We're coming up for air from the Harry Potter cave to talk a bit about alone time and how it can make or break your relationship.

It's tough explaining these solo sojourns to the latest man in your life. And from what we've heard, they're not that easy to explain to the ladies either. Apparently not being attached at the hip 24/7 wasn't an option. Women who want to do things alone come across as being moody, while men who need alone time get accused of a lack of interest in the female.

So how do you make sure you get time by yourself without hurting anyone's feelings or getting yourself in trouble?

Women and men have different techniques for getting their alone time. We have the option to plead illness or use that whole "moody for whatever reason" to our advantage. We can get teary and whiny at the drop of a hat if you threaten to disrupt our outing to Nordstrom's.

Men, on the other hand, are a little bit screwed. If you plead illness, some women are only too happy to take care of you. If you get moody, we think all you need is a good, long talk.

It could be hard work trying to get your crush to back off a bit. So we recommend sharing your alone time, even going so far as to modify your routine to make it an outing for two. If our significant gave us crap about our alone time, we would make our hobbies into something we could do together (see above).

It's been our experience that when you offer the modified version of your alone time as an option, your man or woman might find it prudent to leave you the hell alone. Now. Back to Harry.

You can still e-mail Bridgette at brwilliams@quickdfw.com, but she might bite your head off.

ALONE

Read Harry Potter books

Drink beer with the guys

Watch football at home

Marathon shop

TOGETHER

Go to Potter parties as Ron and Hermione

Drink with the guys at a strip club at noon on Sunday

Watch football at a bar with friends from college who belch

Marathon shop for a new wardrobe for him, starting with underwear