NOTE: I’m safely in Philly! I wrote the below post from the airport in North Carolina but apparently the airport in Raleigh is anti-free internet, so I didn’t have a chance to publish it until now.
Heeeeere ya go!
***
Hello from North Carolina… one of my favorite states in the U.S. 
Everything went smoothly with the first leg of my trip to Philly. I made it to the Tampa airport on time, there were no issues with security (I always get checked but didn’t this time!) and used my hour in the terminal before my flight to hammer out some things on the business side of the blog.
Once we boarded the plane, I settled into my seat and kicked back with a celebrity gossip magazine.
(Holy bracelet overload. I kind of feel like a gypsy.)
Don’t you love how go from being totally immersed in The Kite Runner one day to being completely enamored with trashy celebrity gossip the next? I wear many hats, my friends, and have no shame in admitting to enjoying Us Weekly and OK! magazine.
Truth be told, the celebrity gossip magazines are my all-time favorites to read at the gym when I’m plugging away on the elliptical. Since they’re basically just pictures, the bouncing up and down on cardio equipment doesn’t bother me much since no reading is involved and I can flip through the magazine and enjoy the distraction.
I remember being an an airport with my family when I was in high school and noticing a whole bunch of women frantically scrambling to buy People magazine. When I asked one woman what was up, she said they were buying the magazine because there was a picture of Matthew Perry in the issue and he was in the airport. They all wanted his autograph on his picture.
They bought the magazines in vain because he was in an exclusive club area, but I did see him when he walked out of his “holding zone” and boarded the plane. I wanted to scream “CHANDLER!” or “I love you Chanandaler Bong!” but I resisted.
I’ve seen a few other sports stars (Scottie Pippen being the most memorable… he gave me a thumbs up!), but I haven’t seen any other celebrities in my life. Chandler was my one and only.
My mom, on the other hand, has had quite a few celebrity run ins. She sat next to Jerry Springer on a plane once (she said he was very nice) and rode in an elevator with Hulk Hogan!
Have you ever seen or met a celebrity in real life?
The rest of my flight to North Carolina was spent snacking on two packs of honey roasted peanuts.
There’s nothing like seeing pre-portioned packs of nuts to make you realize that you typically way overestimate the proper portion size for a serving of nuts. I eat nuts like I eat chips and never seem to stop after a serving… or four.
Now I’m hoping to run off and find a Starbucks before completing the last leg of my journey to Philadelphia. I’m craving a wrap and a mocha coconut Frappuccino like nobody’s business!
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I’ve sat beside a brazilian singer, but never met any american celebrities! Glad your trip is going well! 😀
I met Alanis Morrisette back in high school at a taping at MuchMusic (equivalent of MTV in Canada). Also met the Moffatt’s (Canadian boy band from the 90s), was in a Sloan music video so met the band, and have met some prominent Canadian politicians (politicians are like celebrities in Ottawa).
Last summer, while in Haiti working with UNICEF, I got back to the ‘office’ and there was a MASSIVE crowd of people. Turns out Lionel Messi, considered to be the world’s best soccer player, was there. I had no clue who he was. Also while in Haiti, a friend saw Sean Penn, who actually tried to take a picture of my friend, weirdly. Someone else met and hung out with Wyclef Jean. Haiti is a hot spot for celebrities.
Most recently, I saw Prince William and Kate while they were in Ottawa. Wasn’t close enough to get a decent picture, let alone shake their hand, but it was still fun to see them! Kate’s hair is amazing in person and William’s bald spot is very noticeable. That’s basically all I could see.
Oh my god, I used to LOVE the moffatts! What a flashback…
MY 13-year-old self is SO jealous.
Celebrity mags are the best! Love the distraction and totally have the People app on my phone so I can keep up with the gossip.
I’ve had two celebrities sightings. One was Richard Hatch from the first Survivor and the second was Maria Shriver at the airport. I also ran into CA’s new governon Gavin Newsom in an elevator. He’s really good looking in person and so tall!
Haha, I agree–some magazines are for use on the elliptical or stair master 🙂
Have a good trip!
I LOVE Matthew Perry and Friends, so I would have probably tried to chase him down. One time I walked right by Kelly Clarkson in a mall and almost didn’t even know it was her!
I grew up in LA/OC and have seen quite a few. It’s always exciting to see someone famous!
