More Brushes, More Celebs

Nearly nine years ago, I wrote a blog post about some of the celebrities I've met in the past. These were entertainers that I met before the Internet and social media made it much easier for a celebrity to notice that you existed.

The famous folks that I listed in that post crossed paths with me because of an internship that I did with the Ottawa Citizen when I was finishing up my Journalism program at Algonquin College. But these are not the only celebrities that I've met. Since then, since even before the days of Twitter, there are a few people that I've had the honour of rubbing shoulders with, so to speak.

Dan Ackroyd

Photo: Google

In the mid to late 1990s, I was a big wine aficionado, taking the sommelier program at Algonquin College, learning all I could about the nectar of the grape, and hanging out with like-minded wine lovers. I met and became good friends with Perry and Astrid, who worked in the wine industry, and I would help them at various events, pouring wine for judges, the general public, and famous folk.

One year, Perry and Astrid asked me to help out at a fundraiser just outside of Kingston, Ontario, which was hosted by food writer Gay Cook. I would be helping pouring wine for Chateau Des Charmes, from the Niagara Peninsula.

As people approached my table, the unforgettable face of Dan Ackroyd came up, his empty glass at the ready. He wanted something red and jammy, and I poured him a bold Cabernet Sauvignon. He loved it and returned for refills several times, happily engaging me in conversation every time.

At one point, he approached me and asked, "Do you have any more of that Cab?"

With a sad face, I replied, "I'm sorry, we're all out."

"Oh, really?" He seemed genuinely disappointed.

My serious face turned to a smile. "No, not really." I reached for the bottle and gave him a generous refill.

Mr. Ackroyd let out a genuine laugh which made my day. I had made a very funny man laugh at my own joke.

When we actually got down to our last bottle, I brought it, uncorked, to Dan's dining table. "Take this," I said, offering him the bottle. "It really is the last one." He shook my hand, thanked me, calling me by name, and took the bottle. (What I didn't tell him was that it was one of the bottles that had been given to me for helping out at the fundraiser and that we had already poured the last of it earlier.)

This happened shortly before Dan Ackroyd began putting his name on his own line of wine and I like to think that he was inspired to start his winery after that day. I know that I'll always remember that day.

Gord Downey, Rob Baker, and Gord Sinclair

Photo: Google

When Dan Ackroyd attended the Kingston fundraiser, he wasn't alone. Three members of The Tragically Hip were part of his entourage. The Kingston band was already big, with five albums under their belt, but they really seemed like they were just a bunch of fun-loving guys, happy to support a local cause. In addition to serving Dan, these fellows and their wives also came up to my table. After their first visit to my table, with Ackroyd, Gord Downey came back on his own.

"What's that wine that you poured for Dan?" he asked me.

I produced the Cabernet Sauvignon and filled Gord's glass. "Cheers," I said, and he raised his full glass to me before returning to his table.

My encounter with the band was limited to simply refilling their glasses as they returned for more wine. While I enjoyed meeting them, and they were all kind and polite, I never really engaged them in conversation like I did with Dan. But it was still a memorable time.

Steve Patterson

Photo: Google

I didn't see the host of CBC's The Debaters at first. It was his voice that gave him away.

I was with DW, her sister, and her brother-in-law at a very crowded Mill Street Brew Pub. We were waiting for an available table, were planning to have dinner before heading to a comedy show, where comedian Nikki Payne was headlining.

I made my way to the bar, where Pete (the regular evening bartender when I was a regular) was busy at work. I ordered pints for the four of us, and while I waited I heard a lively conversation next to me. I knew the voice right away.

I turned around and came face-to-face with Patterson. "Hey, you're Steve Patterson!"

"That's right, I am," he said with a smile.

"I'd know your voice anywhere." I introduced myself.

"I'll never forget your name," he said. "My brother's name is Ross."

"Good name."

I asked him if he knew that Nikki Payne was in town, if they were doing something together, but he didn't know she was in Ottawa. My meeting two comedians within hours was purely coincidental (I actually met Nikki and chatted with her after her show, and told her I had run into Patterson earlier).

