Wes Bentley Is A Laughing Buddha, or How I Got To Go To BlogHer And Remembered How Excellent My Friends Are
Sunday, June 8, 2008 
That picture to the left there is one I took of Mr. Wes Bentley. You might remember him as Ricky Fitts from "American Beauty" or as Blackheart from "Ghost Rider". I remember him from the patio at a local pub where he hung out with us plebs and bought a round of beer. When the Palinode pointed him out and said That guy's a dead ringer for Wes Bentley, I said He sure is, and then it turned out that he actually was Wes Bentley, and we went back to our drinking, because in Saskatchewan, Canada, we tend to be fairly relaxed about fame. Mischa Barton of "The O.C." fame was at that same pub on another night, and I did not see a single person go up to shake her hand, but then, in that situation, I think her leopard print stretch pants were a little bit offputting.
On Wednesday evening, I saw Wes again, and because I had neglected to thank him properly for the round he had bought the other night, I motioned him over as he walked by my table so that I could shake his hand. Really, I just wanted to shake his hand and apologize for not thanking him for the drink. Really.
Initially, I was under the impression that I was just looking up at him and saying Hey, Wes, thanks for that beer you bought the other night, and he was smiling along and thanking me for my thank-you, but then he looked down at my hand, which I then looked at, because if Wes Bentley is looking at something while I am talking to him, then I am also going to look at it. So there Wes was, looking down at my hand, and I was also looking at my hand, and MY HAND WAS RUBBING WES BENTLEY'S BELLY IN LITTLE, TINY CIRCLES. I do not even hug people all that often, but there I was rubbing a major film actor's belly. I paused what I was doing, patted his belly twice, and said I think I must just really like your sweater vest.
Just when my life was looking like it might be getting a little bit cooler, it was very much not. Or so it appeared at the time.
Since the Wes-Bentley-belly-rubbing incident of late Wednesday afternoon, I have had a windfall of excellent things happen, which inclines me to believe that Wes Bentley is a laughing buddha. Since rubbing his belly, I have been graced with the amazing generosity of others more than a few times:
When I looked back to figure out what I could have done to deserve all of this, it was pointed out to me that the only thing I have done that is different lately is rub Wes Bentley's belly. Since that embarrassing moment when I found myself stroking his sweater vest, I have been gifted with the promise of a laptop, realized my dream of registering for the BlogHer '08 conference with the help of all of you out there, and the Palinode and I have been honoured by our friends with a surprise party and gifts to show their appreciation of us after a difficult year.
Wes Bentley is a laughing buddha, I swear to you. He is a very slim, well-built, and blue-eyed laughing buddha, but a laughing buddha all the same. Would all of this good luck and prosperity be mine if I had not laid hands on that famous stomach? I think not.
Reader Comments (27)
wonderful wonderful wonderful wonderful. :) i'm so glad that you rubbed web bentley's belly. i'm also envious. :)
I found myself saying, "No! No! No!" while laughing hysterically as I read of your Bentley Belly Rubbing incident. HILARIOUS! I then wondered what you would end up doing to thank him for being a laughing buddha, which made me giggle even louder. Thanks for the laugh, I needed it!
Congratulations on having fabulous friends and going to BlogHer. You rock.
Jules
http://bigpikchur.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">House of Jules
that is something i would do, but i would be drunk. funny,
You deserve every bit of the amazingness. Here's hoping that you run into Wes Bentley's belly many more times in the future.
Angela, I think the Palinode might have an issue with that!
yes. I agree. that was filled with all kinds of wonderfulness.
I will have to hunt me down some bentley.
I think you richly deserve all the nice that comes your way, as you're pretty nice yourself ;o)
(And I wish I were going to BlogHer just to meet you)
If Palinode won't mind, I'd like to rub your stomach so you can keep on passing that good luck on.
You probably have excellent friends for a very good reason.
I think it's karma and that you are the 'laughing buddha' of the blogging world. It's all amazing and wonderful and couldn't happen to a nicer Schmutzie, but honestly? Those friends of yours? They're keepers, baby.
I couldn't be more thrilled! When I saw the badge on your site, I thought you had won the BlogHero nomination, then I remembered when I went to nominate you they only sponsored US bloggers.
Woohoo! Every time someone else announces they are going I get even more excited for BlogHer. If that's even possible.
I'm so happy for you, you have no idea. You deserve every little bit of good fortune that comes your way, not just because of what you've been through over the past year, but because you are just all around awesome.
I'm glad my donation to your laptop fund is going to help you go to BlogHer. I can't wait to hear about all the adventures you will have there!
Hooray!!!
I am fairly certain that the huge public display of us thinking that you are the bees knees had very little to do with wes bently and more to do with the fact that you are really awesome.
I am sorry that I couldn't be there, although I was, for a bit, but that was before you knew that we were all there for you, and it therefore would have ruined the suprise had I come running up all "I think you're awesome, and I hope you really like the gift certificates"
But I promise that the next time I see you you will get a big hug, even if I am not a hugger, you totally deserve one.
I think that is called good karma. So what did his tummy feel like? We would all like to know.
Whether karma, bellies, or kindness, this series of events made me teary this weekend. i am so happy i will see you in July. Thrilled. Do you hug? May I hug you?
Heidi, his belly was slm and firm, of course.
jenB, you definitely can hug me. I'll be in hug mode that weekend.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Again, I say congrats for going to BlogHer. If I was going, I'd totally come up and give you a hug. But I'd ask first, you know, because that could be weird for you :)
I am RSVPing you to The People's Party right this second. Deal with it. You will be there and I will be all over you like Schmutzie on Wes Bentley's belly.
So rad. I can't wait to meet you, woot!
That's all so awesome. You deserve it!
Wow, Tracey really is a sweetney! I'm really happy that you get to go. Have fun!
Yay!! I'm so happy for you!
Oh, Schmutzie. This made me feel all glowy inside. I adore you.
Sweet heavens, this made me happy.
Oh, and Wes Bentley? An Arkansan. You're welcome. ;-) Went to high school about 10 miles from here.
your friends rock for doing that for you guys and you did deserve it. also, i will always think of you when i see wes bentley in the future (well, you and the beautiful plastic bag).