That time I met Our Host Chris Harrison

It was a warm, Tuesday night. I was sitting in my red and white gingham chair, my TV recapping place, waiting for Undateable to start. As I scrolled through my Instagram feed, something caught my eye:

I do not live in Austin. But I know Some Guy who does. I immediately texted him an adamant “WE HAVE TO GO” message. Using all caps conveyed a sense of urgency that was met with a flurry of responses from both him and the Mrs.

We were all on board. The goal? Meet Our Host Chris Harrison, convince him to come out to the Broken Spoke honkey tonk with us after his book signing and become the best of friends.

If we believe, it will happen.

I ran to my closet to consider my wardrobe choices. I had to play this carefully. My outfit needed to say, “I’m totally awesome” without looking like I tried too hard. I decided on two of my favorite standbys—a summery orange top with white shorts or a chevron dress. Then I did what I always do in moments like these. I called Natalie.

I’ve learned that having a friend who makes people feel good about themselves for a living is quite a perk in my life. Before I even left for her house, Natalie informed me that I would not be wearing shorts to meet Chris Harrison. Noted. I arrived, eager to see which necklace/shoe combination she would choose for my dress. Upon seeing me in the dress, Natalie smiled graciously and pat me on the head before running to her closet to choose something way more cool straight off her own hangers.

We all need a Natalie in our life.

The next day, I made my way to the hill country. Some Guy in Austin (SGIA), Mrs. Some Guy and I grabbed a quick bite before heading over to Barnes & Noble. Mrs. Some Guy suggested we take a little time to figure out what we wanted to say once we were face-to-face with Our Host. SGIA did not need to think about it. He would invite Harrison to The Spoke and buy him a Lone Star. Case closed.

I was another story. Do I remind him of my name? Or iHateGreenBeans? If I say my name, he may think I’m a “Lindsay” vs. Lincee. That won’t help. Website it is. But what if he doesn’t know my website and just knows me by Lincee? Maybe I do lead with my name. A combo? Will I be able to speak? What if I get lost in his eyes? Will SGIA know to step in and be my wing man so I don’t look like a fool? Is it hot in here? What am I doing? What will he smell like? I have to remember for my readers! THERE’S NOT ENOUGH TIME!

That dialog was internal of course. My dining partners never knew I was on the verge of hurling. It’s now or never! Off to Barnes & Noble!

We arrived in two separate cars. Mrs. Some Guy and I entered the establishment first, carrying both books. When SGIA sauntered in, I shout, “HEY SOME GUY! I HAVE YOUR BOOK OVER HERE FOR CHRIS HARRISON TO SIGN!”

His face turned a shade of crimson that was soooo pretty.

We headed upstairs to a landing where about 40 people were sitting in chairs in front of a podium. We lingered in the back, but were quickly ushered by Joe Book Store into an overflow area on the side by. He told us that we will have a better view of Mr. Harrison from the side instead standing in the back. I casually asked him if he has seen Mr. Harrison yet?

Joe Book Store: Yes.
Lincee: What did he smell like?
Joe Book Store: Uh…I don’t know. Do you want me to go check?
Lincee: I’ll smell for myself. Tell him Lincee says hi.

Joe Book Store rolled his eyes and ran off to fetch our favorite host. Within minutes, he escorted Harrison through the crowd up to a podium. Harrison had noticeable swagger. The suit, no doubt from his own collection, fit him perfectly. His button down was open, with no tie, and his jeans were flawless. His tan was nowhere near Dancing with the Stars caliber (thank goodness), but was subtle and screamed, “Golf anyone?” His teeth gleamed, but not in a Ross Gellar way. His smile was mischievous and his eyes sparkled from 20-feet away.

Hello Mr. Harrison.

For the next 48 minutes, Our Host spoke about his new book, as well as the franchise. The majority of the evening was Q&A. Let the record show that Harrison never picked me to answer my Q,, but he did pick darling Emily (an IHGB reader!) who was standing right next to me. Emily asked the question of all questions:

“Are you dating anyone?”

A hush fell over the crowd. Harrison knew that if he even mentioned a previous bachelorettte whose name begins with “D,” he would have a riot on his hands. He said something generic and safe. Bottom line: He claims he doesn’t have time to date.

Harrison had us in the palm of his hand. He is as smart and witty as we all want him to be on the show. There were several times he had the audience laughing hysterically. Since I take my job seriously, and I know some of you need SERIOUS details, I recorded the entire exchange. I will share my findings in a post later this week.

