Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

I AM A WONK!!


The Rogue Speaks:

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/WONK - a person preoccupied with arcane details or procedures in a specialized field; broadly : nerd


When it comes to orientation--MY orientation--I am a wonk. I freak out a little when I don't know exactly where I am. I even have a compass. No, sillies! Not the art and geometry kind! I have a north south east west compass. I have to know EXACTLY where the sun is rising in the morning. I want to know in just what direction I am going when I am driving. Yes, I admit it--I have a fear of getting lost. When I am going south in Tucson, I am very careful to keep the Catalinas on my left. That way, when I am heading for home, they will be on my right.

The Great Pyramids are aligned to magnetic north. Each face of each pyramid is in alignment with the rotation of the earth. The word for pyramid means "fire in the middle" in Latin. I am not going to bore you with all the stuff I know about the special properties of the pyramids. Let me just say that I am seriously obsessed with magnetic north and just how it affects our lives.



I am also obsessed with time. I have clocks in every room in my house, and one room actually has THREE clocks. I want to know EXACTLY what time it is. I have a clock on my nightstand that sets itself daily by the satellite, which calculates the time in different time zones by Greenwich Mean Time.

The only problem with the satellite is that it doesn't know Arizona doesn't participate in Daylight Savings Time, so twice a year I have to alter my time zone to accomodate that stupid satellite.



We've had quite a traumatic week here so far. Liz was bitten in the mouth by a rattlesnake and has been in the hospital since early this morning. She is home now, after two vials of antivenon, despite the fact that she only weighs four pounds and thirteen ounces. The smallest dose for antivenon is for a dog weighing five pounds.



I hope you don't think that I am a complete nutcase, but I really love
Alphabe-Thursday.. Please check out the other offerings. We really put a lot of effort into our posts, and if you want us to respond to yours, well just get with the program!!!

P.S. This should really freak you out--I don't wear a watch!!!!!

40 comments:

Karen S. said...

I can't wait to see JJ's comment on your amount of clocks...since he really hates time....! LOl Judie I finally am giving this thing a try at W even....it'll take time before I can master this thing like you pros but reading your posts always made me think hey why not give it a try! I love this subject....very off the wall...I like that!

Unknown said...

Wow, you'd never want to drive or go anywhere with me cause I'm always lost, sometimes even on purpose just for adventure;-) Hope the little doggie is doing ok, what a cutie:-)

Pondside said...

I'd love to travel with you because I have that same need to know where I am. It's probably why I majored in Geography! The clocks - good heavens - we were separated a birth! I can't sleep in a room without a clock - weird, I know.

Jo said...

where the heck did Lizzie find a rattlesnake??? and omg, poor little girl ... give her an extra hug from me & honey ... and it's okay, about the clock and compass thing ... my daughters phone has a compass app ... so she doesn't get lost ... she loves it! and clocks ... i just go crazy when the power is out ... and cant see a clock everywhere ... lol!

Stacia said...

So, I'm wondering ... Does it bother you when all your clocks get a little off and don't all say the same time? Also, so sorry about your little dog! I hope she's all better soon.

jfb57 said...

Another educational post wit so much for me to learn. Hope the little one gets over their bite soon!

Unknown said...

Poor Liz! I hope she's doing better now. Getting bitten by a snake doesn't sound pleasant at all.

I think you would make a great travel companion for us here :) We're constantly getting lost and we seem to have a tough time figuring out which way is which when we go out.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

A magnetic north post might be pretty interesting.

Anonymous said...

Oh no I hate that!...we have bell-tails around here,and I'm always on the look out for 'em.I hate snakes!!

Time keeper?...YOU?

I sure don't think of you as a nerd,you wonk'r you!hugs friend
Hope Lizzie recovers.
And yall have a great weekend!
~Jo

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

I typically get lost about once a week. It's just how I'm made, I guess! GPS has been a great thing for me! I had a dog get bit by a rattlesnake a few years ago. Not fun at all! Hope she does ok (my little Tina was fine, but it took a while).

xxoo,

RMW

Unknown said...

I almost always get lost the first time I go somewhere. Once I have been there and have learned landmarks I am fine.

