Germy-wormy
Sep. 28th, 2005 06:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
same_skyM laughs at me sometimes and calls me obsessive-compulsive, which is probably offensive to people who actually are obsessive-compulsive. He has always found it fascinating how often I wash my hands, or rather, when I wash my hands. "There's a name for people like you," he said on one particularly memorable occasion. (Note to Singles Out There: This is what Being Married is like. You can't even wash your hands in peace.*) When I come into the house, my hands feel nasty dirty and they have to be washed before I can do anything else. It doesn't matter what I'm going to do.. if I was going to repot all my plants plant, I would wash my hands first. I don't know why. Interestingly, I don't feel that way if I get in the car and drive somewhere else, usually, so it's not just about touching the steering wheel, although I do suffer a few pangs over that sometimes. (He also criticizes the fact that I use cold water to wash my hands. I used to defend it that I didn't like waiting for the water to heat up or the chance of scalding myself was worse than cold hands in winter, but it has occured to me recently that I LIKE washing my hands in cold water, except perhaps when I'm cooking, now that I think about it.)
There was a point to this, I promise. I was just thinking about germs, and I thought I should tell you that I am oddly germaphobic. I don't really obsess about germs lurking in a pile of dirty dishes (I hate them for other reasons but not enough to do them myself, apparently) or even under the toilet seat at home. No, I worry about the invisibles that you touch all day long in weird places, like public restrooms (not a weird one, I know) and keyboards and desks. So, what I was wondering is.. what kind of oddities do you people have about germs? Is there anything that you are totally resistant to touching for fear of germs? Will you throw food away if it falls on the table (I always do in public, sometimes at home too.) Do you freak out at people who eat their breakfast sandwiches directly on the kitchen table? (That totally freaks me out, enough so that M actually has stopped even when I'm not around. Except at his parents' house, which I found humorous since he hadn't even noticed that he had done it. You can't teach an old dog new tricks entirely, I guess.) Do you let your silverware touch the table? Do you regularly clean something to ward off germs? Or are you the opposite--do you really not care if your butt touches a public restroom toilet seat? (I cringe just thinking about it.) Do you use those air dryers with wild abandon? Do you lay a strirring spoon on top of a box that food came in while you cook? Tell me!
And since I am inviting you to talk about your neurotic tendencies or lack thereof, I'll start with my own two favorite germ issues.
I will not put a lemon in my tea in a restaraunt and I've been known to ask for my tea without a lemon, even though I don't dislike it. Here's the thing. No one washes lemons. Take this from the produce girl, alright? It was while I still worked at the store that I developed this phobia. Refrigerator space was always at a premium, so, to save space, I started putting our extra lemons in the crisper. On one particular day, the box turned over while I was kneeling there in the floor. I didn't even think about it, just grabbed them all from the floor and put them on in the crisper. From there, they were taken out front and sold, and.. well, have you ever washed a lemon? And that doesn't even count what happened when they were picked (hey, did the handlers stop to take a potty break without washing their hands?) So. Yes, wash your fruits and vegetables, but I just don't trust that all people think of lemons as something that need washed.
In a public bathroom, I unroll enough toilet paper to cover at least one round and set it aside before unrolling some for personal use. This is also a recent one. Do you ever touch the top of the roll for leverage while you tear off a piece, to keep it from unrolling? Because I have done that, particularly if the roll is touchy, and it occured to me that others probably do too, and the piece on there when you walk in? That was the last piece they touched when they were finished wiping. Yuck.
It has occured to me that this is the last thing in the world I should be asking. M will whop me when he gets home for attempting to expand my germ phobias.
*Obviously I'm kidding. I like being married more than anyone I've ever met. Because I don't like cheesecake, and M doesn't care much for American desserts at all so we're perfectly suited, and that's a joke that only two of you will get. Sorry.
There was a point to this, I promise. I was just thinking about germs, and I thought I should tell you that I am oddly germaphobic. I don't really obsess about germs lurking in a pile of dirty dishes (I hate them for other reasons but not enough to do them myself, apparently) or even under the toilet seat at home. No, I worry about the invisibles that you touch all day long in weird places, like public restrooms (not a weird one, I know) and keyboards and desks. So, what I was wondering is.. what kind of oddities do you people have about germs? Is there anything that you are totally resistant to touching for fear of germs? Will you throw food away if it falls on the table (I always do in public, sometimes at home too.) Do you freak out at people who eat their breakfast sandwiches directly on the kitchen table? (That totally freaks me out, enough so that M actually has stopped even when I'm not around. Except at his parents' house, which I found humorous since he hadn't even noticed that he had done it. You can't teach an old dog new tricks entirely, I guess.) Do you let your silverware touch the table? Do you regularly clean something to ward off germs? Or are you the opposite--do you really not care if your butt touches a public restroom toilet seat? (I cringe just thinking about it.) Do you use those air dryers with wild abandon? Do you lay a strirring spoon on top of a box that food came in while you cook? Tell me!
