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[kaysixteen]

I go up to an undisclosed location in Northern New England, where my cult has a survival compound, and get a couple of fresh clips for my AK, and then head out to the shooting range to take out my frustrations.  We have an excellent scarecrow in the image of that noted enemy of the Faith, Hillary Rodham, and I enjoy literally blowing the stuffing out of it whilst singing 'Onward Christian Soldiers'.  I can hear the music now... what fun!

[copper]

*ahem*

Awesome, musclememory, just awesome.

[eriro]

Why do these have to be guilty pleasures?  If your grad students found out, would you try to deny them?  (I'm a grad student, so sorry if this forum is professors-only or something.)  But how awful and one dimensional would your life be if you only thought about work all the time?  Work at the office, work at home in the evenings, work in the office and at home on the weekends . . . . As a graduate student, I would really appreciate "catching" a professor completely absorbed in People magazine or blaring Bruce Springstein (sp?) in the office! Far from losing respect for the exalted professor who indulges in the such "plebian" past-times, I would feel more able to interact with that professor and seek him/her out for advice (which is probably an important part in said professor's job description).  Also, it would give me hope that I don't have to choose between a career that I love and a normal life with a family and hobbies (quirky or pedestrian).  As for my own "guilty pleasure," I watch MMA events with my husband.  I'm not a huge fan, but I have been know to get really caught up in a match, and it's a good way to stay connected  with my husband (but don't tell my friends -- it would ruin my image!).

[falzf]

OK, OK, so I didn't own up to watching male porn on tv, or eating chocolate while having sex, and instead copped to Yoga Toes. But jeez, gimme a break. I thought fessing up to yoga toes truly was a guilty secret. You try it--not just the part where you put your feet into the things and greet someone at the door that way, but telling other people you do it. You look, well, absolutely absurd, and you walk like a penguin. If you talk about it, you either sound nuttily ecstatic or just "into yoga"--itself an embarrassment.

Sorry, but chocolate, disposing of batteries illegally, or reading People Magazine don't cut it for me. That's mainstream stuff, folks. I betcha Dick Cheney does those things. But who in her right mind fesses up to Yoga Toes? Laurie Fendrich, Yoga Toes Confessor

[margarete]

Cheesy historical fiction novels.  I'm in a historical field, so I'm supposed to know better and not enjoy romanticized and not very accurate versions of history-- but I know the difference between scholarship and fluff, and it's fun.

Also, cupcakes.  Lots of cupcakes.

[mended_drum]

The Chicago Cubs!  Although, to be honest, "pleasure" is not always the right word.

[croman2]

Comic books. I love 'em!  My collection is modest, but since the whole Civil War storyline, I started collecting more and filling in holes from when I used to collect. Having a kid, probably had something to do with it, too. On Thursdays, before I come to my office, I stop by the comic store and, then, bring them to work. I shut my office door and greedily read before I do any work.

Chuckle.

[london1]

chocolate
Jean Plaidy novels

Ditto to both!  Did you know that Plaidy's novels are now back in print?

[larryc]

Musclememory, that was awe inspiring.

[phdbliss]

Wine.
The occasional cigar.
Martinis.
Gourmet food items.
Buying music after one listen on iTunes.
Not buying clothes only at Old Navy or Target.

[hmaria1609]

Did you know that Plaidy's novels are now back in print?

Yes, I own a few reissues of her books!  :)  I'm currently reading The Queen's Secret, a novel on Katherine of Valois, wife of Henry V of England.

[biged]

CivIV; after all who doesn't want to rule the world?

[biged]

Oh yeah, and reading and posting on the Forums too.

[london1]

Did you know that Plaidy's novels are now back in print?

Yes, I own a few reissues of her books!  :)  I'm currently reading The Queen's Secret, a novel on Katherine of Valois, wife of Henry V of England.

I just re-read this one, too.  I am waiting for the reprint of the Catherine d'Medici trilogy!

[deleteplease]

How many if these are actually indulgences and how many a form of image buffing? The bike-riding, landscaping, gourmet-food eating academic is actually showing off certain standard upper-middle class forms of conspicuous consumption. The "I-watch-soaps/read People" version is a form of ornamental populism (superbly mastered by George Bush, the good ole boy educated at Andover and Yale).

And the article & topic itself, rather reduces this site to the level of People magazine.

As for what activities I do in private, in my non-working hours, as long as they are neither illegal nor immoral, I see no reason to label them "indulgences", apologize for them, or discuss them (other than with my friends -- the only people I can imagine actually being interested in my private life). This is not embarrassment (alas, in middle age, I find mystery novels more appealing -- and easier to locate -- than pharmaceuticals!), but rather a preference for a stronger demarcation between private and public than is now common.