Quirky quirks!

We all have them. Some more peculiar than others. I have loads of quirks and I used to think there was something wrong with me. Now, I just embrace my quirks as my beautiful imperfections. For those of you who don't know what a quirk is, see definition below:

quirk |kwərk|

noun
1 a peculiar behavioural habit

A quirk can range from anything liking biting your nails when nervous to not being able to travel without three pairs of socks on...or something.  Also, people will have varying definitions of what constitutes a quirk, which is fair because to everyone, the word "peculiar" is subjective.

As for me, my beautiful imperfections usually show up in my verbal interactions with others. Firstly, I have a peculiar habit of mishearing what someone says and then get lost in thought about what I just misheard whilst the person is still speaking. Then when asked a question, I tend to answer what I think they were trying to ask, most often getting it wrong. lol. It's funny for me now because I do it with friends and family but I worry I'll do it in a different setting where I'm like in a interview or something.

Another quirk of mine is that, I mix up idioms and clichés. I know them in my head, I can right them on paper but as soon as they come out of my mouth they're all mixed up. For example, if you were to say you'd never heard of William Shakespeare, I might say: "What have you been living under a cave?" or "Where have you been inside a rock?" Another common one for me is if trudging through a lot of work or something, I may say "This should be getting easier but it's downhill battle."

I'm always aware of my mistake as soon as it comes out, and so can correct myself. But it's annoying and my brother is always teasing me about. It's as though English is not my first language so I can't quite get a handle on certain non-literal phrases, which is not the case at all. I have somewhat resolved to stop using them or try making up my own but I haven't been too successful with that. I seriously thought something was wrong with my brain, then I recently realised that mom does almost the exact same thing! 

So, my thought for today...Are quirks, that is, peculiar behaviour hereditary, and how would they be passed on? Are there actually genes responsible for my inability to get simple phrases to come out right? Help me out ya'll. What's you're vendetta...I mean verdict? Hehehe. See what I did there?

Lipstick moment: Could one's fascination with red lipstick be a quirk? I'm thinking of trying out a new colour. Purple maybe? I'm still waiting to hear from you! :)

Automobiles and Me

I was hit by a car when I was about 7 years old.

Don't worry I was fine; just a little shaken up with a few bruises on my bum. It was a school day, after school to be precise and I had just gotten off of the school bus and was crossing the road to get home when it happened. The road had a deep bend that made it impossible for any oncoming car to see me until the very last minute.

Some daredevils tended to speed around this bend but fortunately for me that day, the driver wasn't speeding and so was able to stop relatively quickly, so the care just hit me and pushed me a few feet on the road.

It happened so quickly, I remember a few people gathering around me asking if I was okay, and I vividly remember telling them I was okay, I was okay. I was actually really scared I just wanted my mom, but I kept saying I was fine and that lived nearby. They let me go with my bum stinging from the bruises, and I ran. With my little heart racing inside my chest, I ran to my house. My mother was still at work but the lady who took care of the house was there. I didn't tell her what had happened but I ran to my room, locked the door and got my Bible.

This is a true story. At the age of 7 after facing a terrifying ordeal, I knew the first thing I should do was open my Bible. I am smiling now as I remember this experience because I can recall that scripture I had opened up to was Genesis Chapter 1: "In the beginning..." It doesn't matter what I read, it was just where my heart was at that age.

I don't remember much after that. When my parents finally came home, I told them everything. My mother was furious, as you can imagine! She took me to the doctor to get me checked out, we then went to the bus yard to find the bus driver and the owner and question them as to why they let a 7 year old cross the road alone and why no one called her when this happened. She made a big deal about it all but I was fine really...

Well not really, since then I have had a slight fear of crossing the street. I usually wait until it's COMPLETELY clear before crossing even if that means waiting for ages. Sometimes, I take a chance and zip across but by the time I reach the other I side I'm extremely nervous and heart is racing but I still do it. I face my fear.

