Are you superstitious? I never really thought I was. I mean, yeah, black cats crossing my path do make me pause. But then, I pause for tabby cats crossing my path, too. 
I miss my own black kitty (who, by the way, graced us with a haunting meow this week–that both my daughter and I heard–when she’s been dead for three years…but I digress) but cats have generally always given me the willies. Just look at one long enough and you know they know something we don’t. (This picture isn’t my dearly departed cat…but it looks EXACTLY like her.)
I do not walk under ladders…but then, I do that for safety reasons. Cracks in the sidewalk do not bother me. Ditto for broken mirrors except that the one time I had to have stitches was on account of a broken mirror (though I didn’t go get the stitches because I was too afraid to tell my mother…Long story.) I will fix upside down horseshoes and I’m not too fond of having peacock feathers around, as much as I adore the colors, because a very good friend of mine whose mother was a practising witch told her it was bad luck. (This same woman once read my palm and was so dead on, I don’t argue with her.)
But beyond the normal toss the salt over the shoulder when you spill it stuff, I’m okay.
Except on Sundays.
You have to know that I’m a news junkie. I don’t know exactly when this started, but it feeds my love of trivia, so I go with it. My favorite radio show is on NPR and it’s called “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me.” If you’ve never heard it and you love the news, listen once. It’s hilarious. Basically, it’s a game show played by three comedians using the news as their material.
My home page is set to Google news. I check the local news websites at least twice a day (many more during a hurricane threat) and one station sends me alerts when anything interesting happens like a wreck on 275. I rarely go to the big sites like CNN or Fox, but I’ve been known to hit the BCC website just to see what’s going on in Europe.
I love entertainment news. I tolerate political stuff and read only enough to know generally what’s going on in the world. I love true crime and human interest stories. So you can imagine my elation when the big, thick Sunday newspaper comes.
And there is a ritual involved. I have to read Parade magazine first.
Have. To.
I don’t know why. It’s a habit that somehow became a superstition. If I don’t indulge in this brilliant mix-mash of entertainment, health, political and human interest news first thing on Sunday, my week will suck. Seriously, I believe this. I can’t tell you if my week has actually sucked after NOT reading the mag, because well, I’ve only missed weeks when I was on vacation. Though honestly, when you’re on vacation, all bets are off.
I’ve had lots of sucky weeks where I have read Parade, so clearly, this is not a science. But I still cannot knowingly read any other section of the newspaper first on Sunday.
I know. It’s weird. You don’t have to tell me. I’m fully aware.
But I know that other people have little rituals and such that they adhere to that make no sense to other people.
I’ll confess a few more:
I cannot complain about my car while driving in my car…or within earshot. She can hear me and it’s rude.
If I’m eating jellybeans, I usually do so in even numbers.
I always wear my rosary bracelet when I fly or drive long distances. It’s pink and if you see me while I’m traveling, you will see it on my wrist.
Those are only a very few of my neurotic rituals. Do you have any? Come on, spill. Even if they are weird. Those are the most fun!
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
Subscribe to Posts 
Comment
Commenting on yesterday’s post: of course me miss you, Plotmonkeys! That goes w/o saying. You guys are awesome.
I don’t really have any rituals…other than getting my morning blogging out of the way so I can start my day. I’m someone who’s easily bored, so I usually mix things up – take a different route to work, have breakfast before I leave the house some days, other days I take it to work, different kind of coffee in the morning, etc. I know some people find comfort in routine, or feel compelled to do it (the bad luck thing) but that’s not me. I like to mix it up.
Comment
I eat my M&M’s by color, first all the brown ones, then yellow, orange, green, blue and then red. Why? I have no clue, but they don’t melt in my hand!
I always have the same routine when I get in my truck- plug in the phone, turn the ignition, turn the radio on or plug in my ipod, check the mirrors, put on my seat belt- always in the same order. Bad mojo if I don’t.
I tend to be a news junkie too. I start every morning at 5am when the alarm goes off, and the Today Show at 7am.
