A five-tier decorative lantern in China, photo by Marie-Claire Holmes
On Monday night David and I had dinner at a favourite bistro in Passy with Judy Nijholt and her charming husband Auke, from Holland. They were in Paris to celebrate Judy's birthday. Judy is an accomplished artist and writes the amusing blog Kats in Klompen. We spent a delightful evening together and are looking forward to seeing them again in Paris, Holland - or both!
I've been tagged by Leonie, Nina and Amy for the "six weird things about me" meme that's been circulating. While I like reading the answers to other people's memes, I really don't like doing them myself. But as you asked so nicely, here goes:
1. I don't like the numbers six or four. I've always felt distaste for the number six. A friend once had an office in the building at 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, which I thought was the worst luck, never mind the Biblical connotations. Sure enough, his government was overthrown and he was out of a job! And I have Chinese friends in San Francisco who refuse to have lunch at a restaurant at 444 Market Street, because in China, the number four means death. Ever since they told me the Chinese interpretation of "4," I view it with suspicion. I prefer odd numbers such as 3, 5, 7 and 9.
2. I talk on the phone only to make arrangements to meet. I don't like long phone conversations, other than with my daughter. I'd rather talk face-to-face.
3. I can read Tarot cards. Sometimes the things apparent in the cards disturb me, because they're so accurate. On occasion I have dreams about things to come.
4. I can agonise and worry for two weeks over a magazine piece, then write it in two hours. I am good at writing "mean" letters, to get compensation when something doesn't work as advertised, doesn't fulfill expectations, etc. Nine out of ten times, these letters produce desired results and financial recompense.
5. I stay up very, very late at night, but if I sleep late in the morning, have troubled dreams. Consequently, I am often sleep-deprived.
6. I cannot resist buying books and have been known to buy books (food for the soul) before food. It makes me anxious to be in someone's home if no books are visible. I don't need to read the books, but I need to know they're there!
So many of you already have played this game, I'm reluctant to tag. But if you want to reveal six weird things about yourself, please post your version of this meme.
I'm with the others-you don't sound wierd at all. I don't know that I could list 6 wierd things about myself. I'm sure other people who know me could.
Posted by: Linda | 25 January 2007 at 22:59
Fun to learn more about our favourite parisian-anglaise bibliophile!!
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 25 January 2007 at 02:25
I still like you ;) Nothing sounds terribly weird, books for soul food: That rings a bell!! Great meme!!
Posted by: tongue in cheek | 24 January 2007 at 22:47
Well, no wonder I find you so "sympatique." We would get along just fine. We could stay up late and read each other's Tarot cards!
Strange about the No. 4. If you double it to 8, it's a lucky number for the Chinese. My favorite number is 3.
Absence of books in a house tells me people don't read -- and that makes me nervous, too.
xoxo
Posted by: Colette | 24 January 2007 at 19:24
Whew! I'm glad you're not weird ;)Sorry Tara I find you delightfully VERY normal. I'm so not a phone person either. XXOO
Posted by: Tammy | 24 January 2007 at 19:08
Tara-
My life is so complicated these days. I am on deadline for a 100 page piece and am completely anguished. Any chance you could do it for me in a couple of hours? Free stay in the guesthouse would be in order:-)
Posted by: Maryam in Marrakech | 24 January 2007 at 19:06
I LOVED your answers here Tara. I totally get the numbers thing and how cool (or a curse?) that you can read Tarot.
You'd get stressed in my house because all the books are on the 2nd floor (decorative molding on the first floor prohibits bookcases) but I'd take you up there so you could see and then enjoy your visit. Like you, I have to buy books, even when my 'to read' pile keeps growing.
Posted by: kristen | 24 January 2007 at 13:30
Tara,
Except fot the number thing, I don't think you're weird.
I've got enough books to start a library.
The only thing there is more of, than books, in my house is dishes. ;-)
rel
Posted by: rel | 24 January 2007 at 10:06
I notice how many people here feel similarly to you about books (me too, I've spent so much time with people who either can't read or barely have the income to feed their children that no books in a home makes me sad more than anxious).
I guess that it is not suprising that we who seek out daily sustenance and inspiration through words (on our own blogs and others) are all also deeply attached to books.