Sean Hayes from Will & Grace, twice. I saw him outside a bar in Santa Monica and outside a restaurant in Brentwood
Conan O’Brien walking in Westwood
Jerrry Seinfeld at the Irvine Spectrum getting Ben & Jerry’s with his wife Shoshana
Hulk Hogan at Planet Hollywood years ago
Mena Suvari in a bar in West Hollywood
Toby Maguire in my work elevator!
Jodie Sweetin ice skating when she was little
Tina Majorino
Travis Barker (with his kids) walking in Sherman Oaks
Shia Labeouf in crossing the street Sherman Oaks
Johnny Knoxville from Jackass at a restaurant in West Hollywood
Dr 90210 Robert Rey in Studio City, lol
I totally saw Dr 90210 too! Outside The Ivy! Lol
I love reading tabloids while running or on the elliptical – I do the same since it’s just mainly pictures and barely any reading!
I once saw Greg Brady (Barry Williams) at Mandalay Bay in Vegas. I’ve always wanted to spot a huge celebrity in person and that’s who I get?! 🙁
Most recently, I have seen Heidi Klum, Mario Lopez, Ana Lyn McCord, Joel McHale, Jane Lynch, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Kathy Ireland, Stevie Wonder, and the Asian guy from Community. (I live near LA and always brush up on the People mag!)
i’ve seen a handful of celebrities from afar…and i’ve helped a handful of them when i worked in a retail store, my favorite encounter was with the football player, champ bailey. he was in hawaii for the probowl, i had no clue who he was and my co-worker innocently asked if he was here for the probowl and we asked for his ID to verify credit card purchase (we seriously had NO clue who he was)…he was just SO nice and laughed when he asked us if we watched football and we both sheepishly said no. lol.
When I was in Italy this summer, I was having drinks and just chatting away with someone who I thought was just another average Italian (they’re all attractive and have banging bodies). Later I found out she is a famous model and frequently does spreads in the US and Europe and she has been on Oprah. I googled her name (Lea T) and realized, duh! Of course I’ve seen her picture!
I’ve never had a run in with a celebrity! I just moved to Orlando so I’m hoping maybe my chances will be higher compared to where I was living before. Your mom seems to be the celebrity magnet!! Have fun this weekend!
I did a film acting workshop in LA when I was in college. We filmed our projects at Universal Studios. One afternoon we were eating at the restaurant on the backlot and we saw Kevin Spacey having lunch with Steven Spielberg. One of my friends was gutsy enough to approach Kevin Spacey on his way out. He was super nice and agreed to take a picture with us. (Of course it’s like the worst picture ever taken of me, so it very rarely see the light of day!)
I met Keanu Reeves and Shaq (twice)! I also touched Hilary Duff’s hand in concert, believe it or not.
Also, my grandfather almost ran over Brad Pitt whilst driving in the French countryside.
I’ve had many random celebrity encounters. My two favorite were meeting Dave Matthews as he was sunbathing outside of the Don Cesar in Tampa and when JC Chasez sat behind me in first class on a flight from Orlando to Charlotte. He even got my bag down from overhead storage! Grabbed his autograph as he ate his calofornia pizza kitchen lunch (mind you this was 2001 so peek of his career! And my teeny bopper obsession )
Oh a just recently I met Bruno mars at a hotel in Miami where I was hosting a conference. One of his songs came on the radio randomly and he danced to himself. Uber lame!!!
I have seen Charlize Theron and Will Smith at the premiere of Hancock in Berlin and then Will Smith again at the premiere of Seven Pounds!!
I went to Vegas once and ended up at Brooke hogan’s birthday party two nights in a row! With the whole hogan clan lol.
hahaha, your mom…that’s so funny.
Somehow I have met a lot of celebs…Ray Romano, Fred Savage, Gene Hackman, and then through work I have met a few sporty celebs including Dan Marino. He was my FAVE! LACES OUT!!!! I totally called him Ace Ventura when I got a pic with him 🙂
My husband and I walked right in front of Jesse Jackson and his entourage at an outdoor mall/restaurant area by our house. If he weren’t such a political type guy, I would have probably asked for a picture, but I didn’t feel it was worth the anxiety of going over there to get the pic.
Chanandaler Bong! That made me almost snort! I’m a Friends fanatic….I did wonder about the ‘Miss’ thing, but I saw you got that covered 😉
I once saw Ludacris in a Lord and Taylor with my friend, while downtown Chicago(she was visiting me) but I wouldn’t let her go talk to him…he was with his little girl, I couldn’t do that to her.
