There’s, like, a meme out there somewhere, and it went something like this.
10 weird things about the sken.
1. I have weird vegetable interests, if you know what I mean. I like raw carrot, but not cooked. Prefer canned peas to frozen. Whole spinach to chopped. No onions, but I’ll eat french onion dip or salsa (sort of, more like salsa sauce).
2. My memory is the epitome of sporadic. I might not be able to remember what I planned to do next week, but I remember the first time someone told me they were falling in love with me, I remember the smell of the playground in kindergarten, and nearly every song I’ve ever heard (I’m a whiz at name that tune… though sometimes I have to sing it, ’cause I forgot the name). Context is everything
3. I was raised by women, which I like to say is kinda like being raised by wolves – different language, vicious culture, pack mentality.
4. My closest relative is my grandmother – I speak of her all the time, and her boring lectures became the seeds of important lessons as I got older. During the first 16 years of my life, she lived with two women who detested each other so much, they wouldn’t be in the same room with each other. My grandma asked if I understood that she dated women when I was six or so, and my response was, “… duh.” Saturday mornings consisted of leaping into bed with her and Carol until my cousins woke up.
5. I’ve never broken a bone, but I have lost a fingernail to a sliding van door, and much skin to road rash as a kid. When I was in preschool, I did major (skin) damage to my chin on the merry-go-round, and insisted they put a mirror up so I could watch while they sewed me up.
6. When I started speaking, it was in full, concise, clear sentences. It took elementary school to make me slur my words like a normal human. ;)
7. I started reading before preschool, and have a story about it that defines my relationship with my mom rather well.
8. Most people have a code-word or something they use with their partner that says “I love you”. Mine is more a, erm, squirrel face.
9. I keep my fan on under my desk every single day. It’s not about how warm or cold it is, it’s about airflow. Between that and taking off my shoes, it keeps me awake and feeling less, y’know, trapped by the cube walls.
10. I was that kid who kept his food separate, but I love to try mixing things now. When I was a teen, I tried a hot dog with peanut butter, which wasn’t that bad, and I once cooked summer sausage bits on a bonfire with bits of hershey’s chocolate on it. It’s like a s’more for carnivores! My patented Curry Kraft is my favorite concoction, though my pizza is a close second.
There is a certain outside temperature, with juuuust the right amount of wind, that immediately takes me back to playing outside the high rise building I grew up in. It just -feels- like summer, early 80’s.
Everytime it hits, I just stop in my tracks, and inhale.
Those years between when I moved in with my dad and when he passed away were utopian, and I savor every sensation that brings them back.
(I don’t like frozen veggies, and prefer canned. Frozen ones always taste weird to me.)
I find that my oldest memories are related to my sense of smell.
Smell’s an incredibly visceral sense. The other night, while passing by a local conservation area, I got a whiff of the damp, slightly musty smell that the forest floor seems to ooze during spring evenings. It instantly brought back just about every good memory I have involving the outdoors.
It’s a certain “dark pine” scent that reminds me of day care before preschool.
No other sense comes close to the way sense of smell can connect you to past events long forgotten. While i can’t give a specific example because I do tend to be absent minded, there have been many times when a particular smell is intoxicating because it gives a true sense of familiarity.
No other sense comes close to the way sense of smell can connect you to past events long forgotten. While i can’t give a specific example because I do tend to be absent minded, there have been many times when a particular smell is intoxicating because it gives a true sense of familiarity.
It’s a certain “dark pine” scent that reminds me of day care before preschool.
Smell’s an incredibly visceral sense. The other night, while passing by a local conservation area, I got a whiff of the damp, slightly musty smell that the forest floor seems to ooze during spring evenings. It instantly brought back just about every good memory I have involving the outdoors.
I find that my oldest memories are related to my sense of smell.
There is a certain outside temperature, with juuuust the right amount of wind, that immediately takes me back to playing outside the high rise building I grew up in. It just -feels- like summer, early 80’s.
Everytime it hits, I just stop in my tracks, and inhale.
Those years between when I moved in with my dad and when he passed away were utopian, and I savor every sensation that brings them back.
