Thursday, December 07, 2006

5 Things you do not know about me - tagged

Darling (bastard) Rob tagged me to confess 5 things about myself that you guys don’t know. Why “(bastard)”? Cause not only does this require inducing my thought process this morning, hardly an easy feat even after 3 shots of strong coffee, but it slightly counteracts my “mysterious” persona I try to keep going on this blog. Or do I….

Anyway…

1 – I am racked with guilt over being such a bleeding heart liberal who decadently drinks and eats her pay cheque away every month. I love the nicest priciest clothes. My father calls me a wine snob. I have my own car, & drive fast so am also always spending on petrol. Yet I am always rallying on about the impoverished, the destitute, the people who cannot uphold their rights.

So often I see in what I write or say what I believe to be hypocrisy from my side, and quietly hope that no one else will point this out, especially in such a public forum as my blog.

I quell this guilt with the hope that through my awareness efforts at least a few people out there will truly be spurred into great action. And also that I do not need to suffer just because I feel pain that others around me suffer. If I am happy, it will be easier for me to help other people.

2 – To make a confession on the HIV theme…. I have unprotected sex twice, and both times did not know the guys’ status’. The first time was when I was in my final year at university with a frenchman in Venice & I completely had the thought of, “I’ll just take the chance. He’s from a first world so it should be ok.” The second time was this year, and was not completely of my choosing. I woke up at a crazy party to some guy, well, taking advantage. (One day I will blog further about that & other incidents. If you’re gonna be an independent girl who drinks, well, you suffer some consequences, so I have learnt over the many years. I am not ready to discuss this further yet.) He was also from a first world country so I hedged my bets on being safe. My last test, in June, stated me as HIV negative.

3 – When I was a pre-pubescent kid all I wanted to do was be male. The age at which I was thinking this means I did not have the first clue of the sexual implications of such a wish. All I knew was guys got to do so much more cool stuff. They were tougher & stronger and so were involved in the related activities. They were more respected and watched over women. To me, then, women had fewer choices and options and power. Women cleaned up & looked after men, who were allowed to explore the better things in life. We also had worse clothing & hair styles!! Just cut my hair short & give me shorts & a t-shirt. I actually did have very short hair & people would often mistake me for a boy. My father was devastated by this, all he wanted was a sweet girl, but I was so chuffed every time someone mistook my gender.

I’ve learnt a lot since then, and, man, today I love being a woman!

4 – I was not going to blog about this, but apparently I am in the Catholic church here confessing all my sins….Tonight I am meeting a friend for drinks. We have not had drinks together in two years! This friend is a guy I dated before I went to France. He is well over a decade older than me. He is engaged at the moment & when I met him over 2 years ago he had recently become a widower. We dated then because it was fun. We were/ are so different and live such different lives, but were attracted to each other from the moment we met. I am quite nervous about his intentions for initiating these drinks finally, but am just allowing myself to think that it is because we were once such great friends and so this is just drinks between friends. A quiet side of my brain, though, is hoping he will still be attracted to me when he sees me.

5 - My phobia...monkey people! Even as I think about this my body contracts in fear & repulsion. Like those "people" in Planet of the Apes. Or when National Geographic or a doccie shows the evolution to humans, when we were only just standing but COVERED in thick hair around our bodies & most of our faces. I seriously freak out & cannot look at that. Even doing these links was difficult for me!!!

I put it down to watching the original Planet of the Apes when I was a small kid late at night & being traumatised since.

One friend I confessed this to found it so amusing she would randomly email me photos of these types of monkey people while I was at work. And I would scream when I opened the documents. She told my younger brother & he taped the new "Planet of the Apes" movie. We would be calmly watching tv, he would press PLAY & the movie would suddenly appear. And I would scream.

Seriously. I do not cope with seeing them. I am shivering inside as I write this.

Quite serious confessions there! Well almost. Stop laughing at my phobia!!
Do I seem any different? Better? Worse? Oh the pressure!

Now I must tag people – I think four people so…
Kyknoord on his fancy new blog template
Jam
Fly*
Peas

Go wild, boys & girls!!

