Today I have Laura's quirks for you! Her blog, Radiator Tunes, is beautifully written with gorgeous pictures to boot. Check it out. :)
Laura's Quirks
I have an unhealthy obsession with all things awesomely bad. I avidly watch movies such as Grease 2 and The Room, seek out YouTube videos of horrible acting, and listen to Rick Astley, knowing full well that these are all terrible, cheesy, and delightfully awful.
To this day, I still have a certain seat at my family dinner table that I always need to sit in. I guess it's a mild case of obsessive compulsive disorder, or a really strong resistance to change. While everyone else in the family can shift their seating positions as much as they please, I can’t help getting upset if I’m not able to sit in the same old spot.
I’m crazy about Christmas. I actually celebrate Christmas in July because I just can’t wait for the most wonderful time of the year to arrive! And it’s not unusual for me to have a majority of my gifts bought or purchased before Labor Day rolls around.
Shy as I may be when amongst strangers, I love to dance in public places where dancing is not expected. The grocery store, the mall, convenience stores, and coffee shops are all as good as dance clubs for me. This groovier side of myself is of particular embarrassment to my mother and my fiance.
I used to have absolutely love for unicorns. As a child, I was told that unicorns didn’t exist because they didn’t make it on to Noah’s Ark in time - I was so upset with Noah that I cried.
The only kind of spoon I will use at home is an iced tea spoon. What is an iced tea spoon you ask? They’re a really long, narrow and skinny style of spoon (and I guess they’re particularly handy at mixing iced tea?). Growing up, my mom kept a few of them with the rest of our silverware and I always tended to use them over the others. This special set of spoons then made the trip with me to college and when I moved out. I’m still not sure what is about them that I love so much, but I get upset when the only clean spoons around are the short and squat kind.
I tire of driving the short distance to and from work everyday, but I love long road trips. Stick me and my fiance Mike in a car for hours at a time and we’ll have a ball! We drove cross country in 2009 and are planning a road trip up to Canada this spring for our honeymoon.
I love to read aloud. Luckily this is one of those habits that I kicked before I got too old. But whenever I read something out loud nowadays to my family or friends, everyone makes fun of my hurried enthusiasm while reading to them.
Hello, all! I have a really special treat for you today. I gave the quirks a rest for awhile, but a wonderful blogger emailed me her list the other day and I'm posting it today! Jamie's blog is really sweet and fun. Go check it out and fall in love.
Jamie's Quirks
1. When riding as a passenger in a car I open and close the armrest compartment incessantly. And I never realize I am doing it until someone points it out (because he/she is totally annoyed). Never.
2. I often start and complete several projects simultaneously all over the house. For example, I’ll start making a salad in the kitchen, then realize there’s laundry fold and go do that in my bedroom. In the middle of folding laundry I’ll remember that the toys need putting away in Levi’s room. (He’s a babe and can’t do it himself. Otherwise, and believe me when I say this, Levi would be picking up the toys in his room.) After doing that for a minute, inspiration will strike for a blog post and I’ll go into our office to type a few words or find a photo. Oh, and then I’ll remember that I never finished putting that salad together. It’s vicious.
3. I get ready in the morning in exactly the same order every day. That means I shower exactly the same way, put my make up on in exactly the same order, then blow dry my hair, then clothes, jewelry, and so on. Exactly. It’s usually a bad day if my flow gets interrupted.
4. When reading a book, I must complete a full chapter before pausing. I just can’t stop on a random page. I need closure, which is odd in light of quirk number two.
5. I change my hairstyle often, usually out of boredom. Apparently I get bored a lot.
6. I went through a phase in my teenage years that basically made it impossible for me to listen to a song the whole way through. (This only applied to songs I knew well enough to know the words to.) See also quirk number two. It was quite annoying to my sister, who was often riding in the car with me. 7. I like to lie on the floor of my walk-in closet, with the door closed, and read magazines. Totally normal, I know.
1. I pick split ends. I mean I can spend a good hour or so doing this -- staring, almost cross-eyed, at the ends of my hair and picking each one, one by one. It's addicting and I am here to warn you: do not start. And also, don't try to stop me once I'm on a roll. I'll just get pissed.
2. I used to (maybe still do... once in awhile) pluck my big toe and feet with a tweezer instead of shaving them. They're not particularly hairy but I think I was (am?) afraid if I shaved them, the hair would increase. So I twist like a gymnast on my bathroom counter and pluck each hair. I'm starting to see a pattern of quirks having to do with hair.
