A couple weeks ago, I attended Alt Summit, a blog conference held in Palm Springs, California. Last night, I wrote an excellent recap of our week in the desert, with highlights from speakers and links to some of the very inspiring people I met. Then, at 1:30 a.m., when I went to hit ‘publish’, the unthinkable happened. My computer died.

So this is a snippet blog post, a transcribed conversation that occurred around the pool at the hipster enclave known as the Ace Hotel.

Brooke: I think that guy over there in the pool is that famous actor.

Mithra: What famous actor.

Brooke: The hot one who bared his butt in that movie I love. The guy with great hair.

Mithra, standing up to look at all the men in the pool, some who are definitely hot but whose buttocks cannot be seen : Is he the guy floating on the pink raft?

Brooke: No… I don’t see him now.

Mithra: Was he in that male stripper movie? The one with that guy from 21 Jump Street?

Brooke: No, but he was in another movie with that same guy.

Mithra, pointing: Is that him in the shallow end? Playing catch with that kid?

Brooke: He’s sitting in the lounge chair now. He’s got a baseball cap on. C’mon you guys. He’s pretty famous for that bare ass scene.

Random Young Blogger, eavesdropping: Do you mean Mark Ruffalo?

Brooke, high-fiving Random Young Blogger: Yes!

Mithra: Mark Ruffalo is from Wisconsin. Why didn’t you just say the famous actor who’s from Wisconsin?

Random Young Blogger: I love his whiskers.

Mithra, scrutinizing the alleged Mark Ruffalo: I don’t think that’s Mark Ruffalo. He’s too short.

Brooke: I’m really good at spotting celebrities, Mithra.

Mithra, googling: IMDB says Mark Ruffalo is 5’8”. That guy is not 5’8”.

Brooke: Well he’s our age. Maybe his spine has compressed.

Paige: Maybe his publicist lied.

Petra: Mark Ruffalo?! Where? I love him!

Paige: Now he’s walking over to the ping pong table! Is that his son with him?

Tina: You Americans! You’re so ridiculous the way you fetishize your celebrities.

Paige, googling: He lives in New York and this week is spring break for all the eastern prep schools. I bet that’s why they’re here.

Mithra: I don’t get the trucker hat.

Petra: Might be he’s losing his hair. Poor guy.

Brooke: He’s got a nice swing. He was really good in that one movie.

Mithra: Which movie? The one where he plays a train conductor or something with what’s her name Patricia Clarkson?

Paige: I can’t believe he’s not hiding from all these bloggers.

Brooke: I can’t believe I don’t remember the name of the bare ass movie.

Random Young Blogger, eavesdropping: Was it The Kids Are Alright?

Brooke, high-fiving the Random Young Blogger: Yes! ! I love that movie!

I’ll be back next week with a new computer and a substantive breakdown of Alt Summit 2019. xoxo