Britney Spears, Paris Hilton... and me

If you're going to judge me, don't read this... but suddenly I can't get enough pop culture.

I can't wait to flip on Entertainment Tonight when Owen goes to bed, I pick the check out aisle with the latest People magazines and immediately flip to the Inside Track when I pick up the Herald.

Insanity, I know. And don't worry, I still read two newspapers a day, get Time and Newsweek in the mail, flip through the Times on Sundays and watch 60 Minutes each week. But if I have a minute to myself in the middle of the day and the TV is on I immediately flip to E! Because who knows whose True Hollywood Story might be on next?

There's something about these people that just fascinate me. How do you get to be a multi-millionaire in your early 20s? What do some of these talent-less people know that I don't?

Sure, they've got the fabulous bodies, impeccable skin and ridiculously expensive designer clothes. They're always smiling, their hair is always gleaming and there is never a run in their stockings.

That is, except when they're pictured in my favorite - albeit ridiculous - Us Magazine feature: Stars... They're Just Like Us! Page after page is dedicated to pictures of celebs doing "regular" stuff, urging readers to say "Oh my God! Britney's buying a lemonade, just like me!" or "I can't believe Cameron gets her coffee at Starbucks too!"

Let's face facts: these people are normal, and as much as we like to see them succeed in big-money movies, we also love to see them fail. We love the stories about Britney going nuts and shaving her head, eat up the details of Prince William's break-up and make bets on who might go into rehab next.

These magazines are thriving for a reason: people like me love to live vicariously through celebrities who are living the lives we can only dream of. I"ll never have a Bel Aire mansion, drive a convertible, have a private chef and yoga instructor or be able to drop a few grand each day at Nordstrom's.

And that's OK. I like my condo in Salem, my Toyota Rav 4 and my yoga class at the YMCA. I wouldn't trade it for a lifetime of being chased by the paparazzi...

... but the second People offers a deal on a subscription, I'm totally signing up.