The Name Conversation

Do you ever wonder how much went into your name? Number one, who came up with it? If you have a name like mine, someone else had it first, but who was the first one to have it? Who was the one to make up the name? Perhaps you have a name like . . . Art or Skip; a name that is an actual thing. Who said it's alright to have a name that is an object or action? I wonder if someone has a name that means absolutely nothing. My name came in the form of a suggestion from Lou Huges to my mother. My middle name, Nicole, is the female version of my Dad's best man's name, Nick. My last name . . . . well, who knows. I am one of the many Smiths in America, so it's kind of hard to trace the name back. Actually, I'm not even a Smith; I'm a Perry. My grandfather on my Dad's side, Pa, was born Jullian Ray Perry. His parents got divorced and the man his mother re-married was named Smith, so my Pa took on his last name. I didn't even know until two years or so ago. Weird, uh? I guess it doesn't matter. But I do know one thing - I am it for the Smiths. I am the last in line. The name dies with me. The man my great grandmother married did not have any kids, but adopted my Pa. My Pa had four girls and one boy. My Dad only had two girls, so that's it for the Smiths. Talk about the pressure. However, I am glad I don't live in a time when your name is all you had; what the public knew you by; the standard you were held to. That would be real pressure.

My friend told me about a blog entry she saw once about names and I thought it might be fun. It's a favorite name blog. Now, everyone has their favorite names, perhaps it's your name, perhaps you have names picked out for your future kids or perhaps (and the ones I find most interesting of all) you have found names in books, movies, t.v. shows, authors, actors, singers, anyone of cultural significance or just your friends that you would consider putting on this list we are about to make. (I say we, but pretty much, I can anticipate only my list going up, which is okay.) It's a list of the coolest, most bizarre, odd sounding, pleasant sounding, nostalgic bringing, interesting, cool names. So, I'm going to start my list (I might add to it later) and you can post the same. Also, I would be interested in how your name came about, or what it means, or even a past family history secret will come out! Here we go:

Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket, Veruca Salt, Augustus Glump (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
Yo Yo Ma

Argus Filch, Mad Eye Moody, Severus Snape, Darco Malfoy, Petunia Dursley, Sirius Black, Bellatrix Lastrange, Dobby, Xeno Lovegood, Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter)

Kermit (the Frog)

Chuck E. Cheese

Marty McFly (Back to the Future)

Miss Havisham (Great Expectations)

Rizzo (Grease)

Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet)

Merlin
George Bailey (It's a Wonderful Life)

Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)

Forrest Gump

Ma Rainey (Jazz Singer)

Penny Lane

Prince Humperdink

Puck (Midsummer's Night Dream)

Winnie the Pooh (just because someone but "Pooh" in a name)

Debbie Schriener (My Good Friend)

Ethan Hawk
Ringo Starr

Wilma Flintstone

Miss Frizzle (Magic School Bus)

Benjamin Linus, Mr. Echo (LOST)

Topanga Lawrence (Boy Meets World)

Oliver Twist

Mufasa (The Lion King)

Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye)

Noah (The Holy Bible)

Darth Vader (Star Wars)

Optimus Prime (Transformers)

Tweedledum and Tweedledee (Through the Looking Glass)

Lynn Jasperson

Oscar Wilder

Ray Lamontagne

Dolly Parton

Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story)

Dracula

Tennessee Williams

Inspector Gadget
Huckleberry

Where's your list???

The Revive the E-mail to it's Former Glory Conversation

Remember "You've Got Mail?" (Now go back and read that again and, please, do the proper voice in your head.) American On Line. Who uses that anymore? I'm sure someone, but I don't know anybody that signs on to AOL 2.0 on the regular and gets to hear those precious words. I think those words were so special because it was the dawning of the internet for me and several of my friends and we were the target age that ate it up. It was so exciting, in fact, that you felt important to even be getting Forwarded messages because it meant someone knew your personal e-mail address. So universal was the feeling you got when you heard these words that Hollywood, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks deemed it Romantic Comedy Hit worthy.

I admit, I was late jumping on the internet bandwagon. (I seem to get on bandwagons way too late. I hold out for no reason and then suddenly join up and realize it's not that bad . . . Flip Flops, not that bad.) But there was something about AOL - made you feel important, I'd say elite. Don't even speak to me about "hotmail." And a snailmail account? Don't make me laugh. The dreadful switch to Comcast probably ended a few of my relationships. More affordable internet? Who needs that?

