A while back I wrote about how referring to a V.I.P. and calling someone a “very important person,” seem to sound like really different ideas.
http://thestabbingpen.com/2009/11/27/1127-rather-be-a-vip-than-a-very-important-person/
“F.Y.I.” and “for your information” seem to have similar issues, especially when spoken aloud.
“…fyi the grapes are in the left drawer in the refrigerator” = normal sentence
“…for your information, the grapes [...]

I’m sure you know some people who have been in the same relationship for a long time, but aren’t married.  I’m talking about at least a 5+ year relationship here, if not even longer like 10 or 20+ years.
People who are in relationships like these are pretty much married, just not officially-officially.
I was recently talking [...]

You’ve heard people say this before, I’m sure of it.  It seems to be most popular when people describe food, particularly desserts.
“This lemon meringue pie…it’s to die for”
Well, I don’t like that phrase, I don’t like lemon meringue pie — and it’s definitely not worth dying for.
What if a dessert is really good, but not [...]

“Music saved my life.”  I’m sure you’ve heard people use that phrase, or something like it from time to time.
If you were poor, grew up in poverty, and had to endure all sorts of hardship — if you were beaten, abused, and constantly living in fear for your life  —- THEN became a wildly successful [...]

Ralph’s Supermarket seems to get a lot of mention in my blog, and although I don’t hate the store, it’s not my favorite food store either.
(See posts about Fresh & Easy)
Anyway, many Ralph’s locations here in Los Angeles have elevators in them.  The reason is because many stores have 2nd level parking, and large elevators [...]

There are a couple of go-to phrases you can use when you feel you may have crossed the line when making a joke.
How do you know when you’ve gone too far?  For one thing, if you’re amongst a group of people  — you make a joke, then silence follows.
Before that awkward silence lingers on for [...]

Every so often (almost everyday), I’ll find myself in a conversation with someone about my work, my career, my writing, women, sports, guitar, or just about anything that I should probably just give up on hehe….
They’ll be a moment when I feel overwhelmed, and I’ll blurt out something like, “I should probably just give up.”  [...]

I actually enjoy the taste of Pepto Bismol.  In fact, with my friend Steve, I discussed the idea of possibly making a cocktail with the Pepto.   Vodka/Pepto Bismol perhaps.   Steve suggested I call it a “Pinko Commie.”
So I told another friend I went window shopping recently.  He asked me if I bought anything.  I replied, [...]

Fine.  I won’t.  But it’s just because you specifically told me not to….otherwise I might blurt it out.
Sometimes people share personal information about themselves (or others) with me, and apparently it’s often “understood” that I shouldn’t go around repeating this stuff.  Well ya know what, how am I supposed to know this?
I mean, if you [...]

Recently I purchased some organic honey, mostly to use to put on Matzoh to eat as a snack.  Turns out while this honey is edible and ok, I feel like it has a weird taste.  Actually, I don’t particularly like it and wouldn’t buy it again.
So I’m strolling through supermarket with a guy friend of [...]