According to the rules…Each player of this game starts with the “6 weird things about you”. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says “you are tagged” in their comments and tell them to read your blog. I was tagged by Lia.

<rant>

Now, before I go too far here, let me address something that bothers me on occasion. It's in reference to the instructions quoted above. I don't know who wrote them, but it doesn't matter, I'm not trying to single anyone out (I do know that it wasn't Lia, RaJ, or Amber, the three above me on this meme chain). It makes me irrationally angry when the terms "blog" and "blog post" or "blog entry" are used interchangeably. I write new posts for my blog, or new entries for my blog. I don't write new blogs for my blog. I'd like to propose legislation to punish those who use the word "blog" to describe a "blog post." I'm thinking about maybe brief jail time, followed by a year or two of probation. (Note to self: when finished writing this "blog," write your congressman.)

</rant>

OK, sorry about that mini-rant. I've been in a mini-rant kind of mood lately. To make it easier for you to follow, I've included some "rant" tags to let you know when it's coming (and when it's done). So anyway, on to the meme. I usually keep my meme-proof vest on, but Lia happened to catch me on a day when I left it at home. Besides, this "weird" meme isn't so bad, because it gives me a chance to detail just how fantastically normal I am.

1) I prefer hot foods at room temperature. It drives me nuts that people (including my parents, wife, and many of my friends) want food at temperatures that are hot enough to burn your tongue. <rant>If you're a restaurant, and you have to deliver food to me in a container displaying a warning that the contents may burn me, then the contents of the container may be too hot. I'm from the school of thought that says my food tastes better when I can taste it.</rant>

2) Sticking with the food theme, I won't eat any meat that has any trace of pink or red in it. Yes, I know that (depending on the meat) it may be safe, but I don't care. Cooked = brown. Uncooked = pink or red.

3) I like to golf. When I am teeing off on a hole, the ball must be on the tee a certain way. For those who are not familiar, a golf ball usually has the manufacturer's name (or logo) and a number written twice on each ball, on opposite sides of each other. When my ball is on the tee, it must be placed so that one side with the text is facing down the fairway, the other is where the club will make impact. And the text facing down the fairway must be upside-down. No, I'm not kidding.

4) When I'm putting on the green, the ball must be similarly oriented, except the text on the hole-side of the ball must be right side-up.

5) Nine out of ten times that I see a Christmas tree (or even a depiction of a Christmas tree), I'll start humming or singing the song, "Oh Christmas Tree." (This weird fact is brought to you by the wife, who recently pointed it out to me.)

6) I know the lyrics to most Jackson 5 songs by heart. And I can mimic the singing voice of young Michael Jackson with unexpected accuracy. (You get two-for-one weirdness on this one.)

<rant>
Since I'm already breaking the rules by writing a new "post" instead of a "blog," I'm going to continue my rebellious behavior and not tag anyone.
</rant>