eight random things about me
kelly | 26 July 2007 - 5:27pm
Over at Hit and Run I've been tagged for a meme in which I am supposed to list eight random things about myself...
- I have a favorite plate. Its pattern is more swirly than the rest in our set. When Rob sets the table, he knows to give me the swirly plate. If he forgets, I switch them.
- I love to scan barcodes. For this reason I am slightly addicted to self-checkout lanes. And those price-check kiosks at Target, which I might perhaps use every time I go to Target, just because I can.
- I get really grumpy when I get hungry. Like, beyond reasoning with. Rob claims there is a very small window of time (about 2.5 minutes) between when I am not at all hungry and when I am STARVING, and that the most important survival skill he has learned in this marriage is to "recognize the warning signs and act quickly."
- I only wear nude nail polish. You know, like the flesh-toned color they use for french manicures. I like how it makes nails look nicely finished but still natural. I don't think I've worn a real color on my fingernails since high school. I've always painted my toes with a maroon or deep rose, but just recently I've abandoned colors altogether. I have nothing against them on other people, but I don't like the look on myself.
- In the morning while driving to work, I can only listen to NPR. NPR is quiet and mellow; everything else is too loud and too damn perky. When Rob and I used to drive to work together, he liked to listen to some obnoxious morning show on the rock station, with lots of crude jokes and loud laughing and the people constantly shout-talking. It was all I could do on those mornings not to fling myself out the car door.
- I was a DJ for awhile at my college radio station. Doreen and I, and another friend, had a folk show.
- I grew up listening to country music, and so completely missed all 80s pop and rock music. The only time I ever heard any of those songs was when we went to the skating rink, and so as a result, I'll say, "Oh, this song reminds me of Skatetown!" about any 80s song I actually recognize. I don’t listen to country anymore, but I’ll never catch up on all I missed. Rob is still amazed when a classic rock/pop song comes on the radio and I swear I’ve never heard it before. But, name a Dolly Parton song and I can sing it.
- I go to great lengths to ignore people I know when I see them out and about. Unless you are in my very closest circle of friends or family, I will avoid you. I'll duck into an aisle or become very preoccupied with my cell phone to prevent us from having contact. It sounds snobby, but mostly it's just because I'm lazy - making inane chit-chat is such a pain in the ass.
I won't tag anyone, but feel free to play if the spirit moves you.
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those morning jocks drive me up the wall too. i swear to be hired for one of those positions all you have to be able to do is the "wheezy laugh"...you know the kind, where they exhale in one loud wheeze, then a couple of loud chuckles, then another long, high-pitched wheeze.
nothing is that funny at 8 a.m.
OMG!!! I do the same thing when I see someone I know when I am out!! My friends could be talking to me one minute and the next minute I'm gone. Most likely hiding behind a display case because I saw someone I know. I hate to see people I know when I am not expecting it.
I bet you have a favourite spoon, too. And you will choose that spoon every time, and if the spoon is dirty, you would rather fish it out of the dishwasher or sink and wash it than eat with another, lesser spoon. I am so right about this.
I like to do my own scanning as well. And I like the challenge of trying to scan the itme with only one pass. If I have to re-swipe the item I feel so inferior.
I hate the morning show on that rock station too! And I totally do the last one because I absolutely HATE small talk.
I could've written those last two items. Remember when elementary schools actually had field trips to the skating rink? I didn't even know there was any other kind of music besides country until my first skating rink field trip.
And, living in a small town, you can imagine how frequently we see folks we know when we're out and about. Deputy Dad always, always stops to visit. I, however, grew tired of the duck-and-cover game and finally mastered the art of the smile-and-say-hello-how-are-you-while-walking-by-and-never-slowing-my-pace.
This week on vacation, JP and I were wandering in and out of tourist trap stores in a nearby quaint little town. In one store, I suddenly began singing along with the music that was playing . . . "Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done. Walk away from trouble if you can."
Whoa! Where did that come from?!? I hadn't heard the song in years, but those lyrics must be burned deep in my psyche from childhood Saturday mornings. My mom would crank the country tunes and we'd all sing along as we cleaned the house.
Something tells me you can name the singer and the song, and probably even finish out the chorus.
It don't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek
I hope you're old enough to understand
Son, you don't have to fight, to be a man...
