I know the actor Martin Freeman from the BBC versions of "The Office" and "Sherlock," so I was surprised to see him in ads for "The Hobbit," because I thought a hobbit was a non-human creature.

In my mind's eye, a hobbit was a sort of hedgehog-thing.

When did I learn it wasn't?

Yesterday.

I love cheesy Christmas movies on Lifetime and the Hallmark Channel.

I do not like the Beatles.

I do not like Harry Potter.

I'm a sucker for "medical" soaps like Private Practice.

I'd rather have hersheys than any other "nice" chocolate in the world.

I like nothing better than dressing up and attending Ren Fest every year, in character. DH goes as a hobbit-he's short!

I cannot for the life of me tell the difference between Martin Freeman and John Simm.

I love TV game shows. I not only know who the original host of "Jeopardy!" was, but I also know the name of the original theme song, and I can play it on a keyboard.

I like nothing better than dressing up and attending Ren Fest every yea

I do this too, and I even make my own dresses!!

And I still sing in the shower, everything from Led Zeppelin to Evanessence to ACDC and back again.

Also, I still do a full moon ritual complete with candles and incense. Every full moon. Even if I'm dog-tired after a seriously long day, I still do it. Silly, huh?

o.O

I love reality TV competitions: Top Chef, Hell's Kitchen, Project Runway, etc. I love how manufactured and overproduced they are.

I only have one character on WoW at the level cap. (This is embarrassing in the circles I run in)

I write fanfiction. I write slash fanfiction.

- I consider myself something of an expert on rock music... but I admit I've never heard anything (or only heard VERY little) by Velvet Underground, Canned Heat, Vanilla Cream, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company, Allman Brothers, Blind Faith, Ten Years After, The Guess Who, Grand Funk Railroad, or Deep Purple.

- I've recently developed a hopeless addiction to Boost Very Vanilla Nutritional Drinks. I drink two in the morning the hope of avoiding fast food for lunch, then two hours later am so hungry I go for fast food anyway.

And the one that will REALLY get me in trouble...

- I LOVE the sight of a young woman in flesh-toned hosiery, even though I know women hate wearing them.

I'm 50. Up until just a few years ago I thought marshmallows grew on trees, and had to be picked.

Y'know, when ya think about it, Barry Gibb has some genuine melodic insight.

Since I love music, I'll confine my confession to that arena. While I mainly like rock, I have a weakness for (some) Top 40 pop songs. Two that come to mind are "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys and "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga. Friends of mine who love music hate stuff like that (although, who knows, maybe that's just their public posturing.)

Amy, I find it fascinating that you grew up without knowing about Hendrix. (Hendrix, by the way, is from Seattle and is buried in a suburb: Renton.)

Ginger Baker was called that because he has red hair and he's a Brit.

Dave, that was Art Fleming, wasn't it? Or was there someone before him?

qdpsteve, I'm curious, if you like rock a lot but weren't very familiar with any of those bands (I think you meant Vanilla Fudge, by the way) who were/are some of your favorites? I liked all those bands, except for the Velvet Underground and LOVED The Guess Who. While visiting my college roommate in Philadelphia in 1986, got to see Burton Cummings play a solo show at a small club near the U of Pennsylvania. It was brilliant, one of the best shows I've ever seen.

When I'm home sick all I want to do is lay on the couch and watch old episodes of Touched by an Angel. And no, I have never been a fan of the show. And yes, I cry at every episode.

JD, yes, the original host was Art Fleming. They use a variation of the "think" music as the main theme now, but originally, they used a song called "Take Ten". It was written by Julann Griffin, Merv's then-wife, who also came up with the original concept for the show.

I'm 48 and I still dress up mideval for Renn Faires and SCA events, in fact, the only reason I joined the SCA was because of the garb.

I like snakes, but I'm terrified of spiders.

The very first record album that I owned was the symphony version of the soundtrack for the very first Star Wars movie, I think I was about 12 and I played it till the needle wore it out. (yeah, I'm a geek)

I was a goth before we had a word for people who liked to dress in black and dance by themselves. Still am, actually.

> I cannot for the life of me tell the difference
> between Martin Freeman and John Simm.

Don't feel bad.

(Who are they?)

Also-

> I cannot for the life of me tell the difference
> between Martin Freeman and John Simm.

I have a favorite Darren from Bewitched, but I never cared who played drums for the Partridge family.

> I'm 48 and I still dress up mideval
> for Renn Faires

Don't be ashamed, but... Are those about anything besides tits?

Seriously.... No student of history here... Butimean, we know it was great when it was over and all, but didn't life in the Renaissance, generally, suck? Weren't most people so sickly and bitter that they weren't never gonna pop a chubby for a girl from the next valley, no matter how deep the Dairy?

