Brad Pitt and I are practically cousins. We grew up in the same town (Springfield, MO! Holla to my homies in the 417!). He attended my rival high school, the same one attended by my high school boyfriend. That’s just two degrees of separation right there. Back when he used to date Gwyneth Paltrow, the two of them came to Springfield for Thanksgiving and shopped at the local Smitty’s. I have shopped at that VERY SAME SMITTY’S. We probably touched the exact same floor tiles. Another time when he was in town, he went downtown to bars where I used to frequent. Also, my sorority sister in college, her boyfriend at the time grew up down the ACTUAL street from where Brad grew up.
See? Practically related!
My hometown was also home to several other celebrities. I like to drop their names sometimes to make myself look cool.
Ever heard of the Disney Channel? How about the slightly popular, High School Musical? Lucas Grabeel, better known as hunky ”Ryan Evans” from HSM also graduated from MY rival high school. It’s like I KNOW him.
Aaron Buerge, a former male slut suitor on The Bachelor STILL lives in my hometown and owns a restaurant in that same downtown district. We have breathed the SAME AIR.
I went to the same college as Kathleen Turner of Romancing the Stone fame. Really! I did! Also, John Goodman (Roseanne) went to my college. Sure they attended DECADES *ahem* earlier than myself, but just the fact that we attended the very same school counts for something I say.
Have you heard of that auto parts store, O’Reilly’s, the one with all the catchy radio ads? It started in MY hometown and my best friend in elementary school, her sister used to ride horses with the daughter of the owner of O’Reilly’s. (O, O, O, O’Reillyyyyyyyyyyyyy’s. Auto Parts.)
When I was in L.A. for spring break years ago, I saw Noah from Beverly Hills 90210 in a bar, Jack Nicholson driving around in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Chad Lowe in a Ford Taurus.
Impressive, no?
My bestestest claim to fame has to be from last Thursday night when I got to actually meet (and fall in LOVE with) Bossy when she and her Saturn stopped in Indiana during her road trip. Also, I now know (and LOVE) her, her, her, and her. I already knew (and LOVED) her and her.
I. Am. FAMOUS. (For reals.)
What is your claim to fame?
hmmmm….6 degrees of playgroupconnection?
brad and angies kids are currently at my sisters friends daycare facility in tx?
MizFit’s last blog post..Monday Facetime.
I went to the same college as the guy who played Jack! on Will and Grace.
Diablo Cody (the screenwriter for Juno) went to the catholic high school in my hometown and was good friends with one of my friends (though somehow we never met – but she’s hung out with a lot of my friends – where was I? What kind of friends did I have, anyway?).
And – I hung out with Bossy.
Cathy’s last blog post..Look!
lol I will be posting my claim to fame later today, actually
) Totally cool, though, on breathing the same air as Mr. Jolie 
Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near You’s last blog post..a portrait I do not want
Wow you really ARE famous!
Well thanks to you I am now just 3 degrees of separation away from Brad…
Marylin’s last blog post..Paranoia
That’s cool. They make movies in my city. And Jack Black’s nanny is renting a house next door to me. Jack lives in the nicer subdivision down from mine.
Can you send me your autograph?
I’m jealous you got to meet some blog friends.
Mary’s last blog post..The Bubble Blower
I ate yogurt for breakfast this morning.
And the Queen of England eats yogurt.
Uncanny the likeness eh?
Kelley’s last blog post..Wandering down the street minding my own business….
xoxoxox It was so great to meet you!!!! We are so gonna hang at Blogher!!!!
amy’s last blog post..But this one day/baby I can fly
Oh I’m totally famous. Because I went to primary school next door to the primary school that Cate Blanchett went to. Our primary school used to use the playground and library of the other school. And we were in the same year. So I obviously read the exact same copies of the exact same books that Cat read and swung on the exact same monkey bars. Famous.
Many other reasons I’m famous but they’re very Australian based so possibly meaningless to most of the readers here. Besides, I’m tired. Nighty night.
dani’s last blog post..Speaking of comfort food
Ummm, I guess my claim to fame is….
Now I know YOU!
Have The T-Shirt’s last blog post..THE Pitching Coach
I went to the same college as Emmitt Smith, you may know him from a little football team called the Dallas Cowboys. If not surely you remember him from his winning Dancing with the Stars. And I have actually had a beer with the man. No not just near him, I talked to him!
I also once kissed a former Gator football player who played for the LA Rams (can’t remember his name, it was one night in a bar, if ya know what I mean).