Okay, so now THAT's stuck in my head. Thanks, Sharkey. Hee.
I thought I saw someone dive to the floor behind a scanner the last time I was at Target!
I am totally buying you Bon Jovi's greatest hits for Christmas this year.
Johnny Cash was the only thing I knew existed until about age 8. That certainly is not a bad way to grow up.
I too am a duck and hider. Small talk is just a waste of my time. Especially with people you haven't seen in years, what the hell do you talk about?
Oh yes, Andrea, I know the laugh. And you are so right - nothing is that funny at 8 am.
The other day, pat, at a bagel shop, I stood in line directly behind two people I knew in high school without letting on that I saw them. I would have turned heel upon entering the door if I'd seen them in time, but I didn't, so I stood there inspecting the menu with a concentration never before witnessed. Then I continued to pretend not to see them while waiting for my bagel, and then when it came I grabbed it and fled. I accidentally made eye contact with one of them then, and she said, "Hey!" But I was already past her, on my way to the door, and so I just threw up a hand, smiled, and got the hell out of there. It was all perhaps a bit obvious, but the truth is I don't even care. Just because I once knew you doesn't mean I must renew knowing you.
No, Nilbo, but there is a fork I won't use. Because it's different. (Hmm, maybe I am sorta a snob.)
Me too, William! I've gotten pretty good at it, and so I always think any employee who has to swipe an item more than once is a total loser. I mean, come on people! You're paid to swipe, I'm just saying!
geeky, for the record, that radio show is exactly what it's like to teach 9th grade boys.
See, LadyBug, I think the say-hello-while-walking-by is what everyone wants to do. Because I think that no one actually wants to chit-chat. But it seems the other person always feels that obligation, and so after swapping hellos she pauses, and then I wait for what she's going to say so as not to be rude, and that's when we both get sucked into 20 minutes of blathering about nothing while standing next to the frozen waffles. Perhaps keeping the cart moving, as you do, is the key.
Sharkey, I always wanted Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton to get married. They sang duets together on her show Dolly and I was convinced they were a couple.
Oh HFD, you are so in the circle! If I saw you at Target, I'd suggest a shopping spree. :)
Your last sentence, Jana, is why I also skip family reunions. (Okay yeah, I am totally a snob.)
Islands in the stream...
When I am having a tough time at work ("resistant" clients), I dream of being a check-out person. When the thing beeps, you know you're effective at your job. That would be nice. My clients, they don't beep so much.
I was a news reader on the college radio station.
I ignore them, too. With rare exception. I've even had someone from years ago look right at me, like "aren't you..." and I was so not in the mood for a middle school reunion that I looked right back into her eyes with a blank stare, like, "nope, I'm not who you think I am," and she kept pointing me out to her companion, but she didn't approach. I'm not particularly proud of this aspect of my personality, but there you have it. And now with WTF, puh-leeese. I'm rarely even in the mood to visit with myself.
I am a duck and hider too. I've tried in the past to be more friendly and stop and chat with my old neighbours/school classmates/past worker-bees and it is almost always painful. But I tried and I figure that is enough.
I am also one grumpy hungry gal. FEEEEEED MEEEEEEEEEE! *puts nearest person in headlock*
And I can assure you as a past check-out girlie (through college) that is it totally overrated after about the second day on the job. I had to wear a heinous polyester dress and stand for hours lugging heavy bags into carts. Actually, now that I think about it the scanning was the best part of the job.
"Islands in the Stream" is my parents' song, Susie. They had it at their wedding. :) And honey, I never would have pegged you as an avoider! I feel so much better about myself now, you have no idea.
Kranki, I think you should write a book about all the jobs you've had. You've got some stories, I know. And also include photos, perhaps? Because I'm trying to picture you in that polyester dress with a scanning wand. :)
I had to read the one about being grumpy when hungry outloud to my husband. He is in the same boat as Rob when it comes to staving off my grumpy hunger-induced moods. Evidently, my sister is the same way now too. It got worse as we both got older.
I am definitely with you on the NPR listening. I was also a DJ on my college radio station, but I had an 80s modern/alternative rock show. Which, sadly, you have no idea what I am talking about ;)
Oh dear, Danielle, the hunger grumpiness will get worse as I get older? Poor Rob.
Hee, John Boy. :)