Odd Even or Does it Matter?
Let me
explain.
Readers of
this blog may have the impression that Mrs. Cranky and I never agree on
anything. That is not true. We agree on lots of stuff and just recently I realized something new that we have in common.
I had
attributed this particular idiosyncrasy of mine on a combination of Tourette’s and
a mild condition of OCD, but it turns out that Mrs. C has the same issue.
Neither of
us are “Odd” people.
Well we may
be odd, but that is not what I mean. We
both gravitate to even numbers. We are Even
people. When we set the temperature on
the thermostat, we always set it to an even temperature (exception for some
reason 5’s; 5’s are ok.) We always
turn the TV volume to an even number. We
would never set the microwave to warm something for an odd number of minutes or
seconds.
We are both Even
people.
We do have
an issue with eggs in a carton. Neither
of us just take out eggs from the carton willy nilly, oh no, the remaining eggs
need to be balanced in the carton…even.
The difference is I move the eggs to the outside of the carton, Mrs. C
moves them to the inside. Either way we
make sure they are balanced and even within the carton. If need be I will have an extra egg in the
morning to keep the carton balanced.
 |
| Mrs. C would move the outside eggs to the middle. |
So I want
to know, are we weird? Is it odd to be Even?
Are there others like us? Are some odd
people…Odd people? Are we headed for a
segment of Dr. Phil?
Are you Odd,
Even, or does it matter?
Strangely, I don't have an answer.
ReplyDeleteNow I am going to have to pay attention to all of that stuff.
I don't think you are odd in your evenness. I too now have to pay attention to what we do. I don't think there's a definite trait to be either here. Now this has piqued my curiosity.
ReplyDeletebetty
yup. i'm totally an even. as a kid i always tried to make sure my stuffed animals had 'mates' or buddies. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. I've never thought about it but now that I am. I'm an even with the exception for 5 too but only in the microwave. I nuke things in 15 second increments. So weird Joe. What the heck made you think of this and now I won't be able to unthink it. Hahahaha. :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Flower arranging is always be done with an odd number of stems and arranged ornaments are never in pairs or dead centre. I can't think of anything that's done in pairs except shoes, so I guess I'm odd. Hmmmm!!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I think most people have OCD tendencies to some extent. SD and I share a need for symmetry but he is far more concerned with it than I am to the extent that if he's writing an email and the last sentence in a paragraph takes it on to the next line he will go back and re-work a sentence so that the page looks balanced.
ReplyDeleteI'm constantly re-arranging photos on shelves so they look balanced and I'm drawn to houses that have central doorways with equal amounts of windows on each side.
Actually, the list goes on an on so, if I'm odd then you are too (I'm sure that's a HUGE comfort to you ...)
Like Bill Murray said in 'Meatballs,' "It just doesn't matter!"
ReplyDeleteAs for the eggs, I just move them so one end is not heavier, thus easily dropped when picking up the carton. I don't even consider whether there is an odd or even number.
We are taught from early on to count by two's. I think the rest must be personal idiosyncrasy.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you're weird at all. All of us have things we do that others might find strange. I say tough. We aren't hurting anyone and it makes us happy. I'm glad you and Mrs. C are even people. Oh difficult it would be if one of you were even and the other odd.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
I don't think it matters, but I usually pick even numbers. But as an artist, "even" amounts of things are boring (like apples or flowers in still-lifes) and odd numbers of things look better when painted.
ReplyDeleteHeh. . . I don't think you're weird at all. Or maybe I should just say, you're no weirder than I am.
ReplyDeleteI do the egg-balancing thing, too (preference to the inside; it reduces the rotational moments, making them easier to handle; always the engineer); I also balance a six-pack as I remove the bottles of beer (which is more complicated, since there are only six of 'em). On the whole, though, I'm more 'odd' than 'even' - I like 3's and 7's; the 'odd' symmetry is just more interesting to me. . .
Honestly though, I think I'm just a math nerd, only more pathologically so than 'normal' folks. I'll set the volume on my TV/radio to prime numbers - 31 or 37, but not 33 or 35. . . Or, if I'm feeling especially whimsical, maybe a perfect square, like 36 or 49. . .
So, OK, you may now mock me mercilessly. . . ;)
I do the egg thing, too. I don't purposefully use numbers the way you describe. I usually am more concerned about doing something quickly and efficiently, so I will melt butter in microwave at 33 seconds or heat water at 1:11
ReplyDeleteOCD more than odd - even if you like even!
ReplyDeleteI have always been a bit odd(aka, strange) but not sure about numbers. Now you will have me watching myself today to see which way I go or if I do at all. Gee thanks.
ReplyDeleteYes, i like even numbers. Someday i want to own a house that has an even number.
ReplyDeleteI'm odd & I'm proud!!
ReplyDeleteNeither one here. The thermostat goes to 63 at night but I re-warm my coffee for either 30 seconds or 1:30.
ReplyDeleteI just turn up the TV until it's loud enough for me to hear it. Odd...even...it doesn't matter to me.
ReplyDeleteI'll balance the eggs to the centre of the carton, but an odd number of eggs doesn't bother me. I haven't given any thought about everything else I do, odd or evens don't seem to matter.
ReplyDeleteHm...interesting. I do some of what you do, and I can relate to Bijoux's habit of heating up something in the microwave with quick motions. If something needs to be heated for 3 1/2 minutes, I'll push "3-3-3." When I hang up laundry to dry, I will always use two clothespins of the same color for one garment. Does that count?
ReplyDelete