h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've seen this in several blogs but, since I don't have a blog, I'll just post it here in my journal (I tried blogging, but gave up after not having updated it for several months). Those who know me probably know some of these things, as I tend to repeat myself. A lot.

1. I'm 'unusually assymetrical'

...as the company nurse once impulsively commented when she found out that there's a whole of four millimeters difference in width between my left and my right wrist - 'a quite visible difference' as she expressed it. Then she tried to smooth it over by mentioning that, of course, *all* people are assymetrical. But I could see she was still quite exalted.

2. I'm ambidextrous

Born lefthanded, taught to write with my right hand in school (left-handedness still being something that needed to be 'corrected' at the time). But I've always, and still am, using my left hand when drawing/sketching/painting. In fact, I even use my left hand to write on my Palm, because my brain thinks the symbols you use are different enough from regular letters to be classified as doodles. So, I'm drawing text by doodling. Go figure.

3. I'm really very shy

...but I've learnt to hide it behind a masque more or less successfully (success depending on what kind of situation I'm in). And I would never have learnt how to apply that masque if it hadn't been for my job career. I started out in the hotel business as a switchboard operator, which is how I learnt to speak up, clearly and slowly in a friendly tone rather than the way-too-fast, way-too-silent voice I had used until then.

The next step was to stand behind the counter in the front office, facing complete strangers day after day, all of them in the same service-minded, friendly and efficient way.

4. I have no formal education in Finance

...and yet I work as a financial controller, having gotten where I am today through massive and extremely varied experience. Oh - hang on - I did study book keeping (along with much else) when I studied to become an executive secretary, but that was very basic stuff.

This might not seem like such a big thing, but whenever I work together with highly educated finance people it always makes me feel a bit nervous - what if I don't understand a word of what they're saying? This happens about twice each year, when my department is invaded by auditors asking odd questions about transactions, balances and stuff (preliminary and final year closure).

5. I'm a bookoholic

I am, really. If I haven't got a book to read, I'll read *anything*. Pamflets, leaflets, commercial ads, milk cartons (the biggest dairy company in Sweden always prints something interesting on one side of the carton). Once I've read even that stuff, I get all fidgety and edgy.

6. I'm 'Mostly Harmless'

...and it shows in my face, and in my postings, and even in the way my online gaming characters express themselves...
OK, so I could never be a successful liar, because I can never remember what I've told who - I'd soon get entangled in a pretty mess, and if the persons involved were to compare notes, I'd be smoked. I've been voted one of the leaders in two online RPGs, and been trusted with stuff that is worth real money, in the real world.

I've passed borders without anyone bothering to check my passport. I've never been checked by customs. Ever. If I were to be pulled aside one day, I'd probably go all in sheer excitement. Which is a good thing, really, since I've sometimes carried harmless stuff but in way too big quantities in my luggage, all of which would have been confiscated if anyone had noticed *recalls Amy 's amazed comment on how she got THAT much citronpeppar through the British customs* Customs? What customs?

7. I have a Doppelgänger who not only looks exactly like me, but also has the same first name

One day, on my way to work, a woman on the other side of the street called my name and asked me to wait. I stopped, and she came over to my side. Seeing my perplexed look, she asked 'Don't you recognise me?'.

Now, I do have a practically non-existing memory for names (and connections), but I *do* remember faces (which is why I say 'hi' to super market cashiers, news reporters, bus drivers and celebrities when coming across them in the street).

So I said 'No', being quite convinced. She was standing fairly close to me, peering into my face.
'But we studied medicine together!'
OK, that did it - I've never ever studied medicine, which I told her. She looked a bit dubious, but didn't insist.

8. I take kids seriously

I don't have any of my own, but I always get on well with kids. And I think it is because I take them seriously.

Kids almost always understand more than you could ever imagine. And they *do* pick up 'bad vibes'. Which is why divorce is better than sticking together 'because of the kids'.

Even small kids have feelings that should be taken seriously. Because they themselves do take things seriously. Extremely so, even.

A small person thrives on attention, just like an adult person does upon finding a sympathetic listener.

I've had some very serious (and very interesting) conversations with very small kids. One of the best comments I've heard is 'to be dead is like being asleep, it's just that you never wake up again' said by a three-year-old. How accurate. And this was something he had figured out himself.

Never underestimate children. Never.

nice!

Hello there, Ti. Nothing really comes as a surprise to me except for the Doppelgänger. That is really .

But I will firmly back your #8.

Kids are always surprising. And sometimes incomprehensible.

I have real trouble with people

I'm assymetrical too. We'll never be movie stars. Thank bob.

You could be 'character actors', who have much more interesting roles, though less press attention and less money.

> I'm a bookoholic

Do you know http://www.librarything.com ? Highly addictive...

I'm assymetrical too. My left hand gives money to beggars and my right gives them the finger and tells them to get a job.