My Own

there

As I nonchalantly divulged one of my many eccentricities while responding to a lovely reader's comment, I realized that I've got quite a few habits that I'm sure would make for entertaining material.


1.  Spice-induced hiccups.  I've inherited this funny little trait from my dad.  If the spicy factor of a food exceeds a certain threshold, I'll hiccup until my body recovers from the trauma.  Colin loves making fun of me for this.  


2.  Taco Bell's mild hot sauce packets as a food group.  I should really consider investing in TB's sauce packet stock.  Every time I drive thru America's favorite fast food joint (okay, maybe not completely true) I make sure to ask for EXTRA mild sauce.  And I'm not ashamed to harass whomever may be ordering on my behalf until I've got those golden little packets in my hands.  Not only are they key to softening up a dry batch of pintos and cheese, but they also make for delicious little snacks in-between meals.  And no amount of hiccups will ever keep me from indulging in this delectable pastime.  Just rip, sip, and enjoy the trip to Flavor Town.


3.  Cuticle shredding as a coping mechanism.  I have a tendency to take anxieties out on my cuticles.  It's a problem.  No matter how many times I vow to kick the habit, I can't quite get over it.  Know that if ever I start going at them mid-conversation, it's probably not a good sign...


4.  Caffeine as a dangerous stimulant.  I recently bought a giant pack of decaffeinated English Breakfast tea that Colin immediately laughed at upon seeing.  He doesn't see the point in buying (or consuming, for that matter) anything robbed of the caffeine it's meant to have.  How quickly he forgets the neurotic beast I become after downing a cup of coffee.


5.  Extreme forgetfulness.  It's not uncommon for me to forget entire conversations that have happened only a couple days ago.  Colin will joke about this tendency nonchalantly, but I almost always take offense.  Is it possible to develop Alzheimer's-like traits in your twenties?  [Note: this is an ENTIRELY hypothetical question.  Quite frankly, I don't wish to hear the answer!]


6.  At least nine hours of sleep to function.  I  used to joke that I was "sleep-sensitive" in high school.  I'd wrap phone calls up with friends on the weekdays around nine at night to prepare for bed as I was sure to suffer terrible consequences the next day without at least nine hours of sleep the night before (think Ellana-after-coffee, but to a lesser degree).  Even now, without a full night's sleep I'll spend the entire following day in a lethargic haze.  


7.  Sunburn delusions.  According to Colin, I never burn.  I was conferred the ability to tolerate the sun more easily after joining the high school dive team my junior year.  There have been many instances, however, where I'll come back from the beach thinking I've been sunburned when Colin adamantly believes otherwise.  Perhaps I'm crazy.  Either way, I'll never refrain from applying spf 30 when I know I'll be exposed to the sun.


8.  Counting with my fingers.  Ain't no shame in that.


9.  Fear of falling asleep at the wheel.  I blame my parents for this.  I end up freaking out most road trips I take on alone anyway so the endorphins pretty much reverse any lethargy worth fretting over.  Alanis Morissette does the trick, too.






So there it is.  The freak show that is Me.  And I wouldn't have it any other way.