BEN THERE, DONE THAT ... AT 7TH AND MONTANA!

It was another dose of Politics at Our Favorite Starbucks this morning as a Mysterious Insider made the scene, intent on making small talk. He walked right up to me like we were old friends, patted me on the back and said, "Nice jacket, is it cashmere?" I'm about as friendly as they come, but I must say I was a bit surprised. "Why yes, thanks," I replied, "Err ... No offense intended -- but am I supposed to know you?" He paused briefly, just long enough for me to catch the faintest glimmer of what I like to call the "doesn't-everyone-know-who-I-am look," and replied, "I think we've probably met." "He must be a politician," I thought and then, as if on cue, he grabbed a seat with City Councilman Bobby who had evidently witnessed the whole exchange. "Don't you know the Mayor, here?," Bobby asked, sarcastically. I was about to apologize -- after all, how could I not recognize our own Mayor -- when it became clear that Bobby was talking about me. "This guy here is the Mayor of Starbucks," he said, "I'm telling you, he's the Mayor!" I've been called worse. Meanwhile, as for our Mysterious Insider, it turns out he's on the Santa Monica-Malibu School Board.