Recently, I was nominated for the Very Inspiring Blogger award by fellow writer and friend, the estimable Ellen Gregory. As a recipient of such an award, I am to share seven never before revealed things about myself and then nominate three other bloggers for this noble award. After 14 months of continuous blogging here in the kasbah, I didn’t think I had anything else to share that would be even remotely interesting to anyone.
For example, I didn’t think anyone would really care to know that my current favorite show, Dexter, has recently joined the likes of Six Feet Under and Sherlock on my list of Best Shows Ever. Frankly, I don’t think that’s all that interesting, unless you consider how each show has an incredibly well-written sociopathic main character that totally and completely fascinates me.
Actually, let’s not go there. This isn’t supposed to be a post about my seven diagnoses.
Having eliminated that as a possibility, I was back to trying to think of seven interesting things to share. But, before setting out to uncover such things about myself, I did a quick check of the rules and discovered that these seven things did not necessarily need to be interesting things, just things. For example, I could share that I like peanut butter on my morning toast. Or that with the recent rise in humidity here, my hair ends up looking like Farrah Fawcett’s (Charlie’s Angel’s era) by the end of the day, reminding me once again of the desperate need for a hair cut. Those two things are not particularly interesting. But they do qualify as things.
With the pressure off of finding seven interesting things, my resident genius and I decided to engage in a good ol’ fashioned brainstorming session. We made up some tasty snacks and beverages, put on some music (today’s selection was Nat King Cole’s Penthouse Serenade), and had ourselves a chat.
*Spoiler alert: You are about to be subjected to new information about me. If you are happy with the knowledge you already have and want to stay blissfully unaware of the following seven facts, I’ll bid you farewell for now. If, however, you choose to continue reading, you will be taken deeper into the demented temple of my mind. Consider yourself warned.*
For those intrepid readers who are bravely venturing on, here are the results of the brainstorming session, a list called Seven Things You May Not Want to Know But Will After Reading This. It’s best to keep in mind the factors that were influencing me at the time it was created:
1. Whenever I have a nightmare, it always involves at least one (or sometimes all) of these elements: a) I need to scream, but no sound will come out of my mouth; b) I need to run away from something scary, but my legs will only move in slow motion while everything else around me is going regular speed; and c) I’m trapped in a car that has plunged into a body of water. It’s a veritable Jungian trifecta of control themes. I think it’s just my subconscious’ snarky way of messing with me. I’ve often wondered why I couldn’t just get the recurring nightmare most other people have about showing up naked at school or work. I’d take that any day over the set of themes stuck on repeat in my dream world.
2. There are some evenings that I’m so ridiculously excited for my morning cup of coffee that I consider going to bed early just so I can get to my java fix that much sooner. But then I remember the snark-fest my subconscious likes to have (see #1) and decide instead to stay up late doing things like writing and reading.
3. Lately, I’ve been thinking about all of the things that are out there in the world to learn. And then I become simultaneously excited about learning these new things as well as totally overwhelmed by the enormity of it all because there’s so much I don’t know.
4. I became a vegetarian in my early 20’s not because of the ethics and animal abuse issues (though those later became some of the reasons I’ve remained one), but because I couldn’t really stand the taste of most meats. I pass no judgement to anyone who eats meat – your choices are your choices just as mine are, well, mine. I won’t lecture you on the disgusting and horrific nature of factory farming of animals, unless, of course, you want me to. Normally I don’t go on anti-meat tirades except…
5. …when it comes to meatloaf. I detest it. Even the word makes me cringe. Honestly, I’m a bit surprised I don’t have nightmares about it. Apologies to any meatloaf lovers out there. We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I have never liked it nor will I ever like it. Not on a plane and not on a train. Not in a box and not with a fox. And not even, you might be surprised to discover, in the company of a certain classy British actor. He can eat the ungodly food all he wants. Just give me the normal food, thankyouverymuch.
6. When the 13 year-old and I work on a puzzle together, we’re both overcome with the desire to say *booyah* whenever one of us fits a piece into the picture. And not just every few pieces. We say it Every. Single. Time. Sometimes it is whispered. Other times it’s declared with obnoxious gusto, as though we’re saying “Take THAT!” to the puzzle. And if the piece was especially difficult to find, faux gansta hand gestures are involved. For obvious reasons, we limit ourselves to 500 piece puzzles.
7. I am not sure if I believe in past lives, but if I did I think I was most likely a traveling cartographer who also happened to be a cellist. Or a traveling cellist who made maps on the side. Either way, I’ve come to this scientifically deduced conclusion based on my fascination with travel and maps, and the way the sound of a cello seductively stirs my soul.
And now for the nominating part. Be sure to stop by and check out the fabulous blogs of these talented writers:
Sara Walpert Foster: Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition
Jodi Lea Stewart: Walking on Sunshine
Barbara Forte Abate: Scribbling Outside the Lines
The rules are as follows:
Display the award logo on your blog.
Link back to the person who nominated you.
State 7 things about yourself.
Nominate three other bloggers and link back to them.
oOo
Now it’s your turn, fair readers. What previously unknown fun fact about yourself are you willing to share? Anyone have similar nightmare themes? How about a mutual aversion to meatloaf? Do you have any puzzle-assembling proclamations that you make when you fit a piece in? Don’t be shy. Have some tea and share away. I always love to hear from you.
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Elizabeth Fais said:
Hah! Another meatloaf hater. Booya! The only thing that got me through my mother’s meatloaf was the pint of ketchup I would bury it under. Meatloaf rates right up there in disgustingness with lime-cheese-mold, a horrible cream cheese, green jello, pineapple and other sundries concoction served at every one of my family gatherings growing up. Oh, wait. That’s two very uninteresting things about me, and without a warning spoiler alter. Double booya!