Do you remember the one person who was your e-mail friend? The person you would spend hours and hours writing really, really long e-mails to really late at night? The one who got all your FWD: messages but only if they were funny enough. Or those people on your Buddies list you would IM till 3:00 in the morning? And please, never forget the people you sent those lovable animated e-cards to. Where are those friends? What a pure rush of joy you would feel if they were on-line at the same time. Do you remember the anticipation to see if "they wrote you back?" Remember when "LOL" use to really mean something? What happen? Did we all realize we were being way over passionate about the internet and no one really wanted all those e-mails and e-cards (admit it, you sent one or two) and therefore ended the relationship not only with the person but with the fun-loving internet as well? All the friends I have now, I didn't e-mail once during the dawning age of the internet. Where are you and why did the e-mails stop?

E-mails were so instrumental in expressing yourself then, especially as a new teenager. However, now pretty much all we use it for is business and reminders and to pass along only important information. I think we have all gotten too busy and too "efficient" to even send a personal e-mail. People will always talk about the death of "the letter." "No one writes letters anymore. Letters are more personal than e-mail." Well, e-mails can be pretty personal. Even if it's just a catching up thing or a thinking of you or a good job, e-mails can be "Save in Folder X" worthy.

SO, I challenge you to write an e-mail for the pure heck of it; perhaps to your one long forgotten e-mail buddy. Send an e-card, unearth the forever ago FWD message about "Happy Dysfunctional Day" or that one with the weird looking monkeys and the bananas . . . anybody? See what people do if you just randomly ask how they're doing and give them a brief update (brief, people, brief update.) And always remember to ask them a question about their life too . . . .it's only polite. But seriously, folks, this week I will look into getting back to writing a random, funny, geez it's great to get to tell you about my boring day e-mail. I encourage you to do the same.

Other Nostalgia Inducing Remembrances:
Hearing the door opening effect when your buddies got on-line. Calling your friend to get on-line and chat. High school typing class was only important for you to be more efficient at IM.

ANYBODY GOT MORE?

The Songs That Keep Conversations in My Head

Here are the songs I can't get out of my head these past few weeks. And if you have heard them before . . . follow the link below the title and watch my favorite perforamces of the song. Same for if you have not heard them.

Mary - Patty Griffin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOxpvKuEruk

Tiger Mountain Peasant - Fleet Foxes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu_3RS2rO78

Thinking of You - Katy Perry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4ihigvpUgc

Grey Room - Damien Rice (so much that I was going to write it twice.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84h2_NBAZt0&feature=related

9 Crimes - Damien Rice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOn5Eudj5tI

Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4_4abCWw-w

"Hooked on a Feeling" and "Jinggle Bells" are always in my head. I didn't notice it until lately, but there it is . . . ALWAYS. And for a brief, but thrilling while this morning, "Proud to be an American" rolled through my head and off my tounge. What song is playing in your head today? Or Always?

The Just Need to Talk Conversation

My very good friend, Brandon Palma, is my very good friend. I have been without him for some months now and it's wearing on me. He is doing an incredible job interning for the spring

semester of INVISIBLE CHILDREN. http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php

He has been working very, very hard for a great cause and purpose. He has even shattered some Invisible Children records while he has been there. I think he has learned a lot and grown so much more than I am able to tell right now. I just miss him being here. It's only for a few months, but it feels like so much longer. Brandon and I have gone to two events together every year since we were old enough. The Youth Drama Retreat (7th-12th grades) and J.A.M. Kamp (4th-6th grades.) We participated every year as campers and have gone on to be leaders at these events (he is now 23 and I am 22.) Since he's been gone, he has missed our Youth Drama Retreat and he will be gone for or Talent Showcase. He will miss my birthday, Easter, and he will be gone right up until J.A.M Kamp. This is making me miss him more than ever because these are all big events in our lives every year and he is such an important part of them all. This is the spring without him and it's so weird and feels so wrong. I am glad he is doing this intership, I am. I just miss him. Brandon has such a big heart and I am glad he gets to spread it around! I hope the people that are with him now know how lucky they are!

Brandon and I have a very simple/complex friendship. Simple when it needs to be, when it's easy, and complicated like any other life-long friendship is inevitably. Brandon is the friend I can share any kind of feeling with - simple or complex. It can be the feeling of the weather, the feeling of a movie, song, moment, conversation, impending doom situation or just a ridiculous or funny situation. I can be a cryer with Brandon, I can be vulnerable, I can be a girl, I can be quiet, I can be sad, I can be simply happy, I can be fun, I can be stressed, I can be tired, I can be scatterbrained, I can be a singer, I can be a musician, I can be a peacemaker, I can be a person who rants and I can be a better person. I say all these things not to describe who I am, but to describe moments of our friendship. Every single one of these things "I can be" have significant meaning to me and Brandon because they trigger certain memories that have happen between us in these past years of friendship.

