Are you an IRL Quirk?

[happyrobyn]

You know how we all have different online personas? Well, I was wondering if we have any real, live quirky people here. You know ... that truly live the quirky lifestyle offline. Are you a true Quirk or are you a librarian by day and quirky by night? This is just a fun little way to get to know each other.

So I'll start. I'm really not very quirky in real life. In fact, if the people that know me saw some of my artwork, they would have me put away! I don't even show my DH a lot of it and he has never heard of DAQ! My mom is a bit more understanding of my art but still, I don't show her all of it. The only people I show everything to (except all of you guys) are my children. They really seem to appreciate it and will give me good and bad feedback. My daughter especially loves the quirky stuff.

[AmyK]

So far I've only really let loose here at DAQ, although I've been having a bit more fun on my blog. My FIL is a preacher, so my dh has mastered the art of appearing normal - a trait he has passed onto me since we've been married. I *was* a quirk in high school and college. Not so much now.

[Vania16]

I'm a little quirky in both :)

Amy - I'm a PK (preacher's kid) too, so I totally relate to the ability to appear normal! It certainly makes for a bit of an odd existence! But, since I now live across the country from my family I can ease up on the normalcy a bit LOL

[jessica b]

Okay, I don't know if I would be considered a quirky person, but whatever I am, if you know me well, I guess I would seem the same in person and online. Sometimes (read:always) I find it easier to "talk" online, so... maybe I am more of a weird person online because IRL... I am pretty shy and reserved, but there's always some kind of something goofy brewing in my head, and I don't always feel comfortable enough to let it out.

I give my husband an opportunity to see everything I do - usually by leaving my latest digital stuff on the screen, and I will leave my paper layouts laying around for a while before I put them away. Rarely, I take something straight to him and tell him to look at it. He has never heard of DAQ. He would probably groan if I told him about it, like he does when I tell him that I am in "kit making mode" or "finishing something for a client" and need to be left alone for a while. Soon, it will be "honey, I am being Quirky and need you not to invade my space tonight" (LOL, kidding). Seriously though, he's the only one that really sees everything. Occasionally, my sister has been here and I have pulled out things for her to see. She is an artist and I know she would totally *get* this quirky stuff. Might have to make her something.

Okay, done rambling...

[mishou]

Hmm. Interesting question.

The truth is I might not appear that quirky IRL at first glance, but I consider myself a quirk at heart. I don't dress quirkily, but I wish I did. I'm painfully shy but I wish I wasn't. I guess you could say I'm a quirk wannabe LOL I've spent most of my life up to now living in a shell but I'm slowly starting to come out of it lately so you better believe I will be wearing my quirk on my sleeve before you know it! LOL

Maybe 'geek' is a better word than 'quirk' to describe me. Unless you consider those two things to be synonyms LOL. I just have always had weird interests as far as other people are usually considered. I like a lot of "geeky" things. Like Lord of the Rings for example. I actually took a "Languages of Middle Earth" book out of the library once and tried to teach myself to speak Elvish. It's not easy! LOL I have notebooks full of texts I translated into Dwarfish runes . . . just for fun :D See . . .those are the kinds of things that when you tell people you do them they kind of give you the awkward 'smile and nod' and you just know they are thinkng "this girl is a quack". And I do a lot of those kinds of things LOL

All of my "weird" art is on full display in my Flickr gallery where my friends and family frequently visit. I've showed anyone who is willing to look my past failed attempts at altered art. I think I've told everyone I know about DAQ and given them the URL so they could check it out. I'm proud to be a quirk and I don't care who knows it! Does anyone actually *get it* ? No. Not even close. I have one artsy friend but other than that nobody in my inner circle has an artsy or quirky bone in their body. But that's okay. I can't help but show off something I'm proud of, no matter how quirky.

Anybody else in the Quirk Pride Parade with me or are you all seriously hiding this from your husbands and loved ones!? Come on people!!! It's nothing to be ashamed of! LOL

[AmyK]

OMG, MG - you and I are friends from this point on. lol. I tried to learn how to recite the "One Ring" poem, but I never could quite wrap my tongue around the language of Mordor.

