Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Nine Weird Things About Me

Got tagged by Glenn, so I feel I have to do this. But other readers can relax - I'm not tagging anyone else.

Here are very strange things about me. Hope I don't scare you all away.

1. I can only eat oatmeal if it is uncooked and plain. I absolutely hate it when it becomes mushy and pasty - how is that appetizing at all? I actually feel sick to my stomach at the sight of it. The way I do it: pour the raw cereal into a bowl and add milk. Done. Simple. No microwaving, boiling, or addition of toppings (well, sometimes a dash of Splenda or cocoa powder is fun.) I didn't think this was that weird, but everyone I talk to about this feels the opposite way: they can't think of oatmeal beyond the mush.

2. I can only study if I have music in the background - but not just any type of music: film scores in particular. Next to my pile of readings and assignments is a stack of CDs; some titles that are in front of me right now: The Hours, Birth, American Beauty, Little Women, Lemony Snicket, Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth, Eyes Wide Shut, and Solaris. Clearly a lot of Thomas Newman. I suppose a possible explanation is that some people need worldless melodies or white noise in the background to block out distraction, but I actually start to daydream about movies while listening. Which gets in the way of studying. This is a peculiar one.

3. I am a very deep sleeper. This is not totally abnormal, except for the fact that I need to keep three alarm clocks set to make sure I wake up on time. I have this anxiety about sleeping through the set ringers. Because of this, I tend to stay up the entire night before a big day, whether it be about an exam, presentation, early flight, big trip, or show. I don't think I could go to bed even if I wanted to - this habit has become very ingrained.

4. I don't like wearing short-sleeved shirts. If I am stepping outside the house for any reason at all, I need a sweater or something long-sleeved to wear on top of a t-shirt. I can't really explain this one either - I guess I'm just overly self conscious. I broke this rule while in Dubai this summer though: it was just too damn hot. But otherwise, only the people in my house see my arms. Yeah.

5. I will not pick up the phone unless I know who it is (bless the person who invented caller i.d.) I don't like being caught off-guard or surprised. If you're not identified by my phone, you can talk to my machine or voice mail. And you'll like it that way.

6. I am obsessed with chocolate. I need it every. single. day. I think about it constantly, and without it, I cannot have closure with anything that happens during the day. I don't think I can impart how much the thought of chocolate consumes me. Especially dark chocolate (those 70% cocoa Lindt bars.) Even if I'm being healthy and working out and all, it's the one thing I can't give up. Plus, it's good for you. Excuse me for a second, I'm getting a craving.

7. When I'm broke, I want to spend money really badly. But when I'm not in a financial crisis and have extra cash to spend, I don't want to shop at all and feel like saving instead. Maybe this is not so strange.

8. As a child, I used to be a voracious reader. I won several reading awards and would be commended by my teachers for having such a strong foundation in writing. But now I struggle to commit to a book that is not assigned in my course readings. Stupid university.

9. When I was six, I... swallowed a battery. This story is so embarrassing that I'm going to leave it right there and leave the rest to your imagination.

Hurrah! I finished the list!

13 comments:

Javier Aldabalde said...

OK, this is way too creepy but a lot of fun! Creepy because #2 to #8 also apply to me, that's why (give or take #4, I have little tolerance for hot weather). Have yet to swallow a battery ;)

So, seriously, creepy.

Javier Aldabalde said...

Also, since I don't have a way of knowing who it is at the phone, I don't pick it up, period. Unless it's my cell phone.

Anonymous said...

I love your one about only being able to study with film scores on. And... you like Newman. Great.

Yaseen Ali said...

LOVE Newman. I am furious that he hasn't won an Oscar yet.

Nick M. said...

Unsurprisingly, half of these apply to me, also.

I'm a bit discouraged that you could only think of nine. Come on -- I know you're more eccentric than that!

Yaseen Ali said...

But the list only called for nine.

Kathleen said...

I really enjoyed reading this! I can only relate to the short-sleeve shirt/jacket thing. It was only a month long phase or so for me because it's hot in Florida!

timmy said...

i'm surprised you're still alive after having swallowed a battery. you are one lucky boy ali yusafali. one lucky boy. who is run by batteries. so .. really.. you're one lucky robot ali yusafali. one lucky robot. on batteries.

Anonymous said...

I used to be obsessed with chocolate as well, but I gave it up for Lent in high school and completely broke my need for it, almost lost my taste for it. I enjoy it, but consume it only rarely anymore.

I personally think the oatmeal thing is the weirdest inclusion on the list.

adam k. said...

I wanna know how the hell you swallowed a battery and why the hell it didn't kill you. That's just... SO wierd.

Glenn Dunks said...

With you it's chocolate, with me it's coca-cola. I drink way too much of it.

And I need music playing too! But any music. I don't care. I need external stimulation or I get fidgetty and I don't do work.

Anonymous said...

You just got tagged.

Yaseen Ali said...

Thanks dl, but everyone has given such good answers already that I don't think I can add anything much.