Quirks Meme

[sigune]

I was tagged by septentrion1970 to list 7 habits/quirks/facts about myself.

Hm.

Okay.

1. It is painful how quickly I forget the names of people I don't meet frequently.

2. Occasionally I dress up and take a stroll for no better reason than to show off my costume. I won't wear anything extravagant or odd; I will just be well-dressed, with perhaps a hat or a cane as a somewhat more unusual detail. But most of the time I hate drawing the attention of strangers. I could never be a true dandy because I am painfully natural.

3. I collect beautiful umbrellas.

4. I once wore a ring worth 25 000 Euros - that's about $35 000 or £17 500.

My mum has an acquaintance who is a jeweller. On one occasion I was in his shop with her, and looking around his display I saw, among all the baroque designs, a very simple ring - a single diamond set in a plain golden band. The jeweller heard me express my admiration, so he opened the display case and let me try the ring on. I have very thin fingers, so most rings I fancy are much too large for me, but this one fit like a glove. So I asked, very naïvely, how much the pretty stone cost. ...Unfortunately it wasn't exactly within my budget (and frankly, even if I had that kind of money, I wouldn't spend it on a bit of rock *g*). So I quickly took it off and put it back... But I did wear a really expensive diamond once XD.

5. I like to sing songs to my cat. I make them up as I go. They are pretty horrible.

6. I don't idolise any celebrities. I would never go out of my way to see an actor/actress, a singer or a musician. I am totally uninterested in asking anyone's autograph. On the other hand I adore a number of dead or fictional people. I would LOVE to have an autograph of Oscar Wilde, and I go on pilgrimages to places connected with him. I HATE books or films that paint a negative picture of Sir Gawain. Nobody touches Sir Gawain. I mean it.

7. In November I'm going to see Wagner's Siegfried. It will be the first of Wagner's operas that I will go to in the firm knowledge that I'll adore it. Previously I invariably entered the opera house with the suspicion that I might want to leave during the break, though in the end I never did feel like leaving.



Many of you have already taken the meme, so I'm not tagging anyone.

Comments

[msavi.livejournal.com]

I am the same way with #1 and #6, and I'm a bit envious of #7; I've never seen a Wagner opera live.

[sigune.livejournal.com]

I'm lucky - the Flemish Opera is cheap as compared to other opera houses, but the quality of its productions is pretty good. And hardly a year passes without a Wagner production, yay!

[bluestocking79.livejournal.com]

I will reluctantly admit to #5, although I usually sing established songs. Sometimes I rehearse whatever piece I happen to be working on for the cats. Othello is, strangely, actually drawn to my singing!

I've done #2 as well, although I have in fact worn very extravagant things. I used to be in theater, so I've got quite the selection of costumes. ;-)

#7 sounds lovely! What other Wagner operas have you seen live?

[sigune.livejournal.com]

I have seen quite a few: Parzival, Der fliegende Holländer, Tristan und Isolde (twice), Die Meistersinger von Nüremberg, and Die Walküre. I'm very angry with myself for missing Das Rheingold - that was produced while I was still in my silly phase of thinking that I might not like it, and it wasn't in my season ticket -_-.

I've done #2 as well, although I have in fact worn very extravagant things.
LOL! You don't know what a relief it is to me to read that XD. I'm not alone! - I mean, of course I'm not, but nobody else ever confessed to similar behaviour ;-).

I don't have special costumes, and I can't sew, so I try to achieve some effect by my combinations and by my attitude ;P.

As to #5, Mien seems to appreciate my weird songs too! I have noticed that though she still doesn't like being held, she will sit still for a considerably longer time while I sing to her XD. Ah, cats... Maybe part of the reason is that the songs are always about her, seeing as they consist mostly of her many pet names *g*.

Sometimes I rehearse whatever piece I happen to be working on for the cats.
Do you sing professionally? *is intrigued*

[bluestocking79.livejournal.com]

That is a lot of Wagnerian opera! I'm partial to Tannhauser myself, but I don't know how anybody could fail to appreciate the beauty of Tristan und Isolde. The truth is, I just enjoy opera. :-)

I do sew--my grandmother was an accomplished seamstress--but I'm better at design than I am at execution. I have some people who have sewn costumes that I've designed, so I have some unusual gowns in my collection! But you're right: no matter what you're wearing, the real key is in the attitude!

I have to think that cats appreciate being seranaded. I'm sure they think of it as an appropriate form of worship. ;-)

I don't sing professionally (usually), but I do perform quite a bit as a hobby. I mostly sing in choral and madrigal groups, and I've done a good bit of regional and community musical theater, but I also do some solo work, simply because I enjoy it. I'm a first soprano, but if we're talking fachs, I'm a dramatic soprano.

[redvelvetcanopy.livejournal.com]

How interesting about the umbrellas! I have one huge black one for the sheer reason that I won't forget it and leave it somewhere. I feel so cozy underneath it. Of course, we've been in a drought since spring, so I've missed it.

I forget names easily too. Our school terms are 10 weeks in length and by the 10th week, I've pretty much learned all must students' names, only to have another 60-100 a week later *sigh*

[sigune.livejournal.com]

*g*
If I were a teacher, I'd have to resort to 'yes, you in the ugly t-shirt!' quite often ;-).

The umbrella thing is just... Well, it rains very often here; there is no such thing as a dry season :-). I live in a city and do a lot of walking, so an umbrella is an indispensible thing for me. Now, if I'm going to carry one around, it might as well be a pretty one, and preferably one that goes with my clothes :D. I say that I 'collect' them, but what I really mean is that I am picky and willing to spend some money on a good and beautiful umbrella with an unusual or striking design - I mean, rain is pretty blech when you are in it, so I feel I should make the best of it :-).

[lionille.livejournal.com]

Umbrellas are an interesting thing to collect! It's funny, I just came across a paper parasol icon today, I had to go add it so I could use it with this comment, lol.
(and cats totally love it when you sing to them :)

Singing to the Kitty! LOL

[venturous1.livejournal.com]

I do this too, make up strange rambling ballads about whatever is on my brain. ("Oooh, Severus Snape was a very good man, though few would ever know..."), She listens politely, with head cocked. The dogs prefer show tunes.

Sigune, I love your Snape drawings and enjoy your contributions to SnapeCast.
**waves hi!** thus the friending.

[safakus.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way with #1 and #6. About #4: I have an insane fear of getting close to expensive things, that I would do something stupid and destroy it, and will have to pay for it for the next 50 years. I don't even borrow anyone's car. My wedding ring cost, like, $100 or something. and the most expensive thing I own is my DVD player.

Oh, and LOLz at #2.