Eons ago, not long after I started a website but before I moved over here to Peachy Hollow, my insanely cool sister-in-law posted a comment to one of my posts which included the words “Tag you’ve been meme’d“. To me, a native brit, the word “tag” conjures up images of address labels that you tie onto luggage, in particular the kind that Paddington Bear had attached to his coat, or little price labels that people put on things at garage sales. At that stage however, I was also aware of labelling posts on blogs with a “tag” buzzword that would hopefully immerse you fully into the world of Technorati. I was not familiar however with the concept of a MeMe. So based upon this limited knowledge and an absense of any prospects for further enlightenment, naive little me actually tagged my post “you’ve been meme’d“, thinking that all and sundry might come flooding over here from Technorati.
A few months later, I realsed that tagging someone was an American’s way of running up to somebody in a school playgound and yelling YOU’RE IT at the top of one’s lungs. So that’s it, Americans play “tag”, us brits play “IT!“). Ok then, that’s settled. Actually not quite as there was the whole MeMe thing was still lost on me, but then I had not one, but two MeMes in the space of one week courtesy of Kalurah and Fliss and suddenly all became clear and I felt a bit thtupid, duuh. So without any further ado please find below my belated offerings, starting with:
“8 random things that are WEIRD about me”
posted by Kalurah the other week:
1) I have really long toes to the extent that a friend once exclaimed that I had ‘ET feet’. Moreover the top joints on my second toes don’t bend- actually they do bend when I wiggle them with my fingers, but I just can’t make them bend on their own.
2) Other people love Mr Darcy, but if I did that I would be cheating on Gilbert Blythe.
3) I feel very unsettled if the vibe of something isn’t right. For instance, if the seat I’m sitting in at the cinema doesn’t feel right, it can spoil the whole film. Likewise for meals at restaurants, and on buses I always have to sit on the left, next to the window. It’s not the end of the world if I do find myself in the wrong seat, but it can cast a dampener. It’s a family thing that I get from Mutti. We’re all like it. Fortunately DrMrNin finds it amusing and endearing, otherwise I don’t think he’d have married me, lol!
4) I’m a perfectionist to the worst extreme and frequently inject my entire energy into doing things and not stopping until they reach my own ridiculously high standards. I know I’m like this, so will hesitate to undertake certain projects until I know I have the time and energy to do things properly. Other people interpret this as procrastination, when really it’s me being perfectionist and not wanting to invest less than 110%. Being like this has it’s plus points (I’m very driven, generally do things to the very best of my capabilities etc.) but it also has its negatives- in addition to the misinterpreted procrastination, I’m rarely entirely satisfied with what I do and have a hard time accepting compliments, I frequently work too much, and I’ve actually worked myself so hard that I had to take 6 months of sick leave to recuperate. I guess I have issues
But a lot of academics are like this, it’s a trait that can be really useful in research……passion and all that! But I’m still trying to train myself to be less of a self critique – you will ocassionally notice typos and syntax errors here at Peachy Hollow which I know are there, but I’ve left them *intentionally* to prove to myself that the world will not end because there’s a double space in a blog entry.
And these days I always make sure I try to play as hard as I work, it’s all about balance.
5) I am addicted to woolcraft and am on the verge of banning myself from the local wool departments. During lunchbreaks and before I catch the bus home I’m like a junkie, trawling around the wool shops for my latest fix. During teabreaks and bus journies I can frequently be found with yarn in hand. My explanation is that over the last ten years or so I haven’t had much time for craft, so I’m compensating now.
6) I have a VERY BIG problem wearing denim and black leather footwear. I just can’t do it. Actually, black denim and black leather boots I can do, but not regular denim. It used to be *all* leather/denim combinations including brown, but I got over that because I got some really nice long boots. Suede and nubuck in all colours are fine though.
7) I drink my venti lattes in takeaway cups with a straw. Try it, it’s very comforting. I got DrMrNin into it too.