> never heard anything (or only heard VERY
> little) by…

Best of —

• the Velvet U (right channel [instrumental] only)

• the 'Heat

(That is a masculine voice. And that guitar player almost got the nod when Taylor quit the Stones; they should feel shame that he didn't.)

Umm, on account of my kids, I know more about Nickelodeon shows than I know about "grown-up" shows. There are episodes of Hey Arnold that bring tears to my eyes, and I thought there were some episodes of iCarly that were extremely well-written.

@Kat: "I'm 48 and I still dress up mideval for Renn Faires and SCA events, in fact, the only reason I joined the SCA was because of the garb."

We're about the same age, Kat. I have classmates who still go to SCA meets (and have really magnificent sets of armor). My older brother might still be doing it too.

I read Harry Potter slashfic.

Once I watched a friend melting sugar on the stove, and said, "That looks almost like caramel."

I'm terrified of driving when it's snowing. Even a few flakes in the air. This has led me to do things like "shop" in a Wal-Mart for two hours until it stopped.

I have traveled all over the world, and Disneyworld is still my favorite destination.

I still have an underlying obsession with the boy I had a crush on in fifth grade and haven't seen since (25+ years). Sometimes I wake up from dreams where we got married.

1970s Japanese pop folk songs, even though I often have to break out the dictionary to figure out the lyrics.

The Kingston Trio.

NCIS. A Fish Called Wanda. The Phantom of the Opera (the show, but the movie is good, too.)

Japanese baths.

I am ignorant of many current pop culture references.
I thought Honey Boo Boo was a BDSM porn star. I guess It may be another 12 years before she takes that next step in her career.

This summer at a conference I asked a colleague "how's the new gig?" I had him confused with someone else. The person I was talking to had just been removed from his position and demoted.

That is good advice. I however didn't apologize at all because I didn't realize my mistake until later when his coworkers told me about his demotion. Boy did they laugh at me. My face still burns when I think of it.

Generally I can't fall asleep unless I'm holding my balls.

My wife's (soon to be ex-wife) best friend tried to seduce me when my wife was in the hospital for a hysterectomy.

I only eat once a day, and sometimes not for days.

Oh, and the only famous person I have ever met is Giorgio Armani, and at the time I had no idea who he was.

I love every one of Enya's albums, often playing her music as I'm headed to the range. When my buddies figured it out, they had a LOT of fun with it. So did I.

I love to watch sappy foreign films. Sometimes I cry.

When the security box asks if people drive pirates, I want to answer "carrrrrs".

My confession, for rillz--- I can't fall asleep unless I'm holding Eric's balls. And I eat the meals he skips.

> I thought Honey Boo Boo was a BDSM porn star.
> I guess It may be another 12 years

Golden.

Amy should say this again:

> When you say the wrong thing, best to get in
> and out with a quick apology, as doing what
> we tend to do -- offering a rambling one --
> prolongs the situation.

I'm American, and lived in London during the 1990s, and worked with some super smart people. We once were discussing plays in London and I said something about "Waiting for Godot", pronouncing the "T".

I've eaten whale.

I like Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell". I've probably listened to it thousands of times throughout my life.

I've met two "famous" people. One played an aunt in the Sabrina Teen Witch show (but that's not where I knew her from) and one was that guy who hosts the home makeover show. I wasn't impressed on either occasion.

I've never seen this Honey Boo Boo character, don't know who she is, and intend to keep it that way.

I like to watch old movies. I also like to watch horror flicks, regardless of how shitty they are.

I prefer sex 2 times per day.

Speaking of Hobbits, I once waited on Elijah Wood. At a strip club.

I just bought two Reba McIntyre "Best-of"/"Greatest Hits" CDs that were originally released in the mid-80s. I looked for Sylvia ("Nobody") but couldn't find it.

I hate hipsters. I hate hipsters so much I won't go to restaurants with really good ratings on Yelp because I know they'll be full of hipsters.

K, here's another: I wish I could go to sleep holding Crid's balls while he's holding Eric's balls. I won't eat any meals he skips.

Once when I was in New York, I saw a guy walking towards me, and it was Ian Hunter! And it was, oh, maybe about 6 months or so after I had met him and Mick Ronson at Toad's, so I thought I was gonna just be so cool and say, "hey, Ian, how's it goin'?" but just as he got right up next to me I choked and said "uh, it's YOU!" and he smiled and said "yeah I know" and kept walking! Prolly thought to himself "phew! dodged another looney!"

o.O

I'm 33 and I watch Phineas & Ferb on the Disney channel.

I know what TARDIS means.

I competed in the National Spelling Bee 3 times and got 780 on my verbal SAT, but until I was 18 I thought the word was (and pronounced it) "suprerior" and not "superior."

I know TARDIS too, and wathc P&F with my son.

And Flynne, I am deeply offended you didn't offer to share my balls with Crid. I ok with MFM, but MMF creeps me out.

Late at night, driving alone on the highway, I tune in "Coast to Coast AM".