Anonymous said...

i think i have built in GPS.
i don't carry a compass but i'm always aware of what direction i'm going.
BEAR HUGS to Lizzie...OMG that's awful...
i need to do alphabeThurdays again...i've always loved that, but then i was getting so busy and couldn't visit enough of the others and i felt guilty. maybe when Jenny starts up with A again, i'll make a bigger effort...always enjoy your posts, you wonker you!!!
~victoria~

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

you are too funny.

you are who you are, very witty and thoughtful.

Wantapeanut said...

I never would have thought a compass would be useful, but now that my iphone has one, I use it! Glad the pup is doing well. How scary!

Mari Sterling Wilbur said...

Yikes about Liz!! Glad she is okay. Have never heard of "wonk" - interesting. Like you, I have clocks in every room - I Hate being late and can go into a real tizzy if I'm not walking out the door 10 min. early for appts.

I added your blog icon to my blog. Finally figured out now :D

lissa said...

everyone's a wonk with something.
I think for me is to always to do things right away. I seem to hate wasting time. though I only check the time when I'm wearing a watch.

at least you know how to drive. I could never get behind a wheel.

Ames said...

A rattlesnake OMG!!!!! Poor Lizzy baby! Was the snake in your yard??? Holy sh** Batman!! I'm freaking out here. Ok deep breath...DEEP breath. I am so glad to hear she is going to be ok. I hope that snake is dead as a door nail?

Speaking of tim,get a grip woman. I feel naked without a watch but rarely even look at it when it's on my wrist. After I retired I had enough of clock watching so now if I have an appointment I just set an alarm otherwise I run off of my internal clock.I get up when I darn well please, and go to bed when I darn well please.

I do like to know where I am and how I got there. Ha ha! But I learned years ago to do right hand searches or make right hand turns to get back to where I started from. Hummm maybe I should bring my compass with me when I come visit. I mean, one mountain sorta looks like the other out there anyway.~Ames

Francisca said...

I would have NEVER guessed you to be a wonk about place and time... EVER! Judie, you're a blast. You and my honey would get along great... he's the same... We have domestic disputes about all the clocks he wants in every room. I don't want them and wear a watch only because he bought it for me and asks me where it is. I forget to look at it. And about place? I'm never ever lost. I am always here. :-D Fun post for W, Judie! Oh, and ouch for your little pooch... no fun that!

Gattina said...

I am a "wonk" too ! and it's a miracle that I don't get lost when I go from the kitchen in the bathroom ! I can't read a map. For me there is no North, south, east and west but Up down left right. I am hopeless. Since I have a GPS I feel like a blind who got a dog to guide him ! I even have one now with pedestrian mode ! Now I feel sure and get (less) lost !
Sorry about your doggie. Fortunately we don't have snakes here.
http://gattinawritercramps.blogspot.com/2011/09/waterloo-where-i-live.html

ellen b. said...

Oh my, poor little doggie. My worst fear when hiking about is encountering a rattlesnake. Here in Western Washington we do not have poisonous snakes or poisonous spiders. Thanks for the definition of Wonk. I have at least one living in my house! :0)

ellen b. said...

I should have said when hiking in Southern California that rattlers were my greatest fear...

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were my hubby. LOL! He always has to know exactly where we are when traveling. He's always checking out his map. He'll say, "We need to see whereever it is were going on the map so we know how far." I just say, Oh, they'll be a road sign. Besides, you never know what adventure you might come across when one is lost. Good thing were not all alike. That's what makes this world so fun. Everyone and their uniqueness. Thanks for visiting me. Looking forward to more alpha Thurs.

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

Oh Judie, I don't even know my North South East West direction. I need a compass, oh wait, I need a GPS actually.

Fantastic information about the pyramid!!

Cindy Adkins said...

I have collected clocks for years, so I sure understand why you have an affinity for them...I love those and musical instruments. I can't function without a watch--I don't know why! It's not like I'm late for anything--lol

I hope your package arrived! Have a great weekend.
XO
Cindy

Lola said...

Hi Judie!

Have the same addiction to timepieces of all kinds!

Do hope Liz is recovering well,

XOXO Lola:)

Cher Duncombe said...

