Just before I left for America, Daniel Cox of Notions to the Left of Far Right tagged me with a meme for six quirky things about myself. Apologies, Daniel, for not getting to it sooner, but my excuse is that before I left, I was too stressed to think about it and for the last week I’ve had very limited internet access, but now I’m sick with some icky chest virusy thing and this meme is a gift. I can post without having to think too much.
Anyway, quirky? Am I quirky?
Well, yeah. OK, I admit it – I have a few quirks. One or two odd kicks in my gallop, as it were .. but which ones to share with you guys? I mean, we don’t want to go frightening people! And if you know which movie that quote comes from I’ll take my hat off to you!
I guess that leads me to my first quirk.
1) I’ve developed a serious fondness for hats. It’s Other Half’s fault. He has always loved hats, and just recently he indulged his fancy for a genuine panama, and I have to say, it’s gorgeous. Forget the ‘genuine panamas’ in the chain stores (would you believe we found one in Marks and Sparks last year that claimed to be genuine but was made in China, from paper?), no, this was a genuine, hand-blocked Ecuadorian panama hat, made by a chap named Freddie, and it arrived in a beautiful balsa wood box. Anyway. Quite apart from my fondness for OH’s hats, and Johnny Depp’s hats (there’s another fine hat man for you!), I love my own hats.
I treated myself to a Russian style ‘fur’ hat a couple of winters ago, made from sheepskin. It’s beautiful, it suits me (kind of … ) and it’s seriously warm! For the summer, I’m sporting denim ‘baker boy’ peaked caps, or if I’m feeling frisky, a black straw cowboy hat. With a pirate scarf. Quirky enough for ya?
What next? Oh yeah. I have this thing about wallflowers.
2) I love wallflowers but I seldom plant them. I have a bizarre superstition that if I do, we’ll move house before they flower. It happened once, and once only, but I can’t get it out of my head, and OH keeps telling me to plant wallflowers because he’s desperate to move away from here and he wants to see if it works.
Perhaps I’ve mentioned this before, but -
3) I love knives. Pretty much any knives, but small and beautiful is best. I love the way they feel in my hand, and I love the timelessness and the salt-of-the-earth indispensability of them. All of humanity uses knives for various purposes from the peaceful, to the aggressive, to the fun. If I’m feeling miserable, don’t let me walk down the household goods aisle in Sainsbury’s or I’ll probably buy one to cheer myself up. So, here I am on holiday in the US and what am I bringing back as a souvenir? I’ll give you one guess.
4) I hate to drive. I especially hate to drive long distances, by which I mean anything over twenty miles. OH thinks it’s really weird that when we go out in my car, I want him to drive, but so it is. Oh, and I prefer the rock-bottom utility seats. Those all-singing, all dancing, adjust in five different dimensions at once jobs just don’t cut it for me.
5) I take my pillow with me whenever I travel. This probably can’t be considered truly quirky, since I do it for the sake of my damaged neck – you can never rely on any hotel to provide you with suitable pillows, and in my case, if I don’t have a suitable pillow, I’ll wake up in the morning with a hideously painful neck which may well need a visit to a chiropractor, or if I’m really unlucky, I’ll wake in the night with an asthma attack. And so, I travel with a large suitcase, or even two, depending on how long I’m planning to be away. This led to an excess baggage charge last week, dammit, on my flight from St George to Los Angeles.
6) I can’t eat and watch Johnny Depp at the same time. I just can’t. Why? Uh … I don’t think I can explain that one to you. See if you can work it out for yourselves.
So, here’s the rules -
Link the person(s) who tagged you.
Mention the rules on your blog.
Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.
And my victims are -
Please don’t fret if you don’t want to take part. It’s voluntary!
I love the idea of hats, but I’m never quite sure I look ok in them. Oh, but I do love my black wool beret.
I can’t say I’ve ever given much though to the way knives feel in my hand. Knitting needles, yes. Knives, no.
That frightening quote sounds familiar, but it’s floating just out of reach.
Ruth Hull Chatliens last blog post..Deep Weeding
Cowboy hats, knives and Johnny Depp – you’re a wild woman !
Coastal Aussies last blog post..Double take
Knives! Oh dear, lol. That list isn’t so quirky. Well,except for the knives.
Hey, I tried to subscribe to your blog and couldn’t… any ideas why?
DrowseyMonkeys last blog post..Somewhere in the Night
Taking you pillow on trips is a great idea. I learned that from a friend of mine and I now find I sleep so much better. Some of the hotel pillows are like rocks.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Blog Posts – Are We Our Worst Critic?
are you back from America or still vacationing here and there? Very quirky and fun . I may do it again.. sk there is an award for you at my blog . Hope you treasure it sandy
kesslers last blog post..Johnny Depp Award
I take my pillow with me wherever I go. It had better last a lifetime, because it’s the only pillow that works for me.
Knives? You GO!
JD at I Do Thingss last blog post..I Lived with a Rat so you don’t have to
I also take my pillow with me when I travel…..
I don’t like hats, probably because I have an improbably small head and none ever fit me.
Don’t Bug Me!s last blog post..Something’s Afoot in Beautiful British Columbia.
Ruth Hull Chatlien – The quote is from The Libertine. It’s one of Johnny Depp’s most amazing roles – sadly the movie itself is badly edited, in my opinion, but still well worth watching.
Aussie – Wild woman? Moi? I’m just a little old grey-haired lady. *Sniggers*
DM – You can’t subscribe? I don’t accept members as such, but you should be able to get a feed subscription. Which reader do you use?
Barbara – Yep, they are. I feel bad for my husband because he has to suffer those. On the other hand, he could bring his pillow too .. he just chooses not to.
JD – Do I detect a fellow knife person?
DBM - It’s probably just a question of you not having found the right hat yet. I was the same, only I have a very low forehead so finding a hat that doesn’t make me look Neanderthal is a challenge. But lately I’ve found what suits me and see? Now I love hats!!
Sandy – Oooh, thank you! Such a great award too! I’m honoured!
We’re still in the US! We’re in San Francisco right now, and will be flying home from here at the end of the week.
Great post. I love a hat. I’ve got a really squishy old baker boy hat that I use to walk the dog. Ooh and I love a knife too. I’ve just bought a great knife sharpener, it’s made my life complete. Hmmm…I think I might be quirky too! x
I wish a knife would complete my life…..
Don’t Bug Me!s last blog post..The Oldest Profession’s Daytime Job.
EM – Another knife junkie? Seems there are more of us than I thought!
DBM – LOL! Buy one and see!
Came here from 60goingon16….. totally with you on knives and hats (they go together so well – I blame it on my brush with girl guide camps – all beanie hat and sheath knife chic….). So, a JD fan I see – take it 60/16 has told you he is rumoured to be moving to our neck of the woods?!
Hi and welcome, Jane Alexander! Another knife junkie! Yay! LOL! Are you also a Johnny Depp fan? And do you mean 60/16 is moving to your neck of the woods, or Johnny? If it’s Johnny, I’ve heard so many ‘he’s moving here/there’ rumours, I’ll believe it when I see it!
I’d respond to being tagged, but I recently (April 22) did that. See? http://stillamazed.typepad.com/still_amazed/2008/04/index.html However, I really appreciate your thinking of me, and I continue to enjoy your blog.
I tried to subscribe in Google Reader and it said it couldn’t find your feed. I’ll try another one tho.
DrowseyMonkeys last blog post..Happy 4th of July!