Do you have some weird habit that makes you a freak? Okay, I really don't want to know about things you do in your room. I'm talking about things you think about when you meet strangers, or when you're talking to your mom, or when you're on the bus pretending to read. Spill it.

-- Anonymous, November 23, 1999

Answers

Spilling... okay ready? It began innocently enough, I distinctly remember singing along with Olivia Netown-John, Debbie Boone et al into my mirror, with a fake microphone. I was hopelessly devoted and my life was being lighted. That's relatively normal, right? But somewhere between ages 8 & 13, it mutated, I started making up entire Broadway Musicals which involved everyday occurences. Walking through a typical Jr.High day, I'd make up songs to encompass things like locker break, wood shop, Spanish class, etc. Of course, I never sang out loud or anything. At least not in front of peers, but my parents definitely heard quite a few closing numbers of "I'm Cleaning My Room on a Saturday...the musical" uhhh, anyway apparently this habit dies hard, every once in a while I hear the music building, there's strings, there's horns! I'm starring in "Walking Through the Double Doors". I feel the need to point out that I have never played a musical instrument, nor do I have any musical ability. None, nada. I can't carry a tune or keep beat and I listen to TALK radio! My name is Laura. I am a freak.

-- Anonymous, November 23, 1999

I talk to myself. Constantly. Actually, I practice conversations I hope to have with people someday; when they show people in movies rehearsing a conversation (like in Elizabeth, where she was prepping for her meeting with the bishops), I'm, like, so? I do that every day.

Then, when I actually end up having the conversation, I completely forget all the things I thought up and retreat to my quiet, introverted natural state (natural when around people, that is).

I get funny looks from people when they pull up alongside me at intersections and I'm having this animated conversation, complete with hand gestures, and I'm alone in the car... sometimes people walk around the corner and get this confused look on their face as if they were expecting more people...

-- Anonymous, November 23, 1999

I have GREAT periphial vision. I can be reading a book, walking along, and dodge a person or a car coming at me, without losing my place on the page.

--Al of Nova Notes.

-- Anonymous, November 23, 1999

I'll agree with Colin.

Sometimes I'll sit in my car, waiting for the light to turn, and think about things that already happened. I think about conversations (with real people, mind you) I recently had and what I should have really said during this conversation. Things that would be so much more funny had I'd thought of it then instead of now when I'm reanalyzing it in my car.

It's that whole thing where you think up something really cool that you could have said, but you think it up after the fact. I hate that. Does anyone else get that?

I think it's pretty common for this sort of thing to happen, but my freakish occurance is when I think up what I should have said but it doesn't sound right in my mind, so I'll actually say it out loud to see how much of an impact it would have had, but I don't really consciously think, "Hey, that doesn't sound right...let's say it out loud right now." ...It just comes out. Then I feel all goofy afterwards.

(bowing head in shame) My name is Chrissy, and I'm a freak, too.

-- Anonymous, November 23, 1999

I tell myself sad, dramatic stories on the train coming home at night. Like, one night I might imagine what I would say at the funeral of a family member or beloved friend, and another night I might make up this whole involved story about a little dog getting lost and -- never mind.

What's worse, lately I'm becoming so good at it that I get myself to the brink of tears, and beyond. I come out of my little Walter Mitty moment and wonder if my seat mate is looking at me intensely. Since I ride the same train every night, it's a little embarrassing. But I just can't seem to stop it.

Slide over and make room for me, please -- I'm another freak.

-- Anonymous, November 23, 1999

I cheer myself up by seeing my life as a movie, and making the most of the humor I can see in it. But doesn't everybody do that?

Your habit really is a little freakish, Beth. but I think I'm going to try it while watching TV later today.

-- Anonymous, November 23, 1999

I am an avid talker to myself. Nothing cheers me up more than talking to myself. Yes, I make big hand guestures, and I talk quietly when I'm around people to myself so I don't look too perverse. I trip a lot too. And the saddest thing is, is I don't get embaressed by it. I usually score it, my form and such. It's great. I also sing at the top of my lungs. I have a soar throut from it today, last night I was singing at the top of my lungs. Burping is the biggest. Yes, I am a girl. And I love to burp. I almost got kicked out of class for burping so loud. Yes, wierdness. I'm going to have to try the whole nacked thing, that is a good idea. Most people would look semi good. And all of those beautiful stars are going to look like poopie.

I am gorgilma, and I am an avid burper.

-- Anonymous, November 23, 1999

Ditto on the talking thing.

I was walking through Wal-Mart tonight having a debate with myself over some Max Factor lipstick and whether or not I needed it and how I needed to make an adult decision about this $5 lipstick and I really didn't need to spend the money, yet since I *am* an adult then I needed better lipstick than something from the Wet 'N Wild section.

So not only do I talk to myself, not only do I have a full debate with myself including pro-con and a mediator, it was about lipstick.

