no ham, right? He probably would have scored the seat next to her!
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[BusyDad] To this day, it's killing me. I don't even like to think of the what ifs...
Baaahahahahahaha! I love it. Major points.
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[BusyDad] Score one for quick-drawing dads!
HI,
just scanning through blogs when I came across your's.
This was just the funniest post! Very creative way to talk to the celebrity crush!!! Women are such suckers for kids!!!