PERSNICKETY

Do you have favorite words? Those that are either fun to say or you really like the meaning? I have several that I enjoy. Pompous is one, persnickety is another. Now I have never thought either as a compliment and have reserved them as my most scathing adjectives.

Pompous---Affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important: "a pompous ass"

So far, I haven't thought of my self as pompous as I usually reserve that term for politicians .

Persnickety----Placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details, fussy.

I never thought that adjective would apply to me either but lately, it is hanging off me like comfortable clothing. How did I get this way and when did it happen? I suppose it has been there all along and just hasn't been recognized by my conscious mind. Suddenly I am aware of my “fussy” peculiarities.

Some of my fussy traits have always been there, I just thought them “normal”, at least for me. I have always been persnickety about my glass of milk. It must be ice cold or I can't drink it. That appeared in my child hood when I suddenly started demanding milk on the rocks.

My friends pretty much kept their comment about that demand confined to
“that's weird.” Those who knew me well eventually accepted it with just a smile and a head shake as did waitstaff in restaurants. At least those waiters in search of a tip saved the eye roll till after they turned away.

I am rather pleased to say however that I have passed that eccentric behavior to my brother's children. They saw me do it many years ago and  smartly thought it a good idea. A couple of them now days ask for ice in their milk. Hopefully, their children will do this also.

A hundred years from now, there will be a small group of people who will ask for ice in their milk and have no idea where it originated. I will look down ("down" hopefully will be the direction) and smile. Of course today I have gone modern and only use ice if frosty mugs aren't available.

Toast also has my persnickety stamp on it. I love peanut butter toast in the mornings. How I prepare it puts me in the "P"category. I cover every inch of the toast with peanut butter. I mean every inch. Not spread thickly but precisely. I hunt out bare spots and edges like a bloodhound after a convict.

When I am finally convinced that every inch is peanut butter flavored, I then coat my masterpiece with Spray Butter. Yes, that is reverse order but this removes the stick to the roof of your mouth aspect and it all slides down.

Lastly, I am a magazine junky.  The very first thing I do before I enjoy a new magazine is to hunt down and remove any form of advertising “blow in” cards. The loose ones I shake out and those that are attached, I rip out. It must be completely cardboard free before I read the first page. Odd how that will really skinny up a magazine.

Most things in life I am loosey goosey about.  For those and a few others that I am persnickety about, I am rigid.

Now I am beginning to wonder if persnickety and anal aren't closely related. Perhaps the term anal was created because someone couldn't spell persnickety?? Persnickety is a bit more classy and less graphic. Oops, did I just slip into pompous??

I have other examples but will spare you. However I am curious, do you have traits or actions that cause people who don't know you well to shake their heads and roll their eyes to your face?

Those who do know you well, trust me, do it behind your back.