Persona non grata (Latin, plural: personae non gratae), literally meaning "an unwelcome person," is a term used in diplomacy with a specialized and legally defined meaning. The opposite of persona non grata is persona grata.
If you had asked me a week ago to give you my opinion of St. Louis Cardinals baseball Superstar Albert Pujols, I would have said that he may be the greatest baseball player of his generation.
After last Friday...my opinion has been altered just a bit.
Oh, I will still tell you that Albert Pujols may be the greatest baseball player of his generation...but then I'll pause, look you in the eye and tell you that in the eyes of my children, (and to some extent my eyes as well...) Albert Pujols is a bit of a jerk!
Dateline: Kansas City, Missouri Friday December 22nd, 2006 2:30 pm...
An average department store in an average suburb of KC. Subject Pujols is looking at shoes when he is spotted by members of the Cox family.
They speculate as to if it is, in fact, the greatest baseball player in all of the Major Leagues. After careful consideration it is determined that it is, in fact, Albert Pujols. Members of the Cox family decide they want to approach the subject and ask for an autograph. When younger members, Dustin (age 12) and Jared (age 6) become skittish about approaching one of their heroes a logical solution is offered...Their Father, David (age 41) will make the initial approach on their behalf.
David crosses the isle from jackets and coats to men's sweaters. "Excuse me?" David (Me) says, "Are you Albert Pujols?"
"Yes I am" says the man, thus answering the question of "Is this really Albert Pujols?"
"I was wondering if my Sons could tell you "HI" and get your autograph?" I ask politely.
Pujols eyes narrow to slits as he says "No way, Man...not here!"
"Sorry to bother you," I say as he walks away quickly.
"What a jerk!" Dustin says
"Wow," says Jared, "I wasn't expecting that!"
"Me neither..." I (I mean, David) reply.
"We should just point and yell... HEY IT'S ALBERT PUJOLS!!!" Dustin says...
"Maybe he's just having a bad day...or maybe he's like me and hates Christmas shopping?" I offered.
"But still, you'd think he'd at least be not so rude." Says Dustin.
"You're right..." I offer.
I honestly do understand his reasons for not signing autographs:
1. He's afraid everyone will notice him and it will become a riot.
2. He hates Christmas shopping and just wants to get out of there and get home.
3. He's spending time with his family and just doesn't want to be bothered.
4. We might have been the 25th group of people to pester him that day.
Reasons I think he might have refused: (my first reaction to his behavior)
1. He's a Jerk
2. He didn't even think for one minute that while we might have been the 25th group of people to ask for his autograph that day...it was the ONLY time that my kids are likely to run into one of their heroes while just out shopping.
3. He's a Jerk
4. He's addicted to the fame but allergic to the fans.
Ways that Albert could have refused nicely:
1. Sorry guys, I'm with my family and I don't want to cut into their time.
2. I can't guys because I'm really in a hurry, but it was nice that you asked.
3. I wish I could, but if I did I'm afraid it would turn into a madhouse...but here, let me shake your hands.
4. Sorry guys, but you know how hectic it is around Christmas, and I've still got a lot to do...
See, Albert...you could have done the nice thing in the eyes of my kids...that way you wouldn't have ended up persona non grata...
David
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Smitten Kittens
So this week Dustin (who is 12) had his first "Date." (I'm doing air quotations as I type this).
He's known this girl over the phone for the last few months and they met through a mutual friend. After making and receiving nightly phone calls (in multiples) they decided that they should finally meet face to face.
On Tuesday Dustin's school had their Christmas Orchestra Concert, and since Dustin plays the bass, he was required to go. We were doing our usual running late sort of thing when the phone rang.
"Dad," he yelled..."Can we give _________(name deleted to protect her privacy) a ride home from the concert?"
"I guess," I said "If her Mom is okay with it..."
"Dad" Dustin yelled..."Can we give her a ride to the concert?"
"Dustin, we're really short on time...if we do, we'll have to drop you off at school and then go get her...is she going to want to ride with a family she's never met?"
"I'll ask her..." he answered.
After talking with her Grandmother and figuring out directions, we dropped Dustin off at the school and then headed over to his object of interest's house...(I was going to say affection, but their both pretty new to the game...)
So into the van hops a cute 13-year-old girl with bright eyes and an even brighter smile. Jared (who is 6) must have noticed too, because he began to look at her the way he looks at puppies and ice cream. (In fact, I had to get onto him for staring at her...) She turned out to be not only cute, but polite and a very good sport to put up with my good natured joking... (I told her that Dustin only liked Country music and the 3 stooges and that he'd only go to sleep if I whistled the theme to the Andy Griffith Show to him...)