Since then I've also been in two more motor vehicle accidents. One was on Christmas Day in 2009 and the other on September 11th 2011. The last one was actually really bad. I fractured my skull and had to undergo surgery.

But hey I survived! The thing is, immediately after all those incidents I was nervous about getting into cars or driving in general, but I refused to be overcome by fear. Going back to the Bible a favourite scripture of mine is 2 Timothy 1:7 where it says:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

I live a very full life, I travel, I write, I paint, I make friends, I dance to my favourite music when no one is looking....I wear red lipstick. 

Those dark moments were scary but can you imagine if I had just locked myself away because of them? How would I have gotten to see and experience Barcelona last year, or helped my little brother when he got hurt or encourage you who may be crippled by fear or your past?

My thought to you today is; get up, get dressed, get in that car (or bus) and drive into a brighter and braver future (lipstick optional). 

That is all.

Oh viruses, why art thou so evil?!

So I've been a good girl today. I'm actually in the library right now revising for those dreaded exams. At the moment I'm studying how certain viruses basically hijack the host cell's protein synthesis mechanisms and apoptotic (cell death) pathways.

It's really interesting stuff! For almost every step in a normal cell cycle and molecular machinery, these nasty viruses seem to find some way of subverting the host system for their own gain. They're kinda vicious if you ask me. Intelligent but vicious.

I then realised that that's life in a nutshell and the parasitic people that might be in our lives. For every step on our road to success there are obstacles and "viruses" that seem to find a way to trip us up. But like our very efficient immune system, we have to fight back. We can either internalise the pathogen like macrophages and destroy it from within or secrete cytotoxic granules and kill that bugger! 

No, I'm not studying war, but I thought I'd just throw that analogy in there. Well, I need to get back to this while I'm still in the mood. 

I should probably mention something about lipstick seeing as that's the name of the blog.......

hmmm..... I'm literally here trying to think of something philosophical to leave with you. I'm just gonna have to whip something up out my *.

Since 2009, the only colour lipstick I wear is red. And I'm talking about really vibrant reds. My favourite at the moment is Revlon Red and no matter how I'm feeling on a particular day, once I apply that red to my lips it's like I bring out another version of me. I wouldn't say alter ego but I do feel bolder and sexier and more alive and it makes me want to smile more; with my teeth contrasting brilliantly with the red frame. So if you are hesitant in trying red lipstick, I say go for it. Bring that vivacious and gorgeous version of yourself to the surface so that we can all see what you're workin' with. lol :D

Do you wear lipstick? If so what's your favourite shade? 

My thoughts these days...

...then...4 years later. I completely forgot I'd even started a blog. I can't seem to remember why; must have been a low point in my life. Not that writing blogs means you're life is out of whack but I can't think why I did it. 

I was 19 yrs old when I wrote that first post and so much has happened since then. I'll start chronicling those events at some point, but for now I'm just back on here because I'm at another pivotal point in my life and I really don't know how to go about sharing my thoughts and feelings with anyone without coming across as neurotic.

I'm not really one for journaling. I admire people who are dedicated enough to writing about their life on a daily or weekly basis. I've tried it, doesn't work for me (I can't even go to the gym two weeks in a row). And the weird thing is, I actually love to write. Writing is my thing, but I prefer to create wildly imaginative tales about...stuff (fiction). 
I'm hesitant in pouring out my deepest darkest truths onto paper. But alas! here I am, about to do just that. I figured a blog would be a way of get my thoughts out there, as though I'm speaking to someone, anyone who will listen...anonymously, kind of.

I'm basically just talking to myself but to others as well, maybe. This means, I'm going to write as I think. And seeing as my thoughts are usually racing in a million different directions and tangled and upside down and right-side up all at the same time, so will these words I right. And for once, I'm perfectly okay with that. I know some people will think I'm crazy and some will understand exactly where I'm coming from and encourage my loonosity (yes, I just made that word up).

