I’ve seen this meme floating about the ‘sphere, and sho’ ‘nuff, I was tagged. There’s tagging, and then there’s tagging. I have been tagged by everyone’s favorite soldier, Sgt. Hook. I have spent enough time in the Army to know that when a Sgt. Major tags your ass, it’s time to get your sorry ass in gear.

It is, therefore, with great pleasure that I respond to the Sgt. Major.

As much as I would like to think that I have no habits, particularly quirky ones, it took me all of about ten seconds to think of five. I probably could list a dozen more, but five will do. Here we go.

1. Hair Twirling. When I am bored, deep in thought, or nervous, I twirl my hair. I have done this since childhood. Strangely enough, it is a neurological bi-hemispheric phenomenon. What that means is that when I’m bored or deep in thought, I twirl with my left hand, but when I am stressed or very nervous my dominant hand (the right hand) kicks in to execute the right-handed twirl. (Bad for poker playing) Daughter TJ also twirled her hair when she was a squirt, damned near to the point of giving herself a bald spot. Nature? Nurture? Damned if I know, but I had to explain it to her pediatrician, who thought it all quite interesting.

2. Pen Testing/Flicking. It seems that I can’t write anything with a ballpoint pen without first testing it on a piece of scrap paper to ensure that it writes without skipping. In addition, if I pause while writing something with a ballpoint pen, I fill the pauses with slight, but still perceptible, pen flicks as if I were shaking the ink down to the point. I am conscious of the test-writing thing, but the pen-flicking quirk was pointed out to me, much to my embarrassment.

3. Teeth Clicking. While walking, I will often click my back teeth in counterpoint to my footsteps. It’s some sort of a rhythm blessing/curse, methinks.

4. Table Drumming and More. This one is related to Number 3. While listening to music, I will quietly (unless zippered – then it’s not so quiet) tap out the drum part on whatever horizontal surface I might be near. I like to think that most people don’t notice. However, what I am sure that nobody notices is that I am also working an imaginary bass drum and hi-hat with my feet under the table. Again, it’s the rhythm blessing/curse.

5. Playing Chords on the Steering Wheel. While driving and listening to music, I will often “play” the chords to the tune on the steering wheel with my left hand. I have learned to play many a tune this way.

As you can see, I have absolutely no goofy habits, and I’m a Gott-damned pleasure to be with.

Now, I am supposed to “tag” five peeps to get them to share their habits. I think I will pass on the tagging, but rather I hereby invite anyone who reads this to partake (and I hope some of you do), either in the comments or on your own blog.

(I’ll be damned if I didn’t catch myself twirling my hair — left handed twirl — thinking about whether this was ready to post.)