I offered to buy Steve a beer but he said that he was just finishing up and would be heading out, but thanked me anyway.

I continue to listen to The Debaters and Steve's voice over the airways.

Sam Roberts

Photo: Brown Knowser

He wasn't even supposed to be there.

Several years ago, Kid 1 and I went to the National Arts Centre (NAC) to see an African drum show, but when we arrived, we learned that the show had been cancelled and that another show, with the NAC Orchestra, would take its place. We were promised a special guest.

We were disappointed as we took our seats but when we learned that Canadian rock icon, Sam Roberts, was the special guest, we were excited once again. We were both fans.

Mr. Roberts surprised us by playing the violin with the orchestra. He was quite good.

After the show, Sam was wandering the crowds to shake hands and say hello. When he came near us, we were eager to let him know that we enjoyed this surprise performance. I asked him how long he had been playing the violin and he told me that he still practiced for several hours a week.

Sam was so engaging and was not in a rush to move through the crowd, easily talking to us for about five minutes. I captured a photo of him and my daughter but I only had my smartphone, which didn't work very well in low light. The photo, sadly, was blurry.

But I've seen him in shows since, and have captured much better photos.

Kate Kelton

Photo: Brown Knowser

Years ago, when I had my Brownfoot Journal blog, I wrote a silly post that took inspiration from an episode of Friends, where Ross and Rachel made a list of five celebrities they would be allowed to sleep with, without repercussions, if the opportunity arose.

When DW and I first watched that episode, we immediately came up with lists of our own.

Over the years, that list changed for me, slightly, and I decided to write about it on my blog. I carried that post over to The Brown Knowser, years later.

One of the women on my list happened to read that post and reached out to me, through Twitter. That person is none other than Kate Kelton, who caught my eye in some 90s Tic Tac commercials and who I saw again, years later, in the film Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle.

Over the years, we have kept in touch: one time, she even set up a video chat so that we could speak, face-to-face.

We've lost touch, over the past few years, but Kate still remains one of my best brushes with celebrities. Dare I say that we're even distant friends?

Sarah Slean

Photo: Brown Knowser

The greatest brush with celebrities has to be when I met one of my favourite Canadian musical artists, Sarah Slean. We met, initially, through Twitter, and it was a great honour when she followed me back. But that wasn't the highlight of our meeting.

One year, on Canada Day, Sarah joined the NAC Orchestra for a free concert and my wife, kids, and I were in attendance. We managed to get seats that were only a couple of rows from the stage and right in front of Sarah's piano. Because I had my camera with me and there seemed to be no photo restrictions, I captured some great shots of Sarah in action.

After the show, Sarah sat at a table to sign autographs and we joined the line to meet her. Kid 1 held a CD for Sarah to sign; Kid 2, a poster.

I let the kids go ahead of me, and Sarah greeted them with a wide smile. She then looked up to their dad, had a double-take, and said, "We're Twitter buddies!"

I think my heart stopped. Sarah Slean actually recognized me! She knew that I existed!

We took photos together and had a very nice, but brief chat.

Photo: Brown Knowser

A couple of years later, DW, the kids, and I attended another concert, just outside of Carleton Place. It was an intimate setting in a restored barn, and we sat in the front row, anxiously awaiting Sarah to take to the stage.

The lights dimmed and Sarah emerged from back stage. As it was a small venue, she took the time to look out into the fully filled area, trying to see faces.

"Oh, it's so nice to see so many of you," she said, and then looked to the front row. "And friends," she added, looking right at me. It's a good thing the lights were dimmed, because I'm sure I was blushing.

Sarah took an intermission and, as she moved across the stage, reached out and took my hand in a gentle squeeze before moving backstage.

After the show, we stayed only briefly, as the kids were tired and wanted to go home. I was able to chat with Sarah and it felt like we were truly old friends.

Best brush ever.

What about you? What celebrities have you met? Leave a comment.

