It's conflicting to feel sorry for celebs who can't even go on a Starbucks run without getting invaded by the paparazzi. On the one hand, you can see how this annoyance would become something more resembling an occupational hazard, and how they chose this life for themselves and have more money than god, on the other hand, who wants to sequester themselves up in their own personal Xanadu while waiting for one of their hangers-on to bring them a skinny venti mocha?

But somehow, the plight seems even more distinct when you hear about it through the eyes of our new president-elect, Barack Obama. Because whoa, the secret service surrounding this guy sounds insane, as it should be. It's not like there aren't hundreds of crazy racist meth-addled fanatics even right now trying to think of someway to dispose of our first African-American president.

But it sucks that Obama can't even go for a haircut in his hometown of Hyde's Park anymore. And it's certainly putting a crimp on his and Michelle's love life.

For Mr. Obama, it means no more casually stopping by the Medici for pastries or heading over to Valois for lunch or window shopping with the girls at 57th Street Books, at least not without elaborate preparation. He did manage to take his wife, Michelle, on Saturday night to Spiaggia, a four-star Italian restaurant in downtown Chicago, where the future president loves the wood-roasted scallops.

The Obamas have been going to Spiaggia with its lakefront view for years for what they call "date night," including on their anniversary last month and Michelle's birthday earlier this year. "It's always just the two of them," said Tony Mantuano, the chef and co-owner. "Now it's just the two of them and 30 Secret Service agents."

See what I mean?? On the one hand, poor Obama's, dining at Spiaggia with a lakefront view and eating scallops. It's hard to feel too sorry for them when you're eating McDonald leftovers of your Big Mac from last week.

On the other hand, it's gotta be a strain on your relationship to be surrounded by constant guard detail as screaming fans and paparazzi try to shoot your picture while you are just trying to have dinner with your wife. No wonder Britney went insane.