Most girls my age had My Little Pony and Barbie. When I was four, my very perceptive babysitter got me Skeletor's castle and my older sister got me hooked on GI Joe. Is it any wonder, then, that this sort of trend has continued as I am now an adult?

The scene was yesterday, at my friend's kitchen table. Her roommate, another friend of mine, had just come back from shopping and ordered me to put out my hands and close my eyes. I obeyed, since this one is prone to having something delicious to eat on hand (she researched and made lembas last weekend for a Lord of the Rings marathon, but that's not the main reason why we love her to pieces, really, it isn't.). She put something in my palms and when I opened my eyes, I had to hug her really hard.

After all, ever since I saw the Emperor Palpatine PEZ dispenser, I have coveted it. It seems like the ultimate contradiction, the happy little fun toy that gives you candy and evil incarnate to top it off. Some of my friends have laughed at me, others think it's downright adorable. THe people in this particular apartment find my fascination/crush on Palpatine downright disturbing.

So now, my collectible things are a foot-high PEZ Yoda, a smaller version, and a Palpatine. I can so have them do duels! Okay, yes, I'm a geek, but today, I'm a very happy geek!