Why is it that some of the coolest people online say they are so shy IRL? I have admitted to being shy too. Painfully so.

My husband is actually quite thrilled that I've discovered DAQ. He's always taken an interest in my digital scrapbooking but basically just tolerates the "craft" side of me. He hates crafts. But he loves art. I emailed him that ATC I did yesterday of the two of us, and he totally loved it. If you've read my blog in the last few months, you know I've been slowly coming to accept my quirkiness. I'm still far from marching in the parade though!

[mishou]

LOL Amy! Yeah the 'One Ring' poem is a bit of a tongue twister! On the DVD extras there's this one interview where Christopher Lee suddenly just recites the entire thing all nonchalantly like it was the easiest thing in the world. Makes me SO jealous! LOL

[mishou]

Hey, can we get a link to your blog so we can read? :D

[AmyK]

Here's my bloggie. Is it acceptable to put it in my siggie? I'm not sure about all that here yet...

http://mrskniceguy.blogspot.com/

:) Thanks for visiting.

[Vania16]

I was wondering that too, maybe the powers that be can let us know :) If it is okay, we should start a thread for everybody to post their blogs to - I'd love to check out all the quirksters blogs :) As if I don't read enough of them already LOL

[webchyck]

I started a blog thread over HERE (http://www.digitalartquirks.com/forum/showthread.php?p=984#post984)! Sign in!

[Kazadoodle]

Yes, I'm a quirk IRL - I openly admit I'm a ghost hunter (I belong to a ghost hunting forum with cams and everything - LOL; I used to belong to the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism for those who don't know); I used to be a roler player (as a woman - in my late 20's!!! - now, it doesn't get quirker than that - LOL) - the used to's are because I did that stuff with my ex hubby, my new one is much more conservative - LOL, otherwise I'd probably still be doing it.

Before I remarried and had a child, when I was working full time, I used to dance going from my desk to the photocopy room, or wherever it was in the office - I don't do that now because I work in a very small office - LOL.

I don't dress quirky on the whole, but that's only because finding quirky things in my size is a bit hard (I'm not huge, but I'm not average sized either) - I'm so glad that the gypsy look has come in because I can buy stuff and still wear it when the fashion changes - LOL.

Am I shy? No, in fact, I'm not - I've been described as bubbly, which I don't relate to but someone said I was sassy - which I totally loved - sassy is great.

Even hanging around the 'geek' and 'nerd' crowd, I was the odd one out - it doesn't get quirkier than that - LOL. One of the odd notes there being that I didn't like LOTR and still don't.

I hang out at CrimeLibrary.com and can usually name what case is being represented in this week's L&O:SVU; or name the criminal on Criminal Minds and the like. Why do I do this? I suppose because I love history and research, and this is just a part of it.

I see/interpret things in pictures, paintings, movies, shows, etc that no-one else sees - unless it's my mum, who is also a bit of a weirdo.

I love gothic, but not gothic by today's standards, think more Edward Gorey, Charles Addams, Tim Burton and Hammer House of Horror goth - LOL. I grew up watching classic horror, Star Trek and Dr Who and English comedies.

So, am I a quirk - yes siree bob, it would seem that I am.

[webchyck]

I am probably the least quirky person you know!

[AmyK]

Kaza, your description of yourself reminds me so much of my best friend from college. She is so randomly quirky that it's hard to describe her! She introduced me to Edward Gorey ("A is for Amy who fell down the stairs") who is so odd but cool at the same time.

It's fun getting to learn more about each of you. :)

[Kazadoodle]

Amy - I love that description - randomly quirky - too cool!

Yes, it's been great fun reading about you all.

[Fiddlette]

I have been described by everybody I know as quirky IRL, so I guess I either live around extremely normal people, or I really am quirky...

dh says thats why he married me....

he always tells the story of the first time he met me...I was wearing green stockings...he'll never forget it...

He views me like the classic bohemian who married the conservative accountant

I've gone through the wierdest phases, but they only seem wierd in retrospect...unfortunately, and nobody better stop me from going through that phases during it, lol! I'll bite your head off!!

