Wednesday, July 22, 2009

7 Things I'm Embarrassed to Own

We all have them. They are the things we make sure to hide before the guests arrive. Why we keep them, even we cannot say, but there they are, in the back of the closet, on basement shelves, hidden behind the Tylenol in the medicine cabinet. So just in case any of you ever end up in my house I want you to know I have these things. I tell you for three reasons. First, I think it may be cathartic. Second, I don't like picking up things around the house, and this way I won't have to; if you see any of the following items, you'll simply nod and say, "Oh yeah, I remember he said he had that." Third, I don't have any other ideas for a blog entry.

Things I'm Embarrassed to Own

1.

It's not that I don't support the NYPD; I'm sure they're fine folks. The reason this hat is embarrassing is because it was at one time trendy, and I don't typically approve of trendy things. I never wore parachute pants as a kid, I still don't know the Macarena, and I never bothered to buy one of those cool hats Sam Jackson likes to wear. I got this hat at the same time anyone else who owns one got theirs--just after 9/11 when it was a very popular thing to wait in long lines at gas stations, fantasize about bombing the Arab world to smithereens (maybe that was just me?), and wear goofy looking hats. Then, like two weeks later, most of us came to our senses and so now this hat hangs on a hook beneath three others.

2.
I wish I could tell you that I have this book because when I was a child Mr. T was awesome and I was a very hip kid who couldn't get enough Mr. T from The A-Team and that sorry excuse for a cartoon he made. Nope. I'm pretty sure I picked this one up at a library sale when I was in my late teens. It's not completely worthless, however. Any book that contains the line, "If you wash up more often, you won't have to grab your crotch," can never be worthless.




3.
This, for the unititated, is a fajita maker. Like most embarrassing things, this at one time looked pretty sweet. Who wouldn't want something that could make fajitas? Fajitas are decicious. But then I used the fajita maker and discovered two things: It was hard to clean, and the only thing it could make was fajitas. By contrast, my stove, when combined with a pan, could make fajitas, was fairly easy to clean, and could also be used to make other meals. The fajita maker currently resides between an electric skillet and a wok on a shelf in the basement.


4. This is a board game called Can You Beat Ken? The Ken being Ken Jennings of Jeopardy and Mormon fame. I think I may have gotten the game as a gag gift, but it's still embarrassing because rather than throw it out or sell it at a garage sale, I have stored it with all my awesome games like Stratego, Trivial Pursuit, Balderdash, and electronic football. I don't remember how to play the game, but I am fairly certain that the answer to the question is "No, I cannot beat Ken."



5.

Another book. The truth is I could easily make a list of only books and it would far exceed seven. I use Who Moved My Cheese here as a representation of the many self-help books I own. I am one of the millions who own How to Win Friends and Influence People. (But I must say that I felt a little slimy reading it even the first time, when I was probably fifteen. Whenever I meet someone who smiles at me and calls me by my first name the first time we meet, I can't help but wonder if he's recalling the lessons in Carnegie's magnum opus.) Self-help books are just cheesy, this one especially so. (God, I hope someone appreciated that, cause I'm mighty proud of that pun.)


6.
I hate American Idol with an intensity that rivals my loathing of that impenetrable plastic within which toy manufacturers encase their products. So this Bo Bice CD was the perfect gag gift to get me. I've never listened to it. I've never even taken the cellophane off the thing. But I haven't pitched it either. Bo Bice is waiting for me to come around, and he's penetrating my soul with those steely eyes.




7.
I don't even know what to say about this. Someone gave it to me and by even putting it on this list, I'm probably offending that person. The best thing I can say about it is that I will probably love it someday.

Like, when I'm seventy.





Non included in this list: Tucks Medicated Pads. Don't ask.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Bo Bice and "penetrate" in the same sentence...

PMM - take it easy.

Monica said...

i don't get the concept of Tucks Medicated Pads. I don't think there's enough stuff there, to really be beneficial or useful. I mean... if i knew what they were...


what are your feelings on "so you think you can dance", or "America's Next Top Model"

Kelly Polark said...

I'm sure I own many embarrassing things, but my mind is a blank right now. I did finally give my Von Dutch tshirt to goodwill this summer! I am not sure if I have any of those holiday teacher sweaters still, they may be packed away in my teacher supplies boxes!

Paul Michael Murphy said...

My feelings on all glorified talent shows are pretty much the same.

MG Higgins said...

I don't have much to say about your embarrassing things, although they are embarrassing. I hadn't been keeping up on my Verla Kay reading and just saw this:

"I use Amazon because I'm afraid to leave my basement. Clouds frighten me."

I snorted coffee out my nose and immediately had to come to your blog. Thanks for the laugh.

Ben Esch said...

Another great post Murph. I used to listen to the audio tape of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" when I went power walking. I don't think it particularly worked, since I don't really influence anyone, but it was a nice way to pass the time.

Ben

Tess said...

must.stop.laughing...

half from your post and half from TEW's comment!

Anita said...

I had to read your post three times before I understood what the heck Monica was talking about. Hah! You people are so funny...and much better than regular friends who ask you to help them move/give you rides to the airport, etc. I may put you all in my will.

Paul Michael Murphy said...

Anita, I recommend everyone read all my posts at least three times.

Monica said...

i usually only scan your posts, looking for key words, such as fart, or barf. If i don't find those, i read them more thoroughly.

Paul Michael Murphy said...

You're probably missing a lot of symbolism then, Monica.

Monica said...

oh you're probably right, PMM. I never was good at symbolism. Now, cymbalism, that i'm good at.