Idiosyncratic much?
Via Mitch, this Idiosyncratic Meme:
Write down five of your own personal idiosyncrasies.
1. One that nobody probably knows about: I have had a 9-syllable tune running through my head most of the time since about 1970 (when I was 11). If I encounter a 9-syllable phrase, I mentally place it into the dittie. I used to dittie-fy obsessively, trying to shoehorn phrases into the 9 syllables. Now it's more of a recreational compulsion. I also sometimes get my 9 syllables from the Mexican Hat Dance (Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun: DUN DUN!)
2. I have an aversion to rosemary. It's my only real food aversion and is of recent vintage. Now, food preferences are idiosyncratic, but not usually interesting, but I think my reason is somewhat interesting and instructive. Around 1994, I ate a Rosemary Chicken Pizza at Rocky's Brick Oven Pizzeria, a famous pizza joint in Atlanta until the owner died (in bizarre circumstances.) Anyway, the next day, completely unrelated to the pizza (I'm sure), I caught the flu and was sick for 3 days. Friends, rosemary (and, who knows, maybe Rosemary) tastes the same coming up as going down. Have I said enough? Anyway, just the smell of the stuff coming from a kitchen provides a powerful sense memory of those sick days.
3. I talk to myself. But I'm saying constructive things, so bear with me. I was mildly obsessive-compulsive growing up. I overcame it by reminding myself, "It doesn't matter" repeatedly whenever tempted by the OC demon ("Hey! You washed your hair after washing your face! Top to bottom, people, top to bottom! Start over!") Sometimes people still hear me saying that. Outside the shower, I mean.
Jeez, only 3 idiosyncracies. Maybe someone who knows me can pipe in with some more. Limit: 2 per customer.
Update: Oooh! More!
4. I learned to read from my dad's Pogo books and from his edition of the Complete Edgar Allan Poe. Has this made me bi-polar? I dunno. I do have big plans for the world! The most visible effect (audible, actually) is that I sometimes talk funny. I have come to believe that, even if people don't know who Pogo is, those who react overly negatively to my occasional Pogo-isms are usually showing me something about themselves that I would hide if I were them.