3. In keeping with hair, I used to lay on my bedroom floor (grade-school guys, grade-school) on my stomach with my face to one side, and when the sun would shine, I'd see every dog or human hair on my floor and i would gather them all into piles by sweeping my hand across the floor and then throw away the piles. I really don't like stray hairs. Totally normal.
4. This is more of a character flaw then a quirk. Quirk implies cute little endearing traits... character flaw, not so much. My own mess, be it my bedroom or bathroom, is okay by me. I know I'll get to it. Steve leaves his things around: "Pick up your f-ing socks!!" (Freaking guys, I meant freaking.)
5. I narrate for my dog. All the live-long day. In this dumb little voice (it's not a super annoying baby voice though. Don't worry, guys.) I go on and on and on. Steve does too though. Yup. Throwing him under the bus. Funny story that just happened. Gracie is outside in the snow -- we're both inside where she can't even hear us -- and we're still narrating for her: "Hey guys. I'm out in the snow. It's hard to get through." There's always a "Hey guys," before the things she "says."
6. I really like a clean inbox. It gives me agita (definition: heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach) to have a bunch of stuff in my inbox but lately there's no way around it. There's a bunch that need to stay there till I've addressed them. That sounds super fancy. I'm really mostly a stay-at-home-Mom. Don't be fooled.
7. I love the Bachelor. That's not a quirk. Just a confession. I loooooooooooove The Bachelor (or Bachelorette, but really The Bachelor more because a bunch of girls in the house gets way more testy than a bunch of men). Steve watches it with me. We cuddle and laugh about how many times we'll hear, "I'm here for the right reason," "I've done a lot of soul-searching," or "Those other girls aren't right for you." Oh and, "Brad...Ladies, this is the final rose. When you're ready."
Disclaimer: While writing these quirks I picked 8 split ends. Wait. Now 9.
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And on that note, I've decided to take a break from the quirks. I've been really busy with school and haven't had time to devote to it at all. I might bring them back in the future. Thanks to all who participated! :) xo, R.
01. I've inadvertently started collecting glass jars. Mason jars, milk jars, pitchers.. anything. Every time I go to the thrift store, I come back with a new one. I started to buy them for canning purposes, but now I'm just addicted.
02. Barnes and Noble is one of my happy places. I spend hours flipping through cookbooks and learning new things. Even though my wallet never really allows me to buy things I want, I just love being surrounded by so much information.
03. I hardly ever put perfume directly on my skin. I spray it in front of me -- then walk through it. In my mind, it makes it more "airy".
04. I'm always carrying around a stack of books. No matter where I go or how long I'll be there.. I take at least 3 different books, magazines and journals. Just in case.
05. I can't go a day with running into something and creating a serious bruise. I guess I just always have so many things in my head, I can't be bothered with where I'm walking.
06. A bad pen can ruin my day. If I can't find one of my three Sharpie pens or one with a felt tip, it's bad news. Regular ol' ball points just don't do it for me.
07. I have two systems of organization for recipes. When the recipe is genuinely great, it gets a recipe card (from Rifle Paper Co.) and goes in the wooden box that Tyler handmade for me. When the recipe is just good, it goes in my Moleskine recipe journal.
Thanks, Laken! If you'd like to participate, look here.
Hi! I have been super busy, but I have a treat for you -- another list of quirks! This one is coming from the lovely Elaine over at Clothed Much. She's sweet and has a wonderful sense of style. I hope you'll check her blog out (if you haven't already seen it)!
1. I am a little obsessive-compulsive about having clean feet and clean floors. When I was unemployed for a month and a half, I would Swiffer twice a day! (We have hardwood floors.) And every day when I come home, the first thing I do is wash my feet...because I hate feet...mine and others'.
2. I like to do other things while I brush my teeth. I can't just stand there and brush. I have to walk around.
3. I get motion sickness very easily - think swing sets, swinging chairs, rollercoasters, cars, buses, airplanes..
4. When I am cleaning, I like to clean the messy drawers first or the things that people won't see because it'll give ME a sense of peace. By the time I'm done, I'm usually over cleaning so nothing ever looks cleaned.
