I blog, therefore I am

Top 10 Irritating Phrases

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 07:32:12 -0700

Oxford recently came out with their list of the top 10 most irritating phrases. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/debates/3394545/Oxford-compiles-list-of-top-ten-irritating-phrases.html)

The top ten most irritating phrases:
1 - At the end of the day
2 - Fairly unique
3 - I personally
4 - At this moment in time
5 - With all due respect
6 - Absolutely
7 - It's a nightmare
8 - Shouldn't of
9 - 24/7
10 - It's not rocket science

What do you think? Is there an annoying phrase you think they left out?

I have a few more myself:

“Jesus wants to meet you right where you’re at.” It’s where you are, you don’t end sentences with prepositions.

“The fact of the matter is...”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

I could list one hundred more, but I want to hear from you. Give me your most annoying phrase?

Go West, Young Man!

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 01:28:25 -0700

Haven’t blogged in a while. It’s been a busy few months with major transitions being planned for. Just wanted to announce that we’ve decided to move to Phoenix, Arizona by the end of this year. As you may know, our visa’s were denied this time in Hungary so it’s time to move on. We’re looking forward to heading back to the states and thawing out from 3 years in Europe. If you’re ever out that way, stop by for a visit!

Somebody stole my name!

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:02:51 -0700

I’ve always been proud of the uniqueness of my name. I’d never met anyone with my name growing up. I was never confused with the other Addison’s because I was the only one. Over the years, many who’ve met me have named their children after me, directly and indirectly. A friend of mine once met a young boy at the mall and inquired of his name to which he replied, “Addison.” Shocked since he too had only met one, me, he asked the mother how she came up with the name. Turns out that she was a co-worker of friend whose wedding I was in and saw my name in the program and liked it.

I even wonder about the ad for Shutterfly in the picture above based on a customer in Santa Rosa, CA. I did three days of comedy there 6 years ago and now a 5-6 year old boy from that city is in the ad...makes me wonder. I don’t mind, I like the name and am glad it’s becoming more popular. I hope my character is good enough that it lends a good association with that name for others.

What drives me nuts is the continuing trend of taking men’s names and giving them to girls. Have you met my girls? This is Elliott, this is Leslie, this is Addison and my youngest is Ashley. Stop taking men’s names and giving them to your little girls! There are already 3 times the names available for girls.

Over time, this trend is confusing students in history class who learn about famous women and then learn they are men who’s names have been hijacked over the years.

In case you’re wondering, Addison is a derivative or Adam. It means son of Adam, man in God’s image, first man, man of the red clay, etc. Nothing that lends itself to being a girls name. Thanks Shutterfly for keeping it straight and not giving into the unisex trend.

P.S. Some will argue that they don’t care about the meaning and just like how it sounds. If that’s your logic, then how about these “nice sounding” names for your next little princess----Atrocity, Amnesia or Syphilis?

Now that’s expensive!

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 14:40:59 -0700

I saw this sign for gas recently while in Nashville.

Cooler than ice cream

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 11:05:07 -0700

While visiting my friend Jeff Roseblade in Cali, he showed me a RC car with drifting wheels for only $20 that his son loves. I always wanted one of those when I was a kid and now that I’m a father, what a great excuse to get one. Plus it’s only $20.

The place where I’m staying in Tallahassee right now has all hardwood floors and a nice big flat driveway, perfect for this car. I love how Ariston is always so thankful. “Thank you daddy for that car, it’s cooler than ice cream!”

That night we said our prayers and I asked him if there is anything he can be thankful for today. He said, “Father, thank you for allowing my daddy to get me that car, it’s really good, but you are gooder.” I love his perspective.

New link for my personal mission...

Mon, 2 Jun 2008 19:15:31 -0700

I just realized that my blog from last month about my personal mission, vision and values had the wrong link. No wonder I received no comments. Here is the correct link. Let me know what you think.

Raise your left hand if you feel pain

Sun, 11 May 2008 11:14:50 -0700

Living overseas is always an adventure. My latest adventure involves my trip to the dentist. I’ve already shared how some businesses share office space. My chiropractor shares his space with a dentist. I asked him to recommend a dentist and he points next door. I didn’t realize he was sharing his office with a dentist, I just thought that people with really nice teeth were the only Hungarians who get their backs adjusted.

I felt confident when I set my appointment since my chiropractor speaks English and the office manager for the dental office spoke a little as well. However, when I showed up the next day for my teeth cleaning, it was my chiropractor’s day off. The office manager asked for the languages I speak. “You don’t speak Spanish?” she asked next. “Well, it’s okay, this girl will clean your teeth. Just raise your left hand if you feel pain,” she says confidently.

I started laughing right there. I asked if they will figure it out if I start screaming. Isn’t a loud scream universal for pain? Maybe I could give a wrenching look on face. Even if I spoke Hungarian, how would I communicate effectively with her hands in my mouth?

If that wasn’t enough, my dental assistant looked about 22 years old and dressed like Christina Aguilera. I could see her midriff and her nose piercing as she leaned into me with her fake black hair and solarium tan. As she turned around to get some dental floss, I had a hard time deciphering the Chinese letters tattooed on her lower back. I’m constantly reminded of a saying I learned years ago on the mission field---TINA (This is not America).

Every time I see experience something strange like a waiter that doesn’t wait on you, I say to myself, “TINA”. The good news, my teeth are clean, but my left arm is sore.

Personal Mission Statement

Wed, 7 May 2008 09:43:19 -0700

One of the lessons I went through during John Maxwell’s EQUIP training had me come up with a personal mission, vision and values statement for my life. I recently posted it to my website. Check it out by clicking here.

Read over it and tell me what you think on this blog.

20/20 vision and breast augmentation

Wed, 7 May 2008 09:11:18 -0700

What does 20/20 vision have to do with breast augmentation? Well, it doesn’t have to make sense in this part of the world for the most unlikely of businesses to share office space.

Unlike America, where it seems like certain areas are zoned for certain businesses or at least similar businesses wind up in the same vicinity; here, you can find random pairings everywhere. My most recent example follows.

We took Ariston to the eye doctor for a check up. While sitting in the waiting room we started to notice women with fake tans and overdrawn eyebrows walking in and out of the door next to our doctor. “Isn’t this a children’s eye doctor office?”, I asked Lisa. Bored a few minutes later, I started to browse the brochures on the table next to me. I grabbed one with the picture of the doctor next door, opened it up, said, “Whooaa” and passed the brochure to Lisa.

It all made sense to us now. We spent the next 30 minutes making jokes about these two businesses sharing office space. We had to do something to kill the time. I still laugh every time I think about these women walking in and all the kids in the waiting room turning to look with their eyes squinting. However, I do have to say that Ariston’s eye doctor is pretty good, but he’s not the breast doctor in Budapest.

Silas’ Big Day

Thu, 1 May 2008 12:44:24 -0700

Silas said his first word today, “DUCK!” Actually, he said it about a hundred times. He grabbed the rubber duck from bath time and let loose.

Then tonight before bed, he took his first steps. I held a ball out and slowly moved it away from him---4 steps. Then he grabbed a badminton racket and swatted at the ball and moved forward 3 steps. So we tried the ball trick again. He took 4 steps and collapsed in exhaustion. It was a big day for him.