Also Awkward Around Celebrities (Or, how I met the Pioneer Woman)

December 7, 2009 at 9:47 am | Posted in Guarantaryn | 13 Comments
Tags: Bartlesville, humor, Oklahoma, pioneer woman

As it turns out, my life thus far has been mostly completely devoid of celebrities. Though you might be surprised to hear this, Oklahoma is not necessarily crawling with them. The real celebrities at OU were the football players. And I just remembered, I knew lots of them. Not so much in the, “Hey girl, what you doing Saturday night?” kind of way, but more in the, “Say! Get me some more fried corn!” sort of way.

Barbecue waitressing is glamorous. And I’m all about glamour.

When I first discovered Pioneer Woman, I was so supremely excited to have found someone so fantastic from my hometown. Sure we were never in school together. OK so I never hung out with her at the Sonic drive-thru. But I was pretty sure I’d sat behind her at church once or twice. And if that doesn’t constitute knowing someone, than I pretty much don’t know anyone.

Of course when she added Houston to her cookbook tour, I had to go and see her. I thought it might be nice for her to see a familiar face in this giant town.

The cookbook signing was held at a great natural foods market called Georgia’s. It was originally at the Blue Willow Bookshop, but Houston loves PW so much, it had to be moved to Georgia’s to accommodate more people. It’s a good thing, too, because Georgia’s was packed.

I don’t know if you can see, but Pioneer Woman is that teeny person up front next to the blue banner. Her closest friends sat in the back. We’ve seen her before. It was time to give other people a chance.

Houston bloggers were out in full force for the event. Here’s Lauren from Lauren from Texas, Kathleen from Kapachino and Chelsea from Roots and Rings.

Hey Taryn! Why the huge sweater layered over a long-sleeved shirt combo when you know you get super-sweaty around celebrities? There’s no blaming it on the fryer this time…

Finally, after waiting in line for a small bit, a bit during which I applied and re-applied lip gloss and rehearsed my opening line, it was our turn. I didn’t want to tell you this before, but it wasn’t just me that showed up to meet Pioneer Woman. It was my entire family. We believe in togetherness. Also, I mean, we’re all from Bartlesville. We’re all old friends of the PW. Obviously.

Oh hey Pioneer Woman! We heard you wrote a cookbook. We thought we’d come on down and say hi, for old time’s sake. What? We’re the Maxwells! Remember? We sat behind you in church that one time in 1994!

I don’t know if you remember, but we always had a lot in common. You had red hair, and I DYE my hair red!

But enough about me, let’s talk about you and what you’ve been doing since you left the old stomping ground! We heard you run a little website! You get like 25,000 comments every day! Did I ever tell you about that one time I had 10 comments on my website? Oh, well, I mean, four of them were mine, and two of them were my sister, but I mean, I kind of know what it’s like to be you!

Say! You don’t happen to have any extra chaps in your car? I mean, I have a husband and I was just thinking…

Even though between the three of us, we bought nine books, she couldn’t sign them forever, so eventually we had to move along. But not before we surrounded her and made her take a group shot with us. For old time’s sake, naturally.

Pioneer Woman was as gracious as could be, never letting on that she was planning to file for a restraining order when she got back to the ranch. And we all love her cookbook, so go get one if you haven’t already!

13 Comments »

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YAY! I was thinking about you this weekend and imagining what the moment would be like when it was your turn to get your book signed… BARTLESVILLIANS REUNITE!

Comment by Allyson — December 7, 2009 #

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I don’t think I’ve ever been more awkward than I was on Saturday. I wish I could erase it from my memory. UGH!!

Comment by Chelsea Hurst — December 7, 2009 #

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“Her closest friends sat in the back. We’ve seen her before. It was time to give other people a chance.”

Now that is funny.

Comment by slamdunk — December 7, 2009 #

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I got all tongue tied and forgot what I was going to say. It was worse than a first date.

IN OTHER NEWS… I love Pioneer Woman! Isn’t she stunning? 4 kids and she’s still a hottie!

Comment by Lauren From Texas — December 7, 2009 #

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I came across your blog from ‘Lauren from Texas’ and wanted to say I loved this post!

Comment by steph anne — December 9, 2009 #

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Hi taryn this is sandy’s friend,molly. love your blog^^

Comment by Molly — December 9, 2009 #

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I love your post so much! Just look, now you have 7 comments!
I have been a huge admirer of PW and am very jealous that you had the chance to once sit behind her in church and also see her in your hometown.
If I even find out that she’s anywhere within a 100 mile radius of my town in Bernarsdsville, NJ I will load up my car with friends and stand in any long lines required. Recently, I read her blog about the visit to the Mall of America and it literally made me cry tears of joy. To know that her fans come out in droves to her book signings is way cool.
I love your site design and wish you lots of blogging success!
The Bernardsville Blogger

Comment by bernardsville — December 10, 2009 #

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It was great to meet you, and I love your blog! So fun to meet other bloggers from Houston.

Comment by Kathleen — December 11, 2009 #

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What a gorgeous blog you have! Hello to another Houston blogger!
Tiffany
mylitter.com

Comment by Tiffany — December 13, 2009 #

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Your hilarious!!! You really are from the same small town, how neat!!! We were also at the book signing and had so much fun.

Comment by Sweet Pea — December 13, 2009 #

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hysterical!

Comment by Natalia — December 13, 2009 #

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You are witty! I’m from Tulsa, so we must have crossed paths somewhere in the state of Oklahoma!!

Comment by Traci Fuqua — December 15, 2009 #

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Taryn! I love that you love PW too! I stood in line for over 5 hours in OKC to see her! It was crazy but oh, so fun! Great to find your blog! Hope you’re doing well!

Erin (Potts) Hofmann

Comment by erin — February 5, 2010 #

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