Ten Weird Habits

Kelly has an interesting post about his weird but strange habits. It was fun, and I figured I’d write about mine. So here goes… my weird habits:

• I have a weird thing about time. I hate showing up early to things. I hate being late too. I come up with a time that I’m going to leave for something, and then I stick to it, and will not leave before that time. If I have a 10:00 class, for some reason I can’t leave more than 5 minutes before, which in this case would be 09:55. I can leave at any point after 09:55, but never, never before… which might explain why I’m always late. If I happen to have some reason to go to class early, like if I need to talk to somebody, I can waive the time thing.


• I have to have at least two alarm clocks set. One plugged in, and the other powered by a battery. And I check them – obsessively – to make sure they’re set for A.M. and that the alarm is on. It’s not uncommon for me to get out of bed and walk across the room 3 or 4 times before I actually fall asleep, even though I know that they’re set right.


• I used to have to set my alarm clocks to weird times, like 09:37 instead of an even time like 09:35 or 09:40. I stopped doing that because I can’t get up on an odd time, and so I’d get back in bed until 09:40, usually falling back asleep.


• In the cafeteria, I can’t get all of my stuff on the tray at the same time. I’ll get my tray and silverware, go through the main line and get whatever they have there. Then go to see if they have any soup that I want. Then I have to go and put my tray down on the table, making sure that I’m sitting facing the entrance and can see everyone coming in. Then I go and get my lime drinks (although it’s been coke of late) – usually 3, but on occasion 4 – and take them back to the table. Then I’ll go and check out the fruit and vegetable thing, if I think I’ll want any.


• If I get a cup of coffee at a restaurant, I always wipe off the rim with a napkin, and then put the coffee on top of it. After I take a drink, if there’s a driblet of coffee on the outside, I have to wipe it off.


• It really bothers me when the head of my toothbrush touches any kind of flat surface, like a sink or countertop. When I’m brushing my teeth and I have to put my toothbrush down, I always put it so that the head hangs over the surface in question and thus, doesn’t touch anything. If I really don’t trust the surface, I’ll put the toothbrush in my pocket or the waistband of my boxers until I have a free hand.


• I like to put the full time (06:30 instead of 6:30). I like “okay” instead of “OK” or “ok.”


• I hate sleeping in complete darkness. I always like to have some kind of dim light source so I can see the floors if I happen to wake up during the night, although I rarely do.


• When I’m going to stop doing something (eating, playing a game, etc.), I often have to tell myself how much more I’m going to do and then quit when I get to that number. For example, if I’m eating something and not planning on finishing it, I tell myself that I’ll take 3 more bites, and then quit. If I’m playing minesweeper or solitaire, I have to set a number of how many more games I’ll play. Usually, I’ll couple this with another condition (“I’ll play 6 more games or until 11:45, whichever comes first)”


• I have to pause or stop my itunes when I leave the room, even if it’s only for a few seconds. I like to pick up a song exactly where I left off, and I don’t want to miss any songs that might play in the meantime.

That’s all for now. If I think of any other good ones, I’ll post them.