Confessions of a Nerd

Previous confessions posts:
Confessions of a Teenybopper
These are my Confessions: Random Weird Things I Do
You all know I’m a word nerd. I’ve posted about my love of words and my love of books. But those aren’t the only things I’m a nerd about. I’m just… kind of a nerd. Glasses and all. So today, I bring you…

Confessions of a Nerd

I’m obsessed with libraries. I have them pinned all over Pinterest. A wall of bookshelves was my first request for my home office. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie just because I’m in love with the library. My love of books extends into a love for the spaces that keep them safe. I even think the idea of this library-smelling cologne is awesome. (Of course, I haven’t smelled it.)

Trinity Library in Dublin, Ireland via Pinterest

I like to read aloud to edit. When I read aloud, I slow down and pay more careful attention to the words. I can often be found reading blog posts aloud to anyone who will listen, or even an empty room, just to make sure no typos have slipped by my scanning eyes. It drives me insane when I find a typo or other error in an old post.

I find the following hilarious and would like to use it in everyday conversation. I’m just not sure my friends would find it quite as hilarious as I do.

I like answering questions on guided tours. The Museum of Science and Industry is one of my favorite places in Chicago. I’ve been there at least half a dozen times in the last year, and I’ve been on several of their tours (like the Coal Mine) more than once. Still, I feel brilliant when I can answer the questions, and I love it even more when they give me a sticker for a correct answer. (Does this make me a nerd or a seven year old?)

I get irrationally angry about characters in books and the messages they send. Don’t get me started on Twilight. And yes, I read that series just so I could argue with my former students about the kinds of messages that Bella sends to girls. I mean, you can’t make articulate arguments without all the facts.

When I argue, I repeat the same things at least ten different ways until I get the words just right. To the person I’m arguing with, I’m certain it sounds like I’m just repeating the same words over and over. In my mind, by the time I’m finished, I’ve finally said exactly what I was trying to say — for the first time. Clearly, I process things out loud. Hello, extrovert.

Sure. This will work for a yelling face picture.

I decided I wanted to become a teacher in elementary school, because I thought I could do a better job than a certain teacher I had. I also intended to immediately drop out of school and become a teacher for a younger grade level.

Whenever I use the word “it,” I think of my junior year English teacher and I get a little anxious. He hammered it into our heads that there was always a better word choice. Ten years later, I still can’t get that idea out of my mind. I hear his voice in my head and see the red marks on the page.

I can’t get affect/effect straight in my head so I look them up in the dictionary before I use them. Every single time.

It’s been nearly two years since I left teaching, but I still do Steve Spangler Science experiments for fun. I’ve given the Mentos Geyser as a Christmas gift on many occasions.

Okay, own up to it. I know you do nerdy things, too. What are they?