Like the 2 years I wore a scarf in my hair practically everyday tied into an ENORMOUS bow on the top....it started out cute, but sometimes I see photos of that period and just CRINGE!!! LOL!!

[Fiddlette]

And what teenager/ young adult do you know would want to be a member of the Silent Film Society, Hollywood Heritage, and the LA Conservancy all at the same time, being insured invites to events like the 100 year anniversary of the birthday of charlie chaplin, or a film festival for hal roach, or a roaring 20's party at a hollywood mansion with AGED stars from the silent era...ok..that was just one of the wierd phases...and I still love all that stuff....it just all has taken a back seat to my REAL LIFE work....

[Fiddlette]

which for NINE years was studying and performing Scottish Fiddle? I am Irish and Scottish, but never persued the music till I got in me 30's....after discovering Celtic fiddle, it became an obsession....i'd been classically trained my whole life, and real fiddling opened up a whole new world of freedom and fun for me....

Does that seeem like a normal thing to be obsessed by??

[Fiddlette]

Me thinks no!!

[Nevermore]

Firstly, I wish with all my heart I could invite you guys over for some chips (the Manson bowl is gone but I can borrow the Marilyn Monroe one back) and pop. Don't understand why that got replaced in some circles with veggies and hot hors doeovres but I keep it classic at my place. I so need to spend some time with you guys.

Secondly, I don't know if I am quirky or not but I do live a kind of double life. By day (and lots of evenings and some weekends) a partner in a law firm where I specialise in commercial lending transactions for financial institutions, by wee small hours of the night struggling to learn how to digitally gestalt the random thoughts that trawl like eels through my circulatory system.

In the old do it yourself psycho babble days (I'm OK, You're a PITA, Your Inner Child needs a Time Out, Transactional Analysis for Dummies) one theory about women was that many had a Cinderella complex--that no matter what they achieved, even at the height of dancing with the Prince, they believed that it would all come crashing down and they would be revealed for the fraud they felt they were. I could be the Cinderella Complex poster woman (hmmm, some neat pun and double entendre going on there--that might be scrappable!)

I was fairly wild in my younger days (my rat in high school biology had a lime green crocheted choker that I made for her) but maintained outrageously high grades despite suspensions, detentions etcetera. My class voted me the person most likely to self-destruct. My first year university ended with me marrying a dental student and everyone sighing with relief. We lived in abject poverty and divorced the minute he graduated and started making money. He insisted I take the microwave (at least heat that stuff up!) predicting I would live off Alpha-Ghetti for the rest of my natural born days. That is all I took and many people in my circle consider that the only quirky thing I have done. I entered law school because the old boys (the really old boys like John Donne) had all attended the Inns of Court as part of a Renaissance education. This was meant to broaden my education while I decided whether to do post doctoral work in either literature or psychogy. I had degrees in both of them and couldn't decide which way to go. Through no fault of my own, and as an unintended side effect, I ended up with a professional degree that could and does actually support me financially.

Thirdly, I could talk the hind leg off a donkey. I am excruciatingly shy but have found that I can use words (reams and reams and reams of them) as body armor. Often, the one little tiny thing that I want/need to say is embedded under a pile of rubble. It feels safe for me.

[SteinwaysMom]

I LOVE this thread. I have always been attracted to Quirky people and Quirky situations. Like when I rode the bus, there was 'Jimmy the Germ Guy' and the guy that babbled over his naked Barbie doll some guy who looked just like Andy Warhol. I remember telling this to some people from my church and they drew back and gasped that I really needed to get a car!

My job (e-school) is peppered with some quirky characters but my main struggle has been my church. I love the spiritual atmosphere (lively pentecostal holy roller type place) but after service most of the people retreat into their shelterd and limited worldviews. Thomas Kincaide is as funky as it gets. Except for a few close friends (naturally, the church quirks), I would never show these people my quirk stuff. They just wouldn't get it.

I've slipped up many a time and gotten some weird looks. Like when I told my Pastor I thought my ferret had a ministry or we told his visiting evangelist that our friend Betty's dog had healing powers. No matter how much these dudes preach about not putting God in a box, my box is apparently much bigger and scarier than the one they envision.