Now, honestly, Brandon can get on my last nerve. We have had misunderstandings, we have had fights, we have had heated discussions, but after each fight we have, there is always a clearing we come to where we are still friends at the end of the bumpy road. How many friends do you have that are actually, really, intently there for you every time, always, no matter what? When you are around someone for so long, you take them for granted and for short periods of time every little thing they do you can come to criticize. However, in these past couple of months, I have seen how I tend to take his friendship for granted. Sure he's just a phone call away, but there is something about sitting in the coffee shop with your friend and talking face to face when you need to talk through something. That is just the converstaion that inspired this blog entry.

I had something pressing on me and I had talked to many people about it, but I didn't feel settled about the subject. Then I randomly texted Brandon something really funny about someone, but unrepeatable for the weak stomached reader. That text told Brandon of my awkward situation and he was having a "bust" day as well. Although funny, this conversation reminded us when we are having an awkward or bad day, we just need to talk to our friends about it and get it off our chest. So he called me and we talked for 30 minutes about what was going on in his world and I got to talk about my pressing matter. Brandon was just the person I needed to talk to. I feel more settled about the situation and I know Brandon knows I can do it and will be great at it. If you have your friends behind you, you can go ahead. I was going to say, "If you have your friends behind you, you can't fail." That's not true though. I might fail, I might regret the decision, I might be in over my head, but it's okay because Brandon, and a handful of my close friends, will still be there no matter how simple or complex the journey may be and that means the world to me.

BRANDON - Good luck, Pal! You know I love you more than my luggage. Remember the same last few sentences go for you too! Do good. Be Brave. ABC FO' LIFE.

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php

Katy Perry is The Truth Conversation

A text message conversation went as follows:

"Just wanted you to know - 'You're an Indian summer in the middle of winter.'"

"Oh man she is not playing."

"My goodness not at all. This song played all those heart strings and slammed on the emotion button. That music video! They don't call me Weepy for nothing."

"Oh man. Alanis the Second, welcome to my life. Youtube her live on Kimmel. I wept."

"That is exactly who I thought it was at first and what a league to be in! I will watch it A.S.A.P."

Now, I know what you're thinking: My friend and I are excellent text messengers with no weird, confusing mumbo-jumbo abbreviations and you appreciate that. However, I need you to focus (but thanks and don't try to text me anything fancy because I wont get it.) I would like to discuss the reason for this intense text message. This song, Thinking of You by Katy Perry, has opened my eyes to a great newish artist.

Now, when I heard her first hit single, "I Kissed a Girl," I was not impressed. Catchy? Energetic? Radio Playable? Yes. For me? No. Then, whilst doing the everyday grind driving, over the radio comes this voice with strange emphasis, stabbing lyrics and a really rocking band. Alanis? No, there is something . . . . different. Who is this? I listen to the rest of the song knowing for sure the announcer will tell me who this is and, of course, the D.J. just pushes along to the next song. GAH! I need the i-Phone Shazam application that listens to the music and tells you the artist and title. But, alas, here I am and another great song, that I tell myself to keep remembering so I can type in the lyrics to Google but always forget, has passed.

Fast forward to a few days ago. I awake to VH-1. I must have fallen asleep to some mind-numbing, yet compelling reality love show. This is a strange occurrence because the staple TV channel to fall asleep to is, of course, Nick-at-Night (I do miss the days of Mary Taylor Moore, Taxi, Dragnet and Alfred Hitchcock.) Playing on VH-1 is this song I have heard before by a girl I recognize. I watch the heart aching video and at the end I am finally given the vital information I need. This song and video struck a chord with me (no pun intended.) I get on my computer, I so conveniently download it from i-Tunes and add it to my playlist. I strongly suggest you do the same and tell the world.

I would like to thank Anna Watkins for winning tickets on the radio for us to go to the concert! How the stars aline.

P.S.
I'd like to thank Katy Perry, Alanis Morissette, Jimmy Kimmel, Google, i-Phone, Shazam, VH-1, Nick-at-Night and i-Tunes for sponsoring this message. I'd do a great product placement show.

Tap Dancing on My Nerves Conversation

Michelle told me a story around Christmas . . . . actually to be more accurate it was Christmas Eve in which this story took place. It has happened to her before, it's happened to me before and I am sure you have experienced it as well. Only, you haven't noticed it before and neither did I until this enlightening conversation with Michelle. I now notice it so much that it TAP DANCES ON MY NERVES. Therefore, I will bring this occurrence to your attention so you can share the annoyance with me . . . it actually gives you a good story to tell your friends after it happens to you; so, enjoy.