Theme Music

In the final months of 2011, as I was finishing the final draft of Songsaengnim: A Korea Diary, I was continually listening to Land & Sea, by Sarah Slean. I had purchased the deluxe version of the album, which includes instrumental versions of the Sea tracks as a bonus.

In essence, Sarah's vocal tracks are removed and you're left with orchestral wonder. Of course, I love her voice, but when you're trying to concentrate on forming cohesive, literary passages, another voice, no matter how beautiful, can be distracting.

The instrumentals soothed me.

When I sent my last manuscript to the publisher for printing, my thoughts drifted to delusions of grandeur and I thought, what if my book becomes strangely popular and someone wants to turn it into a movie?

No one has ever approached me with that insane idea.

But if someone had, and I was allowed to participate in the project, I had some ideas.

Kate Kelton would play the role of Tanya. She and I discussed that fantasy, years ago, when I sent her a copy of my novel, and a few years later, when we actually chatted through FaceTime.

The soundtrack, though the book is set in 1997, would be written by Sarah Slean. I already had some tracks from Land & Sea that would work.

"Cosmic Ballet" would softly play throughout the film, from the beginning, where Roland Axam is watching out the window as his plane makes its final approach to Kimp'o International Airport, in Seoul. It would replay, throughout the film, as Roland remembered his tragic past and in other tender moments.

Other songs came to mind, as I recently read through my novel. "Napoleon," "You're Not Alone," "The One True Love," and "My Eyes & Your Eyes." It were as though this album was made for my story.

Today, as I prepare to return to South Korea, to work on the nearly forgotten sequel, Gyeosunim, I plan to also document my trip with video. To that end, I've even begun storyboarding segments of my journey back to The Land of the Morning Calm, to almost mimic the fictional journey of Roland, more than 20 years ago.

It would be nice to use some of the instrumental pieces from Sarah's album.

Sarah? There'd be a copy of my novel in it for you. What do you say?

Sarah?

Musical Interlude

I was pretty sure that after my medical procedure^*, yesterday, I wouldn't have the mental energy to write a blog post for today.

I was right.

But I think that even if I were up to the task, I would have wanted to share this music video, anyway.

When I was in San Diego, in March, I chatted with my favourite actress/model/artist, Kate Kelton, through Twitter. When she read that I was close to Los Angeles, she invited me to one of her art exhibits, but sadly—very sadly—I was unable to make it.

During our chat, she let me know that she was getting ready to do a project with none other than music legend, Eric Clapton. She told me that they were going to be shooting a music video together, and I was very excited for her.

I expected that Kate would be seen in various shots in the video, as part of a story line. What I didn't expect was that the video would also be very much about her, working on her art.

The song, "Can't Let You Do It," is great (after all, it is Eric Clapton), but I really like the video, too, and not just because I'm such a fan of Kate. The lighting is great, with shadows and flashes of light, and fast, jerking camera work, with high angles from above as well as all around Kate in her studio, as she writes out the lyrics to the song. Her own art work is also featured.

The only disappointment that I found with the video is that we only see quick flashes of Kate, and usually from behind, as she's writing or from above. We really don't see her face, so unless you know her or her work, the person in the video could be anyone.

And I like looking at Kate.

Here's the video. Enjoy!






^* My procedure went well. Thanks.

California Dreamin'

It's not the car I would have chosen.

For our Southwestern USA trip, I wanted an American car, one that I wouldn't ever want to own, but one that fit in with our trip. I envisioned a Ford Taurus or a Dodge Charger: something with a big engine that would take up the road. Big. Bold.

American.

When we arrived at Avis, in Phoenix, my brother-in-law, who drove my wife and me to the rental agency, joked with the agent about us taking a Mustang convertible: the agent, who was typing up the agreement, looked at me and asked, "Do you want a Mustang? I can give you a Mustang."

The car was in the same class that we reserved, and I was tempted, would have said yes if it was only my wife and me on this trip. I'm sure the kids would have been over the moon if we pulled up at my in-law's place in a performance car with its top down, but they wouldn't have liked to sit in the back, with luggage crammed around them, for the entire journey.