Lest you think all my brushes with fame are football related a sorority sister of mine, is now a meteorologist on the Weather Channel.
And Wayne Brady the comedian went to high school with another one of my sorority sisters, so it’s like I know him too.
Much to my dismay I began blogging right about the time Bossy went on the famous road trip, so I missed that one.
Karen’s last blog post..Open Letter
Please! You call that famous?! I once attended a taping of Win, Lose or Draw and Ed Begley Jr. was the celebrity guest. What? You’ve never heard of that show? Or Ed Begley Jr.? Dang.
Momo Fali’s last blog post..We Were Going To Call Him Stumpy
I’m originally from North Dakota, so there aren’t many opportunities to get famous BUT I did kill Josh Duhammel in high school. Really. I painted his face for a Ghost Out, declaring him dead for the day. So I guess that means I’m only two degrees separated from being able to kill Fergie.
Burgh Baby’s last blog post..More About the Secret Agent Family in the Burgh
you know 417land…there are really only 2 degrees of seperation so now I am famous because I read your blog and live in 417land.
ourcrookedtree’s last blog post..I Give Up
Let’s See…
1. My first cousin made out with the mean boy in Remember the Titans (the one that gets kicked off the team).
2. Same first cousin also made out with Edwin McCain. (I’m sensing a pattern)
3. Went to the same university as Sandra Bullock.
4. Dad played drums for Tanya Tucker (country singer)
5. Dad almost played drums for Alabama (country band…not the state).
6. Stood in line to get into a club in front of Hootie and The Blowfish….they were actually playing there that night.
That’s all I can think of right now….but after all that I now consider myself a bit famous.
You are such a LUCKY DUCK! I’m jealous that you got to meet Bossy. You’ll have to tell us all about her.
Hm. Famous connections? Off the top of my head:
~During my former life as a conference planner, I met the following and assisted with accomodations for Michael J. Fox and Ben Cohen (Ben and Jerry’s)
~My aunts friend went on a few dates with Peewee Herman in highschool (before the indecent exposure)
~I used to ski, ride, and make out with the guy who invented Snow Blades (short skis)
~My ex boy toy/ dear friend is sometimes an extra on Law and Order
~My dad went to the same highschool as Mo Vaughn
CourtneyRyan’s last blog post..haiku time
At 15 I accosted Huey from Huey Lewis and the News in the Bahamas.
My mom taught Anthony Munoz’s daughter.
I knew the girl who went to prom with Buddy Bell’s son Buddy Bell, Jr.
George Clooney was in my brother-in-law’s friend’s wedding party. I sold Girl Scout Cookies to his dad Nick.
Johnny Bench almost ran over me at a golfing charity event. We laughed it off because, hey, Johnny Bench.
Wilfred Brimly routinely cuts me off. Not really. But the resemblance is flippin’ uncanny.
My best Internet buddy was best friend with T.V.’s Barney’s Hal Lindon’s daughter Nora back in the day. She also went to high school with Macy Gray.
Rosie’s last blog post..Spare the Belt
I know no one. SNIFFFFFF!!!
Marti’s last blog post..Another year gone? and the big 13!
I grew up in the same town that Lorretta Lynn lived and Barbara Mandrell. Used to drive past their houses on the way to work!
Does that make me famous?
Sandy’s last blog post..Happy Birthday to Meee…
Mine is depressing – grew up in a very small town where 4 policemen were killed by a deranged lunatic not long ago. Now, when people ask my hometown they always say , “oh….from there…that’s terrible”.
Nice eh?
But on a better note I had coffee at Starbucks with David Duchovney (X-Files) in Vancouver. He got his right in front of me….
Teri’s last blog post..Make Work Projects
Pat Green and I were n the same fraternity in college at the same time. Hmm, I used to roadie a little for Mercy Me when they were in town before “I Can Only Imagine”. Ummm, that’s about it.
~Jef
Edge’s last blog post..Happy 5th Birthday Little A
Oh! This is fun!
I’m definitely subscribing to these comments – it will be fun to see what everyone comes up with!
My kids will be graduating from the same high school as Richard Gere. His father was my uncle’s insurance agent.
The Baldwin brother’s mom lives in the area and I usually see her at the State Fair.
I graduated from the same college as Al Roker.
I got JC Chasez autograph.
When I was 15 I went backstage and met The Party (could have met Vanilla Ice, too but, ew, even then he creeped me out!)
Pretty glamarous list, no?
Oh, and of course, I “know” you and regularly comment on your blog!
Jackie’s last blog post..Sigh.