After indulging his fans, Joe Book Store grabbed Harrison and serpentined him through the masses to a tall table in the back of the store with a wall of The Perfect Letter books behind him. A woman screamed for us to get in line based on the color of our wrist bands. Because Mrs. Some Guy is so savvy, she knew to come to Barnes & Noble BEFORE the event to secure a wristband so we wouldn’t be last in line. SGIA and I stood a few people back from the front of the queue. A woman made us write our name on a Post-It so Harrison would not have to waste precious time asking randos how to spell their weird names. I watched the people in front of me and became very nervous because the line was moving really, really fast. The PR ladies worked the line like there was no tomorrow.

Suddenly, it’s my turn. PR Lady #1 grabbed my phone for picture taking. PR Lady #2 grabbed my book and walked it over to Harrison. I followed my book. Harrison’s head was down because he was already scribbling “To: Lincee” before I even made eye contact. I chose this moment to transition into legitimate dork mode.

Lincee: Hi!

Okay, let me stop right there. I opened with “hi” because I didn’t know what to call him. Harrison was on the tip of my tongue, but it felt too casual. Mr. Harrison felt lame. So in a clutch decision, I decided to drop all names and just go with a generic “hi.”

Lincee: I don’t know if you remember me. I am the blogger? I Hate Green Beans?

Harrison’s head jerked up and he squinted at me. HE SQUINTED! Even through slit lids, I could tell his eyes were mesmerizing. I pushed through, even though my knees were a bit weak, and started to full on babble. The squint concerned me. Something wasn’t firing for him, so I kept rambling.

Lincee: You invited me out to Women Tell All a long, long time ago with Travis Stork?
Harrison: Uh-huh… (Still squinting, looking at my name on my Post-It.)

Lincee: I also came out to Women Tell All and was in the green room with Groban? You may know him as Ben?
Harrison: Right, right…

It was obvious that Harrison was trying to place me, but he couldn’t. Suddenly, I knew what’s stumping him.

Lincee: I wrote your book review for The Associated Press!
Harrison: YES! IT’S YOU! We were talking about you in the limo yesterday!

Shhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuuttttttttttt uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuppppppppppp.

Apparently, Harrison’s entourage was confused by my name. Was I the girl who wrote the AP review or the girl with the green bean blog? I’M BOTH! Harrison’s eyes were twinkling. I leaned against the table for support. SGIA may have offered me his arm. I’m not sure. The moment was too surreal and a little overwhelming. Especially when he wrote this in my book:

funny bachelor recap-Chris Harrison

And if that wasn’t enough, Our Host says this:

Harrison: I thought you lived in Houston.

Shhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuuttttttttttt uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuppppppppppp. He knows where I live?!

Lincee: I came to Austin to have you sign my book. I’m staying with my friend Some Guy.

Everyone shakes hands and makes small talk. A HUGE THANK YOU to Mrs. Some Guy for snapping her own pictures of the blessed event, because PR Lady #1 was officially dropping the ball.

funny bachelor recap-Chris Harrison

I handed Harrison an IHGB t-shirt to sign. He scribbles his name right under the logo.

Lincee: Great. Your autograph is directly on my right boob.
Harrison [laughing]: So sorry. You can tell people I signed your boob if you want.
Lincee: Thanks for the permission, Harrison, but I was already going to tell people that.

We hugged it out, snapped a few photos and I drank in his aroma. He smelled of tobacco, peppermint and adventure. Then we brooded once we learned Harrison had plans to paint the town with Hotter Than Crap Brad Womack. No doubt they painted it beige.

I tried to slip him my digits, but PR Lady #2 was watching me like a hawk. I decided for one more quick hug, sniff and then a hearty wave. I was a giddy mess after. This is me and SGIA after the meet-n-greet. You can’t tell, but he’s trying to get me to calm down.

funny bachelor recap-Some Guy

The night ended with live music at The Broken Spoke. I danced. I sipped. I basked. It totally filled my bucket.

Thank you to Emily, Betsy, Noelle, Jane and KD for seeking me out at the signing. Meeting each of you was one of the highlights of the night!

Thank you Mrs. Some Guy for talking me off the ledge moments before entering Barnes & Noble, as well as taking so many pictures to document the night. I love this one of me and my BFF Chris Harrison solving problems of the world.

funny bachelor recap-Chris Harrison

Thank you SGIA for a great after party.

funny bachelor recap-Lone Star

And thanks to everyone who shared my excitement through social media. It’s a day I’ll never forget! Chris Harrison will forever be Our Host!

