Today I was exercising with the tv on the station which plays Buffy the Vampire Slayer repeats, and "The Freshman" was airing. It was great background for working out, until the scene when Xander gives Buffy his Dadaist pep talk, because it made me cry. I've seen every BtVS episode a ridiculous amount of times yet there are certain moments that get me every time, even if I'm in the middle of Pilates. I just love this speech so much:

Xander: Buffy, I've gone through some fairly dark times in my life, faced some scary things, among them the kitchen at 'The Fabulous Ladies Night Club.' Let me tell you something, when it's dark and I'm all alone and I'm scared or freaked out or whatever, I always think, 'What would Buffy do?' You're my hero. Ok, sometimes when it's dark and I'm all alone I think, 'What is Buffy wearing?'
Buffy: Can that be one of those things you never, ever, tell me about?

For some reason this got me thinking about the various fandoms and obsessions that I've had over the years, so I thought I'd list a few of my favourite fan obsessions and embarrassing fan activities (some of these are from when I was very young). Feel free to tell me your shameful fan moments!!

- Anne of Green Gables (books & movies) and L.M. Montgomery - I was Anne for Halloween once, and did an essay on L.M. Montgomery in high school. I have read every single published work by L.M.M. at least once. In a zine of mine, I had a section in which I quoted (out of context) lesbian subtext moments between Anne and Diana.
- Annie (the movie) - I actually made an Annie costume for myself and would act out the movie.
- Little House on the Prairie (books & tv show) - I was Laura TWICE for Halloween, I love her so much. I can discuss the differences between the books and the tv show, and why the books are better.
- Baby-sitters Club books - Oh the shame! I saw the movie when it came out even though I was much older. I still own #1 through #40, and the first 4 Super Specials.
- The Sound of Music - I know all the words to the movie.
- Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High (those amazing Canadian teen soap tv shows) - So good, so addictive.
- My So-Called Life and Jordan Catalano - I actually had a picture of him up in my high school locker.
- Dawson's Creek - I was a Joey/Pacey shipper. Katie, why have you ruined my memories of Joey and Pacey with your antics with Tom?!
- ani difranco - I would go to all her concerts, I own all her albums and used to have posters of her on my walls.
- The Lord of the Rings - I went to all the movies on opening night, and then watched them at least 2 more times in the theatre.
- BtVS/AtS/Firefly/Joss Whedon - Other than my entire LJ? I have a clipboard which I use at work that is decorated with pictures of Spike. Seriously.

There are likely MANY more, but I'm trying to restrain myself so I don't reveal anything else shameful!

I also did that Birthday meme, and the answers for September 2nd are here:
The instructions: Go to Wikipedia. In the search box, type your birth month and day (but not year). List three events that happened on your birthday. List two important birthdays and one interesting death. Post this in your journal.

Events (I avoided the distressing massacres):

1666 - The Great Fire of London breaks out and burns for three days, destroying 10,000 buildings including St. Paul's Cathedral. This is still distressing, but I'm fascinated that the fire started on my birthday.
1901 - Vice President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt utters the famous phrase, "Speak softly and carry a big stick" at the Minnesota State Fair. I'm highly entertained that the exact date & location of this phrase's orgin is remembered.
1998 - In Canada, pilots for Air Canada launch the first strike in company's history. Yes, I picked this one because it's a Canadian entry.

Birthdays:

1850 - Albert Spalding, baseball player and sporting goods manufacturer (d. 1915)
1964 - Keanu Reeves, American actor Dude!!!

Death:

1973 - J. R. R. Tolkien, British writer (b. 1892) Yes, gotta go with Tolkien.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday night!!