Confessions

I managed to do something over the weekend that I never thought I would be able to do. Maybe it was the heat or the fact that he was totally beat from a long week, but while at Blockbuster on our way home from dinner Friday night, I mentioned to Justin that I was somewhat interested in seeing "Twilight."

Usually, when I point at any movie on the shelf that doesn't have a gun or an explosion or some dude dressed up as a spy, Justin lets out an actual whimper and says, "No."

This time, after he'd already picked up "Quantum of Solace" -- the latest in the James Bond series -- we were making our way out when we passed "Twilight." There was no whimper, simply an, "Ok." I stared in disbelief, but didn't stare too long, for fear that he'd realize what "Twilight" actually was.

I think I was surprised enough for the both of us in the fact that I wanted to see "Twilight." I remember driving to work in Seattle last summer/fall when the hosts were talking about a contest to give away premiere tickets. I hadn't heard of the movie before, let alone the books, and remember thinking how funny it was to hear all the girls obsessing about Edward Cullen, the vampire. I also remember thinking it was interesting that this was so popular with young tweens and teens...especially amongst some of the 13 year old girls I knew - I guess I was surprised some of them were even allowed by their parents to read the books or go to the movie since it was dark, mysterious and about vampires. I kept listening to the contest because the books and movie happen to be based in town named Forks, Wash., which is on the Olympic peninsula.

Saturday night we watched "Twilight." I really did like it - in fact, I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but I watched it again on Sunday when we had run out of things to put away in our apartment. It's not often I get to watch a "girlie" movie. Though, I'm not sure I'd call this girlie??

I'm not much of a reader...I have a huge pile of unfinished books beside my bed. The last book I read cover to cover was How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill (I heard him do a spot on it on my way to work one day and a bit of the book that he read on the radio made me burst into tears...geez...this blog really does reveal where my weaknesses are, doesn't it?). Anyway, on Monday while at work, I decided I would walk to the bookstore near our house after I got home to pick up the first two books in the series.

Once I was home, I quickly changed my clothes, threw on my sunglasses and walking shoes, and headed to town. I walked right into the bookstore, straight past the customer service desk, thinking I would simply find the books in the fiction section.

Not there.

"Well, it is about vampires...which is kind of science-fictional...maybe they're in Science Fiction," I thought to myself.

Not there.

Eager to get the books and head home so I could start reading, I asked the friendly gal at the counter where I could find them. She offered to lead the way and I followed. We walked past the fiction section, past the science fiction section, past the thriller and horror sections and then I noticed her pick up something that was out of place. It was a children's toy. The further we walked, the closer we got to the children's section. Once there, she put the toy back in its place so I thought maybe were taking a quick detour for the toy. Then turned to face a shelf of books...

Ohhh the feeling I had when she pointed at the Twilight series, sitting out for all to see in the children's section...next to the Babysitters Club and Goosebumps books. I felt like saying, "these are for my...um...14-year-old...cousin." Or, "Oh, is this the altered book with pictures for little eyes or something?" But I didn't. I said thank you, sheepishly, and then shrugged to myself as I justified my decision to read this saga. I knew people in their late 20s who would stay up all night long to read the Harry Potter books when they were the hot new read, but then again so did my bros, who were probably 12 and 14 at the time.

After another minute, I snagged up the first two books scurried up to the front. Smiled without saying much and then I ran upstairs for a latte - a super good latte, by the way - and then beat feet home to sit on the deck and read.

I'm more than half way through the first one already. It's much different than the movie...they haven't even introduced the bad vampires yet, and I'm wondering if/when they will because there aren't that many pages left in the book.

No spoiler alerts here. I'm going to wrap up this post and get back to reading now!

Stop laughing at me :)