When we were in France, we rented a small Renault, and the kids had to put up with a cooler and camping gear, limiting their movement. I vowed to never do that to them again.

No, they deserved a spacious back seat, so I stuck with the car that they had held for me (which was parked next to that bright-red Mustang in the Avis lot).

It wasn't American, didn't stand out in the lot. It was a smokey grey Toyota Avalon. Off-white (light grey), leather interior. Not fully loaded but had lots of convenient features, including XM Satellite Radio and shiftronic transmission. What was important, though, was that all of our suitcases, plus my camera bag and tripod, my wife's backpack, and shopping bags fit in the trunk, leaving the kids plenty of room in which to stretch out.

The Avalon was also really good on gas, which saved us enough money that my wife didn't complain when I decided to pick up those extra bottles of beer at the Whole Foods. Gas prices shot up between Arizona and California (double), and so we filled up just before we crossed the border and only had to fill up once, in Temecula (where my company's North American head office resides) before we returned to Phoenix.

Interstate 10 cuts right across Arizona, coming in from New Mexico in the southeast, turns up through Tucson, and hits Phoenix before it heads due-west, into Southern California, where it ends in Los Angeles. It's largely flat and straight, between Phoenix and Indio, the mountains staying off to the sides, not really becoming a factor until you pass Palm Springs. Traffic was around you but never a problem, and I could keep the Avalon in cruise control, without overriding it, for most of that stretch.

The Avalon cruises like a dream.

We stopped for lunch in Palm Springs, home of the rich and resort area of movie stars. We ate at Sherman's Deli and Bakery, which is famous for its food and for spotting the famous. While we dined, I recognized two people that I have seen on screen and television, but whom I only recognized by face alone, and not by name (I'm famous for being really bad with names). One, an elderly gentleman, who I recognized from many police or crime dramas; the other, a younger man of Indian or Pakistani heritage, who I am pretty sure does comedy.

While I scanned the room, looking for more celebrities and eating my smoked meat sandwich, I received a tweet from another celebrity, one who lives in Los Angeles and who, over the past couple of years, has become virtual friends with me, thanks to my blog post about my Top 5—the fabulous Kate Kelton. Kate had read my tweet, in which I posted the photo of the LA/Phoenix road sign (see above) and wrote that I was California-bound, and in her response had invited me to an art show that she was having later in the week.

Yes, that's Kate and me, having a
FaceTime chat, back in October.

Yes. Kate Kelton invited me to an event. Me.

I immediately stopped looking around Sherman's for other celebrities I didn't know and who didn't know me. My day had already been made.

What changed my elation to heartbreak was that Kate's show was on the coming Thursday: by Wednesday morning, we were on our way back to Arizona and, by Thursday, we were back in Canada. From sunshine and surf to desert heat, to an ice storm. How I wished we could have stayed just a little longer.

So close but yet, so far.

It was my eldest daughter's birthday, that day (15 already!), and so we treated her to a delicious slice of chocolate layer cake from Sherman's bakery, but our real celebration would be later that day, when we reached our destination.

At La Jolla, we checked into the posh Hyatt hotel, where BMWs, Mercedes, and Porsches were being valet-parked. Boy, did I wish I had that shiny red Mustang then. We were only staying here for our first night, but we thought we should give DD15 a nice place to stay on her birthday, with a heated pool and hot tub as well as a comfortable bed.

As soon as we had finished checking in, we headed to La Jolla Beach to enjoy the sunset on the open Pacific. We walked out onto Rocky Point and watched the waves crash against the rocks, while pelicans and seagulls coasted in the wind.

It was a breathtaking sight.

Sadly, with all of our travelling through the day, having awoken so early in Phoenix, our birthday girl was exhausted and in no mood to celebrate, let alone wander the beach. Or eat. Or swim in the heated pool at the hotel. Or relax in the hot tub. We left the beach after the sun disappeared, picked up some take-out food, and returned to our hotel room.

Birthday girl was asleep soon after. Dreaming, I hoped, of a better tomorrow.

The California leg of our journey continues on Thursday.