So knowing you all has added a dimension of cameraderie and validation that I was starving for 'IRL'. Strength to combat the voice that screams 'what is wrong with you! why aren't you like everybody else!'. For that I truly thank you.

[Kazadoodle]

You sound like me - that's the kind of thing I see and say too - LOL.

I said to someone the other day - I think my cat used to be dog - and they just looked at me like I should get back under my rock.

[CathyRose]

OMG, I think I may NOT be a quirk after all! But... I am so enjoying all of you and your quirkiness, so I hope you won't ask me to leave, lol. Maybe some will rub off on me. I am definitely a quirk-wannabe! :)

[AmyK]

Thomas Kincaide is as funky as it gets.

This is so sadly funny. I used to go to this awesome church here in Seattle that really supported artists, but we moved too far away and I miss it so much.

You know, I talked to my Mom tonight, and she had seen my first layout I did for the Secret Childhood challenge. And she said that the moment she saw that layout, she said, "There's my Amy" like I had finally found myself again. I didn't realize how much I had been repressing my quirkdom the last few years. I'm really looking forward to finding out more about myself now too.

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Well, maybe some of you can! lol! But I definately have to say that I'm definately quirky. My family and friends say I'm unique...yes I know what they're thinking too! lol! But it's really cool reading these posts and feeling at home here!

:D 1st part of my quirkiness is MUSIC!! I love it, can't live without it...I love singin and dancing and still hope to learn a few instruments with the cello being one of them!! I grew up with my mom being in a band in the early 80's, I myself sing and my brother and dh both dj, so you can say that music has been a big part of my life. Put it this way: right now I'm typing away to techno music which is part of a mix of only a few of my favorite music genres I have created on my computer that begins with Contemporary Christian Rock, goes into some funk, some freestyle, some Disco, 80's kroq music, and a little rock en espanol...not too mention where there are some days that I must hear the same song over and over again because it just feels so good to sing!! lol! Oh...and I have a dream to one day either sing in a musical or opera!! Get this...I did not admit the latter until I turned 30. Talk about extremes here!! I'm not bragging here...but I'm also pretty good at dancing to almost all dance grooves. My dh is so sweet that he has even agreed to learn ballroom dancing with me!! :cool:

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Another part of my quirkiness is my sense of humor! Most people don't get it...most look at me with that sarcastic smile like...yah, funny! But then there's other quirks who almost always get it and tell me I'm so funny! I like to think of these people as highly intelligent!! My silliness comes from a combination of my dad (corny joke specialist) and my aunt Rachel (hilarious!) so my nephews and nieces just love me! (for now until they think I'm 'wierd'!)
I can also be a bit sassy and sarcastic (but only if provoked! lol!).

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Then there's my appearance...well, that happened by accident. I also have trouble finding clothes not only in my size but also my style and budget! So for now I settle for casual wear that I can dirty with paints, inks, and modge podge, etc. I tend to wear scarves and hats alot because my hair is very fine due to health issues. Sooo that is a bit quirky but not as quirky as I'd like!

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Finally my personality...ultimate quirkiness here! I guess my ADD/ADHD contributes to that because I could hardly keep up with myself! I have a very wide range of interests that most of my family and friends look at each other with concern so I do have to be a bit careful sometimes (if I can remember too!) I am a BIG Lord of the Rings fan here as well as the Star Wars Sequels, also highly enjoy romantic comedies and sci fi (also into TAPS). I am also very spiritual so I too have to hold back the quirk when speaking in front of some people at church and such. Well okey day then...that's the end of the Cre8tvlyYrs Quirkiness Report! :eek: :D :o :cool:

[webchyck]

Thanks for sharing so much about yourself Gina! I'm starting to get a glimpse into everyone's quirky natures here! Very cool!

