Tagged for 5 Neurotic Habits

Emily of Portia Rediscovered (and if you are a single male, what are you doing reading this? Introduce yourself to her) has tagged me for this 5 neurotic habits thing. The rules:

“The first player of this game starts with the topic “five weird habits of yourself,” and people who get tagged need to write an entry about their five weird habits as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose the next five people to be tagged and link to their web journals. Don’t forget to leave a comment in their blog or journal that says “You are tagged” (assuming they take comments) and tell them to read yours.”

OK. So my five (only five?) weird habits.

1. Maps fascinate me.  I can stare at a map for a Rain man-esque period of time. I have no idea why.
2. I have a benign obsession with the lottery and what I'd do if I were to win a fortune. I have an excel spreadsheet somewhere with jackpots listed in increments of $5 million, the after tax annuity value, and a list of ventures I would undertake based on different amounts. Given our proximity to Connecticut, if we go for a "drive in the country," I'll buy a Powerball ticket, which is not available in New York.
3. Whenever I travel, I buy the local team's baseball cap. I own over 300 baseball caps. In general, I am a gigantic baseball fan and if you name a year I can tell you who won that season's World Series, over whom, and in how many games. I know so much arcane minutiae about baseball statistics that my friends will call me long distance to settle a bet at a bar. I can also study the diagram of a baseball stadium for the same amount of time as a map.
4. I can catch food thrown across the room in my mouth if you are anywhere close to the strike zone. This amuses my nephews no end. I suppose this doesn't qualify as a habit but look at all the stuff I gave you in #3. OK, fine. Here's a better one: I shave with Noxzema. Don't knock it until you try it.
5. If I go a half a day without checking my email I feel naked. I feel the same way if I run out for a loaf of bread and forget to bring my cell phone.

In turn, I shall tag:

Andrew Clem

Alex of The Noonz Wire

Zelda of The Urban Grind

Alan of Woody's News and Views

Chad of Cake or Death? was already tagged, so I'll pass it to

Dave of Soul of Wit, although I doubt he's likely to want to.

There. I have now participated in a web journal chain letter. I feel kinda dirty. Thanks to Emily for thinking of me.

Comments

[Dave]

Neuroses compiled.

Read at your own peril.

Would put in a link to the tags but I get an error message saying I can't put HTML in comments...

[Portia]

I buy a sweatshirt of the universities in cities I visit. Baseball caps would seem a more economical choice though. I'll consider it.

And, yes, Portia enjoys meeting eligible bachelors. ;-)

[apostlejohn]

Strange! I have the same thing with maps. What is that about? I sit there and study it, meditate over it, consider it, and think about putting it up and then start all over again.

[Alex Nunez]

Tagged, eh?

Ok. I'll respond over the weekend!

[Andrew]

And to think I've gone my whole life thinking I was the only one on this entire planet who is obsessed with poring over maps! What a relief to know there are others with the same hangup!! Can we form a 12-step recovery program for mapaholics?

As you may recall from Philadelphia last April, I make a point of buying the home team's program (magazine) every time I go to a new MLB ballpark. It's only about ten so far, however.

[Alex Nunez]

I haven't forgotten...it will be done!