Guilty Pleasures

So let's do some 'fessin' up, folks. These are some of my guilty pleasures - the things that very few people know about me, and for good reason:

1. Hanson (as in "Mmmmbop"). I think the Hanson kids are actually quite talented. Seriously. You may not like their music, but they wrote all the stuff themselves (at least on that first CD, Middle of Nowhere which, yes, I own), arranged it, and actually played instruments. And although I wouldn't want it piped into my earphones 24/7, I actually found "Mmmmbop" a catchy tune.

2. Music with lyrics I wouldn't let my kids listen to and of which I generally disapprove. I would be no less enriched for this stuff not being out there, so don't get me wrong - I'm all for artists cleaning up their acts and parental advisories on music and what not. Nonetheless, I absolutely loved "Tipsy" by J-Kwon, and my newest favorite song is "Love Me Or Hate Me" by Lady Sovereign, featuring the lyric, "If you love me, then thank you! If you hate me, then $%#^ you!" Truly tasteless and yet absolutely addictive.

3. Disney television shows. Again, happy to live in a world where Howard Stern is a janitor somewhere instead of an entirely-too-wealthy DJ/TV personality, I love the crystal clean, bubblegum wholesomeness of Lizzie Maguire and Even Stevens. Well, I did when they first came out. Since neither are still in production, I'm pretty much over them (they don't do much for me as syndicated reruns), but the point is, I like the essence of the shows. Cute, harmless, nonviolent, nongraphic, and totally aimed at the "tween" living inside me.

4. Circus peanuts (the candy). I have never been able to explain their appeal, but I would happily chow down on a whole bag.

5. So You Think You Can Dance. I hate reality TV. REALLY. I never watch these shows, although I admit I got caught up in the tail end of a Top Chef re-run marathon that hooked me for three whole hours and launched a new fascination with cooking. Still, I not only hate reality TV, I loathe these competitions where they let perfectly unsuspecting dufuses who do not actually know they're not at all talented go on the air and make asses of themselves, and then proceed to let the judges tell them so. I see no reason for this inhumanity - it's like sanctioned high school bullying, like letting the preppy kids publicly berate the band geeks and book nerds. Nonetheless, my husband roped me into watching a mid-season episode of Dance, and because I love dancing (and by now all the sucky people were long gone), I was easily drawn in and found myself actually intentionally tuning in every week. Worse: I voted. I did! I voted for Travis. TWICE. While I'm not exactly unhappy that Benji won, I admit to being a little disappointed that Travis didn't win the whole enchilada, although I find myself believing that it may work out to his advantage because he won't be limited to the Celine Dion contract once the tour is over. The ridiculous part is that I ACTUALLY KNOW ALL THESE DETAILS AND FIND MYSELF CARING. And I can't wait until next summer's season! Sheesh.

That's about all I can stand for one day. But I just had to share.