P.S. Oh! I want to say HI!! to the person checking in on me from Sierra Leone, of all places!! Hopefully I will be visiting you there one distant day. I'd love to see that country & meet those people!

56 comments:

Peas on Toast said...

Thanks Champers - interesting...ape people hey? ;)

OK tagged recieved, will get onto it!

Anonymous said...

thanks for a brilliant post champs. monkey men.... hahahhaha

Champagne Heathen said...

Fck. I knew I should have gone with my 2nd option on Confession 5. They are scary ok!!!!

Great Peas! I can't wait to read.

Yo, my dear Anon, I thought we discussed this persona thing...! And you will owe me MANY tequilas if you rehash my monkey man thing!

# 302 said...

ooh just remember Marx died middle class, that always works for me when I think about being moderately privileged.

Anonymous said...

Ha,

Point 1 might as well describe me. There are even people that try not to let me drive :-). A story in its own.

As for point 2, get the follow up test, if for nothing other than it was Aids day.
My confession: had a similar experience. I took a month of ARV inspite of a negative PCR. Call me paranoid, but some things one just does not mess with.

In the end we are just human.

You should maybe write what one can do in the first 72 hours since it is your field. You would be surprised how many people still don't know.

BTW, this is the original anon. I would never monkey around with peoples fears ;-)

PS be careful that you don't end up getting mauled at drinks tonight.

Champagne Heathen said...

#302 - but communism failed!!! in practice.

Robs - thanks honey! :) very much. You made me grin!

It is SCARY plastic. Argh, now you got me thinking of seeing one of those guys face to face and having to sniff his costume. You should see the scared repulsed look on my face right now. Argh arghaahgahgakjagsahgakhg. Take it aaaway. Fck.

Anon - you are confusing me now!! You are now being termed as Elusive Anon so best you sign in with at least that persona while you think up a proper one! Ok?!

Do tell the story about the car, anon...!

I know, I need the follow up test. I reckon I will give myself one this weekend cause I am not getting to the clinic. And yes, good point, I will write about PEP and all of that.

No mauling if I stay sober on the expensive wine! And I have a sneaky feeling you know me on cheap wine.

Anonymous said...

So now I am elusive.

Never thought think of a name would be this hard.

Well not really that much to tell about the car, except that I like to drive with a heavy foot. In my defence I must say that I have not killed anyone yet....
Also, not that people belive me, I do drive a lot slower when I have passengers.
I did once freak out my passenger on a business trip. Hired cars just are just begging for wheel spins. Enough said?

Ahhh, expensive wine.... do I hear the wine snob? Will it be white?

Anonymous said...

(-: every name i think of is uber cheesy... any suggestions?

I liked the guilt thing too - hard to reconcile. I hope I can do a Bill and Melinda Gates thing one day.... far far i the future

Anonymous said...

Hey Champs (so odd calling you that)

See I promised I would comment. On the monkey men, the yeti experience must have been more traumatising for you than I ever foresaw, we will need to discuss this in detail over some "quality" booze!

Well done on being so honest! Mwa, luv ya

Revolving Credit said...

So no wild monkey loving for you, right!

Champagne Heathen said...

My dear anon/ Elusive anon....how many anonymous people are in here at the moment? Or did Elusive Anon forget to sign in as you are now meant to the last time around?? I THINK I have two anons here. Ok, both of you (I feel like I am talking to a schizo) start using the 1st initial of your name for now....ok!? Although I like the name "Elusive Anon"

My dear Elusive...good to know your driving record is clean!! Always a plus!

Do you think I like white wine, anon?? And if so...why would you think this??

Other Anonymous - don't be that guy! Work uber hard now and then pay me to help you be the new Gates Foundation founder!! (he he he. Always able to shirk the work, and get the pay! That's me!)

The THIRD Anon....that's my Fidel everybody!!! Wave sweetly!! And Fidel...They do not know about my Yeti in here thanks!! Augh. Now I am in shite! You def. owe me quality booze for mentioning that one, & yes, as I wrote the post I thought of him & chuckled! Love you too! Smooches!