Wow, on Bossy’s road trip! So kewl!
I recently dined and drank at a the bar where Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson partied back when they were together. Big whoop, huh?!
Jen’s last blog post..Spreading the Word
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the one year that I lived in your hometown was one of the worst ever, because I worked at your University and they made me move FIVE times in TWELVE MONTHS.
The only redeeming things were as follows:
1. Meeting my husband, also an alum of John Goodman’s college,
2. Andy’s custard,
3. Ziggy’s skillets.
As for famous people, I have gotten to meet some really neat people through my old job. The coolest was Gloria Steinem, although James Carville DID ask me if I was always this uptight (yes.)
The Other Dawn’s last blog post..400th Post
I worked with Obama for three years and he was a senator on the committee I staffed/ran. I worked with him on a couple pieces of legislation over those years.
Rayne of Terror’s last blog post..One active 3
Wowzers! You are like totally awesone! I’m going to start claiming you as the famous person I “know”!
I live in Las Vegas and I used to work at The Museum Company in The Forum Shops of Caesar’s Palace and Bill and Chelsea Clinton came in to shop. I personally showed jewelry to Bill for his mother’s birthday. I also helped Carrot Top and Marty Allen, too.
Let’s see….famous? I don’t really know any famous people – by any degree of seperation.
Oh, WAIT. My sister just went to Michael Buble’s concert last weekend, and they called her and her friend back for a private, backstage after party. She got to hug him and hang out with him and his band for about an hour after the show. She was smitten.
I’m loving your famous stories! I think I feel pretty gosh darn lucky having met YOU! You’re famous to me!!
I’m honored to be in the presence of your greatness
I rode in an elevator with Harry Carry. This mattered to me. It was at a Chicago Cubs convention, and while I got autographs from players and whatnot, the elevator thing just sort of happened. This was a million years ago, but it gets me through since I otherwise have no connection to fame, well, other than through you
(the other) Maggie’s last blog post..Weekly Winners Sunday 4/27/08
Your hair looks very nice in your new photo!
Cassey’s last blog post..15 minutes to Domestic Bliss
I didn’t know that you grew up in Springfield, MO?!
My cousins grew up there as well and one actually knew (and didn’t like) Brad Pitt. She refuses to see his movies. One of his old high school pictures (go Kickapoo!) in People magazine early on has her in the background. I used to visit my family in Springfield 2-3 times a year and almost moved there myself.
In 1995, I worked at an inn on Martha’s Vineyard where Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen had their wedding rehearsal dinner. Got to meet them, President & Hilary Clinton, Woody Harrelson, Tom Hanks, James Taylor, etc. etc. It was awesome.
MommyCosm’s last blog post..Bed Side Manners
Hmm, my biggest claim to fame is that my best friend is distantly related by marriage to Bob Dole. And OBVIOUSLY in high school we ran away from home to go to Bob’s house. The police caught us before we made it, but whatever. Me and Bob are TIGHT.
Karly’s last blog post..Jesus? Are You There?
Kathleen Turner is an alumna of my high school. Howard Stern is a graduate of my college of study at Boston University, and he once read a fax I sent to him on the air. I’ve shaken hands with Hillary Clinton, who knew my father personally.
I experienced a brief and local spurt of fame when I was a newspaper reporter in a small suburb. Everyone, as they say, knew my name.
And, I am The Poo’s mommy. Need I say more?
Mrs. Chicken’s last blog post..Can I Get A Do-Over?
I’ve met a couple Soap Opera stars. Matthew Ashford from DOOL, and Patrick Muldoon (was on DOOL, Melrose Place, and other things)
Funny thing is, I’ve never watched Days. I’ve just met the people.
I am friends with an Assistant Producer that has worked on many famous movies and shows. I love it when she shares gossip. I’m just not allowed to repeat it.
((I know, not fair to say that, but it’s fun to be “in the know”))
Robin’s last blog post..My Mother in Law
I. am. not. famous…totally missed out on the Bossy night….sad. But I did meet Pete Yorn once, but didn’t even know he was famous. Whatever, I’m lame.
ellinghouse’s last blog post..Clean them up – with safety and style
My friend T’s husband’s cousin is Renee Zellweger.
And I saw Keifer Sutherland at Spago in LA.
And I met Johnny Cash.
And was in the same room with Robert Redford once. It was a large room, but still, it was freaking Robert Redford!
amy’s last blog post..Nineteen
You are TOTALLY famous. I wish that I had such claims to fame.
