Wanted: Crazy, quirky confessions
The cover of the May 2010 Reader's Digest beckoned me: "Normal or Nuts?" it screamed. "Your habits, quirks, and fears explained." I immediately had to read the article because I think I have a lot of weird habits, quirks and fears and I hoped the article would prove there are folks with far weirder habits, quirks and fears than mine.
Unfortunately, it didn't. Despite the intro comment that "... it's a sure bet that your nutty quirk -- the one you think is freakishly unusual -- is shared by plenty of other people ...", the habits highlighted by the readers were pretty darn normal, if you ask me. There was fear of speaking in public, flying in an airplane, loving one child more than another, talking to oneself, being depressed about layoffs at work, blah, blah, boring blah.
Okay, yeah, there were two truly weird obsessions highlighted in the article: One in which the person didn't like to have his or her feet touch the ground ... except for when they're in motion; and another in which the person pulls out stray arm hairs to ensure all the arm hair is the same length. Yep, those two are weird.
But I was hoping for some enlightenment, actually, hoping for some companionship when it comes to the quirks that make me feel like I'm crazy. Comments from my daughters such as as "You're so weird, Mom" are a regular occurrence, and after years of trying to fit in, I've come to accept that I don't really fit in much of anywhere in any way. I follow the beat of a different drummer, a lone drummer, one that plays a song not many understand. Or so I think. But maybe I'm wrong.
Which is why I'm coming to you all. Because Reader's Digest couldn't help me out, I'm hoping you can. I'd like to propose that today we all fess up to one or two of our quirkiest quirks, our craziest thoughts, words and deeds that we think we're alone in conducting. Then we'll see what the consensus is. Are we all weird? Are we all crazy? Or are we just quirky enough to be charming ... and interesting.
So I'll go first. Then I'd like you all to comment with something that similarly worrisome to you, that you think you may be the only one in the world doing. Nothing too dark, nothing too revealing, nothing so bat-crap crazy that I block you from commenting ever again ... just something that you wonder if others do as well -- or if others think that's just too far outside the spectrum of normal human behavior.
We'll comment back and forth and together we'll see what happens. Who knows? Could be crazy, could be quirky, could be an utterly idiotic thing to ask of my readers. We'll see ...
So here I go with mine:
I absolutely must cover my neck with the covers in bed each night, regardless of how hot the weather may be. If my neck is exposed, I fear a vampire will claim the fleshy space between my head and my body. It has nothing to do with Twilight or True Blood; it goes farther back than that. I've done it since I was a kid ... a kid who grew up unable to take my eyes off the TV when Barnabas Collins had his way with the women and more in the original serial called Dark Shadows. The show was kind of sexy (to a kid, at least), definitely scary ... and obviously quite scarring, as you can tell by my neck-covering obsession more than 40 years later!
Now you tell me: crazy or quirky? And, what crazy or quirky confession do you have to share so we can all weigh in on your obsession?
Today's question:
See above ...!
**Oh my! In researching to verify what year Dark Shadows ran on ABC, I found on Wikipedia that Johnny Depp will play Barnabas Collins in the 2011 movie from Tim Burton. Aack! The neck-covering continues!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Reader Comments (26)
Ok, only for you Lisa.
Here goes...
I label my eggs.
Yep, date stamp them all in pencil before ever placing them in the fridge.
Each egg has a date or an HB (hard boiled) on it.
Now, make me feel better and tell me everyone does that so that I can tell my family I'm not that nuts (-:
MBA: Ummm, that *is* a little weird. Actually, a little anal. But I think it's quirky, cute and harmless! In fact, I just might start doing it myself ... as of right now, I just put the hardboiled ones in the butter door.
Thanks for being brave and going first!
Let's see...
For one, I have a popcorn thing. I love popcorn, but I eat it by biting off the crunchy parts to leave the big, white fluff. Then I keep all the white fluff to the side and eat that all at once. I do it because it's tasty, and I think it also comes from trying to slow down snacking to not eat too much. The husband makes fun of me, though.
Also, I listen to audio books far more than anyone I know. Probably at least 2 hours a day, often more? I have the ipod on, chronologically, doing dishes, walking the dog, doing hair and make up, sometimes while fixing lunch, if i work out, walking the dog again, making dinner... It means that I'm constantly entertained, but out house is soooo quiet most the time. It's an addiction. Damn you, audible.com!
Yep, the popcorn thing is quirky. Not too crazy, but yeah, mighty quirky!
The audio book obsession? Perfectly acceptable and possibly even the norm for many!
Lisa, first of all, keeping your neck covered when you sleep is normal! I do it. In fact, I like to have the covers over my ears, just in case! And I've done that since I was a kid, too. AND I never even saw Dark Shadows. I suppose a quirky (but perfectly normal) thing I do is tuck my dog into her bed at night and say, "Good night." Every night. I don't think she sleeps well otherwise.
That's too funny, Pam! I thought (and I'm sure Jim did, too) that I was crazy! I'm glad it's not true ... or at least that you're as crazy as I am.
I'm as crazy as you in the doggie bedtime routine. In fact, I basically tuck Mickey and Lyla into their beds -- in THEIR room -- then pat 'em on the head and say "See you in the morning, kids." They don't settle in as well without the final "goodnight."
:o)
Guilty! I put the dog to bed and say, "Good night. Momma loves you." And I don't care how silly it is. His momma does love him.
