Passion or Affliction?

I really like this advice column "Since You Asked" that Cary Tennis writes on Salon. It's like Savage Love only for huge dorks instead of crazy pervs.

For example: Help! I'm addicted to Harry Potter fan fiction!

Here's the first part:

"I am in my 30s, finished my Ph.D. dissertation recently, teaching classes at universities, applying for jobs, and have two kids under 10 years old with my husband. In fact, I should be too busy to be writing to you.

The problem is that I'm addicted to fan fiction. Especially a small fraction of online fan fiction, with which you may or may not be familiar, but has a fanatical group of followers. Yes, I'm an HP fan-fiction groupie."

My favorite part is that she's specifically obsessed with Ron and Hermione's relationship. Who isn't? I mean, it's just so beautiful. Gosh, I wonder how she felt when she found out Dumbledore's gay. You've heard that right? BJ called me and said "Finally, a gay wizard role model."


Cary's advice was that she shouldn't be ashamed because there's nothing wrong with reading and enjoying it. Oh that we could all work a little less and imagine a little more.

"In Dreams Begin Responsibilities"

(That's the title of the last episode of My So-Called Life.)

This is what I dreamed last night:

We were students at a boarding school. I knew it was a boarding school because it reminded me of college only we were wearing uniforms. I was trying to sleep but I couldn't. Ricky was in my room reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I tried to curl up and go to sleep again, but I was agitated, so I went outside to the playground. I ran into Stephen Carter who looked about 35 years old and like he was having a rough time of it. He was mad at me and yelled at me, but I didn't understand why. Usher was standing nearby and I silently asked him to come rescue me, even though part of me really wanted to get to the bottom of why Stephen was angry. Usher came over and was like, "Hey what's going on?" I smiled at him and looked back to Stephen and tried to give him one of those "Hey, it's Usher, what else can I do but go with him?" kinda looks. So Usher and I walked over to the drinking fountain, but it got dark all of a sudden and I had to run back to my dorm. Ricky was still there, but once I came in he closed his book and said he had to go because he had detention with Snape.

End of Dream.

I have strange sort of memorable dreams a few times a week, so I'm not sure why I felt like writing down this one--the appearance of Stephen Carter, maybe, because I felt like I was seeing into the future of his face. I think I can trace that back to seeing (in real life) Josh Boris a few days ago at a Mariners game. I thought he looked old. And I saw Dru Johnston a week or so ago and thought he looked old too. Men's faces age differently than women's, I think.

And! Harry Potter torments my soul. Can I ever loosen its grip?

AND!!!1 Ursher's got the beat to make your booty go