Well, my heart stopped when I read about Lizzy. I can only imagine what you are going through. Wretched snake! Our neighbor's dog was attacked by a hawk last year. They were able to save him, thank goodness, but I suppose every region has its predators. It's just that the thought of little Lizzy being bitten by a rattlesnake is just incomprehensible. Please...let us know, okay?

I am a clock lover too (surprise!) but Rich can't stand the sound of the ticking clocks. So they sit there silently beautiful. They only thing he has ever denied me is a cuckoo clock. Every year he asks what I want for Christmas and every year I say, "a cuckoo clock." The answer is always no!

Oh--I have to tell you that I got a DROID about a year ago and accidentally discovered that it has the best GPS system! It even shows divets in the road and I get automatic updates. I'll never worry about a wrong turn again!

cj Schlottman said...

Judie, I'm so sorry about Little Liz, and I pray she will be okay. I once found a water moccasin in my dining room but got rid of it before it could hurt any of my dogs.

As to your Wonkatudiness - Hey, I won't have a car that doesn't have a built-in compass! I am addicted to time and cannot function without a watch. I swear, I can't even see if I'm not wearing one. You are not alone. Maybe there's a 12-Step group for us. Nah. I wouldn't go.

Namaste..........cj

JJ said...

Judie: I am a little confused. What exactly is time?

Leovi said...

They say he has to sleep with his head toward the magnetic north. But MiCasa no bed is oriented so the design of the rooms. Liz will be healthy soon.

THE SNEE said...

Your poor poor puppy! We had to vaccinate our dogs to ward off rattlesnake bites when we lived in Salt Lake City. I admit that I did not relish the notion of bumping into one of those slithering, tail rattling, venomous creatures while hiking in the mountains...for that matter just gardening outside.
As for the matters of orientation, time, magnetism.....I have a story, and I think you would absolutely love it! I really hope your dear puppy gets better soon Judie.

Judie said...

Rebecca, I have stories as well. I wish I still had the pyramid I built. You go first.

xoxo

To the Toy Box and Beyond said...

I constantly get lost. I have no sense of direction. Once when I was in North Carolina, I could not find my car in the mall parking lot. I wandered around for over an hour with a two year old and being 8 months pregnant. I don't wear a watch either. Hope your dog is better

Tammy said...

All the best to your little Liz! I hope she is all well and has given up rattlesnake wrestling! I would love to hear about the special properties of the pyramids, but then I'm a wonk, too. Am surprised to read you don't wear a watch, though!

jabblog said...

Your poor little dog - what a horrible thing to happen to you.
As for clocks, I always used to keep the clocks in the house ten minutes fast in the mistaken belief that my children would get a move on. It didn't work. I never wear a watch but nearly always know what time it is, often to the minute, without consulting a clock. My husband wears two watches!!

Eliza Wynn said...

Poor little Liz! I sure hope she feels better soon. She didn't deserve that.

EG CameraGirl said...

Poor Liz!

I like to know where I am too and don't understand why everyone doesn't need to know. :)

I seem to have a fairly accurate clock inside my head, though sometimes I lose all track of time.

Jenny said...

I never know exactly where I am or what time it is.

I'm okay with that.

I don't wear a watch and we have four clocks in our house. If I didn't need to pick up little kids, etc. I would probably have no clocks at all!

Hope your sweetie is doing better today!

Thanks for linking up your wonderful wonk post today.

A+

Splendid Little Stars said...

shocking! You don't wear a watch?!! Of course you wouldn't need one in your house! But when you aren't at home...
glad Liz will be OK. scary!
My Dad loved clocks and they were all over my house growing up. I have a few of those clocks now. One is an antique "grandmother" clock in which we once found the skeleton of a bat!

Splendid Little Stars said...

shocking! You don't wear a watch?!! Of course you wouldn't need one in your house! But when you aren't at home...
glad Liz will be OK. scary!
My Dad loved clocks and they were all over my house growing up. I have a few of those clocks now. One is an antique "grandmother" clock in which we once found the skeleton of a bat!

La said...

I'v been out of the loop for a while. I am so glad your sweet Lizzy is alright after her encounter.

I hope all is well with you. La