Sometimes admitting something about yourself that people may think is unflattering can be a liberating feeling. You beat them to the punch by allowing everyone to know something and acting like you don't mind.

So that's what I'm going to do - though confessing might make me appear like less of a man.

Let me now go on record by admitting my love of romantic movies.

Yes, I will no doubt be called a softy, especially by one guy I know at the Y who spends his whole day reading my columns and blogs then thinking of snide remarks to make to me next time he sees me.

I don't know where this love of romantic movies comes from - but I can say my dad admits to crying during some movies. Name one of these so-called chick flicks and you can bet I either own it or have rented it several times.

"Bridget Jones's Diary"? Yep. "Love Actually"? Yeah. "The Notebook"? Ditto. "Notting Hill"? No need to ask any more.

I'm used to being in movie theaters for these films where I'm one of the few guys in the theater. The difference is I actually want to see these movies, as a opposed to the handful of guys who may have been dragged kicking and screaming to the theater.

One can't really change too much what they prefer. I don't tend to gravitate to the blood and guts horror flicks and if there is too much fake action like explosions I also won't watch.

I like to watch real-life movies for the most part - not something far-fetched.

For "Love Actually," I couldn't convince my roommate in Chicago to go see it, so I went to the theater solo. The theater was packed and there was a seat next to me not taken. Some people who arrived late thought there was no way that seat could be open since there is no way that dude (me) would go to this movie by himself. Well, I'm here to tell you there is a way and they quickly snatched up the seat when I told them it was open.

I don't think I'd want to pretend to like something I don't just to try to impress someone.

So go ahead, make fun of me if you want.

---

Reporter Andrew Potter is a Tuesday columnist for the Times-Republican. The views expressed in this column are personal views of the writer and don't necessarily reflect the views of the T-R. Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com