So last week I got tagged on Twitter for a meme by a new friend, Sheila Gregoire (@sheilagregoire), to share seven weird things about me.
Sheila is obviously a NEW friend, since in six months I’ve shared on this blog at least ONE HUNDRED and seven of my quirks already.
But I’m always up for a challenge. Besides, so far I’ve only dipped a ladle into my 50-gallon drum of eccentricity.
(By the way, this is a Twitter meme, so at the end I’m gonna tag some other people I follow there. If you don’t “tweet” or even know what that is, click the link and explore. It’s the latest timewaster social networking trend online right now.)
Okay. Seven weird things, coming up:
1. I can’t cook.
Really, I have a mental block. I WANT to want to learn, but even five-ingredient recipes seem like too much work.
I’ve perfected the grilled cheese, though.
And I’m looking forward to practicing the Toastabag omelet.
2. I bake really well.
Make a mean batch of fudge too.
But I’ve forbidden myself to make any more, because I can eat a whole pan all by myself. Double batch.
3. I have multiple music personalities.
I go through phases: country, classical, jazz, classic rock, show tunes, 80s new wave, Christian pop.
Until I get tired of all the times the Christian station plays 4Him’s “Measure of a Man”. I mean, really. What other non-oldie genre has so many decade-old songs on its regular playlist?
My latest: Satellite radio’s 24-hour kids’ channel. (What? I do it for the kids.)
4. I was painfully shy growing up.
Stare-at-the-ground, silent in class, afraid of my shadow shy.
Some people might wish I’d stayed that way.
5. I married a college dean who used to be a chef, and ended up with a full-time writer.
YES, it’s the same guy.
This means: I eat well, I’ve learned to deftly fend off lectures on obscure topics, and I spend a lot of time editing.
6. I can’t do math in my head.
I didn’t realize this was odd until I was complaining to my better-at-math sister that my son just wouldn’t memorize his multiplication tables. He preferred to do the math in his head. Her response: “And exactly HOW is that a problem?”
I had no idea that some of you actually DO the math when you calculate. I just spout what I’ve memorized. (Sadly, my memory is going, and taking the math facts with it.)
7. I can spell just about anything after reading it once.
This makes me a good editor and an annoying pen pal.
I also read backwards and upside-down, speed-read, and learn new vocabulary really easily. One of my favorite college classes? Linguistics. On my SAT, my verbal score was higher than my math.
But – and this is humiliating – I was eliminated from my junior high spelling bee in Round One. The word that “stumped” me? Raisin.
***
Okay, that’s enough of MY quirkiness for one day.
I tag:
@passedtents, whose blog is Bivouac
@helenatrandom, whose blog is Random Musings
@katdish, who blogs at Hey Look, a Chicken!
@apron_strings, my awesome blog designer who blogs at Apron Strings Aflutter
@buzzbyannies, whose blog is aptly named, Buzz by Annie’s
@allrileyedup, with the blog All Rileyed Up
@thefarmerfiles, blogging at The Farmer Files
@you – Yes, you. If you blog, feel free to join in and post on this! Tweet it! If you don’t have a blog, don’t let that stop you! Just leave a comment and overshare away!
Embarrassment loves company. Do it for me.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Celeste // Jan 8, 2009 at 5:29 am
Hyperventilating now…;) C.
2 Steph // Jan 8, 2009 at 5:48 am
I “tagged” you to encourage someone who's on a journey parallel to mine – not to freak you out(!) Sorry! I just saw similarities, and I remember how great it was the first time someone sent people my way.
It's okay, just take a deep breath and be you. You might be worried that not everyone will like your writing.
Well, not everyone will. But some people – probably people you'd really enjoy friendship with – WILL like it.
3 Celeste // Jan 8, 2009 at 5:56 am
(((Steph))) Thanks so much…I was mostly kidding. I'm petrified, not because of the negative input I may receive, but because I've recently left a safe little niche (AOL Journals). I really should just get over it…hehehe…my prayers are being answered…WAY faster than III (underlined/SEVERLY) think I'm prepared!
(still hyperventilating…)…hehehe
C.
4 Mulled Vine // Jan 8, 2009 at 6:23 am
You can't cook because you married a chef – its that simple. Why would you want to?
On the other hand, my 10 year old cooks us meals, so shame on you!!
5 @ngie // Jan 8, 2009 at 7:13 am
1. I like to chew ice and now all my kids do too
2. Up until I was engaged and had a heart to heart talk with my fiance I wanted to be the mother of a dozen kids
3. Part of the many things I like about exercise is sweating
4. I like to exercise but I am still an 11-12 (I think being a 10 would be very perfect)
5. I can cross one eye at a time
6. I am a bit dyslexic – mostly with numbers and typing
7. I don't like doing memes but I will for people I like very very very much; especially if they are my BFF and let me call them Steph Steph be Beph (which is strangely not very many people – go figure.)
6 Helen // Jan 8, 2009 at 8:21 am
I did it. This was fun! Thanks, Steph.
7 katdish // Jan 9, 2009 at 2:17 am
Alright. I'm in. But suprisingly enough, we have some similar oddities in common.
8 Charlie // Jan 9, 2009 at 2:17 am
OK, after almost 15 years of marriage, I finally know why you hate raisins!
9 Annie K // Jan 9, 2009 at 3:27 am
Steph, at least it's not just multiple personalities like someone we know…who rhymes with berry.
10 Carol // Jan 9, 2009 at 3:43 am
Oh, my! I believe you're right. We may both owe Robin a debt of gratitude.
Love your quirks. The only reason I can spell is that I'm armed with FireFox's auto-checker and Dictionary.com.
So very glad you stopped by She Lives!
11 faemom // Jan 9, 2009 at 4:53 am
Awesome meme! Of course, I am jealous of your awesome spelling poer and reading power. Just guess how many times I had to retype "power." Go ahead guess.
12 sherri // Jan 9, 2009 at 6:33 am
faemom,- I think I like you! Have typos always been a problem for you? I feel a very strong connection.
I never bother with retyping though. They know what you meant.
13 Mom // Jan 9, 2009 at 7:01 am
You apparently got your math gene from me. I'm so sorry I didn't teach you to cook
FYI: Your 3rd grade teacher always looked to you to see if something he was writing
on the board was spelled correctly. Do you remember?
Love you, Mom
14 thefarmerfiles // Jan 9, 2009 at 10:36 am
Aaahhh I am so behind on being tagged for stuff and blogging! I will try but it may take awhile! Ohhh but just to give you a weird fact….I won the 6th grade spelling bee!
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