A Mascot Encounters Celebrity Andy Samberg

Conduit’s “Around the World” competition, which kicked off at the start of summer, calls for Conduit employees to submit pictures of their Conduit mascot enjoying the summer vacation as they trot the globe.

As the summer comes to end, we’ve received some really creative and unusual pictures from all over the world. One of our mascots has even made it to Mars! (Well, sort of.) Check out last week’s post for more about that and other cool adventures our mascots have taken.

After seeing the creativity my colleagues put into this competition, I was certain I couldn’t stand a chance. Until last weekend, when I encountered actor and comedian Andy Samberg on my flight from Portland, Oregon to San Francisco! One of the categories that could award employees the winning picture is “The Socialite,” for the employee who snaps a photo of their Conduit mascot with a celebrity. This was my chance to actually win one of the categories!

I spotted Andy sitting in first class, wearing sunglasses in an attempt to go unrecognized. After I identified that there was a celebrity on board, I spent the duration of the flight plotting how I could get a photo of my mascot, Wayne the Wolf, with Andy Samberg.

When the plane landed, I maneuvered my way toward the front of the plane to Andy. When I reached his seat, I nervously leaned over and said, “Excuse me, my work place is having a competition to see who can get the best picture with these little guys (pointing at the Conduit mascot). Do you mind if I take a quick picture?”

He looked at me, then at Wayne the Wolf, nodded, and grabbed the Conduit mascot, holding him up to pose for the picture. Just then, my mouth completely dried up and I started shaking as if I was about to go into a seizure. I don’t know what was wrong with me; I guess these are the symptoms of being star struck. As I took the picture, I could tell that my unsteady hand was going to result in an unsuccessful photo. But I was not about to have him wait around all day for me to overcome my star struck-crush.

I thanked Andy, leaped over the luggage in the aisle, and as I ran back to my seat, heard my passenger comrades congratulating me on my accomplishment. “I got it! But it’s soooo bad,” I replied, laughing about the whole escapade.

Well, I may not have snapped the winning picture, but the story that ensued was well worth the embarrassment.