5. I love change. If I see a penny, I will take it! I am constantly scanning the streets and sidewalks for change.
6. I don't like loud and assertive people..mostly because I'm quiet and reserved and have felt walked on by those types of people. I've learned I have to be strong and assertive back if I want to get anything across to them.
7. I'm bad at small talk but my husband is even worse! So at first we both seem shy, reserved, and uninterested but we just don't know how to talk to people yet. I'm getting better and I have to keep reminding my husband that he can talk too in conversations.
Thank you so much for participating, Elaine! Interested in submitting your own list of quirks? Look here.
Today I have Christina's quirks for you! Christina was (I think!) my first, real blog friend! She's the kind of person that seems like your best friend right away. She has a cute dog, Emma, and recently moved to Atlanta with her husband (they're newlyweds!). You should read her blog. :)
1. I finish television characters' sentences when I'm annoyed with what they're doing.
2. I let my dog, Emma, establish credibility for me. Example: I think we need to go on vacation to London next week. Emma said so.
3. I like looking for apartments when we have no intention of moving. I'll drag my husband to complex after complex, asking to look at their 2 bedroom floor plans. Once my husband makes the mistake of feeding that obsession, I start coming up with reasons we NEED to move.
4. I'm impatient when I receive and give gifts. I always want to open them immediately, and I can barely contain myself when I get something for someone but can't give it to them yet.
5. I don't like non-dessert food items to be sweet.
6. I kick my leg upon waking up. And then my husband laughs at me. Really, I don't know why I do it, but I've done it since I was a little girl. Most people just stretch in bed, but i just snap my leg out and do a little kick.
7. Whenever I see a dog, I start "being the voice" for the dog. If it's off in the distance with its owner, going for a walk, I'll just say, "Oh hey! I'm going for a walk! Look at me! I'm going for a walk!" And I'll say it in a voice that apparently, only dogs would have if they could talk. I only do this around my mom and my husband because I'm aware of how insane this quirk is.
I love Christina's quirks more than I can say! I totally get #7! Thanks, Christina! Want to submit your own list of quirks? Submission details here.
I'm going to take a long weekend! I'll be back on Tuesday. I hope you all have a lovely holiday and if you have Martin Luther King, Jr. Day off, I hope you find a really special way to celebrate. :) xo, R.
Well, that was a trying weekend! Not moving on, but moving ahead. On another note, I did something sort of sneaky. This weekend I emailed some of my favorite bloggers ( with the exception of a few of you because I couldn’t find your emails. Christina, I’m talking to you. ;) ) and asked them if they’d like to participate in the Quirk Project. Well, I’ve done this project once before, and one day I just stopped. People stopped sending me their quirks and life took center stage. Well, not anymore. I told life that I wanted it to share the stage with the Quirk Project. Life agreed. Reagan emailed me her quirks and I was thrilled. Reagan’s blob is a source of great joy for me. She’s funny, cute, and her daughter, Piper (who she lovingly calls Pip — how cute!) is adorable and makes me smile. Then, she told me she wanted to be blog friends and I about died. YES! I love new blog friends! Another thing: if I lived in NYC, she’d be my permanent hairdresser. Get over there, and check her blob out! So here are Reagan's quirks. No surprise that I love them. I love all the lists I've been sent. Send me yours. Find details here.
1-Dancing in public. When I hear music, my legs/hair/arms cannot contain themselves. Street musicians, clothes stores, in the car..anywhere. Jake gets embarrassed.
2-I make up and sing songs about daily tasks..."Washing the dishes because they don't have arms to wash themseeeeellllves". Maybe it's because I still don't like cleaning/chores, but since it's not acceptable to have a messy apartment all the time, I have to entertain myself.
3-Clumsiness in general. Yesterday I tripped up an escalator. Something you don't even have to move your body to use. I landed on both hands and a guy behind me saw my panties.
4-I'm obsessed with little things. Especially things that are supposed to be big, but have been made tiny for no reason at all. Once I accidentally kissed a mini jar of honey at a farmer's market because it was tiny and adorable.
5-I always know the words to strange songs played in supermarkets, elevators and diners. And I don't know how I know most of them. Jake thinks it's amazing because I don't know the words to any of the real songs that most people know, like Christmas songs.
6-I love to swear. I don't swear really when I'm mad or anything like that, but I love to toss out a swear just to shock Jake or my friends when they least expect it. For instance..."Hey Jake! How the f*** was your day, sweetie?" It's one of those things where it's usually only funny to me and my mom isn't proud.