(I don’t like frozen veggies, and prefer canned. Frozen ones always taste weird to me.)
Cooked carrots tend to get very mushy and weird. I can eat them barely cooked in veggie pasta, but that’s about it. Actually, most vegetables I prefer raw to cooked… I’m the same way about onions, too :o)
What’s the first major news event you remember?
Do you have the 6 ft walls? We’re lucky– everyone here is in an office, although most of us share it with at least one other person. We even have a wee mini conference table in ours, along with huge whiteboards and Legos.
That’s so J! As a kid, you couldn’t touch his food, or he’d freak out. Different foods could also never touch, or else he’d refuse to eat it. Nowadays, he doesn’t have much of a sense of smell or taste, so letting him free to cook can be… an adventure.
Hmm, that is an interesting question. We didn’t have a TV until I was nine, so I missed out on a lot of the “major event” thing. I guess I vaguely remember the Challenger explosion thing, but not nearly as clearly as Lucy, who is quite a bit younger than I am. However, her dad works for NASA, so.
Our walls are actually only half-high, which gives me a great view of the city from the 5th floor, but is terrible because the woman who sits next to me is our admin. I call her the “CSL” for Crazy Secretary Lady, and she tends to say horrifyingly personal things while on the phone.
I have a good sense of smell and taste (in fact, we often think I might be a supertaster, due to my reactions to bitter flavors).
How do you do with spicy foods, being so sensitive?
I love spicy foods! I eat indian at medium, chinese at spicy, and generally don’t eat thai because it’s too sweet. At BW3’s I usually don’t go further than Caribbean jerk and Asian zing, but that’s partly because I don’t like traditional buffalo sauce or bbq sauce (again with the sweet and sticky).
How interesting! I can’t really do that spicy foods. It’s probably somewhat residual from childhood, as I didn’t eat Mexicaon, Thai, Indian, or Vietnamese until college due to allergies.
BBQ is so odd. I think it’s the liquid smoke that always gets me.
On the other hand, I am a huge fan of dry-rub ribs.
So if you come visit we might have to take you to Lester’s Roadside Barbecque then or Redbones.
That’s awesome.
*tempt* *tempt*
Hehe, we’re coming, we’re coming, we just have to figure out how -far- we’re coming. ;)
Hehe, we’re coming, we’re coming, we just have to figure out how -far- we’re coming. ;)
*tempt* *tempt*
That’s awesome.
So if you come visit we might have to take you to Lester’s Roadside Barbecque then or Redbones.
On the other hand, I am a huge fan of dry-rub ribs.
How interesting! I can’t really do that spicy foods. It’s probably somewhat residual from childhood, as I didn’t eat Mexicaon, Thai, Indian, or Vietnamese until college due to allergies.
BBQ is so odd. I think it’s the liquid smoke that always gets me.
I love spicy foods! I eat indian at medium, chinese at spicy, and generally don’t eat thai because it’s too sweet. At BW3’s I usually don’t go further than Caribbean jerk and Asian zing, but that’s partly because I don’t like traditional buffalo sauce or bbq sauce (again with the sweet and sticky).
My favorite ‘ethnic’ food is a chinese Curry Chicken. Mmmm boy.
I prefer the Vietnamese or Thai yellow curry. Nom nom nom!
I prefer the Vietnamese or Thai yellow curry. Nom nom nom!
My favorite ‘ethnic’ food is a chinese Curry Chicken. Mmmm boy.
How do you do with spicy foods, being so sensitive?
Hmm, that is an interesting question. We didn’t have a TV until I was nine, so I missed out on a lot of the “major event” thing. I guess I vaguely remember the Challenger explosion thing, but not nearly as clearly as Lucy, who is quite a bit younger than I am. However, her dad works for NASA, so.
Our walls are actually only half-high, which gives me a great view of the city from the 5th floor, but is terrible because the woman who sits next to me is our admin. I call her the “CSL” for Crazy Secretary Lady, and she tends to say horrifyingly personal things while on the phone.
I have a good sense of smell and taste (in fact, we often think I might be a supertaster, due to my reactions to bitter flavors).
