Weird-O

I have been tagged by Molly to share 7 weird facts about myself. I'm actually really relieved to be doing this because I have been suffering from a major case of bloggers block and this may be just the thing to help me snippety-snap out of it! Why is it so hard to think of weird facts about oneself? I know for certain that I've got some odd traits but nothing as juicy-good as: an aversion to wrists, the ability to perfectly mimic a seagull's call, or the fear that you are cross-eyed and no one is telling you. I actually know people that will fully own up to those gems. But maybe since these are my weird facts they don't seem so weird. You be the judge:

1. Bad Smells
My hubby claims I have an "attraction to bad smells", I think the word "attraction" is a little strong. I prefer "strange fascination". When I smell something really really bad, I HAVE to figure out what it is and where it is coming from. I'm an olfactory Nancy Drew of sorts, and the joy I get from unearthing a bad smell is pretty disturbing. Following my nose to track down a bad smell has landed my sniffer in my hubby's armpit on more than one occasion.



2. Little House
I am a full fledged Little House On The Prairie fan (the TV show, not so much the books). I have seen nearly every episode at least a few times and recall strange and useless facts about plot lines, costumes, and dialogue. I know which episodes recycle actors and music. The only episode I have never made it through is called "For The Love Of Blanche" which stars an orangutan.





3. Voices
In college my pal Jenny and I developed a cast of make-believe characters that helped keep us going during those strenuous all nighters in the art studio. This included but was not limited to: a pair of college football players, a pair of octogenarian scientists (pictured at left), a pair of kleptomaniac sisters, a pair of dirty psychologists, two southern belles, and a pair of fast talking convict brothers. Not only did we spend time drawing these characters, but we developed voices and a unique syntax that each pair uses together. To this day in a normal conversation with Jenny, one of the voices will always come into play. Sometimes when this happens in public, people stare at us.



4. Howard Keel
I have an uncanny ability to sing like Howard Keel in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I discovered this by accident after an annual Christmas viewing of the movie musical with my friends when I decided to serenade them with "Bless Your Beautiful Hide". It was like I was channeling or something, it still freaks me out.





5. Sounds
Certain sounds drive me up the wall. Fingernails on a chalkboard? No problem with me, bring it on! I'm talking about the really annoying sounds like teeth hitting silverware, people chewing crunchy potato chips with open mouths, and the song "I Want You To Want Me" by Cheap Trick. All of these sounds will send me flying across the room.


6. Type Snob
This is a more recent one, post graphic design school. I am a font snob. I really never thought it could happen to me, but it has. I have been known to refuse to read things if they are written in a poorly designed typeface like Comic Sans. I'm also considering names for our baby not only based on sound, but on how the letters look together on paper. That's weird..I admit it.



7. Cold
I am allergic to the cold. When I tell people this they usually laugh and say "Yeah, I don't like the cold either". But I actually have something called Cold Induced Urticaria which means I can break out into hives, swell up like a balloon, and go into shock if I go skiing or jump into a lake. Sort of a weird fact that I can't control. But what is weirder is that I actually used this allergy to make my lips look fuller before my 10 year high school reunion by icing them so they puffed up like Angelina Jolie's, ok maybe the effect was more Meg Ryan.

So, there you have it. 7 weird things about little ole me. Next I am supposed to tag 7 other people to do the same exercise. Problem is, I only know one other person in Blogland who hasn't recently done this, and that would be my friend Gwen (if she's up for it). I'd also like to hear from some of my wacky sans blog pals like Biology Girl, Jenny, Christine, Ilana, Amber, and any of my other faithful readers who care to share. If you non bloggers are so inclined you can make your quirks public knowledge in my comments section. And I'll let you off easy..you don't have to share 7 things....maybe just one? Oh pretty please! But if none of you feel like doing this, seriously, no pressure. I wouldn't want to make you feel weird.

All Images Copyright The Flying Pencil 2007