My boss and I have recently had a couple of "discussions" about proper English grammar, so I went online this morning to hunt down a definitive answer about American comma usage (and only forwarded websites that supported my case.) Even though I've already broken one of Jack Lynch's rules from "A Guide to English Grammar and Style," I'm going to consciously break another; I already used a parenthetical phrase, and now I'm going to use a cliche. Ready?
Home is where the heart is.
I have two problems with people who say, "Never use cliches!" (Sorry Jack Lynch.) First, this phrase has been used so often that it has become cliche. This makes the speaker a hypocrite, and I don't like hypocrites. Second, cliches consist of often-repeated generalizations that are widely regarded as truths. I had never really appreciated the truth in "Home is where the heart is" until last weekend.
For those of you I have spoken to, gchatted, or who have read this blog - you know München has been awesome and terrible at the same time. The job is a great opportunity, I've gotten to experience another culture and language, my German has improved, and I'm doing something to satisfy my sense of adventure. On the other hand, I am removed from all friends and family, the language is difficult, the culture is unforgiving of a foreigner's faux pas, and I'm pretty sure the fucking bike lanes on the sidewalk are going to eventually kill me. Big ups, big downs.
My dad jokes that it not only takes a village to raise a child, but an international village. We're fans of the cliches, apparently. Last weekend I went to visit my international village chieftains Sara and Paul in Frankfurt - and to follow on with my extended metaphor - their home is full of heart. Brimming with heart. Chuck full of it. It was a necessary, 48-hour English-speaking extravaganza. It makes coming back to München more bearable. Now, I don't get so irritated when my boss deletes my commas - x, y, and z becomes x, y and z... which is just fucking confusing.
*Big breath.* Okay, it is still irritating, but not so much as before. Listening to Little Big Town helps:
Home is where the heart is.
I have two problems with people who say, "Never use cliches!" (Sorry Jack Lynch.) First, this phrase has been used so often that it has become cliche. This makes the speaker a hypocrite, and I don't like hypocrites. Second, cliches consist of often-repeated generalizations that are widely regarded as truths. I had never really appreciated the truth in "Home is where the heart is" until last weekend.
For those of you I have spoken to, gchatted, or who have read this blog - you know München has been awesome and terrible at the same time. The job is a great opportunity, I've gotten to experience another culture and language, my German has improved, and I'm doing something to satisfy my sense of adventure. On the other hand, I am removed from all friends and family, the language is difficult, the culture is unforgiving of a foreigner's faux pas, and I'm pretty sure the fucking bike lanes on the sidewalk are going to eventually kill me. Big ups, big downs.
My dad jokes that it not only takes a village to raise a child, but an international village. We're fans of the cliches, apparently. Last weekend I went to visit my international village chieftains Sara and Paul in Frankfurt - and to follow on with my extended metaphor - their home is full of heart. Brimming with heart. Chuck full of it. It was a necessary, 48-hour English-speaking extravaganza. It makes coming back to München more bearable. Now, I don't get so irritated when my boss deletes my commas - x, y, and z becomes x, y and z... which is just fucking confusing.
*Big breath.* Okay, it is still irritating, but not so much as before. Listening to Little Big Town helps:
I would ride across the mesa to the Arizona plains,
Or sail beyond the shores of Cisco Beach.
I’d go down the Mississippi to the land of hurricanes,
Or I’d climb the hills of Tennessee,
If that’s where you are,
That’s where I’ll be.
These lyrics are dedicated to mama and papa schneider... miss you :) And I kiiiind of like you.
I’d go down the Mississippi to the land of hurricanes,
Or I’d climb the hills of Tennessee,
If that’s where you are,
That’s where I’ll be.
These lyrics are dedicated to mama and papa schneider... miss you :) And I kiiiind of like you.
3 comments:
...ah, my sweet baby. I miss you but am thrilled that you're learning and surviving Germany... Soon you'll be thriving--I know you. But please continue this blog and tell us the good, the bad and the ugly. It will be an interesting travelogue and diary you'll read your kids as they face their fears in new adventures...
Love, Mom
Love your blog. And tell your boss that it both x, y, and z AND x, y and z are correct...consistency is the key. (I read grammar books at my job..)
Sending you warm fuzzies!
*Katie
iasofj diojcoasidjfio wjiocmlziofje
that's, what i think of your blog.
ROAR
<3.
puff
p.s. i deliberately misused commas just to piss you off.
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