And since I am inviting you to talk about your neurotic tendencies or lack thereof, I'll start with my own two favorite germ issues.
I will not put a lemon in my tea in a restaraunt and I've been known to ask for my tea without a lemon, even though I don't dislike it. Here's the thing. No one washes lemons. Take this from the produce girl, alright? It was while I still worked at the store that I developed this phobia. Refrigerator space was always at a premium, so, to save space, I started putting our extra lemons in the crisper. On one particular day, the box turned over while I was kneeling there in the floor. I didn't even think about it, just grabbed them all from the floor and put them on in the crisper. From there, they were taken out front and sold, and.. well, have you ever washed a lemon? And that doesn't even count what happened when they were picked (hey, did the handlers stop to take a potty break without washing their hands?) So. Yes, wash your fruits and vegetables, but I just don't trust that all people think of lemons as something that need washed.
In a public bathroom, I unroll enough toilet paper to cover at least one round and set it aside before unrolling some for personal use. This is also a recent one. Do you ever touch the top of the roll for leverage while you tear off a piece, to keep it from unrolling? Because I have done that, particularly if the roll is touchy, and it occured to me that others probably do too, and the piece on there when you walk in? That was the last piece they touched when they were finished wiping. Yuck.
It has occured to me that this is the last thing in the world I should be asking. M will whop me when he gets home for attempting to expand my germ phobias.
*Obviously I'm kidding. I like being married more than anyone I've ever met. Because I don't like cheesecake, and M doesn't care much for American desserts at all so we're perfectly suited, and that's a joke that only two of you will get. Sorry.
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no subject
Date: 2005-09-28 11:45 pm (UTC)I do NOT like touch public pens/pencils/stuff. I also really dislike touching things that kids touch or having kids touch my things. I can't stand it when I have a line of kids and they are all running their hands along the wall. Can't. Stand. It. I always tell them that they are going to get old boogers on their hands.
I always want to de-germify after using a public computer or other public thing. Well, basically whenever I get home I like to wash my hands.
I am a fanatic about not eating or drinking after anyone. It grosses me out to no end. I got mono when I was a teenager from drinking after a person. In college a lot of people would eat after other people and it just grossed me out and all my friends knew they were NOT to stick their utenils anywhere near my food. One day we were sitting with a girl I didn't like at all and she reached over with her DIRTY SPOON and took a bite of my pudding! I was stunned. Everyone else at the table was stunned. They were just waiting for me to go off. .. . and I did. I mean really, how rude is that? Espescially to do it to someone you aren't even friends with?
Wow. This is a long reply.
Btw, I was going to send you an e-mail to tell you that you had a great idea about the graphic thing and if I could figure out how to make the graphic look like I wanted to I would do as you suggested, but I am being too much of a perfectionist so I may just go with the name with stars between it like "S*t*e*t*s*o*n C*o*l*t" My mom woul dlove that name. I swear she thinks we are having a cowboy instead of a geekboy. Also, we got the package today!!!! It was so fun to open! We haven't hardly bought any toys at all, so it was PERFECT. Now we have something for Thumper to chew on *g*. Thank you guys!
no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 01:31 am (UTC)Regarding food.. does Mike count? Can you eat and drink after him? Just curious. I'm the same way about eating and drinking after someone.. always have been. Gross! But I figure that since I kiss him I might as well eat after him. (But he can't go near my toothbrush because that's just nasty. Not entirely sure what the difference is, actually.)
I'm glad you got the package! That was really fast, too.. I just ordered it Sunday afternoon, I think. I wanted to send something else, but.. well, I'll post about that in a minute with a really bad picture.
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Date: 2005-09-29 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 12:23 am (UTC)I know you're kidding, but some days that is just SO true.
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Date: 2005-09-30 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 12:51 am (UTC)Germs that would affect me don't bother me at all. I *do* sit smack down on public toilets. :) I tend to think my body can handle the germs better if I don't protect it from them. Where I go OCD is in germs affecting my animals or plants. If I pet a cat, I wash my hands before petting a dog. If I stick my finger in dirt to see if a plant needs watering, I wash my hands before doing it to another. With soap. I don't want problems one (potentially) has to spread to another. Consequently, I wash my hands about 20 times a day. Every animal has its own implements (duplicate cleaning equipment for each aquarium, one nail clipper per cat, etc) and I have spray bottles of bleach and vinegar (not mixed, that is) which are used on counters and fabrics all the time.
Since I am in my house 95% of the time, I am in a pretty safe place because of the cleanliness I do for the animals/plants. You'd think I would have a Thing about being in public, but in looking over my actions, I apparently don't.
