Something You Should Know About Me
You’re about to learn something about me that a lot of people don’t know…
…and you’re gonna see a video down below. BUT please DO NOT watch the video below until you read this entire post otherwise things won’t make any sense.
I’m somewhat of a germ-a-phobe. I’ll take a “dap” over a hand shake any day.
And I hate when people cough and sneeze around me. And I prefer not to drink out of other people’s cups.
Other than that, I’m pretty “normal” even though my assistants Marilyn and Allison wouldn’t agree since I make them keep a bottle of GermX on their desk at all times.
The reason I’m telling you all this is because two funny things happened to me over the last three days. (Well, it’s probably funny to you, but it really messed with my OCD big time!)
See, I spent a couple days last week teaching online client getting strategies at Joe Polish’s Platnium Plus seminar in Phoenix, AZ. It was a killer event and the people there were awesome.
I also shared the stage with Paula Abdul. She’s a totally awesome and sweet person and has amazing energy. All of Joe’s attendees loved her.
WARNING: What I’m about to tell you is NO reflection on Paula. I totally realize that the problem is all me.
Funny story 1:
So at the end of Paula’s presentation people lined up to take a picture with her. I got in line too (didn’t want to pull the “presenter card” and cut in line) since I figured it would be a cool picture to put on my blog. While in line with 30 others I realized that Paula was kissing everyone on the cheek before snapping a picture.
Another Disclaimer: Like I said, Paula is a REALLY awesome person and I realize that the problem here is ALL me and not her.
Once I saw her kissing everyone on the cheek my OCD/Germ-a-phobe switch flipped and I realized that there was NO WAY I was gonna take a picture with her and risk getting a kiss on the cheek after she kissed all those people (again, the problem here is all me for the record).
So I bailed out of line like a bat out of hell, made random small talk with Joe Polish for about two minutes and I was outta there!
And that’s why I have no picture of me and Paula Abdul to show you.
Funny story 2: This past weekend there were a lot of Birthday’s in my family. Brother, dad, nephew, and a few others that I probably forgot about. And to top it all of there was a party happening that I couldn’t get out of.
I promised my mom and dad that I’d stop by with Di and the kids and so we did.
Now, again. Let me just say that I realize the problem is once again ALL ME. I also realize that the universe has a very funny sense of humor and that often times I’m the butt of the joke - totally fine with me.
For funny story # 2 to make sense to you I have to kinda set the scene…
I’m Armenian. And If you know anything about Armenians it’s that they love to put on big parties, weddings, and anniversaries and rent halls where they bring in a TON of food, music, and booze and the good times roll.
If you’ve seen the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” then you’ve seen a toned down version of an Armenian party.
So we got the kids together and headed to the party to hang with the Armenian side of the family who I had not seen for over five years.
We had a blast… until the end of the night when one of my dad’s old timer friends decided that he was gonna give me ten minutes of drunken advice all while spitting while he talked. (By the way the advice was about how the internet is going to be the next be thing… ironic, right?)
Oddly enough Di happened to have her flip cam with her and she caught the very part of the conversation that I hated the most on video.
Since I consider you a friend and since I know for everyone else but me this is considered funny I thought I’d share this video from last night with you.
I’ll spare you the long speech and just show you the “money shot”.
Enjoy the video…
Those two cute kids at the end of the video happily eating cake are Andrew and Chloe. They had no clue daddy was being assaulted as they were chowing down… haha!
I’m curious. Do you have any weird quirks, phobias, or hang ups? Let me know if the comment box below 
Comments on Something You Should Know About Me »
Shawn Horwood @ 1:39 pm
I personally have a bit of OCD when it comes to keeping certain things in order…I’ve got all my DVDs in alphabetical order, all my books are in order & my drawers are all very carefully organized. But then my tools are all over the place and not organized at all…it’s weird. Some things have to be organized, others don’t. And I have no idea why.
I also hate crooked pictures…if there’s a picture on a wall that’s slightly tilted it’ll drive me absolutely batty. I either have to force myself to look away and think of something else, or if it’s a close friend I’ll go fix the picture.
Oh, and I have a really hard time getting along with very opinionated people. I find that most opinionated people just base their opinions on one sentence they heard, or something their friend said, or just based on how they feel.
I’m quite opinionated, but most of my opinions are based on tons of research, facts & experience. If I haven’t done proper research, I try very hard not to form an opinion.
Where this becomes a problem is when I meet opinionated people. I try to keep my mouth shut most of the time otherwise it’s really easy for me to get in arguments and try to show the other person how stupid they are (which is a complete waste of time and can be hurtful), but if it’s a subject I’m really passionate about, I can’t help myself.
My friends will sometimes be around and someone will state their opinion very strongly and then one (or more) of my close friends will just give me a look that says “stay out of it”.
Anyways, those are pretty much my weird quirks.
Germs though, I’m totally ok with. I don’t know how you can have kids and still have problems with germs. (I don’t have kids - never even had a girlfriend yet - but I’ve babysat babies & kids lots and I have young cousins and they get germs all over the place.)
Shawn
Steve Payne @ 1:47 pm
BK,
That was classic. Unfortunately I cannot relate in the least.
I’m a hunter, so during season I have qyite a lot of, shall we say, “bodily fluid” draped across my hands, arms and face during the cleaning process. It’s something I’ve done all of my life and I have no qualms about cleaning a deer while simultaneously feasting on a bag of chips and sucking down an adult beverage. Yum!
You’re kids are beautiful, by the way.
SP
I have the same phobia but somehow I overcome my fear and get out of my comfort zone when they are HOT!!!
All my mentors including you always said get out of your comfort zone.
Joshua Carter @ 2:51 pm
I almost pissed my self watching that clip. And yes, I agree the internets will be HUGE.
