We've already discussed our ridiculous childhood fears, but are there any irrational fears that you still suffer from? (Don't tell me I'm the only one...)

I admit I am absolutely terrified of:

Great white sharks People say that they only kill humans due to mistaken identity, but I know better.

The scary child from the Grudge Once in the supermarket I came across an identical little Asian boy crouched among the produce. Luckily I froze in fear and didn't make a scene!

Maggots Ever since an unfortunate incident during my student years maggots have given me the heebie jeebies.

Donald Sutherland He is so creepy in Invasion of the Body Snatchers and always pops up unexpectedly in lots of different movies.

What things make your blood run cold?

Posted by Bridey

Chores! Sadly a necessary part of everyday life, but really, how many of us would hire a maid in an instant if we could afford it? Some chores I don't really mind, cooking for example, could be called a chore but it certainly isn't for me. This post however is about the horrible ones, the chores I'd rather put off until I really have to do them!

1. Putting Clothes Away - Such a dull monotonous task, but the real reason I hate it is I have far too many items of clothing! I'm not sure I really have room for it all, I think if I ever had a completely empty wash basket my wardrobe would overflow!
2. Washing Up - I get horribly dry skin so apart from the usual complaints about the task, I always end up having to apply hand cream continuously for hours afterwards, and rubber gloves have a similar effect!
3. Vacuuming - Clumsyness, back problems and a heavy vacuum cleaner really do not mix, and various dents in the furniture would attest to this! 
4. Cleaning Windows - I live in a Victorian house, with huge windows. The lower parts are ok, although window cleaner kills my hands even more than washing up liquid, however at 5'1, reaching the tops of the windows is rather difficult!
5. Checking the Meters - See Cleaning Windows, I'm short, and I don't like ladders! 

What household tasks annoy you the most? 

Lana, a.k.a. goatygoat, is a blogger, artist, student, and keen observer living in Seattle. She cultivates a raging coffee addiction, can embroider better than your grandma, and is pretty excited to have found fellow list-makers.

Clarinet playing. I was a child with a clarinet appendage from age 10 until age 22 or so. In high school, I was the clarinet, and the clarinet was me, even to the point of having my senior portrait taken with the clarinet.

Track. I joined the track team in 9th grade, and while I was never good at it, it's all I thought about for one whole season. I did bring home a few blue ribbons, but that was because the only other girl in the race was really, really slow. I was too, but less so. Hence, first place. The next year I was totally over it.

Ceramic Art. While I won't say that I've abandoned this entirely, I majored in this in college and haven't had the drive to do much with it since, other than teach some classes and work in the ceramic supply industry. Every now and then I'll throw a dinnerware set or a large planter or make a ceramic bird sculpture for someone's birthday, but it doesn't define me the way it once did.

Clubbing. Seriously, when I discovered that in Minneapolis, young people get dressed up and go out to dance and drink liquor, I was hooked. For about six months. And then, at the tender age of 22, I gave it up because I'd reached my limit.

Owning a ridiculous number of cats. When I lived with my friend in Minneapolis, we had six cats between us. Still love cats, will never again keep more than one.

Jewelry making. For about a month in 2002, it's all I thought about and did. And I don't think I've worked with silver since.

Paragliding. To be fair, I only gave this up after I crashed. Too bad...I was planning on having a custom-made polka-dotted wing.

Distance running. I trained for the Seattle marathon in 2007, ran the half marathon, and haven't run since. This one's just dormant though, I can feel it.

Sewing. I was a sewing fiend for about six months last year...if it was made of fabric, it was fair game to be cut up and incorporated into a project. And then, I was done.

What's next? What activities have you immersed yourself in, only to burn out with astonishing speed?

I'm a big fan of the Internet. In addition to reading/writing/contributing to a million blogs, I also spend a fair amount of time exploring other avenues of the tubes. It helps that part of my job (the best part!) is experimenting with new things on the Internet, mostly for educational and library related purposes. Some things, though, are too good to not play with, even if they're entirely irrelevant. In fact, the less relevant they are, the more I like them! Here are five of my favorite places to play on the Internet:

1. someecards. Are you in need of an ecard that is both thoughtful, humiliating, and offensive, all while ensuring the recipient a loud guffaw upon reading it? Then get thee to someecards, immediately!

2. Twitter. Oh, 140 characters were never so poetic! Twitter is great because you can read everything from inane updates to actual, important stuff. And with the search feature, you can keep tabs on your town, organization, or even yourself!

3. Flickr. Gorgeous photos, updated constantly. I like to click the Explore tab and zone out, while imaging myself in exotic locales or making up stories about the strangers looking back at me.

4. VeganYumYum. This, and about a hundred other food blogs. I like VeganYumYum because her recipes are delicious, yes, but her photos belong in their own special category of drool. Seriously - have you ever seen a better looking stack of pancakes?

5. Passive Aggressive Notes. Enough said.

What are your favorite weird/funny/interesting/time sucking websites?

