Idiot...syncrasies

id·i·o·syn·cra·sy ( P ) Pronunciation Key (d--sngkr-s)n. pl. id·i·o·syn·cra·sies
1. A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.
2. A physiological or temperamental peculiarity.
3. An unusual individual reaction to food or a drug.


I have long noticed some idiosyncrasies in others and scoffed at how they could not break them. Lately, I have realized that I am as steeped in them as everyone else. Here are some examples...

On the softball field, I can not step on the foul lines until after the first pitch of the game. Even then it must be in pursuit of a hit ball or while running the bases. Otherwise, I am sure to step over.

Okay, that one is pretty common. If any to bats are crossed while they are leaned up against the fence, I must uncross them and insure that all bats have equal spacing before I can take my turn at bat. Crossed bats are badd joo-joo.

More? Okay, I never talk about buying a new vehicle, used vehicle or especially trading my current vehicle while I am in my current vehicle. I am afraid that if I do, it will here me and break down out of spite. I also pat the dash board and thank the vehicle on occasion just to keep my car karma in check.

If I am wearing a belt and trousers, and have to do business in the office, I will urinate standing and then sit to do the rest. If I am not wearing a belt, I will sit throughout. While on the subject, I will not urinate in a urinal unless I have no choice or it is one of those very low ones, like for children. Usually, I use the toilet.

I will get new ice after each glass of coke, even if I just poured it and drained the glass, unless I am at the dinner table in which case I will refill until the ice it totally gone before getting more. I will also continue using the same glass day after day until someone mercifully puts it in the sink, after which I can not bring myself to use it, even if it is the only thing in the sink and has remained upright the whole time. Even if I watch it get put in there, the moment cup touches sink, it is time for a new one.

On the eating subject, I can not stand smacking or the sound of teeth on fork. The worst ever is the slurping cheeseburger, you know... slurping to suck all the condiments in so it won't get on your shirt, which it alsways does.

I salt my coasters when I drink beer, but not coke.

Pumpkin is my favorite pie, cherry my favorite turnover, but when I think of fresh pie I think of apple, though I am not overly fond of it. Given an AYCE, I will forego all the others for peach cobbler.

Milk must be ice cold and served in a glass. I can not drink milk from plastic or ceramic of any kind. It must be glass.

I can not leave anything paused for more than a few seconds. DVD, DVR, CD.. doesn't matter, I can not let it sit paused for longer than your average sneeze without it worrying me to death.

It is not uncommon for me to walk around the house all night with one sock on.

Anyway, all this does have a point... we are all freaks. Every last one of us. Its not that some are bigger freaks than other, its just that some are more subtle freaks.

perfect examples....

Kelly; Diet Coke in a can or bottle?

Mom; How tidy is the crafts room?

Becca; Is the oven off?

Richard; Wanna shake hands?


My point is, freaks that we are; these things make us who we are. And to some, these idiosyncrasies become points of endearment (as are the ones mentioned). So next time you do something that to the world at large seems bizarre, remember that things like that make you special in a not so short bus kind of way.