I can’t stand the sound of people eating, it nakes my spine want to turn inside out. And I cannot bear the site and sound of people scraping the stuck food of their knives onto their forks. Eeeeuw, it makes my tummy funny just thinking about it. I think that plays a part in my dislike of eating in front of strangers as I don’t like looking at them, nor like they looking at me. And why there HAS to be background noise at mealtimes.
So there you have it, hurrah! I’ve done my first MeMe! I’ll think about who I’m going to nominate whilst I’m at work tomorrow …getting rather late here already, tee hee!
OK, wow, what a response! There I was wondering who I could nominate, but you wonderful folks have made it easy for me instead…….I’m going to nominate the first eight commenters, tee hee!!!! So Jamie, JuneBug, ashpags, kari and kijsa, Melissa in NZ, Fliss, Michelle E. ~ ‘Vintage Pastiche’, and Christina… CONGRATS! You’ve all been MEME’d hee hee hee! Can’t wait to hear your weirded out things. Of course there’s no obligation to do this any time soon or anything, it’s not like I got to this straight away 
So one down, and two more MeMes to go…. In semi-chronological order of receipt, I’ll attempt Fliss’ one next which is Eight Random Things. I’d better get my thinking cap on….
23 Responses to “British English vs. American English (Lesson #2) …. The Tag and The MeMe”
Oh dear! I think I’ve taken the left hand side window seat at a restaurant before, wear black shoes with denim all the time, and I’m sure that I’ve scraped down a knife in your presence. You must have forgiven me though, to call me insanely cool. I’ll try not to stare at your toes – now that I know…
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I prefer the left side of a booth in a restaurant because I am left-handed and it keeps arms from being in the way when eating. I also don’t like to hear people eating. I sometimes have to leave the room unless I am eating too and drown out their sound!!
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Hooray for wool addictions! I do most of my knitting on bus trips…it’s the best. =)
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Thanks for your sweet comments on our post…you have such a wonderful style of writing….we will be back!
Have a blessed day!
smiles, kari and kijsa
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Aah, Gilbert … my first love … I’m actually re-reading my Anne series at the moment.
One of Michael’s teachers at Kindy has very very very long toes, and I stare at them constantly. They look like fingers, and I want to thread large beads onto them.
Hey, the days till ProfessorNins arrives are getting fewer! How exciting!
Oh and wool addictions are healthy. Honestly!
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Great list Nin – they made me larf
I’m so feeling No. 6. In particular I hate, hate, hate the sad-frumpy-mum combo of over-blue bootcut jeans (they just make your butt look big) and heeled black leather boots (especially if stiletto heeled and pointy). It just screams ‘Mum’s gone to Iceland’ for a packet of fishfingers. Add a denim or leather jacket (belted at the waist) to the mix and I can feel a little bit of sick rise up. Just the thought of it is giving me the eye-twitch. I know it sounds harsh, but I actually don’t care
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Thanks for the great post! I got a good belly laugh!
I can never sit with my back to the door! and I usually sit on the left because of the lefty thing.
I have an adversion to feet so I will never look at yours
*muah*
Michelle
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Hi my friend! I have missed you! I would leave my list of things that are weird about myself but I’m afraid there is not enough room in this little box to list them! HA- HA! ;+)
I hope you have been well.
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Ooohh, listening to people chew drives me crazy as well. My office mate is the worst! Oh he slups his coffee as well!
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Underwear must match-exactly. just lately I have compromised and it ruined my day.
Socks also must be coordinated with the above. On no account must they vary and when I do the above ruination occurs.
Country living magazines must be stacked neatly on top of one another the spines facing me.
Pop socks will never be worn. If I have to trap my legs it has to be in a continuous line. In fact I would willingly wear them all in one.
Jeans must be bootcut. Not wearing them this way gives me body image problems
a Can of polish must be available in the glove box of car for shining the dashboard while in standing traffic.
white furniture must be cleaned with wetwipes
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Nin, have you been here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/PATTblythe.html
I’m thinking you most likely have, but if not … All SO cool!