The concert went well and Dustin played great! Afterwards the school provided refreshments and I had to prod Dustin along so that he'd walk alongside his girl "friend" and even so he'd make small talk with her...he was the epitome of shy. As they walked on ahead I asked Jared if he liked her and he said "Just as a friend..." (This is a 6-year-old we're talking about!!!)
Sherry later asked Jared if he thought Dustin's friend was cute... his answer? "DUH!!!"
We stopped and let the kids run into Quik Trip and get cappucinos and then we drove her home...since it was nearly 9:00 on a school night. They resumed their phone calls the following night... Ah, first love...
David
He's known this girl over the phone for the last few months and they met through a mutual friend. After making and receiving nightly phone calls (in multiples) they decided that they should finally meet face to face.
On Tuesday Dustin's school had their Christmas Orchestra Concert, and since Dustin plays the bass, he was required to go. We were doing our usual running late sort of thing when the phone rang.
"Dad," he yelled..."Can we give _________(name deleted to protect her privacy) a ride home from the concert?"
"I guess," I said "If her Mom is okay with it..."
"Dad" Dustin yelled..."Can we give her a ride to the concert?"
"Dustin, we're really short on time...if we do, we'll have to drop you off at school and then go get her...is she going to want to ride with a family she's never met?"
"I'll ask her..." he answered.
After talking with her Grandmother and figuring out directions, we dropped Dustin off at the school and then headed over to his object of interest's house...(I was going to say affection, but their both pretty new to the game...)
So into the van hops a cute 13-year-old girl with bright eyes and an even brighter smile. Jared (who is 6) must have noticed too, because he began to look at her the way he looks at puppies and ice cream. (In fact, I had to get onto him for staring at her...) She turned out to be not only cute, but polite and a very good sport to put up with my good natured joking... (I told her that Dustin only liked Country music and the 3 stooges and that he'd only go to sleep if I whistled the theme to the Andy Griffith Show to him...)
The concert went well and Dustin played great! Afterwards the school provided refreshments and I had to prod Dustin along so that he'd walk alongside his girl "friend" and even so he'd make small talk with her...he was the epitome of shy. As they walked on ahead I asked Jared if he liked her and he said "Just as a friend..." (This is a 6-year-old we're talking about!!!)
Sherry later asked Jared if he thought Dustin's friend was cute... his answer? "DUH!!!"
We stopped and let the kids run into Quik Trip and get cappucinos and then we drove her home...since it was nearly 9:00 on a school night. They resumed their phone calls the following night... Ah, first love...
David
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Barbara Walters don't know squat! Here's my 10 most interesting people.
Okay, Baba Wawa had her 10 most interesting people of 2006 and they included:
JAY-Z (mostly because he's engaged to Beyonce)
Patsy Ramsey's Husband
(I guess because she died and that creepy guy said he killed their daughter when he really didn't)
Patrick Dempsey (Former nerdy guy turned "McDreamy" which sounds like snack on the McDonald's menu)
Terri Irwin (Steve's Widow... I have all of the respect for her in the world and believe that she is the ONE AND ONLY PERSON WHO DESERVES TO BE ON THIS LIST!)
The Lady who inspired "The Devil Wears Prada" (ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ)
Angelina Jolie (She's pretty and somewhat less weird than she used to be...but so what?)
Andre Agassi (Okay, he's a great tennis player and humanitarian...so he might sort of belong here)
Nancy Pelosi (Wow, she's important....whoo hooo...big flippin deal!)
and I totally forgot the other two people because this list is so stupid it makes me wanna hurl!
Here are my 10 most interesting people of 2006 not in any particular order...
1. Steve Carrell- Star of the "OFFICE" on NBC and the star of "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Over the Hedge." Comic genius.
2. David Eckstein-- St. Louis Cardinal's player and all-around nice guy. Once voted best Jewish athlete even though he isn't Jewish!!! Great ball player too!
3. Terri Irwin---What strength and courage! She is an inspiration to all and makes all Husbands want to hold their wives that much tighter.
4. John "Buck" O'Neil---One of the classiest people ever to grace this planet. He brought smiles to those who had none and brought the Negro Leagues Baseball History to Light. If God needed a team manager, he's got one now!