7-I love mermaids. When I was little I really thought I might figure out a way to grow up and become a mermaid. Some friends and I did the Coney Island Mermaid Parade in June of 2010 and I'm hoping to do it every year. Our theme was 1950s housewife mermaids and we wore aprons and handed out sugar cookies shaped like fish. If my 5 year old self could have seen my 26 year old self all jazzed up with a fin and shells I would have gone completely ape.
I would consider myself a quirky person and I love it! Quirks set you apart from others, give you something to laugh at yourself for, and really help others to get to understand you. I probably have a million little silly things about me, but here are just a few!
1.I love to look at old, broken, lonely houses. People may still live there or they may have left a long time ago, but I love to just look at them and try to figure out who lived/lives there, what kind of life they have had/have, and why their house is the way it is. Of course, I begin to think about if I was in that position what I would do to fix up the house, or how I’d go about doing it. This quirk shows my love for the old, the vintage, for history, and trying to understand people better.
2.I absolutely detest brown and black together. I just can’t stand it. I have only one winter coat and it is brown so sometimes I can’t avoid brown and black mixing and if I have to do it, I have to, but I just want to take off that coat as soon as possible. I don’t think it’s a total fashion faux pas, but most of the time, I believe it is, especially with my wardrobe!
3.Pants make me unhappy. One of my favorite fun facts is that in the 1800s pants was considered a ‘dirty word’. I just love dressing up in skirts and dresses-they are so easy and super comfortable. A fun fact is that when I was little I considered myself a tomboy (even though I I really wasn’t). I was always out playing soccer so I didn’t really dress up very much or care for that matter.
4.I love buying gifts. When I go shopping, sometimes I end up buying more for others than for myself. When I see something at a cute boutique or a steal at a bargain store, I just HAVE to get it when it’s screaming out a friend or family member’s name. With this, I usually love giving gifts more than receiving them.
5.I don’t like to waste milk in cereal bowls. I know it may seem really silly, but I always try to pour a little bit of milk over my cereal, because if there is any left, I just pour in more cereal to get rid of it. I just don’t like wasting food-even if it’s just a little milk.
6.I love rainy days. Some people may groan at the thought of them, but I love waking up and falling asleep to a little drizzle of rain, or even just spending the day on the couch on a rainy day reading or doing work. I think it’s calming and relaxing and instead of ruining a day, helps life just slow down a little bit and allows you to appreciate the beauty of nature. When I was little, we’d always love to swim in the pool in the rain, because we thought it was so cool…I still think it is!
7.I talk to myself when there is a yellow light. When I first started driving, I had the hardest time making a decision to go or not to go if the light was yellow. My mom suggested that I should say it out loud and stick with my decision. To this day, I say it out loud and still get really nervous at yellow lights-I just don’t want to run a red one! Funny story-one time I ended up making the wrong decision and ended up in the middle of the intersection. I decided to go but the red light beat me. I cried and proclaimed I would never drive again. Well, I got over that but not over decision making at yellow lights.
8.When I shop, especially for groceries, I have to go down every aisle. I like to take my time, ponder my choices, and find foods that I would have never thought of before to use in cooking. Of course, I don’t have time to meander through Publix all the time, so when I am in a hurry, I power stroll through the aisles. You never know exactly what you need and I think it’s boring to get the same things every time. I have been told that if there is any place to shop, I could find something to buy. It’s sad, but also very true-I probably could find some use for someone for anything-I just love the shopping possibilities at hand!
9.I have a slight obsession with napkins, or maybe it’s just an intense need. When I’m eating, I always have one in my lap, one besides my plate for wiping my mouth, and a couple more on the table. I think you can never have enough napkins. J I also take extreme notice of my use of utensils. My parents enrolled me in an etiquette class when I was in middle school and the good habits stuck with me. No complaints here!
10. There is nothing that compares to walking in heels — I love it. My mom and my sisters say that I always walk better in heels and I can agree (although I feel like I don't have a weird walk without them)! I'm a petite girl at 5 foot 4, so I feel so much taller and poised when I wear heels. So many people would rather die than walk around all day in heels, but I'd love to. I wish our campus was more heel friendly, or you'd be see me sporting them around. My dream heels are pictured above and they are made by Christian Louboutin.
Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth! xox
read more about submitting your own list of quirks here.
