What, me tagged?

What is "tagged?"

tag -

-verb (used with object)

-verb (used without object)

With some amusement, I have watched this "tagging" phenomenon coursing through zaadz.  Indeed, I have even found most of the blogs resulting from the "tagging" as quite introspective, informative, and entertaining.  Based upon my somewhat limited observation, I have noted that this practice has been ongoing for about two months.

It was without remorse that I had heretofore not been "tagged."  Nor am I remorseful  for having been tagged.  Lack of remorse aside, I did ponder the meaning of "tagged," especially given the definitions outlined above, and wondered what in the world I would do if "tagged."  More specifically, how would I handle the topic of "five things zaadzsters do not know about me."  At least one "zaadzster" knows me very well, and such a list would hardly be worthy of the title.

Alas!  I shall not worry about the details.  If you know something about me outlined below as something I claim you do not know, please accept my apologies.  Without further adieu:

Five(ish) things zaadzsters do not know about me-

1.  I try not view others as I view myself.  My likes and dislikes, pet peeves and joys, are just that - mine.  I do not need the lens of me to see you; I want to see you in all of your radiant glory.  In an attempt to affect this, I slow down and try to see something someone else describes through their eyes.  It does not always work very well for me, but I try nonetheless.

2.  I am much more vernacular than my writing may indicate.  In writing, I am much more formal than in person.  I love vocabulary and adore language, which is reflected in my writing style.  If a word, or alternate use of a word causes one to pause, and look it up (assuming, of course, that they care), then reading allows this to occur.  Yet in conversation, the opportunity to clarify meaning is not quite so simplistic.  So when I am talking, I am me, and when I am writing, I am me.  So, no, I am not the pompous ass my writing may seem to indicate.

3.  I am addicted to time.  Now, please do not query WHY it is that I find it fanciful to have an atomic watch to be able to know the exact time (by the way, GPS time and atomic time do not match, which irks me to no end!).  I know time in this sense is a people-made construct that is rather silly.  Regardless, I am addicted to it.  Perhaps it has something to do with 17 years of service, where a matter of ten seconds of punctuality can literally equate to life or death.  Perhaps it is related to 16 years of piloting aircraft and hence being in an environment of constantly monitoring speed and fuel consumption (yes, I do all of that while driving too - it keeps me alert, you see.  Sure enough, every time I compute a time and distance equation, my speedometer is accurate.  Imagine that - but I continue to obsessively do it, anyhow).  Perhaps I just have a personality quark.  At any rate, there it is.  I am addicted to time.  (by the way, it took one minute and twenty two seconds to write this last paragraph, which equates to 128.05 words per minute)

4.  I do not listen enough.  I talk too much.  Enough said on this subject, no?

5.  I have a very distinguishable independent streak.  The loner type - I enjoy being alone.  Yet, as I get older, I am finding comfort in the company of others, probably because even old jeepdogs can be taught new social tricks.  Unlike my addiction to time, I am mostly past the loner passion.  Indeed, I am happily married with two beautiful children, and in the last two weeks (with work and all) I have barely had ten minutes to myself, and I am doing just fine.  Yet, at the core, the fiercely independent soul is still there.

5.1 moonstar  would probably point out the "time" point is merely a subset of "addicted to technology."  (By the way - just in case the "5.1" routine did not throw you off the trail -What?  SIX things?  Well, see number five if you are curious as to why six.)  I have been very active on discussion boards and blogs since before Al Gore invented all of this.  I started on BBSs and university Internet in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.  I love electronic gizmos.  Satellite radio makes me so excited that I spin around in circles snapping my jaws delightedly like a Labrador taken to the park for an afternoon of Frisbee throwing and catching.  GPS receivers are so fascinating and comforting to me that one is invariably within a three minute walk to fetch (if I do not already have one in my pocket).  The only technological wonder that does not bring me delight are mobile phones.  Even they tend to fascinate me, but there is this over-arching dislike of telephones in general that negates the use of cell phones to me.  Phones are the bane of productive existence - for when they ring, they always pull me from doing something that I was already gainfully employed in accomplishing.  For that simple fact, phones irritate me.

There you have it.  ayla  was kind enough to tag me with this fun, and I really did enjoy writing some thoughts down about myself.  I hope they are not too boring (then again, no one forced you to read to this point). 

I am not one to "tag" others (similarly, I rarely send an invite for friendship out, but am delighted to receive them!), so if you would like me to tag you, please send along an zaadzmail and let me know you would enjoy this "tagging" business.  Besides, I think everyone on my friend list has been "tagged."   

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