Rev - haha. My mind can't even imagine it! It refuses to even go there!

Revolving Credit said...

MMmmm....Champs & Chimps

Champagne Heathen said...

No Rev! There are NO chimps in Champers' life!

Anonymous said...

Champs, I am now elusive.

All these other anons are confusing me too. What silly people, posting as anon :-)

Why you ask about the wine?

Can't post too much, I don't have an internet connection here today, so doing it all with my phone. Guess its good practice for when I need to blog in some pub.

Champagne Heathen said...

Cause Elusive, I am trying to figure out how much you know about dear little me!! Could you sms me off that phone? Hmmm.... What a reason to get an internet phone...to be passing one's work day away doing the same thing, but over a pint a beer! Mmmmm....

Revolving Credit said...

'Revenge of the Anons'

Are yoy the same crowd that ambushed Peas a few months ago?

Champagne Heathen said...

I figured out two of them, Rev. I think the 3rd (actually 1st to comment today) just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time today unfortunately! So sad when that happens to good people! Well, one of the 2 first anons I have not completely figured out but I am trying your stalking tactics.

Anonymous said...

I am sure I could sos off the phone. Just need to activate my blue teeth :-)

Make mine a pint of guinness though, and I am not even Irish.

Champagne Heathen said...

Ha!! But you do like to smoke, right?! And chatter away to other smokers while doing so!

Champagne Heathen said...

Fly! You just concentrate on your task at hand, and doing the tagging thing, and stop mentioning monkey people.

Honestly, there really are things a person is NEVER EVER supposed to confess!

Revolving Credit said...

Is anon trying some monkey business ;)

Anonymous said...

I have been known to do so.

Guess time for a new name. No longer that anon, or elusive hey.

Champagne Heathen said...

He he, no, he's not the one trying any monkey business!

fly said...

hey i dont like spiders...its not quite as weird as monkey ppl but they freak me out just the same... :oD

Champagne Heathen said...

Ha Elusive Anon! I knew it!
Rev, see your stalking skills won here!!
You could use the allias you are using on Jam's blog... Or I could say Elusive d...

Champagne Heathen said...

Ummm....Elusive d, out of interest...how many irish guinness drinkers have been travelling through these blog parts?!

Champagne Heathen said...

Fly - exactly. "It is not as weird as...". People don't get highly amused by others being struck down with aracnaphobia, like they do with monkeypeople-aphobia!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like I am building up a name here. Elusive d......

Where will this all end? Looking at my work productivity I now remember why I stayed away from the blog :-). Alas the sirens of the blog world are so sweet....

Anonymous said...

Yikes! I don't even know where to start with this one.
You wanted to be male? I have no desire to ever become male as I have way too much fun being female!

Champagne Heathen said...

Elusive d Anon, Am I right in building your name up like that, though?

One siren is too damn busy at the moment though for my liking!

Also, in answer to my other question..."Ummm....Elusive d, out of interest...how many irish guinness drinkers have been travelling through these blog parts?!"

(I am never opening my mouth again when drunk, other than to sip on more cheap white wine or a tequila. Actually, no, scrap the tequila! It has landed me in more than enough trouble!)

Champagne Heathen said...

Not "in answer" but rather "please answer"

Jam - I was young & dumb & too easily influenced by the 1001 guys I was growing up with! Being FORCED to wear a dumb skirt, which meant I wasn't allowed to run and jump about like a hooligan while ALL my siblings did, doesn't exactly inspire happiness in a young kid.

Revolving Credit said...

Elusive, you're a known blogger who happens to be mobile right now and can't be bothered to login.

fly said...

@Jam....I think if I was female I would also have a lot of fun :oP

Champagne Heathen said...

All in all, my head hurts a bit from all of this.

Champagne Heathen said...

I have fun NOW. I said when I was PRE-PUBESCENT.

Revolving Credit said...

Ego, now you're allowed to be a hooligan.