1. Pens are kind of a big deal to me. I get really excited over a good pen. And maybe I'm sort of picky sometimes when it comes to selecting a writing utensil. Like, if a pen is supposed to have a cap on it...then it needs to have the cap on it when I write with it. (This "logic" doesn't apply to clicky pens, of course). And if my choices are either a pen without a cap or nothing, then I won't turn it down. All I'm saying is, there's a nicer weight to a pen when the cap isn't missing.
2. I can't do roller-coasters. They gross me out. The flips, the tracks, the seat-belts or harnesses, the click-clicking to the top...yuck! I'm still trying to decide how I feel about the "exhilarating, stomach-dropping feeling", because I'm really only cool with that for a few seconds. All I know is that my palms start sweating and my heart starts racing from the moment I step into a kiddie-coaster line, and when I get locked in the seat, my panic is verging on heart attack status.
3. Every week when I watch American Idol, I get SO excited and get the urge to pick up any instrument, learn to play it and belt out my tunes! And I secretly always wish that my roommates will leave the apartment the next day, so that I can slide around in my socks, singing American Idol songs all day.
4. I can't drink coffee in the morning, I'm a nighttime drinker. I really enjoy getting coffee with friends, and I like the idea of waking up in the morning to a nice, big cup of coffee...however, when I'm really tired and up early in the morning (you know, when most people would turn to coffee, I steer clear), because I just end up feeling really sick. A few days ago, Alex, our friend Andrew and I woke up at 5 am to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, hike into the woods and film a documentary. We started our morning off with coffee and about halfway through the trip, Andrew had to pull over on the side of this cliff-road, because I thought I was going to throw up. I never did, but the rest of the car ride was pretty nauseating.
5. When I'm watching tv, I prefer to go UP to the numbers, rather than come down to them. This quirk is really verging on OCD, but it's okay because it's probably the only OCD quality about me. If I want to change the channel or volume from 27 to 25 for example, I can't just go down two clicks.. I have to go 27, 26, 25, 24...and then back to 25. It's strange and I can't really explain it, but as a kid, I associated "going down" as being truly negative, so I adopted this odd little habit.
6. I am habitually disorganized. When I have a child, let's just hope that their father has some organization skills, because they will learn nothing from me. I am constantly trying to change my ways...constantly! I'm relying heavily on my planner this semester, so I'm making some strides... my desk however, that's a losing battle. I try, but that thing has yet to stay organized for longer than a week. It's a shame too, because I have a really cute glass desk from Ikea :)
7. I am SO shy. It's something I'm really trying to work on, but I think I'm getting shyer as I get older. It's funny because anyone who knows me would be like, "You, shy? YEAH RIIIIIGHT!" But it's true! I get really, really, reeeeally nervous every time I have to walk into a new classroom, give a presentation or call someone on the phone, or something. My career interests don't look kindly to shyness, since I'm in film school right now, looking to further myself in filmmaking, acting and music... so I'm REALLY trying to conquer the crippling shyness a-sap!
8. I say "Just Kidding" ALL the time! I don't know where it came from and I can't seem to shake it. Sometimes I'll notice it and try to correct it......with another "just kidding"!! Really? Reeally? I'll try and give you a mental picture. I don't know if you're familiar with Kristen Wiig's Saturday Night Live character, Judy Grimes... (but one of my favorite clips can be found here!) I'm not as bad as her... but almost.
Thanks for sharing, Destini! xo
This is the last installment of the Quirk Project I have received. If you're interested in submitting your quirks, please look here.
I honestly don't even know what to say about my sister. She is my best friend and confidant and I love her so much.
She is incredible.
Evie's Quirks {Single serving tarts that we baked together.} 1. I love ginger more than anyone else I know. I will eat everyone else's ginger at a sushi place. I love crystallized ginger. I love to put ground up ginger in anything I can. I once had ginger ice cream and it was amazing. I love ginger snaps, and ginger cake. One time I tried to put ginger in my coffee...that didn't go too well, but every other experience I've had with ginger has been good.
2. I like clutter and I like things. I want every space to be filled up with something where I live because I like to have a lot to look at. Also, all the things can be friends with each other and then they won't get lonely. I have several collections of things: owls, rocks, and old photographs are probably my largest collections. I used to collect bottles, but then I ended up with too many and they were kind of a pain to move.
