After my previous inquiry regarding any readers who might have a crumbling-crackers-in-soup habit, it seemed that there was sufficient interest in other sorts of bizarre behaviors to merit their inclusion in this week’s “My, Aren’t YOU Odd!” Edition of the Axis of Weevil Thursday Three!
As always, we ask a series of three questions and expect you to answer them in as forthright and expeditious a manner as possible, although I do want to remind readers in other time zones or hemispheres that the questions do not necessarily have to be answered on Thursday. BUT, do please either leave your answers below, or a linky-link to your very own blog as you ponder the following:
1) Do you have any peculiar rules about the foods you eat? Not stuff like religious dietary restrictions, but stuff like having to have the crusts cut off your PB&J sandwiches, not having the peas touching the carrots, having to eat foods in a particular order--stuff like that.
2) What about your personal grooming? Do you have a particular way of brushing your teeth? Do you have to always put on your left sock and shoe, then the right? Tell us please!
3) Have you ever embarrassed yourself with the public display of any of your peculiar habits? Details appreciated, of course!
Now then, go off and get your lucky keyboard, turn around once, tap your head, and answer the questions and let’s see just how odd you are.
As for my answers...
1) Well, I don't really like a pile of mush in my plate--I prefer it if all the foods keep to their own territory, but I'm not freakish about it if a few corn kernels want to go visiting the turnip greens. I probably was more weird as a kid, but having gotten older and become a parent, I tend to eat what I can, when I can, and not complain too much about how it's fixed or put in front of me. But, I will repeat, I DO like crumbling up saltines in my soup. And I don't consider sopping up the gravy in my plate with a biscuit as peculiar.
2) I suppose the most peculiar thing is my habit of shaving while sitting upon the porcelain throne in the mornings after my shower. I have a rechargeable electric razor, and I can't see any good reason to stand up shaving when I could sit down, and I figure if I'm gonna sit, might as well take care of something else as well. Saves time, too. If I could only find a way to fit a TV into the bathroom...
3) Not that I recall, although I do recall going into the cafeteria at a department store (which tells you how long ago this was) and ordered a slice of apple pie, and asked them to put a slice of cheese on top and heat it up for me. The waitress thought I was insane.
So, there you go.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at January 25, 2007 08:10 AM1. I like milk ice cold and served in glass or paper cartons, but not plastic.
In recent years, I gag on the tiniest bit of gristle in barbecue or pulled chicken dishes, like chicken and dumplings.
2. Not a grooming issue, but I've noticed recently how irritated I become when I see something in the bathroom trash that I don't think belongs there.
Any kind of drink container, food container (like a candy bar wrapper), battery-packaging, CD case -- those all go in the kitchen trash.
However, soap packaging, toothpaste boxes, shampoo bottles -- those are okay.
Now, given my history as a woman who took over a household that had no woman (or neatnik) in it for three years, you'd think I'd be happy things were in the trash it all, and not stashed in the bottom of the linen closet, or strewn on the shelves.
3. No. But then I spend little time in public places anymore.
Posted by: Janis Gore at January 25, 2007 09:18 AMI'm at that point that I don't care what they put in the trash, as long as they will PUT IT IN THE TRASH and not just drop it somewhere.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at January 25, 2007 09:40 AMIt's difficult to think of your own peculiar habits, since peculiarity is in the eye of the beholder. Otherwise we're all normal and do things for good reasons.
I agree with your #1. We typically use the "compartmentalized" plates for the kids, since if a yucky food touches a good food then that makes the good food yucky.
For #2 ... I dunno ... discreetly checking for ear-wax?
For #3, I do recall a roommate many years ago asking me if I ever yanked my nose hairs out. I of course denied any such knowledge of the practice of such a vile thing (though he may have seen me do it!). I have since discovered small scissors for nose hair (similar to what Dan Aykroyd does in "The Great Outdoors" - John Candy and Annette Benning are in that movie too).
Scissors!? That's dangerous! I use a thin cone of duct tape rolled up with the sticky side out.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at January 25, 2007 10:49 AM1. The only one I can think of is the main dish—usually meat must be on the left. I will rotate the plate until it’s correct and in Mexican restaurants you can burn your fingers off.
2. left sock—right sock—left shoe—right shoe and all clothing must be laid out before I take a shower—
3. I hate the feel or the cotton in pill bottles—no I mean I really hate it. I get my wife to take it out for me—if she is in a good mood otherwise she tries to rub the cotton on me. She did this one day in front of some friends so I got over being embarrassed about it.
Jim, your #3 really IS a bit on the off side. When did that aversion begin?
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at January 25, 2007 11:15 AMI really don’t know but I also hate the feel of velvet, velour and suede. When I was growing up our church bought some velvet cushions for the pews—I went to Sunday school and then would leave.
Posted by: jim at January 25, 2007 11:36 AMI suppose that's why you sent me back that red corduroy velour leisure suit I gave you for Christmas.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at January 25, 2007 11:51 AMWould have kept it except for the clown like cotton balls sewn on the front.
Posted by: jim at January 25, 2007 11:56 AMI'm up.
Posted by: Diane at January 25, 2007 12:02 PMI'm up too. Gee Sarah I didn't understand just noisy your place is till I drove by. Not sure I could stand it, me being old and cranky.
Posted by: Chef Tony at January 25, 2007 04:02 PMIt's still Thursday, right? Well, I'm up either way.
Posted by: skinnydan at January 25, 2007 09:24 PM