8 Random Brushes with Fame (some of which are once removed)

I've been tagged by one of my favorite writers -- Schmutzie! I'm giddy. No, I'm giddy! I heart me some Schmutz.

So, in keeping with Schmutzie's rebel spirit, I'm adding a fifth rule to the List o' Rules:

1) Each player makes a list of eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2) At the end of your list, choose eight people to to tag and list their names.
3) Leave them a comment on each of their websites to let them know that they have been tagged.
4) The people tagged will write a post on their own website about their eight things, post these rules, and tag eight others.
5) The people tagged can make up their own meme and/or their own rules, or they can totally ignore the tag. You're off the hook!

Today, I'm making up my own meme since I've already done the 7 Random Things and even tagged my toddler. And if I were to do 8 Random Things right now, they'd all sound something like 1) the sound of children bickering makes me want to push pencils into my ears, 2) I mostly try not to ignore a toddler walking around with a step stool looking for something to reach (and break), 3) I think uninterrupted sleep is over-rated. You know, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

So, without further ado, here are my 8 Random Brushes with Fame (some of which are once removed):

1. Paul Simon gave me a cold. He came to speak at a playwrighting class even though he was quite under the weather, and I shook his hand. Later that week, I felt like I'd been Garfunkled. Bleagh! The fact that I'd shared germs with a man at the top of his game artistically (this was right after Graceland) made me feel a little better.

2. A friend of mine slept with an Eagle. When she started to tell me the story, I thought she meant Don Henley and wanted more details. Then she admitted it was Glenn Frey. At least it wasn't Joe Walsh.

3. The brother of this friend once slept with Mamie Van Doren, to which all I can say is 1) WTF is up with this family? and 2) Why?

4. A good friend of mine almost slept with the lead singer of a certain Irish band. His name is sometimes used in the same sentence with Nobel Peace Prize. She was too much of a good girl to follow through, but she did say he had a lovely come-hitherness about him.

5. I once cornered John Updike in the post office in the small town where he lives to offer up my housesitting services (I was housesitting for his next door neighbor at the time). He was polite, but deer in the headlights pretty much describes the look he gave me. Poor thing.

6. In a much younger life, I was hit on by a Nobel laureate playwright. He pitched his woo, but I declined. Some people thought he was predatory. I thought he was charming. Just not charming enough.

7. Tracy Chapman ran over my friend's toes with her car. No harm done.

8a. John Larroquette gave me a dirty look in an airport. He actually stuck out his tongue. Granted, I was staring at him. I wasn't wearing my glasses and couldn't really tell if it was John Larroquette or not. I don't know if I thought he couldn't see me staring at him, but he wasn't amused. And because that was a lame brush with fame, I'll add another lame brush with fame. Two lames make a... not-so-lame, I guess.

8b. I used to wait on the novelist Robin Cook. Cheap, cheap, cheap.

Now, you eight, consider yourselves tagged:

bipolarlawyercook
bullseye, baby!
the emlyn project
just another ink stained wretch
pillows and chocolate
simply nutmeg
viking conquest
whopping cornbread