3. I love baking. I know a lot of people love baking, but I really love baking. I fantasize about baking things, but don't have enough money to bake everything I want to. I like the process of adding everything and mixing it and then putting it in the oven and waiting and smelling the delicious smells. I like altering recipes and combining different flavors to create a whole new taste experience. Sometimes I think I'd like to open up a bakery, but I don't think I'd like the business side of it and also I think that if baking were my job I might not like it as much.
4. There is always a song in my head...always, sometimes more than one song. I am also always listening to music.
5. I like planning things, but I'm not always the best at following through with them.
6. I love to touch things. I walk through stores and touch all the clothes and different objects. I touch plants when I'm walking outside. I like to step on different surfaces and see how they feel. At times this has probably made me look a little crazy because I've walked down the street running my hand along buildings. Probably while also simultaneously singing along with my ipod and looking up into a tree at the birds there.
7. I have a really good memory. I can tell you the time and place I met a person years after I met them. However, there's always about 10 thoughts bouncing around in my head at once so I am constantly losing things like keys because when I put them down I'm caught up in my head...not where I'm placing my keys.
read more about submitting your own list of quirks here.
Jeffrey is a really special person to me. Not only is he an incredible boyfriend (and person!), but I owe a lot to him. Before Jeffrey and I started dating, I was in a rut — the type of rut where I lost part of myself because I was trying to fit into some unappealing mold that I thought I needed to fit into. I would like to think that I got out of this rut on my own, and that's true to some extent, but I have to give a lot of credit to Jeffrey. He is such a unique person and I think that really shines through in everything he does. His energy is contagious and he really knows how to stay true to himself. That really caught my eye and allowed me to retreat back to my former self and really become myself again. Of course, I also have to give credit to my loving and supportive family, but Jeffrey has always loved me for exactly who I am, embraces my quirks, and encourages me to be no one but myself. So, sappiness aside:
Jeffrey's Quirks 1. I have 6 1/2 dreadlocks that I love. I'm even proud of them. But sometimes I wish they weren't there. They always come out of my ponytail/bun thing, very annoying. But they are pretty sweet too! Most people think they are gross, too bad!
2. I spend way too much time in the ceramics studio. I don't think it's a bad thing, but the loss of sleep is not the best thing ever. I like to think I am dedicated, even though that means staying up until 6 in the morning working on pots.
3. I have this thing for bikes. I just can't get enough of them. I have 5 and I wouldn't hesitate a second to get another one. This collection of mine is very important to me and I'm glad that Roxanne understands, my mom sure doesn't.
4. I twitch. It's not a good thing at all. I will twerk my head or count things. It's weird. End of story.
5. I love the Olympics. More than you think. My life goal is to be in them, though I have no plans of actually pursuing it. I am so proud to be American those 2 weeks, not always so much after.
6. I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE pizza. Give me it anytime, I'll eat it, I promise. I could be stuffed to the brim but if you offer me pizza, I will eat it. It makes me so happy. I cannot think of a situation that pizza could not make better!
7. Old things. Old things are so interesting. I have this weird idea that literally anything is better if it is old. Even if it hardly works anymore, I think it's better than something new. It just seems like they are made SO much better, more style, more character. I wish new stuff were old stuff.
read more about submitting your own list of quirks here.
Sarah's Quirks {This picture is from this summer, when Sarah went on her 3rd trip to Guatemala, for a month. It's one of her favorite pictures, ever, because it reminds her of love and everything that really matters.}
1. I love socks. I have socks for every occasion, my Christmas collection is particularly overwhelming. For every holiday, and for those inbetween days when you need something to cheer you up. I have socks of all lengths, colors, patterns, and textures.They range from plain white running socks to shin-high purple fuzzy toe socks with cats listening to iPods on them. I love being barefoot, but there's something about wearing fun socks that lights up the day.
2. I have a (not so) slight obsession with cheese. As in, I need to have cheese on just about everything I eat. Sometimes I just take a pile of cheese and melt it in the microwave and eat it as is. I've never met a cheese I didn't like, and I'll eat it on just about anything. If I'm having an off day, just offer me a cheese log and I'll be perked up in an instant.
3. Spanglish isn't technically a language, but it might as well be my first one. I tend to speak in varying degrees of Spanish, whether or not the people I'm around understand it. I know quite a bit, and it really came in handy when I went to Guatemala. But now that I'm back in the States, I just can't kick the habit.