I Can Be Such a Child

There are people out there, who, when they discover my age, say, "no way."

I'm 48.

When those people express their disbelief, I have a pat answer: "I know. I get that a lot. It's because I act like I'm 12."

The evidence of my childish behavior lies in some of the posts I've blogged in the past. To wit, my posts about my Top 5 List. Like the Ross of the 90s show, Friends, my wife and I devised a list of the five celebrities, who, if given the opportunity to sleep with, would be allowed to without any repercussions toward our relationship.

Lori kept her list private. She's smart. And mature. And, I don't think she really made a list.

I, on the other hand, not only made a list, I told people about it. Unlike the fictional Ross, I didn't laminate the list on a wallet-sized card: worse, I posted the list on my blog. I started following three of the five on Twitter (I don't think the other two are on Twitter). And, I tweeted links to my blog to those three unsuspecting women.

Yes, that was creepy. I know. But I'm harmless, mostly.

Of those three, I know that two of them have read the post. One of them even responded to the post with a comment. That made my day (more proof that I can behave like a 12-year-old).

On Canada Day, Sarah Slean came to Ottawa to perform a free concert at the NAC. She was accompanied by the NAC Orchestra and the 60-member Unisong Choir. It was a first-come, first-seated event.

This is as close as I managed to get.

Shot with my 50mm lens, the magnification is 1:1.

Because photography was allowed (or, at least, it wasn't discouraged), I switched lenses and got closer.

Having been to three other Sarah Slean concerts, this was the closest I've ever sat. For me, this was as close as I thought I'd ever get to one of my Top 5.

But it got better.

After the show, as we were heading out, we saw a sign that said Sarah was going to come out to the theatre foyer, where she would greet fans and sign autographs. We hung around, letting the kids pick out a poster and one of the few CDs of hers that we didn't already have.

When Ms. Slean came to the foyer, we applauded and got into the autograph lineup. I handed Lori my iPhone and my brother-in-law my D-SLR, and asked them to get ready to snap photos.

When it was our turn to approach her, my youngest handed Sarah the poster, and gave her name. "What a pretty girl," Sarah said, and she looked up at me. She then began to sign, but looked up at me again."

I extended my hand. "Hi, Sarah, I'm Ross Brown."

She smiled and replied, taking my hand, "We're Twitter buddies." Yes, Sarah Slean and I follow each other and have exchanged tweets. But for her to call me her Twitter buddy made my heart race.

Just like a little kid.

While she finished signing the poster, we chatted, but I have no memory of what we said. I was self-conscious of the fact that while she looked fabulous, I was in my Canada Day shirt and shorts, having worn these clothes all day, outdoors, where I had sweat in the summer heat. I thought to myself, I must stink. Also, I hadn't shaved, and I was sporting the worst hair cut I've had in years, if not ever. But I summoned up the courage to ask: "Would it be all right if I had my picture taken with you?"

"Of course," she said.

Beauty and the Beast

Did I talk to her about my Top 5 List? Are you crazy?

I may be childish sometimes, but unlike Ross from Friends, I didn't make any proposition. On the contrary: I thought, Sarah Slean can't be on my list any more. We're Twitter buddies. We're virtual friends. I can't sleep with a friend. (Also, we stayed until most of her fans left, and we met Sarah's parents, who came to get her at the end.)

And just like that, my list crumbled apart.

Like every child, we must all grow up at some point.

But if Kate Kelton came to town...

Top Five—Reprise

In my effort to bring some of my posts from the Brownfoot Journal to The Brown Knowser, I thought I'd ease in, bringing old posts to the new blog gradually—you know, when I'm either out of time or out of ideas to write something new.

One of my more popular posts from the Brownfoot Journal actually caught the attention of one of the people that is mentioned in this post (all right, I tweeted her and gave her the link; but she didn't have to go to the post, read it, and respond!). We still tweet each other from time to time; most recently, yesterday (okay, she tweeted the world and I responded; but then she replied, so there!).

So here is the post about my top five. It's been revised because a few months later, I changed one of the ladies in my lineup. I wanted a top six, but Lori put her foot down.