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Elizabeth Fais said:
P.S. Would a great conditioner calm your frizzies?
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Tami Clayton said:
Unfortunately, it’s only going to be rectified with a good hair cut. 🙂
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Tami Clayton said:
Wow, that lime-cheese-mold sounds awful. I was never able to stomach meatloaf, even with copious amounts of ketchup. Thankfully, it was a seldom served dish when I was growing up.
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Ellen Gregory said:
I totally understand the need to exclaim ‘booyah’ upon successful placement of a jigsaw puzzle piece. There’s a definite sense of accomplishment at such times.
I’d love to meet a travelling cello-playing cartographer — sounds like a perfect character background to me.
I don’t think I knew you’re vegetarian… interesting! 🙂
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Tami Clayton said:
Glad to know I’m not alone in the need to make a statement of some sort when doing puzzles.
I’d like to meet a travelling cello-playing cartographer, too. 🙂 I’ll see if I can weave a character like that into the story idea I have brewing.
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Liv Rancourt said:
You were a minstrel! I’d have to do some actual research, but I think there’s historical precedent for your map-making musician. And Ellen’s right – it would make a great character. Hmm…which reminds me of some of the other things I don’t know. I’m with you on that one…
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Tami Clayton said:
Ooh, a map-making minstrel, you say? I’ll have to research that as well. So much to learn…
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Sara Walpert Foster said:
Oh no! Another push to get my blog back into publishing mode. Thanks, Tami. Maybe this will get me over the hump. I know Twinkle is coming up soon too. Love your list! As a puzzle lover, I may add the word booyah to my vocabulary simply because it sounds like it adds to the enjoyment of the activity. Unfortunately, one of my daughter’s friends is always secretly videotaping me acting weird and I’m pretty sure this would be perfect fodder for her. I think i may have just called you and your daughter weird. It’s a complement, though, so please don’t take offense. 🙂
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Tami Clayton said:
Ah, you saw through my evil plan to draw you back to your blog. No offense taken – saying booyah after getting a piece in a puzzle IS a weird thing to do. It’s also oddly gratifying.
Have you considered doing something really outrageous for the videotaping friend to catch? Then, anything else you do in a normal course of the day won’t seem so weird by comparison. Just a suggestion… 🙂
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Mike Schulenberg said:
What if ghosts were to shout “Booyah!” instead of “Boo!” when they pop out of random objects to scare people? But not Casper, of course. He doesn’t want to scare people–he just wants to be friendly.
Anyway, sounds like a fun thing to do during a puzzle 🙂
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Tami Clayton said:
I recommend you give saying ‘booyah’ a try the next time you’re doing a puzzle, Mike. You might find it strangely satisfying. 🙂
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Elizabeth Fais said:
Tami, in all my Booyahing I forgot to mention how clever and fun your approach to “7 things” is. Truly loved it!
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Tami Clayton said:
Thanks, Elizabeth! So nice of you to pop back in and let me know. 🙂
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Marcia said:
Booyah! I think it works well in English as well as Spanish! I can’t wait to do a puzzle now. You rock Tami.
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Tami Clayton said:
Thanks, Marcia! Hopefully booyah doesn’t translate into anything inappropriate in Spanish. 🙂
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Kim Griffin said:
This is what happens when I’m behind in my reading ~ Sara gets nominated twice because I nominated her too 🙂 Um, Sara, you’re being summoned.
I can picture the “boo-yah” puzzle marathon ~ Love that!
With regards to meatloaf, it’s funny that I was just thinking about it the other night. I think I heard it mentioned on a tv show and I thought what a strange name for a dish: meatloaf, a loaf of meat ~ sounds gross. If there is gonna be a loaf, make it bread. Seriously. I used to eat it as a kid, it was a staple weekly meal, sometimes rolled with ham and cheese inside, but I haven’t eaten it since I was a teen. Kinda makes me cringe..
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Tami Clayton said:
With two shout outs to Sara, I’m thinking she has no choice but to crack open that blog of hers and create a post. 😉
Meatloaf IS a weird name for a dish. I totally agree – bread should be the only thing that comes in a loaf.
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Sherry Isaac said:
Ah, Tami, what could be mundane drivel in the hands of another becomes captivating prose in yours. Alas, the day we discovered a point of contention between us was bound to come along sooner or later. I feel like we’ve crossed a milestone in our relationship, unpleasant, yet not quite as intimate as the first time my husband farted then pinned my head under the sheets.
I am the wizard, yes, WIZARD, of meatloaf.
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Tami Clayton said:
The Wizard, you say? Wow. And double wow on being trapped beneath the sheets with a fart. Meatloaf wizardry aside, I feel closer to you already just having read that story.
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jen self said:
i love your section on nightmares because now i know that i am not alone…my themes: 1) screaming and no sound; 2) running and in glue; 3) prison dreams; 4) being chased; and 5) taking a test in a class that I had no idea I had until the day of the test. There are some other more disturbing things….but I’ll share later. Meatloaf is the nectar of the gods.
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Tami Clayton said:
I am also glad/relieved to know I am not alone in my dream theme issues. I don’t think I’d like the prison dream AT ALL. The test taking one hasn’t come up for me (yet). I’ll take that one any day over the other themes.
And meatloaf is both the nectar of demons and the bane of my existence.
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Brinda said:
So, I won’t be asking you to accompany me to Texas de Brazil. Actually, I’m not much of a meat eater.
I recently had a dream of being smothered by a pillow. The smotherer was my friend. :0 It wasn’t you.
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Tami Clayton said:
Being smothered by a pillow-wielding friend you say? That sounds horrible! I am very relieved it wasn’t me. I’d keep a watchful eye on that friend of yours if I were you.