[CathyRose]

Oh Gina, you are a very interesting person, what fun it must be to have you around. I enjoy musical people so much. I have always wanted to play some instrument but but couldn't seem to manage it. I kept thinking that I could find one that I could play without doing all the work of actually learning music and practicing! The last thing I tried to learn was the harmonica. :D

[AmyK]

Thanks for the Quirkiness Report, Gina! I really enjoyed that. :D

[Kazadoodle]

LOL - I'm going to have to steal that - thanks for the Quirk Report Gina -

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

lol! Your welcome ladies! Cathy...I too am one that wishes I could just play but I guess it just doesn't work that way! Hey the harmonica is a start though! ;)

[CathyRose]

Hey Gina, I never said I could play,lol, just that it was the last thing I tried. The only thing I am really good at playing in the Kazoo. At that I am a master!

[Fiddlette]

I love love love reading this thread.... reading everybodys posts...you ladies are a lot of fun!! This place wouldn't be the same without ALL of you here to make it what it is!!!

This almost makes me want to tell you are some REALLY quirky things about myself...but I'm stilll feeling a bit shy....lol!!!

But yes, your dealing with a wacko, here!! Crazy, but generally good, if i do say so myself!!

Ok, well here is one oddity...I have an obsessive compulsive fear of swallowing the bump on the roof of my mouth, you know the one in the back?!! I've had this unfounded bizarre fear since childhood!!

Okay, back into my qurik shell! LOL!

[AmyK]

Fiddlette, I love your new avatar!

Your fear is quirky, I wonder what it's from? I've always been afraid of the dark. Not because of monsters. But because I believed that God would speak to me if I turned out all the lights. Like, he would give me a talkin' to, if ykwim. And I've always been an angel child (or I was until college :eek: ).

[Kazadoodle]

You are going to laugh at this - but today, while out walking and shopping, I remembered this LO I did last year, it was an A to Z of me - guess what I put down for the letter Q to describe myself? Quirky!!!

I'd post the LO to my gallery here but it's not really that quirky in itself - LOL

[Ursula]

Well, I still haven't had time to get all the way through this thread and I have so many peoples thoughts that resonated with me and on which I'd like to comment. I guess I'll just say a bit and add a bit here and there as I have time. Starting with.....

I am definately a quirk IRL! My DH likes to call me 'edgy' as in, she's over the edge! Yep, I am a bona fide weirdo. Looking back, I can see that I've always been a weirdo. As a child, I had no friends. I never could understand this as, by the standards of the average person, I was attractive. I did have crossed eyes until the age of nine when I had surgery to correct it. But still, even after that was fixed and I moved to a different school, everyone rejected me. I've spent years believing that was because I exuded a substance which screamed "I am insecure!!!" Now, looking at it, I'm beginning to see that I'm just unique. I see things differently than the average person and I'm not afraid to say so. (incidently, people really dislike this particular characteristic) Now, that is not to say that no one likes me now, as an adult, I've finally grown pretty comfortable with myself, which does help others to be more comfortable around you. So now, I've made lots of friends, but they all think I'm weird. LOL, and they're right.

I think the thing that makes this especially noteable is one of the major roles I play in my life. I am the women's ministry leader in my church. I teach bible studies, disciple women, I am the in charge girl for that area in my church. That may not seem strange, except, have you seen women's ministry leaders. They are usually lovely, well dressed, organized, conservatively dressed (no piercings beyond the basic one in each ear) They do what they should, aren't too opinionated, Loooovee to work in the nursery. They are nice girls. I am not a nice girl. I'm loud, I dress like a teenager (that's what my DH says, and I think it may be true since when I took my high school daughter to register for school, the principle thought I was the student), I LIKE piercings! I just am not quiet, or submissive or accomodating. So, one of the things I've struggled with is how can I do ministry to 'normal' people, who often have difficulty accepting what they consider to be 'wierdo's, without offending or alienating them by my uniqueness. Actually, I've only started letting my wierdness out again in the last year or so. I'm coming out of the wierdo closet! So far, so good, but I think there have been newbies at church who didn't quite know what to do with me. All in all, I think it's good. Everyone needs to feel like they are accepted, so maybe all the wierdos will start coming to our church! Um, I'm rambling. I'll stop now and share more later! Thanks for sharing everyone and for listening too. You all are such a fun group, I'm really enjoying everyone!

