This is a section to answer those burning questions that usually go something like: "What the hell IS it with you and..."

Marilyn Manson

I could write volumes on this band, if you pump enough alcohol into me. *laugh* I fell in love with them the first time I heard "Get Your Gunn" when I saw the video in a nightclub in Detroit. My friend Tracy had their album at her house, and I demanded we leave the club and go to her house and listen to it. So a small group of us went to her place, they all proceeded to get drunk out of their minds while I sat hypnotized by the music of Portrait Of An American Family. They were everything I had ever wanted in a rock band, and so much more. I've seen them live around 30 times or so since 1995, and have met some of my dearest friends because of the band and their music. There have been a lot of changes to the band over the years, in members, image, and musical styles - and while I haven't always loved everything they've done musically, they continue to be one of the strongest musical forces in my life. I feel a connection to them like no other. That's the short version. The long one will have to wait until my book comes out. ;)

Johnny Depp

This might amuse some people when they find out, but I didn't always like Johnny Depp. In fact, there was a time when I openly couldn't STAND him. Why? Because of the hype. (Bear in mind that I was a young teenager at the time and didn't realise hype has zero to do with the person behind it.) I thought he was nothing more than a pretty boy, and frankly, I'd seen prettier. After all, it was the age of the hair band, and Mr. Depp was currently on a show that bored me to tears, 21 Jump Street. You couldn't turn around without seeing him on the cover of something, pouting and trying way too hard to be sexy. Plus there was the movie Cry Baby. My then-best friend Kitty forced me to watch this horrible piece of crap 1000 times on HBO. I never wanted to hear a goddamned thing about this Johnny Depp person AGAIN.

Fast-forward a couple of years. I saw a preview for an upcoming film called Edward Scissorhands, and I was riveted...then I saw Johnny Depp's name on the screen. "UGH HIM AGAIN!" I thought...then I realized that I hadn't even recognized him until I saw his name. I was intrigued. A few days later, I read an interview with him that surprised me - turns out he hated that tv show as much as I did, and he hated his "image" even more than I did. That was a major reason he chose to do ES. I was further intrigued. I saw the movie opening day, and I was floored. I couldn't believe how wrong I had been. Not only was he a good actor, he was a great one. The next movie I saw, Benny & Joon, was really the one that kicked the obsession into gear. The second he swings past Joon's window, I was GONE. Through the years I've loved almost every single movie he's made, and I've always dragged people to see his movies and converted many fans. (Even my mother - it took several movies, but she finally "got it" when I dragged her to to see Chocolat.) When Pirates of the Caribbean first came out, it gave my obsession a HUGE boost (see the seperate entry below for more on PotC), and since then I'm pretty sure anyone who knows me would say he's my dominant obsession. They're probably right. ;)

By the way, I still hate Cry Baby. Even though it was supposed to be a slap in the face at his image, and even though it's a John Waters movie. Actually, I still don't care much for anything pre-Edward, and that's unlikely to change. It doesn't make me less of a fan to not worship every single thing he's ever done. If you think like that, you're a zombie fangirl and you should die. :)

Rasputina

I fell in love with this band immediately when they opened for Marilyn Manson in 1997, and my love for them increases with every new album. They are pretty different from everything else out there musically. Melora Creager has such a beautiful voice, and the ladies (and gent!) have so much talent. Additionally, I love their style, their sense of humor, their appreciation for history, e.g. the Victorian Era...I can't think of one single thing NOT to love about them, except maybe some of their fans but that has little to do with the actual band, now does it? I've seen them in concert nine times, and I just can't get enough.

Angelina Jolie

The most beautiful woman on earth, inside and out. The first movie I saw her in was Gia, but what started my obsession was Girl, Interrupted. I was infatuated with her completely. I started reading every interview I could find. I see a lot of myself in her. The things people call her strange for, I can relate to because I've gotten similar reactions from people for the same parts of my personality. She's a very strong woman, she doesn't give a damn what you think of her or her quirks. I admire that, and if I ever become half as amazing as she is, I'll be thrilled. I'm also drawn to the fact that she's not just another vapid Hollywood actress, and actually cares about humanity and the world we live in, instead of just paying it lip service to look better in the eyes of others. I hope I can meet her some day and tell her how much of an inspiration she is to me.

Robin Finck

I was like almost every other female nine inch nails fan in 1994, smitten with Trent Reznor. But he was nothing next to his guitarist. When I saw NIN live for the first time in January of 1995, Robin just blew my mind with his stage performance. He was like a wild animal that had burst free of its cage. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. Robin possesses one of the most unique personalities I've ever known of, and that's a great thing. No one is like him. He's a great guitarist, performer, and from what I hear, a really really good person. Did I mention he's hot as hell too? That's the iciing on the cake! A few years ago, a few likeminded individuals banded together over the internet and formed the Robinettes: a group of Robin's most dedicated fans. We terrorized the old Marilyn Manson BBS (henceforth known as The Ghetto Board) until it died, and now we have our own forum and website where we celebrate the love of this fantastic musician.

Pirates of the Caribbean

I've always had a bit of a pirate fetish thanks in part to my lifelong obsession with Captain Hook, so when I first saw the movie trailer for the first film, I was instantly excited about it. I went to see it on opening day, July 9th, 2003. It was the best movie I had seen in YEARS. After so many movies that followed a specific formula, and so many Hollywood re-makes, it was a gigantic breath of fresh air to see something original in the theatres. Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow stole the show, but Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa was also outstanding. Both of those characters are so well-crafted and strong, that I never tire of watching them. There are a lot of fine actors in this movie, and Orlando Bloom's in it too (LOL). I saw the first movie fourteen times in the theatre.

I will always defend the second film, Dead Man's Chest, even though lots of people didn't like it very much. I think there are a lot of great things about the film, and not just the amount of Norrington (heh). Tia Dalma alone made the movie for me; she became one of my favorite parts of the entrire series.

Sadly, I was severly disappointed in the third film, At World's End. It had potential to be outstanding, but fell very short thanks to bad writing and a jumbled plot that veered past ridiculous in spots. I could list all the things wrong with it, but this is supposed to be a page praising things, haha. So while it ended badly, the series as a whole will always remain very near and dear to my heart.

Oh, and to those who may believe the only reason I might praise this series so highly is because "Johnny Depp is so hot" - you should think about something. Johnny Depp is always hot. However, I have never, ever gone to see one of his movies this many times in the theatre. If there was no substance to this movie and it was all about drooling at the sexy pirate, I would've gotten my fill a long time ago. There's a lot more to PotC than Captain Sparrow. The only other movie I praise this highly with Johnny in it is Edward Scissorhands, and I only saw that in the theatre once.