No wonder Beth met me once and ran. ;)

Ooh, it's time for Bu

-- Anonymous, November 23, 1999

I think it would have to be the singing thing. Songs get lodged in my head, and I have to sing them out. (Although at least I've managed to refrain from doing it in restaurants.) Entire musicals on a good day.

And I thought everyone debated with themselves out loud! You mean it's unusual? Gadzooks!

And having seen Gil Bellows (Billy in "Ally, her amazingly short skirts, and her Delusions") in "Snow White: A Tale of Terror" dressed in not much more than bearskins, really, I can report that he dirties up nicely. Even had a few scars added in.

-- Anonymous, November 23, 1999

I mutter to myself...reworking conversations, working out anger or frustration, reliving stressful moments (good and bad).

I also stretch things to weird conclusions to entertain myself....

Today's was... a printer at work was declared dead...someone suggested we give it a viking funeral...I suggested that perhaps because we don't have a boat in our department and because the governor was going to light the 60 foot douglas fir at the state capitol soon anyhow that we could float the Capitol Christmas tree down the river with the printer on top and then have the governor light it...(but of course, we'd have to begin with about a bazillion meetings on the process of burning the damned thing at which point we should probably just wrap it in red tape(ribbon) and tie ourselves to it)

-- Anonymous, November 24, 1999

I don't feel alone anymore knowing that there are so many others that talk to themselves. I do it a lot. One of my friends used to sit down in front of the mirror and pretend she was on the Oprah show, playing both the Oprah and the guest roles. It helped her work things out. I do the same thing on a smaller scale.

I also have an ongoing musical score for my life. Certain songs play over and over in my head during certain times? Feeling particularly stressed? I hear the Wicked Witch of the West theme from The Wizard of Oz.

I write short murder mysteries and kill off people who get on my nerves in creatively deranged ways.

Other than that, I think I'm fairly normal.

-- Anonymous, November 24, 1999

I stare unabashedly at strangers. It's as though I think I'm invisible and they can't tell I'm doing it. I tend to scrutinize people I know also. During a converstation I'll find my eyes skimming over someone's pores, really looking at them in depth. A cock-eyed eyelash can keep me entertained for hours.

People who know me don't seem to mind, but I've had strangers on the bus give me the stink eye.

-- Anonymous, November 24, 1999

I do the movie thing -- seeing my life as a film, rehearsing scenese between myself and other people in my life, or just other people. I do the musical thing -- mostly without words though. I make up cinematic scores to go along with my moods. I write whole novels in my head out of every day stuff. I rework TV plots to suit my fancy on demand. I draw fictional family trees and then make drawings of all the people on them, including stories and convoluted biographical profiles. I dream about these people and write the dreams down as stories.

I make scores out of songs that I like, to go with things that I've written.

I indulge in casting the movie that someone someday will make out of a book I've written.

Freak? Nah.

Active imagination?

You betcha! And proud of it.

-- Anonymous, November 24, 1999

Oh, I stare at strangers too! I kind of miss taking the bus to work just because I got to examine so many different faces. Just what is it that makes that one so ugly and that other one so pretty? Let's look at this closely...

My husband is always afraid that I'll get attacked by gang members for looking at them too long, but I think taking umbrage at staring is a guy thing ("What CHOO lookin at?") and I've never had trouble with it.

-- Anonymous, November 24, 1999

I have a really hard time making a phone call without first going throigh an imaginary conversation in my head... I have to figure out what the conversation will be like, then I can call. And when the conversation goes differently, I'm always thrown. And of course, when I imagine me being yelled at I don't make the call.

I still think the weirdest habit I've seen was Jeremy mouthing everything he said right after saying it... And then, of course, denying it.

-- Anonymous, November 24, 1999

I do sometimes strike poses and sing "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" and imagine being on the balcony of a palace, my security police and mercenaries ranked behind me, giving my ironic speech to cheering crowds after we seize power... I have even dressed up in my best black so sing along with the 'Evita' soundtrack...

-- Anonymous, November 26, 1999

Oh I just thought of one. When I make a phone call, and I'm listening to it ring, I hold my finger up - one ring, two rings... I do this even if I'm alone in the room. Also I have this gesture I make when I'm trying to describe something physical, like the layout of a room. I kind of get behind my hand and draw with it. Everybody who knows me well imitates me by making this gesture.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 1999

I bite bats heads off. I guess that might make me a freak. What do you think? I'm also in love with a 15 year old... and i'm 55. is that odd?

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001

Hey im really freaky. I tell jokes that no 1 else gets and lauagh. and when no 1 is payin attention to me i talk to myself. I have the most stupid conversations ever. sometimes i say things and people are like where did that come from. I'm usually to busy laughing at my stupid coment to answer. Umm. I yell stupid nonsense for no reason at all. I'll be walking down the street and I'll yell somethin like "you all eat bacon and fart a lot" lol that was funny. Im laughing at it now.lolololololololololololololol

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001