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Gondawatchsomemore
Gondawatchsomemore
May 26, 2015 1:08 am

So fun. So so fun. I love that he KNEW who you were. I feel as the planets have aligned for you and the orbit of the earth is a touch more true. The authenticity of OHCH fragrance has been confirmed. I actually felt super giddy for you reading this.

Blog on Lincee, blog on.

Thanks for bringing your unique sense of humour to the World Wide Web for me to enjoy so often (since Ed and his green short shorts).

Gondawatchsomemore
Gondawatchsomemore
May 26, 2015 1:10 am

P.S. Natalie picked a great outfit. Very pretty

Tara
Tara
May 26, 2015 3:50 am

EXCELLENT! So happy for you…and a wee bit jealous, as well. 😉

Shopgirl
Shopgirl
May 26, 2015 6:46 am

Shhhhhhhuuuuuutttttt uuuuuupppppp! That is awesome, Lincee! So excited for you!

Beaner
Beaner
May 26, 2015 9:33 am

If I didn’t know, I would have said he smelled like good genes, fine leather and fanfare. And basked in the glow from Lincee Ray.

Elizabeth Galen
May 26, 2015 9:49 am

I snapped a (bad, distant photo) of you while you were getting your picture taken with OHCH but wasn’t 100% sure it was you and wasn’t feeling brave enough to go up to the wrong person and say, “Hey, are you Lincee?” It was a really awesome event.

starhermit
starhermit
May 26, 2015 9:49 am

Aw, congrats! Sounds like a lovely time.

Sarah
Sarah
May 26, 2015 9:51 am

What a great experience! It has been so much fun to follow you over the years and to see your hard work pay off!

Kathryn
Kathryn
May 26, 2015 9:52 am

How fun!!! You remind me of my son…when he was 14 we went to Ree “The Pioneer Woman ?Drummond’s first cookbook signing. At that point in time he was determined he was going to marry her – though I did convince him her daughter was a more appropriate choice, a fact I let her know via FB that morning she was in town. When he got to meet her and have her sign his book she not only remembered him, she grabbed her camera to snap his picture for her blog and signed his book, “To my future son-in-law.” That crush lasted until he was 17 read all of Diana Gabaldon’s books and he declared her his future wife.

Abby
May 27, 2015 8:50 pm
Reply to  Kathryn

Your son sounds like a gem! That’s adorable. I’m currently reading #5 of Outlander and it is a doozy of a 900 page book. Sheesh.

Ann
Ann
May 26, 2015 10:53 am

So fun! I and several of my Bachelor-watching/Green Beans reading friends thought about coming and I did come to scope things out. It was so poorly publicized in Austin (we knew only because we saw the mention at the bottom of one of your entries last week), that we couldn’t get organized. As the advance woman, the whole wristband/book buying thing got us and I ended up not staying. However, we all agreed that we were more interested in meeting you than OHCH!

We would like to start a grass roots campaign to get Lincee as the next Bachelorette. Now that would be fun and worth watching!

Beth
Beth
May 26, 2015 11:31 am

Who is he supposedly dating? Starting with a D?? The only two I can think of are Desiree and Deanna!! And they are married. I can’t think of other contestants – on either show they may have been on.

Mindy
Mindy
May 26, 2015 12:03 pm
Reply to  Beth

Beth – I’m glad you ask about “D” because I can’t for the life of me think who it could be!

Lincee – perfect!!

Heather
Heather
May 26, 2015 12:13 pm
Reply to  Mindy

Took me a while, but I’m thinking this refers to DAndi!

Alexandra
Alexandra
May 26, 2015 12:19 pm
Reply to  Beth

Perhaps Andi “Dorfman” …that’s what I thought it was.

Amber
Amber
May 26, 2015 12:10 pm

Awe, so excited for you!! That looks awesome!! Did you the infamous Reality Steve was lurking in the background; he posted pics on his Twitter feed. He didn’t get too close for fear of an altercation So glas you finally got to smell him
Amber

Heather
Heather
May 26, 2015 12:14 pm

I couldn’t stop smiling through this entire post. Way to go Lincee!

Julie
Julie
May 26, 2015 12:37 pm

Tobacco? Waaaaah.

In other news, is that YOUR Louis Vuitton on the floor by OHCH??

And I hope all is well for you and yours in Houston with this flooding…. XOXO

Tracy
Tracy
May 26, 2015 1:24 pm

I’m so happy you got to meet him and shared it with us! How cool that he remembers where you’re from. Love your outfit too. Super cute.

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