Now, Michelle is a pleasant person. She's helpful, nice, supportive, gives excellent advice. However, you can push that button fast. This Christmas Eve, Michelle's button was pushed by a . . . . . what's a good word for these types of people . . . . stupid person. This "stupid person" (I'm sure you know a version of him) asked Michelle a stupid question: "Are these seats reserved?" Michelle then looks at the RESERVED sign posted at the end of about three rows of chairs and, of course, replies, "Yes." Astonishingly, the conversation continues:

"Well, do you know why they are reserved?"

"Uh, no, I'm sorry, I don't know."

"Well, I was going to move my family up to these seats because they are closer."

"Okay, well, I don't know who they are for."

"Well, I really wanted to move up. Do you think I could do that?"

"Sir, I don't know who the seats are for, so I don't know if they would mind. I just don't know."

"Okay, well, if you see anybody, can you ask them if they would let my family move up here?"

"Sir, I am sure they are reserved for a reason, so I'm not going to ask them."

"Okay, so should I ask them?"

"Okay," and Michelle walks away.

Once she told me this story I recalled a slight, faded memory of this happening to me, but surely, this was not a regular occurrence with people. However, "stupid people" will never let you down. Since this conversation, this situation has occurred in my life at an alarming rate. One day it happened four times.

I work in a coffee shop, so I get a lot of those: "Are yawl like a Starbucks?" or the "Can you make a peppermint hot chocolate like Starbucks?" I would like to reply, "Oh, gosh, you know, actually Starbucks has a hold on all peppermint and chocolate syrups in the entire world, so we can't, sorry." This people are idiots, but I embrace them because it makes me laugh and I can tell my friends about these people and brush them off. However, the people of the "stupid people" category we have created, I cannot brush off nor laugh at because the questions they ask jump on and swing on my nerves. For instance:

"Does yawl's computer work back here?"

"Uh, let me see. Yep, it's working."

"Well, my computer doesn't work up at the front."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm not really good with computers. Maybe you can ask the company computer guy."

"Oh, well, I don't really know what to ask him. It's saying some kind of error? . . . ."

"Oh, I have no clue what that means, so . . ."

PAUSE. They just stare.

"But your computer works back here?"

"Yes, it works."

"Okay, well, it says some kind of error."

"Yeah, I don't know."

"Okay, well, if you get a chance can you come look at it?"

"Uh . . . yeah, sure."

GAH! What did I just explain? I DON'T KNOW! But, of course, you have to be nice and willing to help because you're just that kind of person. That awkward, always helpful person they think they can get a resolution out of if they just keep asking the same thing over and over again. But my personal favorite is this one:

"Hey, did you work on Thursday by chance?"

"Uh, last Thursday . . . let's see, no, I didn't work that day."

"Oh, well, I was supposed to meet somebody here."

"Oh, well, I wasn't here, so I don't know."

"Okay, I was just wondering if anybody came in and probably looked confused like they were looking for someone?"

"Yeah, I don't know, I didn't work Thursday, so I don't know."

"Well, if you see them can you let them know I'm here?"

"Well, I didn't work Thursday, so I don't know who you're talking about."

"Oh, you'll recognize him, he's just a guy."

"Alright, any guy that comes in I'll send him your way."

What is that? I WASN'T HERE. I CAN'T HELP YOU. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! Here is one more. I call this one "The Stink Eye Lady."

"Hi. Can I get you something?"

"Yes, what kind of fruit do you have today?"

"Oh, we don't have fruit today."

"You don't have fruit."

"No, I'm sorry, can I get you anything else?"

"Well, I was really wanting fruit."

"Uh, okay, I'm sorry, we just don't have any today."

"Well, on your sign it says you have fruit."

"Okay, we don't have any today, so . . . "

I GET THE STINK EYE.

"I'll just have a bottled water."

"Okay, great."

Lady, I am not lying; I am not hiding anything from you. I am simply telling you what we don't have and I can't make it appear just because you keep asking questions. I can't make the seats not say "RESERVED," I can't fix your computer, I can't give you any information on what happen Thursday because I wasn't here and I definitely cannot make food appear on your whim.

Now that you have read this and hopefully get what's happening. I encourage you to go forth and, number one, do not be a "stupid person" and, number two, report back with your conversation because it is unavoidable and I would love to know Michelle and I are not alone in this.

**"Tap Dancing on My Nerves" and "Swinging on my nerves" - Brandon Palma**

The Important Conversation

You have conversations. Some happen at work, some in your "other" life, with your family, friends, strangers. Some conversations get things done, some undo things, some are revelations, some are confusing, and some you can't even remember what you where talking about during the conversation. Out of all these conversations you have from day to day, can you remember your most important one? How about your top ten most important? Mine happened just recently.

