In the course of one’s life, it is likely that there will be several brushes with the famous and with the infamous. If you happen to live in Southern California, this is typically true in the course of a day. Today, though, was different. Today I had my strangest celebrity sighting yet.

I wanted a tall Java Chip Frappuccino^TM, and so I made my way to the Starbucks across the street from my office in the ugliest part of North Hollywood. I didn’t notice the guy in the black suit and shades standing outside the door until I nearly bumped into the same guy standing just inside the door. OK, it might not have been the same guy, but after noticing guy #2, I noticed guys #3-5 and promptly got freaked out. They were standing solemnly at each corner of the room (Starbucks has a lot of corners), hands casually clasped in front.

I could barely squeeze into the tight gap where the line to order snaked between chairs and tables and gawking idiots. It was a slow process, but it finally dawned on me that there must be someone or something pretty impressive in the room. Wondering how casual was too casual, I turned my head to glance artlessly about the room, only to find that I was standing uncomfortably close to a table hosting Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Arnold and a few other non-famous-and-therefore-unimpressive people.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the absurdity. Of all the people I could stumble into, this has to be the funniest pair imaginable. I actually like Schwarzenegger. I supported him in his campaign and appreciate the liberal views he’s brought to the forefront of his party, and the exhilaration he’s brought to state politics. But let’s face it, there’s no funnier person to be able to tell my Boston friends I saw at a Starbucks, mere months after relocating to the imposed lunacy of Los Angeles. If anyone comes close, it’s Tom Arnold. The two of them as a pair are a perfect portrait of the popular cliche of “Wacky Hollywood.”

The Java Chip Frappuccino^TM was really good, too.