“The same as what?”
“The same as people who aren’t different.”
(if you haven’t seen the movie ‘What’s Up Doc?’, then you are missing out. Go find it and watch it immediately.)

I’ve occasionally often been described as “quirky” (or “odd”, “crazy”… whatever…). I’m pretty confident in who I am, though, so those types of comments don’t bother me in the least. Since other people seem to be fascinated by people who aren’t boring (another phrase to describe a quirky person: not-boring), I figured I could make a blog post out of some of the characteristics that make me… me. And this is mostly because I’m too exhausted to do a post any more serious than this.

1. When I use a public restroom (which I hate doing, but unfortunately have to do a lot more often while pregnant), I leave the water running after I wash my hands. After I dry my hands on my paper towel (and I already used the handle for the paper towel holder BEFORE I washed my hands), I turn the water off with my paper towel, open the bathroom door with my paper towel, then toss it into the trash can before leaving. This doesn’t seem quirky to me, just sanitary, but I don’t ever see anyone else doing these things, so I can only assume it’s just me.
2. I don’t cry. Okay, that’s not true. I cry sometimes, but only on rare occasions. And if someone actually sees or hears me crying? It’s mortifying. Ugh. I get sad just like everyone else, and I get emotional… but tears? Those don’t come out very often. I had a good cry a week or so ago when I was at a low moment (plus the added pregnancy hormones), and by “good”, I mean “completely awful”. I guess the time before that when I had a completely awful cry was last March, just after my miscarriage (when pregnancy hormones were leaving my body), and that really ticked me off. I was like “why can’t I stop crying?!?! This is ridiculous!!” And actually, now that I think more about what I said a few sentences back, I don’t really get sad “like everyone else”, because it seems to me that some people cry over some really silly things. I guess I used to cry more? But maybe not. I remember being Jacob’s age and running into the metal monkey bar contraption on the playground at school so hard that it threw me backwards, knocked me out, and I ended up with a giant knot and bruise on my forehead – I didn’t cry then… my biggest concern was that someone might think I wasn’t tough enough, so I sucked it up, let the teacher put some ice on it for a few minutes, then went back to playing. Andrew thinks I’m cold and unfeeling, and that I should allow my emotions to overtake me from time to time, but that doesn’t sound like much fun to me, so I just don’t do it. And if the emotions come and I feel the need to weep like a baby? I have a response similar to Annette Bening’s in American Beauty when she doesn’t sell the house and cries, then slaps herself and yells “Shut up! Stop it! You baby!” Okay, I’m not that bad… well, maybe close. Seriously though, crying sucks so I try not to do it. Simple as that.
3. I am very picky about food. Add to that my celiac (can’t eat gluten) and other food sensitivities, and I’m probably kind of a pain to go out to eat with. I have eaten with people, though, who are so concerned with being a hassle that they will order food that contains an ingredient they hate and just eat it. I don’t understand that. How hard is it to say “can I get that without the pecans?” And I don’t know if my taste buds are more sensitive than other people’s or what, but so many people seem to just not care what goes into their mouth. I can usually tell by smelling if I’m going to like something or not, and if it’s “not”? I don’t eat it.

Edited to add: I wrote this post a month or so ago, and it’s been sitting in my draft folder. I should note that I have actually cried a couple of times since I wrote it, but I’m pregnant. Usually I can feel emotion, sympathy, pain, or whatever, and not actually have tears, but it’s harder to control when the pregnancy hormones have taken over.

Edited again to add: The comment about Andrew thinking I’m cold and unfeeling was sarcasm.  Even though I have told you multiple times to just go read another blog if you don’t understand sarcasm, I’m clarifying anyway.  ;)

As though you guys expect anything but randomness…

1. Darby got embarrassed on our walk today when I yelled “SLOW DOWN!” to a school bus that was barreling down the residential street like it was on a race track.  She said, “Mom! The windows were down!!!”, and I said “Good!”  ;)
2. I’ve added a magnesium/potassium supplement.  I’m hoping that it helps with all my ailments, but mostly, I’m hoping it helps with all the migraines and the restless leg [whole body] syndrome!
3. Please continue to pray for Britta in Ethiopia.  She has been pretty sick lately, so some extra prayers for healing would be much appreciated!
4. I love sunshine!  Today is 75 degrees with a slight breeze ~ absolutely perfect!!!  I can’t wait for spring to be permanently here!  I still want to move to Florida.
5. Men: Just say no to sweater vests.  No exceptions.
6. I’ve been working on a blog post about some important nutrition/health myths.  Be excited.
7. I’ve been enjoying finding new music lately.  Actually, I let Andrew wade through tons of crappy music, then he plays what he thinks is the best picks for me, and then I choose a few from that… it works for both of us.  I don’t have to wade through a bunch of crap to find the good stuff, and… well, maybe it just works for me.  lol. I’ll share my current playlists soon.
8. And I shall now leave you with some quotes I’ve noted lately ~

“Though in moments that stretch us we wish it weren’t so, very rarely does real growth ride in on the wings of comfort.” ~ Jon Acuff

“Those who do not know God recognize those who do by their love for each other.” ~ Rebecca Pearl Anast

“Admitting you’re broken does not mean you aren’t a ‘good Christian’.  It means you are exactly who the Doctor came for.” ~ Jon Acuff

“Heaven isn’t a place for people who are scared of hell; it’s a place for people who love Jesus!” ~ Matt Chandler