Cooked carrots tend to get very mushy and weird. I can eat them barely cooked in veggie pasta, but that’s about it. Actually, most vegetables I prefer raw to cooked… I’m the same way about onions, too :o)
What’s the first major news event you remember?
Do you have the 6 ft walls? We’re lucky– everyone here is in an office, although most of us share it with at least one other person. We even have a wee mini conference table in ours, along with huge whiteboards and Legos.
That’s so J! As a kid, you couldn’t touch his food, or he’d freak out. Different foods could also never touch, or else he’d refuse to eat it. Nowadays, he doesn’t have much of a sense of smell or taste, so letting him free to cook can be… an adventure.
You know, you need to explain the Curry Kraft and pizza concoctions now.
And I can relate with the fan, only I keep mine on when I’m sleeping. Even if its freezing out.
I often do that too, though not in the dead of winter, especially with lucy over.
Curry kraft requires quality curry, which can vary significantly by brand, vanilla soy milk, red pepper, Kraft Mac n Cheese, and sometimes tuna. I imagine chicken would also be delish, though I haven’t tried it.
As for pizza, I have a procedure for turning boring frozen pizza into something awesome. First, rising crust pepperoni pizza. remove pepperonies, add enough shredded mozz that the pizza’s actually covered, replace pepps. sometimes I butter or pam the crust, and add rosemary to that. Then garlic powder, red pepper (sometimes powder, sometimes flakes), oregano and/or basil as well as other optional spices. If I happen to have a garlic clove I can mince and spread around, so much the better.
My mom bought me a pizza maker one year, and though it is a corny one-use appliance, it does a remarkably even and low-energy job of cooking, and you can set it to cook rising crust pizzas quickly and efficiently. Plus you can hear the sizzle and keep an easy eye on it, which is great.
Ban the Unitaskers!
Psh. It’s a great idea in theory, but it was free, I’m not rich, and it produces better pizza than my oven. And, much as I may love Alton Brown to pieces for his work, he’s still a wank. :)
I know, I needed my Alton Brown sillyness for the day. I will NEVER turn down a free kitchen gadget, unitasker or not.
I know, I needed my Alton Brown sillyness for the day. I will NEVER turn down a free kitchen gadget, unitasker or not.
Psh. It’s a great idea in theory, but it was free, I’m not rich, and it produces better pizza than my oven. And, much as I may love Alton Brown to pieces for his work, he’s still a wank. :)
Ban the Unitaskers!
I often do that too, though not in the dead of winter, especially with lucy over.
Curry kraft requires quality curry, which can vary significantly by brand, vanilla soy milk, red pepper, Kraft Mac n Cheese, and sometimes tuna. I imagine chicken would also be delish, though I haven’t tried it.
As for pizza, I have a procedure for turning boring frozen pizza into something awesome. First, rising crust pepperoni pizza. remove pepperonies, add enough shredded mozz that the pizza’s actually covered, replace pepps. sometimes I butter or pam the crust, and add rosemary to that. Then garlic powder, red pepper (sometimes powder, sometimes flakes), oregano and/or basil as well as other optional spices. If I happen to have a garlic clove I can mince and spread around, so much the better.
My mom bought me a pizza maker one year, and though it is a corny one-use appliance, it does a remarkably even and low-energy job of cooking, and you can set it to cook rising crust pizzas quickly and efficiently. Plus you can hear the sizzle and keep an easy eye on it, which is great.
You know, you need to explain the Curry Kraft and pizza concoctions now.
And I can relate with the fan, only I keep mine on when I’m sleeping. Even if its freezing out.
“6. When I started speaking, it was in full, concise, clear sentences. It took elementary school to make me slur my words like a normal human. ;)”
me too! my first ‘word’ was ‘where’s the kitty?’ lol i was also reading before preschool. we’re awesome.
*high five* We are indeed.
Also, this explains why you’re always saying, “kitty!”
lol perhaps :)
lol perhaps :)
*high five* We are indeed.
Also, this explains why you’re always saying, “kitty!”
“6. When I started speaking, it was in full, concise, clear sentences. It took elementary school to make me slur my words like a normal human. ;)”
me too! my first ‘word’ was ‘where’s the kitty?’ lol i was also reading before preschool. we’re awesome.