James Simpson @ 3:18 pm
I’d have to say like the FBS ’09 shirt said…I’m with BEDROS! I can’t stand germs and people wanting to shake my hands etc. my assistant and staff can attest to the same office rigmarole, purel is my best friend. Although i have to agree with Sam on getting out of your comfort zone even though that’s usually an easy task for me I have yet to conquer it in the area of OCD.
Elisa @ 4:05 pm
What weird quirks do I have? Well, too many to post here, that’s for sure.
I, myself, have a bit of the OCD. I was unaware, however, that yours was pronounced enough to not allow yourself to get a picture with Paula Abdul. I mean, couldn’t you start with something like, “Um, have you seen that show ‘Monk’?” And then take it from there.
My OCD stuff has to do with cleanliness after a certain time. For instance, I take my showers at night. Once I take a shower, that’s it - I’m ‘clean.’ I have to have my night time slippers ready to put on right when I get out of the shower because, now that I am ‘clean,’ all of the floor is dirty. Seriously, if my foot/feet accidentally touches something (like the carpet) I have to rewash my feet or spread sanitizer on them (I am RIGHT THERE with you about the GermX. That stuff totally rocks - and it smells better than all the other generic ones).
This clean thing goes into everything else, too. Like, the bed sheets, towels, etc. I have a ‘dirty’ side of the handtowel that is for daytime and ‘clean’ side that is for after shower time.
I know. I’m messed up. I need help.
I have weird things with sounds and stuff, too. That could be a different post, though.
Thanks for sharing your phobias! Weirdo hee hee
Margarite @ 4:21 pm
B… For the lack of better wording ~ never mind, I can’t say that here???? I just laughed sooooo out loud for soooo long ~ I am one, too, and sooooo totally related and saw everything your way ~ you’re a really funny dude… It’s great to be able to see how hillarious that is ~ The whole thing is really, really funny
LOL… thanks for sharing B… i’m touched you actually went to one of those parties ~ I thought you were way too Americanized 
I love seeing your family and reading about them, always ~
Ok’y, I’m so paranoid about germs and stuff that even in my own household, I wear gloves for everything I bring from outside ~ Mrs. Hughes you may think? Pretty much baby!!! You never know what/who you’re dealing with… And i’m peroxiding all over my GYM all the time, too
So, I totally relate to that too, and by the way, the way you wiped your face after that “delic” pecker he gave you? that’s what I had advised my kids (Godchildren) to do after they actually got cought being kissed ~
Keep them coming Bedros ~ you must be the most radical decent person I know online
The internet is a fad it will never last lol
How can such a laid back dude like you be a germ freak B? I feel so honored that I got a hug now cuz the folks from Canaidia have lots of weird germs, especially one shifty guy from TO.
You’re cool for man-ing up to that! Kids are too cute BTW.
Donovan Owens @ 6:20 pm
Your face was priceless B:)
Donna @ 7:02 pm
I can’t stand it when my sister is cutting cake and will lick her fingers in between each piece. YUCK! I also don’t like it when I am talking to somebody and I feel like I need a spit guard in front of my face. I also have a problem with kids picking their nose, then eating it. I am on a roll now. Sorry to gross you out.
perry mosdromos @ 8:03 pm
Man again you have hit a nerve. I bathe with sanitizer and also put a couple squirts in my coffee every morning to keep the germs at bay. I hate it when people dont cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough, and even when they do they use their hands and then touch everything in site.
My favorite is when my clients come in for a personal training session coughing and weezing and think nothing of it.
I will share with you one of the nastiest things I have ever witnessed. I was at Starbucks getting my 5th cup of coffee when an older asian gentleman was sitting by the cream and sugar island. Upon closer examination this guy was clipping his freekin fingernails, IN A STARBUCKS like nothing was wrong. I flipped out! How disgusting.
Thanks for letting me vent, you saved me some therapy this week.
John Thompson @ 8:29 pm
How come you never react like that when we… nevermind.
I’d of made out with Paula if I were you.
Debbie @ 3:03 am
My day job is in a nursing home, I’m a nurse. I work around elderly folks who pee, poop, puke, spit and snot - need I say more?
Chuck Walker @ 7:10 am
I’m sure we all have some OCD tendencies.
My wife and I get into little comical spats over how to put dishes into the dishwasher. I have a VERY specific way that I like it done and she just tosses it then like a college kid with a hangover.
I always ask if the dishwasher is dirty of clean. If its dirty and I know she’s loaded it…I try to avoid it so as to avoid an argument. Typically, my OCD gets the best of me and I open the damn thing up, empty it, and do it “the right way”.
I’m the same way when it comes to folding laundry! Very specific way…
Rob @ 7:38 am
OMG- The expression on your face after was priceless. Another example of getting out of your “comfort zone”. I met a former ironman athlete the other day who was hit by a car on her bike and had a 1% chance of survival. 7 months later she is swimming and walking. She was talking to me about her experience and said that it wasn’t until after the accident that she realized just how good a hug felt. So everyone get out of your comfort zone and go out and live life.
@Debbie, I think you win.
Clarence Ferguson @ 12:35 pm
Hey Bedros I’m the same way, especially in the bathroom. I’m all about the fist bump. How can you drop a duece and not wash your hands?
C-man
Trainer Fred @ 1:28 pm
Yo Bedros
I Hate grabbing bathroom door nobs, or door handle. I always use the inside of my shirt or a paper towel when I can. If I am with out either one, I use my foot. Talk about Germs
To me owning a small gym, the worst is watching guys come out of the stall and head right back out into the gym without washing their hands! I guess I need to post a sign if you go to the bathroom you can’t leave this room without washing.