Up and down

So it has been six days between updates. Big whoop, wanna fight about it? I could say I've been busy or have had too much on my mind to write, but neither is particularly beyond the norm right now. I reckon I just haven't felt like writing for the past week. I'll write what I can tonight tonight, finish tomorrow and in the future, update in quicker successions.

Before that, after spending some time dwelling on it I've become conscious of other atypical habits of mine. I unconsciously shake my legs up and down independently and from time to time concurrently. At one point I believed I possessed restless leg syndrome. The National Institute of Health's criteria is:

• an urge to move the limbs with or without sensations

• improvement with activity

• worsening at rest

• worsening in the evening or night.

I'm not sure if improvement with activity is conveying activity at regular intervals reduces symptoms or singular activities. I have noticed change with the later but not the prior. Shaking occurs solely at rest howbeit no noticeable difference is seen with time of day. There are multiple explanations for what brings it about including genetics, iron deficiency and ADHD. Comically, both my grandmother and cousin do it, a doctor told me years ago I was deficient in iron and I was diagnosed with ADHD last October. The treatment available is expensive and considering it only induces mild discomfort, not worth it. What's more, as a result of being difficult to diagnose, there is controversy whether it is unique syndrome or a catch-all.

I carry around ten to thirteen pens and pencils with me to school. This started in Junior High School when other students day to day besought me for a writing utensil. Few were returned and as time passed my supply evaporated. From then on out I transported an abundant amount in my pocket as reassurance. I persist with this habit even with a superfluous number in my backpack as well. A separate, more recent practice is checking my rear and side mirrors as a drive almost every day. When I earned my driver's license four years ago I almost never adjusted my rear view and never used my side view mirrors. This semester as I was driving to school on the highway I recognized using my side view mirrors would more safely allow transition to different lanes, so I took the time to adjust them for this use. Soon after I adjusted my rear view mirror to my slouching posture. As much as safety is imperative, this fixation approaches obsessive.

This one isn't necessarily an odd habit, more of an odd quirk. I was hankering for some candy two Friday nights ago so I placed my hand inside the cookie jar and yanked out aged jolly ranchers. The time spent inside had caused a partial breakdown, producing a gluey candy. Unwrapping was strenuous and at times needing to rip the plastic off with my teeth when unavoidable. Most would not have the patience for this ordeal, but I was up for the task. As I watched Lost I ate a few pieces at a time, stopping to get more and wash my hands. Not having to slowly absorb the flavor, the halfway melted jolly rancher brought almost instant gratification, unlike the solid state. Undergoing such labor was appeasing.

I'd write more, but I still have much to do before I rest.