I did get laughed at the the other day.. I collect fresh eggs each morning and bring them in to wash them before giving them out to dogs. Pete laughed because while I was in washing, the dogs were outside licking up fresh chicken poop. Ewww. Well, I can only protect them from so much. :)
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Date: 2005-09-30 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-30 02:47 am (UTC)Most boring reply ever. :)
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Date: 2005-09-29 05:37 am (UTC)I wash my hands many times a day - certainly after being out.
I HATE shopping carts. Yuck yuck yuck. Do you know how many people have touched those handles!?!?!? And people let their babies chew on them, which is disgusting for the baby and also makes it more covered with germs.
When I am in public, I never touch my eyes, mouth, etc. without washing my hands first. I also rarely get colds - because of this and the frequent hand washing.
I carry wet ones with me all the time. I never eat without using a wet one or going to wash my hands.
If anything falls on the table, it's trash.
I rinse all can lids before opening.
Well, I could go on and on and on and on and on. But I'll stop here as this isn't even MY blog!!!
no subject
Date: 2005-09-30 02:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 09:42 am (UTC)Oh well, here goes....
I'm NOT very germ phobic. I love that you are :) I love that you have OCD ;) I am very chicken germ conscious and if things fall on the ground, they're toast, but if they fell on the table, it's still fair game I reckon... *blush* and I never ever ever would think about not resting a spoon on packaging! Maybe I can learn a few things from you ;) Likewise the lemon issue had never dawned on me. But then I guess I also have one leg in the 'dooce build up immunity' camp ;)
But I'm clean! Honest!! And I wash stuff and keep my benches and tables clean!!
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Date: 2005-09-30 02:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 01:40 pm (UTC)Nah, it's not. ;)
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Date: 2005-09-30 02:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 11:53 pm (UTC)I'm pickiest about my kitchen and home bathroom germs. I want my toothbrushes protected in those little cap things (even though I've heard/read that those harbor more germs, so I boil mine in bleach water once a month or more often if we get sick). When cleaning, I mop from the cleanest area to the dirtiest (aka, kitchen first, bathroom last, area around toilet very last) so as not to spread germs from one area to another. I keep a spray bottle of 10% bleach solution handy for killing mold in the bathroom and one in the kitchen for killing bacteria (that comes from my days as a Vet Tech).
When handling raw meat, I take it from the package to the plastic-type cutting board (not the wooden one! It harbors germs!) and cut it, then immediately put that knife in the sink to be washed in hot soapy bleachy water, and I transfer the meat to the cooking device, and then immediately wash the cutting board and knife/utensils that touched the meat, and my hands in the process. I refuse to cook meat that has been refrigerated for more than 3 days, and I won't thaw, then refreeze anything. I won't eat anything left out for more than 30 minutes to an hour (depending on what it is) because bacteria grow to problematic levels in roughly 2 hours (less on potato salad, which I refuse to eat at picnics or on a salad bar just for that reason unless I see it come from the refrigerator to the serving area and know it's fresh).
I refuse to use (or let anyone else if I catch them) any utensil that has been used to cut less than fully cooked meat on any other food item (uncooked or otherwise). That's just dangerous.
I also noticed someone mentioned (too lazy to look back and see who) about babies chewing on shopping carts. I have an issue with shopping carts, myself, just because my friend Kristin pointed that out to me once. She has this nifty thing (and I've seen others with them) that is a huge cloth shopping cart seat cover for kids, and they can't get to the handles, and at least they're chewing on their own blanket type thing with their own germs with those. That is at the top of my must-have list for when I have kids. You can't stop them from chewing, that's natural, but you can at least give them better things to chew on!
Drinking after people...well, I have a huge family, and we've done that all our lives, but I do notice that when I drink after the kids when we go home, I get sick every time, so I try like crazy not to let them drink after me. Try explaining that to a whiny 3-year-old when they just want a drink of *your* Pepsi. Ugh. I finally realized that all I have to do is use a cup that is kid friendly, and when they want a drink I hand it over and go get a new one for myself. Or, tell them it's beer/wine/alcohol and that it's not for kids. That works, too. Then you just have to explain to the adults that, no, you're really not an alcoholic, you simply don't want to spend next week fighting off whatever germ the kids are carrying this week.
Ok that's way too long already, but I could go on forever about germs. :D
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Date: 2005-09-29 11:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-30 12:00 am (UTC)I'm not sure how I feel about you thinking about me every time you use a public restroom. *laugh*
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Date: 2005-09-30 01:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-30 01:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-30 12:39 am (UTC)Also, yes. Nasty chicken hands and utensils are dangerous!
I could say more but I think perhaps we have had this conversation before. *grin*
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Date: 2005-09-30 01:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-01 04:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-01 12:12 pm (UTC)