100

Believe it or not, this is post #100. Sure, there were a couple posts that didn't make the cut, so I've really only posted 97 or so, but I've written 100.

So, you might ask, what are you going to discuss on this all-important milestone of a post? I dunno. I have a great idea for #101, but #100's going to be pretty lame.

One idea that's been going through my mind lately is -handedness, as in right-handedness or left-handedness, or even both-handedness. I've been intrigued by this for some time. In high school I decided that the only difference between me (a righthander) and a left-handed person is that a left-handed person uses their left hand. So I started doing everything with my left hand.

It was pretty amazing how quickly I was able to use my left hand for things: eating, writing, 'rithmatic. But no matter how much I used my left hand, and no matter how good I got at using it, it still never felt comfortable, and that's what I'd like to talk about today.

You might be surprised at how many things there are in your daily life that you do with one hand or the other; or, really, one side of your body or another.

For example, I'm completely unable to hold the phone up to my left ear. No matter how long a conversation goes or how sweaty my right ear gets, I can't make the switch. I can hear just fine with my left ear, but for some reason my brain freaks out when it's asked to listen to a phone on the left.

Another example: cutting a steak. For some reason, I always switch my fork to my left hand and cut with my right hand, then switch hands to eat the piece of steak. Call me a freak. Really! I'm a freak. Why shouldn't I be able to cut a steak with my left hand?

Playing the guitar. Not only can I not play a guitar left-handed, but I can't even HOLD a guitar left-handed. It just feels so wrong.

Folding my arms with my left hand on top. I don't have any trouble interlocking my fingers with my left thumb on top, but I can't fold my arms with my left arm on top. I don't even think I could do it if someone put my arms in place for me.

Zipping a zipper. Can't do it with my left hand; it just gets stuck.

Cutting my toenails. I can cut the fingernails on my right hand with my left hand, and usually do a pretty darn good job, but I sure can't cut my toenails with my left hand.

Pour. Seriously, it's really hard to pour things with my left hand. I guess my body figures my right hand can do it just fine, why teach the left? I'm pretty sure I'd spill all over the place if I tried.

Use a mouse. Okay, so I AM able to use a mouse with my left, but the results are never pretty.

Use most tools. Word of advice: don't hold a nail for me if I have to hammer left-handed. I also can't turn in a screw with the driver in my left hand. I can use pliers with my left if it can just stay in place.

Every day I notice something else that I do with my right hand for the simple reason that I have just always done it that way. I hate to think that I do things out of habit, but I do. I've been trying to change those tendencies, often with comic results. Have you noticed anything that you do with one hand or the other when it could just as easily be done with the other? Will you now?