More of a gopher face, really. Maybe squirrel. Maybe beaver? I could have the butt of a beaver…
HAWT
*giggle* You’re hawt. Gopher is more accurate, really, but I was sort of thinking Gir saying, “I saw a squirrel, he was going like this! ff ff ff!”
“i love that show!”
i mean, i totally love that scene. one of my favs.
“i love that show!”
i mean, i totally love that scene. one of my favs.
*giggle* You’re hawt. Gopher is more accurate, really, but I was sort of thinking Gir saying, “I saw a squirrel, he was going like this! ff ff ff!”
More of a gopher face, really. Maybe squirrel. Maybe beaver? I could have the butt of a beaver…
HAWT
you wroteth:
5. I’ve never broken a bone, but I have lost a fingernail to a sliding van door, and much skin to road rash as a kid.
me neither.
my favorite childhood oops was when i was bent over at the waist, truckin’ my barbie jeep (the one that came with the horse trailer, of course) around the backyard w/ little dog figurines in the front seat (barbie was stupid) and i didn’t think anything of it when the going got bumpy – dad had laid the chainlink fence down in the grass. one of the tires got stuck in the chainlink and i flipped over the jeep, somehow managing to cut *just* under my eye (requiring 2 stitches). i don’t recall it hurting; i just remember being VERY UPSET that my favorite shorts (light blue silk shorts, with a unicorn on it with a rhinestone eye) were RUINED b/c i got blood on them ;P :D
10. I once cooked summer sausage bits on a bonfire with bits of hershey’s chocolate on it.
mmmm. that whole salty vs sweet thing, i think :D
My patented Curry Kraft is my favorite concoction
that sounds interesting. is it a secret recipe? :)
*chuckle* I mentioned more of it in the comments. The specifics are more or less done by feel, but no, I like to share!
funny thing… i’m editing this comment right now… i somehow deleted the first part of my post ;P
funny thing… i’m editing this comment right now… i somehow deleted the first part of my post ;P
*chuckle* I mentioned more of it in the comments. The specifics are more or less done by feel, but no, I like to share!
you wroteth:
5. I’ve never broken a bone, but I have lost a fingernail to a sliding van door, and much skin to road rash as a kid.
me neither.
my favorite childhood oops was when i was bent over at the waist, truckin’ my barbie jeep (the one that came with the horse trailer, of course) around the backyard w/ little dog figurines in the front seat (barbie was stupid) and i didn’t think anything of it when the going got bumpy – dad had laid the chainlink fence down in the grass. one of the tires got stuck in the chainlink and i flipped over the jeep, somehow managing to cut *just* under my eye (requiring 2 stitches). i don’t recall it hurting; i just remember being VERY UPSET that my favorite shorts (light blue silk shorts, with a unicorn on it with a rhinestone eye) were RUINED b/c i got blood on them ;P :D
10. I once cooked summer sausage bits on a bonfire with bits of hershey’s chocolate on it.
mmmm. that whole salty vs sweet thing, i think :D
My patented Curry Kraft is my favorite concoction
that sounds interesting. is it a secret recipe? :)
lj is being a whiny bitch; i apparently can’t go back and edit b/c the comment was already replied to. so i’m making my editted response in a ‘nother comment ;P
ou wroteth:
(weird. i somehow lost the first half of my reply :( /tries again/
1. I have weird vegetable interests, if you know what I mean. I like raw carrot, but not cooked. Prefer canned peas to frozen.
for me, raw carrots leave a weird aftertaste in my mouth. i love steamed, soft carrots – much sweeter. i’m totally on the same page as you with the peas tho; one of my favorite snacks is dumping a can of peas into bowl and ‘wavin’ it…
great. now i want peas. /shakes fist. guess i’ll just have to settle for the gin and tonic scott got me ….