4. I love to take care of people. Some people express their love in gifts or words or touch, but I prefer to just care for people in practical ways. I love making and sending cards to people when they're not expecting it, bringing ice cream to someone who's sad, baking cookies for people, and giving them massages if they want them. I have an overwhelming urge to take care of everyone, all the time, and get upset when I can't.
5. I have a subconscious love of penguins. It's not that I purposely go out and buy penguin things, I just somehow accumulate them. I own penguin pajamas, a blanket, and even a hat. I like penguins alright, but I've never done any of this on purpose. Sometimes I look at the things I own and realize that any outsider would think I am mildly infatuated with penguins.
6. I photograph everything. And if someone else takes the pictures, I save them all. I have documented almost every day of my life for quite some time now. They say that you don't take a picture of something you want to forget, so I guess it's my way of making sure I remember. People are always astonished at all the pictures I have on my laptop and phone. I do it because on rainy or lonely days I like to look back and enjoy the life I've lived. I can only imagine this will get better as I get older and the archives get larger.
7. I call everyone by their full name. It doesn't matter if they have a nickname, I will most likely not refer to them by it. Names like Christopher, Michael, and Nicholas get the full deal. If it's a name that you can't make any longer (such as Frank) I will just add on syllables to fit my liking (Frank then becomes Frankenguggenheimer). I also refer to everyone as "love", which is kind of an overarching reference for everyone I come in contact with.
read more about submitting your own list of quirks here.
For the first list of quirks I thought it would be appropriate to publish my dad's. I think it's fairly obvious to anyone who knows me that I admire and adore my dad with a love that is so unbelievably strong. He has such a positive influence in my life and always gives me sound advice that I can really listen to. If I'm having a bad day, I know I can call him and tell him whatever it is that's wrong and he'll truly listen. And I think that's pretty special because some people don't really have the listening skills that he does. I think some of the weird habits that I've acquired have come from him, and although most people would assume that I'm a lot like my mom (I am!), I think it's also fair to say that I'm very similar to my dad.
Dad's Quirks {Us after canoeing the Hillsborough River on Father's Day.}
1. English music. I was born and raised in the good old U. S. of A., but all of my favorite music is English. If I believed in reincarnation, I would be tempted to think some past life was calling me back home to the British Isles...my love of English music is that strong. Of course, I do love plenty of music from my homeland, from the songs of Gershwin and Johnny Mercer to The Band, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Wilco. But I consider England to be my musical “home,” and the songs of The Beatles and The Kinks on through to Blur and Radiohead are the ones that are in heaviest rotation on my iPod.
2. Buttons. I don’t like them. It’s irrational and, therefore, I can’t explain it. They bother me and I want them to leave me alone.
3. Eyebrows. I like eyebrows—strong, thick, shapely, interesting ones. Some great famous eyebrows? How about Jennifer Connelly, Mark Twain, Donald Sutherland, Brooke Shields, Paul McCartney, Frida Kahlo...you get the eye-dea.
4. Saxophones. The sound of a saxophone solo has always reminded me of black bananas for some reason (no, I’m not kidding). I don’t love black bananas. I prefer them, however, to the sound of a saxophone.
5. Boats. I love kayaks and canoes, but I don’t like powerboats. I suppose if you want to go deep-sea fishing, a powerboat is the way to go. But I’m all about enjoying the trip...I love canoeing down a lazy florida river or kayaing through the mangroves.
6. Beets and Lima Beans. I am famously omnivorous and unpicky at mealtime -- I’ll usually go along with anyone’s whim and enjoy it. Beets and Lima Beans, though, are on my “uh-uh” list.
7. Baseball. Although millions also love it, I know there’s a certain faction that thinks of baseball as slow and boring. It lacks the “warfare” metaphor (as in football) that so many seem to find so exciting. For some reason I love baseball’s measured pace, the easygoing picnic environment of sitting in the stands with a hot dog and a coke, the wind-up, the pitch, the sudden explosion of a hit, a great diving catch or a towering home run. Call me boring if you want; baseball was my favorite sport to play as a kid, and it’s my favorite sport to watch now as an adult.
8. Birds. I love birds of every size, shape and species. I admire plumage, be it dazzling or drab; I love birdsong, from the virtuosic warblings of the Mockingbird to the primeval croak of the Great Blue Heron. I recently spent a morning birdwatching with my daughter, Roxanne, on Honeymoon Island off the coast of Dunedin, Florida, and it was sheer joy.
read more about submitting your own list of quirks here.
