7 facts

Dr. Steph tagged me for this meme. Then I was tagged by letah75, but her version involves eight things -- I can hardly think of seven, so I'm going with Steph's rules. Fortunately, these things just need to be true, not profound or fascinating.

Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and need to read your blog. The facts:

1. I'm currently knitting Kate. I don't really know why -- it's more of a "why not?" project. It's fun. Basically, you knit a gourd and some glove fingers. The smallest bag of fiberfill I could find was giant (one pound, which is a lot considering polyester fluff doesn't really weigh anything), so there may be more stuffed toys in my crafting future. I've got my eye on the Pointy Kitty over at Wee Wonderfuls.

2. So far so good with my corduroy dress. I love piping! I want to put piping on everything! Last night I had successfully attached the first sleeve (a sweet little cap sleeve -- with piping!) when the power went out. For two hours. So that was the end of last night's sewing. I was hoping to get the sewing finished last night, or at least everything but the zipper; maybe I can do it tonight. I want to finish this dress, and then I want to make another one in plaid, and another one in polka dots, and another one in a solid colour, and...

3. I'm giving a paper at a conference this Saturday. I'm very excited, since the conference is all about crime and media, which is right up my alley. I'll be talking about press coverage around the production and release of Karla in Canada.

4. On Monday, I'm getting on a plane and flying across the country! For the next two-and-a-half weeks, I'll be on (or near) the west coast. First, just over a week in the Okanagan with my parents; then a few days visiting friends in Vancouver; and then a few days seeing some friends and family in San Francisco. I can't wait. I haven't been out to B.C. since Christmas 2005, and my last trip to San Francisco was in ... 1999?

5. I'm at the heel flap of my second Monkey sock. (I'm getting desperate here. Seven facts about me? Clearly that's three too many -- some may even say it's seven too many.)

6. Thanks to a recent link from Jo S., I now must have this T-shirt. While we're at it, let's have a look at some recent wanty bookmarks: Fluevog boots, which I can pick up while in Vancouver if I find myself with an extra $300; a few skeins of merino from Oceanwind Knits -- maybe in sweetgrass and poppy; Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje; fabric, fabric, and more fabric; and my copy of the current issue of Interweave Knits (hello, post office?).

7. I have to get back to work now! I'm not going to tag anyone in particular for this; it's a meme, not a chain letter. Feel free to share facts about yourself if you're so inclined.

Six weird things

It was only a matter of time, since this meme has been circulating through blogsville for a while now. It's not easy to do; after all, one person's weird is another person's ordinary. But I've been tagged by the cat-spooning, clown-fearing K., so here goes...

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. [I can hardly stand that bad sentence, but I'm just cutting and pasting here.] People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1. When I pee, I'm up on my toes. (Yes, I'm sitting down -- come on, now! -- but I don't put my feet flat on the floor. Just my toes.)

2. When I go to bed, I have to start on my right side, and then after about 20 minutes I have to flip over to my left side. And I rub my feet together in a figure-8 motion.

3. I like certain things to be a certain way -- laundry must be folded "properly" (according to me) and dishes put away "properly" (according to me) -- but my office is always a totally chaotic mess. It really doesn't look like the work space of somebody who will refold the laundry that has been folded "incorrectly" by her partner. (I think I just figured out why Bill never does the laundry anymore.)

4. I can't roll my Rs. I just can't do it. (Is it because I have an extremely short tongue?) I figure this means that I will never be able to speak Spanish.

5. I prefer listening to music through headphones/earphones than through speakers. I'd happily listen to my iPod all day long as I went about my business, but I honestly can't remember the last time I turned on the stereo in the house.

6. I hardly ever eat oranges because it takes me so long. I'm a slow eater to begin with, but I have to pull off every strand of pith from every section before I'll put it in my mouth. I've worked on oranges for a good half hour. It's kind of not worth it.

I'm not going to tag anyone in particular, but feel free to share your own weirdness if you haven't yet done so. Have a good weekend!