Lynda, I cracked up at the can of polish!!! OMG! But actually a good idea!
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oooh, don’t know why the top line separated like that, looks like I’m talkin’ funny …
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GOOD GRIEF!! Am I really that bad a proof reader? That post is RIDDLED with mistakes, it’s SHOCKINGLY bad. Ho well.
*note to self- do not attempt late night blog entries when one has been up since 5.30am that morning*
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who is fussy about where I sit, and I agree, it’s that whole Mum’s Gone To Iceland thing about the shoes (Iceland is a low-cost freezer-based grocery store where one can buy ANYTHING instant and it tends to attract people more concerned with the amount of trend they can personify, rather than their health and nutrition. Their latest ad campaign is an entire roast dinner that comes out of two freezer bags…err, yumm
It is cheap though). And the pop-sock story made me laugh 
Oooh, and thanks for the link Melissa! The aforementioned sister-in-law introduced me to knitty about a year ago and it’s been the source of much interest ever since, but I missed that page!. Those coats and that sweater would look great on Paige! I think there’s a hat floating around on there somewhere, I found that pattern, but not the ones that you did, THANKS!
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PS I’m the same thing in the car, but with wetwipes- I use them to clean the dash at the traffic lights, and I like to have a clean steering wheel too!
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PPS Absence of photo journal entry yesterday down to the fact that I had to spend the entire evening unpicking some complicated knitting
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Ooh you’re devious!
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Oh you are naughty … I actually nearly didn’t comment here because I had a sneaky feeling this dire fate would occur (but ended up commenting three or four times because as we all know, I camp out here at PH) …
Hope you had **sweet** dreams of cinnamon rolls (and woke up HUNGRY!) …
HAHAHAHAHA …
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I’m impressed, Nin! I couldn’t believe the amount of people who I tagged that opted out of this one. apparently, they’re all weirdos!???
thanks for being such a great sport!
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Now ‘weird’ is easy – my persona is peppered with foibles and idiosyncrasies
PS – I thought the typos in your blog were to give effect to no. 4 in a ’see, I can let go!’ kinda way
I always blame mine on bad eyesight 
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Ha- Ha! Thanks Nin, I will get on it this weekend. I am so happy you chose me! lol
I will let you know when I post that very long list:+)
Thanks girlfriend!
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Christina, I’m looking forward to it!
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8 Weird Things About Me
by Christina
1.My heart can’t take it if someone else reads my magazines before I do!
2.When I am in a store and I am reaching to buy something, I have to take the last one, never the first that everyone may have touched.
3.I can be easily sent into convulsions if I see someone touching or handling the food I’m about to eat. OMG! Even if my sweet husband is sliding his hand under a slice of pizza to set it on my plate, it gives me the creepy crawlers.
4.When I get toward the end of a good novel, I go and sit somewhere quiet! I must have peace and quiet when finishing a good book or it can ruin the experience for me.
5.When I eat a Reese’s peanut butter cup I have to eat around the little edge to form a perfect circle then I can go in for the kill!
6.Seeing someone eat and then their hands become oily and then they pick their drinking glass up over and over and the glass is now finger printed with grease. JUST WIPE YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU TOUCH THE GLASS!!! LOL! ARRRRGGHHHHH!!
7.In my closet all my pants have to be hung next to each other/all my shirts have to be hung together, and all my hangers have to be the same color.
I feel a mommy dearest “NO WIRE HANGERS” moment coming on as we speak! HA!
8.I cannot ain’t no chance in hell sleep in a hotel that is 1970ish in style. I can’t take the 1970’s furniture and velvet style etched wall paper, no big or hanging smoke glass lamps. We once had to change hotels cause there was shag carpet in a hotel!!!!!! I can’t even watch that 70’s show on television. HA!
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[...] perfect way to ease myself back into things. It also mean that I (in part) honoured the tag that Nin gave me absolutely yonks ago (see, I hadn’t forgotten – I was just useless!). I know I have [...]