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

I love love love reading this thread.... reading everybodys posts...you ladies are a lot of fun!! This place wouldn't be the same without ALL of you here to make it what it is!!!

This almost makes me want to tell you are some REALLY quirky things about myself...but I'm stilll feeling a bit shy....lol!!!

But yes, your dealing with a wacko, here!! Crazy, but generally good, if i do say so myself!!

Ok, well here is one oddity...I have an obsessive compulsive fear of swallowing the bump on the roof of my mouth, you know the one in the back?!! I've had this unfounded bizarre fear since childhood!!

Okay, back into my qurik shell! LOL!

I know what you mean of feeling shy but with you all here I feel so comfortable...the only other site that I've felt a little more at ease and that's probably because so many of you gals frequent there too is ScrapArtist. Other sites I'd try but just didn't feel welcomed if you know what I mean, not that they were mean to me or anything, it was that I didn't feel any connections except for my friend that I met on another site.

About your quirky OCF...I wasn't even aware of a bump on the roof of my mouth. Maybe I don't have one? My OCF is mirrors...don't care for them to much...I won't even go there as to why!:eek:

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Yes Ursula...you are unique! Just the way God made you too! Good job in embracing that!

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Fiddlette, I love your new avatar!

Your fear is quirky, I wonder what it's from? I've always been afraid of the dark. Not because of monsters. But because I believed that God would speak to me if I turned out all the lights. Like, he would give me a talkin' to, if ykwim. And I've always been an angel child (or I was until college :eek: ).


I agree...love that avatar too! Wow your fear is actually pretty deep!

[Kazadoodle]

Ursula - they would love you down at the local Uniting CHurch where I used to go to playgroup (and that's all as I'm not 'organised religion' inclined whatsoever - LOL)

They had their elderly, male minister retire and promptly got a new, young and female one! Who is definitely not in the usual minister mould either. She doesn't dress over the top or have piercings but she does have outrageous ideas - for instance, one morning at the play group we were talking about starting a craft evening and we talked about the kinds of crafts we did - she mentioned she would like to learn cross stitch because she had seen this amazing piece of the last supper that included a woman breast feeding at the table - too funny

[Chinook]

Hmmm - another good question.

I voted "only Quirky at DAQ".

But - before you BOO me, let me give you my reasons. It all boils down to time. Well that and the fact that I have a cronic muscle problem with my right arm and can only spend a limited amount of time on the computer before it seizes. But - that is still TIME.

For me, computer time is finite. I even have to set a timer most sessions, as I love to be on here and am my own worst enemy. So when I have my 15 minutes to play - I don't spend it reading blogs. My creativity and production and mental health suffers because I'm sitting here reading about other people's lives. So I just don't.

But - I have ads to get out, kits to create, LO's to comment on {since I have LO's on certain galleries I feel responsible to support those galleries by leaving comments for other scrappers}}, and then - hopefully I can squeese in some actual playtime.

If I am doing one of those CT LO's ... I really do have to be mainstream. If I am doing a LO for my family album or a gift for a family member ... mainstream. If I am doing a gift for a quirky friend - THEN I can be quirky. But that opportunity doesn't happen that often.

So you have to understand that being here at DAQ is completely liberating. I can dabble and play and quirk and not feel pressured or judged. But - only here.

For now.

Cheers!
Karen

[Ursula]