When I was growing up there were none of these dedicated TV channels for children. Oh no, in the good old days we treasured the few hours of good children's programmes each day! Some of my favourites:

1. Playschool (the ultimate New Zealand children's show)
2. What Now? (another great Kiwi programme)
   
3. My Little Ponies
4. Seasame Street
5. Sooty and Sweep
6. Diff'rent Strokes (I used to make my family call me Arnold after one of the characters)
7. Captain Planet
8. Puddle Lane
9. Animaniacs
   

Do you remember the TV shows you absolutely loved as a child?

Posted by Bridey

1. "I love to see what you do with your hair. Every day I sit in the back of class and wonder how you did that." - my anthropology TA
   
2. "You're like a PR agent for your own life! You'll tell me a story about something you did and I'll think, 'Wow, I wish I had done that!' But then I realize I have done it. But you're just so much better at talking about it." - my ex-boyfriend
3. "You are ridiculously emotionally healthy. Who stays friends with their ex-boyfriends? And who sets them up with their cute co-workers?" - my college roomie
4. "Selling out? I don't think you know how to do that." - a former co-worker
5. "It would never occur to you to ever be anything other than yourself, would it?" - my mom

1. EFT - I was amazed that this worked for me as well as it does, but it helps to calm me when things start getting crazy and focusses my thoughts.
2. Re-doing my makeup - A bit of lipstick and powder works wonders for my confidence, and often helps me face a difficult situation better.
3. Washing my hair - If I'm at home, often taking a long shower and washing my hair is all I need to feel relaxed, clear-headed and focussed. It also helps me to organise my thoughts - I do all my best thinking in the shower!
4. Go for a walk - just 10 minutes down the road and back can work wonders!
5. If I can't get away (for example if I'm at work), a cup of tea can work miracles!
6. If I'm working at my PC at home, a few rounds of solitaire will help me re-focus.
7. Watching something amusing and mindless (episodes of South Park for example) helps me forget about things temporarily, so that I can look at them with fresh eyes later, having given my brain a rest.
8. A deep breath of fresh air, particularly if it's freezing cold really helps to clear out the cobwebs!

What do you do to keep yourself sane when everything is getting a bit crazy?

Rebecca is a scientist, a lecturer, an internet junkie and a lover of books. She is based in Sydney, Australia and each day provides some book-related fun for Booktagger. She believes if everyone took a few minutes each day to sip a coffee in the sunshine, the world would have less tension and more productivity.

The lead up to Valentine's Day can be full of too many thoughts about who you will spend it with, whether your favourite restaurant has upped their prices for the evening or the fact that the only cards on sale are way too cheesy. Instead, let's imagine you have the perfect partner and all the time and money you need. How would you like to be romanced on Valentine's Day? Here's my list:

+ Be taken on a balloon ride at sunrise.
+ Receive bespoke chocolates.
+ Eat lunch on a silver vintage DC-3 flying over beautiful scenery.
+ Accept a delivery of twelve dozen roses, already arranged in a gigantic vase.
+ Have a silver service dinner on a private beach at sunset.
+ Spend the night in the penthouse of an exclusive hotel.

I love birthdays, especially my own! Below are the three best celebrations I've ever had.

1. My 11th birthday. My parents let me have a pool party. There was cake, and swimming, and a weird summertime version of an Easter Egg hunt, except my dad had put dollar bills in the plastic eggs instead of candy. I was the coolest 11 year old for a whole week.

2. My 21st birthday. My boyfriend was living in my parents' attic at the time (long story...) and one of my best friends showed up at my house with three of our friends from Ireland in tow. I bought beer legally for the first time, then took my friends to the ocean where we jumped in waves, told stories and ate cake.

3. My 25th birthday. I finished grad school and successfully reached a quarter of a century on the same day. To celebrate, I invited everyone I knew to the bar, and everyone showed up! And bought me a drink. The next day was not so fun, but that night? One of the best ever.

My next birthday isn't until August, but it's never too early to start planning!

Memories, imagination, old sentiments, and associations are more readily reached through the sense of smell than through any other channel.
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

Here are a few smells that I love, mostly I think because of the memories associated with them:

• Summer storms
• Christmas trees
• New books
• Jasmine
• Baked earth
• Wet asphalt
• Purple
• Salt air

Are there any particular smells that put a smile on your face?

Post by Bridey

The imaginary tiny fox that lived between my bed and the wall. My stuffed animals have been informed of this fact and warned to stay awake and watch out!

The music box Christmas angel that my mom took out every holiday season totally had it in for me. I was convinced that something horrible and irreparable is happening every time it slowly wound its way around, clinking out 'Silent Night.'

My story record about the squirrel who couldn't find where he buried his nuts. It prominently featured wind noises which terrified me to my tiny core. I remember feeling afraid even when I held the record sleeve in my hands.