I was trying to think of some conversations I would put up against this one as being more important - like the one I had with my College Dean when I wasn't going to graduate . . . yeah, that was important. Or several of the ones I've had with my family regarding our changing family dynamics and so forth. I think it's even more important than my conversation I had with my best friend from middle school when I told her we were moving. Yes, these were all very important conversations at the time, however, I believe this tops them all. The reason why it tops them is because it's not centered around me. All these important, tough conversations I can remember concern what will happen in my life. Although this particular conversation will change my life, it will change my perspective from, "How I can make the best of it for me?" to "How I can make it the best for someone else? Someone I haven't even met." Confusing yet? I guess you would like to hear the story.

It was Saturday night at 10:56 p.m. Being February 1st, it was of course freezing in my house. I can't stand to be cold, so my remedy, seeing as changing the thermostat is punishable by death, is to jump in a steaming hot bath and then get into bed as soon as possible. This was my plan at 10:56 p.m. on February 1st. I had just kicked off my shoes, picked out my pajamas, and headed for the bathroom when my cell phone buzzed. I paused. Who would be calling me at 11:00 at night? I turned back to my bedroom and listened for the buzzing again. I couldn't find it. I threw my p.j.'s on the bed and frantically began wading through the sea of clothes that more often than not covers my carpeted floor. Something about it being so late and the fact I couldn't seem to find the phone made me very panicked. Clothes started flying through the air and then back down into the depths. The buzzing continued. Where was that phone? It buzzed again and again and then it was silent. Oh great. Now I have to find the house phone, bring it up here, call my phone and continue the search. Gah!

There was no waiting till tomorrow to find the phone. It must have been an important call including a very important conversation for someone to call that late and to wait out all the rings till the voicemail message cut it off. So, I get the house phone, I search some more and, wouldn't you know it, there it is - hidden beneath the down comforter of my bed, not on the floor at all. It's Cortney. Cortney, my sister, had called me. Well then, there was no reason for such panic. I know exactly what she was calling about - to ask me to come to her church on Sunday for the new series. I could just call her tomorrow, but I'd probably forget, so I called her right back. What I heard was not the subject topic I was expecting. It went something like this:

"Hello"

"Hey, Cort. You rang?"

"Yeah, what are you up to?"

"Well, I was about to get in the bath and go to bed."

"Yeah, can you come over here?"

"Right now?"

"Yeah, I need to talk to you about something"

"Okay, Cortney, about what?"

"I just need to talk to you."

"What about?"

"I can't tell you over the phone, I need to sit down and talk to you."

"Did I do something?"

"No, I just want to talk."

"Okay, cause you're making it sound like I'm being called into an office or something. Is it about me?"

"Yeah, it's about you but it's about me too. Can you just come over?"

"Sure, I'll be there in a little while."

"And don't tell Mom, I don't want to involve her yet."

"Uh, okay."

YIKES. What did that mean? I put my shoes back on, threw on my coat and into the cold night I went. On the way, I was thinking several things. I thought of how I was just about to be warm. I was just about to put my p.j.'s on and turn out the lights so my room could turn into the darkest of caves. I was just about to sink into my pillow top mattress, pull my worn-in quilt and down comforter around me and I was just about to be peacefully asleep. However, here I am: in a cold car with my hands on a cold sterning wheel, listening to a protesting cold engine whine down the road. I was about to get out and walk across a cold, scary apartment complex parking lot and into a cold apartment. I was, in a word: uncomfortable. I had other thoughts as well to add to this uncomfortableness. "What could she want to talk to me about? Can I think of anything I have done really wrong in the past couple of months? Has she done something wrong and wants to talk to someone about it?" Of course it had to be something horrible, something serious, something terribly wrong. There was no room for doubt there. I had to start preparing myself for the worst. She would answer the door all red and watery eyed or she would look very stern and hesitant. She would no dobut try to lead into the harsh news and I would get those nervous butterflies. This is not going to be good. I pulled into the closest parking space I could find, first for safety, second for a quick entrance into the apartment. I took a deep breath (Gah, it's cold) and went to the door.

Cortney invited me in.

Cortney had a fire going.

Cortney's apartment was warm.

Cortney's expression was kind, excited even.

Cortney invited me to sit next to the fire.

Cortney moved to a box on top of the coffee table.

Cortney pulled out a plastic bag with three sticks in it.

Cortney told me I was going to be an Aunt.

Cortney, the baby and I sat next to the fire and had a very important

Conversation.