So, I think I'm going to try something. I know the readership on my blog isn't insanely large, but I still think this could be a worthwhile project: if you are interested, please send me 7 of your most favorite, personal quirks and I will post a list on my blog weekly.
What to include: 1. Please list 7 quirks. You can look at my list here, but you can also make it your own and add your own flavor to it. 2. Also, if you feel so inclined, include an inspiring photograph (or one that embodies your quirks,etc.) and I will post it at the top of your list. If the photo is not your own, please send me the domain that you got it from, so I can give credit. 3. If you have a blog, please also send me your URL, so I can link back to it. But, of course, this is open to those that don't have a blog and still wish to share their quirks.
I hope this is something people are interested in. I know I am!
I love quirks. There's just something so uniquely awesome about them and I feel about 100x closer to a person if I know 1 or 2 or 25 of their quirks. It's comforting to know that everybody has them and I, for one, am extremely proud of my quirks. I really think they're something to celebrate and I can honestly tell you that quirks are what make me truly adore people. They're like the sprinkles on top of a cupcake, or something. The cupcake's good, but the sprinkles just make it that much better.
7 Quirks:
1. I love to sing. I sing in the car, in my room, in the shower, and I especially love singing on my way up and down the stairwell of my dorm because it's so very echo-y. And I have the habit of grabbing whatever might be lying around (i.e., a pencil, an i-pod, a book, a cell phone, a remote control, but rarely a hairbrush) and using it as a microphone. It is so lame, but I do it at least once a day, if not more often than that. I guess there's something liberating about it because I really cannot help myself.
2. I am painfully quiet in my classes. I dread classes that have a participation grade because there's something so scary about speaking in a large group of unfamiliar people. It's not even like I think that my opinions aren't valuable — I know they are — but for some reason my palms get all sweaty and my heart starts racing when I know I have to speak up. My English classes often require us to break into small groups of 3 or 4 students and my peers are always shocked at how outgoing I am in those small groups. I don't know why I'm so quiet in classroom settings and I've tried to 'cure' myself so many times by just pumping myself up to participate, but nothing's worked.
3. I am a Parmesan cheese junky. I load it on pizza, spaghetti, salads — anything that may taste remotely good with Parmesan, you better believe I add it. And it's weird because it's not so much that grated Parmesan has a whole lot of flavor. As a matter of fact, I really don't think it has much flavor at all, but apparently that doesn't bother me because I'm pretty sure my pizza slice has more Parmesan on it than anything else.
4. I cannot stand butterflies. Real life butterflies are great, but any kind of butterfly on clothing items, accessories, purses, furniture, fabric, etc., bother me. And not just kind of bother me, — really, REALLY bother me. I don't even consider purchasing items with any kind of butterfly-like design. I didn't always dislike butterflies. I was never in love with them, or anything, but I'm pretty sure my intense dislike for butterflies started in 6th grade. I can't really pinpoint the reason, but since then I have steered very clear from them. Of course, butterflies in nature are beautiful and I adore them, but reproductions of butterflies? No thanks.
5. I LOVE freckles. I get a light speckling across the bridge of my nose in the summertime and it never fails to make me happy. I just think there's something so whimsical about freckles and I am so envious of girls (or guys) who are covered in them. I've always kind of enjoyed my randomly appearing freckles, but there's something really endearing about a face full of them.
6. I feel like this is going to be hard to explain, but you know how at fast food restaurants the lids have special 'buttons' the employees press down so that they can specify what kind of drink is in the cup? (Pretend that makes sense). If I go to McDonald's or Chick-Fil-A or any other random fast food restaurant, I ALWAYS press every single 'button' down. I've been doing it for years. I think there's something really fulfilling about it. I love it. So much.
7. I hate breaking the binding of a library book (and will never, ever do it!), but I love when the binding is already broken. I feel kind of guilty doing it myself, but if it's already done, I enjoy it so much. There's something comforting about a broken binding. I guess I just like the idea that someone else has read the book and worn it in. It just makes me feel happy. It's kind of like the last person who read the book and I have a secret together. I don't know, there's just something kind of magical about the whole library thing. It just feels so personal. Like, everyone who has ever read that particular copy of that particular book is connected, or something. Kind of silly, but really, really wonderful to think about.
