Interesting.

What started off as a sketch of a tombstone has, almost as though my subconscious has presented itself through my hand, turned into a picture of a man being staked through the chest.

I choose to ignore that the features of the victim are eerily reminiscent of someone I work with. Someone I have the *misfortune* of working with…

Somewhat nonplussed by my discovery, not to mention a little startled, I glance casually around me in an attempt to convince myself that my artistic scribbling is simply because I´ve had too much to drink.

Nope.

The wine bottle that I opened upon arriving home, give or take five hours ago, is still half-full and I can´t recall the last time I refilled my glass.

Okay.

Waving goodbye to the hope that wine had inspired my sketch, I search desperately for another excuse. My gaze falling on the now muted television, and wanting to remain in denial as to the *real* reason behind what´s on the pad of paper in front of me, I decide to lay the blame on my evening´s viewing.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Aimlessly watching that dross has coloured my views of the world. Simple. I knew there was a good reason behind why I never bothered to watch television. It´s, not wanting to put a too fine a point on it or anything, complete bollocks. Inane, annoying, totally unrealistic and, really, I have enough violence in my life without inviting it into my living room and allowing it to blare at me from the television set.

But Chris likes it. And, for reasons that escape me, he likes Buffy… Although, after enduring one episode of it, I´m apt to think his interests would lie more in the direction of that dark and brooding vampire with the stupid name. Vlad the Impaler - Count Dracula - Lestat - Angel… Sure. Not a problem. Then again, if I really care to think about it, why ever not? It´s almost positively normal compared to the name Buffy… I shudder to think how many poor unfortunate children are to be lumped with this awful moniker as a result of the pop-culture demographic breeding.

Anyway, Chris watches it… And Backup watches it… And Spencer watches it… Hell, for all I know Malone himself watches it… So, inanely -- nothing ventured, nothing gained -- I decided to make the effort to watch it. Perhaps foolishly I kind of hoped that it might give me something neutral to talk to Chris about. Something completely innocuous and far removed from reality.

The concept of vampires and slayers and witches and demons would have to be preferable to life.

Escapism.

Perhaps that´s something television is good for. For an hour a week you can lose yourself in their world and escape your own. For that hour you only feel their pain and take comfort from the fact that by the end of the episode all will be well. Vampires will be slayed, friendships saved and love will be strengthened.

For that hour, you´re removed from your own life and… and it´s precious.

I hope Chris was watching it. More to the point, I hope he can explain it to me. Talk about feeling like a moron. Talk about feeling old and staid. Talk about not having a clue.