Quirk Confessional

Juana tagged me and assigned me to list Six Unspectacular Quirks that I possess. To tell you the truth, I was not 100% sure about what qualified as a "quirk" so I had to look it up in Webster:
Quirk: A strange attitude or habit.

I don't think that I'm really quirky. But I'm sure some find me more quirky than others. Or maybe its just because I don't use that word very often. I usually prefer "whacky" or "psycho". The quirks I do possess are usually kept well hidden. This post is very revealing. You see, whenever I have decided to share one of my more quirky-quirks with somebody, it usually starts out that they smile like, "that is kind of funny." Then as I go on, they start to wrinkle their eyebrows and think, "hm...that's kind of weird." Next the eyebrows raise and they smile nervously like, "You are a whack job." So, I usually keep them to myself. I hope you enjoy my quirk confessional. I figure that it might be interesting to posterity someday.

1. I have a fascination with the number 9 (my English professor dad insists that I must write out all numbers that are digits under ten, but I don't like to but sometimes I think of him and do it). I'm the ninth child in my family and maybe that is where it came from. I have a beautiful and eccentric aunt (well, she is on the other side now, but she is still my aunt). We shared a special connection despite the fact that we never lived close to each other and we had very different views of the earth and the heavens. One day she was visiting and I found out that she shares this quirk as well as my next quirk and we almost began to cry for the joy of it. Then later I found out my nephew Adam has the same quirk and he and I squealed like little school girls. And that is fine for me because I am a girl, but not so fine for him because he is a big, strong man. The number three is also okay because it is the square root of nine and because three works out with my next quirk pretty well.

2. I'm always working out number problems in my head to make the number nine or, if necessary the number three (because you can just square it). It happens most often with addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers and license plates. I'll give you an example. Say your address is 3248 Wallawalla Street. Well, I just wrote down that number without thinking so I will figure it out. I have to do several configurations to see which is the most true. Adding the digits give me nothing so I start multiplying, subtracting, adding or dividing to try to get nine. Hm...I'm not getting nine. I guess three will have to do. Don't ask me all of the rules. I just know in my head if it is a rule or not and there is no cheating or bending the rules. Some methods are more preferable than others. One rule is you have to use all of the digits (obviously). So, here's the best one I've come up with for now: 2x4=8; 3x8=24; 24/8=3 problem solved. If a number cannot be solved then it is very very stupid. Luckily my address is 609. Whew. Simple. 6+0=6; 6x9=54; 5+4=9 I wish I could tell you my phone number because I was very clever just now in figuring it out, but that's probably not the safest thing to do on a blog. So, if you ever see me staring off into space while we are chatting inn your parlor and you ask me, "What are you thinking about?" I will probably lie and say something normal, but really I am thinking about how to solve your address.3. I believe that I have received communication from the other side (the spirit world) via 9 of hearts playing cards that I have found lying on the ground at certain times (this happened about 4 times on my mission and once in Haiti). These were actually really cool experiences that I *might* share some time if you don't make fun of me for being whacky.

4. I have a very hard time sleeping if I don't have my blanket snuggled next to my face. This has been the case for the past 30 years.

5. The only way to eat a Reese's peanut butter cup is to first push the peanut butter out of the middle and eat it, then break the outer ring in half and eat out all of the peanut butter, then eat the chocolate slowly by fitting your teeth into the little grooves. Gross that you all had to picture me doing that. Sorry.

6. I keep treats hidden in my closet between my sweaters. I rarely eat them. I just need to know that they are there if I need them. I have been trying to break this habit/quirk and have had no treats in my closet for two weeks.

There's me in all my whackiness. I now will tag the following individuals: Nancy (my beautiful sister because she writes so well and is very witty), Ashley (my niece and new favorite blogger), and Lori (because it took a lot of thinking to come up with these quirks and when I was waiting for my kid in Haiti, like she is doing now, I needed a few mental diversions AND because I want to get to know her better). Do it or don't. It's your blog. That reminds me. Yesterday I told Deedle to do something and String Cheese got all up in my face and said, "She doesn't have to! It's her life!"