In Vegas I saw Paris ….on her cell phone, pretty sure she was fake talking, considering she just let the phone fall from her ear as soon as she got in the elevator, no goodbye, um gotta go, or anything. She had like three bodyguards with her…I kindly said ‘I’ll just catch the next one’ one bodyguard thanked me, she smiled(but in a friendly, ‘I’m sorry I’m so famous that gigantic guys have to go with me everywhere look)
And also in Vegas my then boyfriend(soooooo glad I’m free of him! Lol!) he swore he saw Maxwell….but I didn’t think it was him.
Hopefully next time I visit FL I’ll have a celebrity PBFingers siting and pee my pants!!! 😉
Oh my gawd! I just saw how long that was! Sorry!!! :-/
The only celebrity I’ve met was Khloe Kardashian and Lamar at the Florida Mall in Orlando!! I bought their perfume and got to meet them and take a picture. Khloe was the sweetest person and even prettier in person and Lamar looked bored, but nice too! haha
This girl (a former model I think) that went to my church was getting married to some Hollywood producer or writer or something… anyway Matthew Perry was one of the ushers!! He walked my mom to her seat. All she said was “So how do you like Memphis?” She said he was nice enough!
Speaking of Tom Selleck, he sat next to me on a flight from L. A. to Calgary where he and the movie crew were headed to make a movie. It was a bit surreal but he was awfully nice and spent most of his time reviewing his script (Crossfire Trails).
Beyonce autographed her first solo CD for me in NYC when “Crazy in Love” came out in 2003. It was such a rush and she was even more beautiful in person! That same year I saw Ashanti at the Plaza hotel.
Eeeee see you in Philly girliepants!!!
I met a couple minor celebs when I was a kid at Disney World in the early 90’s – David Ogden Stiers (from M*A*S*H – one of my favorite shows! & Beauty & the Beast) and John Davidson (he did a version of Hollywood Squares) – and I once saw Liv Tyler in the elevator of The Grand Floridian. 🙂
“I wear many hats, my friends, and have no shame in admitting to enjoying Us Weekly and OK! magazine.”
ME TOO. And anyone who has a problem with it can suck wind.
I sat behind Susan Sarandon at a show in NYC. She was just amazingly beautiful…I couldn’t take my eyes off of her!
Glad the trip was painless! I got to meet Richard Blaise (winner of Top Chef Masters) on a business trip once and I went to high school with Vienna from The Bachelor (though I hate to call her a celebrity). Have fun!
We went to DisneyLand for daughters 1st birthday and we were side by side with Tori Spelling and her family.
I was on vacation with my family in North Carolina. We were staying down the beach from Nathan’s beach house on One Tree Hill. We watched them film on the beach and a few days later we met Chad Michael Murray and Sophia Bush in Wilmington. We got to go inside Karen’s Cafe and saw nearly every cast member on the show. It was a great day! My dad would have much rather been on the beach but my sister and I were in cute boy heaven!
I worked on a movie set once and got to meet a whole bunch of celebrities. After I was offered a job to be Aaron Eckhart’s assistant during the filming of Meet Bill. I declined to take a different job instead…what was I thinking? Anyway, I’m glad you made it to Philly safe! Can’t wait to meet you! I will be the crazy burnette squealing like you are the real-life celebrity! Maybe I will even bring a picture for you to autograph! Just Kidding!
I’ve never seen a celebrity just livin’ life, but Mia Hamm did come to my school once and I got to meet her. I have a good friend who lives in LA and has been an extra on a bunch of different TV shows, though. Every now and again her “character” will be acknowledged, so she’s famous-ish…right? Haha.
I really haven’t had a celeb sighting, but did you see that Alyssa @ Life of Blyss ran next to Justin TImberlake the other day!??!?! For REAL!
Hmmm well, I’ve never actually seen a celebrity, but my parents got to see and wave to Arnold Schwartzenegger at their store! Errr yeaaa I’m not very happy with Mr. A.S. but that’s as close as it gets! haha. Oh! Well, I kiiind of know a Korean actor b/c he’s my dad’s friend’s brother 😛
I’ve spotted Michelle Williams and Mariska Hargitay when I lived in Brooklyn. I met Dave Chapelle when I lived in St. Thomas. And living in Buffalo I met Keanu Reeves (who I actually had a 10+ minute convo with!).
Ok first of all, I love Friends & LOLed at your “Chanandler Bong” reference!