Posted by: Frida | 24 January 2007 at 09:44
I don't do memes either but I finally relented and did this one. I don't find yours weird in the slightest, in fact most people don't seem weird to me...just uniquely individual. I found your answers very interesting. I never knew that about the #4 (I will pay more attention now) but the #6 I did. I've always wanted to have a tarot reading but I am one that gets afraid it won't be pleasant news.
As for books, they are a must in my home - the more the better - and it's my dream to have a wall of shelves with a library ladder that moves side to side. I never understand people who don't have ANY.
So glad you had a lovely night out with friends.
XOXO
Love,
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa(0ceandreamer) | 24 January 2007 at 09:35
Hi T,
Thanks so much for being a sport! Argh. You are not weird at all!!! (life is unfair, while I have all the weird traits, some people have none...sigh)
Like you, I often fret over proposals/document for a while and whoosh them out like in a matter of hours. Must be a Virgo trait! I also dont like phones for conversation. I love tarot cards... alas, cant read them... Books too. I need books all around me. I carry at least one everywhere. If people read trashy books, I judge negatively on them (I know its bad...but hey...)
Kisses.
Posted by: Nina | 24 January 2007 at 09:01
oh yes - it's so disturbing - a house without books! don't think you'd be very disturbed in my house, though...
Posted by: bb | 24 January 2007 at 08:53
The number 4. My husband is Chinese, and the number 4 in Cantonese is Saay. He is an Alfa Romeo fan, but would not buy an Alfa 164, because in Cantonese it's said as Yat Chat Saay, which I'm told means "surely die", which couldn't have been good news for Alfa. Apparently, that particular car was renamed for the Asian market.
3, wow. 5, I often sleep early so that I can wake up really early, I love the early morning.
6, oh yes.
We have snow in London this morning.
Posted by: aineliva | 24 January 2007 at 08:48
Glad you had a lovely evening out with friends.
I, too, enjoy reading other people's answers to memes, yet have difficulty answering the questions myself. I certainly enjoyed reading your answers - though I don't think they were particularly weird, but they were interesting (though that wasn't surprising, since I find all of your posts interesting!)
Posted by: tinker | 24 January 2007 at 07:54
Years ago I rented a room in a house with no books. It was a miserable time in my life, for many reasons, and the apparent disdain in that home for the printed word was bizarre.
I was just commenting to someone the other day that sleeping late makes me have strange, and sometimes scary, dreams. Odd.
Posted by: deirdre | 24 January 2007 at 05:49
Me too avoiding the phone. Rather write or talk face on. And I have always wanted to learn Tarot reading. Is it hard to learn? Are there instruction books? I sent your post about keys to my dh. He will enjoy that key history. He's a locksmith...a very el perfecto locksmith. Yes, He will enjoy those. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: artzyjudie | 24 January 2007 at 04:37
Odd numbers eh? me too........any display is best represented in odd numbers.......flowers, candles, ornaments etc.......if they are set up in even numbers, it makes my esthetic brain wiggly! :)
Posted by: awareness | 24 January 2007 at 03:43
i want you to read my cards - i have never
had it done!!
i hate hate hate the phone
never ever answer it..
:)
Posted by: sophie | 24 January 2007 at 03:09
I'm right there with you on your last point.* I find it especially disturbing when there are children in the home and no sign of books.
* I have chosen to not refer to this point by its number as to not offend you as per your weirdness described in point number one.
Posted by: ally bean | 24 January 2007 at 00:29
I knew about the number 4 from our visits to Hong Kong- and the whole tarot card thing is something I know very little about but it seems quite interesting.
I don't think you're so weird as you think, Tara!
Posted by: Regina Clare Jane | 23 January 2007 at 23:40
What fun facts about you! I also share a distaste for the number 4, for some reason. Nice to know I can back up with another culture's "facts". :)
I can see how you would be good at writing "mean" letters because you are so powerful and forceful in your expressions. Thank goodness we see the nice side of you! ;)
And we are as one on the books things--I MUST have books above all other things. In fact, I consciously have to remind myself to buy other things for the house that I might also enjoy--food for the eyes as well as the soul.
Posted by: Monica | 23 January 2007 at 21:59