My God, my titles are atrocious. Anyhow, now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me fill you in on just what's going on in this magical Monday blog post. I have been tagged by the lovely and hilarious Princess in Galoshes (Don't you just love that blog name? She always has brilliant titles. I wonder if she contracts out for that service??) for the Eight Random Things About Me Meme. From what I gather I'm supposed to tell you eight weird things about myself... you know, because I don't do that, like, every day on this website? But enough with the procrastination, let's get started on the narcissistic self-analysis!!
1. There is still a tiny part of me that is completely convinced that if I could ever meet Prince William, he would be completely swept away by my stunning good looks, witty sense of humor, and innate charms. And I'm happy to report that as I will never actually meet the man, I will always be confident in my abilities to woo members of royalty.
2. I count EVERYTHING. This, along with my perfectionist cleaning and organization tendencies, are what lead me to believe I may have a slight case of OCD. Of course, that is based on absolutely no research and entirely on what I took away from that Jack Nicholson movie where he's a complete asshole to Helen Hunt. I count steps when I'm running, I count bumps on the road when I'm driving, if I'm in a waiting room I'll count squares in the floor tiles or bricks on walls outside. It can really get to be annoying at times, because I HATE numbers, and also I tend to lose count once I get over 50, which just serves to further frustrate me because I have to start all over again. Yes. I HAVE to.
3. Texture in food, more often than flavor, is a turn-off to me. There are very few things that I dislike because of their flavor--green olives, that horrible sweet and salty popcorn, and sweet potato pie to name a few. But textures have always had the ability to give me the heebie jeebies. For example, I love guacamole, but avocados squick me out completely. I'm fine with the creamy texture of a dip, but it just seems terribly wrong in a vegetable. Similarly, a delicious cheesy, buttery grits casserole sounds utterly appealing, but a big mound of them swimming around on my plate like little bits of sand in a congealed liquid disgusts me to no end.
4. At some point in my life, I got it into my head that if you are not a genius at something right off the bat, it must not be "meant" for you. I think it all goes back to a number of books I read in my youth where the child in the book tries their hand at certain talents and is brilliant with absolutely no training--piano, writing, singing, math, whatever. Even in my adulthood it's something I still struggle with, and I think the reason it took me so long to send anything I've written out for judgment.
5. Birds TERRIFY me. I blame Alfred Hitchcock entirely. I have nightmares where my eyes are being plucked out and my hair is all tangled with birds, and in real life I cringe at the thought of aviaries or wildlife habitats. Baby birds are okay though, I have no unfounded fear of little fuzzy yellow chicks or gaping mouthed grey-feathered birdlets.
6. Sometimes I think I really am addicted to chocolate like other people are addicted to cigarettes, or alcohol, or drugs. And that kind of scares me.
7. I haven't got a CLUE about music from the Top 40 stations between the years of 1982 and 1995. Growing up I always listened to the stations my parents listened to which were either adult contemporary or Your Favorite Hits From the 60's, 70's, and 80's!! All of my personal tapes were either Disney soundtracks or Glenn Miller--both of which I still love to this day. I had one New Kids on the Block tape, and I really don't remember ever listening to it. I do remember a friend once asking me what my favorite song was, so she could add it to her Bat Mitzvah playlist and I couldn't think of ANYTHING. So, instead of telling her, you know, the truth: that my favorite song was "Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog", I told her I didn't HAVE a favorite song. Yeah. Right. And to this day when anyone starts talking about Tupac or TLC I just kind of smile blankly. But I'd be glad to have a discussion about "String of Pearls" or "Little Brown Jug"!
8. I'm obsessed with online shopping. Sure, I love going out to the stores and boutiques as much as the next girl, but I feel so much more comfortable in the online world. I love to search endlessly for coupon codes, hunt different websites for the best deals, I get little thrills of excitement when the doorbell rings and a box is on my doorstep, and I love trying clothes on in the comfort of my own home with my own mirrors and lighting. It's often difficult to find my size in the store, for some reason places don't like to stock XS in the tops and the 4s and 6s are always gone with 14 million 14s and 16s left on the racks, but on the internet, all I have to do is click my size and price range and everything is right there for me to sort through. It's truly the antisocial shopping heaven!
I'm a little late, but CONGRATULATIONS on being published! I am so impressed. Truly. Do we, your loyal blog readers, get to read this work of fiction, someday?
Also... I think the bird dreams are due to Mr. Hitchcock, but tangled hair, in general, usually indicates confusion or uncertainty. (ie: can't see straight.) Next time you have one of those dreams, pay attention to if you've been particularly anxious or feeling uncertain about something. Just a thought, from your friendly, totally-unqualified, dream interpreter.
Posted by: Cat | July 03, 2007 at 12:50 AM
Prince William and I were born only a few days apart (same year!) and I always secretly felt like that gave us some special connection... sigh.
Also, if you are looking for good internet shopping deals, you should check out "want not" by Mir (I'm pretty sure it's wantnot.net) it's awesome!
Posted by: Bre | July 03, 2007 at 04:36 AM
I have a weird habit of counting floor tiles in waiting rooms. We had a bird get into our fireplace once. It was scary. I had to shine a flashlight in his eyes then Mr. grabbed him. THankfully he knows things like that! :)
Posted by: shopper | July 03, 2007 at 05:12 PM
It kind of freaks me out looking at Prince William b/c he looks so much like his mother. I have a hard time finding the sizes that I need in stores, but admittedly, I can only buy shirts online b/c there's no consistency in how bottoms will fit me.
Posted by: Becky | July 03, 2007 at 08:10 PM
I bet you're a swing dancer, too.
I am completely with you on #4. But it works both ways - like, you discover you're good at something really, really minor, like cutting out a Shrinky-Dink or painting an Easter Egg (did you see the cute ones on The Girls Next Door?), and you're all, "Oh! Is this what I should be doing for a living?? Is this my CALLING?? DID I TAKE THE WRONG CAREER PATH??"
But I spent a year with the theme of doing things I sucked at, and it was a really enjoyable year. I backed off of perfectionism and actually I think people like you more when you're lousy at stuff because then they can be better than you.
I count when I pee.
Posted by: TasterSpoon | July 03, 2007 at 09:04 PM
If I wasn't married to BJ, I'd think you were very strange with that food texture thing. I've never heard of that before, but he's the same way.
Oh- and anything green, it seems. Won't touch it, unless it's salad.
You guys are strange! har!
Posted by: RisibleGirl | July 05, 2007 at 01:26 AM
Being from the south, I never understood this at all, but my very best girlfriend finds the texture of Iced Tea unbearable. HuH?
But I understand as I can't bear the texture of a tomato skin. You should check my cherry tomato peeling ability. I should be a surgeon.
Posted by: AC | July 05, 2007 at 01:53 PM
But iced tea doesn't have a texture! Wait, does it? Now I am going to worry about this.
And I'm totally on board with #4. Just today I was explaining to my mother all the things my brain "won't let me" comprehend: math, reading music, spatial relations. Stupid brain.
Posted by: Fraulein N | July 08, 2007 at 08:17 PM