Sometimes I want to pretend I'm Carrie Bradshaw and writing a column of observations-minus the wit of course. And minus the deadlines. I have the freedom to write when it comes to me. I've been thinking about people and how revealing it is to be in someone's personal home. Personally I make a beeline for their bookshelf; not only because I like to read and discuss books and the issues they present, but I find a person's book collection to be indicative of their lifestyle, personality, and stance on political issues.

Today for instance, I gave a disapproving "uhhh-huh" to an FHM magazine I saw hanging out on a public desk at work. This person's "bookshelf" was among other things, a symptom of the highly testosterone charged work enviornment we work in.

The first time I met Andrea's friend Alicia I was given the housetour, which included the bookshelf. The titles, many of which I owned, such as "In Our time: Memoir of a Revolution" "Reviving Ophelia" and "No Turning Back: Feminism and the Future of Women" screamed "lesbian" to me. Come to find out....well you know the rest.

I pondered the fact that I owned these titles, but I was not a lesbian. How could I assume that she was?

There's always those that suprise you. And frighten you, for that matter. Guys you assume were stupid and shallow have "A Prayer for Owen Meanie" on their shelf right next to "Gulliver's Travels."

So next time you really want to get to know somebody, avoid the bedroom and take a peek at their bookshelf.