I have KNOWN full well that the LIE I was told as a kid i.e., "...if you get dust from Miller Moths in your eyes, you'll go blind..." is not true but I still shut my eyes as I flap them with a fly-swatter or turn my head when I suck them up with the vacuum cleaner hose, just IN CASE...and when I'm spraying bug killer into the vacuum cleaner hose behind them.
Yep, I can attest to that one being true because I've seen many a miller-moth freakout dance from you. Crazy, crazy ... not quite bat-crap crazy worthy of being blocked from commenting, but still crazy!
I have a few eating habits that I think are quirky. You will have to let me know. I eat tons of ketchup on red chile tamales. The servers at the restaurants always shake their heads at me. Otherwise, I eat very little ketchup. My tamales that are swimming in ketchup are the best eaten with a glass of ice cold milk.
How about this combination grilled cheese sandwich, sweet pickles, and a tall chocolate shake!
I have a fear of spiders. I do the vacuum thing too with every attachment I have to add length to the hose and I do the jumping up and down dance and scream as I approach the spider. When I feel the actual spider go past the spot of the vacuum hose where I am touching it I have to drop the hose! I'm sitting her squirming just thinking about it!
Shelley: The ketchup obsession is definitely quirky! And the sandwich/pickle/shake combo seems like it would curdle in your stomach. THAT is making me squirm more than the spider in the hose idea! Quirky grandma you are!
Ha! I knew tucking my dog in was totally normal. Guess that means I'm quirk-free.
Mmm, quirky, quirky quirky.... Don't bother me... I'm thinkin' and thinkin.... mmmm.... what do I do that's quirky? Sheesh! I can't think of one single quirky thing that I do. I've spent, what, maybe a whole .03 seconds thinking and can't think of nary a quirk. Maybe you ought to ask my husband. Or my kids.
Wow, I loved Dark Shadows! Leave it to Johnny Depp to do the movie version...but I can't wait to see it. I don't know if this is quirky but I too have a fear of spiders! When staying in a hotel and before I go to bed I have to lift up the sheet and blanket and check the bed for spiders, especially down where your feet go. Once when I was younger and traveling with my parents we stayed in a motel in Topeka, Kansas and I was bitten by a spider while sleeping. That did it!
Nina: Nothing quirky? Absolutely no weird little ticks or tocks?? Although ... I kind of, sort of remember some quirky little musical performance on your blog around Christmas time. Hmmm ... I'll have to look it up. :o)
Debbie: Yeah, spiders in the bed are cause for concern, so that's not too quirky, I don't think. Where Megan lives, it's friggin' SCORPIONS you have to watch out for in the beds!
Love this post!!! When I make a grocery list, and I make one everytime I buy groceries, I make a separate column on the right hand side just for meat, fish and poultry. I started doing this years ago because I get the meat last and it's easier to list it all together than throughout the list! It makes me crazy when my husband sees the list and starts adding non meat items on the meat side!
Annette: I'd say that one's not quirky, it's SMART! One of the other Grandma's Briefs readers -- who will remain unnamed -- has a pretty extensive grocery list regimen that goes above and beyond the norm. Actually, she should have put THAT as a quirky habit. (And you know who you are, Ms. Unnamed Anal Grocery List Writer!)
The only thing my husband adds to the grocery list is M&Ms ... and that makes me crazy no matter WHERE he adds it to the list because he eats way too many M&Ms!
Lisa, if EVERYBODY is participating in a 'quirky' activity, can't it be claimed as normal? (Please say yes . . .)
However, I have come up with something that is rather odd. I am continually 'writing' in my head -- as I walk to work, as I eat lunch, as I weed the garden, wake up in the middle of the night (like I did last night). Like all the time! I've recently come to realize not to many people do that . . .
Nina: Since I get to be ruler here in Grandma's Briefs land, then I say YES to quirkiness being normal if everybody is doing it! :o)
While you continually write in your head, I continually EDIT in my head ... edit myself ... which makes me a horrible conversationalist!
Hello from the Lady Blogger Tea Party! i saw your blog name and HAD to come check it out! don't have any good confessions for you, though.
Dropping in from LBS. I am definitely sure I have weird quirky things that I do, but it's hard to come up with them for some reason. I am a compulsive toothbrusher and flosser. I like to have everything in it's rightful place and beds made before I can get on with my day. I am very particular about recycling. I don't like to keep anything under beds because I think it's bad luck. I am quite superstituous. No crossing people on the stairs or you have to immediately say 'bread and butter' when they pass. No new shoes on the table. And definitely make a wish with the first of the season's mincemeat tarts.
Also from the Lady Blogger Society. Really like your blog, I think I'll follow. I think your confession is quirky not crazy, but what do I know. I'll have to give mine some thought as far as current, but when I was a kid, I had to sleep with my back facing the wall. I could not have my back toward the bedroom door, it HAD to be the wall. Something about night monsters lol.
How funny...love the photo. Confession...I'm a neat nick. I can't stand anything out of place.
Mary
Pops in from Tea Party Time, I like your blog and I like the header pic too...lol...
hhmmm... I think I just cant sleep when its too quiet, i feel like theres a gigantic frenzy bee buzzing on my ear... so I have to turn something on either its the humming air conditioner, TV (on low volume), my electric van, anything... to knock the bee out...
Hello, ladies from LBS! I'm so glad you stopped by. Thank you for sharing your quirkiness! I hope you'll visit again. I'll have to check out your sites.
I'm from the Lady Bloggers Tea Social...how are you? I'm your newest follower! If you get a chance, stop on by my blog too for a visit! Have a great weekend!
http://www.mommylivingthelifeofriley.com