OK, more quirk saga here. And can I say what very interesting people you all are. I would so love to have a cup of tea with the whole lot of you. Amy, I'd love to go to a church that supported artists. I've read about a few online, but really, I think I'm pretty conservative in my interpretation of scripture and it seems that often, it is more liberal churches that embrace art. There seems to be a disconnect. Somehow "the church" got it in it's head that art is sin I think. Anyway, I tend not to think of myself so much as part of organized religion, as I believe that the 'organized' part often causes it to be more manmade then God made. (I suppose that makes me a bit quirky) The older I get, the more I see my faith in Christ as something that I must search out carefully through the Scriptures for myself, but in tandem with like minded people. Not sure if that' making sense. I guess I'm just saying that alot of churches have gotten away from a deep and passionate love affair with the Christ, and THAT is what I'm after.
Debra, I'd love to meet your ferret with a ministry. Hey, if Balaams donkey could talk, why not a ferret with a ministry. God can use any and all of his creations in whatever capacity He desires, that's part of what makes him soooo God.
Michelle, I love that you tried to teach yourself Elvish. I never knew about LOTR until they came out recently, but if I had, I'm sure my Best friend and I would have tried. Instead, we made up our own alien language and often pretended to be aliens. I think we just didn't fit in, so we lived in our own world.
Oh, and I can relate to the fear of mirrors. I remember learning about 'Bloody Mary' and ever since then I've been afeared. As an adult, I remind myself that the power of God is greater than my enemy, so it's better, but sometimes, walking down the dark hall toward the mirror at night grabs me and shakes me up! Forever, I was afraid to be alone, but now I rather like being alone with myself. I think I'm a pretty darn interesting person.

[CathyRose]

OMG, it just keeps getting better, so many similarities, it is uncanny.

Karen, I too have to be careful about computer time, my problem is in my neck and if I am on the keyboard too long, I have muscle spasms, neck pain and terrible headaches, so I read very few blogs too. I scrap very conventionally due to DT commitments and for family stuff. I scrapped a very conventional layout of my MIL at my FIL's gravesite, I thought it touching, my family thought it morbid. So you see what I mean.

Ursula, I am a Christian too, striving to follow Christ in every area of my life, seeking to have a very personal relationship with my Savior. I have been blessed with a very encouraging church that supports anything (the arts as well) that is done to the glory of God.

[Vania16]

What a great group we have here! I've really enjoyed reading everybody's thoughts :) I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't fit in in high school LOL I feel like I didn't really come into my own until after college - kind of figured out who I was and accepted that I was a little different ;)

And Ursula, I know we talked about it a bit the other day, (that's right - did we tell you all? Ursula and I met in IRL :) Tons of fun - nice to have another quirker right here in town!) but I completely agree with you about the fear of organized religion and the need to work out your own faith and develop a relationship with the Lord!

As for random fears - I have a very odd fear/aversion to cotton - I seriously cannot even think about touching a cotton ball - even cotton clothes can give me the heebie-jeebies (how do you spell that anyway LOL), it's really crazy!

[SteinwaysMom]

Hmmm...this is fun.

Ursula, I can relate to your feeling weird in a conservative church. Apostolics are extremely old school - skirts, long hair, the whole 9 yards. I'm amazed I ended up in this type of church but the spiritual annointing is very powerful. I've gone to 'cool' churches w/art galleries, cafes and more open attitudes but that intense power and presence of God just isn't there or it feels watered down. I feel like many of the people who have been church lifers have lived very different existences. My spiritual mom is 5th generation Pentecostal but she married when she was backslid and has been through a lot of bad situations.

The thing is if other quirky people come into my church, I will be a ray of hope for them so I figure it will work out in the end.

[PacificBlue]

Actually, I was labelled a Square Peg a year ago. Even got interviewed about it, along with several other wonderful women.

It's taken me nearly 40 years to accept that I am a little, shall we say, abnormal and to understand and celebrate the quirk within.

[Ursula]

Oh Debra, I totally agree with you about being a ray of hope. I'm pretty sure that there are some who will leave because of the 'weirdo' leading women's bible study, but I'm not sure they were meant to be there in the first place. OK, this is a stange thing to share, but I'm beginning to think that one of my 'callings' is to be a little wacko. LOL. Yes, I said wacko and yes, I said calling. I think that there are probobly more quirks than non quirks out there and the difference is that we're quirky different from one another so we tend to feel alienated. I feel like maybe I can be a bridge between the world of nonbelievers and the believers who are afraid of anything outside the norm, or at least their idea of the norm. I hate to put people in a box, we are all so different and exciting and interesting and can't we all just get along. Uh oh, I'm getting sentimental, and if dh hears a comment like that he may think I'm becoming a liberal (which i think I may be in some respects) But really, we all have so much to offer. Theres a piece in the gallery that has a quote whichsays, "they told them they were beautiful and they believed it." that's what I'd like to see, more people embracing their beauty.