5. Lamar Hunt---Practically invented the modern NFL and coined the term "Superbowl." Along with Buck O'Neil one of the nicest "celebrities" My kids and I have ever met.
6. April McKenzie---Customer service agent at Disney World Resorts... She is the example that all service people should follow!
7. Jennifer Hudson---former American Idol reject who may just sing her way to an OSCAR in "Dreamgirls."
8. Barbaro---okay, I know he's a horse, but his broken leg at the Kentucky Derby broke hearts all over the world.
9. Pam and Jim from the OFFICE- A sweet romance that makes you forget all about David and Maddie and Sam and Diane.
10. Heroes---Best new TV show on TELEVISION this year!
JAY-Z (mostly because he's engaged to Beyonce)
Patsy Ramsey's Husband
(I guess because she died and that creepy guy said he killed their daughter when he really didn't)
Patrick Dempsey (Former nerdy guy turned "McDreamy" which sounds like snack on the McDonald's menu)
Terri Irwin (Steve's Widow... I have all of the respect for her in the world and believe that she is the ONE AND ONLY PERSON WHO DESERVES TO BE ON THIS LIST!)
The Lady who inspired "The Devil Wears Prada" (ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ)
Angelina Jolie (She's pretty and somewhat less weird than she used to be...but so what?)
Andre Agassi (Okay, he's a great tennis player and humanitarian...so he might sort of belong here)
Nancy Pelosi (Wow, she's important....whoo hooo...big flippin deal!)
and I totally forgot the other two people because this list is so stupid it makes me wanna hurl!
Here are my 10 most interesting people of 2006 not in any particular order...
1. Steve Carrell- Star of the "OFFICE" on NBC and the star of "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Over the Hedge." Comic genius.
2. David Eckstein-- St. Louis Cardinal's player and all-around nice guy. Once voted best Jewish athlete even though he isn't Jewish!!! Great ball player too!
3. Terri Irwin---What strength and courage! She is an inspiration to all and makes all Husbands want to hold their wives that much tighter.
4. John "Buck" O'Neil---One of the classiest people ever to grace this planet. He brought smiles to those who had none and brought the Negro Leagues Baseball History to Light. If God needed a team manager, he's got one now!
5. Lamar Hunt---Practically invented the modern NFL and coined the term "Superbowl." Along with Buck O'Neil one of the nicest "celebrities" My kids and I have ever met.
6. April McKenzie---Customer service agent at Disney World Resorts... She is the example that all service people should follow!
7. Jennifer Hudson---former American Idol reject who may just sing her way to an OSCAR in "Dreamgirls."
8. Barbaro---okay, I know he's a horse, but his broken leg at the Kentucky Derby broke hearts all over the world.
9. Pam and Jim from the OFFICE- A sweet romance that makes you forget all about David and Maddie and Sam and Diane.
10. Heroes---Best new TV show on TELEVISION this year!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Rejected titles for Modern Christmas songs
1. I saw Mommy kissing Santa Cl...... Hey, wait! That's not Santa, that's K-Fed... Gross!
2. All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth and 2.5 million dollars from those idiots at Schwinn who failed to put a proper warning label on my bike.
3. Walking in a winter wonderland with a plastic baggy to pick up my dog's poop with.
4. Let it snow, yeah great Idea...You're not the one who gets to stay home and listen to the kids fight over the X-Box.
5. Rudolph the rednosed alcoholic who admits he has a problem but still harbors bad thoughts about the Jews.
6. We wish you a Merry Christmas, but you won't hear it from the associates in our store this season.
7. I'm getting gift cards for Christmas...
8. The 12 days of Christmas and the 365 days of credit card debt.
9. Frosty the transgendered snowman.
10. The Little Drummer boy who keeps getting weird messages on his myspace message board.
2. All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth and 2.5 million dollars from those idiots at Schwinn who failed to put a proper warning label on my bike.
3. Walking in a winter wonderland with a plastic baggy to pick up my dog's poop with.
4. Let it snow, yeah great Idea...You're not the one who gets to stay home and listen to the kids fight over the X-Box.
5. Rudolph the rednosed alcoholic who admits he has a problem but still harbors bad thoughts about the Jews.
6. We wish you a Merry Christmas, but you won't hear it from the associates in our store this season.
7. I'm getting gift cards for Christmas...
8. The 12 days of Christmas and the 365 days of credit card debt.
9. Frosty the transgendered snowman.
10. The Little Drummer boy who keeps getting weird messages on his myspace message board.
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