The basement. For duh. However! Ours was rendered significantly more terrifying by the fact that the VCR's clock reflected into the window, creating the illusion of glowing greens eyes staring at you as you tore down the steps and across the linoleum to get to the light switch as fast as humanly possible.

The tall arborvitae that stood on either side of our front steps. They were huge and bushy and perfect for scary killers to hide behind. To complicate matters, our house light was motion sensitive, so you'd have to complete the long sprint up the sidewalk, leap up the steps (past the arborvitae housing monsters) and frantically wave your hand in front of the light before you were out of the dark.

Just to be clear: I'm still kind of afraid of those trees.

What wound you up as a kid?

Posted by Sarah Von

Photo

There are many of these lists all over this fabulous Internet of ours, however this list contains things I've done which are sure-fire signs that I spend far too much time online. 

1. I have an unlimited data contract on my phone and as  such, have checked my email in the middle of parties before. 
2. If I'm asked a question I can't answer I immediately Wiki it.
3. I bought a measuring scoop to measure ingredients in cups because although most recipes in the UK are done by weight, most recipes I use are found online and therefore invariably American.
4. I consider taking a break from a piece of work to be opening a new browser window to do some trivial browsing for a while, without leaving my desk.
5. When passing a Macdonalds and feeling a bit hungry, I turned to my other half and said "I can has cheezburger?" (and was then mildly embarassed!)
6. I give my computers names.
7. Before I spend any money on a new product, I always consult the blogosphere for reviews!
8. I find it very hard to keep in touch with people who aren't on Facebook or don't have blogs.
9. I'm typing this at my parents' house where I'm staying for the week, and I took a router with me so I didn't have to be without Internet on the rare occasions my Father uses his PC. 
10. Instead of reaching into my pocket I've used an online coin-flip to make a decision. 
11. I'm on dozens of mailing lists because of the amount of free samples I've applied for. 
12. I identify with almost all of the items on most of the other Internet addiction lists I've seen!

What amusing, silly or downright geeky things have you done in the name of Internet addiction?

Scribbles is from New Zealand and writes on love, life and literature - instead of having a million children (like half her friends), she has a million books and considers them a lot lower maintenance... most of the time.

There are certain areas that seem like dangerous territory in "just dating" conversation, that seem too heavy for casual small talk but would REALLY help you in seeing whether you want this flirtation to go further.

Mine are:

1. What his relationship is like with his family - I'm close with mine and I need a guy that can at least understand that even if he's not quite as close with his own. Is he a mummy's boy and will you always be second best?
   
   
2. What ended his last relationship - she got fat? That would be a no go for me. Realising they had different goals and ambitions is a more valid and acceptable reason in my book. She cheated? Something that may explain his reaction to circumstances in your relationship.
   
   
3. Marriage and babies, yes or no - everyone has their own views on these two things and it can cause a major bust up if you aren't on the same page... but it is one of those things very rarely brought up early on. Wouldn't it be great to know you were compatible right from the start?
   
   
4. His personal hygiene habits - he may look spiffy now, but have you caught him the day of his weekly shower when you are a twice-a-day shower nerd? Or vice versa and he'll look at you with condescension for washing your hair every third day.
   
   
5. His religious leanings - it's no secret that I believe in God, but it's a bit full on in the first date to be delving into each other's religious and spiritual experiences even if you want to know whether he's dedicated to a particular faith, open to possibilities or whatever.

What are those burning questions that you've always wanted to ask someone you were dating but just haven't worked up the guts?

When I'm in a planning mood (which is frequently) I sometimes get to thinking about a few of the features that my dream home will possess:

• Large swimming pool
• Tree house with a good rope swing
• Vegetable garden with rows and rows of peas
• Huge bath
• Elaborate four poster bed
• Baby grand piano
• Sunny window seat
• Courtyard with a fountain

Practicalities aside, what would you most like as part of your dream home?

Posted by Bridey

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This post is about those wonderful things that make us feel a little guilty, but are far too good not to indulge in once in a while. The things that break the rules slightly, are a little unhealthy, are too expensive to cost-justify but make life that little bit more enjoyable. These are some of my guilty pleasures, what are yours?

1. A nice long lie-in, even though there are lots of things I should be doing with my day. 
2. Trashy celebrity gossip magazines - I only ever spend money on them if I'm on a long train journey, but I love reading them on a semi-regular basis in the canteen at work too!
3. Really good wine - I unfortunately have expensive tastes!
4. Takeaway for dinner, there's something about getting food delivered that makes it taste so good, especially if it's really cold and miserable outside (which also adds to the guilt-factor, I always feel sorry for the poor delivery person!) and you can't be bothered to go food shopping. 
5. Rich chocolate cake, bad for the diet but fabulous for the mood!
6. Posh scented candles, I'd have them all over my house if I could afford it!
7. Washing my clothes with huge amounts of fabric conditioner (at least twice as much as it says on the bottle) then surrounding myself in soft, lovely smelling fabric!
8. Just doing... nothing! It's great!