Words & Tricks

8 random things about me - A meme

Recently, Crystal at Big Bright Bulb, a blog chock full of great advice and insight for small business owners and entrepreneurs, tagged me with a blog meme that’s been making the rounds. I was flattered because it makes me feel a bit more like I’m part of the blogging community. The ideas is that someone comes up with a post, writes it, and “tags” a few other people to write a similar post. Everybody reads the others’ posts, and comments on them. Links are exchanged in a friendly way, everybody has fun, and then we move on with our lives.

So, this one is simply a list post of eight random things about me that you may, or mat not, know. I’m supposed to tag 8 other people at the end, but I don’t know 8 people who blog. So, I tagged three people at the end. I guess I really need to stop lurking on all those great blogs I read. I hereby resolve to comment more.

#1 I prefer “geeky” to “pretentious.”
I’ve always been a bit of a dork, myself. I have a habit of putting my foot in my mouth, saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, or just geeking out about something that others don’t really find all that interesting. I don’t buy brands, and prefer to shop at thrift stores. I don’t mind a good genre book, or a good sit-com. So, I appreciate geekiness in other people. Really, I see the willingness to be a bit geeky as an aspect of being sincere, which is the trait I truly appreciate. But what do I find the most annoying? Pretentious geeks.

#2 That said, I can be a movie snob.
I hate sitting down to watch a horrible blockbuster. Don’t waste my time with a contrived plot, poor writing and wooden actors. I mean, it’s 2 hours! Two hours when I could be doing something worthwhile with my time. Like folding laundry. Or rotating slowly in place.

#3 I’m visually impaired.
I was born with symmetric horizontal idiopathic congenital nystagmus. This is doctor-speak for: my eyes move back and forth involuntarily, and have done so since I was born. This, coupled with plain old astigmatism and near- (or is that far-?) sightedness pretty much makes me legally blind. That is, my vision is approximately 20/200. What a person with 20/20 vision can see at 200 feet from an object like a street sign, is approximately what I see only 20 feet from the same sign. Blurry, indistinct shapes and colors. This is not correctable with glasses.

I can read 12 point, and even 10 point text, and have always been an avid reader (is this #3.5?), but if it get’s smaller than that I’ll need a magnifying glass. So, yellow pages, white pages, backs of canned fruit, and grocery ingredients generally are a bit beyond me. As is one of my biggest pet peeves: Delis and restaurants that post their menu BEHIND THE COUNTER AND WAY UP THE WALL, and don’t provide a paper menu. Seems insensitive to me. Anyway, my partner (see #4) is a wonderful guy who doesn’t hesitate to read menus, nutrition information, or phone numbers at the drop of a hat.

#4 I’m gay.
Yep. I like guys. Well, one specifically. I’m lucky to be with my partner now for 5 and a half years. He’s handsome, funny, smart, talented and compassionate. I really lucked out on this one. Now, with the California Supreme Court’s ruling, and our pending move back to CA, perhaps there’s a ceremony of some sort in our future? Hm.

#5 I’ve never lived anywhere longer than 7 years
And those seven consecutive years were spent in San Francisco after I moved out of my parents’ home. Before that, my family and I would pick up and move every few years because my step-dad was in the Forest Service. In order to get to be a higher GS level, you have to move to the town where that job is based. So, promotion=moving. Or vice-versa.

I’ve always envied people who still have the same friends from grade school, and those who have really deep roots in a particular place. Well, sometimes I do. Sometimes I’m just happy to get out of Dodge!

I’ve lived in California (Susanville, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz), Washingotn (Spokane, Seattle), Alaska (Sitka), Montana (Big Timber), Nevada (Elko), and Minnesota (Minneapolis).

#6 I’m a poet
I’ve had a few pieces published, and won an award or two. My first check for writing was $150 won for a poem I wrote. I’m terrified of readings, and have not published a book, or chapbook yet.

#7 I would love to go back to school for an advanced degree
An MFA in Poetry, or an MS, or Master’s in Journalism would be badass.

#8 I can’t leave well-enough alone.
You know what would be cooler than coming up with 8 random facts about yourself? Tagging 8 people to each come up with 4 random facts about you! Or 4 things that would describe your personality. Sure, they’d have to know you a little, but the potential to learn about how other’s perceive you could be fun! Also, dangerous.

Now I’m done. I tag the following people:

Lauren

Luisa

Julien

The rules (as quoted from Crystal’s blog) are:

1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged, write a blog post about their own 8 random things, and post these rules.
3. At the end of your post you need to tag 8 )or however many) people and include their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’ve been tagged, and to read your blog.

Further Reading on Words & Tricks

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• About Chris Pommier (1)
• Interview: Jane Levin shares insight on poetry, surviving cancer and self-publishing [with Video] (0)
• WT Update: Selection of Chris Pommier’s freelance clips online (0)
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