Oh and Michelle, I just recently was told by my FIL that I am a square peg in a round family. I'm beginning to see that that's not such a bad thing!

[Ursula]

Oh, and yes, aren't yall jealous, Lisa and I had a wonderful time getting to know each other.

Wanna here somethin funny. When my DD was looking over my shoulder when I first began to look at this thread, she gave me the look and said, Yep Mom, definately a quirk IRL.

[SteinwaysMom]

I saw the Square Pegs article on Michelle's blog - makes me realize that quirks need other quirks around for support.

I agree w/Ursula that quirkiness is a calling. In conservative settings like churches or certain businesses, having another quirk around is like a ray of sunshine. It can mean the difference between emotional suffocation and breathing easy.

I remember working for this hard core macho computer consulting firm - I couldn't stand the atmosphere but the presence of the quirky types made it humorous and bearable. I remember our initial corporate training was wonderful because we were with the European trainees and they were so fun and cool and different. The next training was only Americans who had worked for the firm for a while (die hards) and it was incredibly stifling and horrible.

[happyrobyn]

LOL about Americans. I think, in general, we are very non-quirkified and walk with blinders on. I lived in Canada for 6 years and it was so refreshing to see the difference - and this was in ultra-conservative Nova Scotia. I can't imagine how different it must be in Ontario or BC! And that brings me to other parts of the world ... Europeans, Australians ... just so open-minded. And back to America. You guys think it's bad where you are ... come to Texas for a little while!! LOL! Texas still thinks it's a separate country! LOL!

[Vania16]

Oh man Robyn, don't even get me started on Canada! I seriously love it there - if I hadn't had a boatload of American dollar debt when I graduated from college I would be living there now! Living in Michigan I had a bunch of friends from Ontario and we went up there a lot. I also got to go to Vancouver once and I loved it there! Their culture just seems so much less materialistic and superficial - nobody seems to mind a bit of quirkiness :) Okay, enough Canada nostalgia for now LOL

[happyrobyn]

Well here's the good thing for me ... all 4 of my kids are Canadian citizens so maybe one of them will live there and I can move in when I retire! LOL! But NO snow shoveling for me!

[Vania16]

LOL I'm with ya on the no snow shoveling! Think Vancouver - I don't think they get much snow there :)

[magmuso]

they don't get any snow there, unless it's one of those quirky winters where they get 25cm in one storm...

[happyrobyn]

Sorry ... my American brain no longer thinks in centimeters. Could you convert that for me please?! LOL! Oh - sorry - I'll translate that to Canadian - centimetres!!!! ROFL!!! I crack me up.....

[Kazadoodle]

I love reading these

Hey Robyn - when I was in Canada I saw this T-shirt which read - not only am I perfect, I'm canadian too

I loved Ontario - we were in Toronto in August 2003 and in December 2004. In the first visit, we did a road trip for week up around Montreal and Quebec (the old part is just divine!) and came through the 1000 Islands (and then the electricity went off and we went to NY the next day - talk about your timing - LOL). I loved NY - the people there, contrary to popular belief, are so friendly and helpful! In the December trip, we only spent two weeks in Toronto and then a week in San Fran - another gorgeous place but very different - people not so friendly and helpful.

My biggest quirk, if you can call it a quirk, is that I'm very plain speaking - no matter where I am - I remember one time when I was working full time (legal firm, that's all I did for nearly 20 years) the boss asked me to come in on the weeken and I said - no, I'm not coming in, the weekends are the time I spend with my husband - he looked at me and said - okay, that's fine, see you Monday then - LOL. I was the only person in the office he had any respect for.

As for you two Lisa and Ursula - I am so jealous and envious - how fun that must have been!! I don't have anyone to quirk with, apart from you guys here at DAQ (although I did refer an online friend here, who may visit when she has less on her plate)

[Ursula]

Well, maybe this explains a few things. My mother was born and raised in Bombay India and at 19 moved to Britain, maybe I learned my quirk from her. But man, you all really make being a quirk a wonderful experience. Have I mentioned how addicted to this site I am now?