Today I got out and enjoyed the nice weather while it lasts and I decided to take in a matinee of "Michael Clayton" at the Boston Common theater. It's a really good film, go see it now. In a lot of ways, primarily by the way it looks, of course, it reminded me of crime thrillers from the seventies. French Connection, Klute, The Verdict, etc...

After the movie is where something really weird happened.

I want to preface this story first by saying that I'm a huge "Howard Stern Show" fan and have been for like fifteen years; if this costs me readers, so be it. One of the cast members is a stand-up comedian and actor named Artie Lange.

So after the movie lets out I walk to the Starbucks on Tremont to get an espresso in coffee; in Starbucks lingo: a tall red-eye. After I get the drink and I turn around, Artie is standing in line waiting to order. He's using his phone and without thinking I shout out, "Artie, Holy S%#@!".

He must get this all the time and gave me a "yeah..." and a little bit of the freaked out look. I quickly recover and say calmly, "I'll be over there if you have a minute". He transacts his business at the counter and finishes his phone call.

The two of us walk outside and I calmly try to explain what a big fan I am and how much I appreciate his honesty and humor on the show. He was a big sport about the whole thing he could have just blown me off. We walk and talk for about 5 or so minutes while he walks back to the Ritz-Carlton where his car was waiting at valet.

Even though he's a celebrity he asks about me, what do I do and we talk about movies. I mention that I just came from a film and we talk a little about films shooting in Boston now. He explained that he was staying in Boston for a show he had in Hampton Beach, NH the night before. I wished him a good trip back to New York and we shook hands and he got into his car and I walked away.

I don't usually fawn over celebrities and when I work a freelance job when one is present I am professional and let them do their thing. It was too funny just running into Artie in a Starbucks and he was a real sport about it.

He was wearing a Yankees shirt, of course. This was one Yankee fan I didn't want to rub it in about recent playoff news (Boston has won two consecutive games of a 5-game series in the ALDS and New York has lost two consecutive games of their series with Cleveland).

I'm getting together with family tommorrow and have Monday off.

Stay Well.