Weird Fact #3: I'm going to start calling these "quirks"

We all have our weird quirks, and one of mine has to do with how I read magazines. I don't like to read them cover to cover, because then I feel sad and defeated when I finish too early. If I have a magazine in my hand, it is coveted reading material because I almost always am reading it on a plane, or while waiting for a plane, the two most boring places known to man. (I no longer subscribe to any magazines because my two faves went out of business and there are too many National Geographics to choose just one. Should I go for the Traveler? Or the original. I can never decide.)

Instead, I read each individually purchased magazine three times. First, I read it back to front. Usually in the back there are interesting short things I want to read first- like my horoscope. I need to know how my month/ week/ etc is going to turn out. And I need to know that immediately.

Then I read it center to back, so I can read the essays/ longer articles. I don't always finish the longer articles because that involves finding the ending pieces in the back, which by then I am not in the mood for, as it is my second time at the end of the magazine, and I kind of feel like-- been there, done that.

Next, I pick up where I started in the center, and read again back towards the front. I know this is starting to sound repetitive, but I am telling you, it is not. With all of the ads and the shortness of these beginning articles, and being bored with the magazine the first time you got to this point, you can find a lot of new stuff in there.

Last, I start at page one, and go through the entire magazine with a fine tooth comb because for some bizarre reason, I know I missed an article, a tidbit, a cover story. I probably missed the reason I bought the magazine in the first place and I am like a detective, desperate to find it. And eventually I do. Because I can get through this part pretty rapidly, I finally take the time to read the end of those articles I read back in my first read through. I am always disappointed.

By the time I have done all of this, I am exhausted and can take a nap, which, it turns out, was the point of this whole process.

Weird Fact #2: The Dollar Bill is Obsolete

There are a lot of reasons I need to rely on quarters these days. Okay, there are two reasons I need to rely on quarters- Buying diet coke in the vending machine at work and laundry.

Every time I go to do either of those things, I get my quarters in order. To do that, I absolutely must check to see what states are on the backs. Then, I choose the 3 plus states I like the least (If the quarter is so old there isn't a state on the back, that automatically trumps even my least favorite state- Texas- and gets used first) to use for my purchase/ load of laundry.

I also double check the states when loaning quarters out. Yup, that's right. If you borrow a quarter from me I will have given you my least favorite state in the slew of quarters hanging out in my change purse.

Weird Fact #1

I have a tendency to obsess over efficiency. This becomes even more extreme when it comes to choosing the best possible route to get to a place, especially when walking.

• I don't like backtracking unless unavoidable.
• I will draw to-scale diagrams if you don't believe that my route is better than yours.
• I won't back down until you have tried my way and agreed with me.

I live in Boston. We may sometimes call them "blocks" but let's be honest, this is no New York City grid pattern. That means, taking the "parallel" road doesn't mean it is the same distance. I can recognize the slight difference in distance and then I take the shorter route. It's pretty simple geometry usually; I've always liked triangles.

Sometimes people try to argue with me; mainly because I am not great with directions so sure, don't trust me. But, I am right. I don't need google maps to determine the fastest route. If I know a route, then I know a route, and I know which way is faster. I tried to explain to a co-worker why walking the back route to the bus stop was better than walking out to the main road first, and she couldn't understand how that could be when technically you were walking away from the main road to take the back road. But, the distance from the entrance to the back road was about one-tenth the distance of the entrance to the main road. Then, when taking the back road, to connect with the main road again, the distance between the back road and the main road is about half the distance of the entrance to the main road. Add to the math that the back road doesn't have any intersections, so no corners to wait on until the lights to change, and you can almost get to the bus in two-thirds the amount of the time as taking the main road. Makes perfect sense in my head.

So basically, I spend half my life thinking about the best possible route from point A to point B. I don't try to think about it, it just happens until I've come up with a solution. I just discovered that walking up the street "parallel" to my street one extra block means not only a shorter distance to my apartment, but also less steep of an incline. Score!

Tag, You're It

Some people have fond memories of playing tag. Sure, I liked it as a kid... I mean it was something to do when you were confined to the blacktop or you didn't want to play kickball at recess. Honestly, I was more of a four square girl- I think being petite helps when playing in tiny spaces. However, it appears I have been tagged, which means I am it... And sorry for the delay, I guess I thought this was freeze tag.

Here are the rules:

(1) Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog. Click here for Diane's blog. I've also added her to my blogs of note list, because she said she will be updating her blog with her 7 random/weird facts and I think we all need to know about those.

2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself. I think I am going to do what Diane is doing and wait to post these in my next posts. Muah ha ha. Also, it is late and I am not feeling creative right now.

3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs. Here are the people I've tagged:
Cupcakes for Spite
Chaos Personified
Through the Circuits of Time
Sure, I know that's not seven, but that's the best I can do, because I am more of a blog stalker; I don't actually know most of the people whose blogs I read. I know it says "random" but I don't care.


4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. Doing that shortly.

New Blog!

For those of you who follow my blog-- have no fear, I am not going anywhere. However, a couple of friends and I are all contributing to a blog that is going to focus on ... well, it isn't really going to focus on anything. But, there will be reviews, life issues, event listings, etc. It's going to be good. I promise. And I don't make promises lightly.

So, if you want to check it out-- here's the link:

JUST FOR SCUZ

Please become a follower, it will make us feel oh-so-good about ourselves.

But also note: This is a new blog, so it is still in the very beginning formative stages. It is only going to get better, so stick with it, please.