We All Fall In Love Sometimes
(That's an old Elton John song title, if you didn't know.)

I fall in love with 30 second sound bites. Clearly, Michelle falls in love with Michael Phelps.

Internet romance runs in a progression similar to old fashioned romance. First, the initial attraction:

For the next few weeks I am going to have a crush on Michael Phelps. I know that he is a little young. I am guessing 19 or 20 years old. I really don't know anything about him, except that he drives a pimped out Escalade and he is from Maryland. My crush is purely phsyical and I am ok with that. I dream about meeting a guy like him...tall, lean, athletic, attractive. If only Michael Phelps were older..then we could be "friends."

Please don't judge me.

We won't.

Then, there's the time when your love dominates your every thought:

Today my underage boyfriend Michael Phelps failed to win gold....I think that Michael Phelps could help me get back my youth. We could hang out at his house and play video games and do things that kids who can't go to the bar do. Then we could make out. Yep, I said it, MAKE OUT!!....Don't worry people, my obsession with Michael Phelps will only last during the length of the Olympic games.

I never felt that way about any of the beach volleyball players.

Then, your friends worry about you:

Everyone I tell about my olympic crush on Michael Phelps thinks that I am insane....

(Incidentally, I'm skipping a number of posts...she wrote A LOT about Mr. Phelps during the Olympics. See Michelle's August archive.)

Next, your realize that you have a problem:

I think I have officially crossed into stalker territory. I had a dream that Michael Phelps said I was stalking him. I think my subconscience is trying to tell me that this has finally gone to far....

Then, the initial rush of emotion fades:

Now that the olympics are over, I cannot have a crush on you anymore. It would just not be right. I am too old....

I would like to thank you for making the Olympics so enjoyable for me. Also, for shooting most of your commercials while wearing a speedo. It has been a great two weeks, it is too bad that it is over....

Anyway, take care Michael. I will continue to hang your picture in my cube until my co-workers mock me and I have to take it down.

Or maybe it doesn't fade:

I decide to go to NY to the US Open and I miss my big chance to meet Michael Phelps.

To be continued?