Also, seeing as I'm working on my first novel, I've done a lot of research and I found that it is important for writers to constantly write, whether it's related to the story or otherwise...just write! With that being said, don't go judging my writing skills in this blog, because I am literally just throwing words onto paper. There is no artistry or refinement or imagination here, so if that's what you're looking for look elsewhere or read my novel when it's published. :)

Anyways... if you're still with me, let's get back to what I was saying at the beginning. So, I'm 23 yrs old now, can't believe it...seriously, where has the time gone. I'm in final year of university and the first of my final exams is in exactly 32 days.

I am so scared. It's like my whole life is hanging in the balance. I find my course really interesting and the topics although scientific aren't particularly difficult to study. It's just that there is so much to learn and I fear I may have left a lot of the revision too late. I really shouldn't be worried because I do this EVERY TIME and somehow manage to do really well. But I tried so hard this time not to let the work pile up but there you have it, typical student.

I've just finished modifying my revision timetable and I realised that if I stay focused for the next 4 weeks, I can learn all I need and do very well in the exams. IF I STAY FOCUSED.

At the start of 2013, I was worried about what my next step after my undergrad would be, so started looking into possible career paths and further study and decided to apply for a Masters in Neuroscience...as if! I actually always dreamed of becoming a neuroscientist and just figured it would be a nice "next step". Well, surprise surprise I got an offer from one of the 3 schools I applied to and still waiting to hear back from the other 2.

I was so excited when I got the email! I literally couldn't believe it. I woke my brother up to tell him (he got all excited, too). I called my mom (she was ecstatic). It was a great feeling to know that a highly acclaimed university wanted me and thought I was good enough to be a student there. Now, you'd think that that was motivation enough to get me going. Nah! I'm back to me ole' procrastinatin' self. Grrr.

Okay, I've had enough venting for one night. I'm actually going to do some revision now. You've motivated me to do some work, so thank you, whoever you are... :) If there is anyone out there reading this, I'd love to know, so do comment (even if it's just to tell me I'm a rambler; I already knew that).

A Change - Part 1

I bought a tube red lipstick for the very first time the other day.

Why? Because I'd been disappointed earlier that day. I had plans. I had dreams. I had a future. But now the dream is delayed, the future has drifted farther away and the plans have changed.

So I decided to change as well. I started small. The lips were first.

Someone once called me a wallflower, they said I blended in too much...No one else I know shares that viewpoint. More people say that I'm beautiful, tall, elegant...even peculiar, but definitely not wallflower material.

However, despite so many great reviews about my person, I still cling to that one stray comment that may not even be true. The comment, long forgotten by the speaker. We do that all the time don't we? Hold on to the negative thoughts and opinions and disregard the positive truths. Well, I decided to change because I did not want to ever be considered a wallflower again and since I could not control other aspects of my life I would control this.

So I went into my favourite cosmetics store and stood staring at shelves of mascara, eyeliners, eye-shadow, lip-gloss, foundation creams etc. It could have been an overwhelming task but I had gone in with a purpose.

I began hesitantly, reaching out to closer inspect the little containers of colour, always looking, in the corner of my eye for the safe familiarity of the light pink hues I was so accustomed to wearing. I forced my eyes away from them and looked for the more extravagant shades.

Don't you just love the funny names they give to the different colours? Reading the ridiculous names helped soothe my nerves. I wonder who actually comes up with them.

Anyway, the one that caught my eye and caused me to reach out, was the very daring tone called Smooth Sangria. Has a nice ring to it huh? It was in a clear plastic tube so I could see the exact colour. I felt my heart begin to pick up its pace. It was such a bold, beautiful colour. Could I do it? Could I be beautiful and bold. Yes I could!

I was glad they didn't have samples for me to try because I'm sure I would have changed my mind, but once I purchased that tube and stood in front of the bathroom mirror, I knew I had made the right decision.