The Weirdo

I’ve called myself a weirdo on this blog many times over the years and I do so with my tongue firmly in my cheek.

The other day, Mrs PM said something that caught me off guard. 

“Why are you being a weirdo?” she said. “Just stop it.”

I laughed, as I usually do, but then after a minute or so, I started thinking – always a dangerous thing.

“Am I really a weirdo?” I asked trying to hide a slight look of concern on my face.

“Not at all, dearest,” she said with a small smirk flashing across her face. She probably didn’t even notice it.

But I did.

I was tempted to pursue this and then reconsidered. Instead, I thought I would discuss it on a blog post that is available for the world to see (which you could say is a little weird).

I did some research and looked up things that epitomise weirdness. I found one site that listed 34 things that you might do if you are a weirdo. I guess if you ticked all 34 then perhaps you really ARE strange; I ticked 13 of them. Here they are:

• I enjoy storms
• I quote comedy shows in my daily life
• I feel nervous making doctor’s appointments
• I have lots of playlists
• I say “Living the Dream” when people ask how I am (usually when somebody says it to me to be fair)
• I laugh or just agree when I can’t tell what somebody said
• I call my pets by nicknames instead of their proper names
• I rarely delete old texts and emails
• I pretend I am in a music video or performing when listening to music
• I respond to texts in my head but don’t send them
• I refuse to let an arm or leg hang out of the bed in case something grabs me when I am sleeping.
• I count how many hours of sleep before going to bed
• I crack jokes during a scary film to ease the tension and make myself less scared

I am a “partial weirdo” according to that particular fun poll.

I decided to do more research and looked up other features of weirdos; here are some more, including things that aren’t listed:

• I sometimes have to fight the urge to play my air guitar while walking in public and listening to rock music
• I sometimes have to fight the urge to pull faces at serious people I see on the street or public transport
• I sing openly in my car and nod my head vigorously in time to the music – and have been noticed – and don’t care
• I struggle not to laugh when so-called experts are trying to tell me how to behave at work or trying to explain to me why a yearly performance review is in my interests
• I like weird music
• I dance according to the lyrics. At a Christmas party a couple of years ago, I almost shattered my knee-caps when dancing to “Like a Prayer” by Madonna
• I laugh at figures of authority who are trying to tell me off. I served so many detentions at school because I laughed openly at teachers who were bellowing at me
• I will always try to finish a book – even if it is utterly terrible
• I hate metal scraping against metal or enamel, particularly at the dentist
• I talk to the cats as if they are fellow human beings
• I have written about 30 really strange novels in my head when trying to fall asleep
• I am fascinated by vampires
• I have weird hair and am always bleating on about how much I hate it
• I like watching weird documentaries about aliens, UFOs and the end of the world
• I do not follow fashion – only when Mrs PM intervenes
• I can be outspoken about things I feel passionate about – which is something I am trying to curb
• I drink real ale and go to beer festivals
• I have a bizarre sense of humour
• I am very self-deprecating
• I have a weird beard
• I am a total geek

Okay – so maybe I am slightly eccentric. Some people have said “Why do you have a blog and point out how odd you are to anybody who is bored enough to read it?”

I don’t know, is the true answer; I just enjoy it.

I am weird, I guess. 

And I don't care - is that weird?