Guilty Pleasures
Short is the joy that guilty pleasure brings.
[Euripides]
Ok, so everyone has a few things that they absolutely enjoy, but wouldn't be caught dead admitting to it in public. A few years ago, I became rather obsessed with the whole idea of guilty pleasures - I indulge more and more in my own; as I pass people on the street or sit next to them in class, I can't help but wonder what it is they like to do when no one's watching; and I even ask people what their guilty pleasures actually are.
I made my Tech News staff, and everyone at the first meeting, admit to a guilty pleasure outloud. Some were more honest than others, but we laughed 'til we cried that night. (I mean, who wouldn't laugh at the thought of being smothered in cookie dough or imagining old people naked?) I really learned alot about the staff from what they said, and I still believe that you can tell more about a person from their guilty pleasures than you can from their actual hobbies and interests.
So, without further adeiu, here are a few of my guilty pleasures:
I'm not sure what it is, but decorating is in my blood. I just love all the crafty things they do on shows like "Decorating Cents," "This Small Space," "The Caroll Duvall Show," and "Designing For the Sexes." Not to mention all the great stuff on other channels, like my personal decorating god in Discovery Channel's "The Christopher Lowell Show" , and my current favorite "Trading Spaces" on TLC. I have amazing fantasies about going on these shows and having my drab apartment revamped on a budget.
Ok, so I'm starting to be more open about this one, but its still not something I put on a resume or anything. There's just something about the hillbilly sound of bluegrass, old country, and folk music that makes me happy. I've been known to start dancing a ridiculous jig when I hear "Dueling Banjos", and I'm on a quest to find the video for Primus' versoin of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." If you're interested in indulging your inner hillbilly, I suggest you start slow, with a little Southern Rock or old fashioned country crooners like Hank Williams. If you're more modern, start with String Cheese Incident or Phish before moving on to the Charlie Daniels Band. For those who are into "Adult Contemporary" try Nickel Creek, Alison Krauss, or Dixie Chicks on for size.
I'm so emo.
I must confess it. I have a Dashboard Confessional song on one of my favorite homemade mix CDs. In fact, Eric and I spent the better part of the summer of 2002 listening to them. We stumbled upon them one night at the house when the kids were watching one of MTV's unplugged type specials. We stopped to chat with them in the living room and were entranced by some of the lyrics. I immediately ran upstairs to look up the actual words and got some help downloading my favorites. Even though I'm not emotionally distraught anymore, I still like hearing the songs and remembering how much things have changed since that summer.