Considering BlogHer '09 is coming up, and I'm about to meet some of you face-to-face, mano-a-mano, up close and personal, I thought it might be appropriate if I shared a few pertinent details that you probably wouldn't know just by reading my blog.
1. I'm a hair-twirler.
Most people find this highly annoying. I can't blame them. So far as I can remember, this particular habit started in junior high. At the very least, I remember my pre-calculus classmates threatening to launch an intervention if I couldn't for-the-love-of-God stop twirling my hair! It gets worse when I'm intensely focused or deep in thought (hence, the pre-cal troubles). It doesn't seem to matter if my hair is short or long, curly or straight - I twirl away. My apologies in advance, should you find yourself seated behind me in a conference room.
2. I fidget.
This may seem redundant. But I have many other fidgeting habits distinct from the hair twirling. Top on this list is leg bouncing or toe-twiddling. Though it may look like I'm just twisting my foot around, I'm actually drawing pictures or tracing lines in the air with my toes. No really. I'm assuming this is directly tied to my visual-spatial learning, because I also do this more when I'm thinking. I pick something in my line of sight (not consciously) and begin to trace it with my foot. Lovely, aren't I?!
3. I'm great with faces, bad with names.
Hello, visual-spatial! You can tell me nine times, but unless I see it written out or can attach your name to a particularly interesting story (or, in the case of fellow bloggers, your blog design), I will not be able to recall your name. I will, however, be able to tell you 15 years later that you look familiar and that I'm sure we know each other somehow. Good thing for name tags and business cards.
4. I have persistent melasma.
Wait! Come back! It's not as bad as it sounds, I promise. Melasma is more commonly known as the "mask of pregnancy". It's darker pigmentation on the face, and in my case, i looks like I've got one very large freckle covering each check. And it's getting worse. I'm getting some freckling within the melasma, and as of last week I noticed it on my chin, too. I fit none of the risk factors for melasma - I'm not dark-skinned or hirsute, I never had it as a result of birth control pills, and I never had melasma during pregnancy until Hannah. It went away a few months after her birth, and then returned when I was pregnant with Caroline, at which point it decided to get comfy and stay.
My mom claims that you can't see it, and make-up does a fairly good job of covering it, but I'm beginning to think it's getting worse. My proof: When asked if he thought it was getting worse, Todd immediately responded, "Yeah." Todd. Oblivious Todd. If he notices, it must be obvious.
I've done a little poking around online, and sadly, there aren't really any effective treatments. Feel free to refer to me as Spot when we meet.
5. I seem taller than I really am.
I like to think it's because I carry myself well. But it's probably got more to do with my proportions. People will regularly say, "You're what, 5'10"?" And I give them the forlorn eyebrow and say, "I wish. More like 5'7"." Not that that's short by any stretch (heh!). It's just not tall-tall.
6. ... Until I sit down.
This is most definitely a consequence of my proportions. Despite my best effort, I suddenly seem like a pygmy when seated. I hate board room meetings for this very reason. I enter the room proud, confident, commanding. And then I sit. And feel like a second-grader on Bring Your Child to Work Day. Other people have asked me why I was given the short chair at restaurants, or what was wrong with my bar stool. Nothing. I just have the torso of a 4'9" person.
7. My voice is higher pitched than you expected.
In fairness, you would know this if you listened to that interview on Ghetto Geeks, or the videos of me crooning at my girls. Still, I know it surprises folks. It even surprises me when I hear myself recorded. Trust me, inside my head, I have a much more grown-up voice.
8. My wardrobe is low on cute, coordinated outfits.
I'm glad the conference is only four days. Because that's the longest consecutive span of days I've been out in public. Since, like, 2002.
9. I cry easily.
Say something really sweet and nice, and I'll probably tear up. Say something mean or careless, and I'm guaranteed to cry. Tell me a story about something cute, fuzzy, patriotic, selfless, inspiring, funny, witty, or related to mothers and/or grandmothers, and I'll cry. Catch me off guard or try to scare me, and I'll not only cry, I'll freak right the 'eff out and scream at you. (Ask Todd, he knows.) I'm going to go out on a limb and venture that this is related to being a Highly Sensitve Person. Don't worry, I'll be alright.
10. You tell me.
I couldn't come up with a 10th item. But I'm sure there's something. If you've never met me, take a guess. And if you have, what did you learn that you wouldn't have known just from reading this blog?