Anonymous said...

Elusive anon - perhaps you should just pick a nickname...We'll find one for you. Rev? Any suggestions?

Revolving Credit said...

'Guinness Pig'

We all use him for alcohol experiments!

Anonymous said...

I may have heard of Irish guinness drinkers travelling in said blog world ;-)

Ahhh Jam a name, that would be great.

Champagne Heathen said...

Yeah!!!!! Brilliant! Ha ha ha. A toy for when I go drinking. I love it...

I hereby take the right to do the following...

*I hereby rename "Elusive d Anon" - "Guiness Pig"*

Welcome to the blogging world. And please remember, all that is said in blogworld, stays in blogworld :)

Anonymous said...

Guinness Pig...... Not sure I like the name. I may be dark and bitter....

Champagne Heathen said...

Guiness Pig/d - I am blushing so much right now!!! I just had a confirmation phone call.

Welcome to my blog & it was a pleasure getting very drunk with you the other night.

*Blush* *Blush* *Blush*!!!!!

Revolving Credit said...

GP - Guinness Monkey doesn't really work work as well does it...oh well.

Champs - with all the blushing, one has to wonder who is stalking whom!

Anonymous said...

Ah right, D. I know who D is.

Now renamed Guiness Pig.

;-)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like the name is going to stick. Must have left an impression. That should teach me for letting a name be chosen by commitee.

Confirming phone call? Pray tell....

Special link for Champs.....
www.blogography.com/archives/2006/01/apeshit.html

Champagne Heathen said...

No no, Rev, he is too nice to be a monkey. Pig is better, cause then it means I have a partner-in-tequila! And he owes me SO many right now for telling someone something!

Guinnie - What's in that link???? It ends with the word "ape". I don't trust it! You do your own calling & you'll find out!

Revolving Credit said...

Kinda makes me think of the rhyme from the '3 Little Pigs':

'Guinness Pig, Guinness Pig, let me in'

'Not by the ale on my chinny chin chin'

Champagne Heathen said...

And on that note, with that tune in my head & my paranoia confirmed!...boys & girls I am off to stretch & find inner peace, and then go & drink a silly amount of good wine with a FRIEND.

And the the last (recent) incident where I called the guy 'just a friend' is not about to be replayed with this FRIEND.

sigh. so dodgy sometimes. so so dodgy.

Daedalus said...

Shampooo,
Hehehe... you are just full of surprises :x

Anonymous said...

I owe you drinks? Hey why not. You now know how to get hold of me I'll bring a friend if you do ;-).

Heard about the call. Would not have said anything if I though it would be bad. Discretion is my middle name. I may be new to blog, but what happens in vagas......

Hope it is all good.

Champagne Heathen said...

Daeds - that's how I keep you around!! ;)

Guinness Pig babes, not a worry at all! It made me blush & it made me laugh a lot. It still means I can get drinks out of you though! he he he. Maybe next week. And then I will deamnd drinks out of him for not being bowled over by my witty & intelligent posts & blog! Also, just send him this link & tell him to read the relevant parts, cause I know he doesn't want to!...
http://champsheathen.blogspot.com/2006/11/3-x-exhausting-fun-days-nights.html#comments

Anonymous said...

Drinks any time!

In the bush but got meetings the whole day, so the posts will be few.

How were drinks last night?

Champagne Heathen said...

Morning Guinnie! - It's great to see we have you hooked on this blogging thing! ha ha.

Drinks were cool. I posted about it today. I am so TIRED as a result.

The bush!??! Where was our invite?

Anonymous said...

Hooked, line and sinker!

Would have loved to send an invite, but afraid I might get mauled.

Champagne Heathen said...

How are the meetings going??

Keep explaining this mauling thing to me. I am very very slow today. TIRED. Who would've mauled? A bear, perhaps? But that wouldn't be if you invited me? Man, I am losing myself. I think I am going to sleep under my desk now!

Anonymous said...

Meetings were long and boring, but now at pool.

Mauled by a bear, maybe, but really the story of my life. Right place, wrong time