Caller: "I have to tell you ... I'm an alien."

Host: "Sorry, we can't discuss this. Tuesday is Werewolf Night."

Caller: "But I'm a werewolf on my home planet!".

Now THAT is a guilty pleasure!

Yeah coast to coast both entertians and horrifys

> MMF creeps me out.

You're just upset because my arms are so short.

JD, yes, the original host was Art Fleming.

Thanks Dave, that's what I thought. I watched it all the time back then.

I'll add a confession about food: I love these.

OK, here's a confession.

I ADMIRE JUSTIN BIEBER.

I've never heard a note of his music, but 53yo men are presumably not the audience for which it was it composed.

Yet even though the guy's still young enough (roughly) to be in high school, he drives a Ferrari. Which he paid for. With his own money. (And he doesn't do drugs while driving it.) Capitalism, we call this; the guy's customers are happy, and wealth is created.

This blog comment spurred by this tweet; the haters are outta control.

As I type this tweet, the Nork Bird sails over New York City.

I am usually shocked if I get a pop culture reference.

Per the above, I have had people ask me if I live in a box. I said yes.

I never know which sport season it is - aren't they always in season on ESPN?

I am so horrible at recognizing people that I have introduced myself to the same person... I think it was 10 times but I'm really not sure.

Given the above, I have no clue if I've ever met anyone famous, but I don't think so.

I am attempting to write a novel, have a blog about writing... and I have to look up almost every word my 1st grade son asks me how to spell.

I was born in 1980, but know far more music from the 1950s than from the 80's or 90's (my dad controlled the radio - I grew up outside Chicago listening to Oldies 104.3). I have shocked many an older person by singing along to songs they know from their childhood.

I have been inside the lion enclosure at the St. Louis zoo (the lions weren't in it at the time).

I am a woman, but I have zero interest in shoes, handbags, purses, fashion, makeup, or pretty much anything else girlie. My husband owns more shoes than me. In a serious move toward girlie-ness, I now wear boots or sandals in addition to sneakers.

The only reality show I have ever watched at all was Mad Mad House.

Ok, here are some embarassing tidbits.
I live directly across the street from the private residence of the current governor of a large rectangular state.
I am so clueless, I didn't even realize my neighbor had been elected until the highway patrol put security on his house after the Arizona shooting. (I voted for him too! but not in the primary.)
I also did a student teaching gig in the 1980's. It took me four weeks to realize that one of my students who I thought was a girl, was actually a boy, and I found out in the most embarassing way when I noticed "he" was absent and asked the class where "she" was that day.

I have trouble hearing when there is background noise or is the person speaks to quickly. For a long time, I thought a cross-side shot in pool was a cross-eyed shot.

RE: Ginger Baker

I am horrible with identifying bands and music. I did the same thing with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks years and years ago.

I worked for about two days at a slime ball garbage company. I think I was about 18. The business was run out of a kitchen.

The office manager, also the wife of the business owner, operated a day care in her living room as well. They used a baby gate to block the babies from the kitchen. I remember all these runny-nosed toddlers just clinging to the gate and staring at us, and don't recall the wife ever looking in on them, interacting with them, etc. I checked on them a few times, but was yelled at when I did.

Also, the garbage company charged for recycling, but didn't actually recycle. They just threw everything out. Most calls I took were complaints about that, as the customers observed it. I was instructed to tell people there was a divider in the truck that didn't actually exist.

The embarassing part? They fired me before I quit.

In my early 20s, I mispronounced the name Edinburgh. In front of a large audience.

Yes, I'd heard the correct pronunciation before - BUT, I had assumed that one was the name of the city and the other was the name of the university.

I mean, why not assume that? Stranger things have happened regarding names and language.

Luckily, since then, I've learned to be more careful and alert regarding the proper use of words from reading George Carlin's books - such as: Don't pronounce the noun "forte" the same way you pronounce the adjective "forte"; don't say "healthy" when you mean "healthful," etc.

And, of course, try not to use "hopefully" at all - no one seems to use it in its proper context anyway, so we might as well eliminate the use until people get it right (ha ha).

BTW, what's wrong with liking show tunes? Most date quite well - certainly better - than most rock/pop songs. I'm at the age where I just don't WANT to hear music (or the TV) constantly playing, even my favorite artists, but I'd much rather admit to liking show tunes than liking the Everly Brothers - after all, at least half the population no longer even knows who they are or recognizes their songs. (Since I'm in my 40s, I can't even remember ever hearing them on any oldies stations - my mother had their records, though.)

I had forgotten about this until this morning. I can't pronounce "caulk" correctly. I say "cock". Was an endless source of entertainment for my ex-husband when I asked for my "cock-gun" or asked "where's my cock"? Or when I bitched because a corner was "too tight for my cock".

He used to laugh hysterically when I said "tits" too, but I could never figure out why.