What's my top five? Read on...

Do you remember that episode of Friends, when Ross and Rachel made a list of celebrities who, should the occasion ever avail itself, they could sleep with without incurring any wrath? I'm sure that many couples who watched that episode laughed at the show, but immediately talked about What if?? and came up with lists of their own.

Did you?

Lori and I did. I had a couple of choices off the top of my head, whereas Lori had to give it some thought. Gary Sinise was at the top of her list and came after a few seconds of thought, but she had to struggle to come up with her list. She said that I was really the only one on her list, but I said that was a cop-out.

I don't know what made me think of the list today, but when I asked Lori who the other men were on her list, she said she didn't want to share. How selfish, I said, but again her answer was that I was the only one on her list that mattered.

See? Selfish!

I, on the other hand, like to share. And so, here's my top-five list of ladies that I would do if I got the chance, and for whom Lori would give me a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card. The list has changed over the years—that's allowed, right?

Jennifer Aniston: Hey, she kind of started it, didn't she? And if a geeky Ross like David Schwimmer can get her, why couldn't I? Aren't I geeky enough?

I've had the hots for Jennifer Aniston since the first season of Friends, and when she and Brad Pitt broke up, I wanted to be there to comfort her. Despite her superstar status, Aniston has come across as being real, being the girl next door. Some women have come and gone from my list, but Jennifer has always stayed on top.

Salma Hayek: Salma has also been a founding member of my top 5 list. She oozes sexy. And with her Latino roots, how could she go wrong. I fell in love with her in Fools Rush In (hey, that film, with Matthew Perry, brings her one degree from Friends) and it was in Frida where I fell in love with her acting talent. When she made appearances on Ugly Betty, I would watch the show, but only for her—I hated that show.

Lori approves of this choice for my list (secretly, I think Salma is on Lori's list). And that's pretty cool.

Kate Kelton: Who? She was the Tic-Tac girl for a number of years. The first time I saw her, it was for only 30 seconds. But it was the most-seductive 30 seconds I had ever experienced. From that time on, whenever we recorded a television show and fast-forwarded through the commercials, I would actually stop and back up to the beginning of the commercial, just so I could watch Kate. When she puckered up to blow her minty breath, I would pucker up too, hoping that someday our lips would touch. She also does a Cadillac commercial that makes my pen, well, you'd have to see the ad. Kate also appears in Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle and, most recently, Bullet In The Face. She's just so, so incredibly hot^*. And you can also find her on her Web site. And here. Oh yeah: and as I said, we occasionally chat on Twitter.

Stana Katic: I really got into Castle this season, mostly due to Stana's hotness and the building tension between her character and Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion—another Canadian). When I watched the season finale last week, I think my heart skipped a beat with the cliff-hanger ending. If Detective Kate Beckett ever leaves the show, there will be one less viewer. One of the up-sides to me bumping Natalie Brown is that I have replaced her with another Canadian. That's gotta count for something, right? I'm now following Stana on Twitter, but not in a creepy way (though I may notify her about the existence of this post).

Sarah Slean: She's a beauty with a killer voice. I loved Sarah's music before I even knew what she herself looked like. When I saw pictures of her, I thought her beauty was just icing on the cake. When she came to town a couple of years ago, I bought tickets right away, made sure that Lori, Sarah (my Sarah, who also loves Sarah Slean), and I got as close to the stage as we could. Last November, when Sarah returned to Ottawa, Lori and I bought our tickets right away (our kids were left behind and I'm still living that one down; next time, they're both coming).

I'm a big fan. I follow Sarah on Twitter, and a few months ago she started following me (so honoured!). So I don't think Ms. Slean will ever get bumped off my list.

So there you have it, my list of five^**. Who's on your list?

^* If Songsaengnim: A Korea Diary was ever made into a movie, I'd want her to play the role of Tanya. I, of course, would be Roland!

^** Lori, who is generally okay with my list, likes to remind me how there's not a single blond among my top five. I always tell her that she's the only blond for me.