*twitch*

I think I may be slightly Obsessive-Compulsive. It's either that or I have a bunch of weird habits that just look like OCD. Examples... I blink way more often than I need to, and occasionally in groups of three. I'm always clearing my throat (I do this very quietly), just over and over again until I get distracted. I don't think about it anymore, though. And I count stairs - though I don't care if I remember them or not. I count them in groups separated by landings, because that just makes sense. For instance, going upstairs is ten-four. (Go ahead. Make a joke. You know you want to.) Going out the front door down to the sidewalk is four-seven. In Germany, the first place we stayed was four-seven-four-eleven. In Semland, going downstairs of the commons is eight-four-ten. Going up (or down) the stairs next to the lake up to chapel is twelve-twelve-twelve. I also get prejudices based off of these numbers. I like the number twelve (like the stairs down to Pastor's basement), and whatever number my age is, and I don't like the number five. (You may already know this.) I find it somewhat annoying if the stairs are an odd number, at least because it's harder to skip along them. Grandma's upstairs is seventeen steps away, and I'm still wondering whose idea that was.

I need a new paragraph.

Or two. When I tap my feet or my fingers, I usually have a pattern, usually in groups of four. (I've wondered if this is because of all my musical groundings. You know, most measures are in four-four time. I generally imagine my beats as quarter notes.) It sometimes goes (R=right foot L=left foot) RLRL RRLL LRLR LLRR LRLR LLRR RLRL RRLL. And that's dotted quarter note, eighth note, six quarter notes. Repeat repeat repeat. And then I'm done. But I do this all the time... have you ever noticed me tapping my fingers in a pattern? If so, that's my "habit," or sometimes I'm just hyper.

Like now.

Oh, and I have keratosis pilaris for sure, but it's okay. It affects 40% of adults and 50-80% of adolescents, and women more than men. It doesn't hurt. I think the ways of getting rid of it are expensive lotion or just waiting a while. Good to know, though.

magic? is it me or them?

Bob Dies, Paul Dies, Aaron Dies, Nick Dies, and Nathan Dies: These are all real people on facebook. There's also an Eric Dies. "Ethan Dies" yielded somewhat creepy results, first time I tried and somehow accidentally made it search the web.

Fourth Contest!

Results last week's contest:

GRAND WINNER

• Birthdays are lots of fun. Now that you’ve eaten chocolate cake, you’ll weigh a ton. But that’s okay, cuz I /love you anyway/ and to prove it I will say:/HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (Squishy)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• My love,
  ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.’
  Something to aspire to. (Me)
• Happy New Year. I bet not all your resolutions are about your lack of talent this year. Congratulations! (Me)
• Happy Birthday to you!/You look good in blue,/Though you’ve worn black and red/Since your husband turned dead. (Me) (I’m no good at anything rhymed, yet I keep trying. Why?? It’s not like I’m *that* fantastically interested in it, that I want to get better. Sure, it would be nice, but I honestly don’t care enough. I can let other people be poets. Like Paul.)
• ‘Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one.’ Is this how you feel about me? (Me)
• I love you, I love you, I love you... but I love someone else more. (Me)

Happy Birthday, Nat.

This week's contest: A conversation between to foreigners of different languages, neither of whom are good at English. Limit of 50 words.

Example:
"I don't take orange juice. I don't like the pulp."
"Who does not like the Pope?"
"Who?"
"What?"
"How?" (etc.)

(Played Madrigal Dinners twice today (Saturday), once yesterday, a rehearsal the day before, and one more performance tomorrow. Will expound if told to.)

Somewhere...

Your rainbow is shaded violet.

What is says about you: You are a creative person. You appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

It actually doesn't look very pretty to me.

EMILY IS AWESOME

You know it's true.

tips on dealing with a cranky or otherwise emotional fifteen-year-old girl

(I try not to go into this subject much, but it seems some people would benefit instruction. Statistically, I'm probably not looking at you, whoever you are.)

1. If something you said seems to have struck a nerve, do not comment on this fact.
2. If she's upset, probably just leave her alone. She's sulking. Attention will make it worse.
3. If she's angry, don't be condescending. It will not help.

I'll probably think of some more later when I'm less calm.

applications

Now is the time to apply for your prize(s)! Remember, within reason, people. Some of them will need details cleared with me. Anan, Rachel D, Squishy, could you each tell me again exactly what prize(s) you want? I just want to be sure I get them right. Emily, I know yours.