Now when Branelina heads to Springfield, they hit up Chuck E Cheese…just in case ou need to keep your eyes peeled the next time you’re in town…
Maggie’s last blog post..And we have a winner!
I was on a flight to San Diego with Kirk Cameron from Growing Pains.
In the Trenches of Mommyhood’s last blog post..A Peek Inside the Trenches
Please come rub some of that famousness on me because I know no one famous. No. One.
BTW, great photo! Have you lost weight since January?
Queen of Shake Shake’s last blog post..I Thought We Were Normal, Then BAM!
OH! I totally know The Digger’s niece. She says Michelle is as sweet as she’s portrayed on TLC and that the kids are sweet but pretty sheltered.
She herself (is that even right?) is not A Good Christian Wife.
Rosie’s last blog post..Spare the Belt
You are way famous compared to me. I saw Jerry Van Dyke at the airport once. Ya, I know…It wasn’t even the famous Van Dyke.
HRH’s last blog post..Alltop Potluck: In search of my A game…
here’s the deal…my best friend’s father worked for a record label…we met quite a few people along the way:
new kids on the block (at a BBQ)
weird al (cookies and autograph session)
beach boys (hung out at the bar…)
janet jackson (limo to concert and backstage passes)
and several others (i can hardly remember)…
oh yeah, and i should mention – it was about 20 years ago…so, really, not THAT exciting at this point in time!
jen’s last blog post..all together now…
I worked at a hotel near Pebble Beach when I was in college, so I “know” a lot of famous people.
1. I told Bill Murray to stop being an ass when he was riding on the hood of people’s cars.
2. I had to take Helen Hunt’s undies to the laundry. She only wears boxers. Weird.
3. Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off bought me an ice cream sundae when I managed to find his lost luggage after 2 hours on the phone with the airlines. He also gave me a nice tip. And he has the sexiest phone voice ever. No foolin’.
4. I had to run out at midnight to buy a hairbrush for Ally Sheedy. It was made from natural bristles and cost $75!
5. The director from Twister made us rehang all the pictures in his room 3 inches lower, and sent me out for fresh flowers. They had to have tuberoses. I still don’t know what those are.
6. I met all the figure skaters from Stars on Ice. Brian Boitano is really nice, Nancy Kerrigan is a b*$@h
7. Clint Eastwood told me “cute smile.”
This is kind of fun. I’m going to cut and paste my comment over at my place and keep dishing on who I’ve met and who’s nice and who’s not. Probably not today, but check in tomorrow.
My best claim to fame is that I’m going to be on a national TV show in 2 weeks!!!! So you can all claim one degree of separation from ME! Hahahahaha
the Mom’s last blog post..Welcome!
So, I was once on a plane with Aretha Franklin. Her hair and makeup artists work miracles, I can assure you.
And a couple years ago, I sang at Carnegie Hall.
Joline’s last blog post..Make Work Projects
I went to college in Rolla – UMR – you know the little town half way between Springfield and St. Louis (my hometown) known for all those
nerdsguys on campus.My claim to fame is that Jenna Fischer’s (The Office) mom was my 7th and 8th grade teacher. Jenna is one year younger than me and would sometimes come with her mom to school. Mrs. (anne) Fischer LOVED drama and coached me in some stuff – I won ribbons and trophies, but then I got TOO COOL for THAT!
KEEP BELIEVING
Angie’s last blog post..A false hope – surgery – Miracle Monday April 28, 2008
Yeah, I’ve got nothing. I guess I’m just perennially mediocre.
Marilyn’s last blog post..Rattled
Not much…D’Arcy (of Smashing Pumpkins fame) went to my high school – although I think she graduated the year before I was a freshman. I also saw Brian Griese (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) playing pool at a bar in Ann Arbor. That was just after U of M won the National Championship, so I was excited. Plus, he was HOT.
I pumped Elizabeth Dole’s gas once.
And I rode on an airplane with Malcolm Jamal Warner.
And I did a dancing skit with Barry Williams aka Greg Brady as a freshman in college.
That’s it for me.
Toni’s last blog post..Mother In Law Day
I went to a New Year’s Eve party at Drew from Big Brother’s house in 2000/2001. He’s best buds with my ex. Haven’t got one Hollywood invite yet. I just don’t understand…
Sarah @ Ordinary Days’s last blog post..Stickin’ Around
My husband is Bucky Lasek’s first cousin (famous skateboarder, but I didn’t know when I met my hubby).
Other than that, nothing.
Jenni’s last blog post..Because I’m Bored