2. nearly every song I’ve ever heard (I’m a whiz at name that tune… though sometimes I have to sing it, ’cause I forgot the name).
i can recognize a great many songs, many w/in the first couple of notes (she, who has never played an instrument in her life). i can usually name the song as well, but i more than likely won’t be able to tell you the artist :(
3. I was raised by women, which I like to say is kinda like being raised by wolves – different language, vicious culture, pack mentality.
teh awesome.
tho i’ve usually heard of it called the “herd mentality”. ie women going to the bathroom in groups of 2 or more.
5. I’ve never broken a bone, but I have lost a fingernail to a sliding van door, and much skin to road rash as a kid.
me neither.
my favorite childhood oops was when i was bent over at the waist, truckin’ my barbie jeep (the one that came with the horse trailer, of course) around the backyard w/ little dog figurines in the front seat (barbie was stupid) and i didn’t think anything of it when the going got bumpy – dad had laid the chainlink fence down in the grass. one of the tires got stuck in the chainlink and i flipped over the jeep, somehow managing to cut *just* under my eye (requiring 2 stitches). i don’t recall it hurting; i just remember being VERY UPSET that my favorite shorts (light blue silk shorts, with a unicorn on it with a rhinestone eye) were RUINED b/c i got blood on them ;P :D
10. I once cooked summer sausage bits on a bonfire with bits of hershey’s chocolate on it.
mmmm. that whole salty vs sweet thing, i think :D
My patented Curry Kraft is my favorite concoction
that sounds interesting. is it a secret recipe? :)
lj is being a whiny bitch; i apparently can’t go back and edit b/c the comment was already replied to. so i’m making my editted response in a ‘nother comment ;P
ou wroteth:
(weird. i somehow lost the first half of my reply :( /tries again/
1. I have weird vegetable interests, if you know what I mean. I like raw carrot, but not cooked. Prefer canned peas to frozen.
for me, raw carrots leave a weird aftertaste in my mouth. i love steamed, soft carrots – much sweeter. i’m totally on the same page as you with the peas tho; one of my favorite snacks is dumping a can of peas into bowl and ‘wavin’ it…
great. now i want peas. /shakes fist. guess i’ll just have to settle for the gin and tonic scott got me ….
2. nearly every song I’ve ever heard (I’m a whiz at name that tune… though sometimes I have to sing it, ’cause I forgot the name).
i can recognize a great many songs, many w/in the first couple of notes (she, who has never played an instrument in her life). i can usually name the song as well, but i more than likely won’t be able to tell you the artist :(
3. I was raised by women, which I like to say is kinda like being raised by wolves – different language, vicious culture, pack mentality.
teh awesome.
tho i’ve usually heard of it called the “herd mentality”. ie women going to the bathroom in groups of 2 or more.
5. I’ve never broken a bone, but I have lost a fingernail to a sliding van door, and much skin to road rash as a kid.
me neither.
my favorite childhood oops was when i was bent over at the waist, truckin’ my barbie jeep (the one that came with the horse trailer, of course) around the backyard w/ little dog figurines in the front seat (barbie was stupid) and i didn’t think anything of it when the going got bumpy – dad had laid the chainlink fence down in the grass. one of the tires got stuck in the chainlink and i flipped over the jeep, somehow managing to cut *just* under my eye (requiring 2 stitches). i don’t recall it hurting; i just remember being VERY UPSET that my favorite shorts (light blue silk shorts, with a unicorn on it with a rhinestone eye) were RUINED b/c i got blood on them ;P :D
10. I once cooked summer sausage bits on a bonfire with bits of hershey’s chocolate on it.
mmmm. that whole salty vs sweet thing, i think :D
My patented Curry Kraft is my favorite concoction
that sounds interesting. is it a secret recipe? :)
I rofled for real at #3.
I rofled for real at #3.
I added you… please let me know if that is an issue.
And for weird foods… let me toss up… coffee mixed with grapefruit juice (not pure, like the breakfast kind that’s like 27% juice). Tried it camping because everyone was out of creamer, and it’s really quite good.
wow, that must be a powerful taste!
wow, that must be a powerful taste!
I added you… please let me know if that is an issue.
And for weird foods… let me toss up… coffee mixed with grapefruit juice (not pure, like the breakfast kind that’s like 27% juice). Tried it camping because everyone was out of creamer, and it’s really quite good.