If I am not home, I will hit the DVR. This goes on all day on the internet too. Weekends. Evenings. I keep track of what is on the other channels and record if there is something interesting. And yes, I am up watching Meredith’s debut on the Today Show. I like her, always have, and am hoping she will fit in nicely (I think she will). I was getting tired of the Katie Show.
My family tells me I am a little OCD.:hide: I just don’t see it,. Just because I have to check my email, then read my online comics, then go to PlotMonkeys, then another Blog, and then play Pogo, in that order, every morning, doesn’t mean I am OCD. Does it???:happy2:
Comment
Hmmm, I am trying really hard to think of any rituals. But the only thing I can think of is when I eat a Twix bar I ALWAYS eat all the chocolate and caramel first and save the completely cleared off cookie for last. LOL!! Yeah, I know it’s weird, but it tastes great!
The only other thing is with the Sunday paper, I grab the sales papers and coupons first. Then sit and look through the sales papers first then cut my coupons while having my coffee.
Comment
How about Oreo’s? I have to dunk mine, preferably in chocolate milk. And I like them refrigerated.
Comment
My Sunday newspaper ritual is to go thru all the sales ads and coupons first, then the comics and the Parade. I always leave the news for last. Seems like a strange order, but I’ve always saved the news for last. I also eat M&M’s by color, but think the blue M&M’s taste different(everyone thinks I’m crazy for thinking they taste different).
Comment
Julie,
ok here it is. When I eat skittles I have to eat them 2 at a time and by color. red/purple, yellow/orange/green(these colors i mix up). If I’m feeling very daring I stick a yellow with the red or the purple.
And I never put my purse on the floor. Some one told me once if you place your purse on the floor you won’t have any money.
Comment
Liza, I am the same way with the Sunday newspaper. Weird, but true.
Comment
Okay, I will admit I do lots of weird/odd things. I always blow my nose when I go potty. Once, I didn’t and my husban told me I had too, it was bad mojo if I didn’t (It was 2 in the morning at the time). So, I have affected him with my nuerotic tendacies.
Also, whenever I take stairs I count them by fours. No variations on this and I count up and down. one, two, three, four stop and gasp for air one two…..etc.
I also cannot mix my food, unless it is on purpose (like mashed taters and corn). By this I mean eat all of one item first then continue on. (Still, I think the sister who won’t even let her food touch is a little more y’know?)
When I load the dishwasher. I have to put all the forks together, spoons together, etc… I cannot mix them like my mom or fella does.
And the biggest is if I leave without my drivers license, I feel jinxed. I joke it is because if I get in an accident how will they identify me? But seriously, I just feel spooked the whole time I am out on a date with my hubby if I don’t have a pocket book with my i.d. or give it to him to hold.
I am sure if I consulted my friends, who claim I am OCD they could come up with more tendancies that I cannot even remember that I do.
My one wish is though, that I can OCD or neurotic my housecleaning/organizing skills for the power of the family good.
Enjoy your day!!!!!!:cheer:
Comment
Hmmm-all the superstitions I have come from my Mom and from my Grandmother. Don’t leave your purse on the floor-your money will go away. Don’t take a bath in a thunder storm. Cover the mirrors when someone in your family dies. Walk around the house w/sage to chase the evil spirits away. Don’t forget to open the windows. I’ve refused to put garlic in a hankerchief in my purse. (yea -my grandmother’s purses always stank something serious!) If any of this has worked, who knows, but I’m not about to risk it!!!
Comment
I have a couple of superstitions that I adhere to that I got from my parents……never give a wallet for a gift without putting money in it, so the person is never poor……….if giving a set of knives always give a coin with it so it does not cut the love……….those are two that come to mind immediately……..
Comment
i don’t walk under laddes and only pick up a penny with its head up lol
Comment
Dreams are my big suoerstistion thing. I keep a pen, paper and my dream dictionary in my bedroom night stand. As soon as I have a dream, I have to write down the contents on a 3 x 5 card for each part of the dream. So for instance, if I have a dream about flying over the ocean to some exotic place, I will have three different 3 x 5 cards. I will continue this ritual until the dreams stop. Once I no longer have the dreams, I take all of the 3 x 5 cards and I look up each part of the dream in the dream dictionary to try to figure out what the dreams mean and what affect they may have on my life, family or friends.