I don’t think I’ve ever “met” a celebrity, but I just recently saw Kelly Ripa on the street in NYC!
I sold designer swimwear right out of college at a five star resort in south Florida. I’ve met Jessica Simpson (such a sweetheart and so much shorter in person!) Tiki Barber and his cousin (the less famous football playing one ha) Susan Lucci, Paris Hiltons parents (SO RUDE), Dan Marino (hot for an old guy,) the mother from my big fat Greek wedding, Chris Noth, and Martin Short, he was my absolute favorite <3 sooo funny even in real life 🙂
I met Jake Gyllenhaal and he put his arm around me (no joke!). When I was in college during the ’04 elections, we had a bunch of different celebrities come to talk about politics, the environment, etc. (We had leo dicaprio and sharon stone come, too). After the event, Jake was signing autographs and taking pictures and he put his arm around me during a picture. swoon…..
I saw Lebron James in an airport once! What is it about airports?
I was also best friends with Robb Schneider’s daughter in elementary school, but I never met him. (We lived in Ohio and he was in NYC, but my friend was in a few of his movies!)
You probably always get checked with traveling because of the maxi dress!!! It kept happening to me, and then finally this super savvy traveler heard me complaining and he said ‘its the dress’ and if you think about it, it’s so true!!! they don’t know if your tapped up with knifes & drugs under there hahah however, still hasn’t stopped me from wearing them when i travel… 🙂
also, i’ve met a good amount of famous peeps (I worked for 7 radio/2 tv station) but the BEST – Taylor Swift and Colbie!! I even got to hang out with Taylor’s mom & brother Austin! I love meeting people who are nice and real… lots of people i’ve met are stuck up & it makes me not like them as much anymore 🙁
I’m on a roll this summer with celeb citings. I saw Bruce Willis in Newport Rhode Island at dinner, later I saw a bunch of Patriots Players. Then I got to INTERVIEW steven tyler from aerosmith which was probably my highlight. I’ve seen more but Steven and Bruce were the most A-List, I used to work with Bethenny Frankel but that was before she was a housewife… sighhhh
I saw Dan Aykroyd (really tall guy) once at a bar on Newbury Street in Boston.
And Spike Lee was the speaker at my college graduation so I got to shake his hand.
I was apparently on an elevator with Oprah when I was a baby. So I’m famous?
See you tomorrow!!
WOW!! I LOVE MATTHEW PERRY!!! I’d be so excited. That’s hilarious because I’ve been on a total celebrity gossip kick too!!! I’ve never really seen a celebrity, but I’ve met a lot of “sort of” famous people – mainly politicians since my parents were pretty involved with state conventions and whatnot when I was younger.
TOO MANY: Beyonce & Kelly (Rowland), Frieda Pinto, Ludacris, Slim Thug, Jared (FROM SUBWAY!!), Natasha Beddingfield, Lil Wayne, Yao Ming, Justin TImberlake, Jenna Jameson, Tito Ortiz, & Eduardo Verastegui.
I worked at a realllllly fanschy restaurant in Houston so I met a lot of them there. Now, I live in San Diego and frequently go to LA. Best interaction: Eduardo –> seriously the MOST beautiful man I’ve ever seen in person in my LIFE. I’d like to make babies with him 🙂
I hosted Jake Gyllenhaal when he came to my university in 2004 on a campus tour for the presidential election. Yeah. Big fan. I almost died. I got to tell him what to do and where to go, too, which felt kinda sexy… 😉
Oh my gosh I met Jerry springer once too at a restaurant in LA! He was nice! Not nearly as pervy as I thought he’d be haha I also saw Cameron Diaz and mark wahlberg… I was definitely star struck! Ps I think I saw you today but you were across the street and I didn’t want to bother you 🙂 looking forward to tomorrow!
I actually saw Jessica Simpson get off a plane and walk like 2 feet in front of me! It was awesome!! She was so gorge! That was when she had her little puppy 🙁 Poor thing…
When I went to the Celine Dion concert in Tacoma, Washington I was on the ground about 10 seats from the very front or something like that, but she was done singing and exited out on my aisle and she looked RIGHT at me and I held out my pen and paper SO fast! She grabbed it and signed it and looked right at me again and walked away…..I STARTED TO BAWL AFTER!! Best. Moment. Everrr.
this week is unreal! first I spend two days at my gym running/lifting with Justin Timberlake, now this.
the blog world must have been blessed this week. 😉