I also believe that you should avoid walking under ladders and never crossing a black cat path. As far as not stepping on a crack in the sidewalk, opps, not all of us can be perfect.
Comment
Suezette (GREAT to see you again!) this one isn’t a superstition:
Don’t take a bath in a thunder storm
This one is true! Trust me. My SIL was in the shower once during a storm, a strike was nearby and she got shocked. Not enough to hurt her, but enough to cure her of ever taking another shower in a storm. It could easily have killed her if the strike had been closer.
Oh, the stuff I know about lightning…you’d never want to leave your rubber-padded room. Up until a few weeks ago, I thought houses were relatively safe–until my husband’s best friend’s house was hit and they lost nearly everything to the fire and smoke.
Comment
Comment
I am not superstitious and I don’t have any rituals.
Comment
I have routines but I don’t consider myself very superstitious! Having said that—I don’t usually walk under ladders, I try not to let a black cat cross my path & I don’t usually hang up the phone with family until I tell them I love them. When I eat M&M’s I do separate them by color but I’m not sure why!!!! :):lol: I eat the green & blue first because I like those colors the least!!
One more thing, a former co-worker brought me some special dirt from Arizona that keeps you safe (it is from a sacred place) & I have it in a little box that always travels with me when I am on a trip. Now that is superstitious. :) I’ve always wondered what would happen at an airport security check if they opened the box & saw the little bag of dirt, would they keep it?!! 
Comment
I really think most people have some form of OCD but some more than others lol.
I’m kind of an all or nothing type personality. Here’s a real good example: First I read my papers from back to front (comics first, national news last), if I miss a day I have to read it before getting to the next day’s. Once I got hooked on the computer I kept getting more and more behind. A week, a month, 3 months, 6 months – and yes past a year of newspapers all saved. I just recently recycled the whole huge pile and now I won’t even look at a paper in case I get started all over again! (I get my news from the internet and TV now lol).
I either have books all piled helter skelter or every single one has to be in alphabetical order.
Get the straight jacket ladies
Comment
Hi, Julie! Ok, this is a kinda personal ritual, but if I’m working and I want to signal to my husband that I want him to kiss me, I look at him and take off my glasses. I think I must get a goofy grin, cause he always laughs then obliges. Works every time.:love:
Wait, Wait! Did you know Adam Felber of WWDon’t Tell Me (a wicked fave of mine) is Edith Layton’s son?
Comment
I have to have my Dunkin Donuts coffee:coffee: in the morning and when they close for the “major” holidays oh boy am I a wreck. One year they did open at 12:00 p.m. on Christmad morning and there I was at 12:00 in the drive thru :happy2:
On the weekends I have to have my newspaper also to read with my
I save the coupons and ads for last on Sunday.
Comment
I eat a Snickers bar with the white stuff first then the peanuts and caramal (which means I take the whole thing out of the wrapper and eat the back off of it, my boyfriend thinks I’m nuts lol!) and I have to have the same three pillows with me when I go to sleep (even if I’m on vacation) or I can’t sleep well or when I do sleep I wake up with a horrible tension headache. Those are really the only two weird things I do that I can think of at the moment :)
Comment
I’m glad to know I’m not the only person with weird rituals and superstitions! The candy thing gets me…I’m the same way with a Kit-Kat. Two of the pieces are eaten the regular way…the other two are eaten chocolate first, then cookie, icing, cookie, icing, etc. I know, I’m weird.
Michele, I knew that Adam was Edith’s son, but I didn’t realize that he is the same person as the one on Wait, Wait! I love that show. It was taping near here a few weeks ago, but I had a booksigning and couldn’t go. I’m hoping to make it up to the Chase Auditorium sometime and see it taped live. I never appreciated Tom Bodet for more than Motel 6 until I heard that show!